A/N: Just watched 500 Days of Summer and was inspired by all the great quotes in the movie. You'll also noticed I used a couple quotes from the show. Hope you guys enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
I.
This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story.
Chuck Bass was a billionaire. He had everything a man could possibly want. Nice apartment, expensive clothes, personal driver, an infinite amount of booze, and tons of women. He had all the power and esteem a man could dream of. Yet each night, when he loosened his tie and poured himself a glass of scotch, he imagined another life for himself.
They say the grass is always greener on the other side. But when he looked outside his window at the grassy terrain known as Central Park, he could easily refute that the Upper East Side offered much more than the Upper West. So why was it that each day, as his limo passed the park, he contemplated asking his driver to stop for a stroll among the famous greenery?
On May 12, 2008, Chuck Bass gave his driver the day off. He walked the same route his limo took every single day to work. When he reached the entrance, he stopped in his steps and glanced around the park. It was just a park. He'd been there before when he was a kid. What made the park any different now? Maybe it was the fact that as a child, sitting on a picnic blanket with his nanny, the park brought upon a startling realization for Chuck. As a child there, he recognized that he was one of the few boys without a doting parent by his side. He dreamed of a loving family for himself. He vowed he would have one to play with at the park and now that he was all grown up, the park was just a reminder that he never fulfilled his promise.
But his curiosity for what the other side of the park held proved to be too strong. He found himself making his way along the cement path, passing through the tunnel, looking completely out of place in his business attire. When he reached the other side, he found a bench to sit on. He placed his briefcase on the ground next to him and took in the scenery around him. It didn't look any different than the side he drove by every morning.
Chuck sighed as he ran his hand over his face. What was he doing here? He was so utterly pathetic, it was laughable.
He looked up when he heard a woman shriek. Fifteen feet away from him stood a young woman with brown curls, dressed in a floral printed dress and matching headband, barking orders at what looked to be her maid.
"Dorota! The birds can't eat this bread! It's old and stale! I will not responsible for the extinction of Central Park's wildlife!"
A small laugh escaped Chuck's lips as he observed the angry brunette. He continued watching the woman's interaction with the maid, pleasantly surprised by the displayed form of entertainment.
The maid rolled her eyes and continued crumbling the bread into little pieces. "Miss Blair, bird does not care if bread is stale. Bird will not die."
"These birds may be on the Upper West right now, but that doesn't mean they couldn't reside on fifth. They could have high standards!"
The maid shook her head and seemed to mumble something under her breath. "Okay, Miss Blair. I go buy new bread."
The brunette pursed her lips and nodded, satisfied with the maid's answer. The maid left the park and the young woman stood with her arms crossed, glancing around her.
Chuck used this time to approach her. As he neared, he found himself more and more mesmerized by the woman and her beauty. She not only had beautiful brown curls, but brown, doe eyes and the most perfect pouty lips he'd ever seen.
Apparently he wasn't subtle in his staring because the woman snapped, "Could you not stare? It's rude."
He only smirked in response. "It's also rude to yell at people, especially in public, but you didn't seem to mind that."
The woman blushed in response and clenched her teeth in agitation. "It's also rude to eavesdrop. Did anyone ever teach you that?"
"It's not really eavesdropping if the whole park can hear you."
"You know, if this is your attempt at coming on to me, you're doing a horrible job."
"I find honesty a rather charming trait, don't you? Although I have to say that I have more admirable traits to boast of. They're better left demonstrated rather than explained..."
"You're disgusting."
"Yet you're still standing here next to me."
The young woman turned around, "Well, I'm leaving."
"Wait...Blair, right?"
The woman stopped in her tracks at the sound of her name and turned around. She narrowed her eyes, but when he remained quiet, she gave him an expectant shrug. "What?"
He only smiled in response. For once, he was at a loss of words. "Never mind."
How could he explain to her that she had just given him a burst of optimism? She had made the trip to the other side of the park completely worth it.
II.
Destiny, soul mates, true love. All that stuff. It's nothing more than silly childhood fairy tale nonsense, isn't it?
May 22, 2008.
Chuck looked in the mirror and smoothed down his hair, preparing himself for his meeting. He was planning on investing in Waldorf Designs, but needed the final confirmation to do so. He took in a deep breath before making his way out of the men's room and into the lobby. He pressed the elevator button and waited patiently for it to arrive. He looked up when the doors opened. He stepped inside and pressed the floor number for the Waldorf office.
