Blair Waldorf remained motionless in an instant and gasped, "Carter Baizen?"
He still looked the same from when she last saw him at the debutante ball. His dark brown hair's now a bit longer and messier, no longer the clean cut hairstyle he used to sport. She noticed that he must have stopped using all those hair products and his now tanned complexion. There was also a more pronounced look of maturity on his face.
Showing her that he still hasn't forgotten his manners, he gave her a peck on each cheek in greeting and in his warm demeanor, he said, "Blair Waldorf! How good it is to see you here. It's been…" He paused, silently counting the number of years since their last meeting. "Seven years since we last saw each other, I believe. How have you been?"
After unbuttoning her stained white chemise and taking it off to reveal the white camisole with her lacy bra visible underneath, she replied, "I've been really good. What about you?" She knew that he has been into producing independent films and traveling a lot to discover new and interesting subjects for his works.
He tried not to blush and stare at her stripping off her top so he looked at something else behind her and explained, "I'm here to direct the shoot, Marshall couldn't make it… Some emergency back home… So… when I got the call from him asking me to be his substitute, I've been more than willing to be of assistance… It truly is for a great cause." He paused, taking a moment to let his eyes wander at her a little. The LA scene has made her dress down as proven by the top she was wearing and the pair of Express jeans she had on with matching silver Havaianas. He has never seen her without make-up on but she still looked the same— flawless white skin, brown doe eyes, ruby red lips. Her hair was still wavy and it runs up to her waist now. She still carries the cat-like feisty attitude, ready to scratch her claws at an offending person.
She nodded in understanding at his response and was about to say something else but a production assistant has called her attention, ordering her to memorize her lines while getting ready for the shoot. She turned to him and politely said, "It's really nice to see you again, Baizen. It is such a great pleasure to be working with you today… But uhm, I have to go in there first before the PA kills me." With that, she proceeded to the make-up room, leaving a dazed Carter behind her.
He yelled at her one more sincere apology for the last time, "I really am sorry about your top!" In which, the brunette had only responded by giving him a wave while walking further away. Looks like it's going to be a very interesting day, he thought to himself and went on with his own matters at hand.
She was deep in thought when the nonstop ringing of her phone brought her back into reality.
Upon seeing the name in the caller ID, she answers with a cheery voice, "Hey S! You would not believe who I'll be working with today for the infomercial shoot."
"Uhm, well, I don't really have an idea. Do tell me."
Blair could already imagine the clueless look on her best friend's face so she said it bluntly without giving any more clues. "Carter Baizen."
"No way!" The blonde on the other line said in disbelief. "Seriously?"
"Seriously. I bumped into him earlier and I accidentally spilled coffee on the white chemise I was wearing. Talk about making a good impression. So anyways, I was about to throw the offender dagger looks but when I saw it was him, I was like— I don't even know what expression I had on my face. I was really stunned."
Serena was not really as shocked as her best friend so she only nodded and told her, "I have something else to top that news! Trust me, this one's juicier."
Trust Serena to always compete with her with sharing the latest gossip. Blair waited for her to continue her revelation while Serena prolonged the silence to build Blair's excitement.
"Just spill the news, S! I don't have all day," Blair rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Chuck'sdatingaSpanishprincess!" Serena replied, her words running over each other.
Trust Blair to be a complete drama queen with hearing the latest news. She gasped in utter disbelief and shrieked, "You have got to be kidding me!"
"Alexis Figueroa, daughter of Prince Alberto and Princess Sophia of Spain," she said for the third time that day (the first one was when she told Chuck and the second one was when she informed her husband). "The 'I think I just found my soulmate' girl."
Blair could imagine the blonde clipping her phone to her ear with her shoulder and air quoting the words soulmate and girl with her fingers.
Serena went on saying, "And that was why I thought she looked familiar."
"Oh my God! Un-fucking-believable!" She then suddenly stiffened up at her profanity and went on saying, "Wow! I am so impressed with Chuck Bass landing on quite a good catch. That just took me by surprise but it's great news nevertheless."
"He told me that he's staying in England longer than expected hence she probably is the reason why he doesn't want to go home yet. He really seems to like her a lot, B. It seems serious."
