Chapter 1:
"Cinderella, you are going to the ball!" Serena spoke in the voice she reserved mostly when she was imitating step-father, Bart. She was going through Blair's closet filled with clothes, trying to find the perfect outfit for tonight.
Blair put her Jane Austin novel down. "Funny, S. Did all that sand and sun in the Bahamas have some effect on your memory? I do remember telling you I have a dinner tonight with my mom and the Ladies of Gentle Roses Society."
"Not anymore." Serena said in a hushed voice. Still looking for the right outfit.
"Wait!" Blair stepped in front of her best friend. "What do you mean not anymore?" She asked and glared at her friend.
Serena pulled out a yellow Alexander Wang dress. "Cute, but it doesn't make your eyes pop. Also, I think it is too long. We need something a tad shorter. I don't think a floor length gown is the look we are going for."
"Stop. Repeat, now!" Blair ordered.
"I know you can pull off anything, but I don't think you want to risk walking around the city in a long dress. Trust me, short is the way to go." A light bulb went off in Serena's head. "Of course!" Serena ran out of the closet and towards the blue drawers. "That pink chiffon Chanel slip dress would be perfect." She said, still looking for that exact dress.
"Serena Celia Van Der Woodsen, explain!" Blair screamed.
Both girls swore that they would only use each other's full names in two occasions. One, when they were around royalty and diplomats. Two, when they are upset.
"I told your mom you were sleeping over at my place because I was too scared to be alone since Lily and Bart are in Monaco for the week." Blair glared at Serena. She knew this was not the explanation Blair was talking about. "Blair, we haven't seen each other in so long." Serena explained.
"Lies. I saw you yesterday for brunch." Blair corrected her.
"Don't worry. We will take the limo so we will have to do very little walking." Blair was still glaring at Serena. "When was the last time we were in the same city. Did you know we have never partied together in New York since high school?" Serena could see her powers of persuasion slowly working on her best friend. Blair was no longer glaring. It was now time to pull on Blair's guilt. "Plus, you missed my birthday this year."
"Blame my dad and his new partner for deciding to get married on the week of your birthday. I told them to choose another week." Serena did eventually come to spend a week with Blair and her dads in Paris. That was after S's birthday and the wedding had passed. That was the first year the two girls were not together for one of their birthdays.
"I know, but I still missed you." Serena said. Stopping her search for the dress and instead moving to Blair's bed and flopped on the bed dramatically face down on the comforter.
Blair walked to her bestie. "Since I am finally back you know we will have plenty of time to hang right. Plenty of time to party. Plenty of time to see you get into trouble, and for me to get you out of it." She reassured Serena. Tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear.
Serena felt as if she had lost this fight. Though Blair did have a valid point. She was still determined to make up for lost time.
Blair walked out of the room. Serena sighed. Thinking Blair was no longer coming back, she got up from the bed. To her surprise, Blair came back after a few minutes. The tiny brunette threw a garment at Serena. "Let's face it. You look better in it than I do." Blair said.
"So, does this mean?" Serena asked. Hoping this meant what she thought it meant.
Blair let out a deep sigh. "Only if you help me find something to wear that makes me look better than you. Oh, and you are paying for our hangover breakfast tomorrow and coffee."
"Done. Done and done." Serena was so giddy. "Cinderella, let's go find you the perfect dress."
Blair couldn't help, but groan at the mention of her childhood nickname. "Seriously, when will you guys forget about that stupid nickname? I am not joking. I am willing to pay you to never use that name around me ever again."
Serena could help but laugh. "If 10-year-old Blair's threats to forget about that name did not succeed, I doubt adult Blair could bribe her way out of the nickname. You were the one who wanted to play princess." Blair was now rolling her brown eyes at Serena. "And if my damaged brain still remembers correctly, you did say you wanted to marry a prince?" The blonde teased.
"I was talking about Nate, and somehow I ended up in a mock ceremony married to Chuck." Blair shivered with the memory of that day.
Little Blair had been so excited. She borrowed one of her mother's white dresses and some lace. She even remembered making Dorota buy her some pink peonies to walk down the aisle with. In her eyes it was perfect. Except for the last-minute groom switch.
"Well, you weren't specific enough." Serena laughed remembering the whole day.
"I said I wanted to marry Nate, the prince of Manhattan. How is that not specific enough?"
"See those words are what got you in that mess." Blair was just about to throw her black Louis Vuitton at Serena, but decided not to. Her shoes did not deserve the torture of being used as a weapon. "You could have used other words to describe Nate. Like I want to marry a guy with blue eyes. Oh, or someone with the last name Archibald."
"I just can't believe your step-brother threatened Nate, his supposed best friend." Blair said, shaking her head in disapproval. "Then me." Blair was offended that Chuck had decided to blackmail her into going through with the sham of a wedding. She did not like not being the one to call the shot. Especially in her fake wedding.
Serena did have to give props to Chuck though. Once he decided he would now be the new groom he made sure to help Blair with the fake wedding. "You have to give him a bit of credit though. He played the part of the groom pretty well. I mean he got you a ring. He had one of the lawyers write up a marriage certificate and prenup. Even down to the end when-"
Blair put her hands over her ears. "I don't want to hear it. Don't you dare finish that thought."
"That still counts as your first kiss by the way." Serena said, finishing her thought. She handed Blair a laced green dress that hit a few inches above the knees.
Blair nodded her head in approval. This was the dress and she had the perfect pair of pearls to finish the look. "
"Does not! My first kiss was with Pete." Blair replied dreamily. Thinking of her first kiss.
"I think my dear brother might disagree with you." Serena said changing into her outfit for the night.
"Seriously, I am tempted to throw something at your pretty little head." Blair warned.
Serena threw her hands up in surrender. When both girls were finished getting ready, and packing an overnight bag they left the room. Heading downstairs to get into their limo to enjoy a night out.