Animosity

Chapter 7 : I am Me

Blair cooped in her room, more ice cream than when she broke up with Chuck. Serena tried to enter, but she would never allow that. After all, it is her fault everything faltering like this. Shouldn't Serena know how to keep her legs crossed, nothing of this would had happen. Blair may be out in Brooklyn by now, pestering Dan to renovate his loft.

"Blair, can we please just talk? I mean this is ridiculous," Serena knocks her door again. Blair holds her pillow, she would not forgive Serena easily on this. "Blair."

"Go away Serena! I don't want you to ever ruin my life again!" Blair yells and buries herself in the ocean of silk mattresses.

"Blair, this is ridiculous."

"What happened?" Nate approaches his girlfriend.

"I don't know. Dorota said she just came home one day, and never left her room," Serena looks at Nate. "And now suddenly she's all mad at me, saying I ruined her life."

"Are you sure you didn't do anything that makes her think that?" Nate asks.

"Nate!"

"I'm sorry, but you know," Nate ignores Serena's stare because it is true. Serena is sometimes oblivious of what she had done.

"You think it had to do with Chuck?" Serena sighs.

"No I don't think so, Chuck has been busy lately with some Bass Industries things. Yesterday, he had all the board meeting in the Empire," Nate remembers how the apartment were filled with business sharks in ties. "I don't think he even had the time to hurt an ant."

"Blair," Serena tries again. No answer. "Nate why don't you try?"

"Blair?" Nate calls. No answer. But they hear footsteps coming. Blair opens her door slowly, revealing herself in a robe, no make up and puffy eyes. "Hey, you okay?"

With that, Blair pulls Nate in and closes her door on Serena. Serena was dumbfounded and stares with eyes wide on Blair's door.

Inside, Nate eyed Blair slowly who walks to her bed, taking the ice cream and scooping another to her mouth. Her laptop was on with some old movie Nate was sure he never knew off, and a book lay open beside her. He takes the book, it was Breakfast at Tiffany's. He looks behind the cover and sees Dan Humphrey's name beneath it.

"Umm," Nate did not know what to say, or where to start as well. "Well, you don't seem very good."

"Is that all you got, Archibald?" Blair throws her comments cold.

"Blair, what's going on?" Nate asks genuinely. He had dated Blair throughout his childhood, and she was not known as the girl who cries. She is stronger than that, he knew at least that. Even if he fell hard for Serena then, he knew exactly that Blair Waldorf does not weep, nor was she one who stays in her room.

"I think karma is getting back on me, Archibald," Blair looks down. "The old bitching in Constance is finally haunting me."

"Blair what are you talking about?" Nate chuckles at this, settling himself to sit beside her.

"I don't know myself," Blair smiles sadly.

"Blair, you know you can tell me anything. I mean that's why you pulled me in here," Nate offers.

"Not exactly. I pull you in here to piss Serena off," Blair admits and Nate scoffs.

"Wow, real classy Blair," Nate looks at the door, wondering if Serena is still standing behind it. "Seriously Blair, you can tell me anything." Blair looks at Nate, not sure what she should do. She looks at the book that Nate is still holding and looks away. Nate sees that. "Does this have anything to do with Dan Humphrey?" For once, Nate is not confused.

"No," Blair immediately answers. "Yes. I don't know."

"Blair, if this is about him being from Brooklyn…"

"No it is not about him being from Brooklyn," Blair stands up and starts walking around her room. "It is not even about how horrible he dresses up, or how his apartment looked like a junkie's corner." Blair sighs heavily. "It is me."

"Blair, what are you talking about? You are a Waldorf. He'd be crazy to think something is wrong with you," Nate knows this better than anyone else.

"But everything is wrong with me Nate. I scheme like it breathes air into my lungs, I had teachers fired because they won't give me the grades I wanted, I had juniors running to do chores I invented," Blair could not believe that she's spilling everything out. "And he's perfect."

"Blair, if he couldn't agree with you just because that was your past, I don't think he's that perfect at all," Nate smiles. "I know you, you do all those things but most of the time, it never was for yourself. You schemed against Ms. Hawkins in 8th grade because she didn't allow me to enter the exam hall for being 5 minutes late when she actually had a political grudge against my grandfather. You saved Serena from herself your whole life while labeling yourself the bitch. You pull Chuck out of his daddy misery. You are the most selfless person I have ever met so if he hated that quality, it is his lost."

Blair smiles. Nate can be sweet at times.

"Thank you, Nate," Blair pulls him for a hug. "I think I need to talk to Serena now."


"Bullshit! You go around the corner you stupid fat ass!" Carter yells at the screen, watching football. He stayed around the loft for a while so he could keep an eye on Dan. He knows how Blair rolls, and he knows well by anytime, Blair should be here trying to explain herself.

"You know what, you should buy an apartment in New York, so you don't eat my food, watch my cable and drink my beer all the fucking time," Dan sat in the dining area, laptop on.

"I prefer the loft, it is more homey," Carter kept watching the game.

"Well then you should pay rent."

"Best friends do not pay rents. They have sleepovers sometimes," Carter looks back at Dan. Dan could only roll his eyes. "'So, uh, what's up with Waldorf? Have you heard anything from her?"

"No. Not since that day, I mean she hasn't even returned any of my text," Dan looks over at his phone.

"No kidding," Carter hides his smile. He's doing Dan a favor.

"I mean, I don't know, I thought things were mutual between us. She even said we should continue later," Dan says, exasperated by everything.

