"My Evening Star" Chapter 8

Rating: T, just to be safe

Word Count: 3,290

TV Spoilers?: None. Just around second season during the time that Blair lost her throne and her friends.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Gossip Girl or really anything affiliated with it.

Other: Well, you'll see in this chapter that I took a particular artistic liberty (Serena's allergy to shellfish) which is entirely made up and may have been disproved at some point, but I went with it anyway.

Besides, that there's really nothing to say except thank you all for the reviews. I love them so much, and you guys are really great for taking the time to write them. So thanks again

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Blair's attempt to save both her and Will's reputation after Gossip Girl's recent bash worked just as she had planned..maybe even better, since it had brought her right back to the top of Constance's social rankings. She seemed to have regained her crown, and then some, since she was now the center of everyone's attention the way she had always wanted to be.

Gossip Girl had ensured her story about Will's trouble past and his amazing struggle for redemption was circulating around all of the Upper East Side. Some, naturally, were put off by his history of drug abuse while others seemed to believe he was practically the lead from a romance movie… a hero whose life had spiraled dangerously out of control until he found Blair, his great love and reason to live.

Once again, their was talk about them being the Golden Couple, with a bond so strong it could apparently

conquer all. This time, though, such gossip didn't bother Blair.

To be perfectly honest, what people were saying about Will and their "relationship" didn't really matter, as long as people continued to ask her questions and focused all their attention on her. Blair thrived on that attention. It was a rare day, after all, that she received it.

She was particularly pleased to find that her former clique of "minions" had begun to follow her around once more beginning Monday morning. They had even asked her what she was doing that night, but she had decided to torture them a bit and tell them she was busy, shrewdly hinting that Will was the reason. That certainly perked their interests.

Knowing that she was back on top had Blair practically glowing, and she was so thrilled she almost forgot about her mortifying and devastating conversation with Chuck. Almost being the key word there. (it only replayed in her mind around twenty times that day, which she decided meant she was no longer obsessing).

Unfortunately, her good mood could not last, because at the end of the day when she stopped by her locker…standing there, leaning up against it, was none other than Serena Van der Woodsen, her former best friend.

"What are you doing here?" Blair asked harshly, while she shoved by the blonde rudely in order to get to her locker. "I don't appreciate you leaning against my locker." She told her with a glare before she began to unload some of her books. "It's not like we're friends or anything."

Serena closed her eyes for a moment, before opening them, clearly uncomfortable. "Look Blair, I've been thinking a lot lately and was just wondering if I could talk to you for a few minutes."

Blair turned her head to look at her, and paused, pretending like she was thinking it over. "Uh, No."

Serena sighed while Blair returned to putting her books away.

"So, you're not going to talk to me? After everything we've been through, you have nothing to say, at all?"

Blair paused again. "No."

It gave her a deep sense of satisfaction to see how annoyed her nonspecific, unenthusiastic answers were making Serena, who was currently looking upwards, as though she was praying for divine support.

"Fine, I don't care if you have nothing to say to me because there's something I want to tell you!" She told her before she leaned up against the locker next to Blair's. "I miss you. I miss my best friend, and I think its time we got over this stupid quarrel, just like we've always done in the past."

Blair narrowed her eyes. "Oh really?"

"Yes, really." Serena responded while Blair rolled her eyes.

"What convenient timing. I should have expected this."

Serena blinked. "What do you mean? Expected what?"

"Oh, so you're going to play innocent? You're going to pretend like you don't know that I won, and you lost?" Blair asked with a wicked smirk as she stared down her former friend, despite the fact that Serena had nearly a good six inches on her.

"Win? Win what? Since when we're we competing?"

"Since when were we not?" Blair snapped back heatedly, before she straightened herself up and became cold, and composed once more. "I won, and so apparently you're just back here to grovel now that the spotlights on me, and I'm Queen again."

She smile evilly. "But don't worry. You can always take back your title as Constance's Resident Slut. No one else has been able to fill your shoes."

Serena stared at her for a good few seconds, apparently having no idea what to say. Finally, she just shook her head. "I can't believe you'd think that. I can't believe you'd think that after all these years of being friends, and everything that we've been through that I would only try to makes things right between us because of a damn social status."

Blair turned her head away coldly, making it clear that's exactly what she thought.

"Blair…" Serena said softly, and when Blair turned her head, she could see the big blue eyes of her former best friend fill with sadness. Damn it. She hated whenever Serena was upset. It instantly pushed her into protective mode, and she could already feel some of her anger melting away.

"The reason I decided to make amends today was because last night I was sitting in my room, watching tv and thinking about how much I hated not talking to you when "My Fair Lady" came on."

She smiled sadly. "It was already two in the morning, and I still watched the whole thing, wishing I could just call you. Wishing we could watch it together and prance around singing "I could have Danced All Night" just like we used to." Despite herself, Blair could not help to be smile at the memory.

