Chapter Twenty-Seven
Beautiful Monster
''Her melancholy was like a darkness in her; but when she thought of him, it seemed that through the darkness a forked lightning ran.''
In the middle of the night, when everyone was sound asleep, Blair put a cardigan over her pajamas and sneaked out of the house. Ever since Chuck left, the system of the time seemed to break down, crumble to fractures and tendrils and she forgot how to tell the hour on the clocks.
What was day when you couldn't see the sun? What was night when you lost any ability or desire to sleep? Lines between yesterday, today and tomorrow blurred into nonrecognition.
The air was rich and warm, streets packed with party-goers and strange night birds. She sat on the steps in front of Chuck's home, absentmindedly fingering her ruby ring - the only relic that connected her to him.
She sat like that, staring at one spot, for unknown amount for time, not knowing whether it was day or night - and it was pitch dark, it was darkest of the hours - but all she knew was that he wasn't here. Blair sat like that until limo pulled up and she recognized the sound of the tires. Her soul sensed him, his presence couldn't be hidden just like scorching of the sun in summer noon.
As if he was something magnetic, a trigger of some sorts, she shot up. Blair stared at the tinted windows and she waited, waited for the moment he would come out, for him to meet her.
Finally, after some time - only God knew after how long - window rolled down and she saw him. The top of his head, the messy midnight black hair, sunken eyes, strong straight nose, pursed lips. It'd been days since they last met. His once beautiful face now looked marred by her demons that latched on to him.
''What are you doing here?'' His voice wasn't cruel, it was impassive, like a blank page and she inwardly cringed. Nothing hurt more than blank canvas of a painter who once thought you were his muse.
''You didn't come back,'' She whispered, words rasped because her throat stung from all the sentiments stuck there. Like a poet, she wanted to save her words for him, wanted to give him what she most couldn't. Blair shrugged her shoulders, pocketing the ruby ring.
She bit her lip, waited for him to give her some sort of answer, an explanation, anything just to hear the sound of his voice. Because days without him were bleak, she was pathetic and weak and knew everything was her fault. He didn't even blink at her words nor did anything to let her know he heard them. Searching for an emotion, any emotion in his face she shakily continued, ''So I came to you.''
Seconds passed as bats flew over their heads, frantically flapping their leather wings. Few blocks away, police siren could be heard and it grew distant until it completely disappeared. The sound was eerie, desolate and scene reeked of misery.
Her eyes met his briefly, but there was nothing in them except cold, infinite darkness and she shivered, pulling the cardigan tightly around her. Chuck retreated back into the darkness of the limo and window rolled back up, cutting her off. The car drove away.
Is it a sin, is it a crime
Loving you, dear, like I do?
Slow-paced 1930's melody echoed through Sparks apartment. Georgina was swaying with the soothing rhythm of clarinet, smoking a flavored cigarette on a bedroom window and puffing the smoke out in the air. She opened a bottle of pills with her teeth, a prescriptive medicine which she most definitely did not need. The pills only made her drowsy and boring. Georgina shook half of the bottle pills in her mouth and, one by one spit them out through the window.
In that moment, someone rang the doorbell and last pill flew away. She froze, confused. Her dad was in Millennium, working and Diana went shopping. That money-grabbing trophy wife usually took lunch and massage so who could it be?
If it's a crime, then I'm guilty
Guilty of loving you
''Oh, fuck off,'' She muttered as the bell rang again, pressing the fag on an outer windowsill and extinguishing the flames. After flicking the remains outside on the street, not caring on whose head it landed on, she fabreezed the room.
''Just a minute,'' She called out, coughing and choking on the scent. ''Shit - I'll be right there!''
Maybe I'm wrong
Dreaming of you
Dreaming the lonely night through
Taking off her bathrobe that seriously started to smell funky, she dumped it into hamper and went to open the doors.
''Chuck,'' Georgina blurted out startled. She didn't expect he'd come this soon, just couple of days after they met. She devoured him with her eyes, listening to the longing-filled song.
If it's a crime, then I'm guilty
Guilty of loving you
If this wasn't destiny, the fact that he came now, in this moment while this song played, then nothing made sense. It was a sign there were forces in the outer space that fought for them two to be together. They were simply meant to be.
''I don't have you phone number,'' He said with that husky voice of his, all hands in pockets and lazy attitude. He looked even better than magazines made him out to be, there was an aura of sexiness about him - something dark and irresistible. ''So I had to come and see you.''
