AN: Ugh, I'm having the worst case of writers block right now, but I was able to push through this chapter so I could get it up... sorry it took so long. To be honest I'm kind of self conscious about it... but I hope you still like it. Let me know with a review... pretty please!

Chapter 3

The soft light of the newly risen sun grazed against Chuck's face as he lied awake, unable to sleep due to the guest in his bed who had manage to steal all of his blankets and wrap them around her petite frame, leaving nothing to cover himself.

He stared over at Blair, who laid peacefully sleeping with a gentle curve at the edge of her lips. Her curls were tussled and left array across her milky skin that had been ridden of any makeup, making her look more like an innocent little girl than the vamped out dancer he had met last night. As he studied Blair's delicate features he couldn't help but be intrigued by her. She had claimed to be a virgin, and seemed fairly distraught at the idea of him touching her, but yet the way she acted on stage at Victrola- so confident in her sexuality- portraying herself well as a vixen.

Realizing that it was already morning, and that he was never going to get any sleep he decided to get up. It had been the earliest he had been up since, well, he couldn't even remember, so he decided to revel in the sweet scent of the burgeoning day by sitting out on his patio and enjoying his morning cigarette with his usual glass of scotch.

He loved everything about Paris: the vibrant culture, incredible food, decadent wine, beautiful architecture, and the even more beautiful women, but most of all he loved the anonymity he had here. Back in the states he was a the son of a well known industrialist, and had gained infamy as a self absorbed hedonist who made his way through a fair share of women, leaving everyone around him shattered in the process. The rumors where more or less true, and he used his notoriety to gain power through fear, until karma came to collect. He was eventually barred from the upper echelons of society for unscrupulous behavior, and publicly disowned by his father- he had nowhere to turn so he fled. Here, in Paris, he could continue his debauched lifestyle only now he had no one to tell him how big of a disappointment he was- he was finally free and happy- or so he told himself.

As he swirled his scotch in his hand and took another long drag from his cigarette a gentle breeze blew upon him, guiding the smoke into the open widow of his bedroom, where Blair awoke to it's thick scent, not entirely sure where she was. The lush bed, and lavish sheets made her think, if for only a moment, that she was back at her home in England, but that was impossible. As her eyes fluttered open the memories of the previous night came flooding back into her mind- she had choked on her first job. Embarrassment overwhelmed her as she thought about her next move. She decided that she would try to slip out of the apartment undetected, as to not face the man who watched her have a meltdown. So with a simply written letter consisting only the words: Thank You- Blair- she snuck out of Chuck's home, hoping she would never have to see him again.

-

"So how was it?" Serena questioned with a curious grin as Blair entered their one room apartment. The empty walls and simple furniture greatly contrasted with Chuck's luxurious place, and Blair was once again reminded of how dire her situation was.

"It never happened," she told her friend, as her head hung in shame.

"What? I don't understand."

"I…I just couldn't go through with it… I had found a man, but when he came up to the room… I don't know… I started to cry," Blair stated with distress.

Serena wrapped her arm around Blair in an attempt to comfort her. "It's alright… I know the first time is scary. You know you don't have to do this."

"No, I need to make money somehow. It's unfair for you to have to support the both of us." She said looking up to Serena to try and find reassurance in her eyes.

"Well then your just going to have to get it over with, the first time is the hardest, but after that it gets better, I promise."

Blair knew that Serena was right; she couldn't let emotions get in the way. It was funny how she had ran away from her home, so she wouldn't be forced into marriage, and would be able to live in freedom, but now she had never felt more trapped.

"So, are you on for tonight?" Serena asked with an encouraging look on her face. "I'll talk to Gérard, you wont have to do a solo performance, you can work the floor with me."

"Absolutely," Blair feigned a smile.

-

After the last drop of scotch glided smoothly down Chuck's throat, and his cigarette was reduced to nothing but a nub, he decided to walk back into his apartment to see how his little faux-prostitute was doing. It was a odd thought for him to have a girl in his bed that he didn't sleep with, and wasn't kicked out immediately the next morning, but when he entered his room, he noticed that she had kicked herself out leaving nothing but a note.

He lifted the note up to read Blair's concise letter of gratitude, and a sense of bereavement struck him, if only for a moment before he decided to shrug it off, noting that stranger things have happened, but when he sat down and closed his eyes an image of Blair sitting elegantly on the swing at Victrola came to vivacity, and began to haunt his every thought.