Just before the doors were about to close, a petite brunette slid into the elevator. She moved to press the button for the floor she wanted, but saw that it was already lit up. She looked up at Chuck briefly before looking straight ahead.
Chuck scrunched his eyebrows together and glanced over at the woman, feeling that she looked extremely familiar. The woman turned to look at him again, apparently having the same feeling that she too knew him.
Chuck found himself smirking. Why if it wasn't the sassy brunette from the park...
She straightened her skirt and looked straight ahead. "I can't believe this."
"I know. Most women can't. It's hard to find a man that's both handsome and charming, let alone finding him twice."
Blair gave him a look of disgust, "You're full of it, you know that?"
"As opposed to you? Acting all bitchy and snobby? Luckily, I find those qualities in a woman rather appealing."
"Then luckily for me, I'm not any of those."
"Tsk tsk. Hasn't your mother ever taught you lying is wrong?"
"She made great emphasis on not talking to strangers."
"I'm not a stranger."
"Oh, really?"
"I'm Chuck Bass."
Blair looked momentarily stunned from his introduction. After all, everyone in the city knew what his last name meant.
She quickly recovered from her shock and nonchalantly replied, "Is that supposed to get me in bed with you?"
"No, I suspect it'll take a little more...effort...to get you out of your La Perla's."
Blair blushed under his heated gaze, mentally cursing herself for feeling turned on.
"That won't be ever happening so don't even think about it."
"Too late. I already have."
The elevator announced their arrival on the floor just as she was about to respond.
Chuck motioned for her to step out, "After you."
Blair stepped out and asked, "What are you doing here, anyways?"
"I have a meeting with Eleanor Waldorf."
"Oh, well then I should tell you that you'll be slightly disappointed. Or if you're like me, rather pleased."
Chuck raised his eyebrow, expecting further explanation.
"Eleanor had to jet off to Paris for some fashion emergency."
"Oh. Do you work for her or something?"
"I wish that was what my association to her was. Unfortunately, I'm related to the tyrannical, crazy woman. I'm her daughter."
Chuck looked surprised before regaining his composure. "Ah, I see. Well I guess I'll just reschedule with her secretary."
Blair nodded and moved towards the front desk. "Laurel, I'm here to pick up my mother's envelope."
Eleanor's assistant nodded and left the desk to retrieve it.
"So," Chuck began, "since your mother isn't here, and I cleared my schedule for the meeting, would you like to have a drink with me?"
Blair looked at him incredulously. "You can't be serious?"
Chuck leaned against the counter with an amused smirk on his face. He made no attempt at agreeing with her.
"You just acted like a complete pervert in the elevator and now you want to take me on a date?"
"Come on, princess. Don't act like you don't enjoy my presence. Your primp and proper act may work for your high society friends, but I see right through it."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Blair turned around, her back facing Chuck, as she waited for Laurel to come back.
Chuck leaned forward towards her ear, "I love it. Cool exterior, the fire below."
Blair involuntarily shivered from his proximity and words. She swallowed before replying, "You don't know anything about me."
"I know enough to know that you hate yourself for actually wanting to have a drink with me. You might as well save yourself the frustration and failed attempts of denying it and accept the invitation."
"Will you leave me alone after if I accept?"
"I will never speak to you again if you decide that you positively dislike me after this."
Blair looked at him for a couple moments longer. Laurel came back, "Here it is, Blair."
Blair turned towards Laurel, replying, "Thanks." She looked back at Chuck and nodded, "Fine. One drink and that's it."
Chuck put his hand on the small of her back as he led her towards the elevators. Blair tried to ignore the warm, tingling feeling that spread throughout her from his touch.
III.
Just because she's likes the same bizzaro crap you do doesn't mean she's your soul mate.
May 24, 2008.
"Arthur, stop."
Chuck's driver pulled over the limo at Chuck's command. Chuck stepped out into the cool night with his devilish grin in place.
"Waldorf, fancy seeing you here."
Blair jumped in surprise. She quickly grabbed Chuck's arm and pulled him beside her into her hiding spot behind the large tree.
"Shh!"
Chuck's grin widened when he realized she was spying on someone. "Who are we spying on?"
