A/N: Here is chapter three of Everything We Had, finally. I also have a start of chapter four as of the time this was typed which who knows how long ago that was from now (which I say as if I'm actually typing this in the future!). But again with the whole internet thing…I don't know how much time will have passed since I type this and when you are now reading it. Either way, enjoy! R&R! Thanks! –Mac
Disclaimer: I don't own GG.
Chapter Three
Speak Of The Devil
"Didn't you just buy like six dresses two days ago?" Serena blew out a breath as she watched Blair try on new dresses at Bendels. "And didn't you just pick up all those dresses they didn't use at your mother's last photo shoot? That black one looked really good on you. Why are you obsessing over buying something new?"
"Because Serena, nothing I have seems appropriate," Blair answered, tilting her head to view herself in the full length mirror. She sighed and then slipped the dress off, hung it up and put on her own clothes. "I want to look absolutely perfect for my date with Nate tomorrow."
"Lucky you," Serena said as they headed back out into the store, "You get to go out and have fun. I, on the other hand, have another obligatory family dinner. I love seeing my mother and Eric and everything, but Chuck is officially the bane of my existence."
"Ouch," A voice washed over them, "And I thought we had done a great deal of familiar bonding since I came home."
"Speak of the devil," Serena grumbled, a hand coming up to cover her face.
"Well dear stepsister, it seems you're not happy to see me," Chuck clucked, with a smirk on his face.
Serena put on a fake smile and sing-songed, "Am I ever?"
Blair had frozen in her tracks the moment she had heard his voice. She knew his voice by heart. That voice had spoken devilishly forbidden, wicked, delicious things in her ear. She shook off that train of thought. She was and had been completely over him for years. And, she was falling perfectly back in love with Nate. She was sure the knots in her stomach were because she hadn't wanted to ever see him again and not because she was happy to see him again.
Chuck turned away from Serena and smirked at Blair, "If it isn't Blair Waldorf. It's been…awhile."
"Yes it has," Blair forced herself to be cordial, "I hear your father is handing the company over to you. I never thought I'd see the day, and certainly not so soon."
"Well, he and Lily are talking about taking a trip around the world, she somehow managed to get my father wrapped around her finger," Chuck responded, "She's gotten him to agree to a sooner rather than a later."
"I imagine the Victrola will be getting a boost in funding once you have the power in your hands," Blair raised an eyebrow, challenging him to contradict her.
"It is a perfect place for business meetings," Chuck said.
Blair scoffed, "Exactly what kind of people are you going to be doing business with?"
"Only those of the shadiest and darkest kind," Chuck joked, "Taking after dear old dad. Speaking of my father, he was talking about you the other day."
"Really?" Blair asked, surprised.
"He and Lily were having a discussion about how Serena has yet to find any direction," There was a pause to let Serena sneer at him, "And he mentioned that you were following in Eleanor's footsteps with your own fashion line," Chuck answered, "I find that interesting."
"Sorry Chuck, but unfortunately my line doesn't include any scarves," Blair responded.
"Or bowties," Serena added tensely, but Chuck just laughed lightly. "Blair we should get going if we want to find a suitable dress."
"One minute S," Blair waved her off, "I want to find out what Chuck finds so interesting about me designing my own line."
"I find it interesting that you would choose the same profession as your mother. When we were young you had tried to distance yourself as much as you could from her. It surprises me that you would deliberately bring yourself that close to her, that's all," Chuck explained.
"There are a lot of things I thought of differently when I was young," Blair said pointedly.
Something undeterminable flashed in Chuck's eyes, but he didn't give his lapse in composure away, "We need to catch up. It's been too long out of touch. Perhaps you could join us for dinner tomorrow."
"She can't," Serena cut in, "She's actually going to be on—"
"I have plans for tomorrow," Blair finished, not allowing Serena to complete her sentence. Serena sent her a confused glare but she ignored it, "Sorry."
"Another time, then," Chuck replied.
"Another time," Blair agreed.
"Well, I should be going," Chuck said, "I'll let you get back to your shopping."
Once Chuck was out of sight, Serena turned to Blair, an eyebrow arched expectantly, "Why didn't you let me tell him that you would be out with Nate?"
