Hey guys! I know... no amount of apologizing can make up for the long delay in updating the next chapter! It even breaks the reader's link! I know that... but I was extremely busy and I didn't want to upload a chapter that was not written well. So, I hope that you all will forgive me and read the new chapter. Looking forward to your reviews! They always keep me motivated!

Chapter 6: Next Big Designer

"Dan!" Jenny screamed, standing at the loft door looking at her brother. She dropped her handbag on the couch before launching herself at her brother.

"Jenny!" Dan chuckled hugging her back.

"You didn't return any of my calls!" she accused him. She moved to pick up her costume bags. Dan joined her, carrying them to the guest room, which used to be Jenny's room when she used to live at the loft. When Dan didn't reply, Jenny looked at him. He shrugged.

"I know that you are a busy man. And I know that you would want the loft to yourself. But dad and Lily are still not back…and I'm here only for a few days."

Dan smiled at her.

"Where's Blair?" Jenny asked suddenly. She went to Dan's room and peeked inside. Turning around, she looked at her brother. He was arranging her costume bags in the cupboard. His face was hidden.

"I knew she wouldn't be here to welcome me. But a girl can hope, right?" she asked.

Dan made no response. Jenny knew something was wrong the moment she had landed at the loft. She just couldn't pinpoint the reason. She knew that Blair was involved somehow. If only she was still connected to 'Gossip Girl'….since moving to live with her mother, Jenny had disconnected with her old life at Upper East Side.

Watching Dan work mechanically, she frowned. She wanted to shake him and ask him what was wrong. Rufus had told her that Dan had accepted a big internship for the summer. It was in East Hampton. He would have to stay away from Blair. Maybe that's why he was upset. No, Jenny shook her head. Blair had a house at the Hamptons. They could live together. If that was not the problem then what was? Maybe she should just ask Dan. Or ask Blair?

She had been so pre-occupied with her thoughts that she hadn't noticed that Dan was talking to her.

"What?" she asked.

"You phone" he said, jerking his thumb towards the handbag. Jenny could hear her ringtone picking up volume with each successive ring.

She nodded her head and rushed to find her phone in her handbag. Reaching the couch, she thrust her hand inside the bag, looking for her mobile. Dan followed her, looking around aimlessly. Seeing the loft door open, he shut it and walked to his room.

Jenny watched his moments unhappily and answered Rufus's call, "Dad!" she said. "You were right. Something's really wrong."

-o0o-

It hadn't taken much time for Jenny to figure out that Dan and Blair had broken up. It had broken Dan too. Jenny couldn't stand watching Dan so sad.

She was going to see Blair. She had to see for herself- to know that Dan wasn't one of the pawns in Blair's many games. The promise which Blair had made to her not so long ago was haunting Jenny's mind. Blair had seemed so sincere when she had promised never to hurt Dan. Jenny had believed her. She wasn't sure about it now. Maybe she had fallen for Blair's super-acting skills. Or maybe….maybe Blair was just as torn?

Whatever the case, Jenny had to find out for herself. With this resolve in mind, she stepped out of the elevator doors to see Blair standing near the stairs.

"Jenny?" Blair asked in a surprised tone.

Obviously, Blair hadn't read the 'Gossip Girl' blast about 'Little J' being back in town. Or maybe she had, Jenny thought, and she was acting…

"Blair" Jenny said in a steely voice.

"Why don't you sit down?" Blair asked, motioning towards the sofa.

Jenny made no move towards the sofa.

Sighing, Blair stepped forwards. "How's Dan?" she asked.

If Jenny hadn't been such a good observer, she wouldn't have noticed the little breath Blair took before saying Dan's name. Or the dark circles under her eyes which were expertly concealed by make-up. There was something in her eyes which reminded Jenny of the time when she had told Blair that Nate loved Serena. Blair had been dreaming of an engagement to Nate and the truth had slapped her face. The agony which Jenny had seen in her eyes then was carefully hidden now. But Jenny knew that Blair was hurting. She had followed Blair like a faithful dog, wanting to be like her in every way. So she knew that though Blair was putting up a good façade, she was hurting inside.

Jenny scrutinized Blair some more. The Blair she knew would have never repeated a dress, much alone an out-of-fashion one. Jenny remembered fantasizing about wearing a dress just like the one which Blair was wearing. It was a beautiful baby-pink sleeveless dress with a bow at the waist.

Blair felt Jenny's eyes on her. But she did nothing to protect herself. She knew Jenny's sharp mind. Hiding anything from Jenny would have been the same as hiding anything from herself. She had trained Jenny herself and was proud of her skills, but now she defenseless.

She was hurting. She was missing Dan. So much so that she was wearing an old dress, simply because it was pink, Dan's favourite colour on her.

"Dan's… not good", Jenny said.

Blair swallowed and looked at her. She hoped she wouldn't start crying in front of her.

"I'm here for the 'Next Big Designer'" Jenny stated, changing the subject.

Blair stared at her, relief washing over her. She hadn't really wanted to talk about hurting Dan, especially not after she had promised Jenny that she would not hurt him.

"My 'showstopper' dress is purple. I…made it with you in mind", Jenny said.

Blair blinked. Jenny was a fantastic designer. The red dress which she had helped Dan select for her college presentation was one among her favourites.

Any other time, she would have jumped at the opportunity. Maybe even made Jenny grovel a little….but no, that would have impolite. Dan wouldn't have let her….

