Chapter 3 of This is Life
"Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life."— Leo Buscaglia
Author: Lily
Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or any characters. Gossip Girl belongs to Cecily Ziegesar, Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage and the CW.
Summary: Post 1.10 — Takes place after Chuck sees Nate and Blair kissing. What would have happened, if Blair hadn't slept with Nate and Chuck would have apologized to her?
Rating: T / PG-15
Pairing: Chuck/Blair
A/N — A special thanks to Anki for her BETA. *hugs*
*
"First love is only a little foolishness and a lot of curiosity."
George Bernard Shaw
*
Blair sat in front of her huge vanity mirror, examining her herself critically. Tonight was the night and everything had to be perfect.
She was wearing a simple, yet stunning navy blue dress from Bendel's. A blue headband was on her head an her curls fell perfectly in place. She had glossed her lips into a light pink pout and had put a subtle make-up on.
Now she was waiting impatiently for Dorota to announce a visitor.
Finally she heard a knock on her door and Dorota came in.
"Miss Blair, Mister Chuck here for you."
"Thank you, Dorota," she said as she got up from her chair. "How do I look?"
"Beautiful, Miss Blair. Your mama would be very proud."
"Thanks." She hugged her goodbye and checked her appearance a last time in the mirror before going downstairs.
When she walked down the stairs, she felt like she was in one of the old black-white movies she used to swoon over, when she was younger. The ones where the prince would finally find his princess and they would reunite, kiss in the rain and have their happily ever after.
Blair's eyes immediately spotted Chuck's blue bow-tie and she had to smile, because they matched and she hadn't even told him what she would wear tonight.
Chuck turned his head when he heard the sound of her heels clicking. His jaw dropped slightly. She looked stunning, beautiful. He didn't know how to form a coherent sentence, so he just stared at her. Her brown curls bounced a little with every step she made. He gazed at her intensely and she had never felt more beautiful than at this very moment.
"You look amazing, Waldorf," he said in awe, when she finally stood in front of him.
"You don't look so bad yourself, Bass." she smiled happily.
"Let's go then, shall we? Nathaniel and Serena are waiting in the limo," He offered her his arm.
She took it and felt a strange tingle in her stomach, almost like… butterflies? Walking to the limo, her arms interlocked with Chuck's, her smile unconsciously grew wider.
--
Spotted: B, S, N and C entering NY's most famous event of the year. Wondering what's so interesting about that? From what I'm seeing, B is escorted by C, and S is going with N. Has a certain Queen swapped ships?
XOXO, Gossip Girl
--
Blair frowned. Now everyone would be staring at them. And taking pictures, most likely.
"Annoyed about the Gossip Girl post?" Chuck approached her.
Blair stared at him incredulously. "Now everyone is going to think, Nate has chosen Serena over me." Again, she finished in her mind.
"Well, then let's give them something more scandalous than that." Chuck extended his arm, grinning roguishly.
Blair cocked her eyebrow sceptically and didn't move.
"Since when did Blair Waldorf become afraid of a little gossip?"
Finally Blair gave in and accepted his outreached hand, letting him lead her to the dance floor. She could already hear the girls from school slander and wanted to reconsider, but Chuck whispered "Let them talk. You're the Queen, show them that."
She placed one hand on his shoulder and linked the other hand with his, while he placed his right hand on her back. Then the music began to play and as they started to move their gazes met. Blair couldn't seem to be able to wipe the smile off her face and decided to let it be.
Chuck just continued to stare at her and at that moment she forgot everything else around her. About Nate, Serena, the girls at school and the recent Gossip Girl post. She just smiled back at Chuck and swayed with him to the music. The moment was perfect. He pulled her closer and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
Closing her eyes, she sighed blissfully.
--
Serena felt slightly uncomfortable under Nate's piercing gaze. She scanned the crowd for Blair, wondering if she would be angry seeing her dancing with Nate.
