Chapter 3: Checkmate to the Queen

Nicholas sat across the table in front of me. We were with our families. While I was signing that paper, I couldn't look into his eyes, because the pain I was feeling was too much. It was only when I saw his shaking hands, that looked up at him. I caught a light of sufferance that he immediately covered up with his anger. I simply couldn't bare it.

I stood up and ran away as far as possible from that room, from that gaze which was hunting me, from that bitter disappointment. I felt sick. My pride had blinded me so much that I couldn't realize that maybe I just had to understand his heart, that, maybe, he just needed to be reassured by the truth. Maybe. But I was just 18.

"How long have you been hiding here?" Daphne was looking at Chuck, who was working in his office at the Palace. She could see papers and projects thrown everywhere. The chaos.

"I don't have time" he replied, stopping her. He didn't even raise his eyes from the balance he was studying.

"There is mold growing on your Dolce" she teased him, looking at his shirt. No reply.

"In a dump you can breathe fresher air than in this room" she kept on talking, trying to win his attention.

"I'll give you 10 seconds" he finally looked at her.

He was scary: messy hair, which he probably hadn't washed in 3 days; creased unbuttoned shirt, pale face and bags under his eyes. She tried not to show him how worried she was for him. She faked a smile.

"Don't worry. It won't take long" she got close to his desk and sat on the leather chair. He looked at her with perplexity. She wasn't going to leave anytime soon.

"What do you want?"

"Lunch" she smiled, putting a packet on the desk before leaning back against the chair "...or dinner, or maybe both since you haven't come home in days"

"I'm not hungry"

"You can't survive on only scotch, Chuck" she admonished him, looking around to all the empty glasses and bottles.

"My mother is dead. I'm not looking for a substitute" he answered sharply. Hurting her would have meant breaking her away. He needed her to leave because that way of showing him her affection made him weak. He couldn't surrender.

"Touchè" she commented, knowing exactly the game he was playing. Sometimes he was too easy for her.

She left him speechless. Why did she have to be so determined? Only a woman had entered his world and, in the end, he had been the one destroyed. Then, after sitting on their empire's ruins, he had decided he would've no longer allowed anyone else to get that close to him. She needed to leave immediately.

"If you don't mind I have business to attend" he stood up, pointing with his gaze at the door behind her.

"If you really think that closing yourself in your office is going to resolve the problem, than you'd better come back home, because it won't" she said, showing that she didn't have any intentions to leave the room. Instead, she took a few papers from the table and, sitting comfortable on the chair, she started leafing through them.

She was wearing Adidas shoes, Levi's jeans with sweatshirt. Her hair were gathered in a ponytail. She had no make-up, and she was wearing her sunglasses like an headband. She was so natural and comfortable in that outfit that she looked ready for a gala event.

"I don't know what are you talking about" he denied, keeping on staring at her. He needed to prevent her from finding anything to hold on to.

"Have I ever told you that when you lie, your mouth doesn't match your eyes?" she raised her eyes from the papers to threaten him.

"Ok, enough" he puffed, taking his phone to make a speed call.

"Miss Harvey needs to be escorted out of the building. She's feeling sick". She glanced down and chuckled. Sometimes he acted like a child.

"So, tell me, do I have to fake an ulcer or pretend to suffer from low-pressure?" she asked as soon as he turned off the call. He just smiled victorious, looking at his office's doors opening to show two of his security guards entering in the room.

"Did you call us Mr Bass?"

"Miss Harvey needs to go home and have a long sleep" he explained, getting close to her and taking his papers out of her hands.

"Raving is quite normal, when you're tired" he kept on talking, grabbing her elbow to make her stand. Then he grabbed her bag from the other chair and escorted her to the door.

She was silently allowing him to do what he wanted, but when they reached the door she turned, ready to deliver the final stroke.