"You know the Upper East Side, they scheme every time they have a chance," Carter said boringly.

"You're an upper east side resident yourself," Dan makes a point.

"I was exiled from that society, remember?" Carter changes the channel as the game became too depressing for him to watch.

"No, you went, on your own," Dan remembered the 18 years old Carter standing in front of the loft, embarrassed that he had run away, all because his trust fund was taken away from him. Carter was depressed, mad, every negative feeling you could come up towards his parents.

"No, they pushed me to exit that world. In other words, exile," Carter stopped hitting the channel button and munched the chips. "Tv sucks nowadays."

"You never told me why though," Dan sat beside him. Carter looks away, pretending not to understand. "You never told me what you did that had made your parents so angry."

"That was the problem, Daniel," Carter stands up and grabbed his beer. "I did nothing." With that, Carter left for the guest room.


"Okay, talk to me Blair," Serena is finally allowed to come in. She sees her best friend staring straight at her. "Blair, talk."

"Carter Baizen is back and I guess instead of ruining the source of problem i.e you, Serena Van Der Woodsen, he decided to ruin my life, Blair Waldorf, your problem exterminator," Blair said simply. Serena was quiet, because she wasn't sure what Blair meant. "Fix it, Serena."

"Blair, I don't understand. So Carter is back, let him be. I don't think he'll dare to come near me anymore," Serena and her every word frustrates Blair.

"God, Serena! Must everything be about you?" Blair stood up and stomp across the room. "He's best friends with Humphrey and he's going to do everything he can to get me!"

"Blair, what are you…" then the blonde realizes. "Do you like Dan?"

"Maybe, but it doesn't matter anymore because I'm pretty sure Carter had told him everything," Blair sat again on her bed. "Nobody likes a bitch. With the exception of Chuck anyway."

"Blair," Serena starts but the brunette knew exactly the words that will come out.

"I know. I deserved better bla bla bla. But it is not that simple," Blair sighs.

"No, Blair, what I wanted to say was, if a guy doesn't accept you for every of you, than maybe he's the one who doesn't deserve you," Serena smiled. "And Dan doesn't seem like the judgmental type."

Blair huffs at this. "You have no idea how wrong you are."

"About Carter, let me handle it. You go find Dan," Serena stood up.

"Can you handle it?" Blair remembered how the blonde couldn't before.

"I think this time I can, I mean I have Nate now," Serena said before she left.


Carter looks at Dan who is staring at his phone on the counter. He sighs, not even a text. Carter rolls his eyes. How could Dan meet someone such as Blair Waldorf? Their worlds are a complete 180, both on each end. Dan is everything Blair hated, and to Carter, it is ridiculous she liked him.

"Why don't you just stalk her home," Carter joked. "I mean with that many texts you send, you have obviously cross the stalker line."

"Shut up Baizen," Dan sighed, wondering what was wrong.

"You know what, we should go to bar, meet some ladies more of our own turf," Carter holds Dan's shoulder. Dan eyed him. "Okay, so we don't meet girls since you're so hung up over an Upper East Side girl, but we go to the bar, have some drinks. It's on me."

Dan looks at his best friend again. Even if he had been friends with Carter since high school, sometimes he doesn't know Carter. Carter always mentioned how his parents were these evil forces in his life, but Dan never met them. Carter always had ambiguous jobs since high school. Not only that, he kept pestering Dan to enter the school's soccer team so he could gamble the winning chances knowing Dan was very good at soccer. Dan was very judgmental on the Upper East Side before, but somehow he could never question on every Carter's move. Maybe because he was his first real friend in high school, or maybe deep down it was because Dan felt Carter was more alone than he himself ever was that doing those things keeps him company.

"You know what, sure, let's go have a drink," Dan smiled. It was so long ago that he had a simple drink at a bar with a friend.

"Atta boy!" Carter cheered.

Suddenly, Dan's phone rang. Dan looked at the screen. It was Blair.

"Hold on," Dan took the call in his room. "Hello? Blair?" And Carter listens.

"Hey, I'm sorry I haven't returned any of your texts. I got caught up with something, and you know, I just forgot,"that wasn't true of course. She had been scanning his text every minute while resisting to reply.

"No, it's fine. I mean Carter suggested that rather than bombarding you with texts like a crazy stalker, I should just stalk you at your house," Dan joked, not knowing that Blair cringed at the name 'Carter'. Noticing the silence, Dan quickly added, "Sorry, I'm not funny."

This actually made Blair laugh. "No, it's quite the charmer Humphrey," she smiled knowing that he smiled too. "Hey are you doing anything tonight?"

"Um," Dan looked across the open door and saw Carter sitting on the counter. "What do you have in mind?"

"I don't know. Maybe a very festive Upper East Side dinner at my place and afterwards we could continue where we left off," a sly smile spread across Blair's lips. "Plus I'm pretty sure my bed would be a lot comfier than your unfortunate couch." Blair added a bit of seduction in her words, because she had Serena's words that she would take care of Carter.

Dan gulped. "S-Sure then. Um, what time?"

"7. I'll text you my address," Blair smiled. "See you then Humphrey."

"See you Waldorf," Dan hang up and he throw his fist into the air, as if he had won something big. He didn't notice Carter was standing at the door frame.

"Something good?" he asked.

"Yeah. Hey can we have drinks tomorrow or something. I have to meet Blair tonight," Dan grinned like a fool. Carter tensed but remained calm.

