Disclaimer: I don't own Gossip Girl or any musical that is mentioned in this chapter.
A/N-This one might be a little out of character, I'm not really sure. I've been debating posting it for the past few weeks and I finally decided to just post it. Hopefully everyone enjoys it. Thanks for the reviews!
Musicals
I.
In his short five and a half years of life, Chuck Bass had become a very cultured child. He, as other children of his age from the Upper East Side, had gone to museum after museum, had traveled to several other countries, and had even learned other languages. All in all, his short life so far had allowed him to know more than most 50 year olds.
One thing that he had yet to be exposed to, though, was musicals. He was entirely all right with this fact, because, despite the things that he had been told about them, he did not want to see one. He had seen many Disney movies with his friends, where there was singing and dancing involved and he was really not a fan of them.
Blair Waldorf refused to accept this fact and kept constantly making him watch the Disney movies, every time he happened to be in the same area as her and a TV. He had to be thankful that she was no longer showing him Audrey Hepburn movies, because they had grown old after a while. Now, if she could just stop the Disney movies, especially Beauty and the Beast.
He had never told anyone how much that one scared him. The first time he had seen it, he hadn't slept for three days. The Beast had officially been the scariest thing he had ever seen and he never wanted to relive that experience. Of course, it had been all of his friends favorites, so whenever that movie was suggested, Chuck used his scheming ways to get his nanny to take him home early, even if his father had told her to keep him out until a specific time.
Of course, the minute his nanny, a young woman, heard that Chuck had never seen a musical on stage, she rushed off to discuss this with the other children's nannies. She didn't seem to understand how he could have been to all the museums possible, but had yet to see a musical. She took it upon herself to remedy this situation immediately.
Now that he was sitting just rows away from the stage, he was starting to think that he would prefer to be sitting on the couch, smushed between Blair, Serena, and Nate as they all sang along with the songs (Nate quieter than the two girls, always afraid of what they would think). His nanny had taken him to a live production of Beauty and the Beast. He couldn't believe it. He would cry and demand for her to take him home, but he was surrounded by other children, looking excited to see this "wonderful" musical. He tried to act excited, but he couldn't ignore how sweaty his palms were getting and how nervous he was. He couldn't reveal his fear to his friends, so he had plans to cry into his nanny's arms later.
As the lights started to go down, he cast a glance at Blair. She was wearing a pretty red dress, white tights, and black shoes, a red headband sitting a top her chestnut curls. She was sitting on the edge of her seat, watching the stage with excitement, waiting for the magic to start.
It started out fine for Chuck. He was actually enjoying himself when the singing started. He had even managed to convince himself that The Beast was never going to come on stage and it was going to be a happy musical.
Boy, was he wrong. The minute that The Beast first appeared on stage, he jumped back in his seat, his hands flying to cover his eyes. He let out a small whimper as he peeked through his fingers and he wished that he was anywhere else but that seat at the moment. He turned his head to the side to look at Serena and Nate, who were totally into what they were watching, not paying attention to his reactions. That was when he looked at Blair, who was staring at him. He gulped as he struggled to put his hands back at his sides, though the fact that The Beast was so close to him, he wasn't sure if he could manage.
"Here," she whispered, leaning closer to him. She grabbed a hold of his hand, slipping something into it. "You need it more than I do."
He gave her a questioning look as he glanced at the small charm that she had pressed into his hand. It was in the shape of a heart and he wasn't really quite sure why she handed it to him, but it did make him feel a little better, as he squeezed it tightly.
"It fell off my charm bracelet," she whispered, lifting up her small wrist to show him the bracelet. "Holding onto it makes me feel better when I'm scared."
He nodded his head as he turned back to the stage, not wanting to look at the stage completely, but trying to still hide his fear. He turned the heart over in his hand and he managed to actually look at The Beast, realizing he wasn't as scary as he thought.
II.
Blair Waldorf danced excitedly around the mirror, humming quietly to herself. Tonight was going to be the single most exciting night in her 13 years. Tonight was the night that Nate Archibald was officially going to ask her to be his girlfriend, she just knew it.
Of course, the two had been "going out" for the past two and a half years, but he hadn't made it official yet. Tonight, he was going to ask her to be his steady girlfriend, giving her a ring and she was going to give him her small heart charm to sew into his sweater.
