A/N: So I got inspired of the lyrics of this song to write this chapter. I think this is where the two timelines start branching off. Tell me what you think. Sorry if Chuck is a little OOC towards the end or it gets a little weird. Its based off of the song, so just go with it. And I know that a lot of reviewers wanted some of the Chair SL's at the beginning, but the two SL's aren't as much the same as they used to be so the Chair ones won't be as predictable. Sorry I haven't updated in awhile and the end is sort of cliff-hangery. Fanfiction was being annoying and messing with the format so I spent like an hour trying to fix it but its not working so the things that are supposed to be centered aren't. The couple of lines that are italics are the lyrics but the large grouping of italics is Bart's flashback, you'll know it when you see it. Here it is. Hope it doesn't disappoint. The name of the chapter is the name of the song that the lyrics come from.

Summary: She knew she had to leave. If she allowed herself just to wait until he awakened, she knew she never could. She knew that his velvet and poetic words would make her stay. His promises and love would keep her forever and she couldn't allow herself to do that. She couldn't fall for him like she had in the past.

Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me. All characters and basis for characters belong to Gossip Girl. Song lyrics belong to The Spill Canvas (amazing song.)

late 80's.

Fate is an elegant, cold-hearted whore
She loves salting my wounds
Yes, she enjoys nothing more

Bart Bass was stunned. There. He said it. Bart Freaking Bass had just been dumped. Even if technically they weren't going out in the first place. They had just slept together. Once. No-- had sex. They had sex and she left him. What the hell?

The sun was just about to rise and he was still in his limo. Where she left to begin with. Her scent still surrounded him. Her moans were still cresting in his ear and he couldn't shake it. He could still hear her purring.

Evelyn threw herself into the kiss, ferociously overtaking all of his senses. Her arm wrapped tightly around his neck, pulling him in. He was trying to breathe but the obstruction of her mouth was making it quite difficult.

Instinct kicked in and his arm wrapped around her waist, practically pulling her on top of him, his hand caressing her thigh, pulling it over his own.

He pulled her into his chest, sliding the strap of whatever the hell she was wearing (because he couldn't see it) down her shoulder, favoring her soft skin.

He could feel her patience waning. She shrugged off his hands, pressing his back to the window. She took a hold of his jacket, stripping it quickly and efficiently. He wasn't about to ponder of how she had gotten so efficient or experienced. He knew she wasn't a virgin but he wasn't thinking about that. In fact, he wasn't thinking much of anything.

He was freed of his jacket and took her face in between his hands and roughly pushed her back to the seat, taking him with her so he was hovering over her.

... All ending in a burning flash of white--

"Mr. Bass?"

Bart glared at his driver who had interrupted what he was going through. He wasn't used to be left behind and he didn't like it. After everything, he was just staring at her. He didn't know what she was expecting. Oh you're so amazing... marry me? Maybe the point was that Evelyn wasn't that type of person. Wasn't that type of girl. She actually shoved him off of her, pulled her dress back over her head and was gone in an instant. She had used him and he let her. He fell for it and let her go.

Now he was mad.

"Are you going inside?" Arthur asked.

"No," Bart said, surprising himself. "No. we're going somewhere else now."

I bleed confidence from deep within my guts now

"I don't want to do this," Keith complained for the hundredth time.

"I really don't care," Bart replied. "We're getting to the bottom of this."

"What?" Keith asked. "Some chick is the first to dump you and you get all obsessed? Talk about cliché."

"I am not... obsessed," Bart sneered. "I just... need to know."

"That's just you," Keith replied. "You have to know everything, control everyone, trust no one..."

"She's a bitch," Bart replied. "And I have to know."

"Why she doesn't want you?" Keith supplied. "I mean, besides the obvious. The drinking, partying, sleeping around...."

"And you have a problem with that lifestyle."

"Of course not," Keith laughed. "Just pointing it out."

"Then let's get going."

"I cannot believe I am privy to this," Keith muttered as they made their way up the steps, the doorman stepping aside for them, holding the glass doors open for them.

The elevator dinged and they stepped into the foyer. Bart knew she wasn't home. This was a good thing.

They both walked up the stairs and straight into her room per Keith's directions. Bart immediately started opening drawers, not bothering to see who was there.

"You have got to be kidding."

Bart looked up casually while Keith whirled around, spotting Eleanor. Bart ignored her, going back to his business.

"Seriously?" she asked. "You're a grown man. What exactly do you think it is that you're doing?"

"Ransacking her room," Bart said nonchalantly.

"And what do you intend on finding?" she asked skeptically. "A reason why she dumped you in your limo? Because, believe me, those are all metaphysical."

"You heard about that?" Keith asked in surprise.

"You obviously did," Eleanor replied. "Where did you think she went after? Home? Her mother would murder her if she came home that late. Smelling like you no less."

"What the hell are you doing here?"

And in an instant, those were the chorus bells. Bart turned and there she was. The vision of beauty. Her dark eyes brimmed with rage and suddenly... all he could do was think of last night.

Bart took a casual seat on her bed. "So this is your bed, huh?"

"Leaving," Evelyn snapped. "Now."

"No, I don't think so."

It was the first time he thought he saw a wave of panic flash across her face.