He came to see her?! Finally, a beginning of their story. She grinned at him. Everything was going better than planned. Something rustled past him on the other end of the hall and Georgina noticed him stiffen.
''Can I come in?'' He grit through his teeth with closed eyes, as if trying to block out something. Or someone.
Georgina's brows knotted and she saw Blair, rag in her hand, absentmindedly cleaning one of the iron rails on the other side, staring at them with blank expression. She was sitting on one of the stairs and it was obvious Chuck had to pass her to get here.
What can I do
What can I say
After I've taken the blame?
She poised her face to look apologetic, opening the doors wider. ''People upstairs are moving out so it's bit loud today.''
Georgina slammed the doors shut, but not before she threw a self-satisfied look towards Blair, just to rub it in her face.
After refusing a drink, he followed her to the living room. ''I'm really sorry,'' She said with saccharine voice and Chuck sat opposite of her, rubbing his hands together and looking away. Laptop stood on coffee table and Georgina quickly closed it, it would be little bit awkward if he saw his own face on her desktop background. She cleared her throat and continued, ''Blair came to me yesterday and confessed everything. That's how I found out.''
You say you're through
You'll go your way
But I'll always feel just the same
She purposefully lowered down her voice to a broken whisper, making herself look picture of sorrow. ''She was so furious with me, I didn't understand anything at first. I became a part of this, without even knowing it.''
Georgina leaned towards him and touched his knee, ''I honestly didn't want you to find out like this.''
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I'm wrong
Loving you, dear, like I do
Chuck's jaw clenched and he shifted his legs, moving his knee away. ''Can you turn off the music, please?'' His voice was calm, but she could feel the storm boiling inside of him, she could sense the hidden lightnings striking mutely, yet viciously. The song was promptly killed. Now that there was nothing to mask the noise from upstairs, they listened to thumping of feet and moving of furniture across the floor.
Georgina leaned back on the plush sofa, admiring his features and their angles. God, he was so sexy. His brokenness only managed to make him look even more attractive. He was handsome even when he looked like he hadn't properly slept in days; there was something alluringly rugged about his violent beauty - like Cabanel's Fallen Angel.
''Tell me everything,'' His words interrupted her musings and she bowed down her head to conceal a smirk.
The cry for help, the long awaited words. Georgina bit her lip, forcing herself not to grin and she lifted up head, wringing her hands in faux nervousness. ''Before she started classes, when she found out she got into Constance, Blair kept saying how everything would change. How nothing would be the same again.''
Her cunning eyes observed as his fits curled around sofa armrest at the sound of Blair's name. She went on, knowing what she was about to say now would break whatever spell Blair put on him and bind Chuck Bass to Georgina, forever. It was how things were meant to be in the start, a natural course of the events that pathetic nobody dared to interrupt.
''How could I ever know she was talking about this, right? Blair has always been ambitious, Chuck. Never forget that. She always wanted to have things that were out of her reach, things she could never have.''
''All of her life,'' Georgina spoke dazedly, her voice sounding more and more distant. ''She dreamed of life which she wanted to have - a life in magazines. You know; celebrities, fame, luxury. And you were there, in the pictures. She wanted to be rich. She wanted to be famous. Getting into Constance, the prestigious university, was just another step for her.''
Georgina was so submerged in her own story - because it was the story of Georgina Sparks, a little bit modified - and she didn't see the effect on her listener.
''You were the symbol of her dreams, of her ambitions. You were a fine catch - a Prince of Night.''
With that whispered nickname, the nickname magazines gave him, she looked up and focused her eyes on him. Chuck Bass didn't move a muscle, but his face paled to an unnatural color. ''Yes, that's what she called you, a Prince of Night. The Heir.''
At those words, as he heard that fucking nickname - label which he hated and Blair fucking knew he hated it more than anything - Chuck suddenly pushed himself of the sofa and walked away with his back turned, intent on looking out the window. There was a moment of silence and they could hear people outside the doors, carrying furniture from upstairs and talking amongst themselves. ''Go on,'' he said darkly, still turned away.
''Having you meant having good future and Blair was aware of that fact. She knew how to play her cards with you, to make you think you were in love. When in reality her goal was to climb the ladder and reach the top. She didn't care about you at all.''
''It's weird, isn't it?'' She spoke after some time, picking on her nails. ''I shared my all with her. My room, my clothes, my secrets, but it the end - she took possession of it all.''
