Pursuing the lost story
A/N It's a Chair-adaptation version of Italo Calvino's "If on a Winters Night a Traveler", which is absolutely my #1 fav literature all time. The original is meta-fiction, so this story is also meta-fanfiction. Yes, meta-fanfiction. You'll see what I mean if you read below. It may sound weird, but somehow I've written. I hope it gives you a good laugh, Chair shipper definitely need one now!
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Prologue
Chuck Bass was about to leave bookstore when He accidentally stamped over the small gap at the his favorite bookstore's floor in London. Well, favorite bookstore is not correct word to description the place he's currently in, because honestly he read no book. He buys book only because he needs them for his job. He's freelance,self-employed illustrator with so-so income.
He visits bookstore (his Usual one) frequently, just to find some photo-book or art book which is required for his job ordered by his clients. What matters to him on the book is usually THE
THINGS PRINTED in it, but not THE THINGS WRITTEN in it. So he watch book. Stare, even. But in any circumstances, he never, ever read book.
Today is one of his usual, rather boring day in routine. He just finished big artwork for advertisement of newest food product, He doesn't have any work to do at this moment, and
already in first day of his "free" day he got bored. Aimless, He had wandered in the bookstore of art section. He brought pile of newest art-book to the reading section, holding the coffee an the
other hand, examined details. After 14th book he finally decided to leave bookstore for fresh air, and ordered another coffee to go and walked through newest novel section at the very near to
entrance of the bookstore (Well, most bookstore places newest novels near entrance, right?), where he has NO INTEREST at all. Because it's simply that there's books WITH WORDS. And
no graphics. He walked through that area, just only because the bookstore organized their place in such order, to make customer pay a look at their newest novels. In hoping some dumb people buy some.
But it's Chuck Bass who's currently walking by, He doesn't hell read ANY BOOK, because there's WORDS on it. As usual,he's just ignoring the existence of that area, just set his foot to
directly to exit. The one thing wasn't usual for him was there was tiny, almost invisible small gap at the entrance and floor of the bookstore. He stumbled over the gap, ending spilling
the his coffee over the ONE OF THE NEWEST NOVELS he never read, because there's WORDS on it. As he tells everybody, already over 100+ times more, he has NO INTERESTS for literature.
He looked down the brawn stein expanding over the one of the newest novel on the section with horrified face. It's pretty clear to everyone in that bookstore the cover of the book was ruined,
like COMPLETELY ruined. He quickly looked around if someone got caught the incident, only found out the Shop assistant is starring at him. Even he realizes it's lame attempt, he still tried to justify
himself from what just has happen few seconds ago.
`Hey, I just- "
"Pay for it. Buy that book. Then I saw nothing."
Chuck cleared his throat with icy death glare from Shop assistant. It's not suggestion, but command, Chuck thought. He has really no choice in this situation. He slid his hand to jeans and picked the wallet up.
"Ok. How much?"
"Fifty twenty pound, please." He reactant hand some Cash to Assistant out. Good grief, he just got payment from latest work yesterday. A day later he spent already his money for waste. The Assistant put the ruined book to the tut and gave it him back. "Thanks you. Have a nice day." He snatched it from his hand without saying word, then he finally left the goddamn bookstore for good.
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A few hours later, he is still mad at the incident of the earlier of the day. After his vain attempt to ease him mind by taking a small walk around his one of favorite places, still he felt
quite bad for himself more and more than before. He opened his flat's door and frustratedly throw the tote on the sofa, then proceed to take several over clothes off. When he lay his back
on the sofa, the pile of the clothes was made on the floor. His mobile phone rang. He didn't bother to check the caller ID, in 3 rings just pick it up. As he
assumed, it was from his step sister, Serena. "Hey Chuck. Guess what happened to me today?"
"No,but let me guess. Are you falling for new random guy you met today or planning to ditch one from previous date"
The female voice from the other side of line pouted to the reaction of her dear-(step) brother.
" Chuck, be nice to your lovely sister. We're family, we need to share EVERYTHING!"
"Sis,No need to share EVERYTHING with me. We're individual before we're family. We're even not blood-related."
Chuck rolled his back on the sofa, gradually closing his eyelids. Because he knows it's gonna be long phone-conversation, as he judged from her tone.
"Don't be fret. Blood-related or not doesn't matter. We're siblings, we need to bond! And now I need somebody to listen my story. So act as adorable brother and shut your mouth."
