DISCLAIMER: characters not mine, I just love CHAIR!!

Obsession

Blair Waldorf was twelve when she first met Chuck Bass. Blair had been waiting for her boyfriend Nate to meet her for lunch when she saw him. Dark hair, dark eyes, gorgeous smile. Then she saw Nate following closely behind. The dark-haired boy turned quickly to say something to Nate and she realized they were together. She had never seen this boy before but she was intrigued.

Nate came up to her and politely introduced his new friend as Charles Bass, but the dark haired boy gently corrected him, "No one calls me Charles though. It's Chuck. I'm Chuck Bass." He flashed his gorgeous smile, took her hand and gently kissed it. Blair blushed and politely nodded.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Chuck. So, I've never seen you before. Were you at a boarding school?" Even at twelve she didn't fool around. Blair was blunt and unapologetic. The boy simply nodded as they all walked to their lunch table and began eating.

After that lunch she was obsessed with Chuck Bass. His beauty, his charm, his mannerisms. They all mystified Blair. But she was dating Nate and everyone said they would get married one day. Blair didn't quite know why everyone insisted they were so perfect together, but they had been saying it since she and Nate were five, so it must be true, right?

Her obsession was readily fed as Nate and Chuck's friendship grew. Soon they were inseparable and Blair was often there with them, along with her best friend Serena. They would all go to movies and concerts or over to Nate's house where his mother would dote on them just as much as she did on her own son. Serena didn't understand Blair's fascination with Chuck. He wasn't that special. He was just like every other boy at St. Jude's and they were all annoying twits.

But even with her indifference toward Chuck Bass, Serena was still drawn in by his charm. When they were thirteen Serena lost it to Chuck Bass during Blair's birthday party. And again on the way home. The next week at school Serena went to the boys' hallway to talk to Chuck but she couldn't find him before first period. Later, she found out from Blair and Nate that Chuck had been sent back to boarding school after the party.

Serena sighed but didn't let her disappointment show. She was sure she would never love another as she loved Chuck Bass.

The years passed. People came and went. Nate and Blair were still in love but had never gone all the way. Chuck returned from boarding school just before the start of their sophomore year of high school. Serena left just a week later. Blair's family soon fell apart and she had her love and his best friend there to comfort her. But not her own best friend. She had left without a word and Blair didn't know what to think of that.

When Blair saw Chuck for the first time in nearly two years she was amazed. He was still gorgeous, still had beautiful eyes and dangerously touchable hair. He had grown half a foot, so now she would have to look up at him to look him in the eyes. But he only had eyes for Serena. He was excited to see her again and she was still in love with him. But after she left, he buried himself in booze and drugs and women, dragging Blair's beloved along with him. Luckily, she trusted that Nate would never betray her and he was too loving to ever stray. Nate only wanted to escape his parents who had become increasingly annoying as he grew older. Chuck on the other hand had so many demons that he was always looking for the ultimate escape.

Blair had met Chuck's father exactly twice. The first time was at Thanksgiving dinner in seventh grade. Her father had invited Bart Bass to dinner several times but he was always unable to make it for one reason or other. Mr. Bass came in with Chuck and he was a fierce looking man. Stern, unsmiling. She was drawn to him just as she had been drawn so completely to Chuck. She wanted to make him smile just to see if his smile was the same as Chuck's.

Her father called her over to introduce him and she did manage to say something witty enough to amuse him. He smiled and politely kissed her hand just as Chuck had done when they first met. His smile was completely different, like it was fake. She knew that Chuck's were real because they went all the way to his eyes. She excused herself and went to find Nate and Serena. Chuck had already found them in Blair's bedroom. They were kissing, unaware that Chuck had arrived and was watching from the doorway.

Before entering he called for them as if he didn't know where they were. When Chuck entered Blair's room, they were at opposite sides of the room acting completely innocent. Blair came in not long after Chuck and just watched him. She did that often, but if he realized it, he never let on. Nate and Chuck were so engrossed in Chuck's new video game that neither noticed the girls, who were watching the boys, giggling over how cute they were.