She sighed tiredly and got up, putting her arm on his shoulder. ''I'm doing you no good, am I?''
Chuck stilled under her touch and faced her, his expression stone-hard, ''I didn't come here to feel good. I came here for the truth.''
Vividly more perturbed than he came, he turned around and took his leave to go.
''Chuck,'' She hurriedly called out before he got to the doors. Georgina didn't want him to go before she was done. He needed to see her vulnerability, he needed to see she mattered too. So her usually loud antagonizing tone of voice dropped to a soft whisper, distorted to make it sound small and inviting. ''I am aware that you don't really know me, but I know what you're feeling. I just went through it too.''
She took a step closer as he kept quiet, her face mask of weakness. ''She was using me while lying to you. She was using my life and all I had. It will take me some time to forgive her and to forget about it. I don't even know if I can do it, if I can forgive her.''
She looked up at him, only he was staring at the spot next to her head, impassive - but listening, yes, listening intently. ''I would like to have you by my side.''
''Georgina,'' He finally spoke, looking at her straight in the eyes and once again she saw the lightnings in it, the storm he was hiding and carrying inside of himself and it excited her, yes, his chaos fascinated her and she wanted him - all of him. ''You have no idea what I'm feeling.''
Doors opened and interrupted them. Chuck turned to look at Diana as she got into living room and the mask of his indifference fell, there was contempt and there was terrifying anger.
''I don't know if you two met, but Diana is my father's wife. This is Chuck Bass, my future colleague.''
Diana, clutching the shopping bags, was dumbfounded to see Chuck Bass stand in her apartment and talk to her step-daughter. An object of G's obsession was here, in their home. After over-coming the primary shock and confusion, she offered him her hand. ''Nice to meet you, but I'm pretty sure we've met before. Haven't we?''
Chuck glared at the woman, her hand hanging empty and Georgina quickly picked up on his hostile emotions.
''Chuck is about to leave,'' She injected, looking at him with that amorous look. ''I'll give you my number, let's meet again.''
As Diana gaped at the scene, they exchanged numbers and he left with, ''I'll be seeing you more often.''
''Did you hear that? Did you hear what he just said?'' Georgina smirked at her step-mother and danced to her bedroom, singing ''If it's a crime, then I'm guilty - guilty of loving you!''
Nate had been dreaming of winning Lacrosse State Championship - the sweetest of the dreams. Last year they lost to Harvard Crimsons. Constance placed second and with a heavy heart they took the silver. This time, the team lifted him on their broad shoulders, carrying him around on waves and he roared mightily, raising the shiny golden cup in the air. Crowd around him chanted his name, pumping their fists in the air.
''Nate! Nate! Nate!''
He greeted them with a loopy grin and kissed the trophy, but the chanting started to deform, disorient and the crowd wasn't elated anymore. He felt the rough hands underneath him shoving him, pushing. Their voices weren't enthusiastic, people were getting angry, the mob swarmed around him - intent on drowning him - and they angrily yelled Blair over and over again.
Nate looked around him confusedly and trophy disappeared out of his hands. Faces of the crowd started to melt away and their voices blurred into one, a beastly growl;
''Who are you, Blair? Who the fuck are you?'' His best friend shouted from the living room and Nate forced his eyes open. ''Who the fuck are those people? Those people that you claimed to be your family?!''
Panicked, Nate shot up from his bed with speed of light. His feet tangled in the sheets and he fell face first on the floor.
''Is it because of money?!'' His best friend continued from the room next door, wrathful roaring carrying through house and that was the guy who almost never raised his voice. Chuck was all silent threats, never losing his cool for anyone. Cursing, Nate got off the floor and shot toward the ruckus. ''Because of this luxurious way of life?!''
''So you'd finally get rid of that girl living in the basement?'' He was hovering above Blair, seething at her with livid face, a face Nate never saw before. It down-right froze him, the fiendish look chilled his bones. Blair was cornered, she was pressed against the wall, yet gave no sign of fright.
''I'll forget what you just said,'' She quietly said, staring straight ahead at his chest.
''But I won't!'' Chuck punched the wall next to her head and that's when Nate shook the daze off, broke out of the sleepy confusion and he jumped between, pushing him away, worried he would actually hurt her. By the looks of it, he was intent on it and the situation turned alarmingly serious. ''I'll never forget what you did to me!''
''Let her go!'' Nate grit through his teeth as he struggled against him because Chuck didn't seem to think he was nearly done.
