Chapter 10
111: Our vanity is most resistant to wounds when our pride has just been wounded.
Please don't stop the music
Please don't stop the music
Please don't stop the music
Please don't stop the music
It's getting late
I'm making my way over to my favourite place
I gotta get my body moving
Shake the stress away
I wasn't looking for nobody when you looked my way
Possible candidate, yeah
Who knew
That you'd be up in here looking like you do
You're making staying over here, impossible
Baby, I must say your aura is incredible
If you don't have to go, don't
Do you know what you started?
I just came here to party
But now we're rocking on the dance floor, actin' naughty
Your hands around my waist
Just let the music play
We're hand in hand, chest to chest and now we're face to face
I wanna take you away
Let's escape into the music, DJ let it play
I just can't refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin' to it
Please don't stop the, please don't stop the music
I wanna take you away
Let's escape into the music, DJ let it play
I just can't refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin' to it
Please don't stop the, please don't stop the
Please don't stop the music
What better to start off a party?
Kei and Blair clapped along to the lyrics, in sync with the dancers around them, the two girls' minds more in sync with each other. It was just like it had been at Noh: Kei transformed from her solid, careful poise to liquid, smooth, and free, and Blair was swept right in with her, all the tension she'd felt before forgotten. They'd both had a couple of glasses of Chuck's punch – whoa – and with the music playing and happy, fun-loving faces around them, they'd both loosened into it, and thus their spirits soared around the room.
It was an hour after the first person had arrived, and already the penthouse was full of people, either hugging the walls or on the landing in conversation, or around the drinks and munchies, or in the growing group of people dancing. Serena and Dan had snagged a sofa away from the crowd, making out and snuggling up to each other. Drake was manning the sound system, slipping easily into the role of a DJ whilst talking to Eric, who hung back from the crowds, a detached, impressed look on his face. Chuck was by all the beverages, making sure that no one helped themselves purely to soft drinks, and flirting shamelessly with a couple of young sophomores like his old self, making sure that the girls – what were their names again? – didn't notice that he was constantly watching Blair out of the corner of his eye.
You couldn't blame him. There was no word in the English language that could sum up how good Blair looked. There was simply no denying that all the crap he'd said in that bar so long ago was simply that: crap. Not even Kei, in all her sensual, exotic glory, could compare to Blair. He remembered thinking that whilst Kei was definitely attractive, he wasn't attracted to her because she appealed to tastes that veered to the rare and exotic, and to those who were more interested in the long-term. Now, he realised the terrible truth that he'd known, somewhere, the whole time: there was no one but Blair.
And he'd completely screwed it up. This was definitely the only time in his whole life when he would tell himself that he was an idiot.
So he just watched, watched as her arms rose like they did on Victrola's stage, watched as her perfect ass swayed to the music, watched as she moved her feet, her legs smooth and lightly tanned. There was no sexier sight than Blair Waldorf dancing before you.
Well, except for what happened after the last time she'd danced for him…
He wanted to dance with her… to put his hands on her hips and feel her move to the beat… to press her body against his so their hearts could beat in harmony to the rhythm. He wanted…
He wanted these damn blondes around him to get lost. Right now.
"To us!"
Hazel had never sounded so forced in her entire life. Not even when she told her daddy that of course she didn't mind if he lowered the limit on her credit card.
Half a dozen girls had arrived for her sleepover party, and there was something not quite right about most of them. Isabel and Kati, for instance, had both brought very little with them, and what they had bought was stuffed into very small handbags, and they were wearing quite sparkly make-up. Hazel wasn't certain, but she swore she'd seen a flash of red under Kati's dress when she sat down.
The other half dozen hadn't shown up at all, including Jenny. The bitches.
Assembled were Penelope, Isabel, Kati, Elise, and two freshmen girls whose names Hazel couldn't remember but had invited because she thought they showed potential. Now, however, they'd been there for barely half an hour and, if Hazel wasn't mistaken, they both looked like they wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
Indeed, it was when they both choked on the champagne cocktails that the freshmen made their excuses about parents or homework and almost ran to the door.
Hazel's mood worsened when Isabel and Kati declined facials but went for manicures, the two speaking in low voices to each other over their nails. Then it got even worse…
PARTY UPDATE: To all those who actually turned up to H's sleepover party – thanks to TwinKI'08 for sending the guest list; half of them are at K's – I hope you packed something red with your nighties: you picked the wrong venue.
