Sorry the last chapter was so short! This one is a bit longer. Enjoy!
...
Blair let out a content sigh as Chuck kissed her neck softly. He heard his phone chime and rolled his eyes. "Let me turn that off."
He reached for the phone and saw Serena's text. He let out an involuntarily low growl.
Blair looked over at him. "What's taking you so long? Get over here."
"I'll be right back."
"Okay…"
Chuck got up and walked to his study. He was too distracted by dialing Serena's number to close the door behind him all the way.
Blair quietly followed Chuck and peaked through the slightly open door.
Chuck paced back and forth in his study. "Serena. What's going on?"
Blair frowned. Why did Chuck and Serena need to be sneaking around making phone calls so late?
"Is that everything? Maybe it was just speculation. Look, we're in this together. I will do whatever I have to do to keep you here. You can't do that. No."
Blair wished she could hear what Serena was saying on the other end. Was she being paranoid? Chuck would never…and Serena would never…plus she had Nate.
"No, Blair will probably be asleep soon anyway. She's had a lot of wine. Can you get rid of Nate?"
Blair's mouth fell open in shock. That son of a bitch. She walked back to her room and locked herself in.
…
"Are you free for lunch?"
Serena looked up to see Nate smiling at her. "Uh, actually I have a meeting but I'll be home for dinner."
Nate nodded. "Are you alright? You seem a little distracted since the gala last night."
Serena nodded. "Yup. Sorry, just kinda tired. Not used to being out past midnight on weekends. I'll see you later."
Nate smiled. "Later." He pulled out his phone and called Chuck. "Hey man. Haven't seen you in a couple of days. Are you free for lunch?"
Chuck seemed stressed on the other end. "Sorry, I have a meeting. Maybe tomorrow. Gotta go."
Nate pulled his phone away from his cheek and frowned. Great. He'd have lunch at his office again.
…
Nate looked up when he heard someone barge in his office. It was a puffy-eyed Blair. Lisa immediately followed. "Sorry, I tried to keep her out but she –"
"It's okay. You can leave us." He walked over to Blair. "Are you alright?"
Blair shook her head. "I think something terrible is happening to us."
Nate gave her a concerned look. "Okay…"
"It's Chuck…and Serena…they're…they're…"
"Blair you're not saying anything."
"They're….you know." She widened her eyes and looked at him.
Nate almost wanted to laugh. "What? Are you seriously implying that Chuck and Serena are having an affair? What the fuck, Blair?"
"I know it's crazy. But I overheard something last night…something about sneaking off to meet each other. Oh God."
"Blair, they would never do that. Have you mentioned this to Chuck?"
Blair shook her head.
Nate got up. "Come on. We're going to visit Chuck and clearing this up right now."
Nate looked at the time. It was lunchtime. He walked into Chuck's office with Blair in tow. His secretary immediately stood up. "You can't go in there. He's in a very important meeting with a very private client."
Nate sighed and looked at Blair. "We can wait."
Blair shook her head. "Like hell we can!" She walked over to open the door but it was locked. She knocked on it loudly. "Open the door you Basstard."
Nate pulled Blair back. "Blair, calm down. This is just a huge misunderstanding –" Nate stopped talking when Chuck opened the door slightly. He looked at them. "What are you guys doing here? You can't come in right now."
Blair reached around him and pushed the door open as hard as she could. Serena stood in the middle of the room and looked at them with a surprised expression.
…
Nate suddenly got a piercing headache.
Serena looked at them. "What's going on? It's just me."
Nate shook his head. "Jesus fucking Christ. Please tell me this isn't what it looks like."
Serena and Chuck both gave him a confused look.
"The late night calls and the secret meetings. Your door was locked! Don't give us that stupid look."
Realization crept into Serena's mind. "Oh god! No! What? How could you even think that?"
Chuck wanted to laugh. "Oh, please. Tell me you didn't actually think that we were what…cheating on you guys? That's ridiculous."
Nate shook his head. He felt so stupid. "No. I don't know what I'm thinking. So what are you guys doing?"
Blair crossed her eyes and had frown lines deep set between her eyes. Chuck and Serena both gave her pleading looks and she understood. "Oh my god. Are you going to propose?"
Chuck looked surprised but quickly recovered. "Yes. We were planning…Serena was helping me. I wanted it to be perfect. Right Serena?"
Serena shook her head. "No. I'm sorry. I can't keep this up anymore."
…
Serena watched the tv intently. Cyrus stepped out of the podium to give his knees. "We have gotten reports that Ms. Van der Woodsen is being stalked and harassed by the press. We are also being stalked and harassed by the press. This is extremely disrespectful to her privacy and that of Mr. Archibald's. It is true that they are taking some time apart while they work out their differences. This is a very painful situation for both parties and we ask that their privacy be respected. No questions. Thank you."
Cyrus walked out of the pressroom immediately and the camera turned back to the reporter.
Serena shut the TV off and sat on her floor. There was a knock on the door and she turned to see Lily. "I brought you some soup."
Serena had been living with her mom for the past few days. She couldn't stand being alone in her apartment for even one night. "Thanks."
"Nate worships you, Serena. He will forgive you for whatever you've done and it'll all work out. You'll see."
She sniffled and nodded.