Coming up this week on Gossip Girl...

• We meet Vanessa (Jessica Szohor), Dan's childhood pal, who tells him she wants to be more than friends.

• Blair does her best to keep party crashers out of the masquerade ball, but a disguised Dan and Jenny sneak in.

• Lily hopes to provoke jealousy in Bart Bass by asking Rufus to be her date at an event.

• Blair sends Nate on a scavenger hunt, but is upset to find that Nate still has feelings for Serena.