A/N: This was a huge update. A ton goes down and a ton is revealed. Things would be a lot easier if these characters knew how to communicate with each other (ahem, Chuck and Blair), but alas, all stories need their share of drama. I am now exhausted. :) Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 10

Blair had to admit to herself that entering the ballroom on the arm of Nathaniel Archibald garnered the exact reaction from the masses that she'd hoped for. She relished in the attention - girls' jaws dropped with envy, boys' eyes widened in appreciation of her appearance, paparazzi's cameras flashed with hopes of capturing the best picture of the It Couple. She felt incredible as she smiled and waved like a princess would wave from her chariot.

Her eyes subtly swept the ballroom in hopes of catching a glimpse of Chuck. He had elected to arrive later than the rest of the crew, knowing that it would be nearly impossible to be that close to Blair without touching her. Her eyes narrowed when she saw Georgina Sparks hanging from his arm. No matter how expensive her outfit, she always managed to look like a cheap skank. Was this some form of a payback for attending the gala with Nate? Jealousy shot through her veins, as she turned her attention to Nate, refusing to give Chuck the satisfaction of a reaction. "Dance with me?"

"Of course," Nate wrapped his arms around her waist as he masterfully led her around the room. "You look beautiful, by the way."

"Thank you. You look awfully handsome yourself." As they turned on the dance floor, she chanced another glance in Chuck's direction. The whore was still latched onto his arm, and his hand was on the small of her back. He looked in Blair's direction and winked. What the actual fuck?

She asked Nate about his latest lacrosse game and feigned interest as he recalled their impressive victory. She laughed and placed her arms around his neck.

Chuck clenched his jaw as he watched Blair throw herself at Nate. He led Georgina to the dance floor in a pathetic attempt to prove that her behavior had no impact on him. When Georgina had asked to accompany him to the ball last minute, he had hesitantly agreed. He really didn't even know why; he just couldn't stand the fact that he would be there alone and have to watch Blair from a distance all night.

"God, would you just fuck her already and get it over with?" Georgina's shrill voice cut into his thoughts.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You've been panting over Her Majesty, The Bitch since we got here."

Chuck was growing angrier by the second when he saw Nate whispering in Blair's ear. He could only imagine how she would be affected by the touch of his lips against her neck..in the same place he had kissed her the night before. "Fuck off, Georgina."

He pushed her away and marched toward Nate and Blair. "Good evening, Blair," he took her hand and kissed it, "Nathaniel, would you mind if I steal a dance from your date?"

"Actually, yes, I would mind." Nate's eyes shot daggers into Chuck. "That is unless Blair objects. I can't speak for her, but I imagine she would like to dance with her date." He emphasized the last word.

Blair glared at Chuck and felt her temper rise, "I'm rather occupied at the moment, but Georgina looks lonely."

Chuck's face pleaded with Blair to understand, but she turned back to Nate ignoring the look on his face. She realized she was being childish, but she felt like she needed to punish him for bringing Georgina to the gala. He scowled, and walked off the dance floor.

Serena intercepted Chuck before he got too far. "Dance with me, Chuck." It was more of a command than a question.

"Ah, sis, have you missed me that much already?" Chuck sneered, as he led her back onto the dance floor.

"Shut up. You're not doing yourself any favors by being such an ass to everyone all the time."

"Thanks for the advice, but I think you're the last person I should listen to."

"Ugh. I have no idea why Blair seems to be so convinced that you're better than your reputation suggests."

Chuck's demeanor changed, and it didn't go unnoticed by Serena. "She said that?"

"Yes, for some reason, she has this idea that you're a decent human being. I still haven't seen it."

"She makes me want to be a better person." He said it so quietly Serena barely heard him.

"Chuck, what's going on with you and her? Are you just trying to get in her pants because she's the unattainable queen of Constance?" She saw his eyes flicker and realized that she had been wrong all along. "Or...you actually like her?"

