A/N: Thank you all so much for reviews and in such short time. I would make you all wait longer and suffer, but I can't get enough of this fic! This chapter is extra long because I don't know for sure if I'll be able to update tomorrow. I'll try my best to post during holidays, but 'm not making any promises.

Remember to R&R, make me feel loved :) :) :)

Let me just mention how I've slightly massacred Gossip Girl families and placed them in fitting ones for this story, take no offense.

Chapter Three

Mongrel Heart

She was lounging around between classes with Penelope, sipping coffee and chatting. They were standing on the upper floor of university, leaning on railing and looking down at passing crowd on first floor. Students bustled about, some running to class, other exchanging notes and many other killing time between classes like them.

Her phone had been buzzing again for last 20 minutes. Blair tried to go to bathroom and take call there, but Penelope promptly followed, saying it was her duty to do so. She had no other choice, Blair turned it off. Dad forced her to take his old phone, black and white ancient Nokia. If Penelope saw it, there would be thousand of unnecessary questions.

''Hey daddy,'' Penelope answered her own call after third ring, touch screen pressed on her cheek. Her expression formed into surprise. ''That's tonight? Okay, I'll go check it out... Okay. B' bye.''

''It's my parents' anniversary tonight,'' She squealed excitedly.

''It's charming that they're celebrating it.''

''Yours don't?''

Blair grimaced, remembering those days of the year. They never threw a party or anything like that. Family would meet for breakfast as usual, dad would kiss mom on lips instead of cheek and they all went to work.

''They do lunch, nothing grand.''

''What will I get them?'' Penelope wondered, pleading for advice. ''I'm raking my brain over this every year. Help me out, B. What does your dad buy to mom?''

Blair looked down at surface of the coffee. It grew lukewarm over time. She bit her lip hard. How could she say he never buys anything? Here she was, dressed in expensive clothes, attending elite college and she was supposed to say her dad probably never bought mom a gift in his life because they couldn't afford it. How absurd would it sound?

Penelope noticed her discomfort and laughed humorlessly, ''That's right. I can't measure with you. He must be buying her expensive jewelry. She must have, like, ten Cartier love bracelets.''

Penelope wasn't poor, she was wealthy middle class. Her parents could afford this college and get by, but not luxury of pricey cars and famous bags and shoes. Blair didn't respond, but only smiled bitterly, thinking how far off she was. There was no harm in not correcting her.

''We don't live in fancy part of Upper East Side like you do,'' She continued shrugging her shoulders. ''What does your father do?''

''Well,'' Blair cleared her throat, shifting her weight to other leg. She checked the clock on wall, hoping for some excuse to run off. Unfortunately, they still had plenty of time.

As she was looking around, well known figure caught her eye. Her dad was on first floor, talking to some students and mentioning her name. He was asking around if they had seen her. Students shook their head, wondering who was his unfortunate daughter. The university hosted hundreds of wealthy and prestige adolescents and her father was here, in the middle of her new life.

He looked ancient and hunched. Working whole life tired him out and aged him quite a lot. To Blair's horror, he was dressed in old dusty shoes with holes in some places where you could see his socks. His shirt was sweaty with bleach stains, complete contrast to meticulously dressed students - including Blair.

Blair ran downstairs, ignoring Penelope and called out to him. ''Dad!''

As soon as the words were out, she covered her mouth with hands, horrified at the slip-up. ''What are you doing here?''

'''You haven't answered your phone since morning,'' her father said sternly. ''I didn't know if you were alive or dead. This is New York, kid. What's with the clothes? Explain this, Blair?''

Blair was looking around if anyone was watching them, but these words broke the trance. She forgot she had sheath dress on and her legs were bare, with only boots to carry them. She blushed and pulled tweed jacket around her that reached almost up to her knees.

All of a sudden, her role of promising prestigious student seemed to vanish and she was once again concierge's daughter.

''I woke up late,'' Blair lied, ''I got dressed quickly. These are Georgina's clothes.''

''You have wonderful clothes of your own, yet you fill your closet with her too tight rags.'' Father always look down on anything but modesty. If it was up to him, she'd be wearing nun's robe, covered to her neck. His face was angry and his voice tired. ''You'll clean out your closet right away.''

''Okay,'' she quickly said, impatient for him to leave. He wasn't the kind to discuss matters calmly. If she said anything else, there would be a scene in the middle of building. ''I'm sorry.''

''Get your stuff, we're leaving,'' he ordered, disappointment vivid on his face.

''I still have classes,'' Blair argued patiently, as if explaining it to a child. Long ago, she learned her father and mother grew up in poor village resembling much like Amish part of country. When they saved enough money, they moved to New York for a better life. Sometimes she had to explain many things to them, especially to him. Mother was always willing to accept new and modern ways, unlike him. He was skeptic about college, wanting her rather to work than to waste her time on study and classes.

