It took exactly six minutes and forty-three seconds for news of Nate and Blair's fight to be heard by all of the students who attended both Constance and St. Jude's. It took another two minutes and fifteen seconds to reach the rest of the city who actually gave a damn about such an event visa vie Gossip Girl.

If you were to check the traffic that Gossip Girl had done that day, you might be shocked at how much people actually did care that such a thing happened. It was only a little shocking truthfully. After all, it was Blair Waldorf and Nate Archibald publicly arguing. That was the equivalent of seeing two shooting stars in a matter of a week - completely impossible and down right improbable.

As far as Tyler Lockwood was concerned, the heavens had opened up and it was just a matter of time before Blair would be his again and the world would be right once more. The smirk he wore on his lips was far from smug. It stopped being smug about twenty seconds after Blair started yelling at Nate on the front steps of the girls school. Now, Tyler simply looked like he had the winning lottery numbers for the next five years. Not that he really needed them, of course. His mother and father, Carol and Richard Lockwood, both have more than enough money to keep Tyler, whomever he chooses to marry, and up to three kids comfortable for a very long time without their son ever lifting a finger. That was probably what contributed to the only Lockwood son's attitude. Similar to his best friend, Chuck Bass, Tyler felt as if he were entitled to everything he was given and very often took advantage of everything around him as often as he could.

"You look as if you have news," drawled the previously mentioned best friend. Tyler wasn't sure when Chuck had appeared at his side. He'd been too lost in daydreaming about his future with Blair to notice the smirk on Chuck's lips and how he was looking out of the tall archway that lead to the large courtyard that connected the two prestigious schools. His large, territorial eyes were hooded and watching the girl who seemed to be the talk of the city. Tyler was happy that for once it wasn't Serena who was on the tips of everyones tongues because he knew that Blair was happy about that.

He hadn't answered or even acknowledged Chuck's presence, prompting the fellow bad boy to speak again.

"She really is quite unpredictable sometimes. I'm truly shocked about that fight though. I never expected her to show off her fire in such a public manner." Chuck drawled on and on and Tyler had slowly started to tune him out once more. Chuck never realized that Tyler knew Blair in a way he never could. Tyler knew the real Blair. The Blair that didn't need a scheme to breathe, that was incredibly intelligent and could recite the most beautiful passages from books that were written originally in foreign languages, and he took a great deal of pride in that. Unfortunately, he would never be able to say it out loud. Not yet of course.

Oh yes, Tyler was definitely hooked on the Waldorf girl. Too bad for him, but she was much more than anyone could ever anticipate.

She was someone that even she didn't fully know herself. But at that moment, in that very specific moment between Chuck and Tyler, the girl who held both of their affections was just one thing and one thing only: Chuck's. It didn't matter that she was currently dating Nate - as far as they knew of course. But it wasn't like Tyler kept shoving his hand in his pocket every five seconds in the hopes that he would feel it buzz and have it be a blast stating his dream come true. Blair had been Chuck's girl from the moment he'd taken her virginity in the back of a limo, and no matter how much the infamous Bass had been seemingly immune to knowing the obvious about his best friends feelings, and how little he seemed to care about the "bro code", Tyler had always stuck by it.

That is until now.

Because of that night they had spent together and the following two months, Tyler knew that he could no longer stand idly by and let Blair ruin her happiness with those who were far from worthy of her presence. He would do his waiting, just as he always had, and when she was hurt and broken (just as he knew she would end up) he would take her by each individual piece and put her back together himself. Yes, that was his plan, and to him, it was perfect.

"I guess she's full of more surprises than we thought." He had spoken simply and barely even offered a glance at Chuck before closing his locker and heading towards Blair and her friends.

Tyler had moved so quickly in fact that he had hardly heard his friends suspicious quip. "I wonder what other surprises are lurking…"

Blair was sitting at one of the rot-iron tables in the center of the lush courtyard with Caroline and Bonnie on their natural sides - Caroline always on her left and Bonnie always on her right. As he walked closer to the trio he noticed Bonnie almost studying her "leader" of sorts. Her dark head tilted slightly off to the side and if Tyler hadn't thought he was just being completely crazy, he would've thought that Bonnie believed that Blair was finally coming into some sort of destiny she was meant to fulfill. When he was a mere two feet away from his prize he saw something else in Bonnie's dark coffee-colored eyes, something he had never seen before. Truthfully, it frightened him a little. He saw the genuine fear and worry in her eyes. What was more shocking was that it was all for a girl that he had originally thought, Bonnie didn't think too highly of.

It was no secret in the Upper East Side that Bonnie thought everything about the entire place was elitist and pretentious - although if you brought up the fact that the contents of her closet could cloth a small country she would send you a glare that almost literally made you feel like your skin was on fire. That abnormality to her personality aside, it was often a great shock to others to learn that Bonnie and Blair were friends because of their different outlooks on those who weren't born with a substantial trust fund the second they came out of their mothers womb. It was thought that the Queen of Manhattan would never associate with someone who thought such horrible things about her (and everyone she was friends with) and yet, every single day, they could be found together at least once. Bonnie always explained her loyalty to the brunette as just that: loyalty. They were all born into a world where real allegiance was hard to come by but Bonnie believed that once you were connected to someone, you were always there for them, no matter what.

The real reason as to why the Bennett girl stayed beside the Waldorf despite all of the scheming and ludicrousness? Sorry, we haven't gotten there yet guys. We will soon though. Hang in there, you're doing great.

Tyler easily slipped in between Blair and Caroline, facing the brunette with a bright grin on his face and his upper body leaning idly against the table they were all sitting at.

"Hello Blair. Is this lunch work or pleasure?" he asked, a teasing tone clear in his voice. Blair opened her mouth to respond, but Tyler was too quick for her. "Actually, no matter which, I really don't care. I'm going to stay right here anyway and bother the shit out of you." He grinned at his words. Blair pursed her full lips. All Tyler wanted to do was kiss them.

Blair rolled her eyes at Tyler's antics and as she was opening her mouth, again, to respond, Bonnie suddenly stood, throwing her Yves Saint Laurent bag and her Prada tote over her shoulder and sent a small wave to her former company.

"See ya." Bonnie chripped. Tyler nodded his head in thanks. He always thought that maybe, just maybe, Bonnie knew of his feelings and for some reason wanted to help him out, but then he would really think about it and would come to the conclusion that he was being crazy and paranoid. Only Blair knew that he had feelings for her, and she didn't even know just how deep they ran, so unless Bonnie was a mind reader, there was no way she could know.

Well, she may not be a mind reader, but … Oh wait! I can't tell you guys that yet! Sorry!

Caroline's mouth fell open in shock at her various friends' actions and she quickly took a hold of her own tote and practically ran after Bonnie.

"Hey, Bon!" she yelled, flailing her arm about. Tyler had always found Caroline attractive until she opened her mouth. It always sounded like a high-pitched whining to him. "Bonnie! Wait for me!"

See what he has to deal with for time with Blair? Speaking of which…

Finally. He and Blair were alone. Tyler smirked again as he watched Blair huff in defeat.

"Did you really miss me that much?" he commented, his dark eyebrows narrowing only slightly in a rather cheeky fashion.

"Tyler, whatever you're about to say, don't." She turned to face him, her own eyes narrowing, however her expression was much more menacing.

"Hey, it's not my fault that your boyfriend is a dick. Me, however?"

"You are just as much of a dick," she retorted.

"I am not."

"Yes you are. You're trying to constantly torture me about a mistake we both made this past summer. Last I checked, that was a dick move." Tyler's eyes narrowed even more than they already had, if that were possible, at Blair's words. He couldn't believe that Blair actually thought something that horrible about him. He had always been there for her through thick and thin without any questions asked. It was something he knew no one, not even Serena, had done for her, and now she was accusing him of being just like everyone else?

Something inside Tyler snapped. His temper had slowly become more erratic as of late and no one quite knew why. Then again, no one had questioned it for fear that he would hurt them. Or they just didn't care what was going on with him.

Without any warning or word, a snarl ripped through the Lockwood man's throat before the iron table was ripped from it's place and set across the courtyard. He bent down and growled into Blair's ear.

"Screw you, Waldorf. You are far from being worth all the bull shit you put me through." Blair felt small and scared and her round face showed the emotions clearly. A beat passed. Tyler was gone and Blair was left sitting at a round iron bench with no table in front of her. The whispers weren't dying down so she stood and made her way towards her scattered books and purse. As she walked, she felt her foot step on something uneven almost causing her to lose her footing. She stepped back and looked to try and find what could have caused it. Bending low, she noticed a bolt jutting out of the ground with an iron square around it, with a jagged side. With a quick glance around she noticed two other similar iron squares each with only one jagged edge.

Was she going insane or had the table actually been bolted to the concrete? No. That couldn't have been true. Tyler was strong - you have to have some sort of muscle to be on both the lacrosse team and football team - but there was no way he was strong enough to rip a tile from the ground.

The brunette let out a deep, silent, sigh and walked over to where her books had landed and just before she started to bend down, there was already a head at her feet. When it snapped up to face her, she couldn't help the smile that pulled onto her face.

"Hey," she said softly.

"Hey." Stefan matched her smile and stood with her books and purse in his hands. He passed the objects along and silently moved the table back in place before returning to stand in front of Blair, his hands deep in his pockets.

"Is your ex giving you problems?" he asked, raising a curious brow to which Blair shook her head.

"He's not my ex. He never will be."

Man, if Tyler had heard that, you can be sure another table would be flying.

Stefan's expression seemed to perk up at her comment.

"Oh. Well then why was he so mad?" he asked, narrowing his eyes in an interest that Blair had completely missed at first. Stefan, she noticed, seemed to make a lot of things go without her notice. For instance, she hadn't even noticed that the pair had started walking out of the shared courtyard and into the Constance hallways.

Once she did notice it, however, her eyes narrowed in confusion. A few questions suddenly popped into her mind as she watched his very attractive face. Why did he seem to care for her and when the hell did they start walking together? And why did she not give a crap about the answers to either of the prior questions and only wanted to know if he was staying true to a girlfriend back wherever he came from?

He must have noticed her expression and read the confusion behind it because he stopped in place and shook his head, a nervous laugh bubbling up in his chest.

"I'm sorry, you don't have to answer that. It's none of my business." Blair shook her head in response.

"No, no, no. Don't be."

Oh yeah, good job, Blair. Go on. We would all like to hear you explain Tyler's explosion.

"Let's change the subject then," he offered, his back going upright in that moment.

"You could tell me where you're from and what made you to move here," Blair offered. Yes, she was fishing for information, and no, she didn't care how shameless she seemed.

If there was one lesson she could take from Serena, it was to be bold with a hot guy. You never know where it could get you. And she certainly hoped it got her and Stefan spending some time together that night in a very dark corner.

Those are some very dirty thoughts Miss Waldorf. I'm quite proud. I think I may even need a tissue for my tears or joy.

Stefan chucked in response to her question and Blair merely smiled sweetly, tilting her head to the side as she waited for an answer.

"I just moved here from upstate actually." Blair nodded as he spoke. Stefan's hand came up to scratch the back of his head. He obviously wasn't looking forward to divulging the next piece of information which only made Blair want to know it more. Her urge for knowledge about other people sometimes suffocated her relationships, but she couldn't stand to not know things. It was a compulsion of sorts.

"My, um, my parents were killed this past summer so I came down here to live with my uncle. My parents always wanted the best when it came to my education so as a sign of respect, he enrolled me here." Blair continued to nod, her bottom lip pulled between her teeth.

"I'm… I'm so sorry to hear that." Blair didn't work well with sympathy. Especially when it was directed towards someone she hardly knew. There was just something about Stefan that she didn't feel overly weird for acting the way she did. In fact, it almost felt okay. It was an odd feeling, but she did quite enjoy it.

"H— How did they die?" she chanced. "If you want to tell me, of course," she quickly added. It was far from her place to ask such a question but as long as he was sharing and didn't ask her to share as well who was she to not ask?

"An animal attack." Stefan was simple in his explanation. It was curt and left no room for further inquisition. Blair nodded in response, only then realizing that they were at the front of the girl's school, at the very top of the staircase that she had met Stefan on. The air that hung between them had grown tense and each party knew that something had to be said or the small flicker of chemistry that they were sure the other felt just as strongly as they did would be snuffed out.

"Is it weird to be here without your parents?" Blair asked. She was rather proud of herself for sounding so concerned. She was sure that she was making quite the impression on Stefan. After all, how many girls were so concerned about someone they didn't know?

Okay, so she had to work on it. Boo hoo for Blair.

"Yes and no," he started slowly. "I used to live in the city. When I was younger, you know?" Stefan's words were short and clean. While Blair was being rather abrasive and pushy, but that was who she was.

A chocolate colored eyebrow perked upwards on her cream colored forehead. "Oh? Then maybe our parents were friends." Instantly, Blair started to run through all of the various families that her parents were friends with as well as families that actually meant something and tried to think of one that just lost two prominent members of the family to an animal attack. None revealed themselves to her memory. Obviously, with her mind running blank, she didn't have much else to add into the conversation until he spoke. Blair hated when she didn't have something to contribute. It made her brain twitch.

"I doubt it. We lived in the Bronx. My parents were sort of into that whole idea of having a humble upbringing. I think that's why we moved away when I was so young. They didn't want me to grow up to be pretentious and think that my shit didn't stink… For lack of a better phrase." They both shared a laugh and Blair noticed how light and easy it was to laugh with him. It felt natural and almost as if she were destined to laugh along with him.

Okay, so her princess fantasies were starting to get the better of her just a little bit. Who could blame her? If I was in an improperly matched relationship and was talking to a ridiculously hot guy who had saved my life, I'd feel like I was destined to laugh with him too.

"And now? I'm assuming your uncle lives closer to the Upper East Side?" she asked, raising a brow at him. Stefan gulped back a lump in his throat, something that didn't escape Blair's notice.

"Yeah, we live just around the corner actually," he offered. "It's a walk up, but it's only the second floor. We have the whole floor so it's pretty spacious, I guess." Stefan shrugged at the idea of describing his New York home in such a humble way. If anyone actually saw it, they would never believe anything that ever came out of his mouth again as anything but a complete and total understatement.

The brunette opened her mouth to speak but her phone vibrating in her small bag stopped that. She sighed and flipped it open, rolling her eyes as the message came across.

Hey, gossip fans. How about a midday update, hmm?

It seems Tyler Lockwood and Blair Waldorf got into the quietest argument to ever happen possible between two people. It was concluded by the prior flipping one of the iron tables in their schools courtyard across the entire space.

And here I always thought they were bolted in place in case of hurricanes?

Go figure.

I want to know what they were fighting about. Work on it for me, my gossip bees.

Our little Queen wasn't done yet it seems. After her argument it seemed her knight in shining leather from earlier came to her rescue once more. Following this portion of the blast is a video of the pair walking off seeming quite interested in one another. And only one another.

Blair cringed as she watched a video of her and Stefan walking out of the courtyard seeming quite entranced with one another. Her eyes darted in just a bit to watch the video closer. Her eyes seemed to glow in Stefan's presence. She hadn't noticed anyone with their phones out when they were talking. Then again, she hadn't noticed much else besides his lips moving at the time so who was she to judge?

The rest of the blast appeared on her screen five seconds after the video ended.

Kudos to Queen B for grabbing Mr. Tall, Dark and Mysterious Guy's attention when it seemed that no one else could. Not even the infamous Serena van der Woodsen, who sources confirm did everything she could to grab it. I wonder how N feels about this. All of this. Someone be sure to ask him for me.

That's all for now.

You know you love me.

xoxo, Gossip Girl

As her dark hues finished scanning the blast, her phone buzzed a second time. This time, it was a text from Nate, which, at that precise moment, was equally as unsettling as a letter from Public Health telling her she had contracted God only knew what from either Chuck or Tyler.

Alright, Blair. What's going on? Are we broken up or not? I love you. I don't want this to be the end for us. Can we just sit down and talk? Tonight at my place? Eight? My parents brought home that wine you like from Prague. Please let me know ASAP. -N.

Blair sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. All she needed was just a moment to think about everything. One long deep breath and she would be okay. Everything would be sorted and she'd be able to think clearly and talk rationally to the one person she actually wanted to speak to at that moment: Stefan.

She hadn't really given much thought to the status of her and Nate's relationship. What had happened earlier that morning really was not that big of a deal. Heck, she had forgiven him for bigger things and yet, he was so quick to get so mad when she had been pretty innocent in their relationship over all. No. She had not been pretty innocent, she was innocent. She had never cheated on him in any fashion and yet he so willingly went and slept with Serena.

Yet, she did take him back for a reason, did she not?

"Is everything okay?" Stefan asked kindly, breaking her momentary peace. Blair glanced up at his soft eyes and gave him a nice smile in return.

Blair elongated her back and pushed back her shoulders before she started speaking again. "Not exactly," she started. Something in the back of her mind told her to open up her chest cavity and show off the goods. Caroline had absolutely corrupted her.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Gossip Girl got a video of Tyler overturning the table and then you and I walking off together. Now Nate wants to know what's going on between the two of us and I have absolutely no answers for him."

It took Stefan a long moment to speak again. To Blair, he seemed to be in very deep thought as he took in everything about Blair's appearance. From her chestnut curls that hung gracefully around her face and ended just above the curve of her breast to the light pink shade her cheeks had grown accustomed to in his presence, to her petite stature that he just wanted to wrap into his arms and keep forever. Or at least, that was what Blair's interpretation was of his gaze.

Shockingly, Blair was actually right with her thoughts.

Yup, Stefan was smitten but you might be surprised to find out that it wasn't just because of Blair's natural charm. Or maybe you are. Who knows how quick you are?

There was only one other thing playing in his mind. What the hell is Gossip Girl?

Oh, don't worry, dearest Stefan. You will soon learn to both love and hate the wonderful website.

"Look, it's the end of the day and I know this is probably a little forward but," his eyebrows narrowed with worry and his face dropped as he spoke. Stefan seemed to need to find some sort of courage to raise his head to face her. The corners of his lips curled upwards as he spoke next. "Maybe we could get out of here? You could show me your favorite place to get ice cream and we could get some? My treat?" The way his face contorted into a strange sense of hope and tranquility that made her smile.

She was very close to saying yes. So very close.

"I'm so sorry. I really wish I could, but I have this party to plan and it's happening this weekend." Blair's face fell farther and farther as she explained her plans.

"Later tonight then?" he attempted next.

Blair thought about the idea of spending time outside of school and away from the prying eyes of Gossip Girl with Stefan. Something about him made her unable to resist.

"How does nine sound?" she offered to him, her body visibly relaxing. Blair was going to take a chance and do what she wanted to do instead of what she was expected to do, or even what she had planned to do to reach her other life goals.

Stefan grinned at her response. "It sounds perfect."

A large grin slowly pulled across Blair's naturally full lips, matching his own grin easily, as she waved goodbye to Stefan and padded down the large staircase. She left Stefan standing at the top of the steps to watch her go off with his hands deep in his pockets. He couldn't help but stare as she walked away from him. He wasn't doing it in a creepy sort of way. He was watching her and seeing a second chance at love. That probably sounded crazy to anyone who wasn't Stefan but he had a very deep secret that he could not share with anyone in New York City.

He could only hope that someday soon he would be able to share it with Blair and she would understand.

You see, Stefan had a very dark and dangerous secret.

No, he isn't some sort of creepy mobster, or a hit man, or worse, from New Jersey. No. Stefan was something that nightmares were made of.

He was a vampire and had been for a very long time. Don't feel bad for him. He was not alone on the vampire island. He had his older brother, Damon, by his side for the bloody life sentence.

How did he come upon this horrid fate as Stefan Salvatore: The Vampire, you might ask? You see, back in mid-1863, he was a young, strapping seventeen year old Yankee who lived with his father, a well known business man, Giuseppe Salvatore. Damon had signed up to fight for the Union and freedom for all.

The Battle of Gettysburg had just been fought and Damon had been lucky enough to not have to participate in it. Oddly enough, Damon hadn't felt the same way. He seemed disappointed that he couldn't tell his father what a brave man he was for fighting in a battle that he was sure would tie down the victory for the North. Damon always seemed to be trying to please their father and it always seemed to be an impossible feat.

A knock soon came to their door and on the other side of it stood one Miss Natalie Davies.

Thoughts of the past kept Stefan preoccupied through his short walk to his new home. Back in the late 1800's he and his family lived in what is now the Lower West Side in a large two-story mansion. Now he was living in a large two-story apartment on the Upper East Side.

Real big change right?

Stefan walked up the one flight of stairs and through the door to find a very angry "uncle Zach" on the other side, waving a paper around like it was the new dance craze.

"Is something wrong, Zach?" he asked his red-faced nephew.

"You said it would be different Uncle Stefan." He slammed the paper into his chest, as if that would emphasize the point and stick in Stefan's head better. The vampire pulled the paper away from his chest and read the headline: FIFTH ANIMAL ATTACK IN TWO WEEKS. CITY IS IN A PANIC OVER UNNAMED MONSTER.

"You swore to me that this all was all done with," he pushed. The human's face grew to a brighter and brighter red as the time passed.

"Zach, you can't think this is me. I wouldn't do this. I did change! You know I did!" he urged.

"Well then who was it Stefan?"

Stefan stood in the foyer. A beat passed. Panic immediately engulfed him. In the blink of an eye he darted like a speeding bullet through the apartment and into his room. The large glass doors that lead to his private terrace laid ajar with the same crow that had been terrorizing Blair earlier that day sitting quietly on the railing.

Suddenly, it flew inside, narrowly missing Stefan's forehead, distracting him for a brief moment. He turned back to the open glass doors and breathed out a quiet sigh of exasperation. Stefan made sure to never take his dark eyes off of the tall, blue-eyed, dark-haired, demon now in his company.

"Damon."

"Hello, Brother."