"Serena, this is between me and Blair. Our relationship is really none of your business." He hadn't even spoken to Blair about "them," yet; he sure as hell wasn't going to talk to Serena.

"Your relationship? Oh, my God. You do. You like her! Chuck, I have to tell you something. I was afraid that you were just out to screw Blair. I told Nate…"

"You told Nate? That's why he was being such an asshole." He raked his hands through his hair in frustration. "Dammit, Serena, can't you ever just mind your own fucking business?"

"I was just trying to protect her. Your reputation…I mean, how long is it going to be until you are bored with her?" She tried to defend her actions, but she was faltering.

He spoke so quietly she had to lean in to hear, "I think I'm falling in love with her."

"Chuck…"

"Save it. I have to fix this." For the second time this evening, he left a girl on the dance floor mid-song, and stalked off toward the exit. He had to clear his mind; he needed a joint. "Baizen," he barked and motioned toward the door.

"Meet you in five, Bass," Carter responded. "There's something I have to do first."

Carter approached Blair as she stood talking to Penelope about the horrific disaster that was Emma's ensemble. "Blair, may I have this dance?"

Blair glanced around for Nate or Chuck but didn't see either of them. "Sure, one dance."

"I can't believe what a lucky son of a bitch Nate is to be here with you tonight." Carter spoke against her ear and pulled her a little too close for her liking.

"Um, thanks, I guess."

"If I'd known that this is what you were hiding under that Constance uniform all these years, I would've made a pass at you years ago."

"Ugh, Carter…"

"Come on, Blair. Even a little prude like you has to have certain urges that need to be quenched…" He ran his hands down her back to the top of her butt for effect.

"Even if I do, then in no way am I interested in having you quench them." She pushed him back and started to walk away.

He grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "Oh, but someone like Bass can? I get Archibald, if only for superficial reasons, but you must have some kind of hidden slut tendencies to spend so much time with Chuck Bass."

"Not that it's any of your business, but he's more of a gentleman than you'll ever be." She spat.

"Is that so?" He said, anger surging through his veins. "So I guess he hasn't told you about our little bet?"

"What are you talking about, Carter?"

"Bass, Archibald, and I made a bet over who could be the first to date you. Are you really so dense that you thought all of this attention was because you actually deserve it? The Ice Queen who refuses to open her legs for anyone? What bigger challenge is there?" He sneered. He ignored the shock written all over her face as he continued to insult her. He hadn't meant to hurt her, but he didn't take rejection well, especially from someone who was so willing to open herself to Chuck Bass.

"I don't believe you…" She whispered, touching her necklace.

"Sure you do. Think about it. Chuck Bass showing any interest in a girl longer than to get between her thighs? You know it's true. Nate needed you to help his father; surely you knew that your mother was considering his father to represent her company, right?" He smirked at her cruelly, "And Chuck Bass saw the only piece of ass in the entire school that he hadn't had. You were nothing more than the forbidden fruit that he was dying to taste. Sorry, princess, but you mean nothing to either one of them."

She wrenched her arm free of his grasp, "Leave me alone, Carter!"

The tears streamed down her face as she ran out of the ballroom. She couldn't breathe. There was no way it could be true. Carter is an asshole, and he could easily make up lies, right? The soft kisses, the gentle caresses, the looks of adoration, the necklace. It was impossible that it had all been a lie. She needed to talk to him, but she had to pull herself together first. She found a bathroom in the lobby and threw herself on the bench in the ladies' lounge.

XOXO

Georgina, always aching to be in the middle of drama, approached Carter. "What was that all about?"

Carter grinned as he turned toward her, "How would you like to finally get revenge on Blair Waldorf for sending you away last year?"

"I would say I'm in. Let's take the bitch down."

XOXO

Carter and Nate joined Chuck outside for a joint, the latter two unaware of what had happened between Carter and Blair minutes earlier.

