Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip Girl.

Summary: Its the summer after senior year, and the Non-Judging Breakfast Club are on the outs. With a little help from the people who've been there through the good and the bad, can Serena, Blair, Nate and Chuck resolve their issues before they go their seperate ways? Awful summary, more inside :)

Extra: Set after "Valley Girls - 2x24". The final part of Episode 2x25 doesn't exist, but graduation has already happened, meaning this begins the morning after everybody turns up at the bar. There's no crowning of Jenny Humphrey & no reunion outside The Plaza. Do you follow? ;)
Blair & Chuck have yet to say those three little words, Serena isn't headed off to Europe with Carter and Nate is still, well, Nate.

"Absoloutely not!"

"Blair! Come on! I go for all of your crazy schemes, and you won't even consider this one tiny little thing! Please?!"

"There is no way that I am going to sit in a car whilst Nate and Chuck drive us all the way to California just to drive us all the way back again! Its illogical. No."

-

Serena Van der Woodsen had always been the golden girl. No matter what she did, no matter who she slept with; it was impossible to knock her out of her optimistic view of life. According to Serena, everybody deserved a second chance. And a third. And usually a fourth, too. The woman in question was currently pulling best friend Blair Waldorf around Saks Fifth Avenue, desperately trying to persuade her to embark on the ultimate American experience: a Road Trip across the USA.

"Blair, please?"

"Serena, stop looking at me like that!"

"Like what, B?"

"Like that! Ugh! Fine! But if I get any diseases then you are so paying the hospital bill!"

"Oh, B! I love you so much! Thankyou!" Serena squealed loudly, clapping her hands together and jumping up and down a little. "This is going to be so much fun!"

"There's no way you're going to get Chuck and Nate to agree to this." Blair gave her best friend a studios look, eyes narrowing as Serena suddenly became fascinated by some brown leather gloves. "They already agreed, didn't they?"

Serena nodded meekly. "They actually had a bet going on how long it would take me to persuade you," She glanced at her watch. "Chuck won."

"Motherchucker!" Blair exclaimed, before the frustration on her face twisted into something else. "We haven't spoken since graduation. It was awful, S."

"Blair, I had no idea.." Serena's angelic face became troubled and she frowned a little. "You don't have to do this, B."

Blair scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Um, yeah, I kinda do. If I don't come along, Chuck will think it's because of him!"

"It is because of him."

"There's no reason for Chuck to know that, though, is there? Besides, Nate'll be there. I can just occupy myself with plotting ways of bringing you two back together." An evil smirk formed on her fox-like face, one that made her almost the twin of Chuck Bass himself. Serena inwardly shuddered at how alike they had become.

"Blair.." Serena started in a warning tone, but Blair cut her off.

"I'm kidding! Well, not about the back together part, but whatever. So, what kind of a wardrobe does a 'Road Trip' require, hmm?" Serena squealed again and threw her arms around Blair.

"Oh my God, B! It's going to be amazing. Nights under the stars, just us four and the open road. Doesn't that sound great?!"

"Sure." Blair rolled her eyes again, towing her best friend towards the summery clothing. "I'm guessing that we'll need clothes for both warm and cold weather, right?"

Serena nodded, a huge smile on her face, her words coming out in an attempt at a Southern drawl. "It's times like these I'm glad my momma's rich."

You let me violate you
You let me desecrate you
You let me pene-

"What the hell is your problem?!"

"Good morning to you too, honey."

Blair groaned and clutched her head, looking over at the clock on her bedside table. "Chuck, it is five thirty in the morning. Is there a particular reason that you called or are you simply trying to irritate me to death before dawn?"

Chuck chortled at the other end of the phone. "It's time to get up."

"But.. my silk sheets.." Blair's voice was almost a moan. "So comfortable.. welcome to join me.." Her voice trailed off as she buried down further into her covers, wondering what would happen if Chuck actually did come over and 'join her'.

"Blair, we're setting off at seven, don't you remember? It was your idea, after all.."

"Of course I remember. Don't be so.. so.."

"So what?"

"I don't remember." Blair yawned hugely. "God, I need caffeine."

Chuck laughed again. "I can think of better things to wake up for."

"I'm sure you can." Rolling her eyes, Blair flipped onto her stomach. "Goodbye, Bass."

"Goodbye, Blair."

"Wait."

"Yes?"

