INTRODUCTION - PUBLICATION
Blair sat staring at the magazine for a long time before she gathered herself again. It was far from perfect - on first reading alone, she had noticed a couple of clumsy phrases, some blatant plot implausibilities and several rather hackneyed metaphors. And yes these all paled against the glaring, damning central theme. She dropped it with disgust to the floor, though where exactly this disgust was directed was uncertain.
Serena had picked up the magazine out of curiosity, and a little bit of ego. There was something comforting in being the one person Dan would always love, even if she preferred the company of other guys for the time being. This would be the third story he'd written about her, but the only one he'd managed to get properly published in his favourite magazine. Serena sat down and realised how glad she was that Dan was not a novelist, and preferred to stick to under five thousand words. Anything more than that would be exhausting.
Blair read it again, both hoping and fearing that she'd been quick to judge. But it was there. Most of it was even true. She had no idea Humphrey of all people had been that perceptive, had seen right through her. It was unnerving, but there was a shiver of pleasure there too. She felt as though she'd been painted nude: stripped bare, for all to see, but empowered and the whole thing was somehow cathartic. Somewhere along the line she'd forgotten to be angry at Dan. Funny.
Chuck didn't usually read the New Yorker, preferring more fiscal publications. And yet it had been in the Lobby that morning with Dan's name in the bottom corner, and curiosity had gotten the better of him. He'd never counted Humphrey as a friend, but had watched his self-referential, pseudo-intellectualism with a kind of cynical and amused interest. If nothing else, it would funny to read in the limo on the way to Brunch. He tucked the magazine under his arm and left the Empire.
Vanessa read it online and didn't know what to make of it. While some of it could potentially be about their relationship - if she squinted and desperately suspended disbelief- the whole tone was wrong. There was no mistaking who this was really about, and the thought was chilling. She'd thought it was just a rumour, a couple of photographs taken out of context. But now she had to admit. Dan had it bad.
Dan checked his phone for the fourteenth time that morning. It was a little after nine-thirty, and not one single person had commented on his story hitting the news-stands. That was either very good (they were quite simply dumbstruck with awe for his literary talent) or very bad. He feared the latter. Not even his Dad though? He ran a hand through his hair and considered calling Blair. He even got as far as scrolling to her name. But ultimately, this was his grand gesture – the very same as he had encouraged Erik to do weeks earlier. The ball was in her court, and he could only sit here knawing at his own nerves until she deigned to serve back. Which, knowing Blair, could be some wait.
I was totally diehard Chair until the middle of this season, but the whole Dan/Blair dynamic is so beautifully executed I'm enjoying the diversion.
What do you think? PLEASE review – this is my first fanfic of any kind and I'm pretty nervous about posting this. Thanks in advance! SO EXCITED FOR TONIGHT'S EPISODE 3 3