''Stay out of it!'' he spat at him, trying to get to her, make her hurt, make her cry, make her pay.
''What the hell are you doing?!'' Nate blurted out, stunned as his best friend didn't back down, but continued to struggle and continued to seize after her. Nate was trying to cage the beast, trying to restrain it, but Chuck was rampant and wouldn't listen to anyone. ''Calm down!''
''I said stay out of!'' He snarled, trying to escape the prison of restraining hands. Nate was an athlete, he was strong, much stronger, but Chuck's fury knew not how to be quenched.
''Blair, just go-'' Blond man hurriedly called to her over his shoulder, knowing his strength was failing and it was matter of seconds when his resistance would break. The situation was getting out of hand and he couldn't stop the sense of panic rising in his chest.
Did he go crazy? Did he seriously want to injure her? Did he seriously want to harm Blair?!
''I'll never forget what you did!'' He growled like an animal, baring his teeth at her as Blair dared to look at him, she dared to look at him with those big-doe eyes, trying to lure him to the trap, trying to get him fall for the bait again.
''Blair, please!'' Nate nervously pleaded and finally she backed away, still staring at him, still trying to lure him and finally - she was gone.
It took him an hour to calm down. It took him an hour to exit his room and when Nate saw him, he opened his mouth ''Chuck-.''
''Shut up,'' His best friend bristled with hoarse voice, pulling a glass from the counter and filling it up with scotch. The amber liquid glistened like an elixir. ''I told you to stay out of it.''
''I...'' Nate began, looking down on his hands, his thumbs twirling anxiously. ''I know everything.''
Chuck froze, holding the glass to his chest and he stared straight ahead. The apartment was eerily calm and silent, not even the noise from outside traffic daring to penetrate the walls of Archibald home.
''I followed Blair yesterday - to her home. I mean,'' He pulled his fingers through hair, exhaling heavily. ''I didn't go inside, I didn't go downstairs - but I saw.''
Nate put a hand over his eyes, this situation too fucked up for his liking. Few days ago, Chuck came to him in the middle of the night and since then moved in. He wouldn't tell anyone what was going on with him or why did he move out from his home. Serena was thankfully in Hamptons - still oblivious, his parents were worried sick - especially Evelyn, Bart was just furious - and Nate noticed Blair was nowhere to be found in this. Chuck never mentioned her anymore, he didn't talk to anyone since that fiasco with paparazzi happened and Nate didn't ask any questions. He knew better not to ask.
Finally, he couldn't stand it anymore, his friend's weird behavior was worrying him. They used to share everything; crazy escapades, love troubles, insane stunts. This was nothing like that. Chuck isolated himself completely, would randomly go out even if it was middle of the night - no phone, just wallet - and sometimes he wouldn't come back until next day. Nobody knew where he went, upon dialing his number it went straight to voice-mail. His drinking got worse, he'd start fights for no reason. Other times Chuck was like a ghost, a shadow of his former-self; never talking, never sleeping.
Nate went to Blair's address because she ignored his calls and he wanted her to forgive Chuck for whatever he had done this time, wanted her to come and fix him as she usually did because things were getting out of control, out of his ability to help. He saw her then in clothes he'd never imagine on her - something so simple, so mundane - and she was brooming the floor of the building. Nate remembered the cramping muscles of his face as he stared because he couldn't help himself, he stared as Serena's former maid - no, as Blair's mother came - emerged from the basement, an apartment the size of his closet and he watched them chat.
Though Nate was bred in masses of luxury, he couldn't think worse of her for that and he came to her as her mom left and they talked and she was as she always seemed to be, except Blair burst into tears in the middle of the conversation. Nate held her as she cried and he whispered to her ear that Chuck was staying at his place and he left, understanding his behavior, finally understanding what was going on - but not grasping it completely - no, not quite.
''What you saw,'' His best friend continued gloomily, clutching the glass tightly in his hands, very close to breaking it ''Her parents, place she lives in-.''
Birds outside chirped, breaking the tension filled silence and Chuck dropped down his full glass, amber liquid spilling over edge and dropping on shiny surface of coffee table. His voice turned somber as he said, ''I would never care - it wouldn't matter if she -.''
Nate looked up with raised eyebrows, gazing at this hunched figure with pity, with sadness, with sympathy.