Chuck yawned a bit, still not hanging on the phone. Which, he can. He doesn't do that anyway. The thing is, they're FAMILY, as Serena always emphasizes. Chuck tried to find most-comfortable position prepared for coming long conversation with Serena.
"As you wish. Hey, By the way, you can pay my lunch next time we hang out..."
Serena already ignoring chuck and started her bubbling about the guy she encountered in the cafe today, how adorable he is or whether she should be date with him,blah blah blah. Serena's love life is
almost regular theme between Chuck and Serena, while Chuck's love life is currently nowhere to be seen. He's not so eager to hear her story, but not really it bothers him- she is his sister,
after all. They're spending their evening sometimes ranting about their mishaps for hours. On the accurate, it's Serena who's doing endless ranting. Through he's acting like he's always
annoyed by Serena, in his deep mind He love it. Before their parents got married years ago, Chuck was raised as only child. Then Suddenly Serena came into his life, with a strong belief
that they need to have "sibling bonding". He rarely vocalizes his emotion, but secretary he appreciate her existence.
Hours later, finally Serena's rambling came to an end. Now Chuck was undressed and lay down in his bed, zapping the remote control aimlessly,still holding phone in the free hand. It's what adorable brother usually does. While hearing his sister's bubbling, watching TV. Who said men aren't multi-tasking? He is.
"So Chuck, now it's your turn. How was your day? I hope you weren't spending whole day doing video game again..."
"Thank you so much for your concern. I DID go out. To the bookstore to get inspired for next possible work."
"And any progress?"
"Nope, only I was forced to buy a novel which was ruined by coffee mug in my hand."
Chuck heard Serena's giggles. He'll teach his sister it's rude to laugh at the other people'smisfortune, someday. He decided. It was not funny, at all. For that damn book he lost good money he just earned.
"Like as if you read book! What will you do with that book? Will you use it as base of your shelf to balance it? Or you can wipe something with it"
Serena started mocking his accidental purchase of the book. Now Chuck is getting really annoyed. Without any thought, he retorted.
" I DO read books, for your information. It's just both I didn't had enough spare time and I found particular interesting enough for my precious time."
"I doubt it. I know you. You really don't read books."
"I do. Trust me. You don't know me enough."
" Wanna bet? I'll give you a week to finish reading that book, then tell me how's story was like. If you win, I'll buy you a lunch. If I win, You'll accompany my next shopping spree without
absolutely no complaining. As dutiful servant."
Chuck grimaced. Accompanying his sister's shopping tour is absolutely horror to him. Last time he did that, he passed out almost at the end. It was harder than running through 49.195km, he
is sure. Besides this fact there's also matter of his stupid proud, which makes him accept her term. Maybe he'll regret this later, anyway.
"Fine by me. Deal. Now excuse me I need some sleep"
"Great! I'm looking forward next week already!"
With Serena's amusing voice, he hit the "call end" bottom and rolled back once again. He peaked through the pillow the sofa- THE BOOK on the sofa. He just can't satisfy his sister, he
said to himself. Sometimes he need to prove himself right. On making up his mind he picked up the book and opened the cover.
In the front page appeared the title and author, who is unfamiliar to him. The title can be read "Gossip Girl". Totally young adult novel. Chuck scoffed. He neither heard or read critics of his on the newspaper before (Besides He never pay attention to them.).
Then he started reading...
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"Gossip Girl"
"Spotted: Grand central, former It girl, Sabrina is now back! How former BFF Claire reacts this news?"
The story started a 4 main protagonists, 2 girl and 2 boys visiting same private school in Manhattan, where only super rich children can afford its tuition. The story revolves indeed scandalous life of rich teenagers and their competition. In addition, most importantly multi-directed love relationship, mostly triangle between "Sabrina", "Claire" and "Nathan". It seems Claire, whose long-time boyfriend Nathan secretly cheated her on Sabrina, who's mysteriously disappeared a years ago and now back. Then Nathan's best friend "Charlie", who's spoiled billionaire bad boy.
Chuck grimaced again. It's indeed a story aimed for teenage girl who adore a life like Paris Hilton, and he belongs definitely not to that group. Plus, he's never interested in rich people's life or whatsoever. When himself just manages to earn just enough for living income, how could he be interested in people who never knows fear of financial crisis? Fuck the money, he clenched the teeth. He's proudly artist. The PROFESSIONAL artist. Surely he's nor famous or rich, but he makes his life somehow by it, that all matters. Well, for now.
