CHAPTER 9

It was already 7 o'clock in the evening. Dan was cooking food with Jenny and Vanessa. "I hope she'll like what I prepared," Dan said. "Dan, she will. Don't worry. From what I tasted, it's good so don't worry okay?" Jenny said. "Vanessa, how's the place?" Dan asked. "Almost done," Vanessa said. "The sentimental music?" Dan asked again. "Here," Vanessa said and showed Dan some CDs. "Sentimental music?" Jenny wondered. "What?! I want this date to work okay. You know me, Jen. I'm not really good at dates. And besides, this is Blair Waldorf we're talking about. If Serena's grand, Blair's grand---er," Dan said. Dan was done making pasta and pumpkin pie. He hurried down and got a cab because he was running late. "Dan, wait up!" Vanessa said. "Sorry I have to hurry. I'm running late. I still have to pick her up remember?" Dan said. "Oh yeah. CAAAAAAAABBBBB!!!!!!" Vanessa shouted as she called for a cab. "Thanks Abrams," Dan said. "No problem Humphrey," Vanessa said. After some time, they arrived at the gallery, where Vanessa turned it into something nice. "Are you ready to see it?" Vanessa said. "Of course I am," Dan replied. When Vanessa opened it, the walls were black and white and there was a big sketch of Blair in an Audrey Hepburn pose. The dinner table was in the middle of the place and there was also a long thin candle in the middle. At the side by the door, there was a bouquet of flowers so that when they go in, Dan will surprise her with those flowers. "Wow. Who did the picture? It's great! She'll love this," Dan was very thankful of what Vanessa and Jenny did. "Well. Turns out that I have a friend who sketches well. I thought the doctored photo idea is kinda… bad," Vanessa said. "Well my dear sister and best friend, thanks a lot. Oh. I have to pick her up. Wish me luck guys," Dan said. Dan rented a limo to pick Blair up. "Good luck!" Jenny said. Dan went home first to change his clothes. He wore a checkered polo and matched it with a vest. He also wore straight cut pants and leather shoes. He also put on some perfume. After that, he went back down and left to pick up Blair. As Dan went out the door, he hurried down and got in to the limo. It was already fifteen minutes after seven o'clock and there was a huge traffic on the way to Manhattan. Dan was frustrated because he was really running late. He wanted to be earlier than 8 o'clock because he wanted to impress Blair. "Oh damn. Uh sir, with this kind of traffic, what time do you think will we arrive in Manhattan?" Dan asked. He was shaking that time. "I don't know son. Maybe 8 o'clock or later. This is a huge traffic. There's a car accident three blocks away," the driver said. Dan called Blair. "Hey Blair," Dan said. "Oh hi Dan! Are you near my house already?" Blair replied. "Actually I'm still here in Brooklyn. I might be running late. There's a huge traffic here. I'm so sorry. I didn't see this coming." Dan said. He was lying down the car seat and playing with the windows to calm himself up. "It's okay Dan. Actually it's a good thing. I'm just about to take a bath. Take your time," Blair said. Dan was relieved but kinda shocked as well. Relieved because Blair didn't have to wait for a long time and shocked because what if he arrived earlier? He was the one who will be waiting. But he didn't mind that he was really relieved. "Oh. That's great. I thought that I'll be letting you wait for a long time," Dan said. He suddenly sat down and felt so calm. "Yeah Dan. So, I'll see you later Dan," Blair said. "Yeah," Dan replied. After twenty minutes, the road was okay. The limousine driver drove fast. Dan was asleep and he bumped his head. "Ow. Oh wow. The road's okay already?" Dan was surprised. "Yes, Mr. Humphrey. We'll be at your date's house in no time," the driver said. "Yeah. And it's only ten minutes to eight. We'll make it," Dan was happy to have realized that.

Blair was at her room fixing herself. She was wearing a black and red colored dress and her hair properly groomed with her signature headband. Then she heard the sound of the elevator. "Oh. That must be Dan," Blair said. Dorota went to Blair's room. "Miss Blair, it's Mister Dan. He is waiting for you downstairs," Dorota said. "Please tell him that I'll be down in a minute," Blair said. Blair grabbed her Chanel pouch from her bag and hurriedly grabbed her Jimmy Choo shoes from her shoe closet and went out from her room. As Blair was going down the staircase, she saw Dan standing beside the small table in the living room. "You look good Humphrey," Blair said. Dan turned around and as he saw Blair, he was stunned. "Wow," was all Dan could say that time. Dan approached the staircase, did a curtsey and offered Blair to have her arm around his. "Blair Waldorf, you're about to get a dose of Dan Humphrey," Dan said. Blair smiled. "A dose?" Blair said. "You'll see what I've prepared," Dan said and pressed the down button of the elevator.

