The next morning, clarity and regret flooded Blair. She had cheated on Emerson. Even if it was still a new relationship, it was wrong. That wasn't her at all. Especially not given how badly it hurt when she found out about Nate and Serena. So the whole week she debated telling Emerson and settled on not telling him. She felt like a horrible person and knew she would if she told him or not. She didn't want to cause him that same, impacting pain she had felt.
It was an impetuous decision made in the heat of the moment, that was all. She got caught up in the magic of the day with Dan and gave in. It would only hurt Emerson to find out. He had been too sweet for her to do that. She had come home on Monday to see peonies on her doorstep, there was no note but she knew that he had done it to be romantic.
The problem she was still working out was Dan. Obviously it would be foolish to continue their friendship after what had happened. She couldn't be around him if that was what would happen. She had no idea though how to. She decided for now, she would play it cool. He hadn't brought up what happened so he certainly must feel the same way about how reckless it was. She actually hadn't even seen him since then and it was almost one week exactly. He must really regret it, she thought.
On Sunday though, their was a knock on her door. Dan.
"Hey, coffee?" He said breezily with an easy smile. "It's Sunday."
"Oh." She was dumbstruck by his sudden appearance. She had forgotten all about their coffee routine. "I guess."
He looked at her quizzically and then brushed it off. "Ready?"
"Sure." Blair stepped into her apartment again to get her bag.
"How are you?" She said while swaying slightly.
"Well, you? I didn't hear from you all week."
She nodded and then said, "I'm well too."
She looked down at the ground as they walked. She knew sleeping together had ruined their friendship. She couldn't even make conversation with him. But Dan pressed on asking about her week, telling her about his, it was like nothing had happened. She was completely confused.
Then, at the coffee shop he sat closer to her than usual and brushed against her so many times she was positive it couldn't be unintentional. After they were done drinking their coffees, she had enough. Her whole body was jittery from the caffeine and nerves from being around him. There was another reason too, she was finding it hard not to flashback to last Sunday. He looked so cute in his wrinkled chambray shirt and smiling easily. It made her want to…
"Blair?" His voice broke her thoughts.
"Hm?"
"Did you want to go do something? Movies? Museum?"
"I need to get back."
"Oh, okay then. I guess next Sunday then."
"Right." Blair nodded and rose from the table. She walked fast back towards the complex and she could tell Dan could barely keep up with her quick stride.
"Dan, I'm sorry." Blair said as they reached her apartment after the reached her floor in the complex. She was unable to take the tension anymore.
Dan looked confused and taken aback. "Dan? What's wrong? You never use my name? What are you apologizing for?" He let out a little laugh.
She just stared at him and started to open her mouth but closed it again. "Nothing, never mind." Then she darted into her apartment and closed the door behind her, breathless.