New chapter,
xx,
...
Mr Bass and his son Charles were about to leave the Van Der Bilt Mansion. It was 5pm already, time to get ready for dinner. Charles closed the door of William's apartment with a big smile on his face as he believed that the next weeks would be interesting.
...
Blair met Charles and his father as she was going upstairs to see Nathaniel. She was wearing a beautiful yellow dress that was suiting her skin color perfectly. Charles smiled at her, they were really good friends.
« Blair Waldorf, always a pleasure. » said Charles as he kissed her hand
« Miss Waldorf. Nice to see you. » said Mr Bass
« Mr Bass, Charles. How are you. Charles is Nathaniel in his apartment. »
Charles smirked, this was going to be so interesting and funny.
« He is, he left us in a hurry, he seemed to be upset. Actually father if you don't mind, I will go home later. I am going to escort Blair so I can see if Nathaniel is feeling better. »
Mr Bass looked at his son and at Blair, he was suspicious but as he did see Nathaniel leaving William's apartment in a hurry, he decided to do not add any comment and let his son go with Blair.
« Be home for dinner Charles, your uncle Jack, your aunt Eugenia and her children are arriving today, dinner will be at 7pm. Miss Waldorf, have a nice evening and a nice Thanksgiving weekend. »
And he let them alone in the stairs. Blair observed Charles in silence. She was waiting for him to tell her some jokes as he always does but he did not do any comment and somehow it bothered her.
...
They were almost in front of Nathaniel's door, on the 2nd floor of Le Petit Chateau. Nathaniel and his mother were living on the 2nd floor, south wing of this floor. Nathaniel had an apartment with an office, his room and bathroom and a conservatory that was separating his apartment from his mother's.
As Charles was apparently lost in his thoughts Blair decided that it was time to make him understand that she did not need him.
« I don't need an escort Charles, I know where is Nathaniel's room. »
He replied that what he said earlier was true and this was the only reason why he decided to escort her.
« And why would Nathaniel be that upset while you look a bit too happy. What happened. » she asked very serious.
Blair was dramatic, she loves drama as Charles used to say, Blair was reading too many novels...
« Nothing Blair, nothing. » replied Charles who knew how much Blair would get upset with his answer
« I don't believe you. But I am not going to insist. My time is too precious. »
« Oh come on Blair you know that you love my company which make me remember that I won't be able to come on saturday. I have some businesses out of the city and depends on how it goes I might not be back until monday. »
« Some businesses, Chuck Bass, why am I not surprised. What's her name. »
« Their names and let me remind you that Chuck are only for my very close friends or ladies with whom I shared a special moment, as far as I can remember we haven't been enjoying each other in that way yet. »
« Yet and never. You are gross. »
...
They were now in front of Nathaniel's room. They knocked at the door as Nathaniel was not answering, Blair opened the door.
Nathaniel was busy, apparently looking for something, removig his desk and cabinet. When he noticed them he stopped.
«Blair, Chuck. » he said, he blushed. Thanks God he hasn't find yet what he was looking for.
«Nathaniel, are you alright. » asked Blair worried
« Of course, I am. Blair, I am sorry but I am a bit tired and I would like to be alone » lied Nathaniel who just wanted to find what he was looking for before Charles and Blair arrived.
« Nathaniel did you get my letters, I sent you two letters today, one this morning and another one after lunch. I wanted to talk to you about my banquet on Saturday, check the list of the guests with you and choosing their places. But I can take of you if you are tired.»
He replied that he did get the letters but forgot about them. He said that he had a busy day and finally apologized. He was not even looking at her, actually he was trying to avoid her gaze. Blair got the feeling that something happened and she had to know what it was.
« Nathaniel you know how important this dinner is for me, for us. It is like a pre engagement dinner with all our friends. I want everything to be perfect. But as apparently it is not important for you and you prefer to do whatever you had been doing today, I am going to take care of it alone. At least, you could have told me that Charles was not coming as he has some businesses out of the city» said Blair looking at Nathaniel.
She was observing him as for some reasons she believed that Nathaniel vexation was connected to Charles' businesses
« You are going there. You are going to Oakdale. Chuck. »
Charles interrupted his friend
« I am sorry Nathaniel, you know how is my father. We are going there this weekend and no offense but I really cannot wait to meet them. Don't get mad at me »
« I am not mad but we said that we would go together. » sighed Nathaniel who was trying to remember that he should not talk that much in front of Blair but it was painful.
He was not jealous, he just knew his friend and he was scared for Serena and Erica. He did not want Charles to be with them, he did not want Charles to touch Serena, to kiss her or just to meet her without him.
...
« Hello, Nathaniel, Charles, is that too much to ask what is going on. What is so important to see in Oakdale that it cannot even wait until monday and you why do you want to go with him. Who are those people » asked Blair who was trying to hide her anger.
