Once Blair was gone and on her way to the Palace, Chuck went in his room and tried to sleep – but he couldn't. His mind raced from what happened between them back to Eric. It was a sleepless night for Chuck. Usually, when he couldn't sleep he would sneak in Blair's room and wake her up to just to piss her off. It amused him. And the next day, they would both feel like crap. Together. But now she was several blocks away. In the hotel he used to hate. Probably phoning her new blond friend. He had messed up, big time.
At the same time, Blair finally unpacked. At 2 am in the morning and she had lots of classes the next day that required concentration. Damn him. She got in the comfortable bed, ignoring the thoughts of what Chuck might have done with all those other girls in this very bed and fell asleep soon. It had been a long day. Too long, too exhausting. But there was always a tomorrow, right? At least, it couldn't get worse.
At 7 o'clock, two alarm clocks brought two persons rigid back in the reality they had created for themselves. For one, his surroundings looked the same but felt different, while for the other, her surroundings looked different but felt the same.
Blair got up and walked in the luxurious bathroom. She took a look around and sighed happily. Instead of taking a shower, she filled the huge tub with a fine bubble bath up to the brim. School could wait today. She finally understood why Chuck had enjoyed living here after all. She grinned to herself when she leaned back in the warm water, some tasteful classic music running in the background. Maybe school was not happening at all today. She wasn't in the mood anyway and here was no one to boss her into going. She would get in an Ivy anyway. One day missing wouldn't ruin that.
Meanwhile at the Waldorf-Basses.
Chuck wasn't even finished with his usual morning shower when already someone knocked on the door. "Yes?" Chuck called annoyed. "Charles, darling, your father and I are waiting to have family breakfast! Hurry!" Eleanor cheered. Chuck closed his eyes and sighed frustrated. Family breakfast? Since when had they family breakfast? The idea of having to bear Bart and Eleanor while eating breakfast made even the cold shower in the morning unnecessary. He wasn't even up for twenty minutes and this day was already crap.
He rolled his eyes when he went twenty minutes later in the dining room, seeing Bart and Eleanor smiling at each other.
"Good morning, Eleanor, Father." Chuck greeted as he sat down and poured himself some orange juice in a glass. Dorota was there but she didn't even glanced at him and he didn't want to push it.
"Good morning, son." Bart said sternly. "I just told Eleanor that I will take you to school today. We thought it's time for some new traditions."
"Taking me to school?" Chuck stated in disbelief. So he had to deal with all of this and school and to stay sober? Torture, he thought. "What about Blair? Are we going to pick her up too?"
"No. She'll walk. It's part of her punishment and also, the Snowflake Ball's coming up soon. Some working out will do her good." Eleanor reasoned and nodded happily.
"She's perfect." Chuck stated nonchalant.
"A woman can always be more perfect." Eleanor explained to him in a knows-it-all manner that annoyed Chuck to death.
"She. Is. Perfect." He pressed dangerously. His stern gaze met Eleanor's confused one. She opened her mouth to say something but Bart interrupted her.
"However, Eleanor, tell me about your business meeting today, dear." Bart changed the topic quickly. He frowned at his son though. Chuck stayed quiet and focused on his toast for the rest of the family breakfast.
After the more than awkward rest of the breakfast, Bart and Chuck went downstairs and got in their limo. Arthur closed the door behind them just like he always did when he picked them up.
"That was quite a morning." Bart sighed.
"It sure was. So we're going to play this each day now?" Chuck asked annoyed.
"I'd prefer it if you put some effort in it and wouldn't look at everything as a game." Bart said angrily.
"I am deeply sorry." Chuck returned sarcastically.
"We didn't get to have our talk the other day." Bart told him calmly a moment later.
"Well, it's not like that was our fault though." Chuck replied in a peace-offering voice.
"You're right. I still would love to explain a thing or two to you." Bart started awkwardly, obviously uncomfortable to talk about the things
"I'm listening." Chuck said in a supporting manner.
"It's not easy for me, so please be patient." Bart asked him and Chuck nodded. He focused on his father. Bart really seemed like being under pressure.
"When your mother got pregnant, we weren't the most happy couple….I loved her dearly but I'm not so sure that she felt the same. I really, really tried to make her happy but I guess, me, back then just Bart Bass the real estate agent wasn't enough for her. As you can see, it still hurts me to talk about that but it's true nonetheless. But once we found out about you, that she was having you, it got better. We had a really happy time back then, decorating the nursery and all…."
"And then I came along, killed her and you hate me for it. Just admit it." Chuck spat, he got angry without realizing it and now he finally, for the first time ever, he dared to speak it out loud what bothered his soul for many years. Chuck had to look out of the window so Bart wouldn't see his eyes watering up.
