Hey guys! Just wanted to clear some things out... I'm planning on treating each character right. I love both Nair and Dair and I don't plan to throw any one of the characters under a bus to prop another relationship, they deserve better. With that being said... if any one you have some questions for me, feel free to ask me through reviews and PM's, I'll be happy to answer back :) Enjoy this one, and don't forget to review!

Crystal Breakdown

Blair stared at her ring, her eyes wide. "I just noticed you're wearing that ring everyday, aren't you?" he asked while kissing her neck. She nodded and tried to pull away from him, she couldn't breathe for a moment, her world closed up on her all of a sudden. Dan didn't get the hint, and pinned her to the wall, crushing his lips on hers. "Why?" he murmured quietly between kisses. "I… uh… It was a gift", she said, trying to give in to him, but his touch was just bland on her skin. They stumbled together onto the bed, and he lay on top of her, sliding his hand up her skirt. "From whom?" he asked a moment later, leaving a trail of kisses up her leg. She shook him off of her abruptly and got up from the bed, straightening her clothes. "What's with the questions?" she asked while leaving stunned Dan on his bed, frowning with confusion.

"I don't know, just curious I guess", he got up and followed her to the living room. She was checking on her phone while searching for her coat.

"Wait, where are you going? Who gave you the ring?" he asked with suspicion while buttoning his shirt back. "No one", she mumbled, desperately trying to put on her coat as quickly as she could.

"Come on, I may know you for only three months, but it's enough for me to tell when you're lying", he arched his eyebrows at her.

She stared at the floor with defeat, trying to formulate the words when her cell phone vibrated for the hundredth time today. She pressed the ignore button rather quickly and then looked at Dan. He was still waiting for an answer when she whispered Nate's name. He ran a hand through his hand in frustration and shook his head.
"And let me guess, he's the one calling and texting all day long", Dan hissed through grinding teeth.

"Yes, but…" Blair couldn't finish her sentence. Dan was already heading towards his room. "Its fine, you can show yourself out", he said and slammed his bedroom door. Blair twisted her ring around and around, remembering every second of the scene replaying in her head, where Nate kneeled down and wished her a happy 16th birthday, telling her he'll always be by her side and they'll get married one day, and he promise to get her a prettier ring, the Vanderbilt's ring, but the ruby one would have to suffice for now. That memory wasn't enough; it wasn't enough to explain why she turned Dan down, why she left with no explanation, and why was she on a cab, on her way to the Empire to see Nate.

"Oh hi, I wasn't expecting you. Weren't you on a date with…" Nate choked when he saw Blair walking out of the suite elevator, her eyes puffy and red, tears covering up her face. He hurried over to her, wrapping his arms around her petite frame. He stroked her hair gently, letting her cry it all out. She pulled away a moment later, pushing him away with force.

He gave her a questioning look and tried to get close to her again, but she took a few steps back. "This… all of this, wrong, and I'm… I'm exhausted and confused and I'm tired and I can't do this anymore, and I…" She mumbled through her tears, throwing her hands into the air, walking around the room like a crazy person.

"Wait, what? Just relax. Sit down; I'll make you a cup of hot chocolate, my special recipe. You remember? When we were-"

"I remember! I just… tea would be fine", she huffed and fell onto the nearest couch.

She sat there in silence, watching Nate's every move. Hot drinks were all he could prepare except for hangover mixtures. Those were really his specialty, and it was charming in its own kind of way. Few minutes later, he sat on the other side of the couch and handed her the hot cup of tea. A scent of cinnamon filled her nostrils when she smelled the liquid. Sometimes, and especially now, she wished he wouldn't know her so well.

"Cinnamon, you still like that in your tea, right?" he asked after she took a tentative sip. She nodded and smiled weakly at him. Her eyes filled with tears again. He was right there, being all charming and handsome like he always does, and its all ruining her relationship on the same time.

He rested his hand over hers; squeezing it tightly, trying to comfort her, but instead, her heart just beat faster and she pulled her hand away. He was making her feel something, and not knowing what she's feeling was always something she feared of.

He sighed and stared at his feet, not knowing what else to do or say.

"Dan… I need you to talk to him", she said after a moment of awkward silence.

"Why? Trouble in paradise?" he asked, studying her face expressions.

"No… it's just… He said he's okay with our fake relationship thing, and I'm just not convinced that he actually is. He won't listen to me, and I keep messing up with you being everywhere", she said quietly, dreading his response. She might have made a mistake, it sounded like he is the fault of her failed relationship. But maybe he is? She didn't quite know. Blair Waldorf was always the one to know everything, and she couldn't bare the feeling of falling into the unknown.

"You can tell me he's jealous", he responded, a little smirk on his face.

"He's not, or maybe he is. Please, I don't know, just talk to him".

"Yeah, okay", he replied, giving her what she wants. It might not be the greatest idea, but at least he can cross one more thing of her huge to-worry-about list.

"You didn't ask about the date", Nate said while wiping a tear out of her cheek, causing her to stir uncomfortably on her sit.

"You pretty much summed it all up with those texts", she managed to chuckle for the first time since she arrived.

"Yeah, her mother was horrible, she asked a lot of questions", he confessed and laughed at the memory of Epperly's mother treating him like a five year old, caressing his cheek and asking him if he's hungry. Hear him laughing made her laugh as well, and they both laughed for a solid minute, forgetting all of their problems.

"That's good, but I think we'll have to put a hold on our plan until next week. The whole Epperly scheme is sucking the energy out of me. I need to focus on work and my relationship with Dan", she said when she clamed down. For a moment she felt like she enjoys doing it on purpose, because she could see clearly now how Nate no longer smiled, and his face fell whenever she pronounced Dan's name.

"Yeah. I mean, I understand. Tell me when you're ready to move on to the next stage", he said, sounding bitter to her.

"Thank you, for everything really", she smiled at him, and moved closer to his side of the couch.

"You're welcome. You know I'll do anything for you", he said when she rested her head on his chest, suddenly very comfortable around him.

"I'll do anything for you", he whispered a few minutes later, when she finally fell asleep.