Chapter 7: An Evening on the Town

"It' Friday. You have to come out with us for drinks," Tori said as she swung her lap-top bag over her shoulder.

"I don't know." Blair muttered. "I have to finish this article. It's almost perfect, but there's something not quite right."

"You make us all look bad. You have to stop working so hard."

Lonnie grinned a toothy grin. "You promised."

"I suppose you're right. This can wait until tomorrow."

"It can wait until Monday."

Blair let Lonnie and Tori drag her out of the tiny offices of the Grimwood Gazette, and as they left Blair looked back at the small building, wondering if the paper would last. She liked this job.

The small dive bar was bursting at the seams and as they tried to squeeze in, Lonnie disappeared into the frenzy to look for a table.

"He likes you," Tori said. "You should go for it. He's quite the hottie."

"I know he likes me, and he's sweet - too sweet - but I don't date," Blair responded.

"That excuse is only going to last so long. You deserve a sweet guy."

Blair sighed. She didn't want a sweet guy.

Lonnie grabbed Tori and Blair's arms. "I found us a table in the back c'mon."

"You and Blair go. I'm going to get us drinks. What do you guys want?"

"Rum and coke."

"A scotch," Blair said automatically, and as she heard herself she closed her eyes in a moment of pain.

Blair let Lonnie guide her to a dimly lit table in the back room of the bar. It was always quieter in the back room, and Blair was suddenly grateful for the reprieve from the voices.

It took a moment before Blair realized that Lonnie was staring at her. "I liked the article you wrote last week."

"I don't want to talk about work, Blair."

Lonnie leaned forward and caressed Blair's cheek. Blair flinched.

"You could try to like me, Blair. I could make you happy."

Blair closed her eyes. How many times had she heard that same weak promise? "I can't," she whispered.

"You're heartless." Lonnie said.

"Yes."

"I'm back," Tori sang as she placed the drinks in front Blair and Lonnie. "And I found myself a friend who's going to join us. He's new to Grimwood, and I figured he needed a proper introduction."

Blair's face turned white as she watched Tori's hand tugging on the elbow of Chuck Bass.

Chuck's face contorted in a half grin. "Funny meeting you here, Blair. And you're drinking scotch. You know that's my drink."

"You know Blair?" Tori asked. "She's quite the mystery girl. Maybe you can enlighten us about her past. She just showed up one day, and won't tell us anything about herself." As Tori talked she stroked Chuck's arm. This sort of behavior was nothing new, but Blair found herself wanting to tear Tori's arms off of him.

"Chuck and I are old friends."

"More than friends," Chuck responded.

"You're wearing a lovely suit," Tori fingered the linen of Chuck's sleeve.

"That's it. I'm leaving." Lonnie stood up and slammed his chair back against the table.

"What... Why?" Tori asked.

"I don't want to be here anymore."

Tori glared at Blair after Lonnie left. "What did you say to him?"

"Nothing."

"I doubt that. He told he liked you didn't he? And you rejected him. How could you be so cruel? I'm going after him."

"Well that was interesting." Chuck said at Tori's departure.

"More like disastrous. What are you doing here? You can't be here by chance."

"I've been looking for you for a long time. I didn't mean to interrupt your life though. I really only meant to see you from a distance."