A/N: The reviews I am getting are really making my days! Thanks so much to everyone who reviews- they really are appreciated. Here's the next chapter. Not my favourite but hey without it the next three chapters (that I'm really excited for) wouldn't be able to happen. Hope you all like it!

Please review! Let me know what you think.

P.S. I'm currently watching the third season of gossip girl does anyone else seem to think that Nate doesn't get the best story lines? Which I think is such a shame because he could be one of the most interesting characters. But I am loving the season.

Chapter 3: Second Choices

Blair put on her lip gloss and gazed at herself in the mirror. She was ready. She left the room and went to find her phone. She was about to leave when there was a knock at the door. She opened it and a nervous looking Dan entered into her dorm and sighed with relief, he then walked up to her, grabbed her arms and kissed her cheek.

'You've changed you're mind. Good. Thank you.' Blair shook her head.

'Uh Dan, I haven't changed my mind.' A look of utter confusion crossed his face.

'But you're all dressed up…'

'Yeah. I'm going out tonight. Just not with you and-'

'Come on. The guy can't be that bad.' Blair cocked her head at him.

'How would you know? Have you been on a date with him before?' she asked Dan irritated.

'Blair, you can only use that reasoning if you've actually been on a date with him, which you haven't-'

'Dan, I'm not going on your date with you. Why would you even want Chuck and me there? Go out with Serena. Show her a good time. Now leave before I hurt you.' Dan sighed.

'I guess you are right, if Serena and I are alone its easier for us to get to know each other. But if you were there it would be less pressure…' he trailed off noticing the look on her face. 'Where are you going?'

'On a date.' She gave him a mischievous grin and then opened her dorm door and stepped out. Dan followed. Blair closed the door and then turned to face him she kissed him on the cheek.

'Good luck.' And with that she walked away from him. She had organized the date for Serena with Dan. She had also mentioned to Dan that Serena had suggested that she and Chuck go with them. She had expected Dan to have the same incredulous reaction she had had, however he had seemed to think it was a good idea. He shared Serena's logic with the whole, "it would make things less awkward" reasoning. She had considered the idea for a brief few moments and then laughed at herself for considering it. Chuck Bass was one road she was not going down- whether on a 'fake' date or not. She hoped however that tonight would go well for Dan and Serena, she liked Serena and Dan needed someone like her. Blair shook her head and cleared her thoughts and focused her attention on the date she had tonight.

Serena was surprised at just how much of a good time she was having with Dan. Earlier that day she had come close to calling off the date- then she ran into Nate and decided against that course of action. At the start of the date she was skeptical of how the night would go but she quickly realized that any skepticism she had had been mistaken. She found that he was funny and seemed to be exactly what she needed. A good night out, with good company. She smiled to herself and remembered that she actually liked going on dates. Dan interrupted her thoughts.

'Where to next?' he asked her and stopped to look around at where they actually were. They had sort of just started walking and had forgotten to pay attention to where they were actually going. Serena smiled.

'I know just the place.' Five minutes later they had arrived at a small ice cream store. It looked delicate.

'More sweet stuff.' Dan mumbled and shook his head. Serena laughed and grabbed his hand.

'That's right, this sweet stuff you can never say no to, especially not at this store. The ice cream is on a league of its own.' She grinned at him and he went and bought them their ice creams. Chocolate for her, caramel for him.

Blair sat down at the table and mentally praised the choice of restaurant Chace had picked. Not to formal not to informal.

'This place is my little secret.' He said to her while taking his seat.

'A secret definitely worth sharing.' Blair added and smiled. She liked Chace so far. He was from the Upper East side, had baby blue eyes dark brown hair and a nice smile. And he was exactly what she was looking for currently. All she wanted to see now was how well they actually got along.

'So Blair…'

'So Chace, is it true what they say about you?' he grinned at her and ran a hand through his hair.

'Tell me what they say about me and I'll tell you which parts we can attempt to prove tonight.' She nodded once and smiled then gave a small laugh and continued on with the conversation.

Dan stopped laughing after Serena pushed him for the third time.

'That was not funny, Dan. You could have warned me.'

'And missed out on that scene?' he replied and started laughing again. A few seconds later she hit him softly and began laughing with him. Five minutes passed and they both finally managed to stop. Dan looked at his watch. It was late.

'I guess its time I get you home, Miss.' Serena looked at her phone. It was late they had been out for hours and they both had lectures the next morning.

'Yeah, I guess so.' She commented. They began walking back when an idea suddenly struck her. She stopped walking and looked at Dan seriously.

'Let's stay out the whole night and go back in the morning.'

'We have lectures tomorrow…'

'Come on, Humphrey. It'll be fun.'

'Hmmm…' he smiled and added, 'Ok.'

'Really?' Serena asked shocked. 'You're really up for this challenge?'

'Why do you sound so surprised by that?'

