This weekend was perfect. They skipped the brunch and spent the entire day in bed talking. There were no distractions, no judging eyes, no one to boss them around and tell them how to live their lives.
But today was Monday, school. Although spending the whole weekend together, Blair wasn't entirely sure what they were exactly, and whether or not they would now be acknowledging each other at school. Would she continue to spend her lunch times with Ben? Oh crap. Ben. Chuck wasn't all too fond of their English teacher, but Blair didn't want to just cut him off because her sort of boyfriend/ex-lover was holding an unreasonable grudge.
With any luck Chuck wouldn't even come to school today, after all it was 8:30am on a Monday morning.
Deciding that she didn't want to risk running in to anyone on her way to school, Blair took a cab which she immediately regretted finding something sticky on the seat. Checking her time table she rolled her eyes. Of course she had AP English first up, just terrific.
Walking into the classroom Blair found only a few random people already seated, but no Chuck, or mean girls. She took her regular seat by the window and began to get her notes out.
"Well well well, If it isn't the resident Howard Hughes,' the nasally voice of Penelope buzzed.
Penelope walked in followed by Hazel, Kati and Iz. They looked utterly ridiculous, their headbands and coats didn't match not to mention all their outfits clashed with each others. Gosh, at least when Blair was Queen they looked good.
"Bailing on the social event of the year B? Can't handle your own embarrassment anymore?" Hazel chirped in.
"Your mother's transparent attempt at throwing a brunch is hardly the social event of the year Hazel," a husky voice retorted as he swaggered into the classroom.
Chuck Bass, at school on a Monday morning, ready for class? Something was defiantly wrong. Chuck took his usual seat behind Blair, and leant forward to whisper in her ear.
"I missed you this morning, I thought we could fit in a little ride in limo before school," he chuckled in her ear before leaning back to his preferred slouched position.
Blair smirked and glanced back at the mean girls who were unsubtly staring with their jaws dropped open. As if things couldn't get worse, Dan Humphrey stumbled in the classroom tripping over a desk and made his way to take the vacant seat next to Blair.
"Morning Blair," he nodded. "Lovely day."
Maybe it was her new found happiness with Chuck, or pissing of Penelope, but for some unknown reason at this moment in time Blair felt Humphrey's presence somewhat tolerable.
"It is quite," Blair sighed accepting that he wasn't going away anytime soon.
"Did I miss a chapter?" Chuck leaned forward questioning. "Last I knew you two couldn't stand one another."
"I could say the same about you two too," Dan commented. "Anyway, Blair and I have found some common ground."
Chuck raised an eyebrow curiously.
"That is an exaggeration" Blair explained. "Humphrey is far too desperate for companionship and forces his friendship upon others."
"Come on Blair, we have lots in common," Dan pleaded. "We have some of the same classes together, we're both close with Serena, and we both like to hang out in Queens on Friday nights."
Both Chuck and Blair's eyes widened. How did he know she was in Queens?
"Listen Cabbage Patch, I don't appreciate being stalked, and it's none of your business what I do in my spare time, is that clear?" Blair snapped.
All weekend Blair and Chuck avoided discussing that night out of fear of argument. They were only just getting along, and if Blair told him she was meeting her teacher there she was positive this new found relationship wouldn't last very long at all.
Before Chuck could ask her what actually went on Friday night, Mr Benson walked in with a stack a papers.
"Morning everybody," he sang slamming the stack on his desk. "Today we will be doing group activities, so I'll allocate you to a group and you'll be working on your assignments with the other people."
Perfect, maybe she would be able to get away from the Brooklyn rat after all.
"Ok, Penelope, Dan, Hazel and Kati: group 1," he called.
Ha! He got what was coming to him. If she taught them well, he wasn't exactly going to have the best time with his new buddies.
Dan reluctantly got up and moved his books to a table with the appalled looking girls.
"Group 2: Chuck, Bryce, Duke, Isabel and Blair."
Argh. The troll Duke who ridiculed her in front of the class last week winked at her as he made his way over to take a seat. Iz bit her lip and pranced over also. She was well aware that Blair could destroy her if she wanted to. Bryce McLaggen was the grandson of Richard McLaggen who created the giant technology corporation: MyTech. Eleanor had had them over for dinner a few times, Bryce was nice enough. He was on the swimming team but was also very studious.
Blair sighed and spun her chair around to face the group's table. She took a seat between Bryce and Iz opposite Duke and Chuck.
"Ok you guys will be discussing Holden's hunting cap," Mr Benson ordered.
"Like seriously? We have to talk about his stupid ugly hat he wears, argh," Iz scoffed. "I mean, soo not in season."
"Much like those shoes," Blair muttered under her breath which Chuck smirked at.
