Blair awoke the next morning with a pounding headache and a terrible stomach ache. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the brightness of the room before she realized she was still at Serena's. She flopped over in bed, huffing and sighing loudly. "Good morning, sunshine," Serena's voice said. Blair sat up suddenly, startled by Serena's sudden appearance. "Have a good night?"
Blair groaned, her heart rate slowing down. "I have the worst hangover in the history of hangovers."
Serena giggled. "You don't drink much, do you?" When Blair shook her head, Serena tossed her a bottle of blue powerade and a bottle of ibuprofen. "Those will help with your head and stomach. Also, to help with your stomach, you'll need to eat." Blair looked terrified. Serena nodded. "I know that sounds like the worst thing ever right now because you probably feel like you're gonna puke. You won't. You just need a full stomach. I promise once you start eating, you'll feel ten times better. I've had my fair share of hangovers."
Blair popped the pills and chased it with her powerade. She chugged a little bit more of the powerade and then threw her legs over the side of the bed. She looked down at the oversized t-shirt she was wearing and she couldn't remember how she had gotten it on. Honestly, she couldn't even remember how she got to bed. "What happened last night?" Blair groaned, placing her hand over her head and shuffling towards Serena.
"Don't ask me," Serena said. "I woke up in my bathroom. On the bright side, no puke in the toilet. I think I may have fallen asleep trying to puke. I don't really know." She shrugged, not seeming to really care what had happened. "Nate and I had sex."
"How do you know?" Blair asked. "I thought you couldn't remember anything."
"I don't," Serena said. "But after I woke up, I went back to my room and Nate was in my room, naked in my bed, with a used condom in the trash, and I'm wearing his t-shirt and my dress was on the ground."
"Oh," Blair said. "Lucky you!"
Serena laughed. "I guess you could say that. Let's go find some food in the kitchen." The pair shuffled down the stairs and into the kitchen, where they found Chuck passed out on the couch, a shot glass in his hand. Serena took the glass out of his hand gently and then ripped the blinds open really suddenly, as light flooded abruptly into the room. Chuck let out a loud grunt and his hands flew to cover his eyes. "Wakey wakey!" Serena sang.
Even Blair wanted to kill her. She was entirely too chipper for the hangover she must have been experiencing. "Sister," Chuck said, trying to remain calm. "What ever do I owe the pleasure?"
"We're trying to find food," Serena said. "I figured you might wake up and eat too."
"Always taking care of me, so sweet," Chuck muttered, rubbing his face with his hands. "What time is it?"
Serena looked at her clock on the wall. "It is four in the afternoon, my dear brother."
Chuck groaned even louder. "Where's Nate?"
"Naked in my bed," Serena said nonchalantly.
Chuck made a gagging noise and sat up, finally removing his hands from across his face and blinking to adjust to the light in the penthouse. His gaze settled on Blair, who was wearing an oversized t-shirt, which just so happened to be his. His face turned up into a grin. She looked much better in it than he ever could. He didn't say anything to her about it being his so he wouldn't embarrass her in front of Serena. "Let's see what's for breakfast, ladies," he said, pushing himself up off the couch and making his way into the kitchen. He opened the fridge. "We haaaaaave," he said. "One egg, a teeny tiny bit of milk, a piece of ham, and a piece of pie." He closed the fridge.
"I'll call room service," Serena offered happily.
"No, I will," Chuck said. "You need to go wake up your maggot of a boyfriend, dress him, and have him come eat. It'll be here in ten." He picked up the phone and spoke only shortly before hanging up. He looked around the room. "The place is trashed. Good thing the parents aren't coming home until next weekend." He winked at Blair, who blushed in return.
As soon as Serena disappeared up the stairs, Chuck made his way over to her, playing with the edge of the shirt, which, if moved any higher, would reveal a little more than her upper thigh… "You know," he whispered. "This is my shirt."
Blair blinked at him. "I don't know how I got in it… Oh my god did we-"
"No," Chuck cut her short. "I remember last night. Most of it. I kissed you and then went back to the bar and got so drunk that I couldn't even talk and Serena and you got in the shower together, which I would have been thrilled to watch if it weren't my sister-" Blair punched him on the shoulder "-but I didn't because I couldn't even walk. And then, the two of you went to bed, separately I might add, seeing as Serena slept with her boyfriend somehow. You must have found my shirt somehow. After you guys went to sleep, the party died down a lot and I passed out not too long after. Fun night, though." He winked at her again, enjoying the blush that crept its way onto her facial features.
"I do think," Chuck said. "That you look even better in that t-shirt and your messy bun than you did last night. Which is very hard to master because you looked absolutely tasty last night…Just as I imagine you are." Blair swallowed hard, looking up at him with doe eyes through long lashes. "You were incredible, when you danced. You are so…" he bit his lip. "Sexy." He bent down to her level.