Nate spoke first, "Carter, finished dancing with Blair already? I guess I better head back in before she thinks I've abandoned her."

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that," Carter laughed.

"What did you do, Carter?" Nate questioned.

"I think the bet's over, don't you, Bass?"

Chuck really hated Carter sometimes. He was always so smug and skeevy, but there was something in his eyes that had Chuck particularly worried. He needed to end this now. This stupid ass bet couldn't go on. He didn't give a damn about winning it. Who cares who gets to host a Lost Weekend when Blair Waldorf was the real prize? He knew that the only way to get Carter to back off was to take the challenge out of it. He had to tell them about his night with Blair.

"Yeah, I do think the bet's over, Carter. Maybe, it was over the moment I had Blair Waldorf writhing all over my cock in the back of my limo."

Click. Neither Nate nor Chuck saw the red light emanating from behind one of the massive pillars on the back patio. This was too good, Georgina thought, as she paused the recording and made her way back into the building. She had just gotten Chuck Bass confessing to deflowingering Little Virgin Waldorf on tape.

"You son of a bitch..." Nate breathed.

"Wait a minute, Nathaniel. That's not all.."

"What do you mean, Chuck, because I'm about ready to bury my fist into your face?" Nate seethed. Chuck used plenty of girls for his own enjoyment, and Nate usually turned a blind eye. He wasn't okay with Chuck intentionally hurting Blair to win a meaningless bet, though.

"What I mean is...maybe the bet was over before that. Maybe it was over the moment I fell for her." Chuck couldn't look his friend in the eye. This confession was too much. He still hadn't even had a chance to tell Blair how he felt yet.

Nate looked at Chuck in disbelief, and Carter felt the slightest twinge of guilt creep into his chest. Carter sighed, "Man, I had no idea. I have to tell you something…"

XOXO

Blair pulled her phone out of her clutch when she heard the familiar ping. She groaned internally, knowing that Gossip Girl was probably speculating about the heated discussion that had just passed between her and Carter. She was surprised to see a video load on her screen. This was a new one for Gossip Girl; her posts were usually accompanied by photographic evidence, sure, but never a video.

She sat up when she noticed that it was a video of Carter, Chuck, and Nate. That could only mean one thing. They were talking about her.

She pressed play.

Yeah, I do think the bet's over, Carter. Maybe, it was over the moment I had Blair Waldorf writhing all over my cock in the back of my limo.

She dropped her phone with a sob and ran to the nearest stall to empty the contents of her stomach into the toilet.

XOXO

Chuck grabbed Georgina's arm. "You fucking bitch! What the fuck did you do?"

"Oh, please, Chuck like you had any real chance with Miss Priss anyway."

"You don't know that." He was desperately grasping for some reassurance that he could be worthy of Blair Waldorf. He knew that wasn't true though. He knew he had been fooling himself all along. He liked to make fun of girls with their fairytale delusions, but he seemed to be the one stuck in an impossible dream.

"Of course I do. If she knew the truth about you, Chuck, she would never look at you again. If she knew that you were directly responsible for the death of Damien Dalgaard, she'd run so fast that you'd never catch her. Give it up now before both of you get burned worse than you already are."

A/N: I know that this is a little OOC for Carter, but I needed him to drive the wedge between Chuck and Blair. He and Chuck have such a contentious relationship on the show that he was really the only male character who made sense to take on this role.

Also, please remember that this is not the Chuck who is so devoted to Blair in seasons 5 and 6; this is the Chuck from season 1/season 2 who told her she was rode hard and put away wet, the Chuck who blogged to Gossip Girl about Blair's sex life; the Chuck who left her at the helipad for Tuscany. He's wants to be better, but he isn't there yet. In his twisted head, he thought that he was getting Carter to back off by revealing that there was no challenge left to be had because he had already taken Blair. However crude and disrespectful it may have been, he certainly hadn't expected Blair or anyone else to hear it via Gossip Girl.