She was a lady from the high society, she could not explode but it so was hard for her to hide who she really was.
« I have to meet two young ladies, a tragedy just happened to them and they have to find a husband. One for each sister, of course even if I would not mind to marry both. And Nathaniel, I am sorry but this is business, you know my father but I won't forget to give Serena your salutations» said Charles who loved the situation that he just created.
Seeing Blair and Nathaniel prisoners of the situation was really entertaining.
« You, Charles Bass mentioning marriage and Serena as Serena Van Der Woodsen. Why would marry her, she is poor and not one of us. » replied Blair who was not trying to hide her anger anymore
She was angry for two reasons, the first one was because she knew everything and the other one well she just did not want to know more about this feeling but here it was again...
« Actually after meeting their grandmother this afternoon, my dear Blair I think we can say that they are part of our world, pioneers actually and I haven't decided yet if I prefer Serena or Erica. Both seemed to be so gorgeous, wild and carefree, it is going to be hard to choose that's why I am going there. »
Blair could not believe it, she briefly met Serena 7 years ago when her parents bought the Van Der Woodsen house and when her gaze met Serena's blue eyes, she automatically hated Serena. Serena was one of those beautiful person that could wear a dirty maid suit, she would still shine more than everybody else.
She did forget that Serena existed but listening Serena's name was waking up the worst part of herself. Also seeing how upset Nathaniel looked, seeing that Charles Bass was ready to accept to marry Serena or her sister Erica was hurting her.
If they ever came back to New York City Blair promised herself that she would destroy the Van Der Woodsen sisters.
« Well Charles my dear, you should be careful, after so many years out of the city they are probably more dirty, dumb and suffering from cholera or something like this than wild, beautiful or whatever your crazy mind imagines. »
« Don't be jealous Blair, we both know that even your father would fall for them and we know how hard this is. » checkmate round one. Smirk on his face, he was enjoying the conversation.
He knew that Blair knew about her father and he saw Harold having fun few weeks ago.
« Well now if excuse me, I cannot be late. I have to leave. Nathaniel, please don't be upset. As I know that you used to care a lot about Serena Van Der Woodsen, I just want you to know that I will take good care of her. » checkmate round 2 thought Charles as he was leaving the room
...
Once Charles was gone, Blair decided that she did not want to know more about the Van Der Woodsens sisters. She was Blair Waldorf, she was going to marry Nathaniel Archibald the grandson of William Van Der Vilt, one of the richest man of the country, and she was not going to let the ghost of Serena Van Der Woodsen annoyed her.
« Nathaniel, now that Charles is gone, could we focus on us and pur banquet. You know that I love you and that this banquet means a lot to me. I can't wait for us to be officially engaged and start to work on our wedding. »
« Blair could we please just do it tomorrow after dinner. As your family is having Thanksgiving here with us, we could work on the table tomorrow. I am a bit tired today »
« Does it have anything to do with the Van Der Woodsen and please don't lie. I remember your face, the first time I ever saw you. The day that the Van Der Woodsen left. I saw the all scene Nathaniel. You kissed Serena Van Der Woodsen and then you cried for a long time. I was looking at you from my window»
Here was the truth, here was one of Blair's secret. That day she observed Nathaniel, he was 14 years old, almost 15 years and she found him so perfect, so beautiful.
When she learnt few days after that he was a Van Der Bilt, she decided that one day they would get married. She wanted to be the new Serena Van Der Woodsen, the new popular girl of New York City and she was going to make Nathaniel Archibald forgot Serena Van Der Woodsen.
As she was waiting for his answer, she wondered if she really succeeded in her mission...
« It was a long time ago Blair and you know Chuck, he is my best friend but he also has a list of all the girls that he has to you know and I don't want him to play with Serena or Erica. Serena is an old friend, I don't want to see her hurt »
Hopefully Blair would believe him... but obviously she did not.
« Nathaniel, they are poor, they living in a small city with farmers, I don't think that you should be afraid of what Charles could do or don't do because I think that they know more about the thing than he does and they could eventually teach him some of you know those things. »
He did not like what she said and defended the Van Der Woodsen, well Serena, again. Blair was forfait, having a fight with Nathaniel was not a good option so she told him that as apparently he was so tired that he did not even know what he was saying it was better for her to leave.
« I will you see tomorrow Nathaniel. I love you, you know that. »
« I do, goodbye Blair. »
And once she was gone, he opened all the drawers, he removed everything but finally he found the black box. The last time he opened that box it had been for his 18th birthday. That day, after the party, he closed the box for what should have been forever but life was never how we expected it to be.
He opened the box, he smiled and sighed. His grandmother once told him that love has no cure, it was probably true...