First of all, I want to apologize to, you the reader, since this update is longlonglong overdue. I don't have any good excuses; sometimes life just gets in the way. This chapter is mostly a good-faith teaser, a promise that I haven't deserted this story (and all of you!). I'm graduating in a month and then I foresee a summer full of Chair. I've even started brainstorming for my second story, which elaborates on the Royalty theme seen here. A million thanks (and love and cookies and puppies) to all of you who still bother to read (and review!).
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"You, if you were sensible,
When I tell you the stars flash signals, each one dreadful,
You would not turn and answer me
'The night is wonderful.'"
---D.H. Lawrence
"In 1525, as Henry grew more impatient, he became enamored with a charismatic young woman in the Queen's entourage, Anne Boleyn. Anne at first resisted his attempts to seduce her, and refused to become his mistress as her sister Mary Boleyn had. She said 'I beseech your highness most earnestly to desist, and to this my answer in good part. I would rather lose my life than my honesty.' This refusal made Henry even more attracted, and he pursued her relentlessly." Dr. Radcliff droned.
Blair was sitting in AP Euro, ignoring the fact that Penelope was obviously trying to catch her eye by pretending to listen to the lecture on the Tudors. Although, personally, she felt she could learn everything worth knowing by watching Jonathan Rhys Meyers on Showtime. Penelope coughed obnoxiously in an effort to draw her attention, but Blair simply inched further forward in her seat, resting her chin in her hands; the leech was looking for dirt. Over the past couple of days, the Dan-Serena breakup had made history by remaining uncharacteristically under the radar. Facts about the couple's demise were almost impossible to come by, and for some reason Penelope seemed to think Blair might want to reclaim her Queen Bee status by dishing details. Former minions, Blair mentally shook her head, they were so pathetically clueless. So far, she'd kept to her original dinner declaration, swearing off the girls of the steps, and honestly she didn't miss them. With Serena for company, and Chuck for entertainment, her social life remained first class; she was simply carrying less baggage. Besides, if she really wanted someone to do her bidding, there was always Jenny Humphrey.
On the subject of Humphries, it had been less than a week since she'd left her best friend's apartment, her stomach full of grilled cheese and her heart heavy with borrowed grief and phantom pain. Watching Serena suffer had dragged up feelings Blair had worked so hard to bury. Rather than analyze her emotions, she'd taken, once again, to avoiding Chuck. Trying to distract both S and herself, she arranged a whirlwind agenda full of shopping excursions, club openings, and various charity events. Yet her efforts had only been partially successful. She discovered she had a talent for evasion, but staying away from Chuck seemed to further dampen her spirits rather than revive them. Sure, she smiled for Serena's sake, because one of them had to be strong and it was definitely her turn, but after seven days without an impious smile or double-entendre her resolve was wavering. She was tired of trying to stay away from him.
"At 8 a.m. on May 19, 1536, the queen was executed on Tower Green. She knelt upright, in the French style of executions. The death sentence was carried out swiftly and consisted of a single stroke," the teacher's voice broke through Blair's mental dialogue.
Penelope wrinkled her nose in distaste and exclaimed, "How dreadful. They shared a burning, passionate love, and when it was over he had her head chopped off."
Blair raised her hand, "Maybe its better that way, she didn't have to live with the pain of rejection."
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Chuck was at his locker when he saw her coming out of her history classroom talking to Nate, her hand on his arm. Chuck swallowed uncomfortably at their intimate contact. He'd been sneaking around the apartment lately, avoiding Blair since their awkward last meal. So far, he'd been wildly successful. Perhaps, if this whole thing with the board went down the drain, he would consider a career in espionage. After all, he looked damn good in a fedora, but it wasn't just great accessories that had him contemplating a life in mysterious solitude.
Watching that Brooklynite destroy Serena had reinforced his suspicions that rekindled romances often went sour. No matter how hard she tried to pretend otherwise, Chuck knew things with Blair had been escalating lately. Spending the past few weeks with her had been fantastic, even when she made him suffer, but getting close to her again was dangerous for both of them. He knew that if they hadn't been interrupted by Serena's phone call, things in his bedroom would have progressed, maybe too far. It wasn't that he didn't want to sleep with Blair. Hell, he got hard just watching her mouth move, but what if they regretted it afterwards? He couldn't stand it if he lost her all over again.
Despite her new "sex a la carte" attitude, he doubted either of them would be able to walk away the morning after acting like nothing had changed. Even scarier was the thought that maybe she could. If they weren't a couple, he'd have to continue watching her date other guys, and his last conversation with Nate had left him particularly unsettled. What if dear Nathanial decided he wanted to rebound with his ex? What if Blair let him?! Humphrey's repressed love was a ticking time bomb, and Chuck had few doubts that Punky Brewster would refuse her girlhood dream hunk. Nathanial could be back on the market at any moment. He ground his teeth together as he continued to observe their exchange. When it was over, Nate kissed her cheek in parting.
She was heading toward him, which meant that if he wanted to remain incognito he should amscray (see, he already had the private eye lingo down pat), but God, he missed her. He could forgo drugs and drink without much struggle. Blair Waldorf was his addiction. His very worst vice, it was her absence that left him shaking and sweaty, and not in the good way. Chuck was surprised when she caught his eye and held his gaze. He cocked his head questioningly and she strolled closer.
"Plotting you're next conquest?" he asked, gesturing to Nate's retreating back and trying to keep the twinge of jealousy out of his tone.
Blair followed the line of his eyes and let out a little laugh, "Hardly."
An awkward silence loomed.
Chuck decided to nip the problem in the bud.
"I haven't heard from you in a few days. I was beginning to think you'd abandoned your tutelage," he accused her, knowing full well the avoidance had his doing.
"I've just been busy planning the final stages" she fibbed easily. "Besides, it's only been three weeks, Bass. I hope you didn't think you were going to get off easy," she smiled iniquitously.
"On the contrary, Waldorf. Make me work for it," he leered, leaning in to invade her personal space.
"You're vile," she complained, shoving him away but grinning despite herself.
"And you've missed me," he shut his locker and took her books from her arms.
She rolled her eyes at the gesture, but let him walk her outside.
"Please," Blair scoffed.
"I love it when you beg me," he brought his hand to his heart and looked heavenward.
"In your dreams," she sneered, letting him open the door to his limo for her.
"Every night," he agreed, sliding his tongue behind his teeth suggestively before joining her in the back seat.
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Gossip Girl Post
3:15pm
You know they say, where there's smoke, there's fire, but on the UES, it hard to recognize a false alarm. So what's the deal? With the ashes of S and D's relationship still smoldering, are two more notorious former flames reigniting their passion, or merely blowing off steam? We know C has always carried a torch for B, but has her recent romance with a certain tennis star left him heated? Careful B, playing with matches, a girl can get burned.
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