*Four weeks had passed since Blair had visited Dan's dorm room and received unexpected news. Sure she possessed feelings for him, but she sure as hell didn't think that it was love. For Humphrey to confess that he was "in love" with her… well the thought made her slightly ill. The whole situation was too much for her to process. She had spent one god awful night with him a few months prior and now she was hearing the three words she dreaded hearing. I love you. Maybe if Chuck Bass wouldn't have messed her up emotionally she wouldn't be so afraid.

Blair and Carmella exited the auditorium, thankful that their psychology class was finally over. The two started on their way toward the dorm room they shared. Since they became roommates they were inseparable. With Serena at Brown and Nate at Princeton, it was about time she made some new friends. Carmella de Lorme was the answer to her problems. She was a lot like Serena look wise but her personality was much different. She was much more down to earth, she was capable of doing anything without regretting it later. Born and raised in Seattle she was much more liberal. Sometimes it drove Blair crazy, like the way she left her clothes all over the place and had an interest in collecting abstract art, but overall Carmella was a breath of fresh air; exactly what she thought she needed.

"Hey B, I believe that we are in need of some good Thai food. What do you think?" her roommate raised her eye brows in her direction. Blair just pulled her coat around herself tighter and sighed. God this girl has way too much energy.

When Blair didn't answer right away, Carmella got in front of her and turned around. Blair rolled her eyes, frustrated with how much of a spaz her roommate was.

"Alright fine, we'll go. Just relax a little bit. I'm already tired from watching you prance around like an idiot all day."

Carmella just smiled and linked arms with her. The two girls started in the direction of the Thai restaurant that the blonde had recently become obsessed with.

The fall had come suddenly and temperatures around the campus had dropped in numbers increasingly, everyone found themselves wrapped up in two jackets during the day and under five comforters at night. It didn't help that Carmella liked to sleep with the fan on. Cold made her feel at home. Things for once were actually perfect in the world of Blair Waldorf, despite the drama that involved Daniel Humphrey. She was just going to avoid him, in hopes that she would never have to deal with the "love" subject. There was no way in hell that she loved him. That was something Blair tried to remind herself every day; at least ten times.

After walking a few blocks outside of the NYU campus the girls reached the restaurant. It was a hole-in-wall but it was cute. Completely family owned and completely not something Blair would have been eating at just a few months earlier. A man opened the door for them and Carmella thanked him; Blair just made her way in. They sat down in a booth. Unfortunately over the past month they'd be there so much that they didn't even need menus.

"So the lecture today was ridiculous. I dozed off a few hundred times. It makes me want to count the days until quarters over and I won't have to put myself through that hell." Blair really adored her roommate but sometimes the small talk that was made drove her crazy.

"I completely agree. Majority of the time I find myself doodling to tune out his stupid voice."

Carmella laughed and nodded," trust me I don't think you're the only one. I noticed your phone was buzzing throughout the entire lecture today…"

Blair must not have noticed her phone while they were in class. She opened her purse and took out her phone. 3 missed texts.

She opened her inbox and scrolled through her new messages.

Did you read the interview of Chuck in Forbes? Please tell me it's not true. –S

There were two other similar texts from Nate and Cyrus. What were they talking about?

No I've been in class all day. What does it say? –B

Carmella noticed the concerned look on Blair's face. "B, what's wrong."

"I'm not really sure yet. I got these really strange messages from Serena and Nate telling me to read an interview Chuck gave. I don't know what they're talking about. Do you?"

The blonde shrugged. "I have no idea. Probably just damage control for his arrest."

She was probably right; it was some stupid publicity stunt he was trying to pull for more exposure for his company. "I guess we'll see. There might be a murder in my near future."

The two girls giggled but Carmella knew she was serious. She was well aware of the damage Chuck Bass had inflicted on her friend.

Blair's phone buzzed on the table. She looked at it with concern before picking it up.

B, Chuck told them that you're engaged. –S

There was a good five minutes of silence while Blair looked at her phone in horror. What the fuck did he Chuck do?

"Blair, what's wrong? What did Chuck say?"