"The dean of NYU's law school...ooh, look!" Blair grabbed her phone and snapped a picture of the sixty year old man kissing a twenty-something year old female. "Brilliant," she exclaimed as the couple got into a limo.
"I'm guessing that's not his wife?"
"No, of course not. His wife was born in the same decade as him. That skank with him is the one who got chosen to deliver the graduation speech. Well, over my dead body she will. After this picture, I'm sure the dean will want to reevaluate his choice for speaker."
Chuck smirked in pleasure. The fiery brunette apparently loved to scheme and blackmail. God, she was hot.
She flipped her phone shut and turned her attention back to Chuck. "What are you doing stalking me anyways? You promised me you would never speak to me again if I had a drink with you."
"No. Fine print, darling. I said that if you disliked me after the drink, I'd never try to speak to you again."
"Okay, fine. I dislike you. Now leave."
"Hmm, that's not what it seemed like after we had the drink. I recall you barely making it to the elevator before you had your legs wrapped around me, purring in my ear like the eager kitten you are. After all, I've been replaying the memory over and over ever since."
"I don't know what you're talking about," huffed Blair, crossing her arms over her chest, unknowingly exposing more of her cleavage.
Chuck followed the move, eyes wandering down to her chest. She caught his stare and rolled her eyes, uncrossing her arms. "Ah, but you see, lover, I've still got the scars on my back to prove it."
"Lover? I'm not your lover. I'm not your anything. What may have transpired between us was temporary insanity on my part. It was nothing. No, actually, it was a mistake. So goodbye mistake, so far in my past I can hardly remember it."
Chuck only smiled, amused, as she walked away leaving him alone on the sidewalk.
IV.
I think relationships are messy and people's feelings get hurt. Who needs it? We're young, we live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world; might as well have fun while we can and, save the serious stuff for later.
November 13, 2008.
Chuck tried to regain control of his breathing as he laid on his back in bed. He opened his eyes when he felt strands of hair tickling his naked chest. He looked up to see Blair hovering over him, smirking at him.
"Already wore you out, Bass?"
He grinned, "Never."
Blair matched his grin before leaning down to give him a long kiss. "Again?" She leaned back down and kissed him again, but Chuck slightly pushed her away.
A look of confusion passed over her face as she frowned. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just...I don't know...."
Blair took her weight off Chuck and rested it on her arm. She look unconvinced. "Bass?"
"I just...I need to know what we are."
"Two people about to have mind-blowing sex?"
"No, I mean am I your...? Are we...? Ugh, it sounds so fucking ridiculous." Chuck pushed the sheets off him and got out of bed, pacing back and forth.
"Well, anything does when you're pacing back and forth naked."
Chuck ignored her comment and focused on what he wanted to ask. "Look, I've never cared about relationships. Actually, I've avoided them....preferred to opt out of them. But...I like you. A lot. And I guess I just want to know if we're like...a couple?" Chuck nervously looked at Blair, flushing with embarrassment from his declaration.
She looked completely shocked and stumbled with her words. "Uh...I don't know. I mean why do we have to be anything? What we have right now is good, isn't that enough?"
Chuck seemed to ponder what she said. "Well, yeah it's good. I mean it's fucking great."
Blair smiled, looking relieved that he seemed to agree with her.
"But..."
Her smile disappeared as she realized he wasn't done.
"Why do we have to hide this? Sneaking around was exciting at first, but it's getting old. I mean you said you and your ex were pretty much over with by our second date. What's holding you back? Why can't we be seen together in public?"
Blair sighed, sitting up in bed and pulling the sheets tighter around her chest. "Chuck...it's complicated, I've explained this to you before."
Chuck looked at her expectantly.
"Chuck, we're two different people. There's different expectations for us. You're your own boss, free to do whatever you want. But my situation is different. There's certain plans that I have to follow and roles I have to fulfill."
"I don't follow..."
Blair reached out her hand to Chuck and he came forward and grabbed it. "I'm not separated from Nate because we're done and over with. He's working for his grandfather's political office in Connecticut and we both decided not to do a long distance relationship. That doesn't mean that I'm not going to marry him. Our marriage has been planned since birth, practically. I'm in the process of joining the Colony Club and there's just really high expectations for me."
Chuck let go of her hand and slowly backed away. "So, what you're trying to say is that I'm not good enough? I'll never compare to your precious Nate. Being with me is humiliating and social suicide."
"Chuck..."