'I don't know.' She said and took out her phone. 'Ok we have about five hours to kill before we definitely have to go back.' Dan went and took her hand.

'Lets go find a party we can crash or a swimming pool we can break into.' Serena gave a short laugh.

'Are we in a movie now, Dan?'

'Only if you want us to be.'

It was late and Blair was having a good time but she was also tired and wanted to go home. They had gone to a party after dinner and they were still there. She was busy dancing with Chace when the song ended. She stepped aside and started to walk away from the dance area. Chace followed. He grabbed her hand and looked at her.

'You ok?' he asked. She nodded and gave him a small smile.

'Just tired. I think I'm going to head back.' She felt him squeeze her hand.

'Come on, I'll take you back.' She shook her head.

'No, if you want to stay-'

'No arguments, Blair.' She smiled again and they began to walk out. Once outside they began to walk to Chace's car. They had turned a corner when someone stopped Blair in her tracks.

'Well, isn't this just a coincidence?'

'Chuck.' Blair said. 'What are you doing here?'

'Going to a party.'

'Well, have fun.' She said and took one step when Chace turned to her.

'Who is this?' he asked curious.

'Chuck Bass.' Blair said slightly annoyed. Chace raised his eyebrows at her.

'You know Chuck Bass?' he had emphasized the word 'know' a lot. Blair gave one nod of her head when the implication of the emphasis hit her.

'I do not know him like that!' she exclaimed.

'Now now Blair, you shouldn't lie to potential boyfriends. It's a bad way to start out.' Chuck commented and cocked his head at her.

'Chuck, you and I both know that, you wish I had something to lie about.'

'I don't believe in wishing, it's a waste of time. If I wanted you I would have you.'

'Cocky much? Please. Don't fool yourself, Bass. I'm not like other girls if I wanted you to want me… you would. Then and only then would you have a chance with me.' They seemed to have forgotten that Chace was there so when he spoke next it shocked them both a bit.

'Blair, lets go.' He said. She nodded.

'Bye, Chuck. Lets not meet for awhile.' She said and began walking away.

'Blair,' he called out and she looked back, 'your second choice of a date tonight falls short in comparison to your first.' Blair left Chace and walked up to him and lowered her voice so only he could here.

'You weren't ever my first choice and even if we had gone with Dan and Serena it wouldn't have been a date. You'd have to ask me out for it to constitute a date and for you to even be in the "choice of the night" category.' Chuck smirked.

'I'll remember that.' He replied and then walked away.

Blair returned to Chace and apologized for that she then shoved Chuck to the back of her mind. Once back at her dorm she immediately got ready for bed and made a point of switching off her phone.

They had about an hour and a half before lectures started. Serena smiled at Dan.

'Thanks for the adventurous night, Dan.' He laughed. The night had been fun- not that adventurous- but fun they had crashed several parties that night and early morning they had found a secluded area which was perfect to watch the sun rise.

'Only my pleasure. Mind you when I'm sleep deprived in lectures today I don't know if I'll still consider it a pleasure.' Serena laughed and kissed him on the cheek.

'You'll be fine. See you soon.' She said and walked away waving at him. Dan shook his head and walked to his dorm to get ready for the day. Serena was making her way back to her dorm as well; she had a silly smile on her face, the type of smile one gets when they receive a text message from their new boyfriend. She really had a good time with Dan. She wasn't really paying attention to her surroundings, so was shocked when she suddenly looked up and saw she was in Nate's corridor- which was a given because she had to go through it to get to her dorm -what she didn't expect was a shirtless Nate standing just a bit outside his door.

'Morning.' She said when she came a bit closer to him.

'Morning.' He replied and then looked at her folding his arms. Serena felt really awkward and was no longer smiling. She began to nervously fidget with a bracelet she was wearing.

'Why are you out here?' she asked eventually. Nate ran a hand through his hair.

'Just needed to get something. Are you just getting in?' Serena looked at him and nodded still fidgeting with her bracelet. 'I take it your date went well then.' She looked at him.

'We pulled an all night-er. Went to quite a few parties.'

'Oh.' Was his reply.

'You sound like you expected me to have done something else…' she murmured. Nate shook his head. Serena didn't like how this felt with Nate. It was awkward, as though they both had secrets they were obviously keeping from each other.

'See you later?' she asked.

'Maybe, I have my date tonight.' He sighed. 'You should meet her one of these days. I think you'd like her.' She gave him a half-hearted smile.

'Yeah. Have fun tonight.' She said and began to walk away. In her head the phrase "guess our fun is over" kept repeating in her head. She didn't know why this bothered her so much. They only had a friends with benefits relationship going on, so it shouldn't bother her that he had a date and that he seemed to be really into this girl. It shouldn't bother her, but if she was brutally honest with herself it more than bothered her.

A/N: The drama is coming. :) More exchanges between... well everyone. Please review.