Hey guys, again, thank you so much for your lovely reviews! And just to clarify something, the ruby ring is indeed from Nate, it's mentioned in the prequel Gossip Girl book (which are awesome, I highly recommend of reading them). Read and review, enjoy! :)

Salt In The Wound

Nate woke up alone after he and Blair fell asleep together, she left a faint scent of her perfume all over the suite. It has been a week since they spoke to each other. She was pretty serious when she said she's putting a hold in their plan, but he thought she'd at least call for a friendly small talk.

He hasn't forgotten about his promise to her. He promised her he'd talk to Dan, but he didn't want to rush with it. He didn't even know what to tell him, or what has been going on between Dan and Blair in the past week. He promised, and there he was, in a Tuesday cold after noon, outside of Dan's loft. He wandered down the street, and tried to steady his breaths. He was never that nervous to meet his best friend before. He felt guilty for some reason. Actually, there was a reason, he was trying to claim Dan's girlfriend back, but he was pretty sure that Blair wasn't aware of his plan, and Dan wasn't either.
He climbed the stairs slowly, musing about his future conversation with Dan. He didn't even know where to begin with. If his assumptions were right, there's no proper way to deal with a jealous man. Sad thing is that it was pretty understandable. Much to Nate's surprise, the door was already open. When he tried to walk into the apartment, a tiny coated frame bumped into him, probably on her way out. They both struggled and danced in an awkward circle in order to make room for the other to pass, but when she stopped, pressed to his body in an awkward position, he stopped as well, finally looking at her.

"What are you doing here?" Blair whispered her eyes wide with surprise.

"I came to talk to Dan, like you asked me to", he whispered back, trying to cherish the feeling of her body against his.

"Good. I mean, go, and talk to him. I… I have to go", she blushed when she noticed their current standing situation. He nodded and then took a glimpse at her clothing. She was wearing an oversized NYU t-shirt under her coat, and it looked like she wasn't even wearing a bra either. Nate's heart pinched a little when the memories of Blair, wearing his favorite lacrosse t-shirts along with her boy shorts flashed before his eyes. He turned his head away and moved, giving her the chance to pass by. When he didn't hear the sound of her heels clicking on the stairs anymore, he walked into the apartment, closing the door behind him.

"Blair! Have you seen my boxers?" Dan called, appearing in the hallway a moment later with a towel attached to his waist.

"I'm sorry man… I didn't know you were… Let me change", Dan muttered and disappeared into his bedroom while Nate rolled his eyes and punched the door behind him angrily. Blair was never the one to sleep with someone right away when she's in a serious relationship. She made him wait and teased him for two weeks before giving in to him when they got back together in senior year. Nate couldn't avoid smirking a little when he remembered that they didn't leave the house for a week after their second first time. Patience was indeed a virtue.

"At least one of us is busy at nights. That walk of shame was pretty shemful indeed", Nate noted out loud so Dan could hear through his bedroom's door.

"Yeah. I mean no, we haven't… She has some… Never mind", Dan mumbled. Nate smiled to himself. Knowing that Dan and Blair haven't slept together just guaranteed a happier week for him.

"Why does it feel like the Serena scenario all over again?" Dan asked when he finally got out of his room, now wearing a sweater and a pair of pajama pants.

"What?" Nate asked, not sure what Dan was referring to.

"Me, you, Blair" Dan explained and leaned on the kitchen counter.

"There's no 'you' in this. I'm not-"

"Come on, I could see the look in your eyes when you said her name", Dan cut him off and scowled.

Nate studied him and then shrugged.

"But it's not like I'm going to do something about it, unlike you did. Kissing my girlfriend after a drunken night, remember?" Nate shot back.

"Yeah, you're just kissing her sober", Dan answered quickly.

"It's different, I'm helping her", Nate said and paced nervously back and forth in the living room.

"How is kissing her in your spare time when she has a boyfriend is helpful?" Dan bit.

"I thought she explained… If you want me to back off, just say so", he responded.

"I saw that she texted you to meet her tonight in her place". Dan stated. Nate hesitated, but then confessed by nodding.

"Does our friendship matters to you?" Dan asked a moment later. Much like Blair, Dan was sharp, and he asked those little tricky questions that Nate didn't know how to deal with. On one hand, he didn't know how to lie, so he said the truth, but on the other hand, they might have expected a different answer. Either way, it was a death trap, and Nate knew it.

"Of course it does", Nate said, deciding to follow his heart after all.

"Then you'd respect my wishes", Dan said and paused dramatically, releasing all the air in his lungs. Nate stared at him, puzzled.

"So you want me to back off?" Nate asked, although he knew the answer. But it somehow felt like more than that.

"I do. I want you to see her tonight, and tell her that you're no longer cooperating with her plan", Dan said simply and shrugged, like it was an obvious request.

"Can't you see she's collapsing? She's tired, she needs that week off", Nate raised his voice for the first time in a while now. His life was bland lately; he had nothing to fight for.

"She'll figure it out on her own. I don't want you near her anytime soon, she's already confused enough", Dan said, still calm. He wasn't the one to lose his temper that quickly, but when he did, it usually ended with a black eye.

"I know what you're feeling man, just let me help her, I promise to let go right after. Can't you see how miserable she is? Do you even care?" Nate yelled by now. He was losing patience, there's nothing he hated more than seeing Blair falling apart. He wanted her to be happy, even if it's with Dan, even though he wouldn't completely believe her if she'd ever she loves him. He felt something when they kissed outside the W building, and he was pretty sure it wasn't one sided.

"I've never asked you for anything. Just please, stay away for now", Dan said while walking towards the door, dismissing Nate by opening it.

Nate studied Dan. He was never the bad guy, he was just insecure or concerned and Nate could understand why. The whole Serena situation few months ago was more than close to ruin their friendship. But this one is different for Nate, this one involves his first love, the only girl he imagined walking down the aisle with, and he knew right there and then, that he could never be completely happy for the both of them. He shook his head and walked out of the apartment. He always respected his best friend, but the girl he's in love with needs him right now more than ever. He promised himself to let go right after their scheme is over, right until Blair is happy.