"Be careful, Dan. Those Upper East Side people, they can be a snake whenever they wanted to," Carter warned.

"Don't you think I know all that better than you do?"

"What do you mean?" Carter was confused.

"About people being snakes," Dan chuckled. "I was a snake once and I don't have to be from the Upper East Side."

"Dude, that was not even, did you know that Bl…"

"I'll see you tonight when I get back, or tomorrow," he grinned.

"Where you going?"

"Find my very fashionable sister."


Blair looked over in her closet, trying every outfit she could. Some are slutty, some are girly, no, no and no. Blair almost ran towards Serena who is in the kitchen. "I need an outfit!"

"Um, okay," Serena almost questioned. "You are going out?"

"Yes. And I needed something…. You know… Casual."

"B, you don't do casual," Serena smiled, she knew Blair is meeting Dan.

"Yes, but this is not Chuck, nor Nate. Chuck could knew from far if I wore a new lingerie, and Nate doesn't really care, he just wants the girl naked," Blair ignored the fact that Serena is Nate's girlfriend. "But Dan, he might…"

"Might what? Blair I don't think Dan knows the difference between Prada and Gucci," Serena assured her friend.

"No, Serena. He might just make fun of me! And I could never let that happen!" Blair seems frustrated. Serena raised her eyes brow.

"Why would he make fun of you?"

"In Central Park I broke a heel and he seems to remind me of that every single minute. If I go Brooklyn, he'll be laughing at my uneasiness wearing those trash bags, but if I go Upper East Side, there will be some snide remarks how everything is too expensive," Blair whined.

"What kind of conversations do you have usually?" Serena is curious now.

"Well, I won't call it conversations. We… Bicker," Blair smirks. "A lot really."

"About?"

"Well, the other day we got into this huge debate about whether Degaz is a form of art or simply a girl wearing a tutu, his words by the way. And before I really protested on MoMA being the best museum when we have Guggenheim," Blair rolled her eyes a bit. "I think we even debated which Hepburn is better. I'm all Audrey but he's on Katherine's side."

"Wow, that is really… Something," to be honest, Serena never knew Blair could delve in those sort of conversations. Blair had always loved the MGM movies, Audrey and museums, but she never thought Blair was that integrated on those things. In a way, she found her match, intellectual match.

"So I need something to wear," Blair pouted.

"Blair, I have an idea," Serena smiles. "Why don't you just wear what you always do. You'd bicker anyway and maybe, that's the part that he likes about you."

Blair stopped for a thought. Serena was right. She shouldn't just change her wardrobe just because she happened to like a Brooklyn boy. If he wouldn't, so she wouldn't. "That is much more civilized actually." With that Blair was gone back into her room.

Serena sighs, looking at her phone. She was using the Gossip Girl Spotted Map and Carter Baizen is walking around Manhattan. Serena took a deep breath because whatever conversation they will have are going to take a lot of her energy.


"Are you sure I'm not underdressed?" Dan asks as Jenny just pulled a simple shirt for him and black jeans.

"Dan, you're a Humphrey, be one. Besides, Blair should like your Brooklyn self. It is one of your most fabulous charms," Jenny says halfway sarcastic. "And you look good, you're having dinner at her house not in a 5 star restaurant or something. Plus you don't even exactly wear a tie when you do go for one. You're the rebel Humphrey."

"If I'm not mistaken you were the one who tried to run away when you're 15," Dan shot back.

"That was because Blair and he minions weren't exactly nice to me at the time and dad was being dad saying tomorrow will be better," Jenny sighs.

"What did she do?"

"She um," Jenny wasn't sure if telling Dan would be such a good idea, but the intense stare Dan gave her forced the truth out. "She threw yogurt on my hair."

"The yogurt incident? That was Blair?" Dan was surprised.

"But that was high school. It happened a very long time ago," Jenny assured him.

"Right," now Dan remembered how Carter said something about the upper east side being snakes. "Well, I should go, I don't want to be late for my dinner." Dan winked at his sister.

"Don't put the napkin on your collar," Jenny reminded him.

"Right," Dan laughs. But before he went, he asked her a question. "Why do you seem to idolize Blair now?"

Jenny smiles at this. "Because she was also the one who shows how she worked hard for everything she has done. I envy her determination."


Carter walked into an empty building. Scrolling through his phone, he should be at the right place. He looked around and smirked. "Why do you ever need me in such a lonely place?" Carter took out his cigarette and lights it up. He pulled his phone out again and went to Gossip Girl site. There she was, Serena Van Der Woodsen in her glorious day. "Fuck you Van Der Woodsen."

"You sure hope you did right," a male's voice came in. Carter looked back and smiled at the sight of Nate Archibald. He was also relieved that Nate is all alone. He's not there for a kill.

"Ah. Archibald. You made it!"

"Stop being so carefree, Baizen," Nate cuts to the chase. "What are you doing back here?"

"I can be wherever I want to be," Carter smiled devilishly. He knew the golden boy is pissed.

"I'm not sure that is up to you," Nate pulled a paper from his pocket. Carter raised his brows on that. "That is your trust fund relocated back to you."

"What?"

"I can make sure your father sign this if that means you'll take all the money and be gone," Nate was serious, but all Carter could do was laugh.

"You sick ass, you think I really want that money? No!" Carter grinned like a crazy person. "I had tripled whatever amount there is in my trust just last month, I don't need that anymore." Carter stopped smiling now, "But I want to ask you, could you relocate my dignity back."