Grandfather clock boomed, announcing the noon and it broke whatever trans he was under. It ticked away inconspicuously, but the invisible deed was done. A shift in the air, a roll of the shoulders and slow humming of the fan on the ceiling. He looked up glaringly, emerging out of the shadows and into the light - blazing inferno in his eyes. ''She lied to me, Nate. Blair set me a trap.''
''She thought I was a fool,'' He said venomously, his eyes dangerously narrowed and there was something menacing about his whole frame as if it was poised to strike. ''And don't think I don't know it was you who said I was here.''
''Chuck, man-'' Nate finally found his tongue, but it seemed tangled, heavy in his mouth and he pressed back on the seat of the couch, fingering the end of his shirt.
''Save it, Archibald. I've packed my bags already,'' He continued deadly, taking the glass and downing it in single motion. Everything about him oozed with loathing and Nate shrank back, this whole fucked up mess out of his league. ''She wanted to play games with me - I'll give her games.''
''Don't mind me, kid,'' Baritone, but very smooth voice crept up and Blair's head snapped up, breaking out of the daze.
The marine was brimming with yachts, all of them luxurious and as fine as this one. Guard patrolled the area and ever so often threw amused glances towards them. Blair assumed she wasn't the first underage girl to find herself here. She threw her new boss a disdainful gaze and continued to clean the yacht rail with one of the rags, not even bothering to be embarrassed about spacing out.
Blair tiredly wiped her forehead, her head burning under the noon sun. The glorious, bit over a 20 meter boat was the home of Edward Morelli, a 30-year old man with questionable home choices, but pristine manners. Written in black cursive letters over caramel hull, Vero was a handsome mobile house of this polished, peculiar man.
''Sea has a calming effect,'' Edward murmured, leaning on the rail and crossing arms across his broad chest. Rays of sun danced over the azure surface of the sea and the yacht swayed lightly. Blair warily scrutinized him, assessing, figuring out; his tanned skin, breezy linen shirt, bare feet and the queer way he watched her back as if all of her secrets were written on her forehead.
''Kid, are you always this angry and nervous?'' He grinned, pearly white teeth glowing against the sun and Blair bit her lip, forcing herself not to snap back. This was her mother's job every summer, but Jane wasn't feeling very well lately and Blair had to take it up. She'd be proper idiot to get fired on a first day, no matter how appealing that idea sounded.
''I'm not a kid,'' She coldly replied, vigorously scrubbing the rail. A feeling of bitterness brimmed over her chests, a sour angry residue that persisted within her since the last encounter with Chuck. ''I'm a full time student and your employee, in case you didn't notice.''
''Still angry,'' Edward observed smirking, eyes hidden behind black Ray Ban wayfarers. The guy was 10 years older than her, which wasn't too old, but certainly not old enough to call her a kid. She resented his amusement and resented her own annoyance at the meaningless nickname, but there was something about him she couldn't put a finger on. ''Sea is good for people. It can even make you laugh when you're feeling down.''
She doubtfully looked up from her position on the floor and glared at the expanding horizon. It seemed like nothing could erase the creaking of her bones, the tightening of skin - a feeling like her insides were trying to escape out of the prison of the body. Was sea capable of miracles?
Blair bemusedly eyed the inviting horizon, a spot where sea and sky kissed, two entirely different shades of blue, yet each one reflection of the other. She couldn't deny, the scenery was mesmerizing and even more lulling. A peaceful serenity seeped over the bitterness and she inhaled fresh, salty air.
''I see what you think me to be,'' Edward pointed put, looking up at the screaming seagulls above them. ''You think I'm here to ogle young ass, I beg your pardon, and lure your oblivious self into my cabin.''
Blair dropped the rag completely and shot up, glaring at this man, at this strange persona her mother set her up with, ''Are you confessing?''
''Don't worry, kid. You're too young for my liking.'' He chuckled, cocking his head and lifting up the sunglasses to rest atop his sandy hair. Despite the refined appearance and teasing manner of talking, his blue eyes were tranquil. ''How about you tell me what's bothering you and I'll be so kind to spill precious pearls of my wisdom? That way we'd get to know each other and make our meetings little less awkward? Or do you want me to find another cleaner?''
Blair shifted in her spot, knowing this was blackmail, but despite everything something told her Edward wasn't that bad - no, not bad at all - and she went back to cleaning the rail, succumbing back to the gloomy mood. Maybe she could use an ear, someone who would hear her out. Talking to family was out of the question, every single member decidedly hated Bass lineage and they would send her back to village before she said Chuck.
