If We Ever Meet Again

A Place Like This

I meant it Blair, with all my heart.

I love you.

If two people are meant to be together….

You don't need to choose.

I have to be Blair Waldorf first.

She awoke with a jolt, as though a shock of electricity had passed through her. The angry red light of alarm clock stared back at her: 4:13AM.

Blair sighed, exhaling loudly. She stared up at the blue-black ceiling, the room still shrouded in night. She hoped that sleep might return, but knew better. It happened sometimes; thoughts of Chuck creeping up on her, even when she was bone tired. That pivotal choice, the memories of that night scrambling together, even though they were, now, so long ago.

She rubbed her temples, attempting to soothe the sleep and exhaustion from her face. Her mind drifted to how she had ended up in a place like this? Agreeing to intern with her mother had clear advantages during her sophomore year at Columbia. Blair stretched the length of her body, toes curling in the duvet. Her ferocious knack for business and inbred knowledge of fashion had left an impression on those she had dealt with for Eleanor Waldorf Designs.

Which led her here. To Limited Brands. In the Midwest. Ew.

Though she had kept busy enough in the city, it was still the city, and too close to Chuck. And Limited Brands? Well, she needed a bigger business to learn from, and they did own Bendel's. It was just a summer internship before her senior year at Columbia, and seeing the intersection of big business fashion and luxury collections was exciting. Blair slid out of bed, standing, and stretched again.

Quietly, she put on her running gear, and slipped out the front door. The corporate housing wasn't so miserable. Easton Commons was at least next to a posh outdoor mall. Her run took her past Bendel's and Tiffany's, Burberry, and Nordstrom- hardly Bergdorf's, but it was the best it seemed Columbus could do. Blair had never understood before what Nate always enjoyed so much about running. But over the past few years, she found it helped her clear her head, focus on the important things, and plan her day. She ran hard, trying to shake the memories that had bubbled up while she dreamed. Blair wanted, needed, this summer to be different. She wanted to grow and see things from a different perspective. A new city, a new job, no old friends, no Gossip Girl around every corner; she was free. Blair ran further, harder.

Nearly 6AM. Blair pushed the front door open, looking forward to her yogurt and bowl of fruit. The television was on CNN and she looked around, confused. Her roommate was sitting at the breakfast bar, iPad in one hand, and a spoonful of cereal in the other. The other girl looked up," Hey Blair! Good run?"

Way too perky for 6AM, Blair thought to herself. She walked to the refrigerator and retrieved her breakfast, "Yeah."

Breathing in, Blair turned and uncharacteristically sat down at the breakfast bar next to the other girl. Try, she told herself. She peeked at the screen of the iPad, "What are you looking at?"

The other girl's name was Evangeline St. George, and even after just a week together, Blair did not know much more than that. Eve turned to show her the screen, "It's the press release on the new make of my car, isn't it stunning? They're finally putting the double clutch transmission in it."

Eve looked thoroughly happy at this news. Blair had no idea what Eve was talking about, so she decided to not even try to hide it, "I know nothing about cars," She said, a look of mild distaste on her face.

"You're not alone." Eve smiled. "I like pretty things, and cars can be quite pretty- look at the lines and the lights on this car," She manipulated the image on the screen to show Blair. "They call their designs 'fluidic sculpture' and it's by far one the fresher things on the market right now."

Blair pondered what Eve was saying as she watched the screen, "It doesn't look so different from yours, but you did pick the best color." Blair smiled back at Eve.

"What does your car look like?" Eve inquired.

"I don't have one- I don't drive." Blair stared at her bowl of fruit, skewering a strawberry.

"Wanna learn?" Eve cocked her head to the side.

Blair looked up at Eve, confused, "Why would I want to learn to drive?"

"Freedom," Eve stated bluntly. It was as if somehow, she knew more about Blair than she should. "And it's exhilarating, plus I get to take my stress out by screaming at other drivers," Eve chuckled.

Blair pondered this as she continued to eat her fruit, still unable to come to a decision, "Let me mull it over, I'll get back to you."

That weekend, trainers permit in hand, Eve took Blair to her old stomping grounds- her high school. Well, to the parking lot anyway.

"This is where you went to school." Blair was horrified at the size of the building.

