Chapter Thirty

Battlefield

The most dangerous lover is one who greets pain with a smile.

''What do you mean you two don't know anything about Chuck?'' Paige browsed through vacation pictures on rosé iPhone. Over her shoulder, Anthony approvingly nodded at topless backs of his lady friends under the scorching Croatian sun. ''He's been MIA ever since last year ended. I can't even find an online update. It's the first time since he was fourteen that TMZ didn't have a single report on him.''

Serena shrugged, quickly glancing at Nate. ''I am as clueless as you are.''

The lounge room of Constance was buzzing with excited murmur, girls squealing as they hugged each other, friends meeting after separation of summer spent abroad. Everyone was tanned and glowing, their hair lighter for few shades. Serena's smile was sad, she spent her summer away from Chuck - first summer ever - and she missed her best friend. Suddenly, her smile lit up and she beamed from her seat, ''Blair! How are you?''

If there was Blair, there was also Chuck - right?

On the other end of the room, Blair was neatly filling up Management club forms, wanting to join the club as soon as the first day of class. She looked up from papers, her eyes guarded and careful, as if someone might barge in any second and start a shoot-out. She was alone.

''So did they finally break up or what?'' Anthony asked, surprised to see her on her own and under-dressed. She looked like she lost a few pounds and it didn't even suit her, her ass was gone.

''None of your business,'' Nate clipped, getting up from the table and striding towards her. Besides Chuck, he was the only person that knew what was actually going on. Serena fortunately kept her distance, but felt very much left-out and most of all concerned to the point it hurt not to ask anything. Nate felt terrible for keeping stuff secret, not just from Serena, but from Evelyn too.

''It's a state secret,'' Paige rolled her eyes, turning off her phone since Anthony lost any interest in the pictures.

Nate held Blair's eyes as he approached her and she reminded him of those graceful wild animals with a fatal wound that watched you with caution, seizing your every step. His heart went out to her. To be honest, he didn't think she would show up today. She put herself on the spot, chin held high. What gave her the courage? Despite the innocent delicate appearance, Blair had more guts than anyone he ever met.

''Nobody knows anything,'' He whispered in her ear on the pretense of kissing her cheek.

''Where is he?'' She whispered back, holding tightly to the forms in hand.

''I don't know.''

The question was redundant because as soon as Nate went back and sat on his seat, the person in question walked into the room and instantly all eyes were on him. It would be a lie to say that people came to class just to see their friends and grab a schedule for this semester. Off the record, everyone came to see what happened with great Prince of Night.

Where did he spend his summer? Did he and Blair shut themselves up in one of cabins on Ibiza? Did they go to Cannes festival and decided to gamble away their inheritance in one of Monaco's finest casinos?

They strained their ears for gossip, each tale about him as different as the last one, yet none of the stories came close to a real truth. Hush fell over the fellow students, the summer tales put on hold as they gazed in stupefied wonder, silently asking themselves if this was a joke or one of those stupid flashmobs. Where was the camera? Where was the music?

Chuck Bass looked as handsome as ever, dressed in his usual attire - except the suit was devoid of any usual vibrant colors. It was dark, paired with a black shirt, and offered a stark contrast against his pale skin, enunciating sharp aristocratic features even more. The girl hanging on his arm was a novelty, an eye candy with crazy look in her eyes. Her outfit matched his; black pants, black silken blouse with a bow and classical black Louboutins. Her hair put in high sleek ponytail was onyx color, like his, her skin ivory, like his.

They were surely a sight to behold, but whatever happened to Blair? Whatever happened to Righteous Queen of Upper Fifth, an honor student and protector of the poor? This girl looked nothing like her and everyone wondered how did she manage to dethrone the Queen?

All eyes reverted to Blair, searching for a for most minuscule grimace, any sign of emotion, waiting for a reaction to this extraordinary turn on the events. To everyone's dismay, Blair didn't seem bothered by this in the slightest. Chest puffed out, she made a point of passing by the couple indifferently and after her grand exit off the stage, the murmuring recommenced - louder than before, followed by several clicks of the phone camera.

His friends welcomed him back with gaping mouth and queer looks, secretly dying to know what the hell happened this summer? In what alternate universe did they wake up today? The thought that someone managed to break apart the ultimate power couple seemed surreal.

''And how do you know Chuck?'' Asked Serena with a smile, raising an eyebrow.

