Chapter 4

"Wow…" Ashley said after listening to Spencer's excuse as to why she practically ran when Blair showed up.

"Yeah, I can't believe I just told you that," the blonde laughed and shook her head.

"I won't tell Serena," Ashley promised, "And I doubt Blair would ever say anything to her."

Spencer smiled, "True." She paused thoughtfully, for a moment then asked, "Do you want anything to drink or…?"

"No, I'm fine. Actually, I should get home before my sister gets worried," the brunette stood up and smiled at the blonde, "It was really nice meeting you. It was a very interesting time," she said, making Spencer laugh as she walked her to the door.

"Well I'm glad you enjoyed it."

The brunette nodded and nervously turned back towards Spencer as she opened the door. "I was wondering if maybe you'd like to, you know… go out some time?"

Spencer pretended to think it over for a few seconds, giving Ashley just enough time to second guess herself, but before the girl could open her mouth, Spencer replied finally. "I'd love to."

Ashley let out her breath, relieved.

"I'll give you my card so you can call me. Hold on." The blonde held up a finger, indicating that she'd only be a second, then walked over to the island counter in her kitchen, leaving a bewildered Ashley standing at the door.

"You have a card?" She asked smiling incredulously as Spencer walked back over to her.

The blonde nodded, "Indeed I do. I tutor grade schoolers and stuff."

Ashley raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're a van der Woodsen?"

Spencer laughed, "You know, I get that a lot…"

Serena walked into her hotel penthouse to find it completely empty, though she wasn't surprised. Lily was on so many committees on top of her job that she rarely ever was around when her daughter was awake. Serena didn't mind this as much as other girls might. She greatly disliked the pressure her mother was always putting on her and the looks of disappointment. Serena had been gone a year, yes, but just because she changed for the better doesn't mean her mother did, too.

Her first stop was the fridge for a bottle of water, then she went up to her temporary room and dropped down onto the bed and looked over at the alarm clock which read 6:30. Since she didn't have to be at Blair's till 9, she pulled her cell phone out of her bag and dialed an unfortunately familiar number.

"Hello, Ostroff Clinic. How can I help you?"

"Yea, hi, could you put me through to Eric van der Woodsen's room, please?"

"Hold on one second…"

Serena waited while the phone began to ring again.

"Hello?" A male voice answered.

"Eric! Hey its me!"

She heard the boy chuckle on the other end and smiled widely.

"Hey, what's up, Serena?"

"Well, I was wondering if you were busy or not. I wanted to come by. Would that be cool with you?"

"Yea, that'd be great. Can't wait to hear about your first day back," he said happily.

"Alright. I'll be there in 10."

After being dropped off at the building where Blair lived, he had gone up and knocked on her door only to have the maid answer and inform him that Miss Waldorf was out. Now he was sitting in the lobby of the building, calling Blair for the third time in 45 minutes, however she'd yet to pick up.

He sighed, sinking down in the chair and wondering where Blair was and why she wasn't answering. He also pondered his conversation with Serena earlier. Could he really let her tell Blair if it didn't mean that he and Serena could be together? Would Blair dump him even if Serena took the blame? He couldn't risk it, so he had decided to tell Blair himself, but now he was wondering if that was such a great idea.

Spotted: A very happy A leaving an apartment building in West Manhattan, and a not so happy B entering the aforementioned building moments later. Would this seem to be a coincidence? Only to an amateur…

It appears both girls are seeking the attention of another blue-eyed blonde these days… At least they're keeping it in the family…

Spencer had just poured herself a glass of iced tea when she heard the buzzer go off. She walked over and pressed the button. "Who is it?"

"Spence? It's me, Blair. Can I come up?"

At first the blonde thought she was hearing things but still found the strength to press the button that would allow Blair to come up. She was definitely the last person Spencer had been expecting.

Blair hit the ignore button for the fourth time that night. She had more important things to take care of and Nate would have to wait.

She walked to the stairs after waiting for the elevator for a few minutes. In this large and populated of a building, having only one elevator seemed ludicrous to her.

It would only be five flights of stairs and Blair felt the exercise would do her some good. Relieve some stress maybe.

When she got to the third flight of steps, she was almost knocked down while turning the corner by a slightly taller, scruffy looking boy with brown hair and eyes. She had seen him around the schoolyard before and knew he went to Saint Jude's.

"Whoa," he reached out and steadied her. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you…" he continued nervously and she rolled her eyes before walking past him and continuing up the stairs

Though she would have normally loved to have given the boy a piece of her mind, she was too distracted at the moment and decided she'd just leave it for another day.

When she finally got to Spencer's door, she knocked four times and then stood anxiously waiting for the girl to answer. It had been a while since she'd seen or spoken to Spencer. Things between them became uncomfortable after what had happened and though they never actually talked about it, the drifting away had been mutual.

"Hey," Spencer said as she opened the door and let the girl in. "What's going on?"

Blair sighed and walked over to sit on Spencer's couch, waiting till the blonde followed her over and sat across from her. "I figured that since Serena was back in town, we should finally talk about what happened…"

Spencer nodded slowly and said, "I know we never talked about it but we both agree that it didn't mean--"

"Yeah," Blair cut in before she'd finished, "Which is why I came to make sure that it was okay with you if we didn't tell Serena about it."

"Yea, right, of course," the blonde agreed. There was brief pause before Spencer went on to ask, "So how do you feel now that she's back and all?"

Blair sighed, "These past few months I have barely even thought about her, you know? I was finally accepting that she wasn't coming back and now…" Tears welled up in her eyes as she continued, "Its all coming back. All the feelings and the pain. Its horrible and what makes it even worse is a part of me is just so ready to forgive her."

Spencer moved from her seat to sit next to the brunette. "What about the other part of you?"

Blair shook her head, "Its angry. So angry that she came back without warning, just like she left. And angry that she thinks saying "sorry" will make it all better. But mostly angry because she can still make me feel like this after all this time."

"Have you talked to her at all?"

"Not really. She's tried to talk to me but I blew her off. I texted her to meet me at my house tonight. I don't know why I did that, 'cause I just don't feel ready at all to talk about it. I feel like I'll just forgive her and I can't do that to myself after all that I've gone through trying to forget her."

Spencer put an arm around Blair and hugged her gently before saying, "Then maybe that's what you should tell her." She reached out and tilted the girl's chin towards her, "Listen, okay? I know Serena, and I know she knows that she messed up big time. She doesn't expect you to forgive her just because she came back. She just wants you to hear her out and I think you need to hear what she has to say."

"You're right."

"Of course I am," the blonde said seriously, causing Blair to laugh as she wiped away a few tears.

"I missed talking to you about stuff," the brunette admitted quietly.

Spencer nodded, "Me too. But you know, what happened is in the past and I'm always here if you need me. You know that, right?"

"Yeah," Blair smiled, "Thanks."

"No problem."