Very carefully Blair set down her phone. She folded her hands on the table. As she made eye contact with her friend, Carmella noticed that she was starting to tear up. "Chuck told them in his interview that we're engaged."

The blonde slammed her menu down on the table. Her jaw dropped completely. "Please tell me that you're joking!"

Blair shrugged. "I don't know why he'd do that. They know that he was just arrested a few months ago for trying to hurt me. This is ridiculous, now everyone in New York is going to think that we're engaged." What is Dan going to think?

"We'll take care of it. You don't you need to worry about it." Carmella put her hand on Blair's for reassurance. She forced a smile to form on her lips. Always remember to smile, even if you feel like dying on the inside.

"Thanks, Carma. I hope you're right."

Their food arrived a few minutes later and they dug in. Carmella tried making small talk a few time but Blair just nodded her head. She wasn't in the mood to deal with anything; her mind was is a different place.


*Once the tab came Carmella paid it and the two started to make their way out of the restaurant. Blair kept her eyes down the entire time. Carmella kept her arm locked with hers.

The blonde nudged her upset friend. "Hey B, cute guy alert; look to your right."

Blair looked up. She immediately looked back down. Standing on the curb just a few feet away were Nate and Dan. Just what I need to deal with.

They two men waved at them. Blair continued to look down as Carmella gasped. "B, you know boys that are cute?"

"Keep walking," was all she could manage to say. Carmella had a puzzled look on her face as they walked past the two men.

"Blair, wait up!" Nate yelled as they ran over to them. Shit, shit, shit, shit.

The girls stopped walking as the two men approached. They stood in front of Blair. Nate smiled at her. They proceeded to hug. Dan looked down; she couldn't bring herself to look at him.

"It's really good to see you, Blair. Did you get my text?" Nate ran his hand through his hair. He's nervous. Carmella just stared at him; she for sure was into him.

"Yeah did you hear the news? You're engaged to Chuck Bass." Dan's voice dripped with bitterness. He should know that's not true.

"Oh shut up Brooklyn. Yes I got your text Nate. It's a complete sham. I hate him too much to spend the rest of my life with him." Nate laughed; he knew how true that statement is.

"Thought that's what you're looking for in a relationship; not being able to stand each other. Doesn't that make it even more magical?" Blair narrowed her eyes at him; she was really starting to hate him.

Nate and Carmella looked at the two like they were crazy. "Dan no need to be a jerk man. We all know how messed up Chuck is."

Carmella started laughing. "That's an understatement."

The two men turned their attention to her new roommate. They had no idea who she was. Nate pointed at her and smiled. "Sorry but I don't think I know who you are?"

Blair watched as she completely kept her cool. Any girl in her position would have at least blushed but she kept her composure. She was extremely unpredictable.

"No, I'm actually Blair's roommate. I'm Carmella, Carmella de Lorme. B forgot to mention that she had such handsome friends…" Carmella extended her hand. Nate took it and kissed it. The two looked at each other and couldn't stop smiling.

Blair and Dan looked at them in disgust. If they weren't allowed to be happy, no one's allowed to be happy.

"Alright well now that I'm about to barf, guys this is Carmella. Carma this is Dan Humphrey and Nate Archibald." At the mention of the first name Carmella looked like her eyes were going to fall out of their sockets.

"The Dan Humphrey?" Carmella tried to ask her as quietly as she could but the guys heard her anyway. As Blair started to blush, the other two looked at the blonde questioningly.

"Excuse me but what?" Dan gave her his famous furrowed eyebrows look.

"Oh nothing, I read a few pieces of yours. Blair has a few of them framed around the-" Blair shoved her elbow into her side.

"Carma's a huge lit fan; got to love them geeks."

The boys looked ridiculously confused. The blonde took the hint. "Yeah I'm a huge dork. In Seattle it's all the rage to you know… read?"

Dan wasn't buying it. "What the hell does she know about me Blair?"

While the two exchanged glares, Nate looked at them like they were insane. "Is there something I'm missing?"

They looked at Blair. She wasn't going to budge.

"Nope, there's nothing I have to say to you Dan. Carmella is just a fan. Those west coast girls love their literature."

