Chapter Two
Barely Legal
It was her first day as a prestigious Constance Billard student.
University grounds were fairly large for Manhattan standard. The building was modern with archaic elements: brown brick wall, arches supporting the many building entrances and numerous stone steps. As a contrast, it was bright inside and spacious. The grounds stretched into small lawn around, scattered trees serving as a welcoming distraction.
After everyone fell asleep at home last night, after mother held her in arms for half an hour, stroking her head, Blair silently put Georgina's old heeled boots in bag. She picked her outfit, choosing one of her friend's old pieces. Blair's clothes was out of the question. It was old, tattered and would have made her stand out.
Blair needed to show style dominance, not social inferiority.
Finally opting for beige fitted slacks and red silky shirt that used to have a hole under armpit, she put them on and covered herself with large black coat. It was long and warm, but very fashionable since she added small golden belt to tighten it. It was a size too big for her, once belonging to Mrs Sparks herself.
A pang of bitterness struck her hard, but she waved it off impatiently, too excited for her big day.
She kissed her mother goodbye as Dan glared at her. Due to his temper, he got into a lot of trouble in high school and ruined any chances of a good college entry, let alone scholarship. Dan now worked as a car mechanic, but Blair knew he secretly wanted to be a writer. She couldn't help but to look at him with disdain and he hissed in response.
She set off towards bus stop almost skipping. As she rounded the corner and cautiously looked around, Blair quickly took off her old flats and put on Zanotti boots. They were shiny black, with nice 4 inch heel and adorned with three gold clasps. It was something her whole family would disapprove. It was something they would spray with holy water and throw in trash.
She stumbled to bus stop, trying to relax and get used to them. Blair got too early for class, her feet slightly aching, and decided to sit in one of many benches in front of campus to rest. Even though the air was crisp cold, sun shone brightly upon them. Blair closed her eyes and listened to conversation of girls nearby. How normal did she feel now, not just a janitor's daughter.
Nobody knew her here. She could be anyone. And that revelation made her feel ecstatic.
Girls nearby were sitting at front steps, drinking steaming cups of coffee and checking their smart phones. Blair tightly held on to her bag, old battered phone whose best quality was screen in color, hid in the inside pocket. It was the only thing family could afford.
Shame was like a nausea in her stomach, dampening her good spirit. A reminder, no - a distinction - among these socialites and heiresses.
One of the girls gasped, elbowing the other one and they both looked up to stare at the boy walking across the court. There was certain strut in his walk, a clear sign of power of a collected cool. One of the girls confidently exclaimed, ''I'm going to be sure he notices me this time,'' and quickly rose, readjusting her bra, pushing cleavage out.
The boy had RayBan Wayfarer sunglasses on, looking like he owned the world. His outfit was speckles, onyx hair perfectly combed and parted. The girl swayed her hips from side to side, skill at walking in high-heels admirable and envy-worthy. At last moment, she turned towards the boy and smashed into him.
''Oh,'' she exclaimed, wearing mask of innocence. ''I'm so sorry! I accidentally spilled my coffee all over your blazer.''
Blair watched as she hungrily touched his arm, trying to wipe the stain. Small snort escaped her. What a moron, she thought. That will only worsen it. She watched mother too many times dealing with such cases.
The girl flipped her hair, smiling widely. Her hand stretched out towards him. ''By the way, I'm Cassandra.''
''But you can call me Cassie,'' she winked.
The boy looked down at his ruined suit with a scowl on his face and then shook his head slightly. ''Don't care,'' he muttered and walked away, going wherever he was headed in the beginning. Girl's hand was left in the air, her mouth wide open in horror.
Blair silently giggled as the boy calmly walked over to his group of friends and sat down.
''Someone's in a good mood,'' Penelope walked over and sat down, placing her Coach bag between them. She was new friend of Blair's. They met only few days ago, waiting in line to finish paperwork before semester started.
''What kind of an institution is this?''
''What happened?'' her friend asked, opening up a salad and dabbing at the pieces of mozzarella.
''Did you see this girl hitting on that guy?'' Blair nodded towards the boy and shook her head disbelievingly. He was handsome, for sure. But to go at that length for him?
