"So let me see if I've got this correct… In the time that I've been in New York, Rob broke up with you because he met this girl over the summer, the two of you ended on good terms so now your dating Mike Montgomery. And Aria doesn't know about it yet, your working with the other girls on the memorial for Allison, you aced your calculus test, taught Milo a new trick and found out that Bryon Montgomery cheated on Ella with one of his students before they moved to Iceland and you booked me a dentist appointment whilst in the middle of studying for the SAT's?" Reed asked as he and Blair walked around the local book store on a Sunday morning, her dad had some business to sort of there as he was going to do a book signing when his book was going on general sale next week. Blair tagged along so she hang out with her dad a bit as although she had been busy whilst he had been gone, she had certainly missed him.
"That's pretty much all of it dad." Blair said, excluding the fact that she had some anonymous person somewhat stalking her and the rest of her friends with weird messages and signed them with the letter A. Blair also left out the Detective Wilden part as her dad would freak out if he knew Wilden had been sniffing around, questioning them at school and just being a general pain in the ass.
"Here I thought you'd be bored with your old man out of town." Reed said with a chuckle.
"Not really as you can see." Blair lightheartedly replied.
"So you and Mike, eh? That was kind of unexpected but how are things going between the two of you?" Reed asked.
"Really good so far, we're keeping things quiet until after Mike's birthday and right now he's got a lot on his plate with everything that's going on with his parents. Mike's not sure what's going on between them as things keep changing but I've told him that maybe they'll work it out... Then there is the whole telling Aria that I'm dating her little brother which I'm not sure how she'll react to hearing. So you can't tell anyone at the moment dad as it's top secret, only you, Petra and Hanna know about me and Mike for now and I'd kind of like it to stay that way until I figure out how to go about anything." Blair idly explained as her and her dad continued walking around the bookshop occasionally stop to glance over at some books.
"Sure thing sweetheart but you should tell Aria, the sooner the better…" Reed began before he noticed something or rather someone. "Excuse me Blair, I've just spotted Leslie, so I'll quickly grab her and sort out this last minute business for the book signing next week and then we can go to lunch. Go look around and if you see any books you want, pick it up and we'll get it."
Blair watched as her father walked away to sort out his business and Blair took her father's advice and wondered around the bookshop, casually glancing at books until she came face to face with Mr. Fitz; her new unbelievably good looking new English teacher. "Hey Mr. Fitz…"
"Hi Blair."
"What are you doing here Mr. Fitz?" Blair began until she realized how silly that was of her given that if she was in here looking for a book, other people would be too including Mr. Fitz. "Stupid question, your in a book store so your obviously looking for a book."
"Don't worry Blair, it wasn't a stupid question as generally I do go to bookstores to buy book but I'm actually here to pre-order a book, one of my favourite authors has a new book coming out next week. He's actually a local here in Rosewood… Reed Swanson, you may have heard of him?" Mr. Fitz explained and Blair couldn't believe her luck. Her hot English teacher had just told her that he was a fan of her father's work.
"I know him very well actually, Reed Swanson is my dad." Blair announced and she couldn't help but notice the smile that graced Mr. Fitz face and Blair was lucky that she didn't start swooning there and then given how easy on the eyes Mr. Fitz was and that smile of his looked like it was carved by an angel. Blair had to remind herself that whilst Mr. Fitz was nice to look at, she did have a boyfriend. A very nice one at that.
"Of course, your surname is Swanson too… I should have realized as I doubt Swanson is a very popular name here in Rosewood. Forgive me for sounding very wax lyrical about your dad Blair but I am a big fan of his work, I have all his books and they've been read many times to the point where they would be completely be worn out if I didn't have them in hardback." Mr. Fitz said and Blair couldn't help but smile, she was proud of her dad but hearing people talk about being fans of his working and how much they enjoyed his books always made her beam with pride.
"Well he's here if you want to meet him Mr. Fitz?" Blair offered/
"I couldn't do that, the two of you are clearly spending time together and I don't want to interrupt that."
"Mr. Fitz, I spend more than enough time with my dad and trust it's fine, my dad loves all the attention his books bring him and hearing how much someone enjoys his work is like motivation for him. Hearing what his fans things always makes him want to be constantly deliver for his readers which pushed him to make each book better." Blair explained in an attempt to convince her English teacher that he wasn't going to interrupt the precious Swanson daddy daughter time by coming over to meet her dad.
"Are you sure?" Mr. Fitz questioned.