"No!" Bart leaned forward and caught his sons head in his hands, holding it firmly so Chuck had to face him. "Don't you ever say that again. I don't hate, I never hated you. I know I've never been the best father but I really want to make this right. Be a good father, for you and Blair, being a good husband for Eleanor. Chuck, I really care for you guys." Bart pressed and Chuck couldn't stop a single tear running down his cheek. Bart brushed it away with his thumb before Chuck leaned forward and Bart hugged him. Neither of them could remember when they had a family like situation like this before.
"Dad…I care for Blair." Chuck whispered after Bart had let him go and they sat back, cool façade back on.
"I know. And that's why I wanted to tell you about this. If you can truly promise me that you will do everything, EVERYTHING you can to make her happy, then you have my blessing. But if it's just a game to you, or a bet as I heard, then I ask you to stop it. Forever." Bart commanded.
"It's not. She's my everything." Chuck admitted, almost ashamed.
"Then try to make it right with her. And don't give up easily. It's usually worth the fight." Bart promised, putting a hand on Chuck's shoulder. Chuck smiled and nodded but didn't dare to meet his father's gaze. "We're here. Try to stay a whole day and go to all classes?" Bart asked hopefully.
"I'll try." Chuck smirked before he got out. His eyes roomed over the place, searching for Blair but she was nowhere to be seen. Her minions sat, as usual, on the steps. He decided to ask them.
"Hi Chuck!" Hazel greeted very happy from afar already. Obviously hoping that Chuck would come to talk to her. Foolish girl.
"Have you seen Blair?" Chuck asked, not even looking at Hazel.
"Nope, have you?" Kati returned haughtily.
Chuck rolled his eyes and walked away. Maybe he'd find Blair inside.
"He didn't even say hello." Hazel pouted as she watched him go.
"Hazel, stop it. How many times do we have to tell you this? It's not going to happen." Iz said sternly. Hazel pouted even more.
"You know who's also missing? Nate Archibald. Usually his father's towncar brings him at the exact same time. This morning, he's nowhere to be seen. Coincidence?" Emma asked with a huge grin on her face.
"You don't actually think…" Kati chuckled.
"Let's find out." Iz took her phone and started to write a message.
Spotted: Chuck looking for his stepsister who's MIA. You know who's also MIA? That's right, her last night's date Nate Archibald. Did our most beloved virgin Queen and our new Lacrosse King get it on last night and decided to stay in today? If so, this would be the most juicy scoop in a while. Keep me posted! xoxo, GossipGirl
Suite 1812. Twenty minutes later.
Chuck knocked on the door and made sure to lean away from it right after. He didn't want Blair to see him and not open the door.
Blair looked through the viewer but didn't see anyone. She put the chain in place and opened the door. She had ordered breakfast but doubted that the servant would hide.
"Come on, Waldorf, this is a five star plus hotel, you don't have to be afraid of criminals in here." Chuck chuckled from his point next to the door.
"Only of creepers like you, right?" Blair snarled annoyed in return.
"Let me in?" It was more of a command than a question. Blair held eye contact to him and didn't move. "Please." Chuck whispered.
Blair closed the door, removed the chain slowly and opened the door, walking away from it. Chuck stepped in quickly and took a careful look around.
"Are you looking for something?" Blair mocked. "Or rather someone?"
"Please." Chuck smirked but Blair could see through his façade.
"So you're jealous. You actually came here because of that GossipGirl blast?" Blair laughed.
"Well, one can never be sure with you." Chuck stated with a serious face.
Blair scoffed. "How dare you. And even if I'd amused Nate here last night, it wouldn't be your business anymore." her eyes fell from his "Not after what you did yesterday." she added obviously hurt. She started to put her shoes on and was thankful that she got dressed already before.
"You'll always be mine. If you want to or not." Chuck said in a low voice, it almost sounded like a threat.
"We'll see about that!" Blair snapped as she exited the suite. She pretended to be brave, braver than ever before. And damn, it was necessary to pretend. Otherwise he'd won already. And she hated to lose just as much as he did. And this was nothing but a game. Sometimes it felt otherwise but she couldn't let Chuck break her heart. It was the only thing she had left.
How foolish for her to think that she still had it. She'd lost it a long while ago to him. Underneath it all she even knew it, she was just not brave enough to admit it yet.
When she reached the lobby, she remembered that she couldn't go home or to school. Home would lead to even more pointless discussions than school right now. And she wasn't in the mood for that right now.
"Blair!" his voice sounded a second later above, Chuck had took the staircase and was quite fast.
Blair turned around and saw him but shook her head and left the front door quickly. She saw Bart's towncar in front of the building and walked over to it quickly.
"Max, bring me to the Archibald house." she told the driver quickly.
"But Miss Waldorf. Mr. Bass ordered me here strictly to get quicker through the traffic. The limo would only slow us." Max protested. Blair watched Chuck coming closer. She opened her purse and took a bundle of hundreds out.
"Here, early Christmas bonus. Now go." Blair ordered. Max took the money and drove off.
Chuck cursed loudly when he tried to catch the handle of the door of the car but missed it.
