I've realized that my chapters are a bit too short. So here goes to more detail and more prominent paragraphs. :) And I'm going to try and really kick start the story now.

I picked up my phone, and speed-dialed Nate. He was never one for grudges, really. With limited exceptions, of course. He picked up almost immediately. "In spite of what happened yesterday..."

"I thought you agreed to my proposal to forget about it?"

"Right," I muttered dismissively. "I was hoping that you're still coming to the party?"

"Of course, Chuck. But I invited Lola, too."

I stifled a grunt. "Of course. Invite whoever you like. I'm sure Jack's going to do the same."

"It's quite generous, what you're doing."

"I know, I'll see you later."


The party was decent, the music fine. I'd seen Nate and Lola a couple of times, keeping things limited. So I wasn't too worry about them. I spun around at a tap on my shoulder.

"You know, the party's not bad. But not one of your best," Jack muttered. Trust him to give me a backhanded compliment.

"You know, I've actually never been to one of yours," I retorted.

"And you wouldn't want to." He smiled, making me cautious.

"Just tell me one thing. Why the sudden change of heart?"

He shrugged, as I assumed he would. "I suppose I got a little bored of our games. Playing runs in the family though, doesn't it?"

"I suppose so," I said, exhaling, hoping he caught on how much he was boring me.

"Also couldn't exactly say no, Lily was practically begging me to." I froze. Lily had said she had given the number to the doctors. Why would she lie about that? Although it really could have just been an honest mistake. "And as much as I may have liked setting you up in the past, well, she loved my brother."

"The Basses have a funny portrayal of love," I commented.

"Well, anyway, you have a party to host," he said, leaving me standing in the middle of the room. Which I was half-grateful for, really, for the person – or rather, people – I saw standing there.


"Blair," Chuck said, half statement, half question. "Humphrey. I can't say I want – or was expecting for either of you to be here tonight."

I smiled faintly, I couldn't have left Dan alone at home, as much as I didn't want to have been put in this situation. I blinked as the light touched the corner of my eye. "Jack invited me," I said simply.

"But not Dan," he commented. I knew that he could see that Dan was becoming uncomfortable, but I just wish he'd stop squirming. I squeezed his hand, watching Chuck's eyes trace my fingers. His eyes glanced upwards, and I knew he'd have already regained his cool composure. "Regardless, you can't leave now," he said, tilting his head. He took a deep breath, as if he was about to say something, but no words came out.

Suddenly, Dan sprung to life, scratching his head. "I'm, uh, gonna grab us some drinks."

"I'll see you later, Chuck," I murmured, patting his shoulder as I passed him.

I really did hope he was okay, even if it was without me. But as I grabbed my drink from Dan, I could have sworn I heard the words, "I'm not sure if I want to."


"I'm sorry I can't come now, nephew. I have some business to attend to. But I'll be there as soon as possible. Diana is a good friend."

"No worries, Uncle. Thank you... for everything." I said. And I meant it; everything he'd done, despite the size of the impact, had eventually built me up to what I could at least consider a better person. The elevator doors opened and I slipped into the limo, which would take me to my plane.

Destination?: Tuscany.

Gossip Girl: They say that life isn't about the destination but the journey that gets us there, but what happens when the destination is where the journey begins?

Now it's more like a story :P Reviews are the real thing that are going to get me to continue. I got hardly any from my last one. So, one review for every two chapters, until I get too many or too little reviews.