When Hazel read that short message, she froze in her seat and didn't move for five minutes. In those five minutes, Kati and Isabel left, saying they'd see Hazel at school, and Penelope waited for her friend to come out of her trance. Elise answered all of Penelope's commands, fetching water, a damp towel, even checking the drawers for possible medication.
When Hazel finally came to, she remained silent. She looked at Penelope and Elise, making both girls wither under the force of her glare, got up and marched to her wardrobe.
"Hazel?" Penelope ventured. "Wh-what are you doing?"
Hazel didn't respond; she carried on going through her wardrobe.
"Hazel?"
Finally, Hazel found what she was looking for and pulled out a Nicole Miller aqua strapless bubble dress. "We're going to see what the fuss is about." She quickly scanned what Penelope and Elise were wearing. It would have to do. Besides, it definitely wouldn't do for them to look better than her either.
Drake gave the red-head who'd been trying to chat him up a friendly shove towards the crowd and put on a song for her: Just Dance by Lady Gaga. He hoped the girl got the idea... but considering the look she sent his way as she went to dance with her friends, he thought it sadly unlikely. He took another sip of punch - Christ, what did Bass put in this thing? Pure alcohol? - and surveyed the party. He was impressed. Those who were into it were clearly having a good time. He wasn't pleased about the scrutiny Kei was getting from the sides of the room, from girls huddled together and judging their surroundings. Still, vast majority of the huddlers looked like they'd give a thumbs up, albeit perhaps reluctantly. The rest looked green with envy, not a colour that matched their red dresses or tops.
He was incredibly bemused by Chuck's smouldering looks at Blair as she danced. Drake wasn't blind; Blair looked absolutely stunning, as did Kei. But Chuck's eyes were solely on Blair, and, if Drake wasn't mistaken, Blair didn't seem too ignorant of the fact. She didn't return Chuck's gaze, but the way she moved, the way she resolutely didn't turn in his direction, the tilt of her head as though to check over her shoulder: yeah, she knew. And the secretive smile that peeped out every now and then said she didn't mind it a great deal.
He had asked Kei what was going on with those two ever since he saw Blair's reaction to finding out that Kei was enlisting Chuck's help. Kei had given him an apologetic look he knew fairly well: it wasn't her secret to tell. She merely said it was a story of lust and pain, two things - Drake couldn't help remarking - that had a tendency to go together. She also said, chuckling sadly, that it was almost entirely their - Chuck and Blair's - fault.
Maybe that explained why the two hadn't said a word to each other yet, why they'd sat at opposite sides of the table earlier when they were eating, barely looked at each other - though Chuck was breaking that rule more than Blair - and why they avoided each other's conversations - again, Chuck the only one with the nerve to break that rule. Kei and Drake kept exchanging knowing glances at each whilst they were eating, bemused at the game being played. Serena and Dan just looked awkward whenever the tension peaked, and it was Eric who managed to dispel it by changing the subject or merely keeping the conversation flowing.
Speaking of Eric, he liked the kid. He saw a bit of himself in the young Van Der Woodsen, but at the same time he sensed that Eric was even better at wearing masks than Blair Waldorf; Eric's was just far more amiable and welcoming. He came across as patient, very private, and mature for his age, as though he'd watched people close to him do rather ridiculous things and he'd put up with it uncomplainingly. They talked about how Drake was finding New York, how it must be nice to see Kei again, and what home was like. Drake, despite being a naturally shy person, found it easy to talk to the boy. Maybe it was because he was going back to England the following day. Or maybe it was just because that was the kind of person Eric was: the type that one inherently trusts.
Drake also felt a bit sorry for Eric: it's not sunshine and roses keeping secrets from people because you don't want them to freak out.
Kei sashayed through the crowd to them.
"Go and dance with Blair for me," Kei asked Eric, giving him a grateful smile when he nodded and when back down the path she'd made through the people. She handed Drake a glass of water, grinning. "You look a little flushed."
He put his arm round her to give her a squeeze as he took a gulp of water. "So. Happy?"
"With the party?" He nodded. Her grin got brighter, and she nodded assertively. "You enjoying yourself playing DJ?"