Blair's heart raced in her chest. She never was one to make the first move. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes and before she could prepare herself to kiss him, he was already kissing her, hard and deep, even better than last night. It was the kind of kiss that would leave her breathless and yearning for more. It was the kind of kiss that would keep her mind reeling all day long. It was the kind of kiss that made her lock her fingers in his hair as he cupped her face in his hand and moved to stand in between her legs. She moved her hips forward to be closer to him and he obliged, pressing himself against her. His lips moved on hers with urgency and she wasn't sure what was going to happen next. If his sister and her boyfriend weren't right upstairs and if the room service wasn't about to be here at any moment, who knows where it would have went. But it was cut too short for the both of them, as there was a high-pitched ding of the elevator doors opening up. Chuck pulled away from Blair, much to her dismay.
He walked toward the elevator, took the room service cart and dismissed the man with a thank you, before rolling it over to where Blair sat on the bar stool, looking disheveled and marvelous. He wanted her. He wanted to take her right there. He wanted to feel her all over him, to taste her skin again, to feel the heat of her body against his. He swallowed hard as he heard Serena and Nate approaching. He tried to compose himself, tried not to give himself away. He didn't want his sister to be mad at him for hitting on her friend. She always got mad about things like that.
"We're heeeere!" Serena sang, her arm wrapped around Nate's waist tightly, basically dragging him into the kitchen. Blair jumped abruptly at their appearance and Chuck gave her a strange look. "And we're hungry, aren't we, Nate?"
Nate murmured something inaudible and all three of them laughed.
"He'll be fine once he's got some food in him," Chuck said. And they all ate until their stomach's were full and they were satisfied. Blair panicked as soon as she realized that she had been here all day and night and hadn't checked her phone. Come to think of it, she wasn't exactly sure where her phone was… As if he read her mind, Chuck pulled it out of his pocket and handed it to her. "You dropped it last night and I picked it up."
Blair turned it on and saw a ton of missed calls from her mom. Her heart skipped a beat. Her mom was probably worried sick about her, after all that had happened. She was probably worried that Harold had somehow found her. Her stomach twisted into a tight knot when she thought about her father. She hadn't thought about him in a couple of days and it was so nice not to worry. But the feeling in her gut was so prominent right now that she thought she might hurl. She had never thought about what would happen if Harold did happen to find them. She was sure they would be in big trouble, sure that he would kill them.
She looked around at Nate, Serena, and Chuck. She was so glad to have them in her life. They were the only people keeping her happy right now. She smiled at them and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. She excused herself and left the room to call her mom. "Hi, mom," she said, as soon as her mom answered the phone. "I'm so sorry I didn't call sooner. Please don't be mad at me. We were up really late and we slept basically all day. We just now got up and started moving around and I forgot to call. I'm so sorry."
"Don't be sorry, darling," Eleanor's voice replied. "I'm just glad to hear you're okay. Did you have fun?"
"Yes, so much fun!" Blair said. "I met some people. They're so nice. I can't wait for you to meet them!"
"Me either, dear," Eleanor said.
"Do you mind if I spend the rest of the today at Serena's?" Blair asked.
Eleanor hesitated. "I don't know, honey," she said. "I don't know this girl and I'm a little worried since…"
"Yeah, I know," Blair said, her heart sinking. "It's just nice to be with people who make me forget, you know?"
"Of course, sweetie..I have to tell you something," Eleanor started. "Cyrus is on his way over."
"That's great, mom!" Blair said.
"I know, I'm so excited," Eleanor said. "I only had Dorota all day for company and she's not much of a talker! More of a lecturer of sorts. He mentioned that he was in the city and it was really thrilling for me to hear. I was really looking forward to he and you meeting over dinner! His treat."
"Okay," Blair smiled. "Love you, mother."
"I love you too, darling," Eleanor said. "Bye bye."
Blair hung up the phone and returned to the living room, where Nate and Serena were curled up on the couch watching Netflix and Chuck was sitting across from them. He looked up at Blair as she reentered the room, raising his eyebrows at her, questioning her. "My mom," Blair explained sheepishly, feeling childish having to check in with her mom. Clearly these teens knew nothing about having to check in with parents. How could they, throwing crazy parties like that and not even fearing that their parents could return at any moment? Chuck nodded at her. "I've got to get going."
Serena sat up and pouted at Blair. "But we just put on Tiffany's."
Blair's eyes lit up. "I love Tiffany's!" She exclaimed loudly. Chuck grinned at her excitement, Serena giggled, and Nate shook his head. "But I really have to go," she said sadly. "But I hope to see you guys soon."
"Go upstairs and borrow some leggings and shoes of mine so you don't have to go home like that or in the dress you wore last night. I'll text you, B," Serena smiled, standing up and wrapping her in a tight hug. "We'll make plans."