''She over did it,'' Penelope explained with roll of the eyes. ''That's Chuck Bass. Bad boy of Constance Billard. Every guy wants to be him and every girl wants to do him. He doesn't really hang out with students here. He's more with models, actresses and starlets. King of Manhattan night life. Infamous for switching girls as if he does his silken socks. A night bird. Womanizer.''
She dropped her salad and took a sip of her frappuccino, nodding towards beautiful blond girl sitting next to him. ''That's Serena Van Der Woodsen - the big spendthrift. Her mom married for money more times than I can count. She'd divorce, take husband's money and company. Or at least a share. Now they live without a care in the world. Next to her is Nate Archibald. His family is all businessmen and senators. They are swimming in realty.''
Blair stared at them. Though they appeared to be laughing and talking as she was doing now, Blair felt they belonged to an entire different planet. To a different reality which Blair watched through glass door.
Something coiled within her guts, and deep down she wished she could be like them. She knew the feeling was wrong and jealous beneath her, but the green snake hissed and slithered. They were perfectly dressed, each of them probably living with a private staff, with a chauffeur to drive them to school, living the life as they pleased because their parents could afford it.
''One may admire them from afar,'' Penelope whispered as if she could read her mind.''But when you meet them, you see it's not all so shiny and bright. Anyway,'' she continued in normal voice, zipping up her jacket, ''That's the elite. It's not enough to be rich. You have to have pedigree.''
Blair nodded, still gazing at the group. She absentmindedly listened to their conversation.
''Forget last night,'' one of the boys that was sitting with them said. ''What are we doing tonight?''
''I know,'' Nate smirked, playing with his lapels of jacket. ''I'll be at Chuck's.''
''I'll take a rain-check on that,'' Chuck countered deadpanned, ''I'll be sleeping tonight. I have a massage appointment this evening with Sakura.''
''Sakura,'' One of the boys moaned, dramatically clutching his heart. ''Japanese hands of gold.''
''She can roll my maki anytime.''
''Chuck, where do you find these girls?''
Blair was surprised Chuck didn't join the roaring laughter regarding vulgarity of his masseuse.
He seemed to remain impassive. Chuck took off his sunglasses and Blair could see how exactly tired he was. There were bags under his eyes, indicating he hadn't had a good sleep in a good while. Everyone snickered and Nate slapped his shoulder, winking. ''Guys, please... Don't tease him. We can all see he'd been busy last night.''
''I'm off,'' Chuck rubbed his eyes, rising. ''Otherwise I'll fall asleep on this table. I drunkenly dismissed my driver last night. Remind me to never do that again.''
''I can drop you off,'' Nate offered. ''Don't cause an accident.''
''Hey, I'm still on my feet.''
As he started walking away, Nate called out to him, shaking finger in mock scolding. ''You shouldn't have drank that last tequila!''
His friends walked away to class, laughing loudly, reminding Blair she was supposed to go too. A phone buzzed in her pocket, sending fear deep into her bones. While Penelope was talking to other students that just arrived, Blair slowly rejected the call without taking the phone out. Everyone around her chatted on their smart-phones, while hers didn't even have a camera. The only people that had her number were family and she was already late to class.
It could wait.
After the introductory class was finished and dean made his speech, Blair quickly got up to go home, impatient to be the one who left first. Her phone kept buzzing for last half an hour. It was getting harder to ignore it. Blair took the call as soon as she was alone in the courtyard, making sure her hair covered the phone so nobody would see it.
''Blair,'' her mom was frantic on the other line. ''Where are you?''
''I just left class, Ill be home now.''
''Well, hurry up.''
Her mom hung up. Blair sensed her family wouldn't adjust to her new student life and schedule as well as she thought they would. She promised mother to help clean today, though Blair would rather watch poor Esmeralda find out her lover Diego had actually been her long lost brother.
Her parents always had need to control every aspect of her life and today was no different. She wished she could stay here and hang out with Penelope, but it was impossible considering parents had her schedule written and clipped on the fridge. No alterations were allowed.
Blair, thoroughly annoyed, was about to stuff her phone into her bag when car came up from behind and sped by. The rear-view mirror hit her hand, causing razor sharp pain. She dropped the bag and phone in shock, clutching the throbbing wrist.
Shiny black Audi immediately pulled over and startled Chuck Bass climbed out of it.
It was him, it was that famous guy.