He chuckled. "I don't mind. Some of this stuff isn't my thing. I'll dance later, when we move to the really good stuff."
She laughed. "You'd better. Can't have you coming all the way here to visit and not dance."
He grinned and looked over the party again. Then he frowned. "Who's the girl in blue?"
Kei frowned likewise, looked over at the door where Drake was pointing, and her face turned sour. "We have a bitch-alert."
You change your mind
like a girl
changes clothes
yeah you
PMS
like a bitch
I would know
and you over-think
always speak
Cryptically
I should know
that you're not good for me
Cause you're hot then you're cold
you're yes then you're no
you're in then you're out
you're up and you're down
you're wrong when it's right
it's black and it's white
we fight we break up
we kiss we make up
(You) you don't really want to stay (no)
(but you) but you don't really want to go (oh)
hot and you're cold
you're yes then you're no
you're in then you're out
you're up and you're down
Hazel couldn't believe it. This... this was what Gossip Girl had decided to approve? It was... it was...
'A damn good party'. Is that what you're trying to say, H?
Hardly. Where were the A-listers? Where was the class? Where were the champagne cocktails with waiters to serve them? Didn't Kei think to make her party more exclusive, more... more stylish? Not just cheap-ass drapes and sofas and Chuck Bass by the drinks counter -
Wait, what?
She turned her head and stared in badly-masked horror at the sight of Chuck Bass, hotter than ever in a perfectly tailored red suit and crimson scarf, a glass of scotch fitting perfectly into his hand, surrounded by freshmen already charmed from his classic smirk. A smirk that was disappearing at the sight of her. No... No, this wasn't possible. Chuck Bass wasn't friends with Kei, he certainly wasn't on any amicable terms with Blair, so what the hell was he doing here?
Hazel's eyes peered round the room. The St Judes' lacrosse team were on the stairs with their girlfriends and dates. The other half of her guest list that hadn't shown up was dotted around the room, drinking and talking or dancing. Isabel and Kati were chatting up the captain of the track team, both in matching Ralph Lauren dresses. Even Hazel's ex, the soccer captain, was there on one of the sofas, making out with a red-head on his lap.
It was painfully obvious now why Gossip Girl had approved of Kei's party. Everyone else had.
As people started to stare, her insides started to burn. There she was, in blue, flanked by Penelope and Elise who were both looking out of place, unwelcome and unwanted. Indeed, most people had stopped staring, had just got straight back into the party vibe, and the rest... the rest were waiting with savoury anticipation for hell to break loose.
Well, there was no way she was going to give them the satisfaction of seeing her break down, not in front of itching fingers on cell phone cameras.
Then she caught sight of Blair, dancing with Eric van der Woodsen amongst the crowd, smiling and oblivious to the gatecrashers, completely free from humiliation and embarrassment. And beyond her, raised slightly above the crowd commanding the music, was Kei herself, coolly staring right back at Hazel, and at her side, with an arm round her shoulders, was the blue-haired boy that everyone had been simpering over on Gossip Girl's blog all week.
This was the bitter taste of defeat.
Kei's look shifted to Chuck and nodded slightly towards the door. Hazel stared at Chuck as he nodded back and made his way over.
"Hazel, ladies," he greeted, tone seductive but cold at the same time. "I'd say it was a pleasure to see you here, but I wouldn't like to be accused of being a liar." He smirked as Hazel unconsciously swallowed, and Elise nervously shifted on her feet. Penelope looked like she wanted to faint from embarrassment. "I suggest, girls, that you return to your own party, and leave us to ours." And then he gestured to the door, the smirk dying, his ice-cold expression better relaying the message: leave now.
Everyone close by was waiting; someone had even flipped up the camera on their cell, ready to take a shot.
Hazel gritted her teeth, stood up straighter, and exited with her head held high, every muscle in her body painfully tense, Penelope hot on her heels. Elise, unbeknown to Hazel, hesitated, and when Chuck took one look at her and let her be, she hesitated longer. The little girl was wearing a fairly non-descript pink dress: if she wanted, she could get away with the dress code.
"Elise?"
The little sophomore turned and quietly sighed with relief. It was Jenny, her blonde hair pinned up into a sparkly red beret and dressed in a funky off-shoulder dress with a tulle skirt. She was smiling, glad to see a familiar face, and then her smile faltered. "Is Hazel here?"
