Chapter Two: Good Gone Girl


One week later...

Blair was abruptly woke up from her afternoon nap by her cell phone. Of course, she knew exactly who was calling.

Hello, Dan. Have you landed?

Blair had tired to convince Louis all summer that it was a good idea for Dan to pay her a visit. When Louis finally caved in, she was unbelievably excited. Blair told herself that she was only excited because Dan had never been to Europe before. Every writer should take at least one trip to Europe, no matter their economic situation, she resolved. It was therefore her duty to treat him to a trip to Paris. Truthfully, Blair was lonely in the palace, and she had hardly heard from her friend all summer. It was hard to keep their biweekly Netflix dates when there was a six hour time difference in the way. She would never admit it out loud, but she really missed Humphrey. Louis was too straightforward a man to keep Blair entertained.

So when Dan finally called in late june, Blair practically jumped out of her chair.

"Humphrey, where have you been all summer?"

"Well hello to you too, Blair. How's the fiancee?" Dan added, with a hint of sarcasm. Dan could not wrap his head around the idea of two people who were still getting to know each other being engaged.

"Oh, he is wonderful, really." Blair said, in a lovesick voice, trying to mask her boredom. "What have you been up to?" she probed, taking the conversation off of her.

"Not much. Just hanging around the city, trying to find the inspiration to write some poetry. Thought I would give it a try."

Blair was surprised. Dan had never attempted poetry, to her knowledge. "Wow, Dan, I would have never pegged you for a tortured soul." she joked.

"What can I say? I've recently come to terms with my dark side."

To say that was an understatement. Over the past year, Dan's heart had been taken for a joyride. For the better part of three years, Dan's heart had belonged Serena, while she chose to parade around the city playing the field. Dan had been sure he was in love with Serena...but in a strange twist of fate, over one lonely christmas break, he discovered that Blair was actually the more appealing of the two. Ironically, while his heart slowly made this aberrant decision, Serena finally became single again, while Blair managed to get engaged in the blink of an eye. Happiness was never in the cards for Dan Humphrey.

Blair continued, "Dan, are you listening? I said, are you still up for that trip to Paris?"

Dan couldn't have been more elated in that moment. Of course, he wanted to see Paris. And even though the girl he liked was engaged to another man, he would never pass up the opportunity to spend some quality time with her, even if it was only as friends. He was shocked that Blair was still up for it. A dark and twisted thought began to take hold of Dan. Paris was the city of love. The prospect of seeing the city with Blair Waldorf, and maybe, just maybe winning her over, made him grin stupidly from ear to ear.

"When's my flight? You're still paying for it, by the way."

And that is how Dan Humphrey landed in France one month later. Blair had sent a car to the airport to pick him up. Dan was decently jetlagged, but he was eager to see Blair. He restlessly looked out the window of the town car that was headed straight for the Palace.

The buildings that lined the streets were quaint yet beautiful. Dan already had enough material to fill an entire moleskin notebook.

Their plan was to spend the night and the following day at the Palace in Monaco, and then to spend the remainder of the week in Paris, exploring. The part of Dan's brain that was definitively male wondered what the sleeping arrangement would be in the Parisian hotel.

The car finally arrived at their destination. The Palace of Monaco was larger than Dan had anticipated. Judging the exterior, it looked like it had over one hundred rooms inside. It was nothing like the Waldorf penthouse on the upper east side. Dan wondered if Blair felt lonely, living in such a big place for so long.

That's when Blair burst out of the entrance to greet him. She was wearing a grey Dior sundress paired with a straw sun hat. "Dan!" she cried, with a small smile on her lips. Louis trailed three steps behind. Dan could tell right away that Blair had been bored all summer. He pulled her into a quick, platonic hug. He did not want Louis to get any ideas.

"Hey Blair. Good to see you. This place is fabulous."

"Come." Blair gestured towards the entrance, her voice chipper. "I'd love to give you a full tour."

That night, Louis, Blair and Dan enjoyed dinner together. The spread of food to choose from was spectacular. There were pork chops and steak, three different kinds of salad, and an entire book of fine wine to choose from.

"So Dan," Louis started, "You and Blair are very close, no? She was very determined to show you Paris this summer."

Dan couldn't help but laugh at his remark. "Yes, I suppose you could say that." He turned to Blair and smiled jokingly, "Or are we still not friends?"

"Dan. Please. You know that you've earned a coveted spot in the inner circle of Blair Waldorf. But if you keep reminding me that I let someone from the outer borrows in to this exclusive club, I may rethink my decision." Blair fired back, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Louis, darling, please pass the gravy." she added, as the saccharine sweetness returned to her voice.

It was like Blair was a totally different person around Louis. So subdued... Dan couldn't help but wonder how hard Blair was trying to stay on her best behavior around the prince. Louis was quite charming, though, and it made Dan sick to his stomach. He doted on Blair to a point that was bordering on superfluous. Didn't Louis know what a royal pain Blair could be at times? If he did, he gave no indication.

