Chapter Eight: Practice Makes Perfect

Only a few short days until the Belles of the Ball make their debut. I hear that Blair is quickly realizing there are plenty of fish in the sea, but only one Bass. Exchanging one best friend for the other, aren't we, B? Poor Nate, resigned to Serena, and watching as his ex just keeps swimming. Xoxo.

"Chuck Bass," Penelope said, gripping her yogurt parfait tightly, "You had the option to go with Nate, Prince Theodore, and probably any other guy in the Upper East Side, and you're being escorted by…Chuck Bass."

Blair smirked at her and flipped a few perfect brown curls, "Now, Penelope, I don't quite remember when I asked for your opinion? Must have been right before I started thinking about the fact that your shoes are last season."

Penelope's face turned red, and she looked down at the steps below them in resignation. Blair was obviously in no mood for games, and she was in no mood to be fed to the sharks.

Blair sighed happily as she thought about Cotillion. Shopping for accessories had been just enough of a distraction from Chuck and his hypnotic touch to keep her light and motivated. It was less than a week away, and they were quickly approaching the final dance rehearsal that afternoon. She would have to be dancing with him, their bodies closer than she would be able to handle, and she would refuse to break. She had that much planned out. It was only less than a week until she would be able to surrender everything to him.

Thinking of Chuck was…different. He no longer seemed to linger in the shadows deviously. He was no longer her boyfriend's strangely attractive best friend. He surely was not some random guy who hooked up with everyone he came across (not anymore, anyway). She saw him differently. He was wonderful. He was handsome. He was clever; every word he uttered set her senses ablaze and every movement of his perfect lips caused her insides to melt. There were so many things she could list off that she had quickly come to love about him. Things that she was hopefully going to tell Serena later in the afternoon.

But, of course, Penelope and the girls couldn't know about it. Serena couldn't even know, and Serena was her best friend. Not yet, anyway. Blair straightened her back and took a sip of her chai tea with soy, "If you must know, Chuck is the heir to Bass Industries, one of Manhattan's most successful companies. I am going to be an extremely powerful woman someday, and you only get to be in positions of power by knowing powerful people. Chuck knows more than my pride will allow me to admit." Chuck is extremely powerful himself when in his element.

"So…it's a political move?" Hazel asked. The others looked up at her with curious eyes, and Blair was happy to see understanding expressions blooming across their faces.

"Exactly."

"Hey, are you waiting for Nate?" Chuck heard the charming voice of his step-sister ask as Arthur pulled the limo around.

He nodded once and gestured toward the vehicle, "We're riding together to rehearsal. I was going to ask you to join, if you're willing to trade a ride for a ride."

Serena scrunched her nose, "Oh god, ew, no thanks. I'm supposed to be going with Blair, she said she had something she wanted to talk to me about."

Chuck swallowed, though tried to pretend he wasn't too curious, "Hmm, anything pressing? Her…perfect date to Cotillion, perhaps?"

"Hardly, but we shall see! Was it hard for you to convince her, by the way?" Serena asked, a wide smile across her tan face. They stood outside of the gates that kept Constance and St. Jude's from the insane world, both emanating more power than the rest of the school combined. Excluding Blair Waldorf, Chuck mentally added with a smirk. She held a certain power over him.

"Of course not. Blair knows a good move when she sees one," he said, taking pleasure and also displeasure in the fact that Serena wasn't enlightened enough to appreciate his suggestive language. He placed his hands in the pocket of his suit and blinked at her, "While we are here conversing in the privacy of the very open entrance to our schools, I don't think your master plan is going to be as successful as you would like to think, though I do appreciate your enthusiasm."

Serena's brows knitted, "What do you mean?"

Chuck shrugged slightly, "I mean, I don't think Blair is interested in getting back together with Nathaniel."

She snorted, "Are you serious? Nate is all she's ever wanted! Of course, she wants him back! She's just confused, and I just want to see her happy, don't you? I don't want her to look back and think of Cotillion as a night she missed her opportunity to be happy."

Chuck nodded in consideration, though all he could think about was Blair's mouth. He longed for her lips to be on his, hungry for him, while her hands roamed his bare chest and their legs intertwined. That was what he wanted to be doing, that was all he could think about lately. He cleared his throat and turned back to Serena, "I'm sure she won't."