She stopped the thought cold. If she were with Dan, things would have been different. Now she was not with Dan and things…were different. She couldn't be Jenny's showstopper, even if she had designed the dress for her. Jenny had done so because she was Dan's girlfriend…because she had been Dan's girlfriend.

She winced at her mental correction. Not meeting Jenny's eyes, she tried to think of a way to politely turn her down.

"My mother's one of the judges", Blair said suddenly, her head snapping up. "So…I can't be your showstopper."

"Okay", Jenny replied easily. It seemed like she wanted to say more but changing her mind, she turned around.

"You could ask Serena", Blair blurted, before Jenny walked away.

Jenny hesitated, turning around to look at Blair. She pursed her lips. Then without a word, she disappeared into the elevators.

Blair sighed. She had thought suggesting Serena's name would have made Jenny happy. Jenny had always been a supporter of Dan and Serena. And Blair knew that Serena would have been the one Jenny would have asked if the choice were left to her.

-o0o-

Jenny hadn't asked Serena. But Dan had.

He had known Blair would turn Jenny down. He had also known that Jenny wouldn't ask Serena herself. If there was anyone after Blair, who could wear Jenny's dresses with such aplomb…, it was Serena, Upper East Side's 'IT' girl.

And as Jenny's collection was titled 'Upper East Side', she fitted the theme perfectly.

Dan signed as the hairdresser tried to unsuccessfully style his hair. He had thought of cutting it short, but he knew Blair liked it longer….blinking; he tried to push Blair from his mind.

He knew she wouldn't be present for the event that night. She had stopped visiting the places which they had frequented when they had been together. It had ended the possibility of even a remote chance meeting. He sighed deeply. He hadn't seen her since the day she had broken up with him. He missed her every day.

Muttering something unintelligible, the hairdresser gave up on Dan's hair. Dan hopped off from the stool which he had been warming for the past half an hour. He still couldn't understand why he had let Jenny talk him into modeling for her.

And he had a sinking feeling that she would ask him to walk with Serena….

He looked at her, perched on the stool next to him, with her eyes closed, letting the experts paint her face. She was every bit the girl he had fallen for. But she was not Blair…nobody could be Blair.

Cursing Dan stalked off towards the ramp.

-o0o-

Dan had been right. Jenny had asked him to walk with Serena.

And it hadn't been that bad. Serena had guided him, her arm linked in his, even winking at him, making him comfortable.

The audience had loved them. Which was why, they were out here, on the ramp, posing for the shutterbugs. Jenny had won the 'Next Big Designer' Award and she was busy calling Rufus. Serena had won the 'Best Showstopper' Award and she had dragged him to the podium to receive it, claiming she couldn't have done it without him. She had even whispered 'thanks' in his ear while accepting the award.

Since it had been his first time on the ramp, the reclusive Dan Humphrey, the photographers had demanded he pose with Serena.

Dan had been ready to walk out. But then he had spotted Eleanor Waldorf, sitting pristinely on the judges' panel, deep in conversation with a fellow judge. He had been painfully reminded of Blair.

He had a purpose here, the reason why he had asked Serena to be Jenny's showstopper, and so he had agreed to walk the ramp again yet again with Serena.

Staring at the photographers now, busy clicking away, he smiled. Somewhere among them, one of the photos would make it to 'Gossip Girl'. And Blair may see it. He wanted her to see him with Serena. He wanted her to think he had moved on….he wanted her to be happy with her choice.

He cinched Serena tightly at the waist, pulling her closer, while making efforts to smile wider.

-o0o-

Blair was watching Louis explain a typical French meal to her. He was sweet. He had arranged for a romantic dinner aboard a huge yacht, which was ironically, called 'Blair'.

"For you", he had whispered when she had been awestruck.

Granted, Dan wouldn't have been so fanciful. But Dan had his own ways…she pursed her lips, frustrated. Why was she thinking about Dan?

She was here on a date. She was here with Louis. It was time that she got that straight.

Louis got a call just then. Looking at the caller, Louis excused himself.

Blair sighed. Taking this opportunity, she checked her phone for 'Gossip Girl' blasts. Since Jenny's visit, she had been regularly checking the site. Since their break-up, there was no news about Dan. It was as if he had disappeared from Upper East Side, living up to 'Gossip Girl's epithet for him, 'Lonely Boy'.

Blair gasped. There was no new blast from 'Gossip Girl', just a picture, a smiling Dan with his arm snaked around a beaming Serena posing for the shutterbugs.

Blair snapped her phone shut.

-o0o-

Dan closed his eyes. He was trying to sleep. He pulled the covers up to his chin, feeling their softness. His eyes snapped open. These were the same soft sheets with which he had covered Blair the first time she had slept over….

He snatched the covers apart. Frustrated with his unsuccessful attempts of forgetting Blair, he got out of bed. He didn't know where he was going until he was standing in his study, staring at the incomplete manuscript on the table.

The story he was writing for Blair. It was titled 'How I fell in love with a Bitch'. Grimacing, he walked towards the table. He took the manuscript in his hands. Turning around, he walked back towards the door.

He reached behind the door and placed his foot on the lever of the dustbin, forcing its lid to pop open. He threw the manuscript inside, letting go of the lever. The lid shut itself. Dan stood staring at it for a moment.

Then he walked out and closed the door of the study.