Chuck and Georgina exchanged glances and she replied carefully, ''Our parents are cooperating on my father's hotel.''

Chuck wanted to keep the information of his current address a secret and he made her do it, no matter how much G. wanted to brag of him being her neighbor.

''Let's go,'' He cut their conversation short and steered her away, hand on her lower back. ''I'll show you around.''

She smirked, knowing there was no better way to get introduced to college life than on the arm of Chuck Bass.

Serena pushed herself off the table, offended by the brief greeting. ''Wait!''

He looked different since she last saw him, as if he was on edge, tired. That would be even weirder since he didn't once visit Tropic this summer. Not since he started that fight and Bart had him kicked out of his own club.

''Where are you going?'' Serena said with a concerned voice. It was apparent he and Blair broke up and she knew how much he loved her. It took Serena whole nine academic months to see that fact. Whatever happened now, he couldn't be taking it well. This was what she was scared the most - of someone breaking his heart. ''Aren't you going to sit with us? Maybe explain why you dropped off the face of the Earth? I was worried about you.''

''Serena, spare me the melodramatics,'' He sighed, beckoning to the girl impatiently.

Georgina followed him in silence and waited until his best friend stopped staring at him, waited until they were well out of earshot. Her self-satisfied smirk was still plastered on, but this time etched with insecurity.

''You friends don't know anything,'' She noted, hiding the unease. Georgina was thrilled, to say the least, that he would expose Blair on the first day of class and seal her doom. And best thing of all; Georgina would have the prime seats for the show, watching it under Chuck's wing. But they saw her earlier and none of those things happened. His friends remained ignorant and oblivious.

''They don't need to.''

Students passed them and she was aware of the eyes that traced their every move, relished in the gasps and shocked expression. Envy, jealousy and even anger was readable in faces of the students, everyone wishing they were her and Georgina fucking loved the attention. She fed on it, wondering why the hell magazines didn't publish her picture already?

''You really are amazing, Chuck,'' She breezily provoked, arching a brow . ''You're still protective of Blair despite everything she did to you.''

''I'm not protecting her,'' He snapped irritated, but seemed to recover and straightened his lapels. ''I just don't want everyone knowing what an idiot I've been.''

''Right,'' She said in relief and caught a sight of Blair entering the restroom, ''Can you wait for me for a second?''

Georgina whistled as she entered. Her grin widened, showing expensive pearly whites. ''Everyone is at their rightful place, don't you think?''

The tiled room was empty, leaving just the two of them. Blair calmly washed her hands at the sink, without once looking up.

''I am with Chuck and you...'' She laughed maliciously. ''You're just where you belong. Invisible. Unimportant. Midnight has passed, Cinderella. Grab a mop and get on with it.''

Blair dried her hands with the paper towel. ''Your dreams finally came true, didn't they G.? The Prince of Night finally stepped out of magazine pictures and took you by the hand.''

''And your dreams are ruined,'' Sang Georgina, mentally very much perturbed by her arch-nemesis' casual attitude. She expected a temper tantrum, crying, threats - anything. She was genuinely looking forward to it. Off the meds, Georgina was able to experience all of these vibrant vivid emotions - hundredfolds stronger.

But Blair seemed untouchable, almost amused. It infuriated her.

''You do realize this is all you're getting from Chuck?'' Blair went on, leaning on the sink to face her with a mocking smile. ''And all of that thanks to me. Due to mistakes I've made. Actually, Georgina, I think you owe me a big thank you. Some flowers would be nice. I myself am particularly fond of peonies. I find them rather refreshing, don't you?''

Georgina stared at her with bewildered face, feeling the rage build up in her. No, Blair was wrong. This was because Chuck liked Georgina - certainly not because of this nobody. He did, they've been hanging out and he picked her above everyone else. That's why he showed up to Constance with her on his hand.

One day, they would run the Millennium together and they would have a grand life. This was just the beginning.

''You can say whatever you want,'' G grit through her teeth, ''But Chuck will never be yours again.''

''You poor thing,'' Blair laughed, mock pity in her knotted eyebrows. ''Without me, he wouldn't spare you a second glance.''

Georgina gulped heavily as Blair approached her with measured step, her sickly saccharine voice grating her ears.

''Do you know what you are to him?'' She went on quietly and Georgina hated her with everything she had, she couldn't imagine how could Chuck ever fall for someone like her. ''You're just a gun for him to point at my head. And nothing else. Not now, not ever.''

