A/N: Sorry it's taken so long again. I changed my pen name to Bellxoxo so i hope that didn't confuse you =] Had a bit of trouble with this chapter and re-wrote it a few times but decided to just get on with it.
Soon enough New Years Eve rolled around and everyone was heading to a Gala hosted by Chuck and Bass industries at the Palace. It was Chuck and Blair's first outing as a couple and pretty much everyone was going to be there. Including Vanessa. When Chuck had sheepishly informed Blair of this she had been livid but Vanessa was only going because Eve and Luke were going and she wanted to be with her children. This didn't do much to console Blair but she let it go. She wouldn't want to apart from her children on New Years Eve either if she could help it.
After Eve had stormed out on Christmas eve, Chuck and Luke had been staying at Blair's. Luke had inhabited the guest room that Chuck used to use and they had settled into a family like feel. Chuck was happy with this but Eve still wasn't returning his calls. He had tried to get in touch with her everyday since Christmas but she wasn't having any of it. Vanessa wasn't helping the situation any. If anything she was fueling her daughter's anger which in turn made Chuck more angry at her.
It was as they were getting ready for the Gala that Chuck spoke up about something he had been thinking quite a lot about since their return from France.
"Blair." He called to get her attention from the mirror where she was trying to decide on the best way to do her hair. She was wearing the Erikson Beamon necklace with a beautiful floor length midnight blue gown that Chuck had bought for her as her Christmas present along with a diamond bracelet.
"Mmm." Was his reply as she twisted a strand of hair on her finger.
"I know it's soon, but I was thinking that we could buy a place."
"A place?"
"Yeah, as in a place to live."
"You want us to move in together?" She asked slowly and his face fell.
"Well if you don't want to." He spat and started to aggressively re-tie his perfectly knotted tie.
Blair sighed and went over to wear he was standing. He tried to escape her grasp but she grabbed hold of his hands and held them in hers.
"I would love to live with you." She told him with no degree of uncertainty.
"But..." He continued for her.
She looked up into his eyes and started to tie his tie for him. When she was done she carried on speaking.
"I'd just rather not have to move again. I don't want to put the kids through that and it took me ages to find this place and get it just how I wanted. I'm too busy with the new line now to do that all again. So what I'm saying Bass, if you'd given me the chance, is that would you move in here with me?"
"Well why didn't you just say that to begin with?" He smirked and wrapped his arms around her waist. She scoffed but ignored it and spun her around to face the floor length mirror behind them.
"I have to say Waldorf, you look exceptional." He kissed her softly on the cheek.
"We both do." She said quietly before turning around to claim his mouth.
"We should probably get going before we make ourselves late." Blair said as she pulled away.
"What's wrong with being fashionably late?" Chuck asked.
"Nothing, but I got you out of that tux I wouldn't want you to put it back on again. So come on, let's go."
XOXO
Bree stood in her bedroom adding the finishing touches to her make up. She was wearing a light blue cocktail dress from the new line of Waldorf designs. She looked in the mirror and felt happy with her appearance. At least that was one thing she could be happy with. She hadn't spoke to Sean since the blast and only planned to tonight so she could end things with him. She didn't want to hear his excuses. She wasn't going to take that risk.
She had been thinking about it non-stop and decided that it was better that it happened early in their relationship so that she could escape without a broken heart. Wounded pride, maybe but her heart was still fully functional.
All week she had been convincing herself that Sean had too much baggage and that she was happy being single. If she wanted to date someone she would look for someone who had no connection with the UES or her school or anyone she already knew.
She hadn't been out the last few days she said that she just wanted to spend time with her family and although Luke and Will knew the truth, they didn't push her talk. Her mom had tried to get her to open up but Bree didn't want to. She felt that she was being petty and other people wouldn't understand her reasoning so she decided that she wouldn't talk to anyone. She would get it over and done with and not feel sorry for herself and not let anyone else feel sorry for her either. It could have been so much worse but she wasn't going to let it.
She was meeting Taylor at the Gala and she knew that she would be worried about her as she hadn't returned any of her calls over the last few days but she did want to see her friend. She had missed her. She also decided that it was time to go nuclear on Eve. There would be no mercy. Her mom and Chuck were together now so she didn't have to worry about being an obstacle and if her mom told her to stop then she would just keep it undercover and avoid doing any of the dirty work herself. That's just how it would have to be.
She made her way downstairs to where Will and Luke were already waiting.
"Well that's one of three." Will spoke as she reached them and it was not long before Chuck and Blair had also joined them. They all headed down in the elevator and got into the awaiting limo. Chuck and Blair sat on one seat together and spoke to Will, while Luke pulled Bree to the other end of the limo in hopes of getting her to speak.
"Are you okay?" He asked quietly.
"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?"
"I just thought that with the blast and everything-"
"I'm fine. I'm glad I found out this early. I'll end things with Sean and be better off."
"Bree, come on. It was just a hug."
"How long before it becomes something more. You know what? No, there was a reason I didn't talk to anyone about this. I have my own reasons so just butt out, alright?" As her volume increased they caught the attention of the three other occupiers of the limo who looked at them confused. They ignored them and Luke went on to speak quietly.