Nate suddenly jumps in and held Carter's collar in his fist. "Listen you son of a bitch! You tried to drug Serena and you want your fucking dignity back? You have no dignity to begin with! And now I want you to stay out of her life! Stay out of the Upper East Side!"

"You think I came back for her?" Carter almost laughed again. "I'm not. I'm back because it was a shitty season in Vegas, and I happen to have a genuine friend in Brooklyn." Carter pulled Nate's grip off himself. "Although, you should know again, I didn't try to drug her, had no intention at all to do so, hell the drugs weren't even mine. But of course, why would you believe me."

"Why should I?"

"Well maybe because you out of all people should know, Serena or even Blair for that matter, don't tell much to poor guys like us," Carter chuckled. Nate stands there, dumbfounded. He shakes his head. Nope, Carter Baizen cannot go through him that easily. But crash came a figure who makes everything much more complicated.

"Baizen?" Serena calls out. "What the hell are you doing here Cart… Nate?" Serena's eyes almost bulged out noticing her boyfriend. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" Nate's tone scarred her.

"You heard Archibald, she called my name. Obviously she's looking for me," Carter is definitely enjoying this. "I was waiting for you."

"Shut up Carter, don't make it seem like it's that kind of situation," Serena rushes to Nate. She held his hand in hers. "Nate."

"Then what kind of situation it is?" Nate whispered.

"What?"

"I said what kind of situation it is!" Nate yelled and yanked his hands. "Serena, you defended this guy and now you're seeing him in secret?"

"I'm not seeing him in secret. I used the Gossip Girl Spotted map to ask him to leave," Serena almost begged.

"If it is anything, Archibald, you and I were the ones seeing each other in a secret," Carter laughs.

Nate's rage was exploding as he took Carter's collar and punched him straight on the jaw. It felt good, it felt great to hit such a jackass. He heard Serena screamed his name. But then he realized that the incident hurt him, when he saw Serena on her knees in aid for Carter Baizen.

"Oh my God, you're bleeding," Serena quickly used her scarf to stop the bleeding.

"Of course," Nate laughed this time. Serena looked up to him. "You never loved me. You said you do but you're Serena Van Der Woodsen, you can profess your love to anybody."

"Nate stop. I love you, and I meant it," Serena confirms, but that was the thing, she is still aiding Carter.

"Yes, Archibald, she loves you," Carter pushed Serena's helping hands away. "What she felt for me right now is just guilt." Carter looked straight into Serena's eyes. "Pure guilt. Isn't that right, Serena?"

Nate was waiting for Serena to deny it, but her silence made him question her.

Carter stood up, laughing even more. "If only we have Blair with us!"


"Okay, don't freak Humphrey," Dan said as he looked up to Blair's penthouse. He stood in front of the lobby for about 5 minutes, calming his nerves. "Don't freak, just act cool, and pleasant and…"

"Sir, are you coming in?" the doorman asked.

"Um, yeah," Dan nodded and almost rushed in. But he stopped in front of the elevator. "But you know what, I think I need a few minutes to myself down here, you know before I go up."

"Mr. Humphrey right?" the doorman asks and Dan nods. "She usually doesn't bite."

"What do you mean usually?" Dan laughs, surprised that this small word had calmed him. "I'm going up."

And there he was, standing in the foyer, looking straight to a plump maid, smiling at him. "You must be Mr. Daniel!"

"Uh yes, you are?"

"Dorota!" Blair's voice echoes from the kitchen. "If you would please come in here and help me! Don't just mess around!"

"Ah yes, Miss Blair is preparing food. Mr. Daniel is early," Dorota smiles. Dan wonders, where did he hear that name before. Blair never mentioned her, but it seems like she did. Dorota was on her way back to the kitchen when Dan stopped her.

"Hey, maybe you should take the rest of the day off," Dan suggested.

"No, I have to help Miss Blair with cooking, then I can go."

"I'll help Blair with cooking, so you can go," Dan assured her. She gave a frown. "I'm pretty sure I'm a better cook than her last boyfriend so don't worry." He felt a little awkward using the boyfriend thing because nothing was official between them yet.

With that, Dorota nods and left. Dan walks slowly into the kitchen, and he liked what he saw. Blair in this really fancy dress, with an apron on, stirring the pot. She had her hair into a bun and instead of wearing those killer heels, she's wearing slippers. Dan tried not to laugh when she called Dorota yet again. "Dorota!"

"She went home," Dan spoke softly and Blair could only freeze on whatever she was doing. "You need help?" With this Blair looked around and sees the Brooklyn boy smirking while leaning on the door frame.

"You're early."

"I tried to be late but that's not really me," Dan walks into kitchen but Blair stops him and pushed him into the dining area. "Blair?"

"You, be a good boy and sit here," Blair pulls a chair and had him sit there. "You are my guest, and even if your Brooklyn ways have guests cooking with the host, I'm an Upper East Side lady and we don't do that." Blair gave a quick kiss on his cheek before she ran back into the kitchen, leaving Dan kind of stunned.

He shakes his head and smiles, looking around the penthouse. It is grander than he thought. He had went to a few penthouses for his magazine but he only took details in on Blair's, for the obvious reasons. He felt that every inch of this house had a Blair flare in it. The sofa, the curtains, even the vase.

His phone vibrated and he opens it. Carter texted him. "You're at the Waldorf's?"