He had planned the perfect date. They were going to go out to a fancy restaurant and then to see Beauty and the Beast, her favorite musical. It was going to be amazing, especially because her mother gave her an Eleanor Waldorf original to wear just because she was proud of Blair.
It was going to be the best night of her life.
Meanwhile, Chuck was stretched across the back of his limo, glaring at his best friend. He couldn't believe what his best friend was asking him; it was ridiculous.
"Please, man, I will owe you so much," Nate pleaded. "My dad won't let me miss this; it's such a big opportunity for my future. Blair will understand."
"No, Nathaniel, she will castrate the nearest male in the general vicinity. I do not want to be there. You go tell her yourself that you're bailing on the night that you were going to ask her to be your girlfriend."
Nate looked down at his shoes, obviously feeling some sort of guilt about this. "Please, Chuck. I can't not take her, she's been looking forward to this all week. I can't let her down."
Chuck rolled his eyes, knowing that Blair was not going to be pleased when eh walked out of the limo instead of Nate. "Fine. But you will forever be in my debt."
"Yea, man, of course," Nate said, patting Chuck's shoulder as he exited the limo. He stuck his head back inside, something in his hand. "Here, give this to her, she'll know what it is. Thanks, Chuck. Really, I owe you one."
Chuck nodded as he took the box from Nate. He sighed as the door slammed, leaning his head against the seat. He couldn't believe that he had to go in Nate's place. This was going to end in disaster, especially considering her was going to see Beauty and the Beast. He would never tell anyone that he was still afraid of that damn musical, even after Blair had attempted to make it better for him. He was not looking forward to this evening.
Blair settled down on the chair, moving for the third time in five minutes. Dorota shook her head, clicking her tongue, earning a glare from Blair. She didn't want to seem overanxious, so she was continually moving to make it look like she was casually waiting.
She heard the ding of the doors and she had to resist jumping up to greet him. She nodded her head at Dorota, who rushed to greet Nate.
Much to Blair's surprise, Nate was not following Dorota. "Mr. Chuck here to see you Miss Blair."
Blair rolled her eyes, glaring at Chuck. "Go away, Bass, I'm waiting for Nate. There's no reason for you to be here."
"Ah, that's what you think." He pulled a dozen roses from behind his back, something he had picked up to ease the pain she was bound to inflict upon him and Nate. "These are from Nathaniel. He's unable to make it tonight due to a sudden family obligation. He's sent me to you in his place." He took a step closer to her, handing her the roses, then the box that contained the ring for her. "Here."
He first saw anger flash through her eyes and considered backing away, but it was followed closely by pain.
"He's…he's not coming and he's sent you in his place to give me the ring he's been planning on giving me when he asks me to be his girlfriend," she said, her voice flat. "Well, Chuck, thank you for coming in his place, but I no long will be going."
She threw the box on the table, not even looking at the ring, followed by the roses. She started to walk away but Chuck grabbed her arm, staring directly into her eyes. "I'm sorry, Blair, that it had to be like this, but please come with me. Don't let your evening be ruined."
She was going to tell him that her evening had already been ruined but the fact that Chuck Bass had said the words "I'm sorry" changed her mind. She was certain he had never said those words to anyone before, especially to a girl and especially when it wasn't even his fault.
"Fine, I'll go with you. You try to feel me up, though, and there will be hell to pay."
Chuck smirked at her; the regular Blair was back and ready for action. "You've got it." Hurt Blair was not something he was used to and he was going to make sure that she didn't return. He was going to make it the best night of her life.
The two headed to dinner, laughing and joking throughout the meal. Blair hated to admit it, but she was already having a great time with him. By the time they arrived at the theatre, she was smiling and had nearly forgotten that she was supposed to be with Nate. Nearly, though not completely.
Even when they had gone to the theatre, watching Beauty and the Beast it had been fun for her. Chuck had denied any fear of the musical still, saying that he had been fine after seeing it all those years ago. She had laughed at him as he shrank down in his seat when The Beast first appeared. She remembered that he had reacted the same as he had, even though it had been years before.
"You know, I love Beauty and the Beast," Blair muttered, replaying the scenes in her mind as the limo drove her home.
"Why's that, Waldorf?" Chuck questioned, watching her as she stared out the window.