"Sean's a good guy. He's not going to hurt you." Luke felt weird encouraging her to be with someone who used to be his best friend and who he hoped after tonight would return to being his best friend. He had had feelings for Bree but as he started to accept his father's relationship with her mother he realised that nothing would ever come of them. She had been for their parents relationship since day one so she wouldn't go there, and he doubted that she felt anything for him anyway.
And he may have had feelings for her but they were nothing monumental and they had fallen into a sibling like relationship quite easily. They had spent a lot of time together in the past week but he had been able to tell that she wasn't happy.
The five of them arrived at the Palace and the driver opened the door for them to get out of the limo. Will got out first and there was a flash of camera's. Luke and Bree followed with Bree walking ahead of him, a scowl on her face.
Chuck and Blair sat in the limo for a moment ready to make their grand entrance. No one except family knew about their relationship yet and they were lucky that the press were unaware as to whose limo was sitting there. Chuck looked at Blair and grasped her hand tightly. He stepped out of the limo first and she quickly followed. The flashbulbs almost blinded them as the different photographers tried to get a picture of the new couple. As they walked down the carpet into the hotel Chuck let go of Blair's hand and placed it on her lower back to guide her inside. Neither said anything but they both knew that that had gone quite well.
Eve who had arrived just after her father watched him walk down the red carpet with his new girlfriend. She felt her mother tug at her arm and when she turned to look at her Vanessa smiled tightly. It was unfortunate that they had arrived just after Chuck and Blair and Eve was slightly annoyed that the flurry that they had cause meant that not many of the photographers were paying attention as to who had arrived after.
Inside, Bree grabbed a glass of champagne and headed over to where her minions were standing. It was quite the event and everyone was there but a random was holding an after party and everyone was invited. Bree hadn't planned to go but as she stood with the other girls she figured there would be no harm in it. Taylor kept trying to talk with her privately but she kept brushing her off and kept a smile on her face. To anyone who knew her, including her mother, it was clear that this smile was fake but by her fourth glass of champagne the smiling became easier and she was having a great time. She hadn't seen Sean yet and hoped she wouldn't have to, she didn't need her night ruined. She had seen Eve though, who smiled at her smugly from across the room.
Bree stumbled out to the bathroom and was avoiding her mother at all costs. She knew that if Blair saw her like this she would never let her go to the after party and would send her home immediately so she figured it was best to stay in hidden corners or hallways where no one would find her. She entered the ladies lounge and realised that it was empty. She sighed in relief and sat down on the arm chair in the middle of the room.
Alone with her thoughts and drunk she realised how miserable she really was. She felt her resolution slipping and her willingness to give Sean the chance to explain himself was increasing. She decided to sober herself up and go and find him. She wasn't going to drunkenly through herself at him, but maybe giving him the chance to explain would be more fair. She stood up to leave when the door opened.
Vanessa walked in and stopped when she saw Bree. She sneered at her and closed the door behind her. Bree could tell that Vanessa was at least a few drinks past tipsy by this point, worse than herself which Bree thought was quite embarrassing for a grown woman in her late thirties. Bree couldn't help herself.
"Lacking in class must be hereditary. You and Eve make quite the pair." She smirked.
"I guess being a bitch is too."
"Better a bitch than a worn out hag. What are you even doing here? Chuck loves my mom and it just makes you look even more pathetic by showing up to his event like this. You don't belong in this world. No matter how hard you try."
Vanessa wasn't phased. She was too drunk. "You really are like Blair. She was a bully too. You know, Chuck may love her but he's the only person who ever could. She's heartless, cold and a horrible person, she only lucked out that she found someone as screwed up as her. I doubt that will happen twice.
You're ike her but I've got a feeling you won't be able to find someone the way she has. You're beautiful, I'll give you that, so you won't end up alone but what you'll get will be so much worse. You'll have one of those marriages, the ones that populate the Upper East Side. Where there is no love, your husband won't care about you, just that you look good. It's empty and you'll become empty. Sean won't stick with you for long, he'll end up with someone like Eve. Someone who actually has a heart." Vanessa spat and turned and left to find another bathroom.
She knew that it was harsh to say that to a child but the girl was Blair Waldorf's daughter and she had been hurting her own daughter and what she had said had just struck the wrong chord with her.
Bree stood alone. She didn't know how Vanessa had managed it but she had just tapped into Bree's deepest fear. She was terrified of being alone and never wanted to end up in a marriage like that. One that her parents had. She wouldn't be able to handle it. She'd be a pill popping alcoholic by her thirtieth birthday, she was sure of it. She didn't want to be alone.
XOXO
Chuck and Blair worked the room all night like the stunning couple they were. Everyone was watching them and they knew it but they didn't care. They were enjoying themselves. Blair felt like she was walking on air, she was so happy.
The countdown started and Chuck and Blair found themselves in the middle of the room. Blair stared into his eyes as she listened to the chanting around them and as it hit zero she kissed him. She kissed him with everything in her. He pulled her tighter and continued the kiss. Blair pulled away and smiled at him.