Dan shakes his head. "Yeah, why?" he texted back, but Carter never texted him back.

"It's done!" Blair entered the dining area with her dish, and she puts it in front of him. A whole pie of it. It was beautiful and brown, plus it smells fantastic. Dan looks at the girl who smiled giddily at him. He couldn't help it but smile back.

"I thought we're going to eat those fine cuisine things," he said sarcastically and Blair nudged him for that.

"I may be a princess of all kind but I still love homemade food!" Blair pouted. Dan had to strain himself to kiss her. "Besides, I only make this for special people so be flattered."

Dan chuckled and took the fork and has his first bite. It was good, it was really good. He took another bite and then he scooped one for Blair. "You should eat to you know. You're too skinny."

Blair smiled devilishly at this, she knew she should just wait until he finished the dish. She already ate but Dan makes her hungry. Slowly, Blair opened her mouth and sensually bite the pie off the fork. She can feel Dan's eyes on her and she can feel his sudden tense. If it is one thing she learned after she broke up with Nate, being sensual.

"Um Blair," Dan gulped.

"Yeah?" she said innocently.

"I know that you think you're sexy, and I do know that you're sexy as hell, but I'm kind of starving right now that it beats any of me wanting you," Dan laughed as Blair could only smack his arm twice.

"Humphrey, you completely ruin the mood!"

"I don't want a grumbled stomach okay," Dan said, biting another big scoop of the pie. He could only grin at her, which she grins back. "By the way, Joseph Beuys Exhibition is this coming next week." Blair perks up.

"You are such a boy. How could you go to that when the Degaz is about to close at the Morgan's?" Blair frowns.

"You are such a girl. Frilly dresses and tutus are not my idea of art," he rolls his eyes.

"Fashion, is the most powerful art there is. Its movement, design and architecture all in one," Blair ignores Dan's eye roll. "It shows the world who we are and who want to be. Just like," Blair stares at Dan, even if he is extremely handsome, his fashion sense is at zero. "Your scarf said that you would like to sell used cars."

"Vanessa gave me this scarf," Dan looked at the scarf. It wasn't that bad, like how t-shirts from tacky concerts weren't bad for him.

"And I admire her fashion senses, but I am not going to lie if you have a bad wardrobe," Blair challenged.

"You're not going to invade my loft one day and change everything are you?" Dan laughs at his own question.

"I might. Consider it a favor," and now only she realized that she had pushed herself closer to him, vice versa. It was like whenever they were in a conversation, they are in their own bubble of Dan and Blair's world. They bicker but that is only the surface. He listens, and she was listening back. They were connecting not in the level of sexual encounters or lust, it was just pure effective conversation. They disagreed, sometimes they agreed, but the most important part for Blair is, he listens.

"Joseph Beuys will be amazing. Trust me. I'll make you a deal. If you go to the exhibition, I'll go to Morgan's. I will wear my most fashionable attire," Dan smirks and Blair didn't buy that last statement.

"Okay, I want to add something to that," Blair smiled. "I'll decide on what you wear."

"Blair…"

"What, I need more than you in your jeans and hipster tee beside me," Blair grins.

"Fine," Dan sighs and Blair literally jumped up and down.

Dan finished his pie, every single crust of it. It wasn't because Blair made it to be honest, but because he was really hungry. Dan could throw down anything in his system and still looking lean. Jenny complained that it wasn't fair Dan got that gene while she was stuck with chubby.

Blair smiles, seeing the guy in front of her dining her favorite dish with the wine she chose. Dan looks at her now, moving an inch near her. Unlike before, Blair welcomed this, because she can't resist anymore of Dan Humphrey. Dan stopped halfway, smiling. "Miss Waldorf, may I selfishly steal a kiss from you?"

Blair melted. He didn't know his effect on her. "You may, Mr. Humphrey."

Dan leaned in and within the touch, he's still smiling. One kiss, two kiss and Blair wraps her arm around Dan's neck. The 3 seconds of parting only filled with giggles, and Blair thought she never felt this way before. The feeling of enjoying every single second they have with each other. Dan held her, and in a way, he was very careful. He felt as if she was a really fragile thing. Dan couldn't stop smiling when they stop for another breath. She smiled back.

"You taste like pie," Blair's breathing was still uneven.

"You taste like cherry," Dan took her lips once more.

"It is a brand new lip gloss," Blair huffed. "And it is very expensive."

"Well, I guess I shouldn't touch that all the time," Dan pulled away only to drop kisses on her neck. It was mere pecks but she felt every inch of hot and heavy inside her. Her hands dropped from his chest to his buttons, where carefully, she pulled one by one. It was easier this time since she basically had her parents in France and he had sent Dorota for a leave. So obviously no one could interrupt them .

That was what she thought.

"Hey Blair!" they heard Carter's voice through the foyer.

"I can't believe this," Dan murmured. "He was gone for 6 freaking months and decided to come back now to ruin my life."

Blair was cautious, as the promise Serena make doesn't seem so secure anymore. She looks at Dan, who walks into the foyer. She can't seem to make any move. She's losing him.

"Carter?" Dan called and was surprised to see Nate and Serena with him.

"Where's Blair?" Carter looks like a drunk man now, his eyes were bulging and he seems like he can burst any time. "Blair!"

"Calm the fuck down!" Dan stood in front of him. "You're acting insane. What's going on?" He looked from Carter to Nate and Serena. Serena was scared.