"When did you change your personal ringtone?" Blair's cheeks flushed with the memory of the song, her mind becoming awash of images of Chuck doing those exact things. Violating her, desecrating her, penetrating her..

Chuck laughed again. "You know you love it."

Blair didn't reply straight away, not appreciating the turn that their banter had taken. She didn't want to be reminded of the several times she'd expressed her love for him and he had not reciprocated.

"I'll see you at 7."

-

"Miss Blair, Mr Nate is here."

Blair huffed again, tugging self conciously at the bottom of the tiny shorts Serena had somehow coaxed her into buying. They were completely different to the items of clothing she usually wore; they were denim, for one, as well as being a lot shorter than she was usually comfortable in, but she couldn't deny that the material was comfortable and she wouldn't be trying to impress anybody. They would be on the road for most of the time, after all, and would know in advance if they were making any stops, so she could have time to get changed if need be.

Stuffing her iPhone into her Valentino tote, Blair emerged from her room, pulling anxiously on her freshly curled hair. Nate whistled when he saw her, and Blair actually blushed.

He stepped towards the stairs, using his rights as an ex-boyfriend to unabashedly check her out. "Remind me why I'm not dating you again?"

"Because you love Serena and I love Chuck."

Nate mulled this over and nodded at her, grinning sheepishly. "Still. You look great. Chuck's probably going to die."

"Good. Basstard."

"Blair, be nice." Nate pulled the last of her four suitcases into the elevator, smiling as he waved goodbye to Dorota, Eleanor and Cyrus. He was actually impressed that she'd only packed four suitcases; they were going away for the entire summer, after all.

Blair kissed her mother and Cyrus goodbye, flinging her arms around Dorota as she handed her her travel-cup of coffee.

"Blair, you must be insane."

"Tell me about it, mother. I'll call soon. Love you."

She didn't wait for a reply, knowing none would follow her, and stepped into the elevator with an anticipant smile on her face.

-

When Blair emerged from the building, she was greeted by her exuberant best friend throwing her arms around her, whispering a few words into her ear. "Is this some new plan of yours to torture Chuck or something? You look amazing, like seriously." Serena's voice rose higher. "Coffee is so good in the morning, Blair, did you know that?"

"How much did you give her?!"

"She may have had a cup. Or four. It took us two cups to get her out of bed! It was your idea to go this early, Blair."

"I know that, Nate, but she's like the energizer bunny!" Blair looked over at Chuck, who was still staring, open-mouthed, at her uncharacteristic casual attire. Chuck himself was actually wearing jeans. They were button fly, and looked butter soft. He wore a checked shirt which made him look like a much hotter version of Humphrey senior, Blair decided.

Nate finished loading her bags into the back of an ice blue pimped-out Volkswagon bus-like thing, and Blair stopped dead in her tracks.

"You have got to be kidding me."

"Nope. Climb in." Nate pushed her towards one of the side doors, and when Blair climbed in, she had to admit that it was rather comfortable. The interior was soft leather and the seats were in a U shape at the back of the van, as well as being a minibar beneath the drivers seat. It was like a squashed up version of the back of a limo, Blair noted with a blush.

"Nate, man, I think you need to drive the first leg. I'm suddenly feeling.. unable."

Nate snorted. "I'll bet." He pushed Chuck towards the same door that he'd pushed Blair towards. "Sit in the back with Blair."

"No, I was thinking I'd sit up front." Chuck's eyes flickered from Blair's exposed flesh to the minibar and back again.

"And leave me with Serena? I think not! Sit." Chuck had no choice but to climb in next to Blair. "Don't worry, Chuck, I won't bother you. I'll put on my headphones and you can talk to whoever else you deem necessary. It's not like I matter, right?" Blair smiled angelically at him and leaned across his waist to pull the door shut, locking it in case it should fly open. Chuck swallowed uneasily and turned to look out the opposite window, even though they were still parked up outside Blair's building. "Nate, are you sure you're okay to drive?"

"Blair, I've been driving for almost three years. You were there when I passed my test. Relax."

Serena, who was currently bouncing happily next to Nate, started to shout. "Let's go! I want to go! Come on!"

"You guys ready?"

"As I'll ever be. Let's go before I change my mind." Chuck sent Blair a pleading glance as she said that, but Blair simply sniffed haughtily and turned her head sharply away from him.

Nate started the engine.

The adventure had begun.

-

Review :)!