"Yeah, it's no problem." Blair replied as she motioned for Mr. Fitz to follow her and the two of them went about looking for her dad, until they found him standing near the cash register just finishing up his conversation with the manager of the bookstore Leslie.
"Blair I thought I told you to come back with a few books I could buy for you, I'm pretty sure I didn't say about a man because as you know slavery is illegal and something we do not support in the slightest." Reed began and Blair just rolled her eyes, some of her dad's jokes were not funny in the slightest.
"Dad I'd like you to meet Mr. Fitz, my new English teacher..." Blair began making introductions. "And Mr. Fitz this is my father Reed Swanson."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Swanson, I suppose you hear this all the time but I'm a huge fan of your work." Mr. Fitz said and Reed stuck out his hand and the two men shook hands.
"I never tire of hearing it and please call me Reed."
"Then feel free to cell me Ezra." Mr. Fitz said and Blair couldn't help but mentally say the name in her head, Ezra Fitz. It sounded like a very nice name and it seemed to fit Mr. Fitz very nicely. Good name for an incredibly handsome man. "You gave a lecture at Hollis two years ago to my class and I was mesmerized by how you explained the use of metaphors and symbolism in your writing. Not to mention the dark imagery you use and your references to Edgar Allen Poe in all your work."
"I think it's becoming apparently obvious that I am a huge fan of the works of Edgar Allen Poe, I find him along with Shakespeare and Kurt Vonnegut to be absolute geniuses.""
"We are what we pretend to be –" Blair began.
"–So we must be careful about what we pretend to be." Mr. Fitz finished.
Reed laughed. "Very impressive."
"So dad I ran into Mr. Fitz and you'll never guess what? He was here to order a copy of The House of Octavious. Apparently he has all your others books…" Blair explained.
"Is that so? I'm very flattered as the fans are the ones who have put me here so it's good to give back, so Ezra how would like a copy of my new book a week before it goes on general sale?" Reed offered and Blair could see that Mr. Fitz was slightly taken by this offer. "There is a box in my office filled with about fifteen copies of The House of Octavious, I'll sign a copy for you and I'll have Blair drop it off to you at school tomorrow."
"I'd love that Reed but I can't accept that, it's not fair to everyone else who has to wait."
"I like you Ezra, you're a man of good morals and obviously good taste, not to mention your teaching my daughter the joys of English yes you can accept this. I just ask that you let me know what you think of the book, oh and be of help to Blair if she ever needs it. You'd think that having an author as a father would have her come to me on help with English assignments but no she doesn't come to me. I offer but she never excepts my help as she claims that I'll influence her and it won't be her work, but my work under her name." Reed explained.
"I'll do my best." Mr. Fitz said, and after a few more minutes talking with Blair and her dad he excuse himself and went on his way.
"Blair I know you mentioned Mr. Fitz briefly, but I see you neglected to mention just how good looking Ezra is. The man is absolutely beautiful, wonders how you manage to pay attention in class…" Reed noted and Blair couldn't help but laugh. Her dad was a funny one but he did speak the truth.
The next morning was a Monday but not just any Monday, but Blair's 17th birthday and it was a beautiful day or it started off as one until Blair had received an early morning message from A on her front step when she was leaving for school. By the door there sat a small white box, the kind you got from bakeries. On top of it was a small envelope with Blair's name written on it and when she opened it the card read Happy Birthday B, better eat your cake and enjoy it when you can –A. Despite knowing the package would no doubt be anything good Blair still found herself opening it and she was write. Inside the package was cupcake, but not any normal cupcake. It was a worms and maggots cupcake and upon seeing it Blair's breakfast had almost made another appearance. Blair quickly discarded of the birthday present from hell and made her way into school.
Upon her arrival Blair was greeted by Noel Kahn all of people who scooped her into a bear hug before wishing her happy birthday very loudly. After thanking and detangling herself from Noel, Blair walked away and was going to go grab coffee but on her way she walked past Mr. Fitz's class. Backtracking a couple of steps, Blair stood in the doorway of his class and knocked on the doorframe. "Mr. Fitz?"
"Hey Blair, come on in…" Mr. Fitz said.
"I have the book for you." Blair began as walked over to Mr. Fitz's desk and pulled out the copy of her father's newest book and handed it over to Mr. Fitz.
"Wow… Thank you so much Blair."
"Wait, there's more. My dad said to take a look inside as there was something for you." Blair said and she watched as Mr. Fitz gingerly open the book and flick through the pages and then she watched as a smile appeared on his face.