"What's going on is that these two sly foxes of the Upper East Side besties, had ruined my life. And I'm here just to save your fucking life man," Carter raised his hand.

"Okay, you're absolutely crazy," Dan took Carter by the arm and looks at Nate for help. "Nate, can you help me bring Carter out of here."

Nate stayed silent before answering. "No," Dan was surprised by the sudden outcome. "I need to know what Serena never told me." Serena looked down sadly.

"What? Oh geez. Carter, come on…"

"Dan," he heard Blair's voice coming through the foyer. "Just let him stay."

"Ah, here comes Miss Waldorf!" Carter pulled his arm off Dan's grip. "Now, blondie over there doesn't have the guts to tell so why don't you? You're usually the ballsy one Waldorf."

"Just shut up, Carter," Blair silenced him. Blair looked carefully into Dan's eyes, and she decided if Dan wants her, Dan needs to accept her as who she is. A self manipulating bitch. "Dan, just promise me we'll talk after this, okay."

"Okay," even with this answer, Dan wasn't sure what was the uneasy feeling in his stomach was.

"In our junior year in high school, Serena was known to be a huge junkie. Basically, everything Damien Dalgaard had sold to Constance, she had tried," Blair started and Serena could only look down. "Then her mom knew, so she cut off her trust fund, and you can't get supplies without money. So she went to Carter."

Dan looked at Carter, who is just listening back the moments that killed him.

"Carter was crazy about Serena so that wasn't a problem. He would give the world to Serena I would say," Blair looks carefully from Serena to Nate. The golden boy looked tense. "But I don't like that Serena so I decided to scheme against Carter. I managed to run a rumor about how Carter was a drug addict himself, since his family was well influenced, they don't want that at all.

"So I traded a way to end the rumor I made myself to Carter leaving Serena alone," Blair looked at Dan, who stood there motionless. "He did."

"I sure did," Carter stared at her.

"But the Serena told me you came back when we were in our senior year, and Serena told me how you approached her with the idea of going down like before and in my eyes, I can't see why she wouldn't say yes to you," Blair said, and Carter raised his brows. "You came to take Serena back into that world and I know that if I used the old trick, you'll just come back." Carter looked at Serena, who is still looking down.

"So I did what I have to do, I banished Carter Baizen from the Upper East Side. I knew his father wouldn't agree to have his son as a heroin addict, but then they have treatment center or that. Buthaving his son had drugged another girl at his own house, let alone a Van Der Woodsen, was the perfect plan at the time for Carter to lose his trust funds. So I planned a scheme, tossing feed that Carter had drugged Serena. I even paid the doctors for false reports on abuse. To be honest when you went away, I felt more secured because Serena would be safe."

Nate looked at Blair in disbelief.

"Nate, I'm…" Serena couldn't utter a word as Nate stared at her, questioning her too.

"You know what, I think I heard enough," Nate stepped away from her. He looked at Blair. "I need to be alone, I'll see you later." Serena pleaded but Nate could only shrug her off. With that, Nate left.

Blair tried to look at Dan, who is still looking at Carter with an expression she couldn't read off him. Carter noticed too, and in a second, he pulled Blair with him into the dining room. Dan wanted to follow but Carter stopped him, "Stay Humphrey. I need to talk to her."

Carter looked at Blair with his brows arched up. "You're really good Waldorf, I never knew you could pull that kind of shit, trying to be a victim of your own mistakes and all."

"What are you talking about?" Blair took one of the stools and sat down.

"I came to take Serena back? What the fuck was that?"

"You did, Serena told me herself you were pestering her when you came back, I know it will only be awhile until she begs you to give more drugs," Blair looked at Carter straight in the eye. She wasn't lying.

"You got it all wrong. Serena, she c…" suddenly, it all went down clear to him. Everyone was trapped. Everyone was entangled by lies. "Shit Waldorf, shit. I'm so sorry."

"What do you mean?"

"No, I mean, I told Dan you were a snake of the Upper East Side, when you were just the puppet," Carter stood up and walked back into the foyer. Dan was gone. Blair followed suit. "I'm sorry Blair. I didn't know you were just the cleaning process."


Dan walks around the city, figuring out what he was about to do. Everything were jumbling in his head and he felt that he want to crack it open and just throw all the bad stuff. But of course, he couldn't. Those things plagued in his mind. He was still in the Upper East Side, shoving himself to the rich crowd. He looked at the streets and saw a little girl in her tutu. "Degaz." That date, he isn't even sure whether that will still be on.

Dan had never felt that he was in this situation since Vanessa, and the only person he turned to is really the only one he wanted to ignore now. But he felt he had no other choice. He took his phone out and dialed a number.

"Hey dad. Can we talk?"


Rufus was glad Dan had called him. It has been awhile. Dan came over to the Van Der Woodsen's penthouse and saw his dad smiling genuinely. It was when Dan realized he needs his dad more than ever now. Dan stayed silence when he sat in front of Rufus. He wasn't exactly sure how to start.

"Dan? Is everything okay?" Rufus tried.

Dan looked down and took a deep breath. "Dad, am I a horrible person?"

Rufus was surprised by the sudden outcome. "No Dan, I think you are wonderful."

"That seems strange," Dan shook his head. "I like this one girl, and she has flaws that beats every single Kardashian drama. But…"

"But what?"