Blair quickly crouched down to gather her things, grabbing phone first. Roused by the adrenaline and fear, she forgot the pain instantly in that moment.
''Are you okay?'' he asked breathlessly as he approached, raking his hair with fingers. ''I don't know how that happened.''
''I know,'' she snapped while shoving the pieces in the bag, but didn't look up. ''An idiot sat behind a wheel.''
Chuck knelt down next to her and her eyes widened, genuinely surprised that he did not flee the crime scene. His perfume, vetiver and vanilla, reached her nose and spun her mind. She dazedly watched as he picked up the last part of the phone on the floor and handed it to her. ''It's broken.''
She cleared her throat uncomfortably, fighting off the shame that overwhelmed her. He just saw how old her phone was. He will know she was poor, he will know she was janitor's daughter and he would tell everyone. Nobody would see Blair, the Management student - once again everyone would see just a poor nobody. She ignored the offered piece of phone, biting her cheek.
''Doesn't matter,'' she said seemingly airily, wanting to get away from him. Something about him sounded the alarm within her head. Something about him spelled trouble.
''Should I get you to a doctor?'' he asked, gently taking her wrist to examine it.
The tenderness of the gesture stunned her. It felt... electrifying. Her eyes met his as his thumb caressed her pale skin.
A womanizer, Penelope's voice rang in her mind. Chuck Bass is infamous for switching girls.
Blair remembered that silly girl with coffee fawning over him and she quickly drew back hand. He had this effect on all girls. She won't be stupid as the rest. ''No, thank you,'' her words were brittle.
''Come with me then,'' he insisted, gesturing towards the car. ''I'll get you a new phone.''
The thought of getting into his car was preposterous. Yet at the same time, it had her having stomach doing somersaults.
Students started to crowd towards the exit already and they threw glances as them. Everyone would think she was a tramp, just one of those brainless giggling girls. Blair straightened up, making up story as she talked, ''This is only my temporary phone. My actual phone is at service center until they fix it.''
Chuck wasn't ready to let her go. He stood in front of her, blocking the way and reaching for the wallet. ''Alright, I'll give you money then.''
''What do I want your money for?'' she haughtily asked, offended. Despite her expensive costume, she was still who she was and Blair couldn't help but feel like a charity case.
He raised his eyebrows, clearly astounded by the attitude. ''I broke it, I should pay you-''
''No, you shouldn't,'' she interrupted briskly, her eyes narrowed. ''You don't get to have that privilege.''
Blair turned around to walk away, but he grabbed her elbow. She stared at him with wide eyes at the daring gesture.
''But,'' he persisted, baffled. '' I have to make it up to you.''
He looked like someone who didn't take no for an answer. Blair wrenched herself away from him, disgusted by the typical entitled rich-boy attitude. ''If you want to make it up to me, don't sit behind wheels - ever again!''
Blair finally walked away in a rush, feeling restless and fidgety. She just lied to this guy, claiming her phone was at the service. Why did Blair do that? But else what could she do? Chuck Bass was used to luxury all his life, he'd laugh at her if she were to tell him it was her real phone.
No, even worse. He'd probably never speak to her again, deeming her unworthy and inferior. Maybe he'd spread the joke around too. Nobody would question him, he was after all, the famous Chuck Bass.
A part of her was secretly thrilled by their little interaction. A part of her wanted him to speak to her again.
This was only one little lie. It couldn't hurt anyone, could it?
Well, nobody except her phone. She walked towards bus stop sulkily. Dad would be so angry at this incident, she'll have to make something up. If he heard she talked to a boy Blair never met before, he'd have a fit. Especially if he hears the boy almost ran her over.
Blair saw bus was already there and almost sped up, scared of being late. Mother was already waiting for her. All of a sudden, she noticed shiny black Audi was back. It was in the middle of the traffic on the road, the engine was on but it stood in place. Windows were rolled down and Chuck was impassively looking at her. He seemed to be a master at poker face.
His eyes flickered from her, to bus and back at her. Her heart sped up as they locked gazes and she did only thing she could think of.
''Taxi!'' Blair called out with loud and clear voice. Immediately, yellow car pulled over and she entered, right after flicking him with a last mean glare. She gave the driver the address as he drove, a well-known street on the Upper East Side. It was where she lived her whole life, little girl in basement wanting something she could touch, but not get.