"Do you know how is this going to end if you keep on hiding in here?" she asked. He changed his facial expression, tensed the lower jaw and tightened up the eyes. "There will come a day when you'll look back and you'll realize that you pride had been useless" As she said it, she turned to the boys and went away.

"I know the way"


"Blair?" Nate answered the phone, telling her name.

"Nate" she yelled his name with a childish voice.

"Do you need something?" he asked confused.

"Why? Do I need to ask a favor to call a friend?" she tried to sound offended.

"No, of course not. Forgive it" he apologized.

"So, Archibald, how was your summer?" she started the conversation, walking through her wardrobe to find a bag that could match her new shoes.

"Are you referring to the political campaign?" he asked, sounding bored.

"Nate, you grandfather is taking care of your future"

"Or of the family name" he specified.

"Don't get mad! By the way, you're lucky to have a friend like me, who has always something to cheer you up!" a radiant smile pictured on Blair face.

"Blair, I don't have time to entertain your boss"

"She liked you and, thanks to me, you had sex for an entire week! Anyway, what are you doing tonight?"

"Actually, I've a few things planned" he didn't lie. He had to play poker with Chuck.

"What kind of things?" she insisted. He wasn't allowed to talk about Chuck with her.

"I... have a…" He nervously looked around " a conference about the micro credit". He took a deep breath. Thank God Chuck's post kept on coming at the Empire.

"Chuck Bass' invitations don't work anymore!" she caught him immediately "Tonight you'll attend the Harvey Foundation charity event as my chaperone" she proclaimed excited.

"Why are you asking me this?"

"Are you suggesting me to attend to such an important event on my own?"

"Ask Dan" he explained.

"Nathaniel Archibald, the Harveys are one of the most powerful family of the world. The most important people of New York are going to be there. Do you really believe that I'd risk my reputation attending with someone who can't distinguish a fork from a knife?"

Nate shook his head. She was always the same.

"Instead" she continued "going to the party with the nephew of William Van der Bilt would be such an entrance… Just think about how many points you'd won with your grandfather" she tried to persuade him.

Nate thought about it. He had to admit that it could have helped his grandfather to forgive him for missing the meeting with the president. Chuck would have understood.

"Just for tonight, Blair"

"Pick me up at 8. With the limo"

As soon as she ended the conversation, she turned to Dorota.

"Why going with Mr Nate? Miss Blair have personal invitation"

"Because that is a convocational letter to the inquisition, but who said that I am going to be the accused one?" she smiled, thinking about her revenge. Dorota stared worried at her, contemplating what Blair had in mind.

"Miss Blair want to use Mr Dan Humphrey's bullshit?"

"It was all true, Dorota! And, Daphne Harvey deserves to pay for what she had done to me in the past. I want her to remember that no one can fool me"

"What will Miss Blair do?"

"Something very, very funny Dorota. And very, very nice"


"I can't believe you're organizing a gypsy party at the ancient palace of the Foundation!" Serena was screaming on the other side of the phone.

"Don't you think it's too much an Italian thing?"

"Are you kidding me? Your family's parties are the most glamour of the world!" Serena was really excited for the night.

"I'm just hoping that everything goes the right way" Daphne was really worried about that.

"Are you talking about Chuck?" Serena changed her voice's tone too.

"I've invited Blair Waldorf"

"Wait, does Chuck know it?"

"The world doesn't turn around him" Daphne specified.

"Around them" Serena pointed out.

"Serena, I know she doesn't like me, but not inviting her to my family's party would have been such a huge humiliation"

"And Chuck?"

"I'm in New York to stand by his side, but I can't bear to see him like this"

"At least now he's working. Years ago he would have closed himself in his suite for weeks or left for crazy adventures" Serena commented, remembering the past.

"The fact that, in a scale of sorrow 1-10, now he's classified at 7 grade, it's not something I'd defined as an improvement, Serena. Should I have to get worried for their encounter?"