"And it really means that he's moved on… I'm happy for him, really. All I wanted was for him to find someone who would make him happy." She was really happy for him but a part of her felt sad for some reason. Was it possible that she was feeling a little jealous? She shrugged the thought and remarked, "I should call him soon to congratulate."
"Me too. I am so excited about the blossoming love life of our dearest Chuck Bass. I wish he could take her with him should he finally decide to go home 'coz I just cannot wait to see them together in action."
Blair heard someone 'cough' in the background and saw Carter standing by the door motioning for her to get ready for the shoot.
"Hey, S… As much as I want to keep this conversation going, I have to go back to work. So, I'll call you later, okay?"
With that, she hung up and went with Carter outside to start the shoot.
Blair Waldorf had been distracted since she heard the news about Chuck dating someone again from Serena so when Carter had called for a break, she decided to call him and find out for herself.
Chuck Bass woke up at the ringing of her phone and immediately picked it up so as not to wake the sleeping girl beside him.
"Hello?" He quietly said, standing up to have the phone call outside the room.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the bedroom voice of the one and only Chuck Bass." Blair greeted him readily, walking away from the set to somewhere more private. "It's Blair by the way."
"Yes, yes, I recognize that wicked voice too well." Even when he was half asleep, he always manages to get even with her wit. "What do you want from me at this ungodly hour?" The truth is, of course, he was happy that she called and he was more than willing to have a little chitchat with her.
Should she ask him how he is doing with everything or just be straightforward and ask him about who he is dating? She chose the latter. "I just called to well, congratulate you. Serena told me about—"
"Always expect Serena to shut her pretty big mouth and spill the details of my wonderful dating life." He rolled his eyes and anticipated her reaction, trying to detect a trace of jealousy at her voice.
"So it's true… that you're dating someone right now? I really want to hear it from you myself." She added, "You know Serena and I call her 'soul mate girl'."
Alex woke up to see an empty side of the bed. But after hearing him talk with someone on the phone outside the bedroom, she tiptoed and stood behind the door. She really didn't want to eavesdrop but her curiosity got the better of her. Chuck and Alex have a lot in common after all.
"Didn't Serena tell you about all there is to know?" Chuck may have wanted to tell her everything about his blossoming romance with the Spanish princess but he still felt uncomfortable about spilling the beans. How was he supposed to tell the love of his life that he's trying so hard to get over her and that he's trying to move on with another girl he genuinely likes?
Blair shook her head and said, "All I know is that you met her on the plane. So… tell me what happened afterwards?"
He now was resigned and told her about the connection he initially felt towards her after meeting her and talking with her on the plane, how he wooed her by visiting her at her boutique (skipping the details of their steamy afternoon make out session) and taking her out on dinners, etc. Wrapping everything up, he concluded, "I can tell that there's something there from the moment we saw each other but I wasn't sure so I had just to see her again and that's how it all started."
He sounded truly happy so she smiled at this and told him how happy she truly was for him and that she only wishes him the best.
Alex felt like jumping up and down after hearing what he had said but her expression changed when she heard him hear say, "I still can't help missing you, Blair…"
When she said nothing, he confessed, "I got rid of the box and everything that comes with it… I had to in order to move on. There was no point of holding onto our memories when you and I both know that we're just not meant to be anymore... We both have separate lives right now…"
She didn't know what to say so she just kept silent.
"But before that, I was able to read your last letter… and I'm really touched by everything you have said. I just want you to know that I will always feel the same way about you. No matter what."
With that, he hung up and saw Alex standing by the door, a stunned expression on her face, the grey blanket covering her naked body. He will always feel the same way about her and even if she tried, she knew that she'd never be able to replace her place in his heart.
She turned around and got dressed, feeling suddenly heartbroken.
AN: So guys, since I'm gonna be busy this weekend and I won't have the chance to update. For your sake and mine as well, I've updated two new chapters. Please do read and review because I really want to hear feedbacks from you... What you think about the story, What you think's gonna happen, What you want to happen in the next chapters, etc.
As what I have said before, one of the characters will start having an affair. With Jenny and Carter back and given Blair and Chuck's last conversation with Alex overhearing it... Do you guys have any idea who it's going to be? Tell me what you think/who could it be.
And for all those D/S fans, the romantic date Blair and Nate have planned out for them will be up soon in the next chapter. Please do tell me about your ideas... I'm thinking maybe... a Scavenger Hunt?