Chapter Thirteen
Fireproof
''You've lost the money?'' Diana reapeated, leaning back on the chair and crossing her arms. Her look was mix of pity and disapproval. Her mascara elongated her lashes so much they left a black stain on the eyelids. ''It's not really clear to me how?''
''Not all of it. Just 400 dollars.'' Blair took a sip of tea, her throat hoarse with all the talking. She gingerly looked around the café she so well knew. TFB loved to hang out here. Fortunately, there was nobody familiar that day. Blair bit her lip, straight-out lying to her neighbor. ''Dad put them in five different envelopes. I dropped one.''
''Thank God for that. How can you carry that much money around? Unbelievable and irresponsible.'' Diana leaned in towards her, shaking her head. ''How are you going to take care of it? Your family still hadn't dealt with problems Dan put you in.''
Blair looked away at the remembrance of hell that awaited her at home. ''I don't know. Dad sold the farm. I think I'll just get some money from it.''
She didn't know why she was saying this to Georgina's step mom. Her face was in a strange way comforting to Blair, seeming to offer escape and help. She was like a distorted image of mother she always wanted to have. Beautiful. Sophisticated. Ready to catch her when she fell.
Jane was beautiful too, in her own way. Her make-up free face long lost the breath of youth, but there was comfort in her warm eyes. Her lips were thin and perpetually pressed together. Her manners were coarse, her way of speaking bold and crude.
''Mom will get angry with me. Dad will get angry with mom. People from the building with get angry with them. It's their money after all.''
Diana seemed to ponder this. She delicately put her forefinger under chin, asking ''When do you get out of classes?''
''Around 4, or 5 pm. Depends.''
''I've got an idea.''
Mrs Spark grabbed her Birkin bag and pulled out her wallet. She counted 4 bills of 100 dollars and handed them to Blair.
Later on, Blair hopped to Diana's limo and they dropped her off to bank to deposit the full amount of money.
Following morning, Blair came out in front of house to say goodbye to Mother. She didn't dare tell her anything about losing money, but just said she deposited as was expected. Jane got a new cleaning job with one of the rich families and their villa. Jenny Humphrey's mother recommended her to one of loyal customers.
Blair said farewell and set out to store to buy bread and milk for people in the building. She carried big basket ready to fill it. Mother went the opposite way, towards the bus station. It was hard and it was heavy, but father was still sick with sprained ankle and Dan roamed the city in search of a job. It was chilly Saturday morning, grey mist still clung on the windows of the cars and bottoms of the streets.
After stocking up, Blair threw blanket on the bread to keep it warm and heaved the basket up the street. As she rounded in on her block, electric shock seemed to freeze her in place. Chuck Bass stood in his best suit in front of her building, looking up at the windows. He carried a bouquet of peonies in hands, nervously tapping with his polished toe-capped shoe.
For a moment, she wanted to run up to him and throw herself into his arms. It would be just like in those old movies she used to watch with her mother. But then her heart sank, as she remembered how he nearly threw her out of his room. How he had been ignoring her since, pretending she doesn't exist and living the life of Prince of Night.
The guy made it clear that he hated her. His glare flashed across her mind, but she still shivered in fright if he would accidentally see Dan or anyone from her family. He would realize her lie and everyone would know her dirty secret. She'd be dead with shame.
He spoke to her one sentence since that fiasco in Tropic. What did he want now?
She still stood rooted to spot, million thoughts racing through her mind. Did he come to see Georgina?
Dread she never encountered surged through her body. Her hands shook with inexplicable dire sensation that overwhelmed her.
''Blair!'' A voice called her. It was feminine and familiar, the voice of Diana. Mrs Spark's head peeked out of her apartment window, beckoning for her to come. She didn't seem to see the young dashing man in front of her building. Nobody seemed to see him. It was as if he only existed for Blair. Diana called her one more time, signaling she had the talk with her husband, as she promised to do yesterday. ''Blair!''
Blair quickly threw the basket in the shade behind one of the parked cars so he wouldn't see it and ask questions that would ruin her. She adjusted her sweatpants and smoothed stray hairs out of her ponytail. At that moment, Chuck's eyes reverted from Diana to her. Their gaze clashed together, evoking bittersweet memories deeply buried in her heart.