Nate approached them then, a sincere smile on his face, "Hey guys. Serena, you ready for a lot of awkward dance moves and interesting conversations with Cece?"

Serena rolled her eyes, "Oh, god, don't remind me. She wants everything to be perfect, she is driving me insane. As for the dancing, you can't be worse than Dan, so yes I'm ready."

Nate felt the smile on his lips fall slightly at the mention of Dan, though he ignored it and turned to Chuck, "You ready to go?"

Chuck nodded, desperate to avoid the conversation taking a turn towards Blair. Being around Serena while she didn't know was hard, as was being around Nate while he didn't know. Being around both of them, though, was comparable to the eighth layer of hell.

"Hey, man, I know we haven't had a chance to really talk much lately but I wanted you to know that I appreciate you looking out for Blair. Who knows who she would've ended up bringing if it wasn't for you."

Chuck felt a slight pain in his chest at the sound of his best friend's blind ignorance. Nate had no idea what was going on. Nate wanted Blair back, and here Chuck was, consistently trying and succeeding to seduce her. He felt like shit, though he knew that his feelings for Blair were very real. It was terrifying how real they were. He swallowed hard and nodded at Nate, "Of course, Nathaniel, anything for a friend." I'm just the worst friend ever.

Chuck swallowed as he spotted Blair and her minions crossing the courtyard. She was breathtaking as she led them through the crowded area, her beautiful curls loose and untamed. There was a distinct purpose in her strides, and he figured that as long as he and Nate ducked into the limo quickly, he could avoid her for a short while longer until they were all at rehearsal. However, that hope was quickly crushed. He cursed under his breath as Serena called to her.

"Blair! Blair, come here!"

The brunette queen's head snapped up to look around for her caller. All of the minions halted behind her, none of them daring to continue until B did. Chuck felt his pulse quicken as she spotted them, for he could read her expression as well as he could conjure his own. She was panic stricken at the sight of Nate, so charming and sunny and eager waiting alongside Chuck, who was torn and destructive and avoiding her gaze.

Blair had become accustomed to Chuck's undivided attention over the course of the past few weeks. She had craved it when it was not present, she had marveled in it when it was. As she approached her three best friends, the other three quarters of their fearsome foursome, she felt the attention from all except Chuck, and that just wouldn't do. Nate was staring at her so longingly, a gaze that, only a few short weeks ago, would have turned her world upside down. But she felt its unrequested presence in vain as she reached them, and felt her eyes fall on the dark haired best friend of her ex-boyfriend instead of the golden boy himself.

"Hey, Blair," Nate said awkwardly.

Blair smiled earnestly, though her eyes remained glued to Chuck's face, "Hey, Nate. S. Chuck."

God, he loved when she said his name, even what it was as spiteful as it had been in that moment. There was no sweeter sound.

"Blair," Chuck murmured. She loved the sound of him calling her name, almost as much as she loved saying his. She swallowed and awkwardly glanced around from face to face.

Serena's brows knitted as she sensed the tension, "Yes, well, we should get going. Rehearsal starts soon. And Blair and I have lots to talk about."

Blair, of course, chickened out of telling Serena about Chuck. She would know in due time, anyway. It was just one of those secrets that burned to be told, but just as it was about to be, it seemed best kept out of the public mind. Serena was her best friend, yet Blair still hadn't mustered up the desire or the courage to share the details of her intimate encounters with Chuck. Maybe if she told someone, the weight of the situation would finally come crashing down on her.

Or maybe the prize would seem so much sweeter when it was brought to light.

She refused to dwell on it as they entered the rehearsal hall. It smelled of Chanel perfume, hairspray, and overzealousness. Blair scoffed as she and Serena stood behind a group of social climbers who were practically barricading the door, anxious for it to be opened as rehearsal started. She was normally just as excited as they were, yet the look in Nate's eyes had caused her to feel so sick with grief that she debated whether she even wanted to stay through rehearsal or not. Chuck would understand if not empathize, right?