His face dropped even more. He was hoping that she might FINALLY come clean but no such luck. "That's what I fucking thought."

Nate looked between the two with an extremely puzzled look. He was trying to figure out the issue going on between his best friend and his ex-girlfriend. "Dan, Blair, seriously what's going on?"

Blair just looked at the ground.

"Fine Blair, if you won't do the honors I will."

They all looked at the brunette. A tear fell down her cheek. "Please don't do this."

Nate's looked of confusion turned to anger. "Seriously Blair what's wrong?"

There was a moment of silence.

"The night that Chuck was arrested at the party-"

Blair looked him in the eyes; he wasn't going to back down. He was on a mission.

"Dan, please just stop."

"We spent the night together."

Nate raised an eyebrow. Carmella noticed the tension and stepped in. "Hey don't worry about it, I love sleepovers. My best friend growing up was a guy so we're even."

Blair tried to smile weakly but she couldn't.

"Did you guys- " Nate tried to ask but was interrupted by Dan's fury.

"Fuck? Yes, multiple times."

They all stood in silence for a few seconds until Carmella put her arm around Blair. "Come on, let's go."

Blair nodded.

Nate turned to his friend. "Is that true? It doesn't sound like something you two could do. You hate each other."

"It just happened. We've been trying to keep it a secret for a while but sometimes the dirty laundry needs to come out; especially in times of war." Dan's gaze met Blair's.

"Fuck you," was all Blair could manage to muster.

"No thanks, I've tried that already. Didn't work out like I thought it would. I'm sure your fiancé would love to try it out."

Nate watched as his best friend struggled with his emotions. He was trying to put her down, he was trying to hate her, but the look in his eyes proved that he didn't.

"Is that all you can do, make jokes about Chuck and I? Read my lips, there is nothing going on between the Basshole and myself. Hope you have a nice life by yourself, you fucking idiot."

Carmella gave a weak smile to Nate before walking away with Blair by her side.

As soon as they were out of ear-shot, Blair started bawling. "I fucking hate him."

The blonde nodded and pulled her friend closer. "I know you do. That was really uncalled for."

They walked for a few minutes in silence. Before they reached the door, Carmella turned to Blair.

"B, did it feel better at least to get in out in the open?"

"No."

Carmella laughed. "Figured that'd be your response."

"I fucking hate him."

"I know, you already mentioned that."


*Nate and Dan watched the two girls walk away. There were a few awkward seconds while they tried to think of something to say. Finally Dan turned to Nate. "Listen, I'm really sorry dude that was a little too much information for you guys. I guess there were just some things I've been meaning to say to her-"

"You mean scold her for." Dan looked down. "I know Blair probably better than any guy who has had feelings for her. You probably just dug yourself the biggest hole in the history of men. She's not like Serena; she won't want anything to do with you… ever."

For a moment Dan was hurt but then realized that Nate was just trying to be honest with him. Nate was trying to be his real friend.

"I just don't know what do with her. It was so amazing to be with her but now that she's choosing to be out of life I can't stand her. I certainly can't stand the thought of her and someone else. It makes it ten times more awful that it's Chuck."

"You realize that interview wasn't true, right? There is no way in hell that Blair would do that after he attacked her. She's the kind of girl that would be showing off her ring anyway. He just lied to get under her skin."

Just then it finally hit Dan that Nate was right. He had been wrong all along and had hurt the girl he cared for the most.

"Shit, this is repairable. I just don't understand why Chuck would do that to her."

Nate laughed. "You mean publically embarrass her? It's his signature to make himself look like an ass. I'm sure he just wanted to drive Blair out of the arms of some guy and right back into his."

He wanted to get her back. Dan didn't know if Chuck knew about them, but he was sure that he knew she had feelings for someone else.

"What do you mean?"

"Chuck wanted to mess with some poor guy's head. You know he mentioned your name in the article too dude."

Dan looked mortified. "What did he say?"

"That's the strangest part to me. He said that you're his best man."

After he heard that, Daniel Humphrey wanted to punch Chuck Bass's lights out… again.