Father was stubborn. It was no surprise when he said, ''There are benches around here. I'll wait for you.''

Penelope climbed down and was looking at them with vivid humor and curiosity. Blair fought to keep the terror off her face. She brushed hair behind her ear and whispered, her words rushed, ''But who will collect the trash of residents today? Mom has a day off. You know she'll be in a bad mood. Besides, I have to be here for longer than an hour.''

Dad finally succumbed at that. Duty always came first. He sighed in defeat. ''Okay. Don't be long. We will have a talk tonight.''

He took one last look at her outfit, sucked in his teeth and left. His stride was slow and long.

Blair let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

''What's happening?'' Penelope asked with raised eyebrow, stifling a laugh. ''Who was that man?''

''I told you how I broke my phone,'' Blair said with surprising cool, holding her head high.

''Yes?''

''You know it's at the service, being fixed,'' She stalled, her heart racing.

''I do.''

''Dad was worried,'' She finally admitted, sensing a wave of stress, instead of a relief, flood her body. There, she said it. She watched her friend carefully, waiting for a reaction.

Penelope's mouth dropped in shock. ''That was your dad? I thought he was a driver.'' A hint of a mocking smile played at her lips. Her tone was absolutely insulting.

There it was, the laughter. The shift in their friendship. Next thing you know, Penelope will stop hanging with her. Or worse, start to order her around and treat her like service - as all girls did back at home. Blair pressed her lips tightly, clenching her hands and hating herself for doing this. ''Yes, it's the driver. Dad was worried so he sent the driver to check up on me.''

Penelope later on left for class and Blair rushed to bathroom. The pressure of her lies was building up and she couldn't stand it. Unbearable warmth swept over her face and she splashed it with cool water, trying to erase the heat of shame. She was horrified at her father showing up and at herself.

Why couldn't she say the truth, if not with pride? Why couldn't she settle peacefully with low ordinary life? This was disgusting. She lifted up her head and looked herself in the mirror. Her whisper was hoarse and accusing.''You're a liar. A liar.''

The doors swung open and a blond walked inside. She was tall, tan and unbelievably pretty. Her high heels clacked on floor and stopped near the sink. Serena noticed distressed Blair. ''Are you okay? What's wrong?''

Blair recognized her immediately and snapped out of the haze. ''Nothing, my pressure just dropped.''

''Can I help?''

''No, thanks,'' Blair weakly said and dabbed some tissue over her face.

''I'm Serena.'' She offered her hand, a smile on her face. A smile which Blair did not trust.

Blair shook it, somehow reluctantly.

''I know, Blair,'' Serena replied with a glint in her eyes. ''I'm Chuck's friend.''

Chuck.

The sound of his name had her heart skipping a beat and eyes rolling at the same time. How did Serena know her name? Did Chuck tell her about her old phone? Did he tell everyone?

Fuming, Blair collected her bag and stormed out.

She barely entered home later that day when mother's arm strongly pulled her in and dragged away. It was lucky her kitchen was small and it took only a second to get to her room. They were both standing there as Jane silently closed the doors behind. The room was so small it couldn't hold a third person.

''Take it off,'' mother whispered furiously. ''Your dad had been nagging me for hours because of this!''

Blair huffed and quickly shook off her coat, throwing it on bed. She still had Georgina's clothes under it and pulled out her regular one from a drawer. ''Why did you send dad to Constance?'' Her voice was angry. ''This is college, not elementary school! Parents aren't supposed to be there! Quit it already, I'm grown up for God's sake!''

''Don't shout,'' Jane mouthed with stormy look on her face. ''Your father might hear us! You don't grow up like that, Blair. Start acting like an adult and we'll treat you like one.''

Blair crossed her arms and sat on her bed, ignoring her mother.

Jane regretted her words immediately. If anything, Blair was strong and kind woman Jane always wished her to be. She couldn't help but to adore her with whole heart. And with a reason too. She sighed and knelt next to her daughter, her words more soft, ''Do you not know your father? And you dare to ignore his calls? He says you've been walking half naked on college.''

She motioned towards her outfit and lightly slapped her knee as a form of scolding.

Blair stood up quickly, a scowl on her face. Unlike mother, she didn't bother keeping her voice down. ''What do you want me to wear?'' she vehemently started pulling out clothes from wardrobe and throwing them on floor in front of mother. ''Stupid Target clothes?! I'm better off wearing Georgina's old things she would have thrown anyway.''

Flushed, Blair leaned against the doors and scornfully stared at the spot on the wall.

''Blair,'' mother said, gently stroking her hair. ''My dear, my beauty. Wear whatever you want. But please hide those clothes. Put them away in the corner somewhere. Come on, pumpkin.''

