"Serena?" Dan called out, looking from side to side. "Serena!" The only sounds he heard were the snickers of onlookers and his own heavy breathing. He took one last swift glance and got into a cab, cursing under his breath.
- - -
Blair felt her head spin out of control as butterflies took over her stomach and her hands became clammy with moisture. How she longed to smell his sweet breath, to feel his soft lips on hers, his warm hands pressed against her cheeks firmly. It was almost tragic when Chuck released his hold. They stared at each other wordlessly for minutes.
It was Chuck's turn to break the silence. "So…"
"So.." Blair repeated, breathless.
The corners of his lips turned up in a thoughtful smile, the signature Charles Bass grin. "Did that surprise you?"
"Definitely." She nodded, still lightheaded.
He finally let out a deep chuckle. Soon enough, she joined in on his laughter and their fingers intertwined, foreheads resting against each other. He embraced her in a tight hug. I never want to let you go, he planned on saying, but decided to go for a whispering "I love you."
Blair froze, her head resting on his heart. She could feel her own heart thumping wildly against his body, and she blushed at the thought of him being able to hear her heart beat. "That's the first time you ever said that to me."
He smiled. "The first time to anyone."
She looked up at him. "Really?"
"Mhmm," he answered somewhat matter-of-factly as his eyes bore into hers. "I love you. I love you."
She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She took awhile to collect her thoughts, and he waited patiently for her reply.
"This can't be happening," she finally said.
"What do you mean?"
"You can't love me," she sighed, every word filled with hurt and lies. "You just can't." She shook her head and buried her face against his shoulder.
"I can because I do."
"Chuuuuuuck," she whined. "Why are you making this so hard?" She choked back on a few tears. "Maybe you shouldn't have kissed me. You shouldn't have said that. I should just leave…"
"No." He said it so firmly that it surprised her. "I did, and there's nothing you can do about it. I know you feel the same way, B."
"I know you know I do. The thing is, we can't. We've been down this road before. You KNOW we can't be together."
"I think you're forgetting one important thing."
"What is that?"
"I'm Chuck Bass."
She laughed and rolled her eyes. "And that helps against our parents how?"
He pursed his lips. "I don't know. But I got you to laugh, and seeing your smile is all that matters to me at the moment. "
"You always could," she reminded him.
He nodded. "So I was just thinking… about our parents…"
"Yes?"
"How about we just not tell them?"
Blair shook her head. "Impossible."
"Is it really?"
"For me, yes. I've been moping around for the past however long it was, and now I'm happy. Won't that kind of cause some suspicion?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, yes, unless…." he trailed off, running the plan through his own mind before saying it aloud. She analyzed his face while she waited.
"Prom's coming up," he said suddenly.
"And?"
He sighed. "The person who asks you… Pretend he's you're new boyfriend." My, how those words stung the two teenagers.
Blair's mouth fell open. "What?" she managed to say. It felt like the air had been knocked out of her. Pretend to be in a relationship… pretend to be in love with someone who wasn't Chuck Bass? "Impossible."
"We have to. It's the only way we can see each other. But of course, there's always the obvious option."
"Which is what?" she asked, willing to do anything except date another person.
"Just to not be together."
"Out of the question," she snapped immediately.
Laughing amusedly, he replied, "Then we have to pretend."
"What if no one asks me?"
Chuck shook his head. "Have you seen you?"
Her face flushed a deep pink and she looked down, letting her hair fall in front of it. "Fine. We'll do it." All through Blair's mind she could imagine how it would be like to lie to her mother about this mystery boy that might, or might not, ask her to the prom. And then she'd have to say he was her boyfriend! She shuddered internally at the thought. She couldn't imagine herself with anyone besides Chuck.
He nodded, lifting her chin to meet his eyes. "It's for the best. You know that I can't stand to be with anyone besides you." He gave her a reassuring smile, to which she responded with a reluctant grin.
"Do you promise? So many girls are after you, Chuck. How will you be sure you won't fall for your pretend-girlfriend?"
"Because she won't be you. No one will ever be anything like you. You are the most beautiful, smartest, sweetest, delicate, lovely girl I've ever met. And my list can go on and on. I'll never love anyone but you."
"I love you, too," she whispered.
"I know," he smiled. "I have that power remember?"
She blushed yet again and buried her head in her favorite spot, the nook of his shoulder. "So who do you plan to ask?"
He shrugged, stroking her hair. "I don't know yet. We'll see who you get asked by first. So we'll meet here every lunch. You leave first, then a few minutes I'll depart so no one will see us going from the same place. Deal?"
"Deal," she sighed. She still didn't like the idea of pretending to be someone else's girlfriend, but she had no other choice.
Chuck kissed the top of her head and lightly pushed her away from him. "Go. I'll see you next lunch. Same place, same time." He flashed her his brilliant smile and, after giving him a peck on the cheek, she left, feeling uneasy. He watched her pick up her shoes and exit the glamorous meadow, the place he now could call his true sanctuary.
- - -
"Six dollars, kid," the cab driver demanded when the cab pulled to a stop in front of The Palace.