''Blair, we're waiting for you.'' Diana called out once more and retreated back in her high class apartment, closing the window.
She went to take a step, but decided against it and stopped. Chuck's eyes never left her face. He slowly approached, holding the flowers in front of him.
''Morning run?'' He asked surprised, looking appreciatively at her sporty outfit.
''What are you doing here?'' She snapped, slightly embarrassed of her old pants. She was still in shock and disbelief. All the affectionate feelings rose, as if from deep slumber, but she pushed them back. She pushed them back with all of her might, she pushed them back with all of her pride.
''I came...'' He seemed to struggle with his words, as if they were something unfamiliar to his mouth. Chuck cleared his throat and raised the flowers in some sign of defense. ''I came to apologize.''
Did he learn the truth about that night?
It didn't even matter now. He had proven himself unreliable.
Blair looked at the peonies. Their scent reached her and she reveled in it. They were her favorite flowers. How did he know it?
''Although, I must say I didn't count on your mother. I miscalculated again.''
Blair looked up at him, completely baffled. She forgot how handsome he looked. His lips seemed irresistible, his eyelashes dreamy. It was days, weeks even since she last stood this close to him. The magnet between them pulsed, current shook the earth, wanting them both to close the distance between. She shook her head, battling with part of her that wanted to forgive him and throw herself at his feet. ''My mother?''
''I don't know if she saw me,'' He explained, looking back at the window Diana used few minutes ago. Blair sighed in frustration as she realized. He thought Mrs Sparks was her mother. Of'course he did.
''How did you find me?'' She clipped, rubbing her forehead. How did he know in what building she lived? There were dozens of high-class apartments in her block. He couldn't be here. He kicked her out of his life and she let him. He saved himself without knowing. He didn't know who she really was.
Why did he dare challenge the destiny now?
''I saw you two yesterday when you went out of Dantes together. You rode right past me,'' He admitted, looking down on the floor, actually looking embarrassed. Chuck Bass managed to look embarrassed. What has the world come to? ''Blair, we need to talk. I'll be expecting you tomorrow. Don't let your mother wait, it seemed urgent.''
He offered her the flowers and she took them without thinking. Her movements were a bundle of reflexes, her mind raving with million different scenarios. They needed to talk? What about? Hadn't all already been said? She eyed the bouquet.
Nobody ever gave her flowers before. One of the butterflies in her chest fluttered, but she was quicker. Blair let her arm with the peonies fall to her side while she inwardly stomped on every moving butterfly in her stomach.
''Just go,'' She coldly said, looking away from him because looking at him hurt. She didn't see his reaction, but after a while he walked out his limo drove away. Blair counted to fifty and went back for basket, putting flowers inside and throwing blanket over it.
She considered throwing them to garbage, but her hands wouldn't cooperate. They brought the petals to her nose and corners of her lips twitched inwardly. Blair sighed and went straight for basement. If only she could put them by her bed. They would make her room looks so pretty.
But her family would ask too many question which she had no answers to. In the basement, she deposited the basket and hid the bouquet behind big cardboard boxes.
She spent the morning at Sparks apartment. It was pristine and clean, thanks to her mother. Decorations were over the top, trying to show off all the luxury family owned. Blair sat on beige plush sofa, feeling uncomfortable under hard scrutiny of Mr Sparks. He was a man in his early fifties, with good set of porcelain teeth and dark hair. Owner of one of most luxurious Manhattan hotel chains and part-time family man. Georgina had his wide eyes that easily turned into something sinister.
''Come to our hotel after class,'' Diana smiled, sitting on a couch next to her husband, but not touching him. ''There's John, the head waiter. You'll arrange schedule with him, deal?''
''Thank you, Mrs Sparks.'' Blair nodded, trying to focus on a friendly face of the married couple. Mr Sparks didn't hide his displeasure at this proposal. Blair wondered how much did he actually know. Diana only loaned her the 400 dollars under conditions that she pays it off working as a waiter in one of their hotels. And of'course, as long as she didn't get into details in front of her husband. ''Thank you, Mr. Sparks.''