"If Blair thinks that Chuck did something to hurt her, she won't stop till she'll get a revenge"

"I seriously doubt it's Chuck's fault" Daphne wasn't sure about that. "I don't know what happened last week, Serena. It's just a sensation, but looking at the way Chuck is behaving right now, I'm quite sure that Blair is the one who made a mistake this time"

"Usually Blair doesn't listen" Serena said, faking indifference.

"I think she's just scared" Daphne corrected her.

"This can't be an excuse"

"It's not. However loving someone who keeps on running away from himself it's not that simple. Soon or later you get burned" Daphne sounded serious about that.

"How you can say it?" Serena wondered.

"I know Chuck" it was the only answer Serena received.

"I'm sorry, can I bother you for a second?" a girl dressed like a gypsy got close to Daphne, interrupting her phone conversation.

"Can you hold on the line for a few seconds, Serena?"

"Of course" Serena answered.

"Of course, How can I help you?" Daphne asked to the girl, who looked lost.

"Thank you! Do you have any idea where the Harvey Foundation is?" she asked showing Daphne a map of the city.

"It's just behind your back" Daphne was stunned. Above the door there was a huge inscription of their family's name.

"Oh my God" she smiled satisfied "Thank you so much! Are you working at tonight's party, too?" she asked to Daphne, maybe confused by her casual look.

"Well, I work here, In some kind of ways. You too?" Daphne was gentle in front of the eccentric girl that was already prepared for the party at 2 o clock in the afternoon.

"I'm playing the palmist" she introduced herself, holding out her hand. Daphne was taken by surprise. In her list there wasn't a palmist. The girl kept on talking.

"I'm here to meet… a certain Blair…" she took a piece of paper from her pocket. "Here, I'm looking for Blair Waldorf" Daphne pricked her ears. Serena was right.

Blair really had something in mind, maybe against Chuck.

"Oh!" she pretended "Blair! Of course! What a shame! I've completely forgotten about the palmist role! My fault!" Daphne didn't know what was behind that, but she knew for sure that Blair had made a wrong step, choosing the wrong actress.

"Do you know her?" the girls took a deep relaxing breath.

"Yes, I do! Pretty well! I mean, who doesn't? I'm her personal assistant" she didn't know what game Blair was playing, but she wasn't going to back down "I'm Daphne, very nice to meet you".

"Then you can tell me…is she here?"

"She's not, unfortunately. She had a last minute inconvenience, but you'll see her tonight, at the party. I'm the one in charge now " the girl wasn't pleased by the news.

"Well, I'm new at the agency… I don't know If I can refer to you. I could get fired"

"Oh, don't' worry! Blair is a wonderful person, she trusts me completely! There won't be any kind of problem, believe me!"

"Really? Thank god! You know, playing the part of the palmist on the first day of work, at a such important event like this one, is making me so nervous!" the strange girls looked relieved.

"I understand you! But it's going to be a huge success!" Daphne agreed.

"So, I need to ask you a few things I've missed on the phone with Miss Waldorf!"

"Of course! You know? This is your lucky day. I'm on a break so, if you agree, we can check back everything" Daphne proposed, smiling widely.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely"

"Thank you, thank you!" the girl yelled, throwing her arms around Daphne.

I've never had many friends, but there were always tons of people around me, which I looked at with diffidence. The most difficult thing for me was learning how to distinguish who was liking me for what I was or for what I represented. At the beginning I burnt my finger, than my skin became stronger. I've realized that not everyone looks inside you, doesn't judge you and stands by your side when everything goes wrong. It was not accident that people outside defined us as "lonely people". Sometimes I've even thought it was true.

When you really love just a few people, if you lose them, a part of yourself leaves with them, and there's no one who can replace their absence.

"This party is incredible! Have you seen the mime outside the lady's room?" Eric was excited.

"I didn't, but I've been caricatured!" Serena was overjoyed, taking a paint out her Chanel purse. Eric took a look of it.

"This picture is better than the original!" he joked.

