CHAPTER 2
"I can't believe you're leaving me alone with Nate and Chuck for dinner." Blair declared as she helped Serena pick an outfit. "Is he a lifeguard?" Blair quizzed as she sifted through the dresses in the closet. Serena looked down guiltily. Blair would never let her leave the house if she knew she was going to meet Georgina. She had told Blair that she was going on a date.
"Uh, yeah. He asked me out when I was at the beach." Serena said as Blair handed her a black Anna Sui halter top and a golden Jill Stuart skirt that complemented her blonde hair.
"Well, I'm just glad you're getting over Cabbage Patch. Is he hot?" Blair grinned at her wickedly. Serena laughed and grabbed her grey Bulgari clutch and headed out the door.
"Bye, B."
Great. Now it's just me Chuck and Nate. Blair rolled her eyes and headed downstairs.
--
"Your ability to lose to me time and time again truly amazes me," Chuck grinned at his best friend as they entered the van der Bass Hamptons home after a few games of tennis. Surprisingly, Chuck had won all three games. Nate, being a lacrosse player usually dominated all sporty activities but today, Chuck had really thrashed him.
"When did you get so good anyway?" Nate asked handing him a glass of lemonade and sipping some himself. "It's not like you ever do anything athletic."
Chuck smirked, "oh, I beg to differ."
The boys laughed and turned around as they heard the distinct sounds of high heels against the marble tiles. Serena's head poked into the kitchen.
"Hey guys, I'm going out so...uh, be nice to Blair," she shot them a dazzling smile and left hastily in a cloud of Dior Addict.
"Looks like it's just you, me and Waldorf," Chuck's eyes gleamed with mischief. Uh oh, that can't be good, Nate thought. He would hate to be caught in a Bass-Waldorf fight. As though on cue, Blair entered the kitchen. She was wearing short black Alexander Wang shorts and a silky ivory halter top that hugged her figure in all the right places. She took the lemonade from Chuck's hand and drank the entire glass, not knowing that a generous amount of vodka had been mixed in it. Chuck and Nate merely looked on in amusement.
"Whoa..." she shook her head in a confused manner and held onto Nate shoulder for support. "What the fuck did you put in that lemonade!"
Nate chuckled, "nothing, it was just half vodka. So what do you want for dinner?"
"Please don't cook!" Blair pleaded. Everybody knew that Upper East Siders were complete failures in the kitchen. "What have you guys been eating anyway?"
"We...um...usually order Chinese or pizza or something. Any suggestiong?" Nate asked, turning to face Chuck but Chuck had vanished. Confused, he walked into the living room and found his friend sulking on the sofa and watching some lame reality show.
"What's up with you?" Nate thumped him lightly on the shoulder. Chuck ignored him and stared at te TV. "Chuck! Why are you being so moody?!" Nate frowned and switched off the television.
Chuck sighed and said, "nothing, Archibald. I just felt like watching some TV okay?"
"Yeah sure..." Nate tried not to inject too much sarcasm into his voice. He knew Chuck was pissed off because he had been talking to Blair as though Chuck was non-existent. They walked back to the kitchen and found Blair sleeping peacefully with her head on the kitchen counter. She looked so serene and beautiful that they just stared at her for a few moments.
"She's had a pretty long day. The long flight from Tuscany and all that vodka..." Nate said snapping out of the reverie and stepping forward to carry her up to her room. Chuck grasped his arm tightly and held him back.
"I'll take her." He muttered as he gently lifted her into his arms and carried her upstairs. Chuck slowly set her onto the large bed and tucked her into the covers. Unable to resist, he kissed her softly on her lips causing her to smile in her sleep.
He was about to leave when she murmured, "I don't want to sleep alone tonight." Chuck looked at her in surprise. She was obviously still asleep but it seemed as though she was talking specifically to him. He slid into the bed with her wrapping his arms protectively around her slim waist. Blair responded and snuggled closer to him whispering, "I love you, Nate Archibald."
Chuck's eyes flew open. Nate?
"I should have known better than to fall in love with you," he said softly as he untangled himself from her and strode out of the room.