Dan and Blair arrived at the art gallery in Brooklyn. "We're here," Dan said. "Wow Dan. Are you gonna show me some of your artwork? Blair said. Dan wondered. "Hmmm… I think I am," he said. He thought of it as a metaphor. Yes, an artwork. He was the one who prepared the food, he helped in making the place look good and there was a caricature of Blair that looked like Audrey Hepburn. "Wow," Blair said. They both stepped out from the limo. "Ready?" Dan said as he was holding on to the door knob. "Duh," Blair said. Dan just smiled. He held Blair's hand. "Okay," Dan opened the door and Blair went inside with her head down. When she looked up already, she saw the beautiful place. "Wow, Dan. It really is an artwork," Blair was stunned. Dan grabbed the flowers from the back beside the door where he had placed before he picked up Blair. "For you." Dan gave the flowers to Blair. "What?! These are beautiful roses, Dan. Thank you very much." Blair appreciated the surprise Dan did. "You're welcome. Uh, are you hungry?" Dan asked. "Yes. I kind of am," Blair responded. "Kind of am?" Dan wondered. "Okay, fine. I am hungry. Give me something to eat," Blair said, smiling. She really felt that Dan prepared for their date. "Okay. Let's head here," Dan said. They turned left to go to the other room in the gallery where the table was set. When Blair saw it, she was again, stunned by the ambience. "Dan. How did you come up with this? It's very, very nice," Blair said. "I had a little help from Jenny and Vanessa," Dan said. "It's really, really nice," Blair praised. "Okay, uhm. I'll go get our food and champagne," Dan said and then went to get their food. Dan went to the place inside the gallery where Jenny and Vanessa were. "What took you so long? Blair's here?" Jenny said. "There was a huge traffic on the way to Manhattan a while ago. Well, yeah, she's here. Where's the food?" Dan said. "Oh. Right here. Still fresh. Wait, are you gonna be the one who'll serve?" Vanessa said. "Uh… yeah. Unless you wanna serve," Dan said. "Well duh. People on dates don't serve the food," Vanessa said grabbing two plates and the pasta Dan made. "Thank you guys! I really appreciate your help. Vanessa, I hope you'll get along with Blair." Dan said. "Hmmm… Let's see about that," Vanessa said making a good presentation on the meal. "Hey Dan, are you gonna tell Blair that you like her?" Jenny asked while twirling her hair. "Uh. I might," Dan said. "Go! Tell her already. Or else I'll be the one to," Jenny convinced. "We'll see, okay. I better get back. Hey Vanessa, come now. Blair's hungry already," Dan insisted. "Yes sir," Vanessa said and grabbed the tray of food and then Dan grabbed the bottle of cold champagne. Dan arrived at the room where Blair was. "Hey. Sorry to keep you waiting," Dan said. "It's okay. I was talking to Serena a while ago," Blair said. Vanessa went inside. "Hello, Blair. Jenny and I will be your waitresses for tonight," Vanessa said. Blair smiled at Vanessa and turned to Dan. "Waitresses?" Blair wondered. "Well, they volunteered," Dan said. "Here you go. Dan made this," Vanessa said as she was serving the food. "Wow. I just found out that Dan can sew, now he can cook? Nice one, Humphrey," Blair said. "Thanks. Hope you'll like what I prepared," Dan was kinda nervous because Blair will be eating what Dan has prepared. Vanessa left and gave Dan a good luck look. Dan and Blair started eating. "So, you talked to Serena? What did she say?" Dan asked. "She was just checking if I'm okay and she'll be extending her stay at the Hamptons. She'll be home by Wednesday," Blair said. "Oh she's at the Hamptons right now? I didn't know that. What is she doing there anyway?" Dan asked. "Well, her grandmother misses them. That's it," Blair said. "Wow. sorry to ask but is Chuck with them?" Dan said. "No. Chuck's in California with Nate and Carter Baizen. I think he'll arrive today," Blair said. "Oh. Yeah. I forgot. Jenny told me. And I also saw the one on Gossip Girl… Oops. I'm sorry," Dan realized that he was talking about the blog about Chuck and Annie at the beach. "That's alright, really. I'm not thinking about him anymore. I think I'm over him," Blair said. Dan suddenly had butterflies in his stomach. He suddenly smiled. Blair noticed. "Why are you smiling Dan?" Blair said. "Oh… uh… nothing. I just remembered a funny experience… uh… a while ago… yeah," Dan said. Blair was kind of suspicious with what Dan said. She thought what Jenny