Dan slapped the requested amount into the driver's hand before thanking him and hopping out. The Palace—like how the meadow was Chuck's "thinking place"—was Daniel Humphrey's "thinking place", though he liked to just call it his "favorite place".
When he arrived inside the bar area, the bartenders greeted him with a smile and nod. It was obvious he had been here before. Unfortunately, someone had not known that.
Dan waited before grabbing a seat, specifically because his favorite spot was occupied by an attractive girl with long blonde hair who happened to be carrying the same purse as Serena van der Woodsen. Oh crap, Dan thought to himself. He inched closer to the bar slowly, hoping not to attract attention, without looking at the blonde.
"One more martini," Dan heard Serena order to the bartender. He was half-surprised at this and decided to take a peek at her. Seven empty martini glasses stood in front of Serena, a few toppled over.
Maybe they're not all hers, Dan suggested to himself. But if that was true, why did all of them have Serena's lipstick print on the rim? The bartender was about to slide a glass towards her when Dan stepped next to her and waved his arms. "Aye, aye, no more for her, please. Seven's plenty." He glared at the man. Mental note: get Alexander fired.
Serena twisted her head towards Dan and stood up, grabbing her purse at the same. "Who the hell do you think you are, trying to control what I drink?" she slurred. She tried to walk out in the most graceful way she could, but unluckily lost balance on her high heels and fell face down. "Shoot," she mumbled, struggling to regain her composure as her face turned a beet red.
"Here, let me help you with that," Dan suggested, grabbing onto her arm and pulling her up.
Once she was back on her feet, she jerked her arm away from his grasp. "Thank you," she said rather bitterly and walked away.
"Wait, Serena," Dan called softly, pulling her back. He gestured for her to sit down on a chair at the bar. She hesitated, and he sighed, sitting down first. "Please."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she muttered and complied.
"Thank you," he semi-smiled at her. "Two marti—I mean, two waters, please," he told the bartender. Their waters came out and they drank without anyone saying a word for a few minutes.
The silence was unbearable. "About that kiss, sorry, it was totally uncalled for," Dan finally spoke.
"Oh, yeah, definitely," she agreed, just slightly disappointed.
"Yeah… I just wanted to apologize. About, well, everything."
"It's—it's okay."
"And I'll apologize on Nate's behalf, too. What he did was just… crossing the line," he shook his head in disapproval at the memory. "And I'll say sorry for all the other guys, and—"
Serena laughed for the first time that day. "Dan, it's okay. Stop."
"What? Really? You forgive me?"
She shrugged. "I was a whore."
"You were a whore."
"Okay, I can say that, but you can't, okay?" she giggled.
"Right, right," he laughed along and pretended to zip his mouth. "That word will never come out of my mouth again, at least in correspondence to you."
She gave him a genuine smile. Were those drinks making her this nice? "Truce?"
"Yes. Definitely, a truce," he grinned and extended his right hand, shaking it as hers came into contact.
"So just to warn you, you're like my only friend," she sighed and took a big sip of her water. "Gosh, I can't believe no one will give me another chance."
"Hey, it's going to get better," he assured her, patting her back. "Just hang in there. It's only your first day back, after all."
"I sure hope so."
Awkward silence settled in. Dan wanted to tell her so badly how he felt. This was the nicest moment he ever had with her. Would it last? Life's too short to have regrets. You have to take risks. "Uh, Serena…"
"Yes?" She straightened her hair after taking a sip of water.
"Prom's coming up…" he trailed off.
Her body became rigid. "What? Chuck… he never told me about that." Prom. The place where anyone judges everyone. She could just picture what people would say about her.
"Her boobs are practically hanging out of her dress!"
"Did you see Serena dance with him? What a whore!"
"Serena was totally just humping that guy."
"Look at how slutty she looks!"
She took in a bit more water. "Shoot."
"What?" His tone was worried. Had she known what he was about to say? Was she rejecting him already?
"Prom. Oh my gosh. It's just another time for people to criticize me."
He had to sigh in relief at that. So it wasn't his fault. And he knew the perfect way to not sound too desperate. "Well, if it helps, I could be your date-slash-bodyguard. You know, make sure no one teases you or anything?" He picked up his glass of water to prevent himself from saying anything else. He would wait patiently for her answer.
She looked at him incredulously. "Oh, no, no, no. I couldn't put you through that. I mean, I already probably ruined Chuck's rep. I can't do that to you."
"Serena, I insist. I don't want anybody saying mean things about you. I'm your friend, remember? It's what friends do." He cracked a smile at her, meaning every muscle that twitched his lips.
"Dan—"
"Oh, I'm sorry, was I supposed to ask in a more romantic way?" Oh, his witty little humor.
And it seemed to work on the blonde. Laughing, she teased, "Fine, Humphrey. I'll go with you. But if someone beats on you about it, I warned you."
"Oh, I think I can take care of myself." Boom, boom. Boom, boom. Could she hear his heart beating? He was going with the one and only Serena van der Woodsen. Boom, boom. Boom, boom. Yes, she could definitely hear his heart.
"So tell me," Dan continued after recollecting his thoughts, "what made you come back?"
Serena chugged the last sip of water, and, turning to him, opened her mouth to speak.