AN:
Hey everyone. Thank you for all your reviews, I hope you enjoy this update. :)
Blair and Serena talked all night about everything. The next morning was like nothing had changed between them. When they decided to enjoy the day at the beach, Blair was more than happy to be seen with the blonde. She even allowed her the satisfaction of rubbing tanning lotion on her back.
"Serena, do you mind?" Blair laid on her stomach and passed the bottle back to her friend. She heard the contents being squeezed out and felt large hands work the lotion into her back, but they weren't Serena's. She could easily tell as they slid across her skin, but was certainly confirmed by his cocky words.
"Is that enough Blair?" Chuck's husky voice perked her ears, but she wouldn't succumb to him. She turned to face him, but his hands were still on her as they laid in the warm sun.
"You shouldn't be here Chuck," she warned, removing her sunglasses to accept his challenge, and stare him down. He only leaned closer, his hands now manoeuvring across her bare abdomen. He gave her a smirk and kissed her bare shoulder.
"Just tell me when to stop." They were alone now, on her bed, and she was pulling at his clothes, ripping at the material, before bringing him back to her. She was craving release that only he'd managed to supply, and she wouldn't dare let him go just yet.
"Chuck," she stirred, hoping to feel him, she called to him again, moving her hips up to meet his, but he wasn't there.
Her eyes jolted open and she was in her bedroom. She turned to look to the side of her bed where Serena slept silently.
It was a dream...
Blair and Serena have been up most of the night talking about the boys. Serena was shocked to hear about everything Blair had done with Chuck. She also sensed the vulnerability that overwhelmed her when it came to him. Despite the many times she would deny having felt anything for Chuck, Blair still couldn't hide the feelings that came with every word regarding him.
She merely explained that it was a matter of greed, she enjoyed having the bad boy's attention, and that's why she hasn't filed for a restraining order. On a different note, Nate came up when Serena mentioned bumping into him at the Ostroff center. This brought up the topic of why Serena was at the center to begin with, and soon enough Eric.
Blair felt worse about ever blaming the blonde for her irrationality when she almost slept with Chuck. She even hated ever being mad when she hadn't the slightest clue about herself and Chuck. Not that there were any feelings. Blair refused to believe that she ran back to Chuck for any reason other than fear of moving forward with Nate. But she knew she was ready, she had been, despite the lack of pleasure in a certain department, they were good. Now they just needed a break. Nate needed time to recover, and they were allowed to be on their own for a while. If they were meant to be, they'd find their way back.
Blair sighed at that thought, and forced herself to get back to sleep. For now she would relish in dreams that involved her and her prince, and not some Bass.
The next morning, Blair and Serena both woke to the rather familiar sound of Eleanor Waldorf's yelling. Moments later she was calling for her daughter, and Blair exchanged a quick glance with the blonde before getting out of bed and putting on her robe.
"Blair," her mother called again, just as she made it to the top of the stairs. "Care to explain these?" she just threw the photographs all over the staircase. Blair glanced down at them and recognized a few instantly. Her head shot up, to look at her mom, but instead caught sight of Chuck leaning against the far wall, sporting his trademark smirk. "Were you trying to embarrass me Blair?" Thankfully her mother didn't even wait for a response before turning to stare down the photographer standing by her.
"Eleanor," the photographer tried to calm her down, "you knew we would be cropping them to focus on the dresses,"
"You either find new model, and have these done by next week, or I'll hire a photographer that knows how to present my daughter well in my clothes," she poked at his chest and stormed off.
Serena was quick by Blair side, but the brunette couldn't hold it in much longer. It was tearing at her insides, and when her mom was at a safe distance she finally let it out. She laughed. She was laughing so hard, her eyes began to tear and her stomach ached. This was by far the funniest meltdown her mother has ever had. Serena started to laugh, and soon enough she watched Chuck begin collecting the photos to present to her.
"I don't know what she's talking about" Blair finally managed to speak after much of her laughing, "these are pretty good," she studied the pictures, pleased with how she looked. Charming, mysterious, seductive...
"Well, you're a good model Blair" Chuck added.
"Thanks Bass," she let out a sigh of content, having actually enjoyed that. "Guess since I'm pretty much fired, you want to go to the beach?" Blair asked Serena who was initially concerned but recognised Blair's genuine laughter. Sure, she may have lost a few brain cells, mostly from spending time with two boys who smoked far too much weed, but she was ultimately sane enough to be truly happy.
"I'll go home and get my swimsuit" Serena announced happily.
"Just take one of mine" She finally stood up and ushered Serena back to the room. She almost passed the door when she felt his hand on her wrist.
"I'll be keeping that" he grabbed for a photo, and despite her instinct to fight him for it, she didn't.
The second she entered the room, she locked it and let out a breathe she held onto for too long. He was too close, and she was too relaxed. She can't just forget that he almost slept with Serena. Almost, he didn't, but almost.
The day went by rather quickly. Blair was surprised to have been left alone to tan with her friend. She thought Chuck would have come by to annoy her. She expected him to, and he didn't. It was kind of annoying in itself, and that was even more annoying, since he managed to annoy her without even being there to annoy her. God, he was so annoying.
"You okay B?" Serena asked as they packed up once the sun set.
"Yeah, I just thought Chuck would make my day hell, as usual" she replied nonchalantly. Really, why was she stressed about it. He finally got the hint. He needed to step off, at least for now. Their little, whatever it was, was officially over and meant nothing. She loved Nate, but that ended. She was single, and free to do as she liked with whomever.
"Oh, he left," Serena blurted out, snapping Blair out of her thoughts. The brunette just stared at Serena inquisitively until she continued, "my mom said that we got their staff for the rest of the week since they've already been paid and well..." Serena didn't know what else to say, that's pretty much all she knew.
Of course he would do this. First he makes her think he'll chase after her, and then he goes off and leaves. He can be so conceited. Quite the personal reminder.
"I have to go" Blair announced, despite having already been getting ready to leave to begin with. Serena was leaving tomorrow, and she planned to join her. She wasn't going to be left alone