Title: I Bid You A Sweet Adieu
Author: BookCaseGirl (Abby)
Date: August 6, 2009 (Beginning) August 27, 2009 (most recent update)
Rating: T
Classification: There really isn't much of one; a mixture of everything.
Summary: Sequel to Bittersweet Welcome! Six months later, Chuck and Blair are finding that some things will stand in their way of being happy and staying together successfully. As with any stab at their relationship, there are many hurdles to leap over.
Author's Note: I am so very sorry for waiting so long to update. I've been incredibly busy, and this is short because of that busyness, haha. I plan to get working on the season 2 chapters for my other in-progress story, "What Were They Thinking" as well. I just figured I would let everyone know in advance that updates and writing in general for me will be slower.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or any other product names that are mentioned.
Thank you to my beta, Amber, for looking over this chapter!
Blair cautiously walked into her and Chuck's bedroom, prepared for anything he threw her way. When she saw that his eyes were closed and his chest was moving in a slow, steady pattern, she paused in the doorway. A smile spread on her face when she heard her name fall from his lips. Blair leaned against the door-frame and simply stared at him. She could do it for days on end without moving. Chuck was at his most peaceful state while asleep, and sometimes she just wished she could bottle it up.
She dragged her feet as she walked over to their queen-sized bed (Chuck had begged for a smaller bed, just because he was "Chuck Bass" and wanted to be closer to Blair), her feet rubbing against the plush carpeting. Once she was on her side of the bed, Blair sat down and smoothed the sheets, which had wrinkled under the weight of Chuck's body. He didn't move at all, and she let out a contented sigh as she lay down – using her arm as a pillow.
"You can stop staring, Blair." She jumped, even though his voice was gentle and sweet – the tone he reserved for the moments before an apology. Looking up at him, she stroked his cheek, where there was a bit of stubble from his inability to shave earlier that morning. Blair smiled at him, her eyes going a bit foggy as she yawned.
Chuck's lips found hers and moved against them gently. Once they had separated, he began to twirl the ends of her hair on the tips of his fingers. Blair leaned into his touch and suddenly the warmth of his hand was gone.
She looked up at him, confused, and in return, he looked at her seriously. "I'm sorry." His voice was low and reverent, and his eyes were a melted caramel.
"It's okay," Blair replied quietly, leaning forward and pecking his lips once more. Something came to her mind, and she ducked her head down a bit, forcing herself to not look at his lips (she wouldn't be able to resist them if she looked at his face any longer). "What was all the stuff that you were saying earlier? About...Vic? What happened, Chuck?"
She didn't need to look up to know that he was avoiding her words and gaze. He shifted, albeit subtly (though she noticed any change in his demeanor, no matter how big or small), and Blair shook her head. Finally, he answered her.
"Nothing."
They both knew that the likelihood of that answer satisfying her was about as high as the odds that the Beatles would have a reunion tour the following summer. Blair cursed under her breath and slid away from him, turning over to face the window.
She was unbelievably tired of having to be cautious around Chuck. Every slightly negative move she made seemed as if it could cause another blow up. Like he was a ticking time bomb and soon, she would set off the explosion; the only thing left would be an outline of the man once known as Chuck and maybe even a note if he was feeling nice.
Now, though, she really didn't care. If he did love her – like he'd said, so many times – then he would be there for her, even when they fought. That was why she decided to finally speak up.
"No, Chuck, it was something. I'm so sick of walking on eggshells around you! If you want this..." she hated to use this word, but felt it was necessary, "relationship to work out like I do, then we have to be open and honest." She added a desperate "please", and heard his defeated sigh from the other side of the bed.
"Blair, look, he just...Vic needs...Fuck, I don't know what the hell he needs since I've only been his dad for less than six goddamn months. It's my fault. I should take care of it." His body was up against her's now and she felt his arm burn into her side.
"He should be civil to you. We (dammit, she hadn't meant to bring Nate into this) – I didn't raise him to act like...shit. So, just...tell me what he did. Please," her begging was in full form that evening.
Chuck grunted, trying to formulate a proper response to what she was asking him. "Victor...he said some things...well, they didn't exactly heal me from decades past. Whatever, though, he's a kid. I was exactly like him...I still am." He had a misty look in his eyes, slightly nostalgic.
"What did he say?" her voice was like butterfly wings – fluttery and soft, concerned and caring.
"That I should have been around. And I should have. He made good points...He just crossed a line."
"What line?" She pressed.
"Just involving us and our dirty little escapades," he smirked at her boyishly (they had since turned to face one another) and their lips entangled for the millionth time that day. His voice was lighter now – more playful – and Blair felt infinitely better.
His right hand massaged her ribs and she giggled as his fingertips inched towards the ticklish spot just beneath her breasts. Blair wove her fingers into his hair and bit his lip, pulling away to look into his eyes – which were foggy and dark with lust. She smirked at him and ducked her head into his chest.
"Well, since he's not here, we don't have to worry about him coming in and adding this to the list of times he's walked in on us, do we?" she smiled at Chuck and he groaned, leaning forward and capturing her lips between his own.
***********
Victor found that walking to school was oddly mind-clearing. The cool dampness of the morning air penetrated his skin through his jacket and he took a deep breath. His iPod earphones were stuck into his ears, and he was walking to the beat of Flo-Rida's 'Right Round', his sleek black shoes making a slight clacking sound on the sidewalk.
"Hey, man!" Eli's hand slapped his back by way of greeting, and he almost jumped. Using his thumb to turn the volume of his music down, Vic looked back at his friend and shot him a withering glare. Eli only grinned in response, and Victor felt a strange pang of resentment for the fact that he was in a complete daze from the lasting effects of drugs, but his friend was not.
"Seriously, dude, how are you not totally out of it?" Vic asked Eli.
"It's not like I haven't done it before. You get used to it," he replied with a shrug. Victor rolled his eyes, trying to walk a few steps ahead of his friend.
When they finally reached the iron gates of the school, Victor dragged his Biology book out of his bag, putting it under his arm instead. He strolled over to his locker to drop off his bookbag and coat. As he slammed the locker door closed, he saw Lilly standing in place of the swinging door.
"So is this whole talking by the lockers thing becoming regular? Should I come earlier and set aside some time on my oh-so-full calendar?" He asked sardonically.
"No, it's just...convenient." She shrugged, looking down at the floor. They were quiet for a few moments, and Vic had an eerie feeling. There were very few people in the hallway – most had gotten to class, which started in three minutes – and it was like they were the only ones there. As if a camera was zeroing in on the scene, capturing every line of the concentrated frowns on their faces.
"Are you just going to stand there and stare at your toes, or do you plan on forming actual sentences?"
"You're pissy."
"No. I am pithy. There's a difference, blondie."
"Fine, be an asshole!" she yelled, throwing her hands in the air. "You're still coming to my fucking party, aren't you?" Lilly folded her arms over her chest, and he thought of something he had once read in a magazine about how that put up a barrier. Well good. He wanted her to be afraid of him, to feel the need to subconsciously protect herself from him.
"I don't know anymore," he said quietly, staring out the window and into the distance.
"Whatever. I'll see you later. Or not. I don't give a shit anymore."
"Bitch," he muttered under his breath, watching her body get farther and farther down the hallway. Fuck school. Today, he would stay out and see the world. He opened his locker again and pulled out his bookbag. He took out the bag of weed he still had leftover from his afternoon with Eli yesterday. Sticking it in his pocket, he fingered the plastic before walking out of the school.
First up was the pizza parlor on eighth. He was craving a piece of that delicious deep dish sausage pizza, and he'd be damned if he wasn't going to eat it. (I'm really not sure if this ending for Vic's POV made sense at all :P)
End Note: I'm sorry...I just wanted this done...I am unbelievably tired...yadda yadda yadda. I'll get some caffeine tomorrow and write an extra long chapter, three people that read this ;P. Oh yeah, Chuck's POV will be extra long to make up for this as well....Again, just...wanted it donnnneee :P
