Chapter 1: Warning Sign.
Dan Humphrey stared at the picture for what seemed like hours. How had he gotten here he wondered before realizing that he should have seen this one coming. It had only been a few months ago that they had been happy. A sad smile settled on his lips as he placed the photo down, taking one last look at how beautiful the pink dress clung to her like she was born to wear it.
Dan quietly moved about his morning reading the paper, having a coffee and distracting himself with the crossword. How had they gotten to this point? A few weeks ago Blair Waldorf had been his girlfriend and they had been happy, or at least he thought they had been. Now no one had seen Blair since their breakup. It took all the energy Dan had to not give into thoughts of Blair back at the Palace in the arms of Chuck, plotting the return of the great Queen B.
Finally after avoiding it all morning he grabbed his laptop opened a browser and scanned the headlines on Gossip Girl. The headline did nothing to improve his mood. "Spotted Queen B getting cozy at the Palace, wonder how is favourite Lonely Boy taking the news. Word is he hasn't been spotted since are Despicable B broke his heart, nearly a week ago."
Sighing Dan looked over at the window grabbing a cigarette from the pack he kept around just in case. Quickly turning on the stereo and lighting the cigarette as the opening strains of Coldplay's Warning Sign filled the loft. A week he thought to himself had it already been so long. It felt like just yesterday. It was sad he thought that he wasn't even surprised she was back with Chuck already.
"Humphrey we have to talk!" Blair announced standing in the door way, of the loft. "I thought you had agreed to call me Dan?" He smiled gently at her. "Dan..." Blair looked at the ground straining to avoid eye contact with him. "This is about Chuck isn't it?" Dan asked without blinking his eyes focused and without emotion. A single tear began to stream down Blair's face she slowly forced herself to look at him. "I'm sorry Dan, you are a fantastic man more then I deserve probably, and I do care about you. I just don't know how to be Blair Waldorf at the moment and Chuck... he paid my Dowry Dan... I'm not sure how to deal with everything and I need some time alone to figure it out."
It seemed so disingenuous now as he looked at her out front of the Palace less than a week later. Shaking his head Dan could feel his anger swelling, determined to chill out and let the anger pass Dan took a shower.
Twenty minutes later Dan had just gotten out of the shower when he heard a knock at the door. Hurriedly he threw on some jeans moving to the door. "Yeah what's up?" Dan asked as he opened the door.
"Hey man! Not really the enthusiasm I was looking for considering I haven't seen in a week." Nate said smiling and patting Dan on the back as he moved into the apartment. "
"Well Nate the reason that there's no enthusiasm is that I don't remember making plans today and I'm not really in the best of moods." Dan replied evenly.
"Yeah man actually that's why I came by. I figured you were all cooped up brooding and what not. So I figured what the heck I'll come drag his ass to play basketball with me get his mind off things." Nate looked around the loft noticing how disorganized it had become.
"Look man well I appreciate the effort here. I'm really not feeling up to it? Besides basketball was always more of a Nate and Chuck thing." Dan cringed at the mention of his name. Considering how different he and Chuck were they shared a lot of the same things. Nate, Blair, Serena, god even Jenny and Vanessa.
"Alright listen Dan I get it! The truth is that you miss Blair. I get it but sulking up here won't do you any good. The way I look at is you got two options. One you could come willingly play basketball and focus on something other than Blair or two I drag your ass out of this apartment and force you to play basketball."
Dan noticed the determination in Nate's eyes and quickly relented. "Alright man fine I'll come play basket ball but only because I need to get my mind of Blair."
"Thanks man besides will have an even number now it will make it more fun." Nate smiled leading Dan out of the apartment.
"The true reason you brought yourself all the way to Brooklyn I guess I'm just a number to you eh Archibald." Dan locked the apartment and the two friends set out to the basketball courts.
They had just gotten to the courts when Dan saw the group of guys playing they were going to be playing basketball with. After what seemed like a moment Dan realised who one of the other guys was.
Chuck Bass.
AN: I obviously don't own any of this. I'm not sure which ships this novel will root for although I have to admit I am pro Dan and Blair. It doesn't mean I'm not open to the other couples or that I dislike them. It's really just a personal preference. That being said for the purposes of this story I haven't decided where I want the characters to end up. I can promise genuine moments between all of the characters.