Seeing, this, Serena grasped at her hand, and Blair, overwhelmed by a series of warring emotions, let her.

"Blair, I've told you in the past that you've always been more like a sister to me than a friend...and I hate fighting with you more than anything." Serena confessed sincerely. "I miss you, and we both did stupid things to each other, but can't we just go back to the way things were?"

Blair stared at her for a long moment, utterly conflicted. Part of her just wanted to hug the closest friend she had ever had for dear life..while the proud, bitter part of her was too stubborn to give in. In the end, resentment won out.

"No, Serena." She sad sadly as she pulled her hand away and picked up her bag. "We can't." She then walked away with her head held high, despite the pain she had just caused herself, leaving Serena to stare after her dejectedly.

--

Any hope that Serena would actually listen to hear and keep her space was instantly destroyed the very next day when Blair came to school, only to find her former BFF leaning up her locker once again. In response, Blair reverted to the tried and true method of total silence treatment, but Serena seemed unphased as she babbled on about her life like nothing was wrong.

During lunch and later after school, Blair proved she had learned her lesson by 'dragging' Will around everywhere with her, though he obviously a willing accomplice. More so, he impressed her with his loyalty, since he did nothing but stare at Serena coldly, as though he was warning her to go away, when she tried to ambush Blair again.

Unfortunately, on Wednesday, his presence was unable to help her out anymore since it was the "Annual St. Constance Scholarship Congregation" in which the Senior class was served a fancy breakfast while particular athletic, musical, academic, ect scholarships were given out.

Blair, ironically, was practically a shoe in for the "St. Constance's Recognition of Outstanding Charity Scholarship" otherwise known as a "Good Samaritan" award. She had had her eye on it since she was in grade school, and had put in more than enough hours at various 'good causes' to win it, knowing it would look great on her record.

Still, she was dreading the ceremony, nonetheless, since it was just for the female students, and thus the boys of St. Jude couldn't come (though there was one she was still desperate to avoid…). Without Will there for backup, she had no way to evade Serena and even if she did, she still wasn't quite certain her former army would choose to sit by her rather than the sparklingly blond.

Though she tried to hide her anxiety, Will was able to pick up on it almost instantly that morning, before he headed off to class and she went to the ceremonial breakfast. When he had asked her if all was well, she snapped at him before admitting how badly Serena was annoying her and how she wished she'd just go away.

And that, Will had smirked, and placed his hand on her shoulder before assuring her he was positive everything would work out. Before they could really talk more, the bell summoned him to class while Blair left for the Assembly Hall which had been decorated and filled with elegant table seatings.

The moment she arrived, Hazel, having not yet forgotten her gratitude, instantly scampered to her, with Nelly, Penelope, and Is following close behind. Holding back a triumphant smirk, Blair led her flock to a table in the center of the room, basking in the feeling of being Queen once more.

Unfortunately, it wasn't to last long, for Serena arrived soon after and made a beeline straight for Blair's table and her minions.

"Hello, ladies." She said with a wide, pretty smile before she looked at her former best friend.

"Hey, B."

Blair didn't say a word, but just coldly looked away, making it clear Serena was on the outs. The girls around her looked confused and worried, not sure if they should follow suit, since they had never intended on ostracizing Serena…they had just realized Blair made a better queen.

Serena looked a little annoyed, but obviously refused to back down. "Hey Nelly." She called out, turning to the girl who was sitting on Blair's right side. "Do you mind if I sit there? Blair and I have a lot of catching up to do."

At that, Blair's dark eyes widened. "We do not! Nelly, don't you dare give her your seat!" She ordered harshly as she glared at Serena.

"Please Nelly? It's really important." Serena said sweetly, as she gave her a smile, making Blair even angrier.

"Nelly, you better stay exactly where you are…" She threatened in a low tone while the girl looked between Blair and Serena over and over again, panic and indecision clear in her eye while the girls continued their fight.

"Please Nelly…"

"Stay right there…"

"Nelly…"

"Don't listen to her!"

"I..I, I got to go!" Nelly stuttered up, finally snapping under the pressure as she shot up from her chair. "I'm going to get a waiter or, or something…and..food get..." She sputtered before she practically ran away. Serena smiled triumphantly before she sat down next to Blair who could do nothing but scowl.

"So B, I've hardly heard anything about your life. How's your mom been?" Blair's response was a death glare while the rest of the girls continued to look on uncomfortably.

Once again, Serena began to babble on as though nothing was wrong, even after Nelly returned with a waiter close behind, who put down a tray of breakfast crab and scallop cakes as an appetizer. Though Blair tended to stay away from food with so much fat, she happily took some this time, reveling in the fact she could enjoy it while Serena, who was allergic to shellfish, could not. It was a small victory her in eyes that only made the crab and scallops taste that much more delicious.

Her triumph was short lived though, as the rest of the girls seemed to get over their hesitation and began to chat with Serena, realizing she had won this little game. Blair was furious and remained furious even after everyone ordered and was served their food.