''He'll never love you,'' Blair cocked her head. Though her voice was steady, Georgina felt every word like a slap in her face.

''You're just a pathetic pathological liar,'' Georgina finally spat as her enemy started to leave. She was surprised to hear herself trembling, to feel her fingers painfully dig into palms. ''Just a liar that keeps deluding herself.''

''Oh, but you don't have to believe me,'' Blair called out over her shoulder, flipping her hair carelessly. ''Because you've never even seen us together.''

She paused and laughter from outside could be heard, someone's heels echoing through hall. Blair deeply breathed in, as if whatever she was to say next was intended for herself only, not the girl that was trying to steal love of her life away. She absentmindedly fingered her ruby ring, but it wasn't there. The finger was bare, the ring still gone.

''You never saw the way he loved me.''

Paige entered the restroom and looked at them in surprise. Ignoring her, Blair pushed the doors open, completely put off as her eyes met Chuck's on the hall. A wave of emotion hit her with full force as he pushed himself off the wall. A memory flashed across her mind and for a second, for a miniature moment, it felt like this was a year ago and he was just waiting for her to come out as he always did and continue the conversation that they had just earlier.

Except this wasn't last year, she remembered. This was now and they hated each other. They hadn't spoken in days, unless you counted death threats and insults. With an upturned nose, Blair looked away from him and disappeared in the crowd heading outside.

Paige immediately exited the restroom, trying to hide an amused smile under her hand. ''Chuck, your friend is having a breakdown in there.''

''Who?'' He asked, only half-listening, glancing at the spot where Blair disappeared.

''I don't know,'' She shrugged nonplussed, ''We call her Superglue.''

''What happened?'' He ignored the nickname.

''Your ex must have left her like this.''

Chuck clenched his jaw and turned away towards the exit without another word.

After that, Georgina got out of restroom, wide eyes alert and slightly red. ''Where's Chuck?''

''He left,'' Paige replied, assessing this novelty.

How could someone who randomly broke down on the first day of school ever win over Chuck? The though was ludicrous. There must be something else going on in here. Superglue's eyes narrowed and she furiously strapped purse over shoulder, leaving towards the opposite direction than Chuck.

Paige chuckled, not even bothering to steer her towards the exit. Let the girl learn her way around, it would do her good.

Blair had enough of chaos on the first day of her second year. She was sure of her strength to endure the day, and she did. Her tolerance of pandemonium just reached it's limit within last few minutes. But when she got off the cab and from the corner of her eye saw Chuck's limo pull up, it would be an understatement to say that she was surprised.

She knew for a fact that all seniors had a mandatory dean's speech in ten minutes. Despite the nervous feeling in her stomach, her pace didn't quicken and she strolled through the lobby casually, was just to head down the stairs that led to home when he roughly pulled her back to him.

Was she surprised to see furious Chuck? No, the phenomenon had been too often these days to be put off by it.

''What did you do to Georgina?'' He grit through his teeth, releasing hold on her immediately as she turned around.

''Go and ask her,'' Blair replied almost airily, feeling herself as equally furious but bottling it up. Oh, so suddenly he cared about Georgina? If he did, why didn't he stay there and comfort her? She went to leave, but he pulled her back by her hand, stubborn in keeping her there. There wasn't any romance in the gesture or the affection. He looked at their interlinked fingers and his jaw clenched.

''You can't stand her,'' He accused with narrowed eyes, looking up to meet her stare. ''You used her, her house, her hotel and family - everything. Georgina reminds you of all the things you've lost, doesn't she? Of all the things you don't have.''

Pursing her lips, she looked away from him. How could he not understand? How could he not understand that only thing she missed was him and he was the only painful reminder of lost things; of lost happiness, of lost love. Who cared about fictional wealth, of perfect family? Those things were nothing to her.

''You don't get it, do you?'' She quietly spat and tried to wrench herself free from his grasp. ''Let me go.''

''You hate her because she ended your game,'' Chuck went on, still holding her tight for her wrist, forcing her to look at him and listen to what he had to say. ''Because she took the toys out of your hands. You lost me because of her.''

They stared at each other like a Mexican stand off and Blair's breath hitched as she realized something. If she truly lost him, why couldn't he let her go? If she really did lose him, why was he always there, stubborn in reminding her of that fact? What was going on in his head?

''Blair,'' Dan called out, his eyes zeroing on Chuck's hand gripping hers. He rushed up to them, pulling his sister back, unlinking their hands. He glared at their hateful neighbor, ''What the hell is going on?''

