Well as someone that is writting (publicaly) for the first time it can be very overwhelming to read the reviews and to check the numbers of views. So, to all of you who has taken some time to read my story...THANK YOU!
- Patricia
ps. Sorry for the short chapter :P
The rest of the drive was…simple. They talked about Henry for a little bit and Dan made quite an impression with the knowledge that he had about her son. The conversation was light and, if at the beginning they were not very comfortable with each other's presence that had changed now. Whatever was playing on the radio was nothing more than background music, neither needing a distraction from each other as they found themselves absorbed in the other's company. Soon they changed to their old topics, and in that time they were just Dan and Blair, still trying to figure out life and having each other for support. Some laughs echoed in the car; some smiles brushed their faces for moments and later on the smiles stayed. Dan's voice had no longer that bitterness to it, and Blair was no longer distracted by their surroundings, just by the man sitting next to her.
At some point they got stuck in traffic, but neither seemed to be annoyed by this since it allowed Dan to concentrate on the woman next to him. It was so natural for them to fall into this habit; it had been hard to reach this point, no doubt in that, but once that barrier had been crossed they easily found their way back to each other. The bruises from the past were still there but somehow the reasons behind the why and wherefore hadn't they been able to move past their bad break-up.
The usage of their pet names became also more fluent, she would address to him as "Dan" and, of course the occasional "Humphrey" and he would call her "Waldorf": For some reason calling her "Blair" would remind him of a time in which they were more intimate than friends, and he didn't want to come anywhere near that. Moving past the heartbreak of being broken-up with for Chuck Bass enough to have a normal conversation with her, had already been hard enough; he couldn't break that barrier.
After what seemed to be a quick drive, they arrived at their destination. The place was perfect for the event, with long green fields, white fences for the horse's areas and a picturesque club house. Immediately, Blair's brain started to decorate the place. She had to give it to Dan, it was a wonderful idea. She smiled at him knowing that even though he had done a wonderful job, she would still give him a little bit of a hard time…just for fun's sake.
They entered the club house. The space was cozy, nicely decorated with an equestrian theme. Blair followed Dan to the nice-looking young girl at the reception.
"Good afternoon, welcome to Bergen County Equestrian Center my name is Claudia, how I may assist you?" said the young woman in a friendly manner.
"Hello! My name is Daniel Humphrey. I spoke with Mr. Robertson before about coming here today to take a look at the premises. You see we are planning a birthday party, so we are choosing venues. Is it possible for us to wonder around for a little bit?"
"Mr. Robertson is not here today, but please feel free to explore!" said she with a smile, "would you like to have a tour or you prefer to go alone?"
"Alone!" Blair cut. Dan looked at her quizzically and she gave him a "what?" –look; and with that he turned his attention to the receptionist that was looking at both of them with a warm smile plastered on her face.
"Do you have any sort of map?" Dan asked.
"I'm afraid we don't, but if you follow the trails there shouldn't be a problem."
"Alright then! Thank you very much for your assistance Claudia."
"You are very welcome Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey. Have a lovely day." The usage of the name Humphrey for Blair didn't go unnoticed by them. Dan took it as an honest, yet flattering mistake but for Blair something inside of her went cold.
They walked out of the main building side by side and started to explore. As they walked ideas for the party started to emerge, Dan was more insightful with ideas for activities and Blair for decoration.
"Argh…this place is going to ruin my shoes!" Blair stated angrily after stepping on an irregular part of the terrain and getting some dirt on her high heels.
"Well…it's not like you have the most adequate attire for a place like this now, is it?" Dan mocked her.
"I'm sorry if fashion is a higher call for me." She excused herself with clear sarcasm.
"Boots would look just fine on you."
"Humphrey…I'm not discussing fashion with you…there is no point in that!"
"Really? Because since I got together with Serena, I would say that there has been an improvement in my wardrobe!"
"Pearls to pigs…" Blair sang, not being able to avoid a smile from spreading through her face.
"Ouch!" Dan pretended to take offense, but after looking at her expression he couldn't help but to mimic her.
Those shy smiles remained as both of them walked around talking about the party, occasionally about how it was impossible for Blair to walk straight in those conditions and eventually the theme changed; they just talked about whatever crossed their minds. Just like old times.
Suddenly, on the corner of his eye came the image of Blair's body jerking as she twisted her ankle and was in an imminent fall. With cat-like reflexes, Dan grabbed her by the waist preventing her for falling.
"Ouch!" Blair muttered still in his arms.
They hadn't registered their proximity yet. He was just concerned that she had hurt herself, and she was just in pain.
"Stupid high heels" she stated, with pain mirrored in her voice.
"Finally we agree that these were not the appropriate choice." Dan said trying to light up the mood. "Does it hurt?"
"Just a little!" and as she spoke, she bent to reach her ankle. "It will be fine; it was just a little twist."
When she straightened herself she gained conscience of their proximity. A knot on her stomach seemed to form, and for some reason her heart began to race. She looked Dan in the eye, and she could tell that he had also just realized what was happening. Neither of them moved. They just stared at each other's eyes, their breathing starting to become a little irregular.
Dan swallowed loudly, "Do you think you can walk?" he asked without breaking eye contact and with certain huskiness to his voice.
"I think so." She said not diverting her gaze from his eyes. However Dan broke the contact by looking at her lips and swallowing hard again.
Unconsciously they began to move closer and closer. The proximity was bringing both of them warmth and both of their minds felt like they were just blank. Everything faded except for them, and the feeling of being in each other's arms. If anyone would ask them when it had been the last time that they had even touch each other, they wouldn't be able to answer and possibly, for that reason the situation that they were in right now felt even more special.
She looked at his lips too, the thought of how would they taste not leaving her mind. At this point her heart was racing like crazy and she was hundred percent sure that he was able to hear it. She leaned forward a little bit more; their noses were almost touching now.
"Blair…!" Dan let her name escape and she felt a shiver down her spine. He had called her Blair, not Waldorf nor Bass...just Blair, and it felt so good to hear her name from his lips, especially in the way that he had pronounced it.
She closed her eyes. That was it. She was ready to be kissed by no one other than Dan Humphrey, the man she swore to hate.
Dan couldn't resist it any longer either. The woman that he had loved so deeply was warming his body in ways that he thought were no longer possible. So he closed his eyes too…
The sound of a horse neighing broke them from their trance, just before their lips collided. It had been too close, but now that reality had sunk in they realized the monumental mistake that they had just avoided.
He dropped his hands from her waist, and she could immediately feel the cold.
Without a word spoken they headed to the main building. They would say their goodbyes to the receptionist, and head home. If before the ambience was light and filled with laughter, now it had felt into a dreadful silence. Neither could speak, as they were still trying to figure out what had just happened.
The drive home reflected the latest events. They were sitting in awkward silence, still not quite understanding the feelings that they had felt before. He dropped her home, they said goodbye quickly and she headed out in a hurry.
Dan drove home, and headed out. He needed to clear his head that was filled with nothing else besides confusion…and Blair! She was that constant voice in the back of his mind that breathed fire into his inner turmoil.
On the other side of the city Blair was dealing with the exact same thing. All of those years of resentment had vanished. They had shared a wonderful moment of friendly bliss that had crumbled with that damned proximity. If a simple touch would trigger such a reaction…she shook her head to delete the insane thoughts of where had a kiss possibly led them.
They would go to their own beds that night with thoughts of the other…and a very simple, common desire…for each other's lips.