"Yup, over 2,000 people in all four grades in my senior year. That was before they opened the third high school." Eve had parked, and turned the engine off. "Ready? Let's go!"

Trading places, Blair slid into the drivers seat for the first time. Eve's Genesis Coupe was a sleek grey and Blair smoothed her hands over the black leather steering wheel.

Eve grinned and shook her head. "This is the part where you turn the car on."

Blair glowered back, and turned the ignition. Raw primitive power roared to life under her fingertips. 300 plus break horsepower rearing as the six slick cylinder heads rose and fell. She tapped the acceleration pedal, and the car surged forth; Blair freaked and hit the brakes.

"Congratulations, we moved three feet and stopped. You're a natural." Eve teased her.

"You know, you're almost as bad as…" Blair snapped and stopped herself. Eve looked at her with wide-eyed confusion, and possibly concern? They had talked about trivial stuff, never their histories or feelings. Blair did not want to talk about it.

"Try again; he's sport-tuned, so his brakes and accelerator are sensitive, and he has a harder ride quality," Eve said softly, trying to coax Blair to keep going.

"He?" Blair quipped.

"Mamoru. I know, it's a Korean car, but bite me, I have a soft spot." Eve was being playfully defensive. She stroked the dashboard, "He's my guardian, and my baby. So no wrapping him around trees or lamp posts."

The girls laughed. They spent an age driving in the parking lot as Blair learned the controls, the size of the car. Eve had fun and even taught her how to power slide- not an essential skill, but it was exciting. Finally convincing Blair to drive on the road, they picked up some coffee. Back in the car, coffee in hand, Eve directed Blair through a neighborhood, and they parked in front of a house. Setting on the car's trunk, they sipped their coffee as Eve stared at the house across the street.

"I hate him." Eve let the words float away from her. Blair looked up from the rim of her coffee cup, at the other girl, but remained silent. "He was my everything, and even after he broke my heart, he would never let me go. I left to chase my dreams, but also to get away from him."

Blair looked over at the blue house Eve was staring at. It was far from special or pretty, but she felt for the other girl. She thought about what Eve said; her thoughts turned to Chuck and she suddenly whispered, "Me too."

Eve put an arm around Blair and they both let their sorrows engulf them. No tears, just sadness. Jagged blue-grey clouds coated the summer sky. Eve was trying to remember her summers with him, but it was already becoming too late. All she could remember was hurt and blue eyes. Her mind flooded with the memory of so many lost tears; she wanted more than he could have ever given her, and bit the edge of the paper coffee cup in retaliation.

Blair was forlorn; her exile was a choice twice over. She did not regret her decisions, but that did not make them a great deal easier with which to live. Her heart was whole, but empty, and it ached. Reaching for her dreams, she knew she would never be the same. Would Chuck still love her when they met again? Was that something she still wanted?

Eve gathered herself together and shook her head in defiance of their sullen mood. "Enough! The summer has only begun, and we are going to do what we came to do! Work hard, be amazing, and find love- for ourselves! Yeah?" Eve looked at Blair with hope and excitement in her eyes.

Blair gave a small smile. "Well, I suppose we have to at least try."

"Right! Let's shake on it." Eve proffered her hand.

Hand in hand, they shook, and Blair exhaled, ready to take on the future she had chosen.

That night they had an Audrey marathon. The next morning, they made a list. Blair liked lists, but Eve liked them even more. Things to do, to experience, goals to reach, they flung themselves mercilessly into the summer. There was a constant flow of activity. Blair learned to drive and received her license. Yes, it was an Ohio license and she hated the color, but it was hers! The girls went to every club, restaurant, and event Eve could find. Blair actually relaxed, had fun, laughed at other people's jokes, and she was… happy.

Weeks flipped by, and soon, Blair was packing for New York and Columbia, Eve for D.C. and Georgetown. A knock on her bedroom door, Blair looked up from her luggage. It was Eve, "A small thank you." She held out a small album. Blair opened it to find it stuffed full of photos of them from all they had done that summer. "Kind of old school I know, but, it's more intimate than Facebook." Eve smiled.

Blair threw her arms around Eve, hugging her fiercely and Blair whispered, "Thank you."