Dorota found them when it was time for dinner and they were all perfect gentlemen and ladies for the Waldorfs' guests. After dessert, Mr. Bass stayed a respectable amount of time and then said his goodbyes. He left Chuck with Nate as he and Nate's parents had arranged a sleepover. Chuck would not see his father again until the week of Christmas. Instead, he spent much of his time lusting after his Italian au pair and trying to pick the lock to his father's liquor cabinet.

The second time Blair met Mr. Bass was on Christmas Eve at Serena's house. Mrs. Van Der Woodsen always hosted a holiday celebration and this year was no different. Surprisingly, Mr. Bass accepted her invitation and was "delightfully charming" as Serena's mother declared. Blair did not speak to Mr. Bass at this function but instead watched him from the stairs where she and Serena's little brother, Erik, were hiding from everyone. She noticed that he and Chuck shared all the mannerisms she adored in Chuck. When dinner was served Blair and Erik emerged from hiding and went to find Chuck and Nate. Nate treated him like a little brother, but Chuck rolled his eyes that he had to babysit the kid.

Blair was irritated at Chuck's attitude and they had their first major fight shortly after dessert. Chuck just couldn't understand why everyone loved Erik so much and why they let him hang around with them. The fight would have been worse if Mr. Bass hadn't heard Blair screeching at him. He came in and announced he had been looking for Chuck. The children said their goodbyes and Chuck, noting his father's fierce gaze, grudgingly apologized to Erik. Erik simply flashed his ten year old smile and told Chuck he forgave him.

Blair asked Nate about Chuck's father but Nate always told her that Chuck never talked about those kinds of things. Even when he came back from Europe for tenth grade, he never talked about his home life to Nate. Blair wondered if Nate ever even asked him.

Eventually, there was a day when Nate was home from school with the flu and Chuck and Blair were sitting together. Her minions were off in detention for something she didn't really care about, so she sat with Chuck.

Chuck was his usual quiet self. He would look over at her every few minutes. He never ate at lunch, but neither did she. She would just throw it up anyway. She vaguely wondered if he did the same thing, but she knew that was foolish. He was perfect. But the silence was getting to her and she didn't have homework to do and he never did homework so she finally sighed.

"What is it?" Chuck asked not unkindly.

"I'm just bored. I guess I never realized how much Nate talked until now. He certainly fills the silence." She laughed a little. He looked at her and smiled. "Anything you want to talk about, C?"

He shook his head and simply looked at her. "Not really. Why do you ask? Curious about Chuck, are we?"

She laughed derisively, but then looked at him. He looked almost sad, but Chuck Bass never showed emotions in public. "Maybe I am a little. Nate says you never talk about yourself unless it's to brag about a conquest and I so want to hear about that." He smiled and ran a hand through that dangerously touchable hair. "Tell me something real about you. If you're worried I'll tell Nate, I would never do that to you."

Chuck watched her for a moment, studying her, looking into her beautiful eyes. "Okay, princess. I've never told this to anyone, so I'm trusting you." She nodded, bracing herself for something stupid to fall from his lips. "My mother died when I was born and sometimes I think my father wishes it had been me instead."

That's when it happened. She reached out to touch his cheek. He had been staring out into space, but when he felt her fingers touch him, he looked up into her eyes. He expected to see pity, but instead saw immense sadness. Blair saw pain and grief. "I really do think you deserve to be treated as a princess."

Blair closed the few inches between them and their lips touched. The fluttering in her stomach told her it was right. He pulled away after a few seconds of passionate kissing and when Blair saw his face, she knew they had made a terrible mistake. "Nathaniel is my only friend. I can't risk losing him. I'm sorry." Chuck stood and walked away. It was over a year before they were alone together once again.