Nate was too involved, Georgina was practically stealing Chuck away from her and Penelope was too busy preparing to start her semester in London this year. Blair sighed, realizing how alone she really was. Few minutes of silence passed before she was sure of herself to speak again, ''I've disappointed people that I love.''
''Go on,'' He encouraged, going behind the bar and pulling out two glasses. ''I'm listening.''
''I've lied to them,'' She averted the gaze back to the soothing waves that hit the mast. ''I lied to the one I love the most. To my family. To everyone. Even to myself. Finally, every lied unraveled and I was left with what I am.''
Somewhere at the end of horizon, a sailboat sounded it's horn and spread the white wings. It was just a dot against the sinking sun, against the orange light spilling over darkening waves. Despite the extraordinary relief she felt as the secrets diminished into the gust of air, the burden of their consequences was still there - if not even heavier.
How was she to fix this? How was she supposed to gain his trust again? Chuck, who felt abandoned from his family and friends for years finally found her and she turned out to be worse than them. While they were indifferent, she was a pretender.
''I don't think what you are is something to be ashamed of,'' Edward grabbed few bottles and popped open the screw, spilling liquid into the shaker.
''You don't know me.''
''I think it's how you perceive yourself, how you let yourself be defined by things that are obviously not you.''
Blair turned back to him, watched him slice a lime and those words rang across the salty air, hovering somewhere in her mind. They were comforting, a newly found resource of strength and she felt as if she was only beginning to see who Edward Morelli was, scraping his surface and outlining his form.
''Why don't you show those people that you lied to,'' He approached, handing her a crystal glass filled with yellowish clear liquid. ''Show those people that you obviously love who you really are. But first, have a margarita.''
Mulling over this words that were surprisingly invigorating and comforting, she took a gulp.
''It's virgin,'' Blair noted with disappointment.
He smiled at her in humor and at that moment, Diana Sparks entered the deck, heels in her hands. ''Blair?!''
They both turned around towards her and Edward raised his eyebrows in surprise ''You know each other?''
Blair noticed the slightly panicked, maybe even hostile look Mrs Sparks directed at her. Mrs Sparks gaze kept flickering from her to her new boss, and her eyes barely blinked.
She is my neighbor, Blair wanted to reply, but Diana instead said ''Blair is housekeeper's daughter in my building.''
Blair's fists curled and she looked away towards the sea, towards the horizon.
Edward cleared his throat, still smiling but his eyes lacked that peacefulness, ''Very well, Blair you can have the rest of the day off. I'll see you again.''
She nodded, dropped the rag and tightly smiled at Diana. Did Georgina tell her? Is that the reason she looked at her with such hostility? Did her step-daughter share what happened with her family? It didn't matter now. Blair left the harbor, glad for some time off because the day was heavy, busy and every time her hands were involved in manual task - mind was too idle and it kept reverting back to Chuck.
It was already evening when she spaced out again, an often occurrence these days. Standing in the middle of an empty apartment, she leaned her chin on the broom - thinking about him, always about him and how she wished she told him the truth, how she wished she stood her ground and claimed his heart despite everything. The place about her was filled with cardboard boxes, but there weren't many of them.
There was oddly small amount of furniture as if whoever was to come didn't care about packing at all. But her eyes didn't notice anything. Her brain didn't wonder who was to move into this new apartment on such absurdly short notice, like the rest of the people in the building did.
Doors unlocked and a voice, a voice which she would recognize anywhere, a voice that sent shivers down her spine said, ''If you're done with cleaning, get out.''
Blair whipped around and thought her imagination was playing tricks on her, the need for him so great that her mind produced his real-life image. Only the picture was wrong, distorted in some sense because she would never imagine he would look at her with such vivid abhorrence, such blazing fury that petrified her.
Chuck was here, in her building, in the newly-rented apartment and he had murder written all over him.
''Didn't you hear me?'' He spat after some moments of silence, looking down on her with animosity that made her blood curdle. He impatiently pushed the doors open, ''I said get out.''
Show those people that you obviously love who you really are, the words sprang in her mind, the soothing sound of lapping waves and she didn't flinch as he snarled at her, didn't cower under his unforgiving glare.
Blair swiftly shut the doors, throwing herself at them and looked back at him with resolution. She wouldn't freeze this time, she wouldn't succumb to his rage and her shame. Her betrayal hurt him, but he needed to know she loved him, he needed to know there was reason behind the lies, a blatantly foolish reason, but one nevertheless. ''You'll listen to what I have to say first.''