Elise shook her head. "She err... just left."
Jenny's smile returned. "Come on, let's go party!"
I'm ready for love... for love...
I've a smile on my face...
For love... for love...
I'm ready for love...
I'm ready for love...
I've a smile on my face...
For love... for love...
After Hazel had left as quickly as she'd entered, Drake changed the music, and pulled Kei into the crowd to dance to Mint Royale's remix of Singin' In The Rain. It had been a favourite of theirs back in England, and they'd practically learnt all the moves from the music video, apart from the more complicated stuff, and made up other moves. It made for a very weird duet, but they loved doing it: they were both natural dancers in that a lot of music could quite easy talk through their limbs. It was one of their many 'things', and always gave them the giggles whenever they did it at parties back home, their friends around them cheering them on.
It was no different that night. Everyone around them was taken by surprise the moment Gene Kelly started singing, and in the confusion the two easily got their space, and then forgot their surroundings as they tilted their heads side-to-side before the beat kicked in. With her bare shoulders and tight pants, Kei looked incredibly sensual, whilst Drake looked hip with his contrasting colours. Blair watched them from the sidelines with the other people, laughing with them, cheering for her friends, not remotely concerned about the shift of attention, forgetting that she herself was being watched too, but not by those watching with her.
And I miss you
Like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you, oh
Like the deserts miss the rain
I step off the train, I'm walkin' down your street again
And past your door but you don't live there anymore
It's years since you've been there
And now you've disappeared somewhere
Like outer space you've found some better place
And I miss you
Like the deserts miss the rain
And I miss you, yeah
Like the deserts miss the rain
Everyone knows how to groove to that.
If I had another chance tonight
I'd try to tell you that the things we had were right
If I had another chance tonight
I'd try to tell you that the things we had were right
If Cinderella was attending, then her clothes should have turned back to rags by now. A few people had left for early nights, each thanking Blair and Kei for the party and congratulating them, and a few more had come in. Among those who were late was Kei's friend from Noh, Cosmo, who'd brought along some of his friends from Columbia. Most of them weren't wearing red, Kei teased, until they all tugged the corners of their boxers out to show that, yes, they were wearing something red. Most of them gathered round to introduce themselves, save for one, who vanished into the crowd and was forgotten, the colour of his underwear undetermined. One of them, Andrew 'call me Noodle', after remarking that he'd had 'jush a little bit to drink' started chatting to Blair, using some of the oldest pick-up lines in the book, slurred with beer breath. Thankfully for Blair, he ran out of drink and spotted more across the room and stumbled through the crowd to get another beer.
"He wasn't hassling you, was he, Waldorf?"
Time froze. Blair knew that she had less than a split second to react, and if she hesitated any longer than that, then she knew that, according to him, the smirk she heard in Bass' voice would be perfectly justified.
"No more than you are, Bass." She smirked right back at him as she turned to face him. And willed her heart to beat normally. She dramatically looked around him. "What, no entourage? Scared the freshmen away already?"
Chuck just carried on smirking. "I sent them away; they're not that fresh." Blair raised an eyebrow. She doubted that would be a problem. "Why, jealous?"
Her smirk instantly turned into a scowl. "Hardly." She was about to come up with a better response, but she got distracted, causing her scowl to become even more sour. But she was looking over Chuck's shoulder, to the door...
"What?" Chuck frowned. Since when did Blair back out this easily? When he realised she wasn't paying him much attention, he followed her stare. And immediately felt the exact same dread.
"Shit." Kei muttered sympathetically, appearing at Blair's side. She'd seen the same thing.
Nate was here.
"What is he doing here?" Blair muttered rhetorically, barely moving her lips as the three of them stared in horror at the new arrival.
"More importantly, how the hell do we get rid of him?" Kei said. Blair finally turned to her friend. She couldn't remember the last time someone had looked so indignant on her behalf before.
"You don't." Chuck said, keeping his eyes fixed on his former best friend. "Just let him be, make sure he can't cause a scene. Nathaniel's harmless on his own."
Kei raised an eyebrow. "Sure about that?"
Nate had spotted them.