"To Ezra, whilst I am incredibly lucky to have you as fan in reality it is I, who is a fan of what you do. They so those who can't do teach but I've never been one to believe that, as it was an English teacher just like you who natured my talent to write and encouraged my dreams. You may not know it but you inspire those angry teenagers and someday once the ranging hormones have settled down, they'll thank you for everything you've done for them. – All the best Reed Swanson." Mr. Fitz read out and after he did Blair watched as he took a deep breath and sighed. "Your dad really has a way with words."
"He does." Blair agreed.
"After meeting your dad yesterday and talking to him, well the both of you I went home I remembered something about your books. So I went home to check to see if I was right and I was, you are the beloved Blair who your father dedicates every single one of his books to." Mr. Fitz stated and Blair slowly nodded. "It's a very sweet thing for him to do."
"Do you want to know why he does that?" Blair asked.
"Isn't it because he loves you?" Mr. Fitz questioned and Blair couldn't help but chuckle.
"That's true but it's actually because my dad finished the first draft of The Sinners Paradise when I was six weeks old and sent it to a publisher and they liked it and told him that they wanted to publish it. The Sinners Paradise went on to be a best seller and it kick started my dad's career as before then he had been rejected numerous times. In terms of the dedications my dad dedicated the first one to me for nostalgic reasons as he had just became a dad. But since then he does it because under some weird notion he believes I'm his lucky charm, he says that I'm the one who changed everything for him as it wasn't until I was born that he became a success." Blair explained.
"You don't seem to believe that Blair, if you don't mind me saying." Mr. Fitz stated and Blair laughed.
"Not really, I've read everything my dad has written and he always been a brilliant writer, with or without me in his life." Blair couldn't help but point out.
"So you've read The House of Octavious? Any chance of you telling me or giving a small inkling of what to expect?" Mr. Fitz asked.
"No way, I'm not going to spoil it for you but what I will say is that it's good, it's very good and I'm not just saying that because my dad was the one who wrote. It's a good continuation of The Heart of Continuation, it builds on it in so many ways and some of the things that take place in it will have an affect into how the final book plays out." Blair replied.
"So you know how the trilogy is going to end?" Mr. Fitz said picking up on what Blair said.
"I cannot confirm or deny that I have any knowledge into how the Octavious trilogy will end…" Blair said and it caused both her and Mr. Fitz to laugh. "I've got to run Mr. Fitz, but enjoy the book and let me know what you what you think."
"I will." Mr. Fitz said as Blair turned around and began to make her way out of the room. "Blair?"
"Yeah?" Blair asked turning around.
"Happy birthday… I couldn't help but over hear Noel Kahn yelling it down the hallway for the entire building but nevertheless happy birthday."
"Thank you." Blair replied giving Mr. Fitz a smile before turning around and leaving his class, the second she left the class Blair saw the girls who had clearly seen her and been watching her.
"Hey… What's up with you and Mr. Fitz?" Aria asked and Blair just shook her head.
"Oh that? It was nothing really, me and my dad into Mr. Fitz yesterday afternoon and it turns out he's a big fan of my dad's work so my dad decided to give him an advanced copy of his new book. I was just dropping it off for him and Mr. Fitz and I just ended up talking about stuff and turns out he's really cool for a teacher…" Blair idly said.
"Enough about Mr. Fitz! I know the guy is seriously hot but today the attention is not going to be on him or how good looking he is but rather on the fact that is our favourite auburn headed girls birthday! Happy birthday Blair!" Hanna said in a rather excited manner as she threw her arm around Blair's shoulders.
"Happy birthday B!" Emily added.
"Today is going to be great, we're going to have fun, relax and not worry about anything apart from working on making this Blair's best ever birthday." Spencer stated and Blair couldn't help but smile. Her friends were amazing and she loved them so much and her birthday was going to be great just because they were all together, "Nothing is going to get in our way, not even A…"
"Yeah about A…" Blair began.
Aria sighed. "Seriously? We can't even get a break from A on one of our birthdays?"
"Left a cupcake of maggots and worms on my front porch this morning with a note, telling me to enjoy my cake and eat whilst it lasts in her usual joyful and heinous manner. It was kind of freaky…" Blair admitted and Hanna just shook her head in disbelief.
"God that bitch can't even cut us the tiniest bit of slack but you know what? We are not going to let her get to us on today of all days. She can send as much insects cakes as she likes, but it's not going to change the fact that we're celebrating Blair's birthday!"