"Potent is the aroma of high society," she heard a deep voice whisper behind her. She swallowed hard at the sound of his voice, at the sweet cadence it carried with it. Chuck was either sarcastic and amused or dark and serious, though at that exact moment he sounded like both. She shivered as she felt her body tense up.

Serena smiled as she turned and noticed Chuck and Nate behind them. Chuck was standing strangely close to Blair, protective almost, and Serena felt her heart melt a little. It was so sweet how understanding he was being of Blair's situation. They had all grown up together. They had all been best friends for as long as the blonde could remember. Now that Blair and Nate had been on awkward terms, Serena could definitely tell a difference in Chuck's behavior. He was much more attentive to the brunette's needs and much more sensitive to her feelings.

Blair couldn't help but want to force herself into him. She wanted to feel his arms around her, wanted her ass to press against him in the teasing way that she had so carefully been doing as of late. But she couldn't, of course, for publicity's sake. However, it didn't stop her imagination from setting itself free, "Suffocating is more like it. Bass, a word?"

She turned to face him then, and Nate and Serena and the rest of the world seemed to melt away. It was never like this for her. She wasn't used to feeling so much for him. She wasn't used to being simply excited by his presence. It had stemmed from a sexual relationship to something she dreaded, adored, and feared. She feared it most of all.

He was taken aback by her request, unsure of where she was planning on taking him. Her dark eyes were beautiful and intent, as were her words. All he could do was nod then, and that was all the answer she needed. Nate and Serena barely seemed to notice that the two brunettes disappeared past their ever-eager classmates and down the long hallway.

"Where are we going, Blair?"

"Anywhere," she said slightly over her shoulder as she began to walk faster. Anywhere would do; she just had to get away from Nate and Serena. And she didn't want to be alone, so Chuck was the obvious man for the job.

"I'm confused," he murmured, watching Blair as she found an unlocked room for them to enter. It was dark, though she made quick work of finding a light switch, and she collapsed onto the table as though it were a cot especially for her. Normally she would have found such a table repulsive and dirty, so Chuck knew that something was seriously bothering her. He just didn't know what, and it scared him to think of her being vulnerable with him.

"It's hard to look at him sometimes," she said quietly.

Chuck nodded in agreement, "I know."

"You don't act like it bothers you, Chuck," she said, recalling how he'd made her cum with only his mouth just the other day. She shuddered slightly as she thought of the memory without regret, "We have to tell them soon."

"I know," he said again, raising his hand to his chin and contemplating his next words, "Do you regret it?"

Blair blinked and inhaled deeply. She hadn't really wanted to be open with him about her own feelings yet. She was going to wait until Cotillion, "Not at all."

Chuck looked down at his shoes. He was sure that Blair was going to verbally punch him just then and she hadn't. He exhaled deeply, "Me neither."

Blair chuckled sardonically, "Does that make it better or worse?"

Chuck shrugged, "Depends on how you look at it. You weren't dating. He'd fucked up. And I…" I can't say that.

She raised her brows, "You what, Bass?"

"I…care about you," he finished. Wow, smooth bastard.

"Hmm, what would you do if you were me?" she asked, sitting up from the table.

He furrowed his thick brows, "In regards to…?"

"Nate, for all of his imperfection, really wants to be with me. He tells me he loves me," she said, awkwardly fumbling around her point. It dawned across Chuck's face what she wanted him to do, but she continued before he could continue to freak out, "He's open with me."

"Yes," was all he could manage. He watched her spin her body so that her legs were hanging off the edge of the table. She was facing him, her adorable school uniform skirt looking dangerously short against the creamy skin of her thighs. He swallowed hard.

"So, what would you do in my position?" she asked, spreading her legs slightly. She liked the way he couldn't take his eyes off of her. She felt deliciously sexy whenever she had his attention; she'd felt that way since that first night at Victrola. She bit her lip and moved closer to the edge of the table, "Would you go back to Nate?"

Chuck took a small step toward her, "Of course not."

Blair blinked, "Why not?"

Chuck swallowed. Maybe the words wouldn't be so bad once on the other side of his lips. Maybe once he said them, he wouldn't feel so bad about thinking them. Maybe she would feel the same as he did. Just maybe.

"Well, I-"

"What's going on in here?" they heard Nate's voice ask as he stood in the open door way.