''Nothing,'' Blair swiftly lied, rubbing the sore skin on her arm. If Dan discovered she had anything to do with Chuck, she'd be dead. ''I fell and he helped me up.''

Chuck glanced down on her and then at her brother.

''What's so funny?'' Dan spat after him before he entered the elevator. Chuck didn't even reply, but the doors closed after him, hiding the wicked self-satisfied smirk on his face.

Doorbell rang and Chuck got off the sofa with a loud huff.

''Archibald,'' He drawled as he opened the doors, mildly surprised to find his best friend on the other side. ''What do you want?''

''Nice place,'' Complimented Nate, squeezing himself in, ignoring the annoyed look on Chuck's face. He looked around, maybe also simultaneously searched for potential murder weapons. ''I would have come sooner, but I don't think I was welcome. Figured you'd forget about it by now.''

''How did you know I was here?'' Nobody knew he was here. Chuck made sure he couldn't be traced back to this place. Did Blair tell him?

''I followed you.''

''Why are you actually here?'' Chuck dropped down back on the seat he just occupied. He was slightly impressed with his friend's improvement of scheming skills. ''I'm fine. Body count zero so far.''

''How selfish of you,'' Nate commented dryly. ''I can't talk to my man about my problems?''

Chuck leaned his head on his palm, ''I didn't feel like going to class today.''

''Ah, I didn't feel like going to class today,'' Mockingly repeated his best friend. ''Because this place is so much better? You show up in Constance and ditch classes completely. What's up with that?''

Chuck gloomily stared at the spot on the wall, but didn't reply.

''How long are you going to be here for? How long are you going to keep hurting her?''

There were few moments of silence as Chuck still gazed at that spot, lost in brooding. ''Anyway,'' He lifted his head up, shunning whatever thoughts he had away. ''What's up?''

''Ugh,'' Nate groaned, hiding his moaning face in hands. ''I feel like shit, man. From keeping Serena in the dark about everything, watching her worry to me hiding from your mom. That means I had to change my number, that means I have to hide in my house like a last criminal when Evelyn rings the doorbell. Wait a minute,'' He said as if an idea just occurred to him. ''All my problems have to do with you.''

Chuck rolled his eyes, throwing back his head, but didn't say anything.

''Chuck, listen to me-''

''Stay out of this,'' His voice was cold and firm, opening eyes and focusing them on him with intensity that would make anyone cower. ''Alright?''

''Alright,'' Nate shrugged after a moment of silence, raising his palms in defeat. ''After all, everyone in Constance is now wondering why you two broke up. You, my friend, have absolutely no idea how many girls are invested in your love life. You have no idea how many of them are obsessed with you, especially this new group of freshmen. Chuck, you never did care about your fan club.''

''Nate,'' Chuck warned, glancing at the blond guy. ''Spare me.''

Nate looked at his best friend with worried eyes, trying to think of a way to get to him, to make him see reason. When would this madness end? How long was he going to push this? Until it got too late? Until he took it too far?

It was somewhere in the dead of the night when Blair had been shoved from the deep slumber into cold reality. Rubbing her lids, she sleepily felt the spot next to the pillow for her phone. Turning it on, the brightness of the screen assaulted her bleary eyes and she squinted hard. The set of numbers had her groaning.

It was 3 am. The most ungodly of hours.

Someone buzzed again, noise pervading the silent flat, the same noise that had her woken up. Someone kept pressing the button outside the building and it almost never happened, especially at this hour. Somebody forgot their front keys, but who could be out at this time of night, in the middle of the week?

This building was a family residential area. Since nobody answered the persistent buzzing, she reckoned her parents were still asleep. To spare them the trouble, Blair quickly put on jumper that reached to middle of her thighs and pressed the button to enable the caller to get in the building.

She stood in the darkness of her living room, staring at the ancient machine that finally went dead. Dan snored lightly on the couch, still asleep, his arm wrapped around Jessica. Quietly opening the doors, she silently walked out and climbed the stairs to see what was going on.

''I forgot the key,'' Chuck lazily drawled as he entered the chilly lobby, his arm draped over some girl's shoulder. They both looked drunk, loopy grins on their faces. And they both looked her over, from her messy bun down to bare legs. He paused in front of her, gazing through half-closed eyes. ''No need for welcome committee. Opening the doors would have been enough.''

