"Not that she didn't love almost every boy she'd ever met, and not that every boy in the world didn't totally love her. It was impossible not to. But she wanted someone to love her and shower her with attention the way only a boy who was completely in love with her could. The rare sort of love. True love. The kind of love she'd never had."

-Cecily von Ziegesar, I Like It Like That (Gossip Girl, #5)

-Chapter 3: I Won't Say I Am In Love-

The phrase 'I love you' is reserved for anything designer, Serena, and my parents. I used those words on Dorota once, but I was terribly drunk. We both agreed to never mention that little incident ever again. Never did I ever plan to say those words to that motherchucker. Not now. Not ever.

I love anything that comes from Tiffany & Co.

I love Harold and Eleanor Waldorf.

I love Serena 97% of the time.

I do not love Chuck Bass.

Sure, he is probably one of the best-dressed men I have met. He might take up multiple spaces on my list for top kisses. He may even take them all. He understands me, which is attractive. But mark my words, Blair Waldorf will never be the first one to say those three little words. I am the reciprocator of those words, not the instigator.

-XOXO-

My brain kept drifting off to the day of the vexing interview. To be fair the interview itself was not an issue. I was prepared for that. The key to giving selling a good story is being charming and giving enough information to keep the masses intrigued and wanting more. Ah, and doing a bit of preparation. One does not take a test without looking at the material ahead of time. Though in this particular case, I studied answers to convey a perfectly conducted romance story instead of the anatomy of the human brain.

None of the questions were prodigious. Where was our first kiss? In the back of a limo. What do I like most about Chuck? Physically speaking his long eyelashes. Personality-wise his ability to make me feel understood, no armor needed. What does he like most about me? Everything. My smile, brain, and secret seductive nature. Blah. Boring. Blah. A few replies were truthful, others lies, some a combo, all in order to make our love affair creditable. By the end, the interviewer showered Chuck and me with praises and compliments. Clearly, he believed all the information we had been feeding. Once the interview hit the online and folks' morning paper I am sure all of the Upper Eastside also be entranced by our love story.

No, the true issue lay in the aftermath of the interview. Not only was I completely blind-sided by Nate being part owner of the Spectator but by his new girlfriend, the wicked witch of the west reincarnation. Two little details my dear so-called boyfriend conventionally forgot to mention. Regardless that was not the issue. No, the problem was when Nate and his new girlfriend meet up with Chuck and me for drinks as a thank-you for giving his paper an exclusive.

As excruciating as it was watching that witch show an overwhelming amount of PDA with Nate that still was not the problem. The problem emerged when Georgina, the witch, asked the deadly question, 'Who was the first person to say I love you?'

Somehow, we forgot a few key details in creating our false narrative, like I love you and who said it first.

It was like an idea popped into her tiny brain instantly when neither of us gave her an answer. "Oh sorry. How rude of me? You two may have not even said yet. I just thought that after hearing all the rumors about the two of you being so serious and all I assumed the two of you already said it." She sent us both a look of faux pity.

Those sorry eyes made my blood boil. It did not matter if that was a fake look of pity, I do not need someone whom I despise to give me that look. Especially from someone who clearly has to overdo it on the PDA because they are so insecure in their own relationship.

"We've said those words. Obviously, Chuck was the one to say it first." I lied. Refusing to give her the satisfaction of being right.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Chuck's eyebrow raise in a questioning manner. "Darling, I think you must be mistaken. If memory serves me correctly you were the first one to say those words." He gave put his arm around me and gave me a quick peck on the lips.

"Sweetie, I think a girl would remember who said those words first." I commented. Making sure to send him a smile that read play along.

Wasting no time in trying to call out our lie, Georgina placed both hands over her heart. "Aw, it's okay. I can smell a fake relationship when I see one."

"Georgina!" Nate warned. There was no way she would stop. The girl was living for my humiliation.

"No, need for more lies. The two of you obviously haven't said I love you yet. I mean some relationships are just for fun. What do you expect from a womanizer and a girl who leaves nothing but heartbreak." There was no hiding her triumphant smile. "Whoops. I must have hit a sour spot. Nate Honey let's go close the tab I think these two need a minute."

My eyes just focused on the veins of the marble table. I couldn't look at Georgina nor Nate. How would we come back from this? I mean how would I? Not to mention Georgina had a big mouth and would probably tell the story of how Chuck and Blair still haven't said those words.

Soon people would catch on and find out this is all a silly little ruse.

I was annoyed and upset. One, for Chuck not going along with my lie. Two, for telling me Nate was dating one of my enemies. Three, not assuming Georgina was clearly just trying to make me look bad. She never wasted an opportunity. Four, for this whole situation. Five, six, and seven, for everything. The authentication of the two of us dating. I wanted to scream pull those extensions off her head and dig my heels into Chuck's foot.

With my arms crossed in frustration, I asked, "Why didn't you just say you were the one to say that phrase first?"

"Please, I'm Chuck Baas. No one expects me to be the first one to say it."

"And I'm Blair Waldorf. No one would dare even assume I would be the first to say it."

-XOXO-

"Blair. B. Hello!" The blonde began impatiently waving her hand in front of my face. Snapping out of my thoughts, I glanced back at concerned-looking Serena. She let out a distressed sigh. "You have been distracted all day. I think I know what's going on?"

I eyed her questionably. Deciding it may be best to not give her a verbal response. There is no possible way she would have put the pieces together. Not to mention so soon. Great, this thread just keeps unraveling.

"I heard from Nate." Here we go. "Chuck hasn't said he loves." She tried condoling by wrapping her arms around me.