-

As soon as the sun bid adieu to the blue skies of Paris the lights of Victrola would turned on, welcoming anyone and everyone who wanted a sinfully good time with their conspicuous red rays. The indiscriminating policies at Victrola made Blair and Serena's job that much harder, because as they walked across the room to find a client, they would have to separate the wealthy from the poor to find a man who could pay full price for their services.

"What about him?" Blair asked Serena, seeing a handsome young man leaning up against the wall.

"No, absolutely not, look at the tailoring on that suit, it doesn't fit him at all, probably a hand me down, and if a man cant afford his own suit then you cant expect him to be able to afford us," Serena replied guiding her friend away from his gaze.

"Why don't you try him? His silk tie must have cost a pretty penny, I'm sure he would be willing to spend quite a price on a lady such as your self," Serena continued motioning toward a large man sitting at the bar.

"Serena, he's balding and gross, you cant expect me to feign attraction to someone like that," Blair cried in utter disgust.

"You know sometimes I don't understand you. Why must you so be picky about every thing? You're a pauper not a princess, girls like us don't get to choose," Serena responded in obvious annoyance from her friends condescension.

Blair let out a bitter laugh. If only Serena knew, she thought to herself. The truth was she always lived her life up to such high standards, and it was difficult for her to lower them. "I don't know, Serena, just because I'm poor doesn't mean I have to settle for anyone."

"Well then your in the wrong business," Serena responded as she rolled her eyes.

Blair took a deep breath. "Let's just get this over with." She stated moving closer to their unattractive target. Tension started to build as she closed her eyes to mentally prepare herself for seducing him, and while she blinded herself to her surroundings she managed to walk straight into another man, falling down in the most ungraceful manner at impact.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, here let me help you up," He said as he lent her his hand.

"It's alright," she huffed, picking herself up, and dusting off her dress. She was ready to ignore the man and move on to the bar, but when she looked up she couldn't help but be taken back at the sight of the man's piercing blue eyes, and brilliant smile.

"Nate Archibald," He stated shaking her hand. "I really didn't mean to run into you like that."

"Oh, I assure you no harm done," She said reciprocating his smile.

"Good to know," he laughed. "But, I still feel bad about it. Why don't you let me buy you a drink?"

"Why yes that sounds lovely," Blair stated, connecting her eyes with his. As she walked off with Nate, she turned her head to Serena in an attempt to ask for her approval.

Serena nodded letting Blair know that Nate was an acceptable choice.

"So, I can tell you are an American," Blair said trying to start a conversation.

"What gave it away, my terrible French?" Nate replied.

"Well, yes that, and you just seem to have an American attitude about you," Blair smirked.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Nate said flirtatiously.

"So what brings you to Paris," she asked.

"Well, I'm actually looking for someone, and it's pretty imperative that I find him."

"Oh, It seems you got distracted, no?"

Nate laughed. "Not exactly, I didn't come here for entertainment, the person I'm looking for is someone who would frequent a place like this."

"Hmm, well maybe I could help you find him? Can I ask of his name?"

"Oh gee thanks, any help would be wonderful. His name is Chuck Bass."

"Oh my," Blair's jaw dropped, what were the odds? "I…I do know a Chuck Bass."

"What…really…do…do you know where I could find him?" Nate asked with disbelief in his voice. "God, I've been looking everywhere, you don't really…what…really?"

"Yes really, I happen to know a Chuck Bass. I can even show you where he lives."

"Gosh, thank you, this is absolutely amazing," he cried while wrapping his arms around her. "You don't think you could lead me to his house right away?"

"Sure just follow me."

-

Chuck had every intention of going out that night, mingle with the people of France, find a woman- someone who would actually put out, but after spending the whole day downing one glass of Scotch after another, he found that he could barely dress himself properly, much less leave the apartment. An absolute mess was how you could describe him on that particular night.

As he laid sprawled out across his living room floor he kept thinking about the girl he had meet the other day. What was it about her that had him enchanted he wondered. Her voice kept echoing in his mind, and the image of tears streaming across her face replayed. When he was with her he could sense her loneliness, and in a way it reminded him of just how lonely he was. He had no one at home, and he had no one here. It was as if he was forced to live the rest of his life out in isolation.

Chuck closed his eyes, and attempted to drift off to a drunken sleep, but before the sandman could come he heard a knock on his door.

What, who could possible be at the door? Chuck thought, forcing himself off of the ground.

When he opened the door, a look of utter shock appeared upon his face. "Nate?"