Barefoot, Blair let the coldness of the marble under her feet soothe the fire that burned through her body. They stared at each other and she was surprised to see there was no hate in his eyes, no usual hostility. Despite that revelation, she stiffly nodded, the bottled up rage slowly starting to brim over the bridge.

''I'm not up for chitchat with the staff,'' Girl commented in obvious disgust. She tugged the sleeve of his shirt. ''Let's go, babe.''

''Babe?'' Blair repeated in furious incredulity, grabbing girl's elbow and wrenching her away from him. He made a show of summoning her, she would give him a show. ''You're coming with me.''

The girl wobbled on high-heels, tripping after Blair. Desperately, she looked in panic at Chuck while being dragged out, begging him for help. He merely shoved his hands in pockets, idly watching the spectacle.

''Chuck!'' She called out once again as Blair pushed her out on the street, the cold air hitting her like a blast.

''Walk away,'' Blair threatened, hands on her hips. The girl stared at her in irritation and she didn't budge, but something in Blair's attitude scared her and she turned around, hailing herself a cab. Not even The Heir, who by the way did absolutely nothing to help, was worth of this psycho biting her pretty head off.

Blair saw her cab drive away and only then did she turn back in, facing Chuck with scowl on her face.

''Move,'' She ordered after he didn't budge, eyes still staring down on her. The lack of hostility from him put her off, it was confusing, and she looked away, pulling him by the shirt sleeve in the elevator. She expected him to wrench himself away as he always did, to flinch away in disgust, but he didn't. For some reason, Chuck let her touch him. As soon as they were in, she dropped grip on him and doors closed behind them. She didn't want to push her luck.

''This looks familiar,'' He observed with a slur, leaning on the steel and watching her through mirror on the other end.

Blair knew she looked like crap, but so did he right now and the energy between them palpably shifted. She knew he still hated her, but in this moment, it felt like the old times. They were once in this position before, only with reversed roles. It was only last year when she was trying to run away from him and he wouldn't let her go. What had they turned into?

''Push me away as hard as you will,'' Blair repeated the words he once said to her in the elevator at Constance, her voice still husky with slumber. ''But I'll always be here for you.''

And she meant those words and she wanted to remind him of it. To remind him of what they had, of what he promised. Because she loved him and she would be there for him, not matter how hard he tried to push her away. He didn't reply, but his eyes still held hers.

''I want to sleep,'' He moaned as the elevator rose, closing his eyes and slumping in the corner. ''I'm tired.''

''And so am I,'' She exasperatedly sighed, hiding her hands in sleeves of a jumper. ''But you deprived me of my sleep and we both leave for class in exactly four hours.''

The gust of cold wind entered the small space as the elevator stopped and heavy doors opened. Blair shivered, her legs bare. She pulled down the hem of the jumper, looking in the hall if anyone would see her. What the hell would they think if they saw her half naked in the elevator at 3 am with a boy from upstairs. What excuse would she give?

''Chuck,'' She urged quietly, looking at him in mild panic as he made no reply. ''You need to go home.''

He made no move to let her know he heard her. Chuck seemed to be passed out on the floor, heavy and lifeless. Helping him up would require direct contact, something she wanted to avoid at all costs.

''Chuck Bass,'' She tried once again with a hiss. ''Get up! This isn't funny.''

No reply.

''For crying out loud,'' She whispered, bracing herself and inhaling deeply. She couldn't just leave him there. Blair knelt next to him, eying his crumpled shirt, loose bow-tie and messy hair. Who was crazy enough to get hammered in the middle of the week? Only him. There was a faint smell of scotch and cigars lingering in the air. She lightly pushed his shoulder to see if he really was out, making his head roll down to his chest. He made no sign he was conscious.

Blair proceeded to put an arm under his shoulder, adamant in lifting him up and carrying him to his doors. She could do it, she could try. Besides, how heavy can one person be?

She was preparing to pull him up when his voice made her jump.

''I don't need your help,'' He snapped. Chuck looked at her with such intensity that she thought he must have somehow sobered up. Blair immediately pushed herself off the floor and he did the same, much less gracefully. They stared at each other and she thought he was going to rip her throat.

Chuck wordlessly left, leaving her alone in the elevator. He managed to do few straight steps, but it was obvious the alcohol was still in his system. Before he could fall flat on his face, she was already by his side, supporting him.

''Go away,'' He moaned, though his arm held on to her tightly. He fumbled with the keys for few moments.