"I'll text you," Chuck winked.
"Me too!" Nate joked, pretending to feel left out.
Blair laughed and turned around, feeling extremely sad to leave her newfound friends. They were all so great and fun to be around. She realized that she hadn't even thought about her father since yesterday before the party. Maybe she should do more things like that to keep herself busy. But, for now, she needed to go see her mother. She stopped upstairs to get dressed in some of Serena's clothes and left their penthouse. She stepped out on the curb to catch a taxi before a dark-skinned man who she immediately recognized as Chuck's driver waved her over. "Chuck's friend? You're riding with me."
Blair smiled and blush crept up her cheeks for the thousandth time. Of course Chuck had called his limo for her. He was amazing. She climbed into the limo, relaxing against the leather seats with the light music playing. She had gotten so cozy that she hadn't realized that they were stopped in front of her hotel. She hopped up and went upstairs, where she found her mother already dressed and sitting prim and proper, her legs crossed at the ankles, looking gorgeous in a long dress and hair curled to frame her face. "Mother, you look darling!" She hugged her mom, who grinned at her like she was her most prized possession. There was a ding behind them as a short, bald man entered their suite.
"Cyrus!" Eleanor sang.
Blair was a little surprised by her mother's taste in men but didn't question it. If her mother was happy, she was happy for her. Ecstatic for her, actually. Cyrus was dressed up in a smooth black tuxedo with a tie. Blair realized she was about to be a third wheel and shifted uncomfortable. Cyrus wrapped Eleanor in a hug and whispered into her ear. He turned to Blair, who held her hand out for him to shake, but he laughed and took her into a bear hug. When he pulled away, he immediately hugged her again, singing, "Not enough!" He pulled away again. "You are beautiful, Blair, just like your mother. And such an angel. I've heard such great things about you."
"Have you?" Blair smiled, looking at her mother, who smiled in return. She thought for a moment, before tapping on her mother's arm and pulling her over to the side. "Mother," she started. "I'm thinking that just you and Cyrus should go out tonight. I've met him, just like you wanted, and he seems wonderful. I don't want to be burden on your first night out with him. Plus I'm not even ready yet and you know I hate feeling rushed to get ready. I can just stay here and hang out with Dorota. I wouldn't mind some time to myself, actually."
"Blair, honey, are you sure?" Eleanor asked, concerned. "Is everything alright?"
"Of course!" Blair chirped. "There's just this book I've really been wanting to read."
"Okay," Eleanor said, kissing her daughter on the head, and walking over to Cyrus to tell him Blair wouldn't be coming with them tonight. He looked a little saddened by the news but quickly reverted back to his chipper state.
"You have a good night!" He called to Blair as she walked back upstairs to her room.
"You too," Blair replied, grinning down at him and her mother, as they walked toward the elevator. She opened her bedroom door, seeing that her bed was made and the room was tidied up neatly. That must have been the work of Dorota. She smiled as she laid down on her bed, pulling her cellphone out. She had two texts. One from Serena and one from Chuck, just as they had promised.
The one from Serena read: Movie tomorrow night? (Btw, Nate says hi.)
Blair laughed out loud and texted back a quick reply that she would love to catch a movie with Serena tomorrow and then she anxiously opened the text from Chuck.
Miss you already.
She felt as if she might melt into a puddle in the carpet.
I miss you too, she replied, her heart leaping up into her throat. She swallowed hard before sending another text. Come over? Home alone besides the maid. Bored.
She wait ever-so impatiently for his response.
I'll be there in a heartbeat.
Suddenly, she felt like a giddy schoolgirl. She stripped into her favorite flannel pants and a tank top, folding Serena's clothes on the end of her bed to give to Chuck when he left. She was so excited to see him, though it had only been a matter of hours, or minutes maybe, that she'd seen him. She laid there forever thinking about Chuck.
A loud thump downstairs brought her out of her daydream. She jumped violently and then tried to pass it off as Dorota. It was a little too early for Chuck, unless he had already been in his car when she texted him. But then she heard another noise, even louder, and crept down the stairs to check it out. "Dorota?" She called out. "Is that you?"
"In Mrs. Eleanor's room, Miss Blair!" Dorota called back to her from upstairs.
Blair's heart hammered in her chest, threatening to burst. She tiptoed into the living room. The lights were out. Dorota must have turned them out for the evening. The only source of light was from the lamp by the piano in the very corner of the room. She looked around cautiously, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. The curtain moved across the room. She walked slowly toward it, as if she were afraid something might pop out at her, like in some kind of horror movie. Her hand hovered over the fabric of the curtain and as soon and she yanked it open, deciding it was better to pull it open quickly like pulling off a band-aid.
She felt a hand on her back that sent shivers up her spine. She froze, her breath catching in her throat.