More worse, he hated immediately both 2 male protagonists after first page- Nathan, a prince charming with 2 girls on his hand, and Charlie, infamous rich bad-boy, which he never relates himself to. He means, how that kind of person is possible? Does such people exists only in imagination of sick mind of young adult novel's authors, right? If not, the life is too unfair. Chuck finds himself attractive, good-looking (Suddenly he recalled an scientific article that stated usually men find himself good-looking than girl see herself, but he ignored it purposefully.), witted, and talented in artistic way. Unfortunately, minus money from all of that feature. Yeah, minus money. Like it only matters in the reality. The life sucks. He muttered.
Already after read several pages he almost decided to quit and throw the book to waste basket for saving his nerve. He could never be big fan of romance-centered story like this, it's just simple torture for him to continue reading.
Serena's voice from previous conversation remains him a bet to win. Yeah, Chuck said to himself. I can't let Serena win, remember?
He gathered all his will power to force him to read further.
" We're over. Claire teary yelled to Nathan. He stand still, remains noting to say. She turned her back to him. She started pacing away the street furiously, but deep in her mind hoping he would chase her and try to convince her. She kept walking away. Unfortunately for her, it never happened."
" Minutes later, she stand in front of Victrola, Charlie's burlesque bar. She desperately needed distraction, anything keep her mind occupied. Charlie noticed her, looked surprised by her visit.
"What happened to you and Nathan, Claire?"
…...
At this point of story, despite of his disguise earlier, he was completely into the storyline. He can almost picture the scene Claire's dancing on the stage, it's so...gorgeous.
"You know, I got moves."
She was never type of girl who does something crazy, but today was an exception.
"Really? Then why don't you get up there?"
"No,I'm just saying,i have moves."
"Come on,you're ten times hotter than any of those girls."
"You really don't think I'd go up there. I know you won't do it. ...Guard my drink."
Then she step up to the stage and started dancing. After few seductive move, she let her dress slid down, eyes fixed on Charlie.
The dazzling light made her crazy. She felt so free after what happened with Nathan hours ago. it's so out of character, but it's so good.
…...
"Thanks for the lift home."
Claire said to Charlie. In her eyes, there's something different sparks he didn't find hours earlier. The sparks...that one he saw her eyes on the stage.
"You were... amazing up there."
Chuck commented. Claire pecked him.
"Are you sure?"
Claire leaned further to Charlie. She answered his question with her action- she crushed her lips on his. For a second, Charlie hesitated- then he pulled her closer to his, passionately kissed back. As their kiss heated, he pushed her back on the seat, slid his hand under her slip...
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Chuck turned the next page with slightly shaking hands (Don't blame him, he's healthy, young man n with,ahem, -needs. You know what I mean) with huge anticipation, which he hasn't felt for ages.
The next page was blank. It's white, really WHITE. Chuck turned page further to just find out it's just nothing printed on it. More worse, the completely blank page continues til the last page. For a second he even got thought that the rest of the story can be read only by burning. Like it's written in secret ink. So the words are APPEARED. He trashed the that thought seconds later, still it's so weird and frustrating. It's almost in ages that he found the story so intrigue and interesting, and when the most exciting scene came...then abruptly the rest of pages went blank. Even the Art book he's usually familiar are supposed to printed something on 80% of entire surface. Here He's just finished first 20 pages.
The book was clearly misprinted, or it's intention of the author to left the story abruptly end and let the rest of pages blank, let readers get frustrated ( Stupid idea, Chuck thought. He wouldn't do it to his client.). Since there's no solid point to do this (besides it's new way of "art" by aggressive modern artist, anyway such artist don't publish normal book).
After his brain went to sheer madness for short time, he somehow managed to clam down and decided that this is just an another misprinted book, which happens time-to-time. In any case, he can get refund. No,he need to get replaced the book with neatly printed one, because, he needed to READ the story to the end. He has bet to win. He closed the book and put it to his briefcase, then put the night stand's light and put the pillow on his head. Tomorrow there's much to do. He need to know what happens after Charlie and Claire's limo ride.
….to be continued
Sorry for no chair interaction in this chapter, next chapter contains full chair interaction. Thanks for reading 3 I appreciate reviews &comments!