The man in black suit stirred at the address and he coughed awkwardly. ''I only wish your parents knew about this little project. Good luck, Blair.''
He got up, without looking at them and picked up his file from the marble coffee table. ''Diana, I'm going.''
Mrs Sparks followed him all the way to the doors. ''Have a nice day,'' She said as a good wife would say, leaning in for a kiss.
Her husband merely glanced at her and walked away. Blair turned her head away, pretending she didn't see anything.
Diana stood for few moments in the doorway. ''Well,'' She clapped her hands loudly, snapping her head up and reclaiming her vigor from god knew where. ''It's all up to you now. Time is crucial. Be quick and get a lot of tips.'' She still stood standing, signaling the visitation hour was over.
''I know your parents wouldn't approve and you wouldn't just take the money. We owe you a lot considering the events with Georgie... This will all be our secret.''
''What secret?'' Said a groggy voice from the hallway. In came Georgina still in silky pajama. Her eyes flashed at the sight of Blair. ''I thought you were here cleaning.''
Blair bit her lip, not wanting to snap back in front of her new patroness.
Diana looked at her step-daughter with wide eyes. ''It's just some school project she needs help with. I mean, she doesn't want it to be known until it's finished.''
''You mean you don't want me to know,'' She growled back at Mrs Sparks, offended and enraged. Georgina reverted back to Blair. ''Don't worry, with Diana you'll have the best project ever. The only failed project of hers is me.''
With that, she turned around and thumped her way to her bedroom. Blair blinked, trying to hide her annoyance at the sight of yet another spoiled TFB's tantrum. This one was in denial. ''I'll go get her.''
''What's wrong, Georgina?'' She asked with a sigh, leaning on desk in G's bedroom.
''What's wrong with you?'' Drawled her friend, sprawled on the messy bed, unsuccessfully trying to light a cigarette. Cold breeze came in from the open window and Blair shivered. ''Since when are you hanging out with Diana?''
She made it sound like they were best friends gossiping about other people, painting each other's nails. ''Oh, please.''
''Please what?'' Growled Georgina, slamming her fist into a pillow. ''You've been whispering about all morning! And you're letting her use you against me!''
Blair rolled her eyes. She turned around to adjust herself and her eyes fell on G's laptop background. It was a picture of Chuck, probably one of those clips from online magazines. Her heart sped up at the sight. All of a sudden, all worry she felt about her friend disappeared into a puff of smoke.
Blair realized with a heavy heart; there was something very wrong with Georgina.
''We should have gone to library,'' Serena sniffled, warming up her hands. ''It's too cold, I can't feel my face.''
''What's this?'' Nate groaned, lost in the mess of notes. He took Serena's and skimmed through them too. ''This too? Great.''
Wind picked up the pace in Constance courtyard and shuffled them. Their project partner, one of their classmates put his cellphone on one corner for weight. ''I don't get it. Professor Jones says one thing and then professor Martha the other.''
''Chuck, how about we spice up our last year's project? Change few stuff and hand it over as new.''
Chuck Bass didn't hear a single word of this. His eyes roamed over the students in courtyard, apparently looking for someone. There was an anticipation in his posture, an excitement in his eyes. Notes in front of him were untouched, questions unanswered, pencils left where they were dropped half an hour ago. ''Change what?''
Nate looked at his best friend with raised eyebrow. His eyes were still straining, trying to focus at task at hand. He wanted to pass this project. Chuck didn't even blink an eye at the discussion of the structure and modules. He usually goofed around or disappeared until last minute, but was great help in some twisted shady way of his. Today, he didn't even bother to try. ''Are you okay? What's wrong with you, dude?''
All of a sudden, Chuck's eyes zoomed in on something not far away from their table and he rose, straightening out lapels of his suit. Serena stopped her scribbling and followed him with her green orbs.
Nate groaned, not believing he'd bail right in the middle of a project that was due soon. ''Where are you off to?''
Serena shook her head at the now familiar spectacle and the nosy crowd it gathered.