"Shut up!" Serena gently hit his brother with a huge smile on her face. Accidently she hit someone else too.

"Oh my God! I'm so sorry" she apologized turning to her victim.

"Se-serena?" Dan Humphrey was right there, surprised.

She stared at him motionless. After the mess with Blair and Charlie it had become impossible for her to be in the same room with him without feeling the urge to strangle him.

"You look good" he complimented her.

"I should say the same to you" she replied uncomfortable.

"I had no idea you were invited" Eric started to talk to break the silence that had fallen immediately between them.

"Actually I truly believed I was the only person in the world that the Harveys had ever banished" Dan explained sarcastically.

"Daphne is a wonderful person!" Serena couldn't assimilate his words.

"I'd like to say the same" Dan replied coldly but he was interrupted by the huge smile that appeared of Serena's face.

"Nate! We're here!" Serena yelled. She had seen her best friend walking through the guests.

"There you are!" Nate smiled back at her approaching them. That was the moment when Blair made her appearance.

When Serena's and Blair's eyes met, they both frizzed. But in a matter of a seconds Serena turned all her attentions on Nate.

"Blair Waldorf!" Eric greeted her.

"Blair?" Dan was astonished by her presence.

"Humphrey" she simply pronounced his surname and walked next to Eric.

"Little Van der Woodsen, I see you're blonder than usual!"

"Daphne suggested me" he explained excited.

"Obviously" she commented between teeth. Thinking back, it wasn't that good.

"Anyone talking about me?" and then, like a star, Daphne was reaching them in a shining Dior dress.

Dan looked terrified. Nate embraced her and took her up in his arms.

"Nate! Put me down!" she was laughing with him.

Blair puffed annoyed. Why on earth, every single friends she had, was in love with that girl? She needed to put an end to that situation.

"Blair, I'm really glad you're here" Daphne gently talked to her.

"I've appreciated your invitation so much to reconsider my previous behaviour. So, Accept my apologizes and my peace gift!" Blair said it with her fakest smile.

"You shouldn't have"

"Don't be silly! Every respectful queen gives gifts to her foreign guests!"

"What the hell is she saying?" Nate asked Eric.

"I've no idea, but the last time I checked, a Blair Waldorf public gift was an anti-personnel mine"

"You've made me curious" Daphne was pretending to be intrigued by Blair's offer.

"Well, since this is a gipsy party, there can't be no palmist, so I've brought with me someone who can read destiny!"

"And since when are you interested in someone else's fate?"- Nate couldn't contain is curiosity.

"Archibald, Don't be afraid, It is not for you. This is a personal gift for Daphne" Blair tried to be kind with him.

"Just for me? I mean, I think it would be much funnier if we get a reading all together!" Daphne opened the proposal to all the presents.

"I'd love to" Serena had already accepted.

"It would be wonderful!" Blair wasn't that happy "...but my gift was for you!" she wanted to convince her.

"And I officially decide that my own gift, you so generously procured, will be an open palmist session for everyone!" Daphne seemed really excited, and, most of all unmoving.

It was getting worse than what Blair could have expected. She just wanted to record Daphne's session and use it to threaten her privately with her own secrets. Now, even if it was turning into a public humiliation, something she preferred the most, the situation was running out of her hands. She needed to pretend that everything was ok and stay cold.


They were sitting around a circle table. Nate was sitting on the right of the palmist and next to Blair, who was sitting between him and Dan, followed by Eric and Serena who was facing Dan. Next to Serena there was an empty seat and, in the end, Daphne, who was sitting on the left of the palmist.

The tension in the room was already palpable when Chuck walked the door and looked around.

"What the hell are they doing here?" he asked, looking just at Serena, Daphne, Nate and Eric. As Blair turned her gaze toward him, her heart started beating faster. She was expecting him there, but his presence made the situation even more complicated.

"What are you doing here?" Serena knew that he was working late that night.

