(A/N: It's been hard to write this, I've been struggling to come up with good points to pen down. I've written a few opening paragraphs over and over, editing the storylines so many times, but I've not been satisfied. That's probably the main reason why it's taken me more than a month to update. Hope you guys are satisfied with this way though, I'm going to split this chapter into 3 parts, the time frame for all three parts are similar, since everyone starts school on the same day. This first part is Chuck, Blair and Nate's side. Hope you guys enjoy, the song is Promise Of Redemption's Remember The First Day!)

"Chuck, you're early." Blair sauntered down the steps, her slinky nightgown still wrapped around herself, her hair was barely brushed. It wasn't for an hour before he was supposed to come over and pick her up to go to campus. Glancing at Dorota, who shrugged and set the table with a fine array of breakfast foods, she sat down at the table, as Chuck took off his work blazer and slung it over his arm carefully.

"Yeah, I actually have some things to share with you." He paused, giving Dorota a slightly apologetic look, knowing that Dorota wouldn't leak anything, but needed the privacy to talk either way. Dorota smiled kindly, and took the hint, going into the kitchen. "About Olivia Lawrence. Nathaniel's grandfather has left half his estate to him, and the Hallinans had some bad business dealings with the Van der Bilt family in the past, and Ashley's the main heir of the family, which is probably the reason why she's getting close to Nathaniel. She's going to be around on campus, so you will really need to make sure that they don't get too close. If he falls for her tricks, he's a goner." Chuck's expression was stony and serious, the people who had done the research for him had clearly delivered more news than that.

"That's all?" Blair narrowed her eyes, after being together for so long, she could read Chuck like a book, and knew if it was just that, he wouldn't have that dreadful grave look on his face.

"She might go as far as killing." Chuck muttered under his breath, he hadn't intended for Blair to know that part as well, but it was nearly impossible to keep anything from her.

"It's that deep a feud? Have you spoken to Nate?" Blair was shocked, she wasn't expecting a family feud to be that serious, she had expected revenge at the most, but murder, that was completely not what she had expected.

"Unfortunately, no. He's becoming so distant, and even if I tell him, I'm not entirely sure he'll believe me, he'll probably confront Ashley, or Olivia, directly, and everything will be wrecked. The only way is to keep an eye on him, and make sure they don't get too close, but I'll try to talk some sense into Nathaniel." Chuck sighed, he felt so helpless, his best friend's life was possibly in danger, but there was so little that he could do.

Well I remember the first day
It was so close to the end of May
It's when I finally opened my eyes
I saw the sun for the first time
Oh and it lied in the form of a beautiful girl
Who would take me on the ride of my life
And it's just something that I've been dying to know

"Nate, got a moment to spare?" Blair lengthened her strides to walk in step with Nate, who carried a pile of books in his lean, muscular arms.

He paused, looking dashing as ever, and smiled that smile that so many girls on campus had started to talk about. "Of course. It's been a long time."

Blair couldn't help but blush a little in embarrassment, it had been a long time since they had been able to speak to each other under normal circumstances, with everything that everyone had been going through recently. "I was thinking we should do dinner tonight. You, me, Chuck? Dan and Serena probably will have a lot of things to settle, it being her first day at college."

A warm grin spread across his face, and he nodded, "Definitely. Text me the place later? I've got a class in… ten minutes. See you tonight then!" Waving goodbye, he clutched the books tighter and sprinted up the steps ahead, a few groups of freshmen staring adoringly at Columbia's star lacrosse player. Blair shook her head, it was typical of Nate, he would always be the guy that girls would notice, and guys would envy.

She took out her phone, and fired off a short text to Chuck. "Fixed up a dinner date with Nate, 3 of us. Book a table around 7." Feeling slightly relieved that she had prevented Nate from having a romantic dinner with Ashley, she stood up straighter, everything about her screaming confidence, from the rolled-back shoulders to the heel-to-toe model walk to the steely look she held in her eyes. It was her first day at Columbia after all, and she had a few teachers to impress.

"Nathaniel, it's good to see you. How's the new year started?" Chuck gave Nate a light embrace, feeling the hardened biceps, obviously from the extra lacrosse practice.

"Oh, you know, the usual. Lessons are pretty much about there, but lacrosse, yeah."

Blair knew it was the best time for the two of them to bond a little, ever since that incident when Nate had tried to hit on Serena while Dan was in a coma, even though Chuck hadn't confronted him, she knew there was some tension there.

"Nathaniel seems pretty okay. He didn't mention Ashley at all, did he?" Chuck sighed, rubbing his temples vigorously as he leaned back into the backseat of the limo.

"I don't think they're that close. You know Nate, ever the gentleman. Perhaps things between them aren't that complicated."

"I don't know, I don't like how that Ashley girl talked to him at the ball, and she's not a simple person. You'll have to keep an eye on her, I'm afraid." Chuck kissed her deeply, taking in the scent of her delicate perfume, his hand running gently on her back.

"I love you, Blair."

(A/N: Part 1's complete! Moving on to Part 2, Eric! I know this had a lot of dialogue, but I'm not too good at writing Chuck and Blair, sorry!)