''Blair,'' Chuck intercepted her way, stopping her in tracks. ''Can we talk?''
''No,'' She bristled and tried to pass by. As if he anticipated that answer, Chuck grabbed her elbow and pulled her back to face him.
''Fine,'' she sighed, already annoyed. If she ran, he'd just chase her down. ''Let's get this over with.''
The sentence only seemed to infuriate Chuck. His nostrils flared, but he seemed to bite down whatever mean he wanted to say and cleared his throat.
''I forgot about that night,'' he stated resolutely, quietly, as if it was a secret she was dying to know. ''So should you.''
''So should I?'' Blair repeated with an incredulous voice, her eyes narrowed and menacing. He spared her a drop of double-edged mercy and now he thought she'd come crawling back? ''You forgot and now all is fine?''
Her voice echoed around, she didn't even bother to keep it low. Where was he when she begged him to hear her out, repeating the truth over and over again until she got sick of hearing herself? Where was he when whole school shunned her? Where was he when she needed him the most? Chuck's brows furrowed, obviously the plan not going the way he wanted it to. People around paused to hear them out, but some of them already moved to go about their business.
''Good,'' murmured Serena as she listened to Blair with satisfaction, applauding her at the way she handled this. Truth be told, she loved Chuck, but she saw him break too many hearts already.
Blair raised her head higher, voicing out the thoughts that had been racing through her mind since yesterday morning. He showed up once in front of her house. One time too many. He put her and her secret in danger with his erratic decisions. Did he think she'd dance the way he wanted her to? Was he that entitled, that spoiled, that selfish?
''So simple and so easy! Because you decided it. You found out where I live and came. Because you wanted it! You decided that we should have a talk! But I don't want to talk to you!''
Chuck shook his head, his jaw clenching. ''All this because I came to visit you yesterday?''
Blair scoffed, crossing her arms. His coming there made her nervous, and most of all - it had her afraid. Afraid that he would somehow uncover what she hid, that he would catch her unprepared. Because with Blair, it all had to be arranged in a perfect, detailed scheme. ''Just who do you think you are?! Don't you get it? You can't come and go whenever you please. I'm not one of the girls you regularly chase around. ''
''You can't come up whenever you want,'' Blair resumed peevishly, her eyes flashing lightning, her voice ready to carry across the oceans. She was livid and all the bottled resentment came to surface. ''You think it's nice that you got me flowers? Where did you get the courage to shove your gifts into my hands? Is it me? Because I stepped inside of your palace once, oh Prince?''
The air was crisp, biting their cheeks. Breeze carried the cold and it seeped into their bones. Courtyard was full of life and murmur, but somehow, they didn't notice it. Blair arched her brow, her voice arrogant and proud. ''That before is not real Blair. This is real Blair.''
With that, she threw him a glare and stormed off, leaving him speechless.
''We'll make a short movie out of this,'' said one of Nate's lacrosse team players that joined their table. ''We'll name it Which one is real? Summary: You can't always get what you want.'' He chuckled at his own joke, not even remembering the way Chuck shoved him last time he made similar one.
''Anthony,'' Nate warned, all-too-good remembering it. ''Watch it.''
Serena walked over to Chuck with sympathetic face. She sighed, ''Don't be sad. She's right. Blair got scared her parents would see you. You know they're strict.''
Chuck still had cloud over his brow, storm in his chest slowly boiling.
Blair, by some superb case that day, managed to focus all her energy on class. People once again gawked at her and whispered, but the air of it seemed somehow different. Blair herself felt charged with electrical power, she seemed taller, her hands mightier. Her head was finally clear. The tide shifted. She hand the upper hand and willed control to remain in her grasp.
''Blair,'' One of the lacrosse players caught up with her after class. They never spoke before, even though they had been attending Economy class together for several months now. ''I heard you've got brilliant notes. Can I borrow them?''
Blair looked at him. She knew for a fact he never in his life bothered to learn to spell note, let alone study one. Besides, he asked a question as if him asking her notes was somehow a favor to her.
''What? You finally learned how to read?'' She drawled, flipping her hair disinterestedly.
