A/N: This idea occurred to me while I was writing chapter 30 of Between the Shadow and the Soul and listening to West Side Story. Since there's a distinct lack of Blair/Chuck in that story, I wanted to do something that actively involves them while that story plays out. So, a modern day Romeo and Juliet using Chuck as Romeo and Blair as Juliet, set in Manhattan, with Gossip Girl serving as a chorus. Tell me if you're interested in this concept or if it's completely the opposite of interesting. Merci beaucoup!

DISCLAIMER: This story takes characters from Gossip Girl universe, created by Cecily von Ziegesar and adapted for television by the brilliant Josh Schwartz, and puts them in a modern re-telling of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I do not not own or claim to own any of the characters herein; allusions are made to the play on which this fanfiction is based, and any quotes used or altered from its text are not my intellectual property. This is a fanfiction, and I don't mean to infringe any copyrights--understand that, and I hope you enjoy the story. =] Thank you.

House of Waldorf-Rose
Cyrus Rose is the patriarch of the house of Waldorf-Rose.
Eleanor Waldorf-Rose is the matriarch of the house of Waldorf-Rose.
Blair is the daughter of the Waldorf-Roses, and is the story's female protagonist.
Aaron Rose is Blair's step-brother, and the son of Lord Rose.
Dorota is Blair's personal attendant and confidante.
Penelope Shafai, Hazel Williams and Isabel Coates are servants of the Waldorf-Rose household.

House of Bass
Bart Bass is the patriarch of the house of Bass.
Lily Bass is the matriarch of the house of Bass.
Chuck is the son of the Basses, and is the story's male protagonist.
Serena van der Woodsen is the ruling princess of Manhattan.
Eric van der Woodsen, step-brother and friend of Chuck.
Nate is a friend of Chuck.
Dan and Jenny Humphrey are servants of the Bass household.

Others
Gossip Girl composes a prologue to each of the first two acts.
Lord Marcus wishes to marry Blair.

Prologue

"Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Manhattan, where we lay our scene,"

Good morning, Upper East Siders! Gossip Girl here: your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elite.

Top story on my page? Looks like Big Bad Bart should have remembered his first lesson in Business 101, caveat emptor, before purchasing a little property we all know and love, The New York Palace Hotel (I know, right?!). It was meant to be the sparkling jewel in his crown of corporate realty, and earned him everything you'd think a man could want: the most beautiful over-forty socialite in New York (and I mean that as the highest compliment, L) as a wife, the golden princess S as his lovely step-daughter, and our favorite one-man gay pride parade as an easy in with all those finicky Greenwich Village votes (nice work, E), and officially the largest real estate empire in the world.

So why were his grapes so sour at the annual Bass brunch?

Cyrus Rose—the man who funded Bass Industries' first property endeavor years and years ago, for those of you who don't read Forbes—and his lovely wife, Lady Eleanor Waldorf-Rose, turned down his invitation! And get this—Lord Rose did not send the Basses an invite to Lady Eleanor's masquerade ball! Why, you ask? Reliable sources tell yours truly someone encroached on a contract they agreed to years ago, the details of which are just coming to light thanks to a very helpful e-mail I received from a blocked address at 3 AM this morning.

Remember all those meetings between the two patriarchs at the Waldorf-Astoria—hand shaking, Armani suits, tea, the whole shebang? Looks like they agreed any business deals made below 59th were fair game as long as Barty cut Cyrus in on the contract. Guess who's name didn't come up when Old Bartholomew met with The Palace's previous owners last Thursday?

It's all out war between the Waldorf-Roses and Bass Industries; I wouldn't want to be a pawn on that chessboard!

SPOTTED: Penelope, Hazel, and Isabel giving the Bass family's latest charity projects a dressing-down at Saks Fifth Avenue. This is the SECOND TIME in one week they've come to public blows. Here's hoping Princess S doesn't catch them disturbing the quiet of our streets again or they'll be punished for sure!

Until next time, you know you love me.

XOXO Gossip Girl

"The which if you with patient eyes attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend."