Chapter 4
The light streamed in through the windows and woke Blair from her sleep. She slowly opened her eyes taking in her surroundings. As the grogginess cleared the events of last night came back to Blair. She had almost kissed him, one more second and their lips would have touched. Her heart quickened at the thought. She quickly scolded herself for acting this way. Chuck Bass was not an appropriate crush. Her mother would crucify Blair if she ever knew, but still, she couldn't help wondering what it would have felt like if Nate and Serena hadn't interrupted them. Serena. Blair realized she was still mad at Serena for what she said last night, and she was in Serena's house too.
She got out of the bed and changed into the clothes she'd packed. Blair brushed her hair before pulling it back into a ponytail. She packed the rest of her stuff and quietly snuck out of the room. The whole penthouse was quiet. Everyone else was probably asleep having the clarity to shut their blinds before going to bed. She made her way down to the lobby, into a cab, and home. When she entered her own penthouse she could hear her mother and father in the dining room having breakfast. She tried to sneak up the stair, but the second her manolo hit the first marble step her mother called out her name.
"Blair is that you?"
"Yes mother." Blair answered, reluctantly she walked into the dining room at an excruciatingly slow pace. She didn't want to face her parents. She had lied to them. She never lied to them, others yes, but never her parents, mainly because she was never given the opportunity to. Eleanor scheduled practically every moment of Blair's day.
"Blair-Bear I didn't think you would get in until later." Her father asked looking up from the New York Times.
"Oh, well I woke up early and I figured I'd get a jump start on the day."
"Well I'm glad to see you before I headed off."
"You're leaving? Its Sunday."
"I know, but I have to meet with my real-estate guy today. His Monday was all full and you mother and I leave Tuesday for D.C."
"Blair don't you remember I put it on the calendar in your room." Eleanor said as she sipped her coffee.
The "calendar" Eleanor was referring to was not a normal month one with appointments scratched on it. She made one each week for Blair that had her school, piano lessons, and student council meetings on it. Eleanor really did plan out every second of everyday of Blair's life. It even had Blair's weekly sleep over at Serena's on it.
"Oh I must have forgotten." Blair said looking at her shoes.
"You know I give you that itinerary for a reason. Its not for me, its for you. Children need structure or they turn out like Serena."
Normally Blair would have made a feeble attempt to defend Serena, but she was still upset and let it slide offering a simple apology before excusing herself to her room.
Blair went upstairs and spent the rest of the morning fine-tuning her speech. As student body president of Constance Billard, she and the president of St. Judes would be responsible for welcoming the student's of the two schools during the assembly. When she was finally done she put the speech in her bag, and went to check her phone. She'd neglected it all morning and last night. She had five missed calls, and thirteen unopened texts, not counting the gossip girl blast about her night. She read them.
10:03 B pleaz don't h8 me I'm sooooooo sry. Plz txt me back -S
10:14 Blair are you ok? Serena locked herself in the bathroom –N
10:27 B I've called you twice why aren't u picking up. I didn't mean it –S
11:12 Im drunk I cant always stop the word vomit -S
11:19 If u don't text me back im gonna assume we aren't friends and im gonna stop moping and do more shots with Carter and Nate -S
11:23 Fine I'm doing them! -S
11:26 Serena's seems fine now. How bout you? What did Chuck do? –N
11:45 We're still friends rite? Don't h8 me I luv u im sorry -S
11:56 I'm not gonna feel bad anymore. I was trying to protect u –S
12:01 why r u being like this? I said sorry -S
12:18 fine I don't even care I'll stay out of your business wutevr. This is my last text 2 u –S
12:19 I really was just looking out for u. im sorry -S
The last text came from a number she didn't recognize
4:42 Interesting nite. Would have been better if u stayed. –CB
Blair reread the last text message over and over again. Blair knew it was silly to feel this way. So he texted her, no big deal, but even as she said the words she couldn't bring herself to believe them. He wished she had stayed. Blair was debating whether or not she should text him back when a knock came at her door.
"Yes?" Blair asked still staring down at the words.
"Miss Blair, Miss Serena is here to see you." Dorota said opening the door.
Blair sighed, she didn't want to have Serena come in and say how Chuck was bad news and ruin her newly good mood.
"Send her in."
Blair moved from her vanity to sit at the end of her bed. Serena made her way into Blair's room.
"Serena, why are you here?" Blair asked bitterly starring at the blonde.
"I had to apologize to your face you ignored all the texts I sent, well the ones I remember."
"Serena I really don't have time for this. I'm having lunch with my mother in a hour and I still have to shower and get ready."
"Please Blair, I'm sorry. I just was worried."
"About what Serena, that I might actually have fun. That someone might take the spotlight away from precious Serena."
"Blair you know it's not likes that. You don't know what you're getting into. There is your world, and then there's the world people like Chuck live in."
"Well you in my life and that scene, so why can't Chuck be."
"I just don't think he's the right guy for you…"
"Serena you don't get to decide that!"
"I know that, so if you like Chuck… I won't stand in you're way."
"Like you could," Blair said playfully, "but I don't want to be mad anymore. School starts tomorrow and I'm going to need you by my side."
"So I'm forgiven?" Serena asked with a small smile.
"I suppose."
The next day Blair woke up early to get ready. She curled every hair perfectly before securing them back with a white headband with a bow on it. She ate a couple blueberries before heading down.
Blair walked up the met steps where the girls were already waiting for her. She took her place at the top of the stairs; Jenny and Serena on the step below followed by Penelope, Kati and Isabel below them and Hazel on the next step.
"Where's Vanessa?" Blair asked. She didn't care for the girl's presence, but still Vanessa was apart of the group and it was disrespectful to show up late.
"I think she went to the computer lab early to edit her documentary." Serena said, after seeing all the other girls including Jenny advert their eyes at the question.
"This is the second time she hasn't shown up. Unacceptable."
"Blair calm down. I mean Kati didn't show up last week. You didn't flip then." Serena said as if logic would be useful against Blair. Kati shot Serena an angry glare for trying to drag her under the bus.
"Kati was held after class by Mrs. Preach, besides I like Kati, Vanessa on the other hand is choosing not to come, and I don't like her."
"Blair…"
"Enough Serena." Blair shot Serena a warning look; Serena knew she couldn't defend Vanessa. She had just been forgiven and was on thin ice as it was. Arguing with Blair in front of her minions would lead to nothing good. "Since you to are such good friends, I'll spare her the humiliation of kicking her out at lunch in front of everyone. Penelope," the girl's head snapped to Blair at the sound of her name. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Yes Blair." Penelope said, nodding.
"Inform Vanessa she is no longer welcome at the steps anymore, nor is she permitted to sit with you guys at the assembly before school."
"Of course. I'll go find her." Penelope shot Jenny a smirk at being given such a special task as she went off.
"Good." With that Blair stood up and walked away.
As Blair rounded the corner she walked into Chuck bass. He gripped her sides to steady her.
"Where's the fire Waldorf?" he asked rhetorically. Only he could use a cliché like that and still make Blair weak in the knees.
"Just in a hurry to get to the auditorium. I have to give a speech."
"Aren't we important. Wish I'd be there to hear it."
"You will be. All assemblies have both schools involved."
"Interesting, I was planning on ditching to smoke with Nathaniel, but watching you try to sound all bossy and professional might be too much fun to give up." He said.
"Well don't let me stand in the way of your little bake session with Nate, but I really do have to go."
"Fine, but since I won't see you at school, maybe you could join me for lunch."
Blair's heart fluttered, "Why would I do that?"
"I'm Chuck Bass." He smirked.
"If that's your pick-up line I seriously need to reconsider my choice in minions if they fell for that."
"Come with me to lunch, Blair" Chuck said his face was calm and sincere.
"I…I can't. I have lunch with the girls everyday."
"I'm sure they could survive without your company for one day. Please?"
Blair let a small smile creep onto her face at his please, looking down at the ground.
"I suppose they can manage."
Chuck smirked, "Great, meet me here after fourth, and we'll go to this little coffee shop I use to go to after a really nasty hangover. Great panninis."
"Ok, see you then" Blair adjusted her purse on her shoulder and then made her way to the assembly hall in between the two buildings.
The St. Judes student body president, Tripp Van der Bilt, was already they're rehearsing his speech. Tripp was a nice boy, she gone out with him a couple times over summer break. It was weird dating the cousin of her ex-boyfriend, but Nate was fine with it and her mom really liked Tripp. He wanted to go into politics like her father; he was nice, well mannered and even closer to the Van der Bilt name then Nate. Blair liked him too, but he could be a little boring and at times too polite. He didn't even try to kiss her until their fourth date. They had fell out of touch when he left for Martha's Vineyard. Blair hadn't really minded, and now that Chuck was… Blair didn't know what Chuck was, but now she didn't feel anything for the boy.
"Hey Blair, its nice to see you." Tripp greeted her with a smile, the same laid-back one Nate had. It had always been a little surreal when they went out.
"Hello Tripp how was your summer?" Blair asked absent-mindedly as she searched for her speech.
"It was fine…" He paused looking at her as she fumbled through her purse, "I called you."
"Oh sorry, I got your message, I was just so busy I forgot to call back."
"Its fine, I was hoping we could catch up sometime."
"That would be nice," she gave a small smile to him.
"I thought about you a lot while…"
"We should really do a run through before the bell rings and everyone comes in." Blair interjected, wanting to avoid this conversation.
"Sure."
The Assembly went smoothly, Blair took extra enjoyment out of the fact that Vanessa sat in the back of the auditorium with a sad look on her face never raising her eyes to meet Blair's. She had got the news loud and clear. Vanessa was now persona non-gratis. This left Blair with a spring in her step throughout the day, refusing to acknowledge a certain lunch date might also be the reason for her good mood.
Blair stared at the clock during her fourth period econ class. If the fact that they were going over the course outline for the whole year wasn't bad enough she just couldn't help, but count the minutes. When the bell finally rang Blair made her way to the side of the met steps. She had told Serena she wouldn't be at lunch because she was having it with Chuck. The blonde held back the remark in her head and did her best to control her expression. Blair did catch the worried look in her friend's eyes, but didn't bring it up. Serena was trying and Blair appreciated it.
Chuck walked Blair to the café, which was only a few blocks from the school. Chuck quickly ordered for both of them and Blair shot him a glare at his presumptuous action.
"Why did you leave the party so abruptly the other night?" Chuck couldn't hold back the question that had been running through his head for the past two days when Serena announced to him, or rather slurred at him, that Blair had run off with her new best friend Jenny, and it was all his fault.
"I didn't feel well." Blair offered casually.
"Liar. Everyone could here you and Serena yelling at each other."
"Then why did you ask?"
"I'm not sure. I figured you wouldn't volunteer the information. I heard you left pretty upset."
"And you care? I find that hard to believe."
"Why?"
"Because your Chuck Bass." She mocked him.
"True, but you're Blair Waldorf. How could anyone not care?"
"You'd be surprised how many don't." Blair meant it to sound like a joke, but sadness crept into her words and the honesty rang to true. An uncomfortable silence settled over them.
"Blair…"
"Why did your dad move you back?" she asked trying to steer the conversation away from her own disappointing home life.
"Well the big, bad, Bart took on trophy wife number three, and this one apparently is a conservative family type. Wants kids, wants him to pretend to like kids."
"I'm sure your father likes kids.'
"Just not his kids. Or maybe it's just me." He stared at Blair's sad expression, "This lunch has taken a rather depressing turn."
"I'm sorry about your father."
"I'm sorry bout yours."
"I never…"
"Our foods here." Chuck said changing the subject. The waitress placed the sandwiches down on the table.
The rest of the lunch went on with casual small talk about school, and places Chuck had been. Blair was captivated in his tales of backpacking across exotic cities with his friends. She felt rueful when Chuck paid the bill and walked her back to school.
"Would you like me to walk you to class?" Chuck laughed at his own question.
"I'll make it there on my own. What would people think if the great Chuck Bass walked a girl to class."
"True."
"I'll see you later." Blair added hoping to mask the hope in her voice with casual indifference.
"You most certainly will." Chuck turned and walked off to the St. Judes building. Blair stood there for a while smiling to herself until she heard the five minute bell and she walked off to class.