"I love that Belle is able to find love in the most unlikely character. No one expects such a pretty and smart girl to find love in someone like The Beast, but she does. She's able to look past all of his faults and fall in love with him. It's such a beautiful story."
She learned her head against the window, Chuck watching her every move. He felt a flutter in his stomach, which he instantly shook off. He had no clue what it meant and he didn't want to find out.
"Thank you, Chuck," she leaned to him, leaving a quick kiss on his cheek. "I'll see you later."
Just like that, she was gone. The night almost didn't seem like it was real to him. It was like a fairy tale, something that he did not believe in normally.
But, for just one night, he was going to let himself believe.
III.
Shortly after he started dating her, Chuck learned that Blair had quite a few secrets. Nothing too major, just small things that she wanted no one else to know, not even Serena.
Number one on that list was that she loved musicals. Now, Chuck knew that she enjoyed them, due to the amount of times that she had seen Beauty and the Beast. He thought that it was just that particular one, but he was wrong. Very, very wrong.
He had first discovered this obsession when he was scrolling through her iPod, bored as she took an extra half hour to get ready. He saw much of what he expected from Blair, until he noticed an untitled playlist. He clicked on it and that was when he discovered it.
It was filled with soundtrack after soundtrack, some that he didn't even recognize. She had gone wide eyed in horror when she saw what he was looking at. She had stuttered an explanation until Chuck kissed her, telling her it was nothing to be embarrassed about. He found it cute, actually.
That had been mistake number one.
Mistake number two had come shortly after number one. He had agreed to see one with her. One became every single one she wanted to see.
He learned quickly that his girlfriend had seen Wicked five times, Spring Awakening twice, In the Heights at least once (she couldn't remember exactly, which he knew was a lie), and Rent more times than she could count. There had been more (a whole list with ticket and playbill proof) but Chuck had zoned out shortly after she had told him about Rent.
He found it endearing that she wanted to keep it hidden but he was starting to wonder how exactly she was doing so. Gossip Girl was, after all, watching her every move, but she never said anything of Blair going to see musicals more times than the average person. Unless, of course, Gossip Girl was in the same boat as she was. He had given up on trying figuring that out months ago.
"Bass, are you ready to go?" she stepped out of the bathroom, looking beautiful as always.
He groaned in appreciation as he sat up. He had just been forced to listen to yet another soundtrack as Blair got ready. She always listened to a soundtrack of some sort while getting ready to see a musical, though never the one that they were about to see. It was the only time she would to them.
He had tried to escape it, but since she was more or less living with him due to the fact that she hated dorm life, there was no choice. Once upon a time, he would have never stood for it, but he loved her. The things love did to him….
Tonight's choice had been Wicked, a favorite of hers. He had found himself humming along to one song, then singing the words to one o the songs. That was when he had admitted defeat.
Blair Waldorf had turned him into a musical lover.
The night before he had even downloaded Spring Awakening to his iPod. It was one of his favorites.
He hated that he had a favorite, let alone more than one.
"Chuck? Are you ready?" she slid into his lap, kissing him softly.
"Now I am," he muttered, deepening the kiss.
"All right, let's go." She hopped off his lap, causing him to groan. She always did this to him. "Later, Bass, I promise." There was a glint in her eye, one that he immediately knew the meaning of.
One good thing was that she always rewarded him, in a very good way. It was always nice to know that he was getting something in return.
It was the main reason he was not letting Blair know he was staring to enjoy the musicals. He was not going to have the best part of the evening taken away from him.
"So, what are we seeing tonight?" he questioned, wrapping his arms around her. He was trying to keep the curiosity out of his voice, masking it with boredom.
He was really hoping to see Hair, he heard it was excellent. Even returning to see Next to Normal would be nice.
She kissed his cheek, the evil glint in her eye showing him that she was up to something. "The Little Mermaid."
"What?!"
"I felt like reliving my childhood and I know how you hate Beauty and The Beast."
He did the necessary grumbling about how she was violating his manliness (which she rebutted with the fact that he wore purple). Even so, as they got in the limo, he let her kiss him as much as she wanted. He didn't stop her as she explained—in full detail—what they were going to be doing later.
He was never ever going to let her know that he had downloaded that soundtrack—by accident, it had been Eric's fault—two weeks ago. He was also not going to let her know he loved it. A lot.
He absolutely hated what love had done to him, but he wouldn't change a thing.