Blair snatched keys away from him and unlocked the doors herself. They stumbled in the dark apartment together and Chuck took off his shoes, not letting go of her. Soft orange light from street lamp streamed in the room through window, easing their vision.

Blair was hyper aware of every little thing regarding him; of the warmth of his body, of the haziness of his eyes, sexiness of his ruffled hair. He hadn't let her touch him in months and the thought was like a stab of knife. Now that it finally happened, she couldn't seem to let him go.

''You shouldn't have come in,'' He slurred the words as they stumbled to the bedroom together. ''I don't want you here.''

''And I don't want to be here,'' She lied, feeling herself provoked. With great mental effort, Blair detached herself from him and let him drop down on the mattress.

''What are you doing?'' He chuckled as she undid the bow-tie.

One of his hands rested under his head, the other one skimmed over her bare thighs. Breath hitched in her throat as he gazed at her with a smirk and half-lowered lids. Right now, he looked just like her Chuck. Was he in there somewhere, under the cover of booze? Her heart was racing mile per minute and she wondered if he could hear it. Every nerve of her skin was on fire, all thoughts completely vanishing and leaving a blank mind.

After Blair didn't slap his hand away, his fingers caressed her skin, far less hesitant. She let him, not having strength to deny herself this small pleasure, frozen in spot under his gaze. Truth be told, she craved his touch. She needed it. The need turned into ache and now, he was soothing it. It felt good.

''I don't want you to choke,'' She whispered and only then did realize how close they were, in the darkness of the room. It would be so easy to lean in and kiss him. Now that the hostility was gone, would he push her away?

''Naturally,'' He replied with husky voice, his palm going further up her thigh. His thumb traced circles and something in her stomach fluttered. His hand was under her jumper, an inch away from her underwear, doing something to her body only he was capable of. Shiver went down her spine as she was thrown under his spell. ''You wouldn't want to kill your investment. That would be bad business strategy.''

With those words, Chuck pulled back his hand and rolled on the bed, turning his back towards her. The spell was shattered, the drops of water cut off. Blair sat there dumbfounded, clutching his bow-tie. The feeling in her mouth was dry, as if the water only made her more parched.

Did he just called himself an investment?

Blair decided not to dwell too much on his drunk words. It was late and she had class in the morning. Tiptoeing around the room, she spread the curtains wide open so morning sun would keep him from sleeping through the tomorrow. If she couldn't get any sleep, so won't he. Blair waited for few moments until his breathing became deep and even. Chuck snored lightly and she left his apartment, but not before leaving a bottle of water on nightstand.

''Did you find your ring?'' Dan asked as they walked together towards the bus stop. She went to class and her brother went to a job interview. If Jessica was good at one thing, it was forcing him to seek a new occupation.

''No,'' Blair was swinging umbrella in her hands. It was a wet day in New York, September rain was heavy and unpredictable. The temperature went down for several degrees and she huddled in her beige trench.

''Do you think there's something wrong with mom? Do you think she's feeling well?''

''Maybe,'' She replied with shrug of shoulders. The whole debt-Chuck-lies chaos definitely worsened whatever she had before. Jane often left for doctors appointments, but never once mentioned what the doctor actually said.

''What's up with you?''

She would say that nothing was up with her, but her mind was still stuck in last night and Chuck's change of attitude. As expected, she couldn't sleep, but rolled over bed wondering if this lack of loathness was here to stay? Did something happen that changed his mind about her? What if he wasn't drunk? Would he still touch her like last night?

She would have thought of all of those things and even more if a car honk didn't startle her. Dan pulled her towards him, back to the side of the road, and limo that nearly ran her over, slowed down.

Window rolled down and Chuck's eyes didn't waver from Dan, ''I'm sorry,'' He said with a smirk. Blair noticed he was alone in the car. ''My chauffeur is apparently not as good a driver as you are.''

''You son of a-,'' Dan spat, but by the time he could finish limo already drove away.

''Don't listen to him,'' Blair dryly commented, following the car with narrowed eyes. The smug basstard looked like he slept full eight hours, whereas Blair was well aware bags under her eyes were the size of Russia. It would be a lie if she said she wasn't insulted that Chuck didn't even spare her a glance, but merely provoked her brother and left.

Was it her imagination or did he seemed to be in a good mood?

''He's just trying to push your buttons.''

''I know,'' Dan seethed, resuming their way towards bus stop. ''But I can't help it. I hate the guy. It's like he's always laughing at us.''