Blair reached Nate's house 30 mins later. She knew he wasn't at school. Not only from the GossipGirl blast but also because he had told her that his mother wanted him to take the SATs early. But the took only took three hours in the morning, so he should be at home by now. The car stopped in front of the pompous pre-war building.
Blair rang the bell and a housemaid opened her.
"Hello, I'm Blair, I came to see Nate." she smiled. The maid nodded and led her inside. She told her to go upstairs and then the right door. She also told Blair, that Nate wasn't alone but some of his lacrosse team mates who also took the SATs early were with him.
That annoyed and comfort Blair at the same time. She didn't really want to be alone with Nate, but on the other hand, she hated to be the fifth wheel. She took two steps at a time until she heard voices. Nate's bedroom door was open.
"….damn, Archibald, that's good shit. Where did you get it?" a strange voice asked.
"I can get you some too." was Nate's short answer. Blair couldn't believe how stoned he even sounded.
"It's even better than sex." another voice announced.
"Now, that it's not." Nate chuckled.
"What do you know, Archibald? Taping some ass at the moment?" the first voice chuckled.
"Not yet, but I hope I will soon." Nate stated.
"Who is the lucky bitch?"
"Her name's Blair Waldorf. She's one hot piece."
"Blair Waldorf? You've got to be kidding me. If you get to collect her V-card, you'll be my hero forever."
"Don't worry. Some more dates and playing the nice guy and she'll spread her legs in no time. I can hear her already mourning my name." Nate boasted.
Blair turned around and left. She felt hurt and betrayed. Why does this always happen to me? she asked herself when she hailed a cab.
"Where to, Miss?" the taxi driver asked nonchalant.
"The Palace hotel." Blair told him. Her hands were shaking. She felt numb. Nobody really cared for her, she was only ever the trophy.
"Okay." the driver returned and drove to the hotel.
When they reached the hotel, she slipped a note to the taxi driver, not even looking what kind of money it was. She made her way quickly inside and through the lobby. She ignored Dexter's calling after her and went immediately upstairs in her suite. She dropped her purse, her jacket, kicked her heels off and basically run in the bathroom. There was only thing to do against this numbness. So she shoved her fingers down her throat. So hard and so long until she didn't feel anything anymore. Until a darkness surrounded her.
After their talk, Chuck went to Victrola and got drunk. It was his way of dealing with things. Against evening, he came home to change and hear if anyone had news of Blair. He heard his father soothing Eleanor in the living room and frowned. When he saw Eleanor crying heavily for real, he got in.
"…but she was doing so well." Eleanor sobbed while Bart held her awkwardly and patted her back.
"What's going on?" Chuck asked when he entered the living room. His heart skipped several beats.
"We brought Blair in the Ostroff Center." Bart said sternly, giving him the most strange look.
"Why?" Chuck wondered angrily. He hated that his father couldn't tell all without getting asked for details.
"We found her this afternoon passed out in her bathroom." Eleanor sobbed.
"Drugs?" Chuck asked in disbelief. Blair was never a drug type of girl but with her being in his suite – god knew what she found in his private, secret stash.
"Of course not. Her – her condition – she overdid it this time." Eleanor whispered slowly.
Blair woke up slowly, the bed she lay in didn't feel as comfortable as her own one or the one at the Palace. Once she had her eyes open she took a look around. She froze when she saw who sat in the armchair on the opposite site of the room.
"What are you doing here?" Blair asked. "And where are we…oh my god, we're not really here, are we?" she panicked a bit.
Chuck got up and came closer, not answering. He sat down next to her on the bed, taking her hand.
"Don't you think that I lost enough people that I loved?" Chuck asked her. Blair could see the hurt in his eyes clear.
"You said you hated me. You don't get to make me the bad guy. You wanted to win, you won." Blair whispered as her tears watered up.
"You must know that I truly never meant to hurt you." Chuck said and kissed her hand softly.
"I don't know anything anymore." Blair cried when she remembered the scene at Nate's house.
"Don't say that. You're Blair Waldorf. You're a born Queen." Chuck encouraged, squeezing her hand in a comforting manner.
"So? No one cares." Blair shook her head.
"I do." Chuck promised.
"I can't, Chuck. I can't play this game right now." Blair pleaded, hoping he would just leave.
"It's not a game to me." Chuck assured her in a gentle manner.
"Chuck, take me with you. I don't want to stay here." Blair didn't hold the best memories of her first time in the Ostroff Center. She didn't want to be here again.
"Only if you promise, no if you swear to never ever do it again. Can you swear that?" Chuck demanded.
Blair looked in his eyes, not breathing a syllable. They both knew she couldn't make that kind of promise.
"I will visit you each day for as long as I can. And when you're better, I'll take you home with me." Chuck swore to her, giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Stay here now for a bit?"
"Of course." Chuck got in beside her and hugged her petite form which pulled closer to him under the covers.
A/N: Quite a chapter, right? Please review. I need some Feedback, please!
