Blair Archibald likes to think she has it all: a rich, and handsome husband, beautiful children, and a privileged life.
She and Nate are married, and friends, like they've slipped into the comforts of marriage so easily, and effortlessly. But that's just it, they're friends. And she doesn't want to delude herself more and say they're in love.
Love isn't a priority anymore, really. It's all in the image, and of course, her children are most important.
Audrey is her in every way, except more athletic, and less. . .obsessive. She is also on-off-on-off (Blair has given up trying to keep track), with none other than Daniel Bass.
Josiah inherited his father's good looks, from his eyes, to his hair. And then there's the Archibald charm. It's evident in the way he stands, even at a young age of thirteen. Blair is grateful, really, that both her children have her intelligence, and so is Nate.
(As he tells her.)
--
"Mom?" Audrey asks cautiously. "Can we. . .talk?"
"Sure."
Blair looks at her daughter, who looks scared and out-of-words, and something tells her this is serious. She's never been the "talk" type.
"You know Daniel, right? The guy I've been. . .seeing, lately."
"Of course."
"I don't know if he's serious, or just chasing me for sport. . .He has this reputation, you know. I guess I keep hoping for him to change, when it's not even clear what's between us.."
She has to keep from smiling. "I see. And you're asking me for advice?"
"Well, you said you used to be friends with his dad. They're pretty much the same."
"Right." Blair pushes Chuck out her mind, and tries to think of a solution or answer. "Audrey, I'll think about this, okay? Try to. . .remember some things that could help."
"Okay. Thanks, mom."
--
It's weird, really, how she came about calling Chuck Bass. It's been a long time since she's had the nerve to do it, and she's unsure about how he'll take it.
"Chuck Bass," he answers curtly.
"It's me. Blair."
He's silent for awhile, and she regrets even calling.
"Wal—" He pauses. "Archibald, nice to hear from you."
"Bass," she replies, trying not to smile. "Don't worry, I'm calling to talk about your son."
"Daniel?"
"How many do you have?" she retorts. "He's been screwing my daughter."
She knows he's smirking. "Of course he is."
"Tell him to stop it, or tell him to get serious.. Audrey doesn't need a Bass in her life doing this right now."
"Speaking from experience?"
She blushes, grateful he can't see her. He sighs, and gives up the facade.
"How's Nate?" he asks bitterly.
"He's fine. Over in China for some investment contracts to be signed, and he's coming back on Tuesday," she answers with enough details to hopefully make him picture a happy, in love couple.
"And how is the Mrs. Archibald?"
"Fine."
He doesn't press on, even if part of her wants him to. She wants to tease him, about still being a bachelor after all these years, but then it would hit a hit on her too. She wants to tell him that she still misses him sometimes, after all these years.
But the wedding ring on her finger stops her.
"Chuck, I need to go. I have a meeting," she says quickly. "So, goodbye."
"Wait, Blair—"
"What?"
"Do you want to meet up, to talk, or something? As friends, of course."
She considers this, and how Nate would react if he knew. He would probably think of it, and say it would be fine, throwing a little joke in. He's Nate.
She's over Chuck, has been for a long time, but it's a fragile thing.
"I'm sorry."
Then she drops the phone before she can hear even more.
--
To her surprise, Daniel Bass appears in their penthouse the next day. Scarf around his neck, and flowers in his hand, he asks (politely, or charmingly) for Audrey.
Dorota calls for her daughter, and Blair invites him to sit on the couch with her.
"Daniel, would you like a drink?"
"Scotch would be fine, Mrs. Archibald."
Of course.
Hiding a smirk, she calls for two glasses of scotch and proceeds with the interrogation.
"It's a surprise to see you here, Daniel," she says sweetly.
He nods. He's not admitting anything.
"What are you really doing here?" she asks frankly. Daniel looks a bit surprised.
"My father talked to me."
"And?"
"Said if I really liked your daughter," he starts, clearing his throat. "I shouldn't take her for granted. That I'd regret it one day if I did. And he said he wanted me to do things right."
Blair looks at him, and feels like her stomach is weak so suddenly. It's a surprise that a Bass would reveal so much, but then again, he wants to make it clear(or pretend), that it's because of his dad he's there.
She's still in her own world, but snaps out when Audrey appears eyes on the boy.
She excuses herself and heads straight to the bathroom, and throws up.
(The first for a long time.)
Blame the damn butterflies, she thinks. They're supposed to be murdered, buried, and forgotten.
--
The party is seriously boring, and the only thing she'd doing is watching Audrey slow dance with Daniel in the middle of the room. And she smiles, because it reminds her of. . .
"You know, I really think she's going to be the one for him."
. . .Chuck and her.
She pretends being so near to him isn't making her heart race. "Bass."
He sits next to her.
"Nate's just talking to some people, you know," she says. "Over there."
"Which means I have little time." He pauses, obviously wanting to say something. "Did you ever think we'd end up like this?"
"What do you mean?"
"You, married to Nathaniel, and both of us watching our children fall in love."
She shakes her head. "Not really. But I wanted to be Mrs. Archibald in kindergarten, remember?"
"I remember," he says, grinning. "Wasn't it ever me?"
"When I was temporarily insane." She smiles, and looks over at him.
His eyes are as dark as she remembers, and the small lines in the corners of his eyes just make him look more distinguished. The smell of his cologne threatens to make her sick, and yet she wants nothing more than to breathe it in.
"Why?"she asks, curious.
"Nothing. It's just that I think about it sometimes, you know." His eyes seem so close to her own; it's all she can see, and it's so hard to breathe. "I used to think that if I ended up with anyone, it'd be you."
She shifts on her chair. "Why are you saying these things, Chuck?" she asks quietly. "I'm happy."
"I miss you. And I think about it a lot," he tells her softly. "I should've never pushed you back to Nathaniel."
She can't reply, and silently waits for something, anything, to break the awkwardness. His eyes are on her, and hers are determinedly anywhere else.
"Chuck?" Nate suddenly stands before them, grinning. "Hey, I haven't seen you in a long time."
He shakes Nate's hand, and glances at Blair. "Well, we've both been busy."
"I know. I was just wondering if Blair would like to dance."
She stands, grateful. "I'd love to."
"Great. We'll catch up later?"
"Sure."
He watches as Nate takes Blair's hand and leads her to dance, his back against Chuck. Her eyes meet his from where her head rests on his shoulder.
"I didn't know you and Chuck could talk without World War Three breaking out," Nate observes.
She smiles weakly, still looking at Chuck Bass, at the boy who had broken her heart and still had it, after all this time.
Just a boy, even now.
"Surprises even me, Nate."