Blair felt lonely during classes. There was no Penelope, her friend was taking the year to study abroad in London and she couldn't help but to envy her. The pictures P sent were amazing, LSE university was top university in Europe regarding the field of Economics. She couldn't help but to fawn over her newly acquired British student life.

On the other hand, Constance students crowded around Blair, but never talked to her. Everyone waited for her to snap, to lose it and go kamikaze on Chuck's new toy, Georgina. Blair was fully aware of these things, yet all she could think about was last night.

Why didn't Chuck push her away? Why did he let her get close to him? The question was slowly killing her and that's why, as soon as classes ended, she found herself outside on rain, standing in front of him.

''We need to talk,'' She said as rain soaked her hair and clothes, dripping down her fingers.

''About what?'' Chuck stared down on her, waiting. He didn't cuss her out, he didn't say no. It gave her hope, but that same hope had her terrified. The smell of wet ground enveloped them and it seemed they were miles away from Constance, somewhere far and remote.

Blair opened her mouth to ask why wasn't he pushing her away? Why wasn't he threatening her? What happened last night? Did he secretly still love her? But those words were handful and she couldn't possibly get them out of her mouth.

''Leave Dan and my dad alone,'' She instead said, chickening out. ''They have nothing to do with this.''

''Dan,'' Chuck spoke his name slowly, as if trying it out and whatever it tasted like felt sour. He briefly looked away, as if unsatisfied with her choice of words. As if he expected something else. ''You mean your brother that went to private school abroad and after that turned into a car thief?''

Ah, there it was. The mocking. The hostility. He was drunk last night, the remembrance of what he did must be completely wiped out by the alcohol. Or induced.

It didn't matter, Chuck probably didn't even remember touching her. She wiped a drop off the tip of her nose, her heart heavy and crestfallen. On the other side, this dangerous ground was familiar and she could thread on it with skilled practice.

''I think I have particular set of problems regarding him,'' He went on, meeting her eyes. ''Remember?''

''I remember, but don't involve him into this.''

''Don't you get it?'' Chuck lowered down his voice, taking a pressing step towards her. Rain drops from the tip of his loose hair fell on his cheekbones, racing down to the jaw. The space between them was almost nonexistent, certainly a development, but the hostility was back, simmering under cool facade. Whatever happened last night was a fleeting thing, maybe even a trick of her imagination. How could he ever let her close? The guy clearly couldn't stand her. Nevertheless, she stood her ground, boldly staring back at him. ''You're all the same to me.''

''Chuck,'' A soft voice called out, a voice that had them both freeze. It was as if a hand from the past reached out and slapped them across their wet cheeks. Evelyn stood under the shower of rain, looking at her son with pleading look. Chuck didn't revert his eyes from Blair and she saw a signal warning in them, a warning that made her cautiously pull back away.

''I missed you,'' Evelyn said with trembling voice, only seeing her son, trying to meet his eyes. ''Tell me where are you? Where do you live?''

Blair bit her lip hard. She didn't know where her son lived? She didn't know anything? A pang of sadness struck her heart, feeling sorry for Evelyn, despite everything what happened. Nobody deserved this, especially not someone who loved you unconditionally.

Chuck caught Blair's glance and she saw his face pale, she saw his cool facade start to crumble. ''Mother, don't you ever come here again,'' he grit through his teeth.

''I'm worried about you,'' She went on, her hands outstretched towards him in yearning. ''What has been going on?''

''I think you know the answer to that question the best,'' Her son replied coldly and turned his back to her, walking into his waiting limo and driving off.

Blair didn't realize she was shivering. Evelyn finally looked at her and the disgust was all over her face.

''Do you see what you've done to us?'' She sharply said, her voice breaking. ''Do you?!''

Evelyn's flawless make up was soaked with showering rain, mascara dripping down her cheeks and mixing with tears. Blair stared straight ahead, not daring to meet her eyes because she couldn't face to see what monster did Chuck's mother think her to be.

A limo rolled over and Nate got out, horror on his face. Blair was ever-so-grateful for him when he led sobbing Evelyn away, steering her into his limo. She exhaled shakily as the car drove off because she couldn't answer her. The guilt she forgot about in the midst of fighting for Chuck overwhelmed her once again. This was all her own fault. The ominous feeling was all-consuming and she was running out of the school gates.

There was only one person that always made her feel better, no matter what.