"Happy New Year, Chuck." She whispered. He held her and made a decision.
"Marry me."
"What?" She laughed.
"I want to be your husband. I want everything with you and I don't want to wait. I want to ring in next year with you as my wife. I'll give a proper proposal soon but give me your word tonight. Tell me you'll marry me."
"Chuck. It's all happening too quickly."
"No it's not. It's been twenty years in the making." He pulled her tighter to him. Afraid that he would lose her. "Blair" He pleaded.
They stood in silence as people around them sang auld lang syne but all Blair could hear and see was her future flashing before her eyes. There was one with Chuck and one without and she knew without a doubt which one she would always choose no matter what it entailed. She felt Chuck studying her expression, waiting for any kind of clue.
She looked up to meet his eyes and smiled as she nodded her head.
He laughed happily as he brought her in for a kiss.
"I want a fall wedding." She told him.
"Done. Anything you want. I'm fully prepared for you to become a complete bridezilla." He smiled widely and Blair thought it was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen and she felt so blessed that she was able to make someone feel that way. That she was able to bring someone such happiness and that he granted it to her in return.
In the midst of all the excitement they didn't notice that most of the younger crowd had disappeared. Bree had said that she would be staying with Taylor tonight. This was always the excuse she used as Taylor's parents were never around and Blair trusted her enough to not get into any trouble. They headed upstairs to the suite where the party was being held. When they got there they discovered it was Greg Baizen, Bree's sort of ex.
It was half one when Bree's plan began to fall into place. She had heard a story from her mom about something called a nairtini and had decided to try it out. One of her minions was going to through the drink but she would be on hand to enjoy the view.
As Eve began to shriek and her minions moved her towards the bathroom, Bree noticed that Sean had been standing just behind the action. He looked angry but Bree couldn't quite figure out why. She could barely read his facial expression with the way her head was spinning. He walked towards her and grabbed her by the elbow as he led her outside.
"What are doing?"
"What are you talking about?" She slurred slightly.
"You know what I'm talking about. The Nairtini, getting into it again with Eve. I thought you said that you wanted to end all that."
"I should have known you'd take her side. It didn't take long for you to go running back, did it?"
"Is this about the blast? I tried to call you. It meant nothing, she was just upset about her Dad and she was alone-"
"I don't care Sean. Go be with the whore if that's what you want."
"Why are you talking like this? Why are you being such a bitch?" He asked getting impatient. He honestly thought that she wouldn't have reacted this badly to the blast. He thought that she would trust him when he said he didn't have feelings for Eve anymore.
"It's who I am, Sean."
"Then I guess I don't know you." He said and she nodded. "And I don't want to."
"Stop being so self righteous, Sean. I don't buy it."
"Whatever. I'm done here."
"Already beat you to it." She responded.
"Is there any reason your being so childish?" He asked. "You know what? I don't care either, Bree. Have fun with your minions and your war. I hope it leaves you as empty as it should."
Sean turned around and left, unaware of the impact of his words, or one word in particular. Empty. She was going to end up empty, it seemed like everyone thought that. She hadn't really heard everything that Sean said but she definitely heard empty. Bree tried to ignore what he said but it had cut her deep and when she went back into the party she saw him leaving with Eve. She saw that she had her head covered with a scarf and smirked but it did little to dull the pain when she saw Sean leaving with her.
Bree grabbed another drink and headed towards the makeshift dance floor. She started dancing with Taylor who was eying her weirdly. She too had seen the Nairtini and thought it was out of character but she decided that this once Eve deserved it. She stole Sean. Taylor tried again with no success to get Bree to talk. When she had enough she tried to get Bree to go home with her but Bree refused. They ended up getting in an argument and Taylor left when Luke said he'd keep an eye on her.
Bree stayed dancing when someone came up behind her. She turned to see Jason Sparks, known to most people as Jay. He was a junior and a complete man whore. He was looking at Bree with a predatory look and she ignored the voice in her head that told her to walk away. He had a mohawk and she had no idea where he got the idea that it was a good look but he worked it. They danced for a while and he kissed her. She let him because it felt good to feel wanted.
She even kissed him back when he took her into one of the private rooms.
She even kissed him back when he undressed her.
She didn't kiss him when he took her virginity.
He paused when he came across her barrier, confusion crossing his features for a brief moment before he carried on.
It was painful and she didn't feel any of the pleasure she had read about in magazines or her friends had told her about.
When he was finished he left the room and she was alone.
She was alone.
She felt nothing.
She felt empty.
She heard a knocking at the door and looked up at Luke as he walked in. He looked at her nervously. She didn't realise that her face was soaked with tears.
"Take me home." She whimpered quietly and he nodded and complied.
A/N: Okay that chapter didn't go how I expected but I quite like it. The whole Bree angsty thing came out of nowhere but I really wanted to get into the teen experience lol. I actually felt quite proud of the last part of the story and sorry it's kind of short but I had to end it there.
Did you notice my use of a second Glee guy? Lol. I wonder when the other will pop up. Anyway hope you enjoyed it. Please review I love reading your thoughts and I will hope to have a new update soon. I have tonnes of ideas now as well.