''Blair!'' Father called her from the kitchen.

''Quickly!'' Mother warned and stuffed Georgina's clothes under bed. Blair grabbed some old pair of jeans and put them on, already in better mood with mother's support.

''Yes, father?'' She approached timidly.

''Apartment number 8 is calling you. Don't lag.''

By the shortness of conversation, he was still mad but not enough to start a fight. Apartment number 8 were Sparks. That must have been Georgina, calling her to meet up. It was a way of communication they developed, saying 'I need to talk to a friend' without actually talking. Of'course, it sometimes meant they just called for someone to pick up the trash.

Georgina was sprawled on her bed, going through magazines even though tutoring books occupied 90% of the surface. They seemed to be untouched. She was starting preparations again, this time with a different team.''So, how's classes?''

''Good,'' Blair breezed, lifting her gaze from the laptop. She was googling her professors and examining their both professional and personal background. ''Just keep on studying, you'll get in too.''

''These magazines are all the fun I have. And petting Jenny's dog. I catch them when she's coming downstairs, about to take him for a walk. Dad is still not coming home...'' She flipped a page of a magazine and her face suddenly lit up. ''Look! Let me show you someone!''

Blair leaned down to see the picture she was pointing at. It was a picture of Chuck, leaning down on his car in front of some night club and talking distractedly on his phone.

The guy's piercing gaze seemed to follow her everywhere.

''He is hot, isn't he?'' Georgina hissed, her eyes drinking in his image. She sighed his name in delight. ''Prince of Darkness.''

Blair almost laughed out loud at such a ridiculous nickname.

Deep down, she agreed with Georgina. He really was hot.

She was at the bus stop with her mother, going to class. Absentmindedly gazing at passing cars, she felt mom trying to push something inside of her bag.

''Mom, please,'' she screamed horrified. ''I don't want it!''

''Why are you so spiteful?'' Jane snapped, trying to give her struggling daughter a phone. ''Do you want your dad to come to school again?''

Blair begged with tormented look on her face.

''Fine,'' mother barked, shoving the phone into plastic bag with other cleaning stuff. ''I'll be coming home earlier from work today. I'll watch out for dad, but I'm not getting involved after that. You'll be taking that phone, Missy. Why are you so stuck up?''

Blair huffed, irritated with parents' lack of awareness of how things went in world today. They may have left their village, but it sure seemed village never left them. ''Phones aren't for talking anymore. It's a symbol of status, the quickest way to figure out who is who.''

''Oh, Lord,'' mother rolled her eyes. ''Back in my days, you didn't look at who had what and who wore what, but what kind of a person you were.''

''Yeah,'' Blair muttered, ''Because phones didn't exist then.''

Bus rolled over and she boarded it as mother called out. ''Don't be home late, you will only make dad angry.''

Blair nodded and grabbed a seat in the back. She quietly slipped out of her old shoes and put on boots. She was dressed in black silky jumpsuit with nice peach blazer.

Classes wrapped up, one after another. Blair created study schedule during breaks, not wanting to waste time. She was still missing few books, but mother promised to buy them in few days when paycheck arrived. She was currently crossing the main hall on second floor, staring at school map and hopelessly trying to find Marketing classroom.

''You've got the wrong floor,'' a husky voice spoke.

Blair looked up, her breath hitching at the proximity of Chuck's face.

''Bass,'' she politely, but crisply greeted, giving a tight smile.

He didn't move away, not even as her nose nearly brushed his. This close, she noticed his eyes were pitch black. The longer she stared at them, the harder she fell into some sort of dream. She was left frozen, trapped as the chains of his perfume stealthily enveloped around her. She inhaled and fireworks sparked against her eyelids, visions of forbidden fruit dripping down her lips.

And then she remembered Serena, searing images bursting away at once.

''Ever heard of personal space?'' She took a step away from him, shaking off whatever had her lose control.

He leaned away from her and stood straight with hand in his pocket. Chuck Bass was dressed in red sweater and blue shirt underneath, looking as if he just walked out of a fashion ad. ''How are you?''

''Little bit lost, to be honest.''

''Yes, you seemed like it,'' He replied with that cursed smirk.

''First floor, second corridor to the left after stairs,'' He advised, pointing at the spot on the map.

Was Chuck Bass always this helpful? Or was there secret agenda behind it? She eyed him warily and nodded in appreciation. ''Thanks.''

''Wait,'' Chuck called out as she took off to go, stopping her. He took his hand out of the pocket, holding it stretched out. On his palm was brand new iPhone, slick and black. ''This is for you,'' he smirked once again, ready to wave off gratitude.

''What's that?'' Her smile faded, glaring at the item.