If you're gonna save the day
And you're hearin' what I say
I feel your touch
Your kiss, it's not enough
And if you believe in me
Don't think my love's not for real
I won't take nothin' less
than a deeper love
Let me tell you,
No, I
I need a miracle, I need a miracle
It's more than physical
What I need to feel from you
Let me tell you,
No, I
I need a miracle, I need a miracle
Its more than physical
What I need to get me through
Nate wasn't happy when he saw Chuck, Blair, and Kei together, staring at him from across the room. He glared at Chuck. Keep away from her...
Which her?
"Nate!"
Suddenly blonde hair and red hat were bobbing front of him, obscuring his view of the trio. He dragged his attention away from them, and focused it on Jenny. "Hi, Jenny. Good party?"
The sophomore smiled, happy that Nate was actually talking to her and he didn't stink too badly of hash. "Way better than all the summer ones!" She gushed. She'd had a couple of glasses of the punch, unaware of just how strong Chuck had mixed it. "Did you just get here?"
"Yeah, my mom asked me to attend the Opera with her," he replied flippantly. And then smoked out of his bedroom window whilst trying to decide whether or not to go to the party. The main pro was that it was Kei's party. The con was that it was also Blair's. He didn't think that Chuck would be there, or, at least if he was there, that he would be so cosy with the two girls. He glanced again at the trio over Jenny's shoulder, and watched as Chuck left the two girls. Kei then took Blair's arm and together they disappeared into the crowd.
"That's a shame." Jenny slurred slightly, unaware that Nate wasn't properly listening. "I had to wait for my dad to go to sleep before creeping out of the house, kinda hoping that Dan doesn't rat me out!"
Nate just managed to catch the last of what she said. "Oh... well, I'm sure he won't, he seems to be an alright guy."
Jenny giggled. "Have you met my brother?"
Actually he had, but he couldn't be bothered to say so and carry on the conversation. So he changed the subject. He spotted the punch in Jenny's hand. "Punch good?"
Jenny nodded emphatically. "Want me to get you some?"
"That's ok, where is it?"
Suddenly the music changed. The beat of a drum, and then the strum of an electric guitar. How random... was it an English thing to suddenly change to indie?
Quiet heartbeat
Your quiet heartbeats
Race runner you
You sleep like small stars flying back home
Quiet heartbeat - shine like millions
Your quiet heartbeats - shine like millions
Race runner you - shine like millions
You sleep like small stars flying back home
I, come on!
I, come on!
I, come on!
I, come on!
Oh, come on!
Oh, come on!
Oh, come on!
Oh, come on!
We are everywhere
We are everywhere
We are everywhere
We are everywhere
A few people cheered from the dancing group, and people moved out just a little bit to make a bit of space in the middle. Nate pushed his way through to as close to the front as he could get, made all the more difficult when everyone started tentatively dancing, mimicking the ones in the centre. Finally he saw the focus.
Kei and Drake were dancing again, but this time, entirely differently from before - not that Nate knew that. Instead of the sure moves of Singin' In The Rain, the two swapped for jerky bouncing, bobbing to the strums of the guitars, at times taking it in turns to show off their moves to the other. They were in their own little world... and it was so unique that Nate wasn't sure whether he really wanted to be a part of it. But throughout he mostly just watched Kei; every movement from her hips, every time she shifted her feet, every stretch of the muscles in her bare shoulders... every move was comfortable and sexy, yet she didn't seem to even notice that there were people around her watching. In her own little world with her blue-haired friend.
The lucky bastard...
Then Nate watched more closely. Kei's blue-haired friend - no one had found out his name and leaked it to Gossip Girl - looked like his mind was also up the clouds, entirely taken by the music. How could he miss the gorgeous girl in front of him, swaying and grinding holes in the floor right under his very nose? Unless... unless...
Unless he wasn't Kei's boyfriend, or even interested in being her boyfriend.
Nate smiled with relief. He had a chance then... provided that Chuck hadn't interfered. He wasn't interested in Chuck's cast-offs.
Speaking of Chuck's cast-offs, as the song started to end, Kei grabbed Blair's hands, pulled her into the centre despite her giggling objections, and the two girls started spinning each other round in the centre, everyone cheering them on, the blue-haired guy laughing in enjoyment. The two girls were shrieking with laughter, clinging to each other as they spun like a merry-go-round, the music escalating to its climax. The song ended suddenly, plunging the room into relative quiet for second and the two let go, each spinning off in opposite directions, both caught by the crowd. They both burst out laughing again and lurched to each other, an arm round the others shoulders, giggling madly.
