Update: This story is now on AO3 and has been edited and revamped a little. I would suggest reading on there if possible. Plus, there's an aesthetic for this story on Chapter One.
AN: While I'm still writing Accidentally Best Friends, I thought I would share my newest Dair story anyways. I am a little stuck on the flashbacks in Accidentally Best Friends so while I think up the next flashback chapter, I thought I would tide everyone over with the first chapter of this new story. Hope you all like this concept :) More notes at the end of this chapter.
As I zip up the last of my bags, I let out a sigh. I momentarily wonder if I've made a mistake, signing up for this two-week retreat in the wilderness, but then remember that it's too late to back out.
When I first signed up for this retreat, three months ago, I felt as though my life was in shambles. What would have been my wedding date was rapidly approaching and I realized that over the course of the past year, I had made little change in my life. After my engagement to Carter Baizen, my college boyfriend, ended, I thought it was the beginning of a new start for me. But 12 months later, I was still leading the dull life I swore I'd change.
So this is now my fresh start. An adventurous retreat that no one would ever expect me, Blair Waldorf to embark upon. I would be thrust into an environment completely out of my comfort zone, I would try new experiences such as zip lining, archery, and hiking that would change my life. I was determined to make these two weeks the start of my extraordinary life.
I grab the little pink cat carrier that my beloved pet is tucked into and head out the door. As I climb into the car, I open the latch of the crate beside me. "Cat, what will I do without you for the next two weeks?" I say into Cat's soft orange fur. "Or I should say, what will you do without me?"
I think for the umpteenth time what a very bad idea it is to have my unreliable younger stepbrother Aaron in charge of Cat for the next fourteen days. Aaron, who became my stepbrother when I was 10 and he was 6. I was desperate for someone to watch Cat rather than board her which seemed so sad and lonely so when Aaron offered, I was hard pressed to say no. So here I am, on my way to drop her off and praying he will follow through on a promise, for once.
Pulling up to Aaron's apartment complex, I tuck Cat back into her crate and climb out of the car. I knock on the door and glance at my watch, I gave him a half hour leeway, a classic trick in which I always lie about the time by padding it with 30 minutes so he's less likely to be late. I hear music playing rather loudly and decide he probably didn't hear me knock.
Opening the door, I discover that the raucous apartment is packed with Aaron nowhere in site. I traipse past the drunken crowd of at least 20 people and head straight for his bedroom, I knock loudly and try the door but it's locked.
"What the fuck?" I mutter. "Aaron, open the door!" When there's no reply I try the next door which is ajar. As I knock, it pushes open and I peer into the dimly lit room. "Aaron?" I ask tentatively.
"Blair," Comes a voice that's not Aaron's. Once the door opens fully, I see it's Dan, Aaron's equally infuriating roommate.
"Oh," I say, stepping back feeling as though I've intruded. "Sorry, I was just looking for Aaron."
"I figured. But he's… preoccupied at the moment." He says, vaguely. "Can I help you though?"
"Not really. What is he doing? Is he here? Can you open his door for me?" I start to head down the hallway towards Aaron's door. Dan's voice halts me.
Dan smirks, "I don't think you'd want me to do that."
"Why not?" I say, dubiously.
Surveying his expression, I realize what he means. There's definitely a girl in there. "Oh god, don't tell me." I wrinkle my nose. "Gross…"
Dan laughs and then seems to notice Cat as he steps into the hallway with me. "He was supposed to watch her, wasn't he?" He gestures towards Cat.
"Yep. I should have known better than to trust him to do it though. I thought maybe for once he would prove me wrong by following through." I sigh, frustratedly. "I'll have to board her instead."
"I'm sorry." Dan frowns. "I wish I could help."
An idea strikes me, "You wouldn't want to watch her, would you? I'd pay you. She's a really friendly cat too, she likes everyone."
"I don't think that'll work." He starts saying but I ignore him and pull Cat out of the crate.
"How can you say no to this face?" I proffer Cat who looks frightened by Dan.
"Yours or hers?" Dan laughs.
"Both."
"It's not that I want to say no, but I won't be here to watch her. Remember?"
I shake my head, "Why not? Are you moving out?"
He gives me an odd look, "No, just won't be here for two weeks. Summer vacation," He adds.
I put Cat back into her crate. "Fine, it was worth a try. I better go then and let you get back to your party."
"It's not my party," Dan says. "I'm trying to work." He gestures towards his desk which is covered in papers and an open laptop.
"It's Aaron's and he can't even be bothered to attend his own party? So typical." I say in an irritated tone.
This whole time we've been talking, I have been mentally trying to work out what's different about Dan. Now that we're in the hallway which is far brighter than his dim room, I suddenly realize. "You cut your hair? Didn't it used to be long?"
Dan looks at me quizzically, "Yeah, over two years ago."
