Sorry everyone- I can't believe how long it's been since my last update! I'll try to have another chapter really soon! xoxo

Chuck led Lita to a somewhat deserted area where they could talk. The moment she sat down next to him, Chuck took her hand in his. "I need you to know how sorry I am." Lita bit her lip and waited for him to continue. "Yesterday, all I wanted to do was be with you but you know how I am, Lita. I woke up and I saw you lying next to me and it freaked me out a little. Not because it was you or because you were in my bed but because I'm not used to leaning on people. I didn't want to talk to you about my mother and have you realize how fucked up I really am."

"You're not fucked up." Lita stopped him. "Chuck, do you trust me?"

He nodded his head with no hesitation. "Of course I trust you, L. Probably more than anyone else."

"Then why did you push me away?" She asked. "I just wanted to be there for you yesterday."

"I know." Chuck sighed and lowered his head. "Lita, I'm trying my best to be the kind of person that you deserve but it's hard. My family is so fucked up and yours isn't, I didn't want you to have to be a part of all of that."

Lita lifted his head so that he had to look her in the eyes. "I've trusted you after everything we've been through. Even though there are pictures and everyone else believes that you probably cheated on me, I actually believe your story. So it hurts to know that you believe that I would so easily stop caring for you."

"I didn't say that Lita." Chuck denied her claim. "I would never say that"

"You didn't it say it but isn't that what you're afraid of?" Lita asked him. Chuck's only response was to look down again. "I care about you so much and I'd do just about anything for you Chuck but if you don't learn to trust me, really trust me, I don't think this is going to work between us."

"What are you saying?" Chuck didn't like the sound of what she said.

Lita looked down at her shoes. "I don't know, maybe we're not on the same page-"

"Charles?" Bart's voice interrupted the two.

"I'm coming." Chuck called back. He looked at Lita, wanting to continue their conversation but she was already standing up and smoothing out her dress. "L, I-I care about you, a lot, you know that right?"

Lita just gave him a small smile and started to walk back toward the brunch.

Seeing that Chuck and Lita had left to talk in private, Dan felt it was safe for him to rejoin Serena, although he wasn't particularly looking forward to making conversation with Blair Waldorf or Nate Archibald. He handed Serena her glass and stood awkwardly at her side.

"Nate, Blair, you all know Dan Humphrey right?" Serena linked her arm through Dan's. Blair was almost being friendly at the moment and she wanted to show the other girl that she was in no way interested in Nate.

"Yeah, it's good to see you." Nate gave Dan a small smile that didn't convince any of them.

"Jenny's brother." Blair stated the fact as though everything was finally clicking. "Your sister is great- a real go getter."

Dan knew exactly what Blair was talking about and he intended to let her know just how he felt about Jenny's social climbing. "My sister is a freshman and sure she's really eager to fit in but that doesn't mean it's alright for you to take advantage of it."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Blair smiled sweetly at them. "Nate, we should go, I told our parents we would sit with them."

Chuck sat stiffly in his chair as he listened to his father give a toast. He kept thinking about what Blair had told him and he wondered if it was true. Was Lita in love with him? She hadn't said the words to him, not that he could blame her. He glanced to his right and saw that Lita was pretending to be interested in Bart's speech. Chuck knew he needed to tell her how he felt – and soon.

--

Lita had forgiven Chuck but there was still tension between them, days later. Monday night Chuck had come over to the Nadalia house to study with her and for the first time in their friendship, they were actually getting more studying done than talking. He took it as a bad sign.

"Lita?" Chuck interrupted her timidly.

Lita looked up from her computer and looked at him expectantly. "Yes?"

"Are you nervous about Ivy Week?" Chuck wasn't sure where the question had come from but he was tired of the silence between them.

Lita shrugged her shoulders and continued typing. "Not really, it's still a week away and I'm not even sure I want to go to an Ivy League school."

"Do your parents care?" Chuck pressed.

Lita shook her head. "They just want me to do whatever makes me happy."

Chuck was quiet for a moment. "What's that?"

Lita looked up at him again. "What makes me happy?" Chuck nodded.

She thought for a moment, trying to think of an answer but was surprised when she realized that she didn't have one. "I honestly don't know anymore."

Chuck knew she was talking about more than just her intended college major. He'd gone back to The Palace that night feeling terrible.

The next few days weren't much better. Lita was so busy with all of her clubs, field hockey, and volunteering that the only time Chuck got to see her was at lunch and even then they weren't alone. By Friday evening, Chuck was feeling more than a little frustrated, which is what he intended to tell Lita when he showed up outside of her Pilates class that evening.

"What are you doing here?" Lita asked; her voice was noticeably less excited than it had been when had met her there the week before.

"I figured if I wanted to actually get a chance to talk to you, I'd have to stalk you." Chuck said dryly.

"It's been a busy week." Lita pulled on her hoodie as they started to walk.

"And you've been avoiding me." Chuck added.

"I have not." Lita responded defensively. "I've just had a lot going on."

Chuck rolled his eyes. "Fine, if you say so. What are you doing tonight?"

"Tonight?" Lita glanced at him nervously. "Um, I think I have to-"

Chuck stopped walking and a moment later so did Lita. She turned to look at him.

"L, tell me what's bothering you." Chuck sighed. He didn't want to waste another weekend having any tension between them.

Lita took a deep breath before starting. "I'm just really confused right now and I think maybe we should take a break from whatever it is that we were doing."

Chuck felt as though he had been punched right in the gut. "Do you want to be with someone else?"

"No." Lita shook her head to emphasize her point. "Of course not, Chuck."

"Then I don't understand." Chuck told her honestly. "I know I screwed up but I thought we were moving past that."

"I don't want to get in any deeper if you aren't ready to be serious with someone."

"I couldn't be any more serious than I already am." Chuck took her hand and gently pulled Lita closer. "I know that I love you Lita and I'm not just going to give you up. I know that I've hurt you way too many times but I refuse to give up." And with that, Chuck's mouth found hers and he sealed his promise with a kiss.

R&R!!

Superdani – I've been terrible about updating and I'm sorry! I'll try to be much better!