Lady in Red: Six Chapters. Two Thanksgiving, two Christmas, two New Year chapters from past and present. Inspired by a short film from Spain called Café Para llevar and kinda the feeling I get when I hear the song Lady in Red Chris de Bough. If you like this chapter, maybe you would like to watch the film which is on Vimeo is basically what happens in this first chapter. Also, I wanted to write a fic with mainly dialogue centered drama so most the fic is dialogue.
November 2015
She was running late but she needed a break. A moment to herself away from the press, from having to get ready for the French embassy Thanksgiving Eve gala and from her mother. She dunked into a bar on the Upper East Side. It was a random spot. She never walked into that space before or it was newly redone since her exodus from the city. But she needed a drink. One martini she told herself and back to her princess in role.
The city she once loved was taking a toll on her. Three years gone and now being back for Thanksgiving because of her mother's insistence she saw him everywhere. Every street, every smell, blow of the wind, laugh of couples that surrounded her reminded her of her lost love. Thanksgiving was the last holiday they spent today. It was before she found out about the pregnancy, before he brought a ring, and before their love story ended. So the pumpkin pies that used to make her happy now only made her heart pang with the feeling that she could cry for hours. The ring on her finger weighed on her heart more and more each minute she spent here. She needed a break. She ducked into the bar clutching the shopping mag from Bergdorf's and her hand bag in one hand as she used the other to wave down the bartender.
"Martini make sure you use gin not vodka and two olives not one," she said ordering her drink. Her back was to the rest of the patrons in the bar. It mostly empty and but even still she did not want to bump into anyone since she was not in the mood for small talk or selfies with the American Princess persona she had to keep up.
A hand came out to touch her shoulder. She turned her head around quickly ready to curse out whoever touched her even if it was the press. Nothing could prepare her for him. Chuck Bass. The love she was running from.
"Blair," he said it in amazement as if he could not believe it himself.
It had been almost three years since she saw him last. He was going to propose but that was ruined and she fled to France where she meant Louis. Chuck had gone on a bender she heard and ended up in Paris of all places. But by the time he came to the city she was living in Monaco and extended her winter college break to the point where she had dropped out of school even though she was one semester away from graduation. Her life was nothing like she had planned when she was seventeen instead she was living the fairytale she imagined at seven. Ironically, it would be back in New York City where they bumped into each other rather than Europe. New York belong to them. Their relationship was embodied into every nook and cranny of the Upper East Side.
"You look... wow," Chuck said in a loss for words. She blushed. She still had on her red wool coat but it was open revealing a white and black dress.
"You look good... healthy," she said twisting her head as she examined him. She heard the stories of his drug fueled year after she left.
"I am. I am good better than ever before," he added. Her stomach dropped. He was better without her was all she heard.
The bartender came with her drink giving Blair a moment to catch her breath and think. She noticed then the glass of scotch in Chuck's hand and she looked around to see if anyone was waiting for him. But she saw no one seating alone.
"I just stopped in for one drink," Blair said trying to cover the silence that had taken over.
"Holiday season has you stressed huh?" He teased but she only felt gloomy because Thanksgiving only made her sad now no happy stress. She realized his hand was still on her shoulder when he squeezed it. She looked his hand and he moved it.
"We're in town for Thanksgiving. But since New York is the best place to shop for Christmas presents I had been trying to sneak away here and there to get some shopping down," she said. She felt like she was rambling and she knew he was lying.
"You and the Prince?" He said with a snarky edge and she raised an eyebrow to question via time.
"Yes me and my fiancé."
He rolled his eyes. "Congrats"
"Well that felt warm and kind," she said. He bowed his head and looked a little ashamed. She sipped her drink.
"I just want you to be happy." There was more honesty in his voice than she ever heard before. She took a deep breath.
"Are you happy, Blair?" He asked.
She shrugged and looked to her left at the bar away from him. That shrug sent waves throughout Chuck's body. That unsure indifferent answer was a small ray of hope when he was in darkness for three years without her.
"He is able to commit to giving me what I want," she said but there was so much left unsaid but he heard it.
They had dated for four years one being their senior year of high school and the following three. They were so happy. The IT couple. The power couple. They had it all. It was when Chuck started to talk about marriage that things took a nosedive. With talks of marriage came talks of children and Chuck couldn't handle that. He was scared and it very clear he wanted no children. Blair thought nothing of it. She figured he would change his mind in a few years. But then she had a pregnancy scare around this time three years ago and Chuck flew. He was gone for a week. She figured he cheated on her in the time he was gone. But that was not what hurt her the most. She understood that fear. What hurt was having to go through her miscarriage alone.
"I heard you're dating someone. Serena, mentioned you came home with a girlfriend?" Blair said.
He nodded. Serena was the link between them. They knew they both got information from her. "There is something I should tell you now that I saw you."
"Honey!" A voice as cute as the speaker shouted interrupting the moment. She was waving and walking their way. Her a ray of blonde beautiful light was his girlfriend.
"Blair, this is Eva my girlfriend," he said. While Blair had carefully mastered her facial expressions for years she could not help the surprise that showed on her face.
"So nice to meet you. I've heard so much about you," Eva said as she said friendly as she kissed Blair's cheek and Blair tried to smile in response.
"Yea. Chuck was..." her words trailed off as Eva opened her large tan parka coat to reveal her pregnant belly.
"Oh wow you guys are... wow! Congratulations!" Blair said faking excitement. She stood up to hug them both.
"I really should head out. It was so nice to bump into you Chuck," Blair said needing to escape. Needing to flee from this women and Chuck's love child. She felt hurt for herself and the child she lost on Christmas three years ago.
She was out the door down the street when she heard her name being yelled out.
"Blair!"
She turned to see Chuck walking fast towards her. Her bag in his hand. She waited for him to reach her never stopping to walk closer to him.
"You forgot..." he said holding the bag out to her.
"Thanks" she knew her voice sounded bitter and angry but she could hardly help it.
"I wanted to tell you before she got there," he said.
"You owe me nothing. I walked away from you, remember?" She said.
"I owe you everything," his voice was low and sucked her back in his orbit.
"Chuck," she said but he pulled her into his arms.
He hugged her. Actually, he held her to him tightly. So close as they held onto those memories of their past. The love was still there. They felt it in their bones through their clothes, their jackets, and the shields they wore to defend themselves against hurt. They didn't say how much they loved each other. They felt it. Tears clouded Blair's eyes. Emotions ran wild in Chuck's heart.
"Happy thanksgiving," she said.
"Happy thanksgiving." He said and he pressed a long kiss to her cheek.