"What, Blair? Am I not right?"
"Chuck, it's not like that."
Chuck grabbed his robe and slipped it on. He went over to the window and stood with his back to her. "It's exactly like that. You should leave."
Blair sighed and slowly gathered her stuff. She made her way towards the door, but stopped before leaving, turning to glance back at him. "I like you too, for what it's worth."
V.
I liked this girl. I loved her. And what she do? She took a giant shit on my face. Literally.
April 9, 2009.
Chuck stood in line at the coffee shop, mentally debating over a double shot or triple shot espresso. When he reached the counter, he gave his order, finally deciding on the triple shot. He hadn't been sleeping well and figured the extra caffeine would give him an energy boost. He turned, looking down as he placed his change back into his wallet, bumping into someone.
"Sorry," he immediately replied without acknowledging the person.
"Chuck?"
He looked up, surprise evident among his features when he realized Blair was the person he bumped into.
"Blair?"
She bit down on her lip, nervous to see him. She hadn't seen him since he told her to leave his apartment that one day. She had repeatedly called him, leaving him voice messages, but he never called her back.
"How are you?" she asked.
"Great," he lied.
She nodded, "That's great." She adjusted her purse strap over her shoulder.
He felt his chest tighten in pain when he caught sight of a diamond ring sparkling on her finger in the bright light of the coffee shop.
"I guess congratulations is in order."
"What?"
"The big rock is a tip off."
Blair looked at her left hand and realized he'd seen her engagement ring. "Yes, thank you." She looked uncomfortable, looking everywhere except at him.
"So I'm assuming Nate came back to the city."
"Um, yeah. He came back in January."
Chuck nodded. They both stood, waiting for their drinks in awkward silence.
"So you still have your own company?" Blair asked.
"Yeah."
She nodded and stared straight ahead.
He turned to her, "You still working in your stepfather's law firm?"
"I decided to take some time off to plan...the wedding."
The barista called out Chuck's name, alerting him that his espresso was ready.
"Well, congrats again."
"Thanks. Take care."
Chuck nodded and moved towards the exit. He stopped in his tracks and turned around to see her still waiting on her drink.
He took a deep breath and walked back towards her.
"I just need to know," he started. Blair's eyes widened in surprise. "If there wasn't Nate or your mother or the Colony Club...would I have had a chance?"
She opened her mouth then closed it. She swallowed before replying, "Does it matter? I mean, those people aren't going to go away."
"I need to know that everything I started to believe in wasn't complete and utter bullshit. I need to know that destiny, soul mates, true love and all that childhood fairy tale stuff aren't nonsense."
Her mouth was still hanging open, but she bit her lip, then responded, "I'm sorry, I have to go, Chuck." She grabbed her coffee that was waiting on the counter and left him standing there, looking utterly defeated.
VI.
It took a long time but he had finally learned. There are no miracles. There's no such thing as fate. Nothing is meant to be. He knew. He was sure of it now.
December 22, 2009.
The morning was especially cold and brisk, making his hot chocolate that much warmer. Chuck had decided to buy a cup from the vendor in the park, forcing himself to try and get in the holiday mood. It seemed pointless. He never had anyone to spend the holidays with and he didn't have any special gifts to be excited for.
He walked the same path through the park that he had been walking down ever since last year. As his stroll came to an end, he spotted a white limo parked by the sidewalk with a huge crowd gathered by it. He followed the crowd's gaze and cheers, finding a man in a tuxedo smiling as he led his bride towards to the awaiting limo. The bride looked up, smiling at the groom before looking at her family and friends.
His breath hitched when he recognized the bride. Blair. The whole scene was like a bad car accident that he just couldn't look away from.
Just before she stepped inside the limo, she looked back, and as if a spotlight was shining on Chuck, she instantly saw him. Her smile left her face and she paused to stare at him. She finally turned and got into the car, moments later gone as quickly as she had come.
The crowd disintegrated leaving Chuck standing alone, with the exception of a few joggers in the park. He was left wishing he'd never taken the walk across the park months ago, the day he met her. The park had represented the one thing Chuck had wanted as a child and that representation was only magnified now that he was an adult. He wanted love, he wanted the fairy tale...and he painfully realized that none of it existed.
A/N: Depressing story, and I'm totally in a happy mood so I don't know how I wrote that! Oh, well, please leave some reviews!! =D