A/N: I have to admit, I've gotten a tiny bit addicted to writing Chuck-and-Blair best-friends-in-middle-school-and-high-school fic…so here's one, and I hope you enjoy! And just remember, reviews are a girl's best friend ;) This may actually turn into a series, so I'll see how many reviews I get, and then we'll see.

Ice Cream and Strategy

"Blair!" Chuck called, running down the girls' hall.

Blair was at her locker, getting her fresh socks for P.E. They were in ninth grade, and she and Nate were fighting over a faked note to Tom Bailor from Blair.

She shut her locker and turned to face Chuck. "What, did Nate send you to do his dirty work?"

"While I would enjoy that quite a bit, Waldorf – " at which point Blair smacked his arm playfully, " – I sent myself. I mean, you and Nate are my best friends. This whole fight between the two of you is making life basically suck for Serena and me, along with everyone else at Constance and St. Jude's."

Blair sighed. "Well, I suppose we are the power couple of the Upper East Side. We should fix this. But he's the one who thinks I told Tom that I like him and that if he likes me, I'm going to dump Nate. Like, what the hell? I've only spoken to Tim, like, twice, and I love Nate, and he should know that."

Chuck's mouth twisted into a smile as he corrected her. "Tom."

"Whatever."

They fell into stride together. They both had P.E. that period, though the guys would be doing something separate from the girls, like always.

Chuck continued, "Trust me, I'm just as pissed at him as you are, but – "

"Wait a second; this is new information. Why are you two fighting?"

"Because I took your side."

"Oh." Blair was taken aback. Chuck was her best friend, sometimes even more so than Serena was, but he was Nate's best friend, too. Though he loved observing drama and catfights, he usually stayed out of the fights between other members of their little foursome. Chuck was the group's voice of reason. When he did get involved, which was rare, it was because someone was very clearly full of B.S. Which was probably why Nate was so mad that Chuck had spoken out against him. "Wow."

"Yeah."

"Well, thank you. Serena's pulled a Switzerland and declared herself neutral, so it's nice to actually have someone on my side."

"Happy to be here. Nate's being basically the biggest idiot ever right now, and I'm not going to stand behind the love of your life's stupidity."

Blair threw her arm around Chuck. "Ugh. You are so my best friend."

Chuck laughed.

By now they had reached the locker room doors.

"Well, this is my stop." Blair sighed. "I really do not want to exercise today."

"Then why don't we skip?" Chuck suggested. "Have you ever missed a class before, Queen B.?" he asked mockingly.

"Once I went to the orthodontist…"

"Coach Green basically told you that you don't need to come to class ever and you'll still get an A, and the school doesn't care if I skip class." He smirked. "Come on. I'll take you to Ben and Jerry's. We can enjoy huge waffle cones and talk strategy. Plus, it's our last period. Arthur's outside right now. We can even stop at your place so you can change, since I know how much you hate to be seen in your uniform outside of school."

Blair considered the offer and then giggled. "Oh my God, you're the best."

"I have to be, to be the best friend of the one and only Blair Waldorf." Chuck threw his arm around Blair's shoulders and they sauntered out the door, all the way to the limo.