She was too angry to even take a bite of her Eggs Florentine (without the Hollandaise sauce, of course), glaring as Serena happily ate her entire fancy ham and egg crepe. Knowing that the blond could scarf down practically anything she wanted without it ever showing on her tall, perfect body only fueled Blair's rage.

Finally, she could not help but to break her own vow of silence when Serena began to wow her minions with a story about how she recently went to a party with a bunch of her socialite friends, and had even seen Kate Moss. Unable to resist an opportunity to snark, Blair instantly cut in.

"Kate Moss? She must have loved you."

Serena looked at her with wide eyes, clearly surprised that Blair had finally talked to her. "Well, we got along…" She said skeptically, "And she liked the boots I was wearing."

"Perhaps she could borrow them the next time you guys hang out." Blair replied with an evil smile. "And when will that be, S? When will you and Kate need another fix? I heard she's just as into taking lines of cocaine off of toilet seats as you are."

Serena stared at her in obvious exasperation. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on Serena. Don't tell me you've already forgotten your junkie days?" She smirked. "I bet the girls here haven't. I mean, really. It's not easy forgetting about the way you used to get high or drunk every night before sleeping with the first sleazy guy you could find."

Serena stiffened in her chair, trying to hide her obvious anger. "That was a long time ago, Blair. We both know I'm not that person anymore."

"Oh I know. I mean, after you killed a fellow cokehead it was only right that you changed your ways before you managed to murder someone else." She shot back coldly, momentarily feeling victorious knowing there was no way Serena could get out of this one.

Yet that sense of triumph disappeared when she saw the look of pure hurt on Serena's face. Tears instantly began to well up in her eyes, which caused Blair's stomach to lurch.

For a minute Serena just sat there as though she could not believe what had just happen, until she shot up in her chair without another word and rushed out of the room… ignoring the fact that the lights had dimmed in the room, and Ms. Queller was now at the microphone prepared to begin the ceremony.

Without even thinking twice, Blair rushed out after her, struggling to keep her own tears at bay.

"Serena!" She called out, when she ran outside and looked around. No one was there. The walkway outside was completely empty since the boys of St. Jude and the rest of St. Constance's student body was in class.

"Serena?" She tried again before she heard a wheezing noise behind her. Confused, she turned around only to see Serena hunched up against the wall, looking pale and terrified with both her hands wrapped around her neck. Blair instantly felt sick as panic ripped through her.

"Oh my God! Serena!" She cried out as she rushed over to her friend. "What's wrong?" She asked, her eyes wide and full of fear as Serena stumbled against her, and continued to clutch at her throat.

Confused and scared by the gasping noises she was making, Blair pulled her hands away and noticed how puffy Serena's lips were and how completely swollen her neck had become while angry hives had broken out….turning it a bright red.

"No.." Blair breathed out, shaking her head as though that would make the image go away.

Serena looked at her with wild, scared eyes before she collapsed against her, still wheezing, while Blair struggled to catch her and keep her from falling to the ground.

"Help!" She screamed out. "Someone please help!" As she yelled, she could hear the terror in her own voice while tears fell freely from her eyes.

One she realized that no one was going to be able to hear her as long as she was outdoors, she gently laid Serena, who was still gasping for breath, down on the ground before she ran back into the Assembly Hall.

By this time, the ceremony was fully under way and Ms. Queller was in the middle of the introductory speech but Blair ignored this as she shoved open the doors.

"Help! Please!" She cried out desperately, while hundred of eyes suddenly snapped to her while the congregation came to a complete standstill.

"Please! Somebody call 911! Hurry!" She then broke out into a loud sob before she dashed outdoors once again.

By the time she rushed back to her best friend's side, she was sickened to find Serena was already unconscious, her eyes closed tight while the sound of her breathing had faded to nothing more than a few quiet gasps of breath.

It was the most terrifying thing she had ever seen, and Blair could do nothing but collapse down beside Serena and pull her head into her lap while she sobbed. At first, she was too scared to even speak, but she soon began to plea for her to wake up and prattled out promise after promise about how they were sisters and how they would sing "I could have danced all Night" and pretend to be Cockney flower girls if she would just open her eyes.

Blair was so absorbed in her own fear and jabbering, that she did not even notice that the entire Senior Class Assembly had rushed outdoors, and was now gathered around her and Serena, watching in shock and fear.

Blair also failed to see Ms. Queller bark orders at everyone not to get too close, or hear dozens of girls whip out their phones in order to call 911.

No. Instead, she was only aware of Serena, and how her gasps for breath were rapidly slowing until they finally faded away into nothing…

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Haha. It seems so cruel to stop here and it originally wasn't what I intended but the chapter got too long…so here's a pretty significant cliff hanger. Sorry about that.

Anyways, I promise to update as soon as possible to make up for it!

As always, thanks guys for reading, and please review if you can. I really love reading through them.