Washing Up Words

"Where's your family this year?" Chuck asked as he dug into the spaghetti Dan had prepared.

"He's told us a million times," Blair moaned.

"Maybe I wasn't listening," Chuck said curtly, offended by Blair's previous behaviour in the cab.

"Maybe you should do in future," She spoke just as bitterly as he had done. Dan looked at Serena, searching for a reason for their behaviour, she just shrugged.

"Chuck, my Mom's at some art show and my Dad's touring with the band," Dan said, quickly trying to cool the situation. "Jenny's with her boyfriend's family,"

"How come your parents have to work on Christmas?" Chuck asked, perplexed...Rufus was such a family man.

"God, you're such an idiot," Blair muttered.

"Chuck, do you...just zone out?" Serena asked.

"And think about sex," Blair muttered bitterly.

"Maybe if I got some I might not be so..."

"Chuck. We're eating. And as much as I'd love to hear about you're sex life, I'd prefer to keep my food down." Dan said uncomfortably.

"Wouldn't we all," Nate added. Vanessa squealed.

"V, you ok?" Dan asked concerned.

"Yeah...just...stubbed my toe on the table leg," Nate laughed quietly and luckily nobody noticed.

"I reckon we should make New Year plans," Serena said. "I mean, it's only 7 days away," Chuck and Blair were glaring at each other, Dan was staring at Vanessa, not totally convinced about the stubbing her toe story, Vanessa stared at her feet and Nate stared at Serena. Nobody answered Serena's suggestion. "Is anyone actually hearing me?" Still no answer. "GUYS!"

"Huh?"

"What?" Everyone was now listening.

"I said...we should make New Year's plans,"

"Yeah," Blair said. "I heard of some good parties we can go to. We should be a few and go to all of them, but then pick the best and go back to it for midnight,"

"Jenny's over at New Year's, I think me and V will just stay in with her and Jake,"

"No, let's go to the party," Vanessa insisted. "It'll be fun,"

"But we've stayed in every year,"

"Exactly! It's boring,"

"What?"

"Jenny can come with us or she can just stay in with Jake...I'm sure they'll entertain each other,"

"I'm going to wash up," Dan got up from the table, unimpressed with Vanessa. He collected in all the dishes and went into the kitchen.

"Give me a second," Vanessa said, before following him. "Dan? Why are you in such a mood, it's just New Year's. I mean, it's not even definite,"

"It's not just New Year's," Dan didn't look up from the washing.

"For god's sake, can we not talk about this now? They can probably hear us," She was right, the other 4 could hear every word, crystal clear.

"I don't care," Dan turned around and stared into her eyes. "I want to know why."

"Why what?"

"Why you can't answer."

"Because...Dan, NOT NOW!" She tugged at her hair.

"WHEN THEN? I want to know, V. We've been dating for nearly 6 years! By that time usually more than just one half of a couple is thinking about it,"

"I've never been that kinda person,"

"YES YOU HAVE! YOU ALWAYS HAVE! When we were little you'd sneak your Mom's wedding dress and insist I pretended to be groom! You always talked to me about how the perfect guy would propose! I did that! I REMEMBERED EVERY WORD YOU SAID AND I DID IT JUST LIKE YOU WANTED! BUT YOU STILL HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT!" He sighed heavily. "Maybe you've never been that kinda person...with me," His face seemed to screw up a bit, as if it was causing him great pain to say it.

"Are you breaking up with me?"

"No...of course not..." He said quickly. "I just...I have to know...it's driving me crazy...please...just tell me what you could possibly have to think about," Everything she thought. Him.

"It's...it's my whole life...I...you got to think about it before you asked, whereas I have to answer there and then...you got to prepare for it,"

"What? 6 years of dating isn't enough preparation? We live together, for god's sake. I've known you all my life...I don't see how much more preparation you can have,"

"Maybe we're just not meant to get married..."

"Maybe not..." Dan looked at the ground. "I love you," He said, barely above a whisper.

"I know," And in that moment he also knew something. Normally people would have said I love you too...but she didn't. He knew then she didn't feel the way he felt about him.

"I..." He didn't say what he was thinking. He avoided it. Somehow it felt better. If he didn't mention it they wouldn't have to deal with it. "Go back. I'll finish up in here,"

"I'm sorry, Dan, I'm so sorry," She was confused. Had they broken up? Were they together? Was he angry at her? Was she doing the right thing? The wrong thing?

"Just...we can talk after Christmas, ok?" That was another event to add to her January to do list...1, talk about marriage...2, leave Dan for another man. January was not going to be her favourite month.

So...now we know one half of the lovers...V...

But Blair was acting weird as well...what's going on with her?

And the guy? Wait till next chapter...

Xoxo

Georgie

(these A/N aren't meant to sound like Gossip Girl...and the whole xoxo thing, I did that before I'd even heard of Gossip Girl... :D)