"It seems like someone cancelled on me" He stared questioning at Nate. He had seen him with Blair on Gossip Girl. On the other side of the table, Blair was wondering why he wasn't going to come to his girlfriend's party.

"Better, come, seat here!" Serena invited him to take the place next to her.

"At the theatre of the absurd?" he didn't move, observing the table with hesitation.

"Oddly, I agree" Dan commented out loud.

"I don't seat at table with them" he stated. Even if he didn't talk about or look at Blair and Dan, it was clear they were the ones he was referring to.

"Charles, are you afraid that this woman could disclose your deeds?" Blair couldn't shut up, looking up at him. At the same time Chuck eyes were on her, penetrating like a sharp blade. It blazed.

"You should be scared that the skeletons in my closet could be smallest than yours, Blair" he cut, without leaving her sight.

"Chuck!" Daphne urged him. He turned toward her. "Blair organized this little surprise, I honestly don't think this is the way to treat a such generous guest" he stared at her for a while, before capturing a special flash in her eyes. He used to call it "the gaze of the panther", the one he adored about her. He understood that something was brewing and it was better staying. With a slow movement he approached his seat.

The exchange between Chuck and Daphne made Blair ache. That was the way he used to look at her. She felt jealousy. She didn't like it.

The palmist let a deck pass around in order to let each one of them choose two playing cards.

Daphne and Nate looked at each other in silence. Serena was avoiding Dan. Chuck and Blair were facing each other, while Eric was paying attentions to the palmist's expressions. The woman face was making a worried expression. She had closed her eyes and pressed the temples with her fingers. She looked focused. Then, she suddenly opened her eyes, pointing at Serena.

"You" she called her. Blair got frightened: she had asked for a fake palmist, not for a psycho!

"Me?" Serena was trying to prevent a laugh.

"You' won't be happy, if you don't open your heart to the people you really love"

"Wonderful" Blair commented cynically in a low voice. She thought about it: she hadn't given any instruction about Serena. Maybe Dorota had given to the woman some other specifics about the mission, while she was having her Japanese massage.

"I don't know what you're talking about" Serena answered confused.

"She needs you just like you need her" Serena turned up her gaze toward Blair who was doing the same.

Was she real a palmist? Blair was wondering. Or she was just an incompetent who had read gossip girl?

"Forgiveness saves the soul" the woman kept on talking to her, but Serena reacted.

"She had a relationship with the man I loved, and she knew I was in love with him" she exploded with fury.

Daphne lowered her gaze, waiting for what she had defined the apocalypse. She was proud of herself, the live of the argument was even funnier than in her imagination.

"How many times do I have to say this? I kissed Dan once. Thank God, if I may add" Blair defended herself. She was exhausted by that accusation. Every time it made sound what she had done, even more and more stupid. Did it really happen?

"Twice" Serena specified.

"Again? The second time it was a coverage"

"Didn't you two have a connection?" Serena quoted her.

"Of course Serena!" Blair yelled "Me and Dan are connected, but I also have a connection with Nate, and with you and with my beautician!" Eric was puzzled, looking at her, Chuck was hiding a laugh.

"But you kissed him for the second time, without telling me!"

"I kissed him again because I knew that I wouldn't have felt anything and I was right".

"Hold on just a moment, please" Dan interrupted the argument "Serena you were with Ben! You brought him at my loft! You didn't tell me you loved me!".

"You left me first because you had to write. You fallen for my best friend and you slept with my cousin!" Serena replied, letting her pain come to the surface.

"Hey guys, I don't think this is the right place to remember the past" Nate tried to stop them.

"You! Cover boy!" the palmist was pointing at him. He turned at her with a confused expression. Daphne couldn't contain herself and started laughing.

"You're trapped between family and personal wishes"

"How do you know that?" he asked.

"Never have doubts"

"You know that Nate has problems with his grandfather?" Blair was grumpy. It wasn't possible, that information was not in her plan either.