They looked drunk, but not necessarily on alcohol.
Then Kei squealed with glee when the next song came on, and she gave Drake a big kiss on the cheek before dancing with Blair, Blair uncertainly copying Kei's style of movement.
I can't believe I've made it here
Today I'm afraid of yesterday
I wrote this letter to you, my dear
In case, afraid it fades away
I say baby, babe I've loved you a long time
I try harder just to know you're all mine
I say baby, babe I've loved you a long time
I grow happy knowing that you're alright
For a good hour or so, nothing particularly eventful happened, apart from 'Noodle' getting a bit green and quickly being pushed into one of the bathrooms to throw up, and then bundled into a cab and sent back to his dorm. Jenny sat at the top of the stairs, talking - or rather, slurring - with Elise, who was actually talking shyly with a sophomore boy who was in the Chess club. Serena had dragged Dan up to dance - a sight that gave Blair stitches in her sides from trying not to laugh. It didn't work of course, but it's the thought that counts. Blair had done a little circulating, something she was well practised in, perhaps a little rusty, but it all came back with ease, particularly considering that her smiles were completely real. Kei and Eric were laughing together over stories of Upper East Side society, something that Kei had yet to experience, but they were equally bemusing as her experiences of pseudo-aristocratic society in England. Drake was being harmlessly chatted up by Cosmo and his boyfriend as he once again acted DJ. Chuck had taken a break of sorts and was leaning against the railing on the landing, watching everything below him, ignoring every come-on and wink. Thus it was he who spotted trouble before anyone else.
Nate was pushing through the crowd to talk to Kei, who'd managed to successfully elude him the whole time, when he banged into someone's shoulder.
"Sorry, man..."
He trailed off. Pleasantries were not necessary for Carter Baizen. Carter's own apologies died halfway out, and his cool flickered for a moment from the unforeseen events. Neither was particularly happy to see the other, to say the least.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Nate demanded. Last time he'd seen Baizen his fist had been aiming for Baizen's nose.
Carter frowned slightly at Nate's blatant lack of manners. "That's none of your business, Archibald." He started to walk away, but Nate grabbed him by his shirt and yanked him back. He wasn't getting away that easily.
"Being here is none of your business either, Baizen." Nate spat out. Why couldn't the bastard just leave them all the hell alone?
Temper, temper...
"Look -"
"Hey!"
The two guys stopped and turned their heads to spy the source of the protestation. Nate immediately loosened his grip on Carter's shirt, his temper slowly being forgotten. It was Kei.
"What the hell are you doing?" Kei glared at him. "Let go of him." Nate glared at Carter. His temper wasn't that cooled yet. "Now, Archibald."
Archibald? Nate's grip slackened entirely and Carter pulled himself away from him. So formal... was now the right moment to ask her to call him Nate?
"Now, what were you doing?" Kei asked her own temper no less diffused.
"I was about to get this asshole to leave, for your information," Nate said, glaring again at Carter, who balled his fists in anger.
"Well, for your information, you're not my bouncer," Kei retorted. "And I suggest you go before I hire one."
"But..." He stared at her in shock, trying to ignore the smug look spreading over Carter's face. It was like Cotillion all over again. He wanted to reason with her, but the cold, serious expression on Kei's face advised him not to. It wouldn't do him any favours to disobey either. There had to be some good he could get out of this...
Suddenly he had an idea. Couldn't hurt...
"Alright," he conceded. He took a step towards Kei, getting much closer than she liked, her eyes narrowing. "On one condition." She raised an eyebrow, incredulous, as if silently saying 'I don't think you're in any position to set conditions'. Nevertheless... "Go on a date with me."
If he hadn't have been trying so hard, he'd have described the look on her face as priceless. Even Carter looked surprised, to say the least.
"You're insane."
Ignoring the sting, and the look of amusement on Carter's face, Nate pressed on. "Just once, sometime this week. And I'll leave."
Kei looked at him suspiciously. "Why on earth should I agree?" She asked, her tone heavy with doubt that he had a reason.
Nate shrugged innocently. "Because you don't want me to make a scene?"
Kei's face fell. He had her there. People were noticing, cell phones out and flashing. How very discreet of them. She wanted Nate gone; she didn't like seeing Blair tense up every time she spotted her ex-boyfriend, and it was pissing her off how he'd been trying to follow her through the crowds like a puppy-dog.