"Bart," she said sternly. It was the first time he heard her use his first name like that. "You have to go.

"Why?" he asked. And then he knew. Her mother's shrill voice carried up the stairs.

"Go," Evelyn urged quickly. If there was one thing she was afraid of, it was her mother. Eleanor grabbed him quickly by the sleeve and stuffed he and Keith into the closet. And there they stayed for an unspecified amount of time. Because as soon as he was dragged out, he was kicked out again. Maybe for good this time.

I'm the king of this pity party with my jewel encrusted crown

present day.

It was for good this time. Blair had promised herself that she was leaving him for good. She thought she would have left immediately. But here she was. It was morning and she was still entangled in Chuck Bass's sheets. She sat up, clutching the thin sheet to her chest. She cast her gaze to the side. Taking in his beautiful sight. He was always beautiful. It was a shame, really, that no one cared to notice.

His body was curled towards hers, his hair sweeping across his face in that sexy bed-ruffled way that it did. She stretched out a shaking hand and put it back into place. His breathing hitched in his sleep and she was frightened that he would wake up. But he just kept sleeping, even if his body was slightly closer than it had been before.

And she knew she had to leave. If she allowed herself just to wait until he awakened, she knew she never could. She knew that his velvet and poetic words would make her stay. His promises and love would keep her forever and she couldn't allow herself to do that. She couldn't fall for him like she had in the past. Even if it was already to late.

So she left.

I wanna tear apart your room
to see if what you say is true
Darling don't you lie, lie to me

Chuck was sitting up in his bed, stunned. Sure, the bitch had broken his heart a couple hundred times, but she had never gone this low before. She had never been gone when he woke up. He knew that it wasn't just a dream. First, because he was completely naked and that didn't make any kind of sense. Second, her scent was embedded in his sheets. Sometimes he would think he could smell her on him, but this was definitely for real.

And he was definitely pissed. Before, he was just being broken and sorry. Now he was mad. And he was going to let her know it.

"Chuck," Eric said anxiously after he had picked him up. "I can't allow myself to be privy to this."

"Are you my brother or not?" Chuck demanded.

"Ah, emotional blackmail," Eric sighed. "I know it well." He looked at Chuck sternly then. "But couldn't we do this later?"

"No," Chuck said darkly. "We're doing this now."

"Maybe we could go when you're, you know," Eric shrugged casually, "not drunk.."

Chuck stared at the glass of scotch that had seemed to be glued to his hand since he realized that Blair had abandoned him once again for reasons unknown.

"We should do this now."

He wasn't sure if he was slurring or not, but that was irrelevant. Because the more he drank, the more that this seemed like a good idea. And the more Eric knew that it definitely wasn't.

Chuck ignored Dorota as he stalked up the stairs, Eric apologetically in tow. He immediately started pulling out drawers frantically.

"Chuck, stop," Eric said, trying to still his hands.

"I have to know," Chuck said coldly. "I have to understand."

"Chuck."

Blair wasn't mad. She looked frightened. Eric wanted to apologize or something. But he knew this was between the two of them. Getting involved would be detrimental.

"Is it true?" he demanded.

"Stop," she begged.

"No," he practically yelled. "Tell me its true. Tell me you don't want me. Tell me that you're over me."

Blair was really trying to stop her face from crumpling. She looked away.

"I don't..." she let it hand.

"Don't lie to me," he said destructively. "Don't you dare lie to me."

"I'm sorry," she said desperately.

That's when he started laughing. Eric had no idea he was that drunk. The aroma of scotch was usually present on his brother, but he had no idea that had reached epic proportions.

"You are lying," he laughed. "You're eyes don't match you mouth."

I wanna break into your heart
to see why you want us apart
Oh, I'm scared to death to find out what you think of me

"Please, Chuck," Blair begged, pulling at his arm, trying to get him to his feet from his sprawled position on her bed. "Please, you have to leave."

Chuck looked at that strange fear in her eyes. He had seen it so rarely and he couldn't understand it. He couldn't comprehend it in his inebriated state. Maybe Eric was right. But then again, wasn't he always?

"Chuck--"

"Why?" he asked, trying to decipher the ever present code that was her face. He let her pull him up but then roughly took her by the shoulders. "You have to tell me. Tell me why you want us apart."

She tried to extricate herself. She turned her face away, not willing to answer. He was frightened of the truth. Blair never really held back and he wasn't sure he really knew what she thought of him. He wanted her to love him again.

"Why don't you want us together?"

"Because I do," Blair burst out. "I want us together."

"Then what--"

"What is this?"

That's when Blair went limp in his arms. He turned. Harold Waldorf was standing in the doorway and he didn't know what he had done wrong. Sure he was drunk and sort of broke into Blair's room. Well, when you really thought about it, it was definite stalker-boyfriend material. But he had to know.

"Harold, don't." Chuck looked to see Eleanor, his one actual ally in all of this. "Let it go."

"This boy broke into Blair's room."

"Let it go."

And he did. So did Blair. She let him go. And he didn't know if it was for good.

Fate is an elegant, cold-hearted whore
She loves salting my wounds
Yes, she enjoys nothing more
I bleed confidence from deep within my guts now
I'm the king of this pity party with my jewel encrusted crown