"Just now, she told me that she had tried to destroy a man's life, scheming is like her nature and how she even had that man banished from his own family, or ran away anyway," Dan stopped for a bit before answering. "But I still like her, a lot."

"Then what should be the problem?"

"I can accept who she is, every part of her because she is amazing. But will she?" Dan looked into Rufus' eyes, searching for answers. "Would she be with a guy who goes undercover for a scandalous article about a good man?"

"The Bart Bass case?" Rufus asked, and Dan nods. "Son, you know Bart doesn't blame you for doing that."

"I know, but still… She wants a prince, I can't give her a toad," Dan looks down again.

Rufus holds Dan's shoulder, and God he felt good doing that. "Dan, you have to believe in yourself again. I know maybe I shouldn't say this since I'm the one to be blamed, but Vanessa did. I believe this girl also, so you should too."

Dan looked up and see a familiar face. His dad, only him. No shadows of Vanessa's dead body on him. It was only the parent who took care of him since he was born. Dan smiled to Rufus, finally not feeling a burden doing it.


Blair sat on her bed. Confused was an underestimation. She felt kind of lost. Everything happened so fast, from everything being perfect to a perfect disaster. Blair snuggled in her blanket, wondering if Dan would ever show up again. She just revealed her worst instinct, her devilish side that made Chuck seemed like a saint.

Blair closed her eyes, trying to sleep off the tiredness, but she can't. She's thinking of just going across Brooklyn, hear him judge her, because it was better to have a reaction than to have none. Blair is not a very patient person. She rustled in her bed, ignoring anything around her. But the elevator sound brought her up. Blair literally ran down the stairs.

"Dan?" she hoped, really hoped. It was him, smiling in his crooked smile, now standing in her foyer. "Hey."

"Hey," Dan didn't know where to start, so he just blurts out the first thing that enters his mind. "Do you have any more pie?"

Blair only chuckled, shaking her head. "We have sandwiches though."

"That will do," Dan stared at Blair walking down the stairs into the kitchen, rumbling through the fridge. Dan followed, and he wanted to hit himself. He was here for something else, not to eat. "Hey um, can we talk?"

Blair looked back, a worried expression washed over her. "Yeah, we promise we did," Blair took out a plate for the wrapped sandwich. "If you wanted to eat first, that's fine with me. I'll be in the…" Dan pulled Blair's hand before she could leave.

"Can you just sit here with me?" Dan pulled her to the stool beside him. "I liked this space."

Blair smiled, remembering what happened several hours before.

"You don't want this?" Dan asks while he munches through a sandwich. Blair chuckled at how he can eat and not cause a fat at all.

"No thank you, I don't do supper," Blair looks at him, just like before when he ate the pie.

"Your loss."

"I don't understand how you can stuff all that thing in your face?"

"I don't understand how you could not."

Silence interrupted them, but it was comfortable, serene. Blair loves it. The feeling of just being with someone.

"Where did you go for elementary school? I know you go to St. Judes in high school," she starts.

"Where you and Serena did," Dan sees a shocked Blair beside him. "Yeah, I remembered that one time where only Serena never makes fun of me for coming from Brooklyn."

"Serena?" now a hint of jealousy for Vanessa before matures into an obvious competition with Serena. "You remembered Serena."

"Yeah, I kind of used to have this huge crush on her, which is really weird now since she's going to be my step sister," Dan finishes his sandwich, not noticing that Blair reverts any eye contact with him. "I didn't remember you though. I've seen pictures of you and Serena when you're a kid at Lily's but I don't think I remembered you." And that makes everything hurts more.

"Sure. Because whenever Serena is around, no one could even recognize themselves," Blair bites. Of course everyone loves Serena.

"I do remember you in high school. You made a hell of impression," Dan laughs and Blair kind of perks up.

"I know. I'm the bitch in Constance who ruined everybody's life," Blair sighs. "Even your best friend's."

"No, you are an evil dictator, who seemed to have this really high taste. You're an evil dictator of taste," Dan concludes and it doesn't sound that bad in Blair's ears. "I know that since there was once you asked, no, ordered me to kill off my army jacket."

"I did that?" now Blair feels hypocrisy all over because while Dan didn't remember her during elementary school, she doesn't remember him during high school. "I never remembered that."

"Well, no one remembers me in high school, so you're not alone," Dan smiles. "I wouldn't want to relieve high school anymore, college, maybe."

"Wait a minute, relieving your college years? Does this have to do with anything about you writing those filthy articles about us?" Blair tries to hide her knowing grin.

"Yeah," Dan shoves his fingers through his hair, forgetting that Blair knew that. And she didn't flip out about it too. "Did you know I slept with a teacher too?"

"Excuse me?" Blair was shocked.

"You know the English Lit Teacher, Miss Carr?" Dan asked, and Blair remembered it clear. "Yeah, her."

"I can't believe it, you're in the Mrs. Robinson case!" Blair remembered how everyone tried to figure out who the teacher and the boy was, even Gossip Girl was searching. She grins at how Dan wasn't really a good boy material in high school.

"Yeah," Dan looked down.

"Dan Humphrey," Blair starts, still grinning. "You're dirty."

"Yeah, what about you Miss Evil Dictator of Taste?" Dan nudges her. "Do you want to relieve college years?"

"No, I may be best in my studies now, but there is no chance in hell I'm going through such stress again. I'm on my last semester after the break, and then, no more," Blair played with Dan's hand, absent mindedly. "But I want to go back to my childhood, if it's possible."