"I also know that you left a prince" the palmist turned toward her.

"Easy. That was on every paper" Dan played down.

"Yes, but she left him because she's in love with another man, someone too stubborn to realize how scared to trust him again she is" Chuck ears hoisted while all the eyes in the room were gazing at Blair.

"What are you talking about?" Blair was doing her best to stay calm and understand what was happening. What does she knew about her fears toward Chuck? That was impossible!

With the corner of the eye she could catch the victorious glare Daphne was giving her. It couldn't be.

"Surprise!" Daphne explained, enjoying the scene.

"I can't believe this!" Blair mumbled under her breath.

"It was noble for you, trying to ruin my reputation publicly, Blair"

"I told you, you weren't welcome" Blair threatened her.

"And, if I recall, I advised you to stay away from me"

"I would have done it if I hadn't known that you had sex with my boyfriend" Blair yelled at her. Daphne opened her eyes wide.

"So, this is the reason why you hired this woman to record me with the camera hidden in the corner so you could blackmail me?" There was a mix of confusion and surprise in Daphne's question. Eric started to look around to find the weapon of the crime.

"Don't try to play the saint with me! I know everything about you" Blair didn't back down.

"All right Blair" Chuck interrupted her with the intent to prove her, but his expression was too calm to made him look like someone surprised. "Why don't you enlighten up with the theory that you and the insignificant Humphrey over there have tailored?"

"Have I ever told you how much you disgust me, Chuck Bass?" she replied killing him with her eyes.

"Several times" he commented with sarcasm.

"Don't be cocky! She preferred someone else to you, too!" Chuck's face stiffened.

"At least she didn't look for him in the Brooklyn sewerage" he was a fury.

"Hey! You're talking about me! I'm here!" Dan tried to speak, without success.

"Dan is not a cheater" Blair couldn't stop at the point of the conversation.

"Really? If remember I correctly, he cheated on Serena with Georgina, then he came back with Serena and he cheated on her with her teacher, before coming back to Georgina. Then it was Olivia's time, who he cheated on with Vanessa, who he chose in the end, while he was still thinking about Serena. He cheated at Vanessa with Serena but he didn't leave Vanessa, even if he wanted Serena instead, and when Serena looked him with poppy dog eyes he didn't want Vanessa anymore to have Serena back. But when Serena wanted him too, he wanted you, her best friend. I think I said everything"

"It was not like that"- Dan defended himself.

"Did I forget Cece?" Chuck smirked.

"No, my cousin" Serena specified.

"Shut up!" Blair stopped him "you're accusing him because he said the truth about you" Blair kept on talking without caring about Dan anymore.

"The truth?" Chuck smirked "We are all curious to know this truth. Come on"

"I don't understand... Blair believes that you cheated on her with Daphne?" Nate asked, turning toward Chuck astonished. Chuck nodded. Serena shook her head while Daphne stared worried at Chuck, understanding too many things.

"Who told her this bullshit?" Nate was completely lost.

"Dan" it was Daphne to answer, well aware also of all the behind the scene activities.

"Blair, you can't believe it! This is not true!" Serena commented. Blair had many reasons about Chuck's bad behaviours, but he hadn't cheated on Blair with Daphne. She could have swear it.

"Thanks Serena" Chuck was glad to know that someone was still capable to rationalize. Blair observing the sincerity of her best friend turned her gaze over Chuck.

His caramel brown eyes lightened when they met hers. She was used to read that gaze as sincerity and pureness. Was everything a big misunderstanding?

"Blair you can't believe him!" Dan spoke to her.

"Humphrey, Stay out of this!" Chuck admonished him cruelly.

"Come on Blair, you were unhappy with him" Dan kept on talking.

"If you don't believe me now Blair, to me, you won't exist anymore" Chuck said those words slowly. He wanted to be clear once and for all. The tones in the room were changing, everyone could feel it. It wasn't the cat and mouse game anymore.