She spotted her on the dance floor. With a smiling Chuck. Missing a step, she tripped on Nate's foot, who whined in pain.
"Oh - sorry, Nate." she said carelessly.
Then she turned around again to make sure she hadn't had hallucinations, and saw the smile on Blair's face, too. She was momentarily shocked, when she realized, that she recognized the look. The kind of dreamy, adoring eyes she had grown up to see on her face, every time she had looked at Nate.
The song finally ended and Serena heaved a sigh of relief, dropping Nate's hands immerdiately.
"Hey Serena, can we talk somewhere quiet?" Nate asked her.
"What? Oh, sure." she followed him outside, a little surprised.
"I just wanted to thank you for the past few days we have been together, they've been amazing."
She smiled at him. The past days had been funny, indeed. It was nice to go shopping with a boy. You could let him carry all your stuff and never even think about overdrawing a certain credit card.
"And I know we both care about Blair and you're with Dan now, but if there's only the slightest chance for us to be together then - I would take it." he smiled at her and reached out to take her hands in his.
"Nate, you love Blair. You said that to her, like a week ago - remember?" she stuttered, taken aback by his sudden outburst of feelings and taking a few steps backwards.
"Serena, I love you. I have always loved you. I realized that, after being together with you the past few days. I can't always follow my parent's plans, you are the one who showed me this - you are the most amazing girl I've ever met, I…"
Serena looked away and that was, when she noticed the person standing behind Nate.
"Blair…"
Nate turned around and noticed her too. "Blair-"
Blair slapped him and even in the dark Serena could see four red welts on his cheek.
Without another word, she left.
--
Blair ran back to the ballroom, desperately searching for Chuck.
He immediately knew that something was wrong, when he saw her face.
"Excuse me, ladies." he nodded at the other girls politely. They gazed after with disappointed faces, when he walked away.
"Blair, are you okay?" He looked at her worriedly, her face a pure expression of pain.
"Can I stay with you tonight?" Blair looked at him pleadingly.
He was startled, but nodded. She turned around, heading outside to his limo.
He followed her quickly, a line of worry on his forehead.
--
When they finally sat in the limo, Blair said "I broke up with him."
Chuck looked at her shocked. Her sad eyes burned into his and he took her hand in his, squeezing it lightly.
They sat in silence until Chuck suddenly asked "Why?"
She looked at their intertwined hands and her mind flooded back to her relationship with Nate.
"I don't love him."
She realized, the second she spoke that words, that this was the first time in probably her entire life, she had been honest with herself. It was the truth. She didn't even love Nate anymore, she hadn't loved him for a while now. She just loved the idea of having a perfect life with her Prince Charming. But he wasn't her prince like she had thought. He had never been there for her when she had needed him. Not once.
They entered Chuck's suite and he went to get the wardrobe for the night. He gave her a simple button-down shirt and then went to make the bed. She smiled as she watched him and felt a surge of affection for him.
When she came out of the bathroom in his shirt, he was already in the bed. Chuck noticed her, and she again recognized the look on his face. The ones that made her feel beautiful and desired.
"I can sleep on the couch, if I make you feel uncomfortable," he pointed out. She shook her head and climbed on his huge bed. Crawling under the sheets, she nestled on his side. He looked confused, but put an arm around her. She blushed, when she noticed that he was wearing nothing but his boxers. Thank God it was dark.
Then he placed a soft kiss on her forehead and she relaxed into his arms. Blair snuggled deeper into Chuck's warm embrace and breathed out happily.
Somehow she felt safe in his arms and… loved.
--
To be continued
A/N: Aww I really hope you guys like it, I'm so sorry it took so long, I got it back from my beta, when I was already on tour. But thankfully I have got time to go to a internet café :) I'll work on the next chapter when I come back, which will be on Friday or Saturday. I hope it won't take too long, but I presume I will post it at the beginning of the next week. Feedback would be lovely :)