said about Dan having a crush on her. Then when she said that she thinks she's over Chuck, she thought that Dan was thinking of something else, which is true. "Okay," Blair said. "So why ask what Serena and I talked about?" Blair wondered. "Oh, nothing. She didn't tell me that she was going to the Hamptons," Dan said. "Really? Well now you know. Still thinking about her?" Blair said. "Hmmm… Not really. Like you, I think I'm starting to get over her," Dan said. Dan looked deep in to Blair's eyes when he said those words. Blair noticed it then she suddenly looked Dan. Dan felt good that time. The two of them were done eating the main course. "Dan, that was good," Blair said. "Really? Thanks a lot! Wait. I'll go tell Vanessa to serve us dessert," Dan replied. Dan went to the room where Jenny and Vanessa stayed. "Hey Dan. How's it going?" Vanessa asked. "Good. Hey, uhm, dessert please and can you set-up the music? Just set it up. Don't play anything yet. And I'll be asking you and Jenny to go. Is that okay. I need some lone time with this girl. Please?" Dan requested. "Hmmm…" Vanessa looked at Jenny. Jenny looked at Dan. "Okay. If you say so." Vanessa said. "Go Dan!" Jenny cheered. "Well, thanks. Thanks for everything!" Dan was so happy. "Okay cupid. Go back in there and I'll go get the dessert," Vanessa said. Dan hurried back to the room where Blair was. "Blair, uhm, Jenny told me that you like pumpkin pie so I made you one. It's all yours. Uh, Vanessa, uhm… the pie please," Dan said. "Here you go. Enjoy!" Vanessa served the pumpkin pie to Blair and hurriedly left. "Thanks. Wow. This is… amazing, Dan. Sorry but, I'm kinda full and it's kinda awkward for me to eat it alone and you watching me eat. I'll just take this pie home. Promise, I'll eat it," Blair said. "Okay. Now let's move to the next and maybe the best part of the date…" Dan said. Then Dan went to a corner. Dan got the remote of the component and pressed the play button then music started to play. "Humphrey?! I didn't know you like this kind of music," Blair said. It was a Lionel Richie song entitled 'I Call It Love'. Dan went to Blair. "Do you mind?" Dan asked for a dance. "Of course not. I'd love to," Blair said and then stood up from her seat. Both of them went to a spot where they can slow dance. As they stood up from that spot, Dan held Blair's waist and Blair held Dan's shoulder and then they started to dance. "Dan, this is by far, the best date I've ever been. I never knew how lucky Serena was when you were still together," Blair said. "Nah. Let's not talk about that," Dan said. "What?" Blair wondered. "Serena," Dan said. "Who said we were talking about her?" Blair said. "No one. But… you brought it up… so…" Dan said. "You're funny Dan. Are you thinking about her right now? Serena?" Blair asked. "What?! No… I'm focused on what's happening right now," Dan said. Blair gave Dan a smile. "Blair…" Dan said. "What is it Dan?" Blair wondered. "I… uh… I…," Dan was stuttering. "I like you Dan! I really do," Blair said. They stopped for a while. "Really?" Dan was surprised when those words came out from Blair's mouth. "Wow. I never thought… Wow. I'm so… Anyway. Can I…?" Dan said and then held Blair's face as if he's gonna kiss her. Blair removed Dan's hand from her face. She stepped back and stared at Dan. "Oops. Am I… Am I too soon?" Dan said. Blair just smiled. Then she went towards Dan and she kissed him. Blair wrapped her arms around Dan and Dan did the same. It was a long kiss. Then suddenly they pulled away from each other. "I like you too, Blair. You are my girl now," Dan said. Blair hugged Dan and they started to slow dance again. Dan kissed Blair's cheek. "So, do you wish that I'm Chuck right now?" Dan joked. Blair gave Dan a poker face. "Hahaha!" Dan laughed and then they danced to the music again. "So… how about an after party?" Blair said in a seductive tone. "After party?" Dan wondered. "Tell Jenny that you'll be sleeping at my house tonight," Blair said as she was sliding her finger on Dan's vest. "What? I'm sorry?" Dan was shocked. Then Blair realized that she was being too soon and that Dan was not Chuck. "Oh. I'm so, so sorry. Hey. I think I should head home. I have to be at the boutique tomorrow morning," Blair said. She felt kinda awkward with what she did. "Is that so? Alright…" Dan said in a low tone. Blair took the pumpkin pie from the table. Then they both went in to the limo and off to Manhattan to take Blair home.