His eyes widened, but only slightly, and their gazes clashed, a crash of fire and water - because he was lava, deadly weapon under smooth surface and she was water, she was leagues and leagues of mystery under the chaos of her ever-shifting tides.
''Just let me explain,'' She was persistent, but stopped talking, stopped breathing as he approached her, as his musky scent enveloped her senses and she found herself back in the past, lounging on his bed, warm in his embrace. It was amazing how a simple perfume can transport us back in the past when everything else was different, when line of time didn't exist and we thought those days would last forever. For a second - for a fleeting moment it looked like he was going to put a hand over her shoulder and lean his ear for her to whisper in it.
Without a single word, Chuck roughly grabbed her elbow and dragged her to the doors as if she was an intruder, a thief in his home, something pestilent that needed to be kicked out. His touch seared her skin, it had been long since they were this close to each other. He pushed her out on the hall, away from himself, as if he couldn't get her away from him quickly enough.
Their gazes once again met and his intentions were sharply clear.
He was here to hurt her.
Chuck oozed with revenge, every one of his pores craving it and Blair knew he was here to finish her off.
Unconsciously, she reached out for him because he was magnetic and she was moth blindly flying around his raging flame. Her hand barely lifted when doors slammed in her face and she was left standing alone in the cold hallway.
Staring at the big oak doors, a solid barrier between them, she knew she would give him what he wanted. She would let him get even. She would let him do whatever he needed to heal because he was fire and she was water and they were a deviant duo.
She would relish in it, relish in his closeness as he burns her to the ground.
Blair slowly made her way downstairs, taking deep breaths as elevator reached the ground floor. Despite heavy feeling in her chest, she felt glad he was here, she felt selfish of his presence. Blair would take the pain as long as he was there, by her side - even if it meant he was the cause of it.
It was late and her body was tired, exhausted with work and mental labor. She opened the doors of quiet apartment, finding her family seated on the couch along with a girl she never met before.
''Where have you been?'' barked Dan, getting up from the couch to stare down at her. ''Can't you see what time it is?''
The girl next to him had shoulder-length red hair, her green eyes flickering innocently - too innocently - around the room. She eyed Blair from bottom to the top with arched brow, silently judging and Blair didn't like it - not one bit.
''None of your business,'' She stiffly replied and made her way to wash her hands, completely out of humor. Blair hated the way Dan always came first, the way Dan was allowed to get away with anything, the way Dan could do whatever he could without repercussions. Just because Blair was a girl and missed male genitalia, she got second-rate treatment and got put in a cage under excuse of a protection.
''Watch that tone,'' Her father snapped and she noticed his sour mood, she noticed how Jane stared at the floor, crease between her brows. Dan had all the liberty to boss her around and she hated it. ''Answer your brother.''
''The new resident was late'' she muttered irked, omitting the fact that it was Chuck Bass - a guy whom they hated, feared, loathed. Him moving in was bound to complicate everything and very possibly destroy Blair. If her family ever found out what happened between them, they would kill her.
''Don't be rude and greet our guest.''
''I was going to wash my hands,'' She flinched, glaring at the girl who dared to smirk in her face.
''Alright, darling,'' Jane timidly spoke and looked up, gesturing towards the table and most certainly avoiding looking at this strange girl that still sat on the couch. ''Come and meet Jessica.''
With wary eyes, Blair approached the girl and they shook hands. Despite her unnaturally wide grin, girl's grip was lame, far from firm and Blair remembered her first Business strategy lesson; Never trust an associate with a limp handshake.
Jessica grinned, but Blair didn't trust her smile. ''We'll be sisters! I'm, like, so excited!''
''Sisters?'' Blair repeated blandly, looking around at her family. Was this a joke?
''Of'course,'' Jessica laughed at her, rolling eyes and waving her hand dismissively. ''Dan and I are getting married! I'm moving in!''
A/N: ''Such a perfect chapter that hurt my feelings so deeply. This is beautiful and i am a masochist :)''
This review made me laugh and cry at the same time! Actually, the response from you guys was overwhelming! The Bart and Evelyn shippers are coming forth and there are so many of you.
My writing wasn't the best in the beginning, I experimented a lot and made a lot of mistakes, but you were here! You are still here and it makes my heart ache deliciously. Thank you so much for loyalty x Can't wait to read your reviews!