Dan's thoughts continued well into the night, where he sat on his bed in one of the ornate guest rooms of the palace. Blair and Louis had left him after dessert was through. He wondered what they were up to in the master bedroom. Dan was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with his jealousy towards Blair's engagement. Did his feelings for her really run that deep? They hadn't as much as shared a real kiss. Dan fell asleep that night wondering what it would be like to kiss Blair one more time.


The following morning, over another decadent meal, Louis announced that he had some business to attend to in town. "I will be back tonight, my love. Before your trip to Paris. I hope Dan will keep you company."

"Yes, darling." Blair replied, with a sad smile. Dan could have sworn it was fake.

Could she really be marrying this french loser?

When Louis finally left the palace, Blair and Dan were completely alone. Dan had been on his best behavior up until that moment. He even managed to hold his tongue at breakfast when Blair tried to verbally spar with him. He didn't want Louis getting wind of his feelings. But now that the prince was gone, Dan wasn't sure of how to act around Blair. Should he continue the charade of niceties? Pretend that he hadn't felt anything in their kiss in the spring? Or would he hint at his feelings in a subtle way? Dan didn't think a little flirtation with Blair would do much to hurt her engagement.

He tested the waters, "Well, you did pretty well for yourself, Waldorf."

Blair, of course, took the bait instantly. "You know my weakness for royalty." She batted her eyes. Dan felt his heart sink. This must have been her first stimulating conversation in weeks.

"Surely there must be something fun to do around here."

Blair rolled her eyes. "Let's watch a movie. That's the only perk of this place, they have a theatre."

Dan was shocked. Had Blair actually admitted that she was tired of her new royal life?

As they walked down to the palace theatre, Blair bounced in anticipation. Finally! Someone to have a real conversation with.

Dan noticed the spring in her step, and smiled to himself. She must have been very bored, indeed. He was glad he decided to make the trip overseas.

Dan and Blair hardly paid attention to the movie. They talked through the entire showing. Dan wanted to hear all about Monaco. What was the food like? What museums had she been to? What was it like being treated like royalty? Blair, in turn, wanted to hear all about the city- what new exhibits were featured in the museums? Was there any new gossip?

The conversation went on and on until Blair asked Dan if he knew what was happening with Serena, Nate, and Chuck. Of course, Blair had kept a close correspondence with Serena throughout the summer, but she needed to use Serena as a cover to find out what was going on with the boys. Blair knew Chuck had been avoiding her, and she was desperate for any news of the love of her life. She had tried to email both of her ex-boyfriends several times throughout the summer, but she never got a response. Blair knew it was selfish to want to hear from Chuck. He had begged her to let him move on with his life back in the spring. But it was so hard to let go...

Needless to say, Dan knew nothing on the whereabouts of Chuck and Nate. Blair couldn't hide her disappointment. She started to pout, and let her true feelings show, but Dan put an end to her pity party with an unanticipated question.

"So, did you miss me?"

This question threw Blair off. She didn't like the way that Dan was looking straight into her eyes. She felt like he was about to penetrate her soul. Dan was attractive. Blair hadn't failed to notice that he had buzzed his hair short, which brought out the defined features in his face. The tone in his arms hinted that Dan had also been working out recently. And the way he looked at her sympathetically with those big brown eyes...Blair started to get lost in her thoughts.

For starters, she always found Dan attractive, with looks that were definitely worthy of dating her best friend. (It was his breeding that she found to be questionable.) Ever since she and Dan shared that kiss last spring, things had changed between them. Blair secretly knew she had developed a tiny crush on the Brooklynite. She would never own up to it though, because the feeling was so slight. Their kiss was sweet, but it lacked the raw passion Blair experienced every time she kissed Chuck. Blair knew something more than friendship was growing between her and Dan though, and she hated to admit it.

She finally came to her senses when she realized that she had been staring at Dan for far too long. Dan, of course had read her thoughts like a book, she could tell by the way he was smirking.

What would Louis think if he entered the room right now? thought Blair. Her conscience was silenced by Dan, who reached over and placed his hand gingerly on her lap. Blair looked back at him, with wide, wonderstruck eyes, but Dan just smiled. Somehow, in that split second, Blair's brain managed to melt into goo. She couldn't stop her next thought, no matter how hard she tried to fight it.

What if I kissed him again? Will I finally be able to silence these feelings?

Great. Now she was staring at his lips. And Dan knew it too, because Blair could feel him looking at hers. She started to turn pink. Dan was holding her hand. No, now he was busy lacing his fingers in hers. He started to lean in.

Is this really happening? Oh, god, he's going to-

And in one swift motion, Dan planted a kiss on her lips.


AN: Let me know if you liked how I have written Dair.

Next time: Dan heard Blair's voice from the next room as she answered her cell phone. Hello? Chuck?!