"Who's that?" Chuck asked as he gestured his wine glass towards a brunette standing in the doorway. They were at the mandatory social gathering of the day.

"Blair Waldorf. You remember her?"

"Distinctly. Isn't she the girl you were practically in love with?"

Nate laughed shyly and ducked his head. "I was twelve." He mumbled.

"Twelve, but obsessed nonetheless." Chuck pointed out. "Why did she leave again?"

"Her family went to Paris. It was supposed to be a summer thing, but I guess they never came back."

"Until now." Chuck mused.

Blair scanned the room and her eyes landed on where Nate and Chuck were standing. She smiled and made her way towards them.

"Nate!" She exclaimed. Chuck stood awkwardly and cleared his throat.

"Oh, hi." Blair acknowledged, turning to face Chuck. "Who are you?"

"That's Chuck, remember?"

Blair took one look at Chuck and pursed her lips. He hated the fact that he was being evaluated. Blair probably even had a rubric for these kinds of things. "Puberty served you well. I always remembered you as the scrawny pervert who was Nate's best friend."

Chuck scoffed and turned his head to avoid showing the slight blush that had formed on his cheeks. Blair never refrained from expressing herself.

"Nate here," Chuck said quickly, changing the subject "was just heartbroken after you left."

Blair raised her eyebrows and glanced adoringly at Nate. "Oh, were you?"

"Chuck's making an overstatement." Nate mumbled.

"Shame." Blair murmured almost in a seducing way before skipping away. Only she could pull off such a childish act.

"What's gotten into her?" Chuck asked. There still seemed to be an aroma of Blair after she was gone, and Chuck was having slight trouble thinking straight.

"She's Blair Waldorf." Nate said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"I forgot how…extravagant she was."

"She's definitely extravagant." Nate laughed.

"Do you think she'll be at the masquerade tonight?" Chuck pondered.

"I don't think so. They're family just came back today. I'm surprised she even came here."

"How do you know they came back today?"

"The Captain. Apparently he and Eleanor are working on this business deal."

"And you didn't care to tell me this? I'm hurt Nathaniel." Chuck's tone of sarcasm was blunt.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Nate spoke innocently, "I seemed to have missed the notice about Chuck Bass caring this much about a girl."

Chuck shut up and drank.

...

Masquerades always had a certain appeal to Chuck Bass. He enjoyed the idea of concealed identities. It was a night with no consequences, because no one knew who to blame.

Chuck scanned the room of masked attendees like a hawk searching for prey. Which lucky girl would be granted with the presence of Chuck Bass tonight? He was in the mood for a blonde. There was a soft tap on his shoulder.

"Excuse me," The brunette's face was shielded by a silver mask, "you're blocking the refreshments."

"My apologies." Chuck murmured. He took a step to the side, his eyes never leaving the brunette as she picked up a glass of champagne. Her head tilted ever so slightly as her eyes met Chuck's.

"Am I amusing you?" Her voice was a high-pitched drawl, but it was still classy.

"Are you making a purpose to amuse me?"

The brunette's mouth twitched. "I don't put on a show for just anyone."

"And am I not worthy?"

"Hardly."

"Hardly worthy or hardly unworthy?"

"He makes jokes." The brunette took a sip out of her glass. The movement drove Chuck to insanity. He had found his victim.

"Care for a dance?" Chuck extended a hand.

"If only it were that simple." She sighed carelessly.

Chuck withdrew his hand as if it had been slapped. He wasn't accustomed to rejection. "So what can I do?"

"Find me later. If I'm bored, you may get that dance you so richly desire." The brunette teased. She ran her finger down the front of Chuck's suit, causing him to shiver. She smirked and bowed her head before walking away.

Chuck felt scandalized. He was supposed to be the predator, not the prey. He was beginning to regret being so eager. If she was playing hard to get, then perhaps he should return the favor. Though, somehow, through the dislike, Chuck somewhat venerated this girl. It might be due to the bubbling feeling he felt in his stomach. No…it wasn't bubbling, it was…some sort of…fluttering. Well, this was quite an aberration from his plans for the night.

….

He spotted her about five people away. He knew he couldn't simply approach her. Chuck Bass was not to be known as desperate. So instead, he simply brushed past, taking note to lightly bump her shoulder.