Blair felt a foot rub against her leg, she looked straight at Chuck who was pretending not to notice. Really? They agreed they would take it slow; they hadn't even slept together, which was a big deal for Chuck. She thought they agreed on jut being friends, and seeing how it goes from there. She couldn't believe he was actually doing this, and at school of all places.
"I need to go to the bathroom," Chuck mumbled to the teacher and got up.
The foot continued to rub against her leg. Blair looked up to find the squirmy face of Duke smirking. Ew. She kicked his leg as hard as she could; causing him to yell and rub his shins.
"Something the matter Mr Williamson?"
"Nope, nothing at all," he replied shooting Blair a look.
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Chuck never returned to class, not surprising after all. His 10 minutes of attendance before 1pm probably tiered him out. In fact Blair didn't see him for the rest of the day, so she figured she may as well go to library at lunch like normal.
When she reached her spot she found Ben already sitting there cross legged on a chair.
"Hey," she greeted him taking a chair opposite him.
"Hey, sorry about class. I tried to get you out of a group with those girls, but I complety forgot about Chuck," he apologized setting his book don beside him.
"No, don't worry, its fine," she assured him. "Actually Chuck and I have sort of reconnected as of late."
"Really?" he raised his eyebrows shocked.
"Yea. Just friends though, we're going to see how things go," she explained.
He nodded and picked up his book again before stopping and looking back up at her.
"What?" she asked.
"I just don't get it," he mumbled.
"Get what?"
"How you're friends with him. You just seem so different, you're intelligent and beautiful and nice, and he's well, he's Chuck Bass."
If only he knew. If only he knew her bad qualities, and not just the good. If only he saw how she was capable of worse than Chuck.
"Chuck is intelligent,' she argued. "He just doesn't have any faith in himself. And he's really sweet sometimes."
He nodded again and settled down.
"I took your advice," he spoke. "I'm reading this Austen stuff."
Blair glanced at the cover of his book: Emma. It used to be one of Blair's favourite books when she was younger. All the other kids were reading Harry Potter and The Hobbit, but she read them years before and went on to Austen, Fitzgerald and Hemingway.*
"Yea," she smiled. "So, what do you think of it!?"
"Well, the main character seems a little whiney—"
"Says he who likes Holden Caulfield," Blair interrupted. **
"Haha, but she does show enormous character growth," he chuckled. "I'm reading it for the second time, to understand it a little more."
"I always do that," Blair admitted. "Straight after I finish it, I almost always read it all over again."
He grinned back at her. Gosh, he was adorable.
"Can I ask you a question?" Blair inquired rolling her chair closer to his.
'Sure, what's up?"
"That night, at the gallery," she began. "You didn't happen to see Dan Humphrey loitering around did you?"
"Dan? The guy from English this morning?" he asked.
Blair nodded.
"No, not at all," he assured her. "Why, did he insinuate something?"
"He may have suggested he saw the two of us at the gallery," she explained. "I'm just a little worried he might tell someone."
"He doesn't seem like the most popular kid here, do you think he would tell anyone?" Ben asked.
"Oh please, he has no friends. But, his moral compass is thing we should be worried about."
No matter what the situation, or potential outcome, Dan's moral compass and need to do the right thing was always a little unpredictable.
"Ah ok. Listen Blair," he moved closer to her and put a hand on her leg. "Even if he does tell someone, it's ok. We aren't doing anything wrong, we're just hanging out. And I'm really sorry if I've put you in an uncomfortable position, you don't have to keep me company, I can leave if you want me to,' he explained.
"No, no don't be ridiculous," she smiled. "I know we weren't doing anything wrong, I'm just worried about Humphrey's imagination, the amateur writer tends to dramatise situations."
"Ok," he nodded. "But let me know, if you change your mind. I don't want to make you uncomfortable."
"I won't," she chuckled.
She was really glad to have befriended Ben; he was kind and sweet and treated her with respect. She just wished that Chuck could see what a great person he is.
"I'm glad. Because who else would listen to my ramblings," he laughed.
"Oh come on, who wouldn't want to hear your opinions on classic literature," she joked. "Anyway I'm just here to boost my grades."
"Miss Waldolf, I never! Exchanging friendship for grades," he teased.
"Well, you just seemed desperate for some company," she sighed grinning at him.
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"Humphrey!" Chuck growled. "About time, you're late."
Dan strolled up towards Chuck who was smoking behind the school.
"Yea well, I dropped my books, and then Serena called—"
"I don't care," Chuck interrupted dryly. "Now tell me, what did you find?"
Dan didn't like the idea of reporting to Chuck, but he couldn't lose Serena. He knew what Chuck was capable of, and when the richest teenager in all of Manhattan is blackmailing you, it's not in your best interest to refuse.