Had it really been two years? For some reason, I had retained the image of him of when I first met him. Long curly hair that went past his ears framing a boyish face. But now, with his hair cropped closer to his head and the only curls remaining reaching just to his forehead, he looked far more mature.
"Oh." I say, blandly. Not being able to think of anything else to say, I start to back away. "Well, I'll let you get back to studying. If that's even possible with this noise level."
"I'll see you in the morning." Dan responds, jovially.
"What?" I say, stopping in my tracks. "I'm not giving Aaron another chance to watch Cat, if that's what you think."
"I know. I meant to pick you up. 9 works right? I'm guessing you'll need an hour to get Cat settled in the boarding facility." He says factually.
My brows knit in confusion. "Why would you pick me up?" I say in total bewilderment.
"So we can ride together to the retreat." Dan says, as though it's obvious.
"But you aren't going anymore. I thought you guys couldn't." Aaron had told me that they were going on the retreat too when I told him of my plans. I had begged him to cancel their trip and even played the "broken heart card" but he refused. He said I had only found out about the retreat because of him so he claimed it first. It turned out, he was right about that but I hadn't realized that Rooted Retreat brochure I found in my purse had been picked up at his apartment when I booked the trip. I honestly thought it just was passed to me by a friend or colleague.
"Aaron can't go, but I can." Dan corrects.
"Why would you still go? You won't know anyone." I point out, desperate to get him to change his mind.
"Yes I will," He says steadily. "I'll know you."
I shake my head. "You can't go. Besides, Aaron will miss you. Don't you two do everything together?"
"He'll be fine without me. Besides, it's too late to cancel." He's right about that, the retreat has a strict cancellation policy. That was one of Aaron's other reasons for not canceling. Of course, in the end, he had to forgo the retreat anyways since he failed a class required for his degree, forcing him to do summer school.
I sigh in resignation. "Okay, but I am not riding with you."
"Why not? It's over a five-hour drive and we're leaving from the same city. It'll save you from loneliness in the long town car rid."
"My town car isn't lonely." I say, defiantly. "I enjoy the silence. That's the point of the retreat anyways, to get some peace and quiet."
"Well, I could use the company. You aren't going to make me drive alone, are you? I could fall asleep at the wheel and you would be to blame."
"You're going to fall asleep at the wheel after only five hours of driving?" I say incredulously.
"I'll be so bored from not having anyone to talk to. It'll knock me right out." Dan mimes falling asleep.
Cat is still scratching at her cage throughout this exchange and finally, she lets out a hiss. I have to get her home and out of this crate, I realize. Letting out an exasperated breath, I say "Fine, I'll go with you. Only on the way there though. Not on the way back."
"Deal." Dan smiles, clearly satisfied with winning the argument.
I think again how very annoying he is and how the only reason he probably wants me to go with him is so he can continue to irritate me for 5 whole hours. And the remainder of the two-week trip, I realize with a shudder.
One of my biggest issues with Dan, my stepbrother's best friend and now roommate, is how he brings out the worst qualities in Aaron. Prior to his senior year of high school, Aaron was somewhat tolerable. In the 20 years I had known him, he had followed me around incessantly. I was the sibling he had always wanted but for me, he was the nuisance I never needed. I thought once he hit adolescence he would become more manageable and for the most part that was true. He got good grades, mostly followed our parents' rules, and stayed out of trouble. Until senior year when he nearly got expelled, almost didn't graduate, and tried to defer for a year.
That same year, he became best friends with Dan who had just transferred for his last year to St. Jude's where Aaron went. Since that fated school year, Dan would proceed to insert himself into every family function. From Thanksgiving to Christmas even to summer vacations, Dan would be there. Having one brother was bad enough, I certainly didn't need his sidekick trailing along too. Luckily, I could avoid the two for most of the years since I was already in college and thankfully living on campus. But now, years on we all live in the same city. Aaron and Dan's apartment just a 10-minute walk from mine.
I thought for once the proximity might prove useful but as I let Cat out of her crate once I'm home, I realize how foolish I ever was to think that would work. It was bad enough that my stepbrother proved unreliable once again but to learn that Dan would be tagging along on what's supposed to me my independent life-changing experience made matters even worse. As I climb into bed that night, I try to push the thought away. Instead, I will just have to focus on all the new experiences I'll have that will certainly make it easier to forget he is there.
Hope you enjoyed chapter 1! The concept is inspired by Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center. In case you missed it, in this story, Blair is 4 years older than Dan. You'll find out more details on why she would go on such an un-Blair-like trip a little later. Also, I went with Carter because reader RF had a good point that if I chose Chuck then Chair fans might get their hopes up. Thank you to those of you who weighed in on who the other love interest should be in this story. Apologies those of you who wanted Chuck, hope you'll still enjoy!