By the Way

STOP READING if you didn't read Abhorrence first. Other than that, enjoy!

Serena sighed in contentment, despite having Eve spill orange juice down her white blouse and tripping over Terry's sprawling feet during breakfast. Kissing Dan goodbye, whom would go to a book signing at Noble and Barnes later on, she stepped out of the brownstone the Humphreys owned in Park Slope, Brooklyn and took the subway to Midtown Manhattan. Grabbing a pretzel along the way, she traipsed up and down until she could wait no more. Glancing down at her watch, it read 9:37am. Serena knew Blair woke up late on Sundays since Chuck was home on those days. And well, they needed their sleep…hehum.

Walking along Park Ave., she stopped at the Pierre Hotel, and went up by elevator. Blair had moved out of her own suite in building 108 to live with Chuck the time they started dating. Blair and Chuck's room was completely modern-all with Chuck's doing-and everything was mauve, champagne, white or steel colored.

Serena stomped extra hard in her mini-wedge leather boots in black vachetta to make her presence known, so as to give the two lovebirds a warning to put some clothes on. "Blair?...Chuck? Are you guys home?" She wondered aloud to the air. Wrenching open the steel fridge door, she peered inside. Everything was healthy and organic-all with Blair's doing-and not a leftover in sight. Whereas Serena's fridge, it was filled with Tupperware and plastic wraps of mac and cheese, last night's grilled Alaskan salmon sushi rolls, and rhubarb pie. Closing it, but not before taking out a pitcher of orange juice, she clumped her way towards their room. Slowing edging the door, making sure it creaked, and faked an accident so she could yell out loud, she sighed a breath of relief when she saw Blair, alone in the bed.

Serena smiled at Blair's mussed hair, and jumped onto the bed, waking Blair. "Wakey, wakey, Blair! Ah, le jour glorieux est juste pour toi, mes chers!" Blair lazily rolled over, and gazed up at her friend. The white room and the window behind Serena gave her a hazy glow, and her blonde hair seemed to be gleaming. "Wait," Blair brushed her hair out of the way. "Who are you again?" Blair said, her voice coming out slightly cracked. Her arms came out of the covers and Serena's eyes slowly widened in horror and acknowledgement. Then she jumped out of the bed like she was in scalding water.

"Oh my God, Blair! This is so disgusting!" Serena quickly took off her new Madison Marcus ruffled leather jacket and threw it on the ground. "You could've told me that you didn't change the sheets!" Serena howled. "Now I'm all covered in…gasp. Ew. Don't even want to think about it." She walked out of the bedroom, one hand in her hair.

Blair smiled despite herself. "What?" She retorted. "It's not like you and Brooklyn Boy don't do it. Look where it got you. Married and with two children. Doesn't it suck?" Blair yelled at the top of her lungs. Blair loved to goad her best friend. A navy blue baby doll dress came flying towards her, and she caught it gracefully. Then came the Wolford satin tights, and a silver colored headband. Serena knew her well.

Blair dressed quickly, and went to the kitchen to greet her friend. She was sipping a glass of orange juice, and she had changed her shirt for one of Blair's. Blair was more petite, whereas Serena was tall and lanky. The midanao print tee was so small that you could see Serena's hips a little. Serena caught Blair wrinkle her nose at her fashion choice. "I had to improvise." Serena huffed, and patted the stool next to her. "We don't have to discuss what happened to you last night." Serena raised her eyebrows, and Blair responded by sarcastically barring her teeth.

"Fine. What happened to you last night?" Blair asked, not caring for the answer. She peeked at her engagement ring, and wondered when Serena would bring it up.

"…and then the salsa sauce splattered all over the wall, and James Bond was still kissing that Asian girl underwater, I don't remember that movie's name, and Eve was crying, and that was how the night ended." Serena ended the summary with a simple nod.

Blair smiled, and placed her left hand on the countertop, and Serena smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. So tell me again of how he proposed." And Serena prepared herself for a painfully long play by play of what happened at the Winter soiree. Looking out at the bleak January scene, Serena wondered if Blair would agree to a soggy, early spring type wedding. Blair always pictured it to be in France, on Bastille Day, and they would kiss when the fireworks and parade started.

"Blair?" Serena blurted out.

Blair squinted her eyes in suspicion. "S.? Were you even listening to me?" Blair's voice seemed to be getting higher and higher. "Because there was something really important. About Kati and Cadmus, remember?" Blair ended up whining, which shouldn't have been happening considering Serena was supposed to apologize.

"Blair, are you happy?" Serena asked. It wasn't a giddy question, like, 'So, what date will it be on?' or 'can I help pick out a cake?'. It was a serious one, and Blair didn't feel like being serious. Blair frowned, and looked over Serena's shoulder, her stance stiff. "What kind of question is that, even? I'm the one that's supposed to have cold feet, not you."

Serena sighed, and tried unsuccessfully to pull down her shirt. "Sorry. Had to ask. You certainly didn't click the first time you guys saw each other. Even though this is a match in heaven, it's still…I don't know, Blair. Being married is a serious thing, and…well. What if Chuck runs away again?" Serena's voice got quieter and quieter with each word.

Blair's brown orbs swiveled to look into Serena's green ones. "Well, he won't. I trust him." They turned around to greet whoever opened the door.

"I bought the whipped cream." Chuck's joked, his voice traveling into the kitchen. He came into view with two brown paper bags in his hands. He stopped briefly to soak in the fact that Serena was there. "Hey." He finally said as he pulled out vegetables. He noticed Blair's somber expression, and pulled out a can of Cool Whip. "I wasn't joking." He flashed a smile, and while Blair rolled her eyes, back to normal, Serena was still unsmiling, and slid of the stool.

"Excuse me," Serena attempted to cheer Blair up, "but your fiancée and I need to go shopping for bridesmaid dresses." Serena looped her arm through Blair's, and left Chuck checking the kitchen inventory.

They went to the front door, and Blair pulled at a sliding mirror to reveal a mini closet full of shoes. Serena rolled her eyes while Blair picked out a pair of black suede wedge booties and threw on a grey trench coat. "By the way," Blair said dismissively as they walked towards the elevator. "You're my maid of honor."

A/N~ So, I hope you liked it! Please review, because I'm really lonely and need an illusion that someone out there likes me. :D

site for fashion is bergdorfgoodmandotcom.

Serena's...
boots: search mini-wedge boots
jacket: search ruffled jacket
top: search emilio tee
Blair's...
dress: search babydoll dress
boots: search wedge bootie