This was becoming quite irksome. I wanted to scream. No that is not. My sour mood is more In line with my lies threatening to be exposed. Who cares if he loves me or he loves me not? If the whole world found out about our little ruse, it would make me seem desperate, not to mention a fraud, plus I could say bye to my reputation and any chance of Nate and I riding off into the sunset.

Knowing that I couldn't say any of that, I settled with the okay hand gesture.

"Are you being sarcastic?" She asked.

Sighing, "No, I think the champagne is getting to me. I just need some air. Excuse me." Pushing past her I made my way outside towards the front.

There I stood on the steps of Met. Wearing a pink chiffon ball gown. A classic off-shoulder, modest piece. Deeming me to look like someone who stepped out of a fairytale. With the city lights illuminating my view.

My ostensible prince stood in front of me with a bouquet of blush-toned peonies in hand. I must avow, the man had style. Those brown locks of his were slicked back. Chuck was dressed in an all-black suit except for the pink accents adorned on his bowtie and pocket square. The color complimented my gown. Just like we had previously coordinated.

Grabbing my dress, I began descending the steps. Slowly making my way toward him. I let the gown fall back down when the two of us were standing inches apart.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

He handed me the bouquet he was holding. I grabbed the flowers and proceeded to cast my sight onto their beauty. "You were right." Music to my precious ears. "No, I don't remember when I started falling for you. It started with those pesky butterflies. Then progressed to looking for any excuse to spend more time with. Before I knew it those three words are something I wanted to tell you every single day and night." He confessed.

"Would those three little words happen to be made up of eight letters?" I asked. (See reciprocator. Kind of. In this context.) Looking up from the flowers to his face. "How did you know I adore peonies?" I inquired.

"Blair, I know a lot more than you think. The way your eyes and mouth don't match when you are lying. How we both share a mutual admiration for Paris in the 1920s. Your desire to have a grand love story." He announced.

I dropped the flowers on the ground. Placing both of my hands behind his neck. I tilted my head to the right and leaned in. Our lips touched. Both of us gave in to the feeling of the kiss.

There was always something about kissing Chuck. He made the world fade away. I would love to attribute that little skill of his to him having good technique when it came to kissing. Though always felt like something more. An inexplicable pulling.

Pulling away I whispered, "Ditto."

-XOXO-

"Do you think they enjoyed the show?" I wondered. They was in reference to the reporters Chuck's chauffeur so graciously tipped off. Informing them of Chuck's plans for the evening.

"Criss averted. Words do travel fast in this town." Chuck opened his phone to show me the buzz that was beginning to circulate around our very own grand gesture.

A pleased smile could be seen on both of our lips. "I guess anyone who sees that won't be able to question if we ever said those three words to each other. No L word necessary."

"I think I can find better uses for that letter. Lascivious? Libido? Lingerie? Lust? Lips? Some of my favorite words that all share the same letter." A seductive smirk graced his lips.

"Ew! Is sex always on your mind?" I asked in disgust. Could the man be any more crude and grotesque?

"Not always. What can I say Waldorf? You bring out this unpredicted sexual desire in me?" Chuck pronounced.

"That or you are just-" A list of words sat on the tip of my tongue. Though looking into brown orbs made me stay quiet. Usually, I wouldn't miss a beat to put anyone in their place. Those eyes always held so much emotion. When they were angry you could tell. Emotions such as pain and happiness could not be masked. Chuck was a good liar. He knew how to keep secrets. But he never got enough credit for having beautiful eyes that could entrance people. Maybe no one paid enough attention to them.

I suppose my incomplete sentence caused confusion for Chuck. "What?"

Not wishing to elaborate on the thoughts running through my head I settled with, the word nothing as a response. Seconds of silence passed before Chuck spoke.

"Answer one question for me. Have you ever said that phrase to anyone? I mean to any of your exes."

"No. Have you?"

"No."

-XOXO-

Entering my home; still high from the endorphin rush of the night, my eyes had to a double take. "Nate, what are you doing here?"

Awkwardly he rubbed the back of his neck. "I came to apologize." Seeing as no words were coming out of my lips he began to elaborate on the reasoning for his apology. "Georgina was out of line the other day. I just wanted to tell you that I broke up with her. There is no way I can be with someone who doesn't respect my friends."

"You see me as one of your friends?" I asked, looking for verbal confirmation.

"Well yea. I mean come on Blair, we've known each other since we were like five."

"That is true. I still remember when we were kids and you would make me watch The Sound of Music with you for hours." I teased.

"Hey, that's a great movie. I still rewatch it at least once every month." He laughed for a moment. Though soon a more serious expression was on his face. "Actually I started thinking how we use to spend so much time together."

"Yea. Well times certainly have changed."

"That is why I have been thinking that-" Is this the moment? It has to be. Is this too soon? No, it's perfect. "We should spend more time together."

"Yes. I was thinking the exact same thing." Though my heart was beating with excitement, my composure remained indifferent.

"What are you doing next weekend." He asked.

Trying to not sound too eager I pretended to take moment and think. "I have a few prior commitments, but I am sure I could find a way to move things around for the sake of friendship."

A weekend away with Nate sounded like a perfect idea. This would give the two of us time to reconnect. If I had already been making him feel nostalgic for the past, then this weekend may allow him to open up his eye and see who is literally in front of him.

Nate was smiling, "Great. You, me, Serena, and Chuck can hang out like old times."

Author's Mini-Note:

Hello! I hope everyone is having a great start to 2023?! Sorry for taking longer than anticipated to update. I'm crossing my fingers in hopes that the next chapter will be uploaded sooner.

Gossip Girl gave us, "Three words, eight letters", but hopefully this was still a somewhat enjoyable chapter. Thank you for all the kind reviews and words of encouragement. Thank you to everyone who is reading and following this story. Till the next chapter…

THX U