A/N: My, my…this one was difficult. I couldn't decide where to set this—the beginning or the end? Or possibly both? But no, that particular story plot may be my next plot bunny, so I don't dare use it now. ;)

(ahem) So, here is the next installment. Probably not as long as the last one, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see…

And my PM/Review Reply thing is on the blink, so sorry if you asked a question and I didn't answer it…

"It's often said that no matter the truth, people see what they want to see. Some people might take a step back and find out they were looking at the same big picture, all along. Some people might see that their lies have almost caught up to them. And some people may see what was there all along."

1x10: Hi, Society

Chuck spun around the girl in his arms, and she giggled, smiling for the camera flashes. Chuck rolled his eyes beseechingly to the heavens. His date—what was her name? Marissa? Antoinette? Cher?—obviously did not realize that his attention was fully focused on a certain brunette, who was easily the most beautiful one there, laughing at something Carter Baizen said.

He smirked, and purposely spun the girl in the direction of Nate. He nodded slightly towards Carter. "He…" his voice was quiet and husky. "…just told Blair…" he paused for dramatic effect. "…what he's going to do to her later."

Nate, overly trusting and not the brightest bulb in the tanning bed, didn't need anymore than this. Without speaking, he marched over to Carter Baizan. He tapped him on the shoulder. "Blair may not know who you really are, but I sure as hell haven't forgotten." He said, and pulled back his fist, punching Carter in the face. The former bad boy fell back in surprise.

Nate shook his hand out and resumed punching, as Blair began to shriek, horrified. "Nate, what are you doing?"

"She's my girlfriend." Ground out Nate as he punched Carter again and again.

"Nate!" yelled Blair, making the whole room freeze. "This is not happening." She glared pointedly at the other debutantes and their partners, and they resumed dancing hurriedly. "Nate, wait for me here. Carter, you come with me."

Carter soundlessly followed her out of the ballroom, as the noise generally returned to a normal level. Chuck made an excuse to his date and lingered near the door. When Nate was approached by a group of old ladies and was hurried out, Chuck could only gesture sympathetically, inwardly rejoicing at his plan falling into place.

When Blair returned, he intercepted her on her way across the dance floor and they began to waltz, earning curious glances from those around them. Blair glared at him warningly, and looked back innocently.

"Have you seen Nate?" she asked finally, disinterestedly.

Chuck smirked. "Nate was asked to leave." He pretended to ponder this for a moment. "But here I am." He raised his eyebrows, suggestively, smirk permanently plastered to his face.

Blair stared at him, shocked, as the puzzle pieces fell into place. "I know that look…" she said, slowly. "That's the look when your plan falls into place." The realization made her eyes widen. "You…you're enjoying this. You knew Carter was going to my house. You tipped off Gossip Girl. You ruined my cotillion on purpose." She accused, irate. "You did all this for your own enjoyment and didn't care what it would do to me." She felt a stab of hurt at the betrayal. "Which is exactly why you and I can never work." She said, cruelly.

"Slow down there, Waldorf." He said, still riding high on the feeling of triumph.

"You make me sick." Hissed out Blair, tears stinging at her eyes. "This…thing? Between us? It's over. For good." She turned away, attempting to make a dramatic exit. She almost succeeded, but in the foyer, her heel broke, and she went crashing towards the ground—a very un-Audrey-like thing to do.

She was caught at the last second by a pair of arms wrapping around her waist. "Blair," a voice whispered desperately in her ear. "That's not why I did it."

Blair attempted in vain to loosen the hold the hands had on her waist, but they refused to budge. Chuck laughed, tightening his grip. "I can't have you running away. Not again."

"Fine." Blair relented. "Why did you ruin by debutante ball, Chuck? Please, explain it to me."

"It was the idea of you and…Nathaniel." He spat out the name. "Every time he wants to make up or break up, you go along with it like a lost puppy." He wilted. "I just…didn't want you to get hurt again."

"You don't think it hurt, you…betraying me like that?" Blair demanded.

"I wasn't thinking…" faltered Chuck.

"No! You weren't thinking! You weren't even…ugh! It's ridiculous. I can't believe I was so stupid." Blair ranted.

"Blair, just…stop." Chuck tried to restrain the irate Queen of the Upper East Side.

"No, you—" She was interrupted by him backing her up against a wall.

"No, you don't get it." He said, face inches from hers. "I couldn't stand it. You, with him…looking so fuckable. I tried to do it, you know. Kill the butterflies." He sighed, and released her hair from the ties that had been holding it in place. It cascaded down her shoulders, and he ran a hand through it. "I always loved your hair…" he murmured.

Blair found that she couldn't breathe, and forced herself to breathe in and out. Chuck regarded her, head cocked, for several moments, then smiled—a real, honest-to-goodness smile. It looked so alien on Chuck's face that Blair wanted to touch it to make sure it was real. She reached out her hand, and Chuck took it, still smiling.

Then, he put his hand on the wall next to her head and leaned down, and kissed her tenderly, running his hands through her hair. She responded eagerly, arms twining around his neck. She stepped backwards, forgetting about her broken shoe, and accidentally tripped on a stair. Once again, Chuck caught her, groaning.

"I thought a woman was supposed to be graceful." He whined.

"Well, I think we're all defying expectations." She teased back, leaning in to kiss him again.

(dodges rotten vegetables) I know! Short! And not the greatest work. But I haven't seen this episode in a while. My bad…

See you on the reviews page (hopefully).

Zoe