''A compensation, per say,'' he cocked his head, taking a step closer.

''And?''

''It will come in handy, even though it may not be as good as yours.''

She stared at him for a moment, her expression cold. Is he joking? Chuck was still sporting that smile and it only fueled her anger. Not as good as hers? Not as good as that brick in color that lay broken? Was he insulting her? Yes, this had to be a cheap sarcastic remark. Blair looked around to see if anyone else was still on the joke, but couldn't focus on anyone's face. Did they discover who she really is?

No, worst of all. This wasn't a a joke.

This was a down-payment. For whatever he wanted to take later on.

''Are you playing with me?'' She snapped furiously, curling her upper lip.

Chuck's smirk disappeared in a second.

''Who told you to buy me a phone?'' She opened her mouth to finish him off, but thought better of it and rapidly turned around to walk away. There was no way she'd flip out on her first week of college.

''I was just kidding!'' Chuck shouted from behind, his face stunned.

Blair turned around, her eyes flickering from phone, to his shocked face and back at phone again. He was still holding it offered, ready for her to take it. Blair thoughtfully lingered for a moment and finally walked away to class.

She didn't see Nate sneaking up to Chuck and patting him on the shoulder in pity.

Blair could hardly focus on lectures that day, not even hearing professor when he dismissed the class an hour earlier. Only Penelope's poke to shoulder brought her back to reality. The classroom was already almost empty. They walked together across campus, exiting the main doors. They got out on parking lot when Penelope moaned happily, ''Thank god he told us to go. I thought I'd never get through his boring lecture.''

Blair nodded absentmindedly.

''Let's go to Bendel's.''

''I can't,'' Blair lied. She actually didn't want to go. What excuse would she have when Penelope told her to buy something? It would only add up to tragedy; looking at all those wonderful dresses she couldn't have.

''Not even for an hour?'' Her friend asked hopefully.

''Not even for a minute.''

''You are such a bore. I better rush, it will be impossible to hail a cab later. See you tomorrow?''

Blair nodded and walked alone across the parking lot to catch the bus. Her head was bent down, contemplating today's event. Ever since she flipped out at Chuck, guilt has been eating her alive. For some reason, she felt terrible. Why? Why did she feel this bad?

Is it because a small voice in her head told her that maybe he just wanted to make her feel better about the accident? Maybe he really just wanted to get her a new phone? That maybe Chuck Bass is not as bad as Penelope thinks he is.

As if on cue, she spotted him by the car, leaned on against it, following her with unreadable eyes. Blair paused, staring back at him, waiting for him to say something or to give any sign for her to approach.

After he made no movement, Blair took a deep breath and got closer. ''Hi.''

He shoved hands in pockets, his face hard. ''Yes?''

No greeting back. Just a simple cold ''Yes?''. Chuck seemed to be completely out of humor. Did he get bored of her already? Did she scare him off? The thought was surprisingly gloomy.

''I'm sorry,'' She finally managed the courage and pride to say. It wasn't something she admitted easily. Or at all.

''What do you mean?''

''I may have slightly over-reacted this morning.''

The parking lot was empty, most of the students still at classes. The ground was lines with limos and expensive cars, SUVs and Audis. Chuck considered her words for a moment and leaned on a car with crossed arms, cocking his eyebrow. Even though face was expressionless, his voice was playful.

''Yes, you have. The last time I was scolded was by my mother - when I was eight.''

Blair rolled her eyes, but a faint laugh escaped her.

''Blair,'' he continued his tone suddenly serious, reaching for his pocket. ''I wanted to-''

''Hey, Blair,'' Serena walked over to them, her eyes darting from one to another. Her blond hair was shining brightly on the sun. Blair envied her flawless sun-kissed skin. ''Are you feeling better?''

Chuck's head snapped towards Blair and she smiled with sickly sweetness. ''I'm much better, thanks.''

Nate joined them, grinning amusedly. ''So ladies have met and befriended each other. Hi, I'm Nate.''

''You were sick?'' Chuck whispered, never taking eyes off of her.

''Nothing serious,'' she whispered back, feeling her heart warm up at the concern in his voice.

''Why don't you come with us?'' Serena offered with her arms crossed. ''We're going to grab a coffee.''

''I was just heading home actually.''

''Where do you live?'' Nate asked curiously.

''Upper fifth,'' she answered, feeling kind of proud and important all of a sudden. She felt like she could finally compete with these people. And the look on their faces told them she passed the first stage of a test.

''We drink coffee at Dantes,'' Serena linked their elbows and walked her towards waiting car. ''It's few blocks away, let's go.''

Blair obviously had no other choice. She caught Chuck's eyes and all of a sudden wanted to be part of his world, she wanted his friends to accept her.