"Well I followed Blair to the library," he began. "And she walked right to the back and took a seat with Mr Benson who was reading. They talked for a while, and laughed…"
Dan saw Chuck wince, so he stopped talking and waited for a signal.
"Continue Humphrey, we don't have all day," he demanded.
"Well then they moved closer together, and he put his hand on her knee, and they—"
"She's f***ing him, isn't she?" Chuck spat.
This was one of the only times Dan had witnessed Chuck's protectiveness and jealousy over Blair. He was so quick to jump to the conclusion that people were letting him down; he didn't even give them a chance.
"No!" Dan shouted. "No they just talked," he pleaded. "Just friendly, platonic chat."
Chuck eyed him suspiciously. Moments like these would be great for his Charlie Trout character, exploring his depth and his insecurities of affection towards him.
"You can leave now," Chuck drawled taking another drag.
Dan walked away knowing Chuck's boundaries. Once he was out of sight Chuck dialled his phone.
"Andrew, Its Chuck Bass. I need everything on a Benjamin Benson, teacher at Constance/St Judes," he demanded.
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"OMFG!" Blair exclaimed. "You have to correct all those papers?"
Ben had a stack of papers half of his height all in messy student's writing.
"You bet," he chuckled. "The joys of being a teacher. Half these kids are just bullshitting trying to get a pass, but I have to read everyone."
Well it's a good thing Blair didn't have her sights set on being a teacher. She had being hanging out with Mr Benson for the last hour, she had spare periods at the moment, and usually Blair would just go home early. But she was planning on waiting for Chuck to finish and then hang out with him.
"Wow," Blair mumbled reading some kid's essay. "This is going to take you forever."
"You're not wrong there. Hey, I'm hungry and I need a break," he stated. "Do you want me to get you a yogurt or something?"
She sure could go for some food, she hadn't eaten all day, but Chuck would be out soon and she could order room service at his or something.
"Nah its fine," she replied. "I'll just give Chuck a ring and see if he's out yet."
Ben nodded and piled his papers into stacks.
Blair grabbed her phone and walked away for some privacy. She listened to it ring until he finally picked up.
"Yes?"
"Hey Chuck, its Blair," she smiled. "You almost done? I'm dying for some palace room service."
"I went home early" he replied.
"Oh ok, do you want me to meet you somewhere?"
"Can't I'm busy."
Ok, this was weird. Earlier today he was so nice and friendly, and now he was totally brushing her off.
"Ok. Ummm, see you tomorrow then," she sighed and listened to the beeping signalling Chuck had hung up on her.
Why was he acting like this? It was as if this weekend hadn't even happened. He was back to his brooding distant self. She had planned on telling Chuck how she felt tonight, and maybe spending the night with him, but now it was no doubt a lonely evening in her empty penthouse.
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"Hey Chuck," Penelope slid up next to him at the bar.
Chuck simply glanced at her then continued to stare at his scotch.
"What's wrong?" she asked fluttering her eyelashes a little too much.
"Nothing,' Chuck muttered taking a gulp of his scotch. "Shouldn't you be off copying Blair or something?"
"I don't copy Blair!" she scoffed. "Anyway, who would want to copy that slut."
It was so ironic Blair was being called a slut. Even though he was mostly behind the reason, he found it so funny that people were judging Blair for sleeping with two guys in her life. She'd be freakin mother Teresa compared to all the other kids, if their secrets were exposed.
"Is there a reason for your disturbance?"
"I was just thinking," she smirked. "We could do some celebrating of my new reining together."
Chuck looked over at her. He hand was now squeezing his thigh and her knee was touching his crotch.
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As she walked back to the library spot she heard her stomach grumble. She really was hungry. But Dorota had been given the night off, how was she supposed to eat?
"How is the wonder boy?" Ben joked slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"Full apparently," Blair sighed.
She really wanted to go to the new sushi place down the road, but it wasn't like she had anyone to go with. And a Waldorf doesn't sit alone looking desperate.
"You wouldn't be up for some sushi, would you?" Blair asked Ben.
"Overpriced Manhattan Japanese happens to be my favourite," he grinned. "Lead the way."
A/N; I love Dan by the way. Dan is my favourite character, but for some reason I'm going a little harsh on his worse traits in this fic, not too sure why :P
I feel like I write more as method of procrastination. So for future reference, my more frequent updates will be when I have lots of assignments due
*Love love love Harry potter and The Hobbit
** I often criticize Emma by Jane Austen, because I dislike the character's whiney attitude. And my sister actually said: "Then why do you like Holden?"
Don't worry I know Chair seem a little worrying at the moment, but please trust me, I have some great ideas for this fic
It's my Birthday Saturday :D Going to be 18! And I'm going skydiving! So that should be fun
And as always, please REVIEW