The guy didn't seem put off. He merely laughed, ''You're hilarious. Do you wanna grab coffee later? My treat.''
He flashed what seemed to be a charming smile. Blair grimaced, thinking how she'd rather die. ''No, thanks.''
''Are you sure?'' He winked, subtly flexing his triceps.
''Go away Anthony,'' Serena shoved him and the guy walked away, smiling over his shoulder.
''Ugh,'' Blair rolled her eyes. ''Thanks, S.''
''What are friends for than to shun away creeps?'' Serena swung her arm across Blair's shoulder. ''A girl who stood up to Manhattan playboy.''
Serena's smile seemed to increase in wattage. She bit her lip, checking her watch. ''We didn't seem to catch up this morning. I didn't dare come near you when I saw the way you crushed Chuck underneath your heel.''
Blair looked away, not wanting to go through that topic. This morning, she was provoked to spill out all that's been bothering her. Those feelings were real and they were dark, she was almost glad to unburden them. ''Did you get the dress?''
''No, I decided to have one made.'' She brushed off the question, focusing on other matters. ''So? Chuck showed up at your house? With flowers?''
''Please,'' Blair groaned. ''Can we not talk about this. I'm on Chuck detox.''
''Okay, okay - sorry, we won't.'' Serena raised her palms in surrender, blowing a bubble with her pink gum and popping it. ''There's nothing to talk about anyway. You demolished him this morning.''
Blair fought off a smile off her face. Demolishing Chuck Bass gave her a certain dose of pleasure. ''You're overreacting. I did no such thing. I'm a good girl.''
After class, Blair rushed to Millennium hotel, one of Sparks' jewels. She talked to head waiter and they arranged she'd stay 3 hours every day. Those three hours had to be explained to her parents. Blair lied to mother she had some major project to finish after school and that it would only take her few weeks. She said she'd be in the library, so they wouldn't worry. Or call.
That evening Nate sat on couch in Bass penthouse, laptop propped up on his knees. On his left was Serena, on his right Chuck - both in same position. Snacks in front of them were untouched, bottles of water barely drunk. They typed away, all of them working on their project that was due next week.
''We can get good quotes from here,'' murmured Nate, mailing them the website immediately.
Serena raised her eyes, rubbing her neck. ''Chuck's not here. He's astroprojecting himself - probably to watch Blair sleep.''
The shot was uncalled for. They all worked together, Chuck even managed to focus this time. In response, he slammed down his laptop angrily. The sound echoed through large room. He leaned towards her, fire in his eyes. ''Fine, then get out. Work somewhere else.''
He'd been quiet all day, ever since the encounter with Blair. His eyes were gradually darkening, his morning smirk turning to terrible frown. If he said anything, it dripped with bitterness and sarcasm.
Serena looked at him offended for a second and then slammed her laptop too. She argued, grabbing her pencils, ''Fine, if that's what you want. Good luck paying off someone to do this project for you!''
Chuck clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowed. ''If I wanted to pay someone, I'd pay you to hop off my dick!''
Nate was frozen in spot, not daring to move a muscle. His eyes were wide, awkwardly darting from one friend to another. Serena rose hastily, her hands on hips. ''Get your shit together. Look at yourself! Look at what your obsession with her brought you to. You used to be fun.''
She shook her head, raising her arms towards ceiling and dropping them. ''If you won her over easily, you'd just abandon her - Like all others. But you're stuck on her because she's way smarter than any girl before.''
She picked up her books and reverted her glare to innocent looking Nate. ''C'mon, get up! Don't you see he's kicking us out?''
Nate stared back with his mouth open. After a moment, he slowly closed his laptop.
They walked out of the penthouse and got into elevator. The air now seemed much more charged with suspense and intensity. Serena huffed, her hair a big messy mane. The ride seemed to take forever.
''He just wants Blair to want him,'' She grit through her teeth savagely, clutching her things. ''He's not even serious about her. Typical Chuck Bass.''
They rode in silence for a moment.
''What if you're wrong?''
Serena turned to him, stiffening. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
''What if Blair means to him much more than you think? What if Chuck... What if Chuck is in love with her?''