Updated/rewritten.


Blair wakes with a jolt. In the dark, murky light she can't quite make out her surroundings so she has to let her eyes adjust to the opaque room. When they do, she sees that she's in Dan Humphrey's bedroom and somehow she doesn't even feel a flicker of surprise.

Glancing over, she sees he isn't awake and that according to the clock on the nightstand, it's four in the morning. She squeezes her eyes closed, willing him not to wake up as she climbs out of his bed. It's apparent from the moment she pulls her dress back over her head that she will freeze on the walk home but she'll manage. It's summer after all and even though it may be brisk, it doesn't even compare in the slightest to the harsh New York winters she's endured.

She wonders if she should leave a note but then realizes she wouldn't know what to write.

So she slips out into the dawn without a word and fills the silent streets with the sound of her heels clicking against the pavement.

When she wakes again, it's nearly noon and she's slept halfway through what should have been a productive day. As she rushes to catch up on her packing and interview prep, she keeps finding her mind floating back to Dan. She feels a little guilty now in the harsh light of day for leaving without saying anything.

But she had broken their unspoken rule by sleeping over. It was embarrassing enough that she had let herself drift off to sleep in the company of her greatest enemy. What would she have said? Thanks for the sleepover Humphrey, see you next summer!

No, she tells herself, that was the right call. Had the situation been reversed, he would have done the same.

By five, she sees she's finished all the tasks on her list and now wishes she wouldn't have gotten into the minor riff with Kati and Isabel last night because she has nothing to do except sit and count down the minutes until she's out of this too cramped town. If she goes outside, there's the slight chance she might run into Dan which makes her skin prickle. She can't see him again, not after last night aka the last time.

So she's confined to this cottage and resigns herself to more interview prep. She does so much digging on the company, she could probably write a biography of the founder, alone. Luckily, the endless research does make her grow weary and by nine, she's able to fall asleep.


As scheduled, her alarm begins chiming at five thirty. Slivers of early sunlight creep through the curtains and once she's risen, she pulls them open to let in more light. As she's making her way to the kitchen to start the espresso maker, the doorbell chimes. It's far too early for a visitor or even a package delivery, but she supposes it could be her mother here to try to persuade her to stay and prepare the Waldorf Designs fall presentation with her. There had been a not so subtle guilt trip about Blair "abandoning the family business at a crucial time" when she informed her mother of her new job prospect.

Worse yet it could be Aaron sent to drive Blair to the airport and remind her of her familial duties in order to inspire a last-minute change of heart. He did offer to play chauffeur, rather insistently. In case it is him, she pulls her slinky silk robe around herself tighter and approaches the door with hesitation. The last thing she wants is his prying eyes on her braless chest at this ungodly hour.

Something like relief floods her when she sees who its. But she tells herself the feeling is only stirred by the fact that anyone's presence would be preferable to that of Aaron Rose.

"Humphrey," Blair says with a note of surprise. "What are you doing here?"

She takes in his appearance and sees that he's a hollower, more disheveled version of the Dan Humphrey she saw on Friday night. There are faint circles under his eyes, his hair is impossibly more rumpled than usual, and there's an emotion in his eyes she can't quite place.

He's still silent, as though he's taking her appearance in too and it makes her momentarily self-conscious. Quickly, Blair realizes this is ridiculous since he's seen her in far less clothing but she pulls her robe closer to her, anyway.

Finally, Dan lets out a breath, dark eyes trained on her.

"I'm in love with you." It's not so much a statement as it is a proclamation. One that halts both her breath and the beating of her heart.

His words continue in a rush. "I haven't stopped thinking about you. About us. What we could be. Despite our mutual claim of disdain, I think we both know hatred is far from what we feel for each other. You are the last person I would ever, in good conscious, fall in love with. You care far more for the wellbeing of the clothing you wear than for that of your friends. You are the embodiment of everything I hate about the Upper East Side masked by a deceptively doe-eyed face that manages to charm everyone around you enough to let your penchant for bon-mot tossing and label-whoring seem all the more endearing. Yet, I love you. And I-"

He falters here, a breath catching in his lungs, seemingly. "I think you feel the same. So let's stop this charade of hatred and admit it was never just hate sex between us."

Blair stares back in complete bafflement and bewilderment. Her mind reels as his words replay in her head.

The embodiment of everything I hate.

What the fuck?

Indignation flares in her veins and she can barely manage a response. "Charade? There's no charade, Humphrey. If anything you just confirmed my long-standing hatred of you. Since the moment I met you, I knew I would never feel anything but loathing for you. You are the most judgemental person I have ever met and you can't even set aside your prejudices to proclaim your apparent love. In fact, it's unequivocally clear from everything you just said that you feel just as abhorrent towards me as I do to you."

A memory ignites in her mind and she continues on, more heated. "You've shown the same disregard towards my own feelings as you have to Serena. I know you broke up her and Nate."

Dan, who's remained mostly stoic until now merely displaying a mix of regret and dismay finally speaks. "How would you know that? Not that it's even true."

"Serena told me Nate was reminded by a 'close friend' that his campaign was far more important than his feelings for her." Blair hisses. "I wonder who that could be."

"I merely warned him that he might be losing sight of his priorities. Serena seemed flippant towards him and he was getting too invested." Dan retaliates. "You would do the same for her, I'm sure if you felt it would protect her."

"What about Carter?" Blair launches her next argument. "You got him kicked out of Dartmouth and were an asshole to him all summer despite the fact he's changed. You're the one performing character assassinations of everyone in the Hamptons and never once giving anyone a chance to prove you wrong. Yet you call me the superficial one."

"You can't honestly be defending Carter. I had a feeling but I didn't want to confirm my suspicions. Is he your ex? The breakup you mentioned?"

"Yes," Blair replies, steelier than ever. She lets out a puff of air. "I really don't have time to be defending my choices to you because if you recall, I have a plane to catch. So if that's all…"

She begins closing the door but not before Dan says one last thing.

"You deserve a lot better than Carter Baizen."

As Blair's eyes meet Dan's- observing the hurt reflected in his brown irises, a stab of regret hits her in the chest. She watches him turn and leave with a slump to his shoulders. Her heart begins to bleed in instant remorse, it pouring out of her so strong that she wishes she could rewind the moment.

But it's already over.

Dan Humphrey is gone and she has a plane to catch.