"Why? You miss your rainbows and ponies?" Dan teased and Blair rolled her eyes.

"Well, first, my childhood was the best time of my life. I had a great prince as a boyfriend, my best friend is Serena, my parents were still together, happy, and my problems were only on what to wear when I marry my boyfriend," Blair smiles at her memory. "I know it is impossible but I always had this small wish that I could relinquish my childhood again even for a little."

"I'm sorry to bring this up but Chuck Bass is anything but prince material."

"No, stupid. Chuck wasn't my boyfriend at the time. Nate was."

"Nate as in Nate Archibald who is Serena's boyfriend now?" Dan now knows, that Blair's life is even weirder that he first accounted.

"Yes. That Nate. I believed we were the perfect couple. We even set on Yale together since forever. But then, Serena, the old Serena who had a few drinking problems slept with Nate who is secretly in love with her," Blair recalls those surreal moments. "So after that I broke up with a prince and felt myself being inferior of anything related to Serena." She did not comment if she still does.

"Okay. And your parents?"

"Are very happy with their respective partners now. When they got a divorce I admit I almost wanted to run into a circus, find a clown and join him on his adventure," Blair laughs a little. "I didn't understand before that they weren't happy. When dad decided that he needs to go away with his partner then it got to me that everything I painted would be ruined."

"Hold it. When you say your dad needs to go way with his partner…"

"Yes, Dan. He's homosexual."

"Right," it went from weird to 'I can't believe this shit exists'. "And you said something about problems?"

"Well, since dad was gone, I wanted to turn to Nate, but Nate acts as if it was nothing but on his behalf, he had his own parents to worry at the time. Then I looked for Serena but she went off to boarding school to sober up after the whole Carter debacle. I was completely alone so I uh…" Blair stops and looks at Dan, finally reaching his eyes. Somehow it gives her the courage to speak about her past. "I threw up."

"You threw up?" Dan is not caching things.

"As in forcing myself to throw up," Blair explains, reverting her eyes from his as she is scared that he will judge her.

"So, you were bulimic?" Dan asks and Blair slowly nods. "Do you still…"

"No. When I was with Chuck, he had me go to different psychiatrist for help. And it worked, my confidence boosted bit by bit and I didn't threw up anymore. And you know the rest," Blair looks away.

"Blair, do you want those days back?" Dan asks and Blair looks at him, smiling. The she shakes her head.

"No. I know now that my father loves a man, and there is nothing you can do if someone is in love, true love. What he and his partner Roman have are wonderful. Mom and Cyrus are a weird combination, but he is what's best for her. And look at Nate and Serena, I haven't seen any happier couple in my life. I'm just saying, if someone gave me a chance to live that day again, to feel that type of happiness of a 10 year old before her teen bulimic problems, I would. Because even on my happy days with Chuck, I never really felt that kind of happiness anymore," Blair smiles.

Dan looks at her, genuinely attaching all the beauty in the world on her, because she is just that, beautiful. He carefully places his hand on top of her and he can feel her body stiffen on his gesture. He slowly took her hand into his and bends his head, planting a soft kiss on her wrist. He slowly looks up and capture her eyes with his, locking it.

"I don't know if I could, but please let me try," Dan slowly whispers.

"Dan, what are you talking about?"

"Just let me try, to make you happy," Dan looks at her eyes, hopeful.

Blair's breathe hitches. With Nate she had to signal him, with Chuck she had to beg, but here, Dan Humphrey was asking her permission to make her happy. Blair's voice stuck in her throat, but her tears drops slowly. Dan makes the same gesture he did before, he wipes it off, as if it was his job. He cups her face, resting his forehead on hers, but he didn't have to lean in as she did when she pulls his neck so his lips crushes hers.

With a simple laugh that escaped both, they are an official couple. But Dan had forgotten his mission to reveal his own 'snake' self. After all, Blair Waldorf does have this pull that makes everything goes away.


Serena walked into her penthouse, not really surprised to see Carter there. In fact she was expecting him.

"You should fire the security. They let me in so easily," Carter looked around. "I could have stolen a vase or some weed while I'm here."

"I don't take those anymore, Carter," Serena stands with her head tall, and it bothers Carter.

"You know, I thought that Blair was the one who never cared about others, and weirdly I thought she is one of the people you cared about the most," Carter looked straight at Serena. "But now I see that, Serena Van Der Woodsen had put all of the blame on her best friend. Serena Van Der Woodsen, had screwed her own best friend."

Serena looked down, she couldn't utter a cry.

"I know Blair, she wouldn't just scheme against people, not without a certain reason anyway," Carter continued, standing near her. "What did you tell her to lead her on? Did you tell her…"

"Yes! I leaded Blair to believe that you're the cause of my problems!" Serena yelled suddenly. "I also told her that I wasn't taking anymore when I was! But you're no better yourself! I asked for your help, Carter, and you bailed."

"Your problem is your own. I never did come back for you, in fact I respected your privacy enough that I would stay away from you forever. But you came to me, begging for money to buy some substance," Carter stood just an inch across her. "Did you lie to your best friend because you wanted revenge? Because I don't give in to you anymore?"

Serena looked up to Carter's raging eyes. "Yes."


To Be Continued

How was that? Haha, Carter is not a bad guy, he just got caught up with a bad situation. And Serena is not a bad girl either. She's also caught up with her situation.

Dair – I hate fluffy romance so everything about Dair have to fun in this fic, well mostly that is,