Blair couldn't speak, she just stared at Chuck with watering eyes. She didn't know what to say or do. Was she really ready to trust him again?

"Blair..- Chuck invited her again, noting her uncertainty.

"We all know what's going to happen Blair" Dan was still talking to her "You two will make peace and then you'll find him cutting out paper hearts and declaring the world to someone else". He was there with her behind that curtain on the Valentine's Day.

"What the hell do you want from me Humphrey?" Chuck yelled to him, trying with every fiber of his being not to punch him in front of everyone.

"She deserves much better than you Chuck" the pauper answered without showing any kind of hesitation. But the only thing that mattered to Chuck, was Blair's silence. He closed his eyes because he couldn't show how much that hit and hurt him.

"Is this what YOU think Blair?" he finally asked her, finding the courage to open his eyes again. Blair stood speechless. He kept on staring at her, who was looking back, trying to find the answer. It killed him.

"I shouldn't have come to Paris" he cut the conversation, staring into her eyes for the last time. Then he lower his gaze and walked out the room. He had closed her the door to his heart, forever.

"Chuck! Stop!" Nate ran after him.


"I can't understand how we've got to this place" Serena was shocked "No one has ever loved you the way he does"

"I agree, You heart knows it, no one else" the palmist nodded toward Blair.

"Do you believe that she had to come back with him?" Dan asked her.

"You're such an idiot Dan! I paid that woman to humiliate Daphne! She's an actress" Blair cried out to him, pissed at his continuous interferences.

"You did?" he asked as if he still hadn't realized it yet.

"Are you disoriented Dan? You can't believe that your sweet and pure Blair can do something so bad?" Daphne wanted to say it so badly and finally break the ball he was living in.

"You did all of this, with the purpose of humiliate me!" Blair accused Daphne.

"I did this to defend myself. I've told you to leave me out of this"

"Blair, please..." Dan tried to touch her.

"When are you going to get it?! This is none of your business ,Humphrey!" Blair avoided him e turned again against Daphne.

"You wanted him to leave me forever! But don't get too excited, you'll never have what we had!" she was mad.

"If it was so special, why do you fear me so much Blair?" Daphne provoked her.

"Don't answer her, Blair" Dan interrupted them again.

"Stop telling me what to do!" Blair ordered him with all her strength. She had enough about him, so she looked at Daphne who was staring back at her with a fierce gaze while a small group of guests was approaching them. She couldn't stay there anymore in that condition, she had to think about her reputation.

"I'm not finished yet" she told her enemy and then, with her head held high she turned her heels and walked out without caring for the people watching her.

"You love her.." it was Serena who broke the silence after Blair's disappearance. She was looking at Dan with a distressed face. He didn't move.

"Wh-what? Serena don't be silly!" he tried to explain.

"And I've even felt guilty for my affair with Ben"

"I'm tired of talking about this Serena" he turned her off. She felt it.

"You're right" she composed herself "it's such a waste of time!" and she left .

"Can you pass me the cards?" the fake palmist, asked Eric, who was still at his seating.

When he took Chuck and Blair cards he found out that they've chosen the same ones: the destiny and the lovers.

Daphne stared at the cards as if she had been punched by someone.

When I was 15 years old, a palmist read my hand. She darkened immediately and I realized that the time for the simple things was over. I fell in love with the saddest boy I've ever met and I gave him all of myself. I accepted to live our love secretly. I couldn't control what I was feeling and sometimes it wasn't enough. The palmist ended the session, telling me that ' running away wouldn't have changed anything': if two people are meant to be together, they always find a way back to each other. On one thing she was right. While I was pretending to look ahead, the truth was that I was just going back.


I want to thank who's reading this fic and for the reviews! Just have faith in Chuck and Blair! ;)

In the next chapter you'll found out more about Daphne and her relationship with Chuck, together with a big surprise!

A big thanks goes to Cry for her support and her help!