So against her better judgement, she quickly realised there wasn't a quicker and quieter way of handling the situation. "Fine. Monday, after school, book a table somewhere. Okay?" Nate smiled. Mission accomplished. "Now get out of my house."
Nate's smile faded, and he left feeling slightly low, but, as he rode the elevator down, he knew the thought of a date with the New Girl was going to give him a smile all weekend.
Back at the party, Kei watched closely as Nate left, to ensure that he did, in fact, leave. She took a deep breath to calm her temper, and then turned to the 'asshole'.
"I'm sorry about that," she said gently. Her eyes quickly examined the guy's shirt: black, with a loose red tie. It looked a little crinkled, but otherwise Nate's grip wasn't that damaging.
"It's nothing," came the reply.
She smiled. Then she tilted her head in curiosity. "We haven't been introduced properly, have we?"
"No," the guy chuckled. "I'm Carter Baizen; I'm a friend of Cosmo's." He stretched his hand out.
She smiled at his manners, and shook his hand. "Kei Katayama-Argen." Again, her curiosity peaked and Chuck's punch pushed the next words out before she could stop them. "The one who didn't show off his boxers, right?"
Carter laughed. "Yeah, I'm afraid I don't have any red underwear to show off, the tie's the best I can do."
Kei chuckled, outwardly at the joke and inwardly at how bad the joke was. Dear Lord, what on earth am I doing? "Fair enough."
"You're the hostess, right?" She nodded. "Quite a party you've thrown."
"Thanks."
"You're a senior too?" She nodded again. "Gotta tell you, this is a great deal better than some of parties I went to in my senior year. I'm surprised it's just Noodle who's thrown up so far, by now I would have expected at least two others for a party this size."
Kei grinned. "Wait an hour or so, then maybe do a recount of the night's casualties."
Chuck watched as Carter laughed at Kei's last comment, as the two fell easily into conversation by their curiosity, then got more drinks, and carried on talking. It was only when Drake put on a particular song and looked in Kei's direction was she interrupted, and she left Carter, who watched her as she vanished into the crowd again. At no point did either seem aware that Chuck had been watching them the whole time, inclined to interrupt, to carry on where Nate had left, but he didn't.
If the fish swam out of the ocean
And grew legs and they started walking
And the apes climbed down from the trees
And grew tall and started talking
And the stars fell out of the sky
And the tears rolled into the ocean
And I'm looking for a reason why
You even set my world into motion
'Cause if you're not really here
Then the stars don't even matter
Now I'm filled to the top with fear
That it's all just a bunch of matter
'Cause if you're not really here
Then I don't wanna be either
I wanna be next to you
Black and Gold, Black and Gold, Black and Gold
As he watched Kei and Drake dance together again, like a strange version of a tango this time, Chuck wondered why he hadn't interfered. He couldn't help noticing that it looked a little like when he'd seen Nate and Serena that time, watching from above and doing nothing to intervene. But this time was entirely different, save for the angle of the view. It wasn't his best friend cheating on his gorgeous girlfriend, or a best friend making the ultimate betrayal. Instead it was Carter Baizen, a crook of a cocky bastard, just talking to an acquaintance of his, a unique and independent girl who wouldn't appreciate Chuck, or indeed anyone, messing around with her life. Maybe she'd realise what a slimy worm Carter was on her own.
Or maybe he could give her a little help... After all, what are friends for?
120: Sensuality often hurries the growth of love too much, so that its roots remain weak and easy to extract.
Ok, as always: Gossip Girl, and the Friedrich Nietzsche quotes for Beyond Good and Evil etc does not belong to me.
Songs referenced (again, none of them belong to me either) are, in order: Don't Stop The Music by Rihanna, Hot 'n' Cold by Katy Perry, Singin' In The Rain by Mint Royale featuring Gene Kelly, Missing by Everything But The Girl, Another Chance by Roger Sanchez, Toca's Miracle by Fragma, Hummer by Foals, Epic Last Song by Does It Offend You Yeah?, and Black And Gold by Sam Sparro.
To Ellie, you're an absolute star, thank you for beta-ing again for me :-)
Everyone else reading: thankyou for sticking with me all the way to Chapter 10, please review!
Take care all xx