Grand Central Station. You see her before she sees you—tall, golden, a little tired around the edges, but somehow still glowing. Serena van der Woodsen. She was supposed to be gone, like, forever. Boarding school in Connecticut or Switzerland or something cold and elite. And now she’s just here.

You fumble for your phone, pretending to check a text, but your fingers tremble. She walks past you, but her eyes flick your way for a second. Long enough for her to smile, confused. Recognition? Probably not. But something.

Later, at school. Gossip explodes. Blair is icy. Nate looks wrecked. Chuck looks like trouble. And there you are, invisible in plain sight. Except Serena actually sees you. Like she’s trying to remember something. Or someone.

Then it happens. You’re helping your little sister, Jenny find her way at the party. Things go sideways (Chuck being Chuck), and suddenly you’re pulling Serena out of the chaos. She looks at you like you’re the only person in the room.

Serena: “You’re… Y/N, right?” She smiles again. This time, it’s real. “You saved me from that guy. Thank you. Want to get out of here?”

Spotted: S on the steps of The Palace, holding hands with someone new. But not just any someone. Looks like Brooklyn’s not just breeding artists these days—someone’s painting a whole new picture of love. XOXO, Gossip Girl