"The less he knows the better," Blair responded—it was true, but a part of her knew she had other reasons.
"You know he'll find out eventually," Serena said simply.
"Right now, everything with Nate is still new, still tentative," Blair explained, "By the time Chuck finds out on his own, everything will be solidified."
"I still think you're being ridiculous about the whole Chuck thing," Serena shook her head, "But I can't argue if this is how you want it."
"It is," Blair said instantly. But was it really?
-+-+-+-
"Are you okay, Blair?" Nate asked from across the table. Blair looked up from her plate to find his eyes filled with concern.
She sighed, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure? You've been awfully quiet all night," Nate observed.
"I've just been thinking about some things," Blair responded.
And Blair had been thinking, quite a lot actually. Since she had her first official run in with Chuck the previous day, her mind had not given her a moment's rest. She knew it could have gone a lot worse than it had, but there was still something she didn't like about it. She didn't like how easily he had slipped back into her life—like he had never been gone. The first few sentences she had spoken to him had been forced, but the rest of the conversation had flowed so easy—like it had been they were teenagers, before everything. She didn't like that because she wanted to hate him for putting her fairytale on hold for so long. But she couldn't hate him and that terrified and confused her. She had always been able to hate someone when she put her mind to it—she had even hated Serena for that brief period of time. She wasn't sure what to think, so her mind compensated by thinking everything.
"What kind of things?" Nate asked.
She wanted to feel like he was prying, but he wasn't and she knew that. She felt obligated to answer him somewhat truthfully, "Did you keep in touch with anyone from high school?"
Nate sat back in his chair as he thought about her question, "There are a few guys form the lacrosse team that I kept up with. I had drinks with them a couple nights ago."
"No one else?"
"No," Nate shook his head. "Why?"
"Well, do you ever think about what it would be like if you had? That some people, that you knew for so long, are meant to be in your life so much that they could be gone from it for years and when they return it can be like they never left?" Blair surprised herself with her ramblings. She had never had that kind of open relationship with Nate before, but this time it was different in so many ways.
"I take it you're not talking about you and me?" Nate replied.
Blair shook her head.
"You're talking about Chuck then, aren't you?" Nate tried again.
Blair's eyes widened, "How did you know?"
"I've known he was back in town for awhile now. I ran into him, the same day I ran into you actually. It's why I was late to dinner that first night," Nate explained.
"You knew? Why didn't you tell me?" Blair questioned.
"I figured Serena would tell you, and after awhile you never said anything. I thought it would be better not to bring it up. That is a sour topic for us."
"What happened when you ran into him? Did you talk to him?"
"We talked for a few minutes after we got over the shock that we were both back in town. We didn't get all deep and forgive each other. We're still keeping our distance as of right now, but we've reconciled that the past in the past. Hmm, it happened all so quick, I don't think I even got around to telling him I was meeting you," Nate answered, "So, I assume the sudden sentimental 'what could have been' speech was brought on by you seeing him?"
"Yesterday," Blair nodded. "Serena and I were shopping and he kind of sprang out of nowhere. I didn't know what to expect with seeing him again. Since we've started us up again, him being back has been looming over me. I was afraid to tell you that he was back because I thought he might somehow come between us again…so I tried to push him to the back of my mind and focus on us."
"That didn't turn out as you planned did it?" Nate said, watching her intently.
"Not quite," Blair responded, "When I saw him, and talked to him…it was like we were back in high school before everything fell apart. But I won't do anything to jeopardize what we have…"
"Blair, you can be friends with Chuck and still be with me," Nate replied. "You know why he and I will never be able to have the same friendship, but there's no reason why you shouldn't try."
"You're not afraid—"
"No," Nate cut her off, "I trust you, and it's different this time, with us."
Blair smiled, "You are truly amazing, do you know that?"
"I've been told that once or twice," Nate returned the smile, "But it's nice coming from my equally amazing girlfriend."
Blair leaned across the table to let Nate kiss her lightly. She thought maybe she didn't need to be so afraid. Her relationship with Nate was stronger than ever. And Serena was probably right, it would be better to have everything out in the open…So there would be no confusion.
She should have known better. Nothing was ever that simple on the Upper East Side.