"Hey, watch where you're—" The brunette halted mid-sentence when she saw who had bumped her. Chuck locked eyes with her for a moment. Her eyes were a pool of clear blue, odd for a brunette, and the lightest tint of blush dotted her porcelain skin. Chuck donned a sinister smirk before he uttered a "My apologies."

Chuck didn't make it one step away before she caught his arm. "What kind of game are you playing?" Chuck smiled.

"A game that's obviously working."

"Your complacency sickens me."

"Then why are you still holding my hand?"

The brunette stifled a gasp, and instead, snarled. Chuck relished the fact that he had caught her off guard. She immediately released his hand from her grasp. Chuck turned to face her. Their noses were just inches away.

"Now, how about that dance?" He extended a hand, this time, with confidence.

She took it reluctantly, though her eyes were aflame with yearning. Chuck couldn't stop looking into those eyes. They were so blue, it was almost unreal.

Chuck led her onto the dance floor like a gentlemen. The song was upbeat, but their dance was slow.

"So," Chuck began.

"Shhh." She hushed, closing her eyes and swaying to the music. "No talking. Just dance."

Chuck willingly obliged. After seemingly dancing for hours, the song ended. A slower song began, and the rest of the couples surrounding them began to slow-dance.

The brunette looked around. Somehow, the mood was suddenly more awkward once the song had turned into a slower melody.

"Would you like to enjoy the view from above?" It was a simple question, but Chuck acted as if it were a proposal.

"Sure." Her smile wasn't the scheming smirk she had been wearing the whole night. This was unforced, genuine.

Chuck reached out and took the brunette's hand. She flinched at the lightest touch, and Chuck immediately pulled away. The brunette laughed and linked her arm around Chuck's.

"Why so nervous?"

Chuck didn't answer. He had been asking himself the same question all night. He wasn't supposed to be like this towards women, it just wasn't in his demeanor to care. He led the brunette up the flight of stairs. She looked at him questioningly when they passed the highest floor, but Chuck didn't say anything.

"The roof." The brunette surmised, as Chuck propped himself on the landing to a doorway which opened to reveal the rooftop. The brunette took Chuck's hands as he pulled her up. Once she was stable and on the rooftop, the brunette laughed.

"What's so funny?" Chuck snarled. Everyone always poked fun at him for his fascination with rooftops.

"Oh, I'm not laughing at you." The brunette smiled. Her mask was still carefully placed on her face, but her hair was now shaken out, and the wind blew her curls playfully across her face. "It's just…don't laugh at me, but I feel free,you know?" The brunette was skipping now. She leaned across the edge and laughed again, fearless of falling.

Chuck smiled. He was so incredibly in love. No. he corrected himself. It's just the thrill of a rooftop, that's all. The city's playing tricks on you.

"What do you feel free from?" Chuck questioned casually.

"My mother." Her reply was instant. "The constant need to be perfect."

"How much more perfect can you get?"

The brunette laughed. "According to my mother, I'm far from perfect." She turned to look at Chuck. She was evaluating him, he could tell. "You look like you could use some freeing too."

"Just a little." He admitted.

The brunette smiled. Chuck was thinking about kissing her, when a buzzing noise interrupted his thought. The brunette pulled an orange phone from her studded bag.

"I have to go." She announced.

"Now?" Chuck silently berated himself for sounding so desperate.

"Unfortunately." Her lips twisted into a small frown, and Chuck was relieved that she was just as upset. "But here," She quickly leaned in and kissed Chuck. The kiss was short-lived. It lingered on Chuck's lips, giving him a sudden instinct to grab her and kiss her a million more times. "Just a little something to remember me by."

"And how will I ever see you again?"

"You can come find me." The brunette shrugged nonchalantly.

"As far as I'm concerned, you haven't left a single clue for me to work off of."

"A true prince knows how to pursue his princess." His princess. Chuck marveled. The words sounded right.

"Unfortunately, I'm not a prince, I'm a dark knight."

"All the better, my life was getting a little boring." The brunette walked over to the doorway leading back down to the ball. "Don't follow me. That would be cheating!" she exclaimed, before disappearing.