Chapter One: In the Beginning (Summer Before Sophomore Year)

There were so few things that Blair adored more than Audrey Hepburn movies. The list of those things included her favorite pair of red Burberry ballet flats, outings with her father, and a certain blonde haired, blue eyed Archibald boy who she had been in love with since they'd met in kindergarten. There was something about the way that he smiled at her, about the way the light always caught his perfect hair that seemed like it undoubtedly belonged to her. She'd always delighted in his attention, ever since he had asked her to be his girlfriend with a gourmet juice box and a little handwritten note. Having his attention was better than watching Humphrey Bogart meet Audrey on the boat to Paris, better than the taste of her favorite Parisian macaroons, and even better than the feeling of completing a successful scheme.

And though he didn't enjoy watching Audrey on screen as much as she did, he laid with her anyway, their legs intertwined and their eyes glued to the screen. Blair sighed as she imagined the life of a Roman princess, figuring that she would not mind the pleasure of attending royal balls and diplomatic dinners. It all seemed grand to her, though Nate seemed less than amused with the notion.

"If she hates it there so much why doesn't she just run away? That's what I would do," he murmured against her head, placing a small kiss on her silky brown hair.

She rolled her eyes and sighed, "Give it a minute, you'll see what she does. And is this even the first time we've watched Roman Holiday together?"

Nate shrugged, "I don't know. I probably slept through last time."

"Charming," she said sarcastically.

"Or maybe last time we were doing this," he said quickly, and before Blair could register what he was saying, he rolled on top of her and began to cover her face with kisses. She roared with laughter, playfully swatting at him as though she wanted him to stop. But she definite/y didn't. In fact, she never wanted to leave that moment. Ever.

Nate continued to kiss Blair, making his way down to her glossy lips. He kept his eyes closed, though, for it made it easier for him to imagine that they were the lips of a certain leggy blonde that he could never get off his mind. Blair was beautiful, of course, but there was a coldness in her that he had grown tired of over the years. Serena was warm and sweet and carefree; she was everything that Blair wasn't and would never be. It bothered him that he couldn't be honest with her or with himself, but he was too far in for it to go smoothly.

Blair kissed him with a desire that she had never felt before. They hadn't been together…like that. She was afraid. She knew she wanted to marry Nate, have his beautiful children, and spend an eternity as an Archibald, but there was something terrifying about the idea of sex. It was too permanent for a chaste queen such as herself. While other girls were going through men like tissues, she was with Nate, upholding a purity that made her who she was. He was an angel, too, for he never complained about her wanting to wait. After all, they were only fifteen, and she was no Serena. But she knew that Nate liked that about her; they loved each other and he appreciated all that she embodied. It's what made them work.

Nate deepened the kiss, feeling a growing tension in his stomach. He'd never experienced sex. Blair was too pure for that, and though he didn't necessarily need sex, it was hard to be Chuck Bass's best friend without knowing the feeling of what the dark-haired boy experienced on a day to day basis. It was frustrating to say the least. Plus, they had been dating so long. Sure, she was no Serena, but she was pretty in her own right and he could admire that.

Blair obliged. She ran her hands up and down his chest, yearning to remove the clothing between them. Nate was her everything and she wanted to suck it up and show him how much he meant to her. Her fingers nervously made their way to his waist, shaking slightly as she began to lift his shirt over his head. Nate blinked, surprised, and smiled against her lips.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

Blair kissed him deeply before saying, "Of course."

They continued this way for several minutes, slowly growing closer and closer to being fully exposed to one another. Every inch of Blair's skin growing hot. She wanted this, right? She was ready for this. Of course, she was. She'd told him that, after all.

Nate reached behind her, fumbling as he tried to find the hook to her beautiful dark blue La Perla bra. Blair held her breath, struggling to hold her focus until an earth-shattering voice interrupted her loud thoughts.

"Normally I have to pay a substantial amount to watch this kind of quality," Chuck said, his voice absolutely dripping with amusement. Blair shrieked as she realized the state he was seeing her in: half naked, nervous, and vulnerable. Gossip girl would have a field day if Chuck Bass decided that the rumor mill had been too dry lately. She would be finished.

She flew off of Nate's bed and yanked at the blanket to cover herself. She then stared up at Chuck from the floor, her dark eyes pleading more than her mouth ever would.

Chuck swallowed as her met her eyes. They were deep brown, way more beautiful than any of the other eyes he'd ever looked into. There was something beautiful about her embarrassment, something so innocent and lovable that he almost wished he'd walked in sooner.

"Dude!" Nate yelled, throwing a pillow at his best friend in surprise. Chuck simply laughed and shoved his hands in his pockets, noting the scene. Nate looked horrified and Blair looked like she was going to start crying, "I told you four, it's only three!"

"My apologies, Nathaniel, I wasn't expecting you to be doing anything," Chuck said slowly, looking direction at Blair as he spoke, "Anyone…"

Blair was a fine study. She was angelic in her looks, which he would never admit to her. He'd always found her underlying insecurity and cunning personality charming, for both qualities perfectly matched his own. She was his equal. She was the queen, he was the dark prince. Something about that logic soothed him even if she was with Nathaniel. And, as he watched his best friend and his girlfriend awkwardly dress themselves in front of him, he felt a pang of jealousy. A most unwanted jealousy, if he might add. He loved his best friend, of course, but since the first moment he'd met Blair there had been something special about her. And no girl had ever been truly special to Chuck Bass. He inhaled sharply, wondering if he would get the chance to see her in her half naked state ever again.

He took in the sight of her porcelain skin and her slight curves. She was vibrant and gorgeous, unlike anyone he had ever seen. Nate was too blind to appreciate her, though if gave Chuck comfort in the sense that he trusted the two of them had never slept together.

"I knew you were a perv, Bass, but it didn't occur to me that your tastes were so close to home," Blair said as she hastily slipped back into her dress.

Chuck leaned against the doorframe and cocked his head to the side a little, "I make no apologies for my indulgences. However, Nathaniel isn't among them."

Blair scoffed as she stood. Though she was fully clothed, her hair was still rumpled, as was her dress. There were so few occasions that Blair wasn't completely put together, and it was a sight Chuck decided that he liked very much.

"Roman Holiday, how tasteful," he said simply.

Blair clenched her jaw at him once she was fully dressed, undoubtedly planning a clever way to silence him forever.

He smirked at her, hopeful.