Chuck's car disappeared out of sight she sighed in relief. ''Can you please stop?''
''I thought you said-''
''I need to get out,'' She ordered. ''Now.''
''Alright,'' the driver said annoyed and pointed at the taximeter.
She dug up the only money she had, a mere spare change. She carefully counted the coins, having barely enough to cover the expense of this short ride. As she got out, Blair dragged her tired feet to bus stop.
She loved Constance. She loved being there and acting as active member of something so wonderful and important. She loved being recognized for her efforts and encouraged for future progress. She loved being noticed and having genuine friends.
Most of all, Blair loved that she was equal to everyone, loved that everyone treated her with no prejudices. She had to keep up with it and that's the reason why Blair was in the bathroom stall of McDonald's around the corner. She quickly locked the doors behind her, pulled out the dress and the boots out of the bag. She shook off her old pants and shirt, stuffing them back in the bag with flats.
She had a black sheath dress on, material clinging perfectly on her figure. It was paired with yellow tweed Chanel jacket and set of fake pearls. Blair pulled the hem down, tightened the boots and pushed her hair back. She arrived like that to college, climbing the stairs to get into class. It was chilly morning and her legs were without any tights. She shivered slightly as cold breeze came across, carrying chatter of now almost familiar faces. Her legs stopped moving on their own accord. The group was standing in hallway, killing time before class.
Serena asked, ''You obviously didn't use the night at home. Why so quiet?''
Chuck clenched his jaw, lost deep in thought. ''Something happened yesterday when I was leaving class.''
Something as in him almost breaking her wrists. The bruise was still there, barely covered by a cheap foundation. Blair took a deep breath and climbed the remaining steps. No matter how hard she tried to look away, he still managed to catch her eye. Chuck quickly pushed himself off the wall and walked towards her.
She noticed his friends went quiet, following his every step.
''Hey, Myrtle Wilson,'' he called out, ignoring them and walked up to her. After she didn't stop, after merely throwing him an unamused glance, his figure blocked her way to class. ''How's your hand?''
She was forced to stop or otherwise she'd run face-first into him. He was beginning to be very hard to evade. Blair sighed, pursing her lips. ''Better than my phone.''
With that, she took a step to leave, but he was quick to prevent it. ''Let's take care of this.''
The sultry way he delivered that line had Blair biting her lip, thinking of all the wrong ways it could be done. Despite everything, she felt nervous and excited - all of it was wrong, this guy was used to wooing women and dumping them. It was his forte.
''There is nothing to be taken care of,'' she replied with the same tone, willing him to think she was as playful as he was. As dangerous as he was. Blair tried to move again. He wouldn't let her.
''You won't give me a chance?'' he pouted, looking at her under thick dark eyelashes. Blair stared at his face, suddenly feeling lightheaded. He was beautiful up close.
''A chance for what?'' She breathed out in a daze, losing her train of thought.
''To repay you.'' He smirked shamelessly.
That damned smirk.
He knew the effect he had on her. The same one he had on every other girl on this planet.
''You don't owe me anything,'' her smile was acidic as she came to her senses. What was she doing? Most importantly, what was this guy doing to her head? This was a person she definitely needed to steer clear from. Blair tried to step around him when he just mirrored her movements.
She loudly huffed in annoyance.
''Are you going to class?'' He asked curiously, as if they were friends, as if they haven't met each other just yesterday.
''Well, yes. I'm here for classes. Get an education. Learn something new. Imagine that.''
His smile was adorable and Blair found herself feeling hot all of a sudden.
''I'm Chuck,'' he introduced himself, extending her his hand.
Blair peered at it as if it was a bomb. And it might go off any minute now.
''Blair,'' she quickly took it, lightly shaking and ignoring the tension in the air that started to build up the moment they touched.
There was nothing wrong with a handshake. This was just a simple gesture of a new acquaintance, nothing else. His palm was warm, his grip solid and strong. Chuck drew her hand to him and his eyes fell to the bruise on her wrist. His eyebrows knotted, staring at it.
Blair's pulse went into a race as his thumb softly swept over the green spot on the flesh. Oh, how soft his touch was. He could easily be brushing over her heart.
She quickly withdrew it and took the moment to break free, walking away to class.