As always, thanks for the reviews and I apologize for taking so much time updating this story. Blair's POV is always difficult to write and I feel like there are times she believes things that just aren't true. This chapter might be a tad boring because I still have to fix the issues between every character before they can start attending college.
I realized the Hamilton House wasn't an actual club in Columbia so I decided to include a real secret society from Columbia called St. Anthony's Hall. All the things I've written about it in this chapter are either facts or based on actual rumors.
Dan's eyes flutter open to the knocking coming from his front door. He glances over his shoulder to his alarm clock and finds it to be 4:45 A.M. His heart races to the thought of a spirited brunette standing on the other side, waiting for him after reading his book.
Once he opens the door, he's surprised to see Serena standing in front of him with jeans and a gold half sleeve top. Her blue eyes are cold, jaws clenched, and her fingers are curled into tiny fists.
He's in trouble
He raises his brows as his eyes are fighting to stay open. "I take it you finished the book."
Serena brushes past his shoulder and tosses Inside on his coffee table. She turns her heels to face him, folding her arms across her chest and gives him an accusatory look.
"You had to of known I wasn't going to be happy with it," Serena says
Dan shrugs his shoulders, not meeting her eyes. "It wasn't meant to be published."
"That may be true, but you still wrote it."
He tilts his head and scrunches his eyes. "Everything I wrote is true…Those things happened."
"It's not about writing things I've done in the past, it's about the way you see me," Serena explains
Serena can be very oblivious at times. One minute, she chooses him over Nate, then the next thing he knows, she's kissing some professor in front of him, being callous towards his feelings.
"We've been drifting apart," Dan tells her and frowns, feeling saddened at the thought. "You would've noticed if you paid more attention."
Her eyes soften. "I just thought you were the one person who saw me differently."
"I did, before….But then the Ben thing happened," Dan explains
Serena eyes harden. "Right, because I was obviously the only girl on your mind then."
Dan knew her anger towards him had more to do with Blair being the protagonist of the novel. They're very competitive with each other and her being here has nothing to do with their relationship. It has more to do with his feelings for Blair.
"When were you going to tell me you slept with her," Serena asks stepping closer and knitting her brows together.
"I never slept with her. It's more of a pipe dream than anything else," Dan answers shrugging his shoulders.
Serena tilts her head down, looking to be in deep thought. "How did this even happen? This is just so random," Serena says to herself. Serena then looks up and meets his eyes. "It's always going to be her and Chuck."
"Of course you would think that, you're one of the biggest Chuck supporters," Dan tells Serena as he lets his anger get the best of him. "God forbid she actually dates someone who treats her right."
"Are you implying that I'm a bad friend," Serena asks as she gives him a look of incredulity
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Dan says, not backing down
Serena shakes her head and smiles. "Wow…You really are delusional."
Dan huffs out a breath of disbelief, shakes his head, and looks at his door's direction. "I think should you leave."
Serena gives him a glare before leaving. He shuts the door at the instant she steps outside the loft, not giving her a chance to have the last word.
"And so it begins."
A startled Dan glances over to find Jenny in her PJ's, holding a smirk. Dan rolls his eyes and goes back to his bedroom.
XOXOXOXO
Blair memorizes the chapter word by word, laying in her tub, and surrounding herself with scented candles. She tastes blood from constantly biting her bottom lip as she read's his tortuous words. Images of Dan having his way with her on the staircase begin flashing through her mind. There's a much needed release from the fire burning up inside of her. She slides her hand to her core, thinking of him sucking and biting on her neck, marking her as his own. Cries fall from her mouth as she slides her two fingers in and out, while massaging her breast with her free hand. She wants him. She wants him exactly like the book. In the part where he's thrusting into her on the staircase with her back pressing against the sharp edges of the steps. It's the words he whispers in her ear that drive her to pure bliss.
She climaxes, crying out, and breathing heavily. She sighs happily and leaves the tub. Finally reaching her bed, a small satisfied smile forms on Blair's lips as her eyes close and she thinks about a curly haired boy from Brooklyn.
A few hours pass and she's awoken from her deep slumber with sounds of Dorota calling out her name.
"What Dorota," Blair snaps, hoisting herself up to square a glare at Dorota.
"Miss Blair… Lowly boy downstairs looking spiffy as ever in long sleeve. His hair remind me of wild man in jungle." Dorota begins fanning herself with her hand.
"Get a hold of yourself Dorota….Now, I need you to distract him, maybe offer him breakfast," Blair says tersely.
She can't walk downstairs looking like this, her hair's a mess and she feels the bags under her eyes from getting only a few hours of sleep. Makeup and eyeliner are much needed at the moment. She hates how fast her heart's beating and how the thought of him on her bed is causing her hands to tremble.
XOXOXOXO
Dan steps into Blair's foyer, waiting in anticipation for her reaction to his novel.
Eventually, he hears a door open from upstairs and looks up to see Blair walking down the staircase with her hair tied in a bun. She's covered in a kimono and her bare legs are inviting him to stare. Her brown eyes meet his, looking unreadable.
There's a slight curve to her lips once their eyes meet. "I'm surprised to see you here. I thought you would've been hiding out after everyone began reading your book."
"I couldn't go into hiding until I was graced with the opportunity of listening to your critique," Dan says with a smile as she reaches the foyer.
Blair bites her lower plump lip. "Breakfast?" She reaches out for his hand
Dan nods and takes her hand. She leads him up to the dining room with her small soft fingers intertwined with his. His eyes close once the scent of her flowery perfume consumes his nostrils. They enter the dining room and he pulls up a chair, with her following and sitting beside him.
Blair tucks her curled fingers under her chin and bats her eyelashes innocently at him, slightly tilting her head to the side. "So Daniel…Is that how you see me?"
Dan smirks. "I might have exaggerated a little."
Her lips turn into a pout, leading him to move his hand to her cheek, and lean in close enough to where their lips are practically touching.
"Would it be okay if I kissed you," Dan asks softly, feeling the weight of her head on his hand.
Blair leans in closer, staring at his lips. "I would hurt you if you didn't."
He smiles before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss on her lips, causing her eyes to shut. He pulls her closer and a satisfied moan rings in his ear. The kiss deepens and he feels her hand gripping on his hair tightly.
They eventually pull away with her biting on his lower lip, staring into his eyes.
"Was it everything you imagined," Dan asks holding a smile and leaning his forehead against hers.
Her eyes shift downwards. "It was good enough for me to consider allowing it again," Blair answers and he chuckles. Her heart flutters to the feeling of his forehead vibrating against hers.
He pulls his forehead away as once a frown forms on Blair's lips. "What's wrong?"
"I have to leave soon," Blair tells him, causing him to match her frown. "Have you heard of St. Anthony's Hall?"
"Unfortunately," Dan replies, not liking where this is going. "It's a secret society."
"It's the most exclusive club in Columbia," Blair adds
Dan tilts his head playfully. "I thought you said the Hamilton House was the most exclusive?"
"Yes…But that was before I had a chance of getting into St. Anthony's."
"You do remember the whole Juliet fiasco right?"
Blair rolls her eyes. "This is different."
Dan's lips curve slightly. "Of course it is." He then licks his lips. "I heard that they made a candidate buy a plane ticket to China and then had him burn it. Not to mention the fact that they charge 10,000 dollars per semester."
Blair massages her forehead with her hand tiredly. "Please don't go on one of your monologues about value."
Dan puts his hands up. "Alright, I won't," he gives in with a smile. "But the least you could do is let me in on the little scheme you're planning in your head."
Blair's eyes light up and her lips begin to curve into a devious smile. It sometime surprises him how well he knows Blair.
XOXOXOXO
Blair lets Humphrey in on her plan to attend a garden party being held in New York's Botanical Garden, a party in which Caitlyn Daniels is attending. Her sources have told her Caitlyn is one of the head members of St. Anthony's hall and the party is an opportunity for her to get on Caitlyn's good side. Unfortunately, Humphrey's been acting strange since the mention of Caitlyn's name and she's beginning to become very suspicious.
Before she can confront him on his odd behavior, it's essential she gets him properly dressed.
"Is it really important for us to match," Dan asks with exasperation reeking out of his voice, standing behind Blair as she looks over a counter with folded ties in the Ermenegildo Zegna store.
"With questions like that, I anticipate doom for this Humphrey Waldorf relationship," Blair says and squares a glare at Dan before her eyes fall back on the ties.
Blair has one arm crossed under breast and her free hand is on her cheek with her fingers slowly tapping as she looks to be in deep thought, scanning over the ties.
"Hmmm…." Blair continues to tap her fingers against her cheek. "I don't think we'll go with a tie, instead I think we should have you wear white." Blair glances over to Dan.
Dan's eyes fill with hope. "Great."
She protests, but to her dismay, Humphrey doesn't listen and pays for the clothes she had chosen for him. She thinks he must've gotten a good deal with his publisher, which in her eyes is a positive. The three most important things in a life partner are hygiene, salary, and sexual chemistry.
Like a gentleman, he opens the door for her. She rewards him with a pleased smile and leaves the store, with him following. She thinks it's an opportune time to bring up Caitlyn's name again to get to the bottom of this mystery.
"Dan," she calls out sweetly leading him to curve his lips and furrow his brows in amusement as he glances over, walking side by side. "Is there something you're not telling me about Caitlyn?"
Dan sighs in defeat. "Yeah…I know her pretty well actually." Dan smiles a little, thinking about her, which causes her to narrow her eyes at him. "She lived near Cece's during the summer."
"And the problem is….," Blair asks shaking her head a little and having difficulty understanding where he's going with this.
"I think she digs me." Dan's eyes squint, brows rise, looking slightly fearful of her reaction.
"Just because a girl talks to you doesn't mean she likes you," Blair says rolling her eyes
"Trust me, she wants some Humphrey," Dan tells her with a smug grin
She laughs, not caring if she bruises Humphrey's ego, leading him to frown.
Why would Caitlyn Daniels like Humphrey? His lips are tolerable, pleasantly soft and leave her breathless, wanting more, but that's only her. He's good looking for someone who's poor, but looks can only get a person so far. Unlike Caitlyn, Humphrey's lucky she isn't a snob. Of course, Humphrey has a kind and gentle side to him that makes him more appealing to her, but it took him four years to open up and show her that side to him. Before, he was just a brainless judgmental boy who followed Serena's every footstep.
Blair presses her lips and curves them upward. "Well, I suppose I'll just have to see it with my own eyes then…Now hurry along Humphrey, we have to get there before the buffet start."
She begins speeding up, expecting Humphrey to follow.
"The first rule to attending a party is be late, but not late enough to miss out on the food. It's considered disrespectful and typically only occurs when the couple loses track of time with sex."
"I'll keep that in mind," Dan says dryly
XOXOXOXO
Dan's skin's burning from the sun and Fall can't come soon enough. It takes over an hour, due to traffic, but they eventually reach the garden party with Blair looking perfect in her white spaghetti strapped knee high dress.
His eyes shift around, looking for Caitlyn, but only sees unrecognizable guests of the party wearing light colors and holding champagne flutes. They began searching through the white tents but they're interrupted when they run into Nate.
"Dan," Nate says coldly.
"What's with you?"
Blair tugs on his arm. "Humphrey…We don't have time for this."
She pulls him out of the tent and they continue to scavenge around the garden party. The search is finally over when they find Caitlyn surrounded by a circle of adults and looking to be in deep discussion with them. Caitlyn's very pretty. She has very light brown hair that falls to her shoulders, a nose most women would die for, and green eyes. Her body's considered more model framed then curvy.
Their eyes meet in the midst of her laughter, leaving her mouth to remain open. Her lips instantly curve slightly and she excuses herself before heading towards his direction.
"Humphrey... Do you have any last minute advice," Blair asks, standing by his side arm in arm
"Don't be yourself," Dan murmurs, knowing it's too late for Blair to respond.
Caitlyn approaches them with a light smile, tucking in a strand of her hair behind her hair, eyes on Dan.
"Dan…I didn't expect to see you here," Caitlyn says, with eyes squinting due to the sun
Dan breaks out a smile. "Yes, well...My friend Blair here asked me to be her plus one."
Blair smiles and introduces herself, but Caitlyn's attention quickly falls back to Humphrey. They laugh and giggle while reminiscing about the summer. Her brow's arch whenever Caitlyn's hand fall on Humphrey's arm. The bitch sure likes to touch him.
"Blair here is actually attending Columbia as well," Dan tells Caitlyn, trying to bring Blair into the conversation. His eyes then steer over to Nate. "I'll let you two chat…I need to talk to Nate about something."
Dan leaves Blair, hoping she can charm her way into St. Anthony's.
He approaches Nate, who is drinking from his champagne flute and his eyes are scanning over the women attending the party.
"Hey," Dan says
"What do you want," Nate asks coldly
"Alright…What's with the attitude?"
Nate huffs out a breath of disbelief and shakes his head. "Why am I not surprised you don't know the reason?"
Dan scratches his head, not having a clue as to where this is going.
"You made me into half of a character," Nate accuses, looking hurt. "I didn't realize I wasn't a big part of your life."
"No…That's not it. You just didn't fit in the story," Dan explains
"So you're saying I'm boring."
"You shouldn't take it as a bad thing…I didn't write you in as a character because you're normal." He then shifts his hand back and forth between him and Nate. "That's why we're such good friends…We don't have the same flaws the others do. If Dylan wasn't from Brooklyn, he wouldn't be in the novel either."
It takes some buttering up, but Nate gives in and begins warming up to him. Nate still doesn't have a clue on what's going on between him and Blair even though Nate has read Inside and the fact that he just came to the party with Blair.
Unfortunately, Serena attends the party as well, leaving him in quite a pickle. Nate chooses a table and they sit with the girls. Every time he glances over to Serena, he receives a glare. Blair is rubbing his leg with her foot while Caitlyn's trying to grab his attention.
Caitlyn begins recruiting him for St. Anthony Hall. Of course he's interested in joining, it's is a literary society and was included in several of Fitzgerald's short stories. It would be a dream for any writer to become a member. His eyes shift over to Blair and she looks unreadable, but he remembers how she always comes second. It's like Serena all over again for her.
"The thing is, you guys are supposed to be a literary society, but I've heard you guys like to party a lot and aren't very helpful. In fact, I heard the English Department is more helpful," Dan tells Caitlyn
Caitlyn seems to be a little shaken by his remark. "Well of course we like to have fun, but the perks are insurmountable."
He shrugs his shoulders. "It's not for me, besides, I could never afford it."
Caitlyn looks down and smiles a little as disbelief is written all over her face. "Okay…If that's what you want." She slides the chair back and stands up. "Please keep this conversation between us…we don't like the things we've discussed getting out." Her eyes then move to Blair. "It was nice meeting you Blair. I hope to be seeing you around campus."
Caitlyn walks away and quietness creeps in at their table. The anticipation of Blair's reaction has him worried. One of Blair's biggest complexities was her insecurities and at times, it would lead her to push people away.
He leans in to where he can feel the heat coming from her neck, not caring what the others think. "You'll get in…You know that right?"
She turns her head and her lips curve into a smile, but it's more weak then strong. "Of course."
"You're the only reason they're even recruiting me. There's no Inside without Claire Carlyle…and everyone who's read it knows that," Dan says
"Really," Blair asks sounding insecure but he knew she's clearly fishing for compliments
He reaches for her cheek, feeling her soft skin. "Yes… You are the heart and soul of my novel."
"Um…Why are you touching Blair's cheek," Nate questions with brows furrowed in confusion
He ignores Nate's question and the sound of Serena's teeth grinding because Blair's eyes are growing dark. She's staring at his lips, daring him to lean in.
Dan clears his throat.
"I have to go," Dan tells them before standing up and leaving
XOXOXOXO
Blair spent the summer waiting to have Dan on her bed. After leaving things up in the air for Nate and Serena to figure out, she took Dan back to her place.
At the moment, Dan's lying on top of her and kissing her, dress officially disheveled. She doesn't like being on the bottom and it's something he's going to have to learn but his lips are making it difficult for her to move.
Guilt is something she should be feeling at the moment. She has the love of her best friend's life causing her panties to dampen. At least it's what Serena believes. She on the other hand doesn't think Dan belongs to anyone, except maybe her.
He tears away from her insistent lips and she whimpers out a protest, leading him to arch a brow.
"Don't stop," Blair tells him
Dan leans his forehead against hers. "Zipper."
Her lips curve into a devilish smile and she rolls him over to be on top, straddling him. She begins unbuttoning his shirt and pressing kisses on his chest while he unzips her. She steps away off his lap, looking at a shirtless Dan, and wiggles out of her dress to stand in only bra and panties. She then goes back to his lap and begins pressing kisses from his bare stomach to bare chest, until she reaches his face where their eyes meet. She stops abruptly and lets him look at her. She would usually scold someone for staring so long, but she can't help but hold his gaze because the look he's giving her is filled with the four letters she doesn't want to think about because she doesn't want to go through that again.
Expectations always lead to pain
"I can't believe how beautiful you are," Dan says softly, not breaking eye contact.
She shuts her eyes and draws a deep breath through her nose, hands on his shoulder blades. Feeling his hand slowly slide to where it's needed most, her mouth begins to open.
As his hand reaches her panties, they hear Serena walking to her room outside Blair's door. Blair sighs and leans her forehead against his, realizing she needs to speak with Serena before they do anything.
"I have to talk to Serena," she tells him quietly
"Blair…I've been waiting all summer," Dan whines
"Just a little longer."
Dan pulls his head away and nods his head. She watches him button up his shirt and slide into his boots before giving her a goodbye kiss and leaving her to speak with Serena.
Caitlyn will NOT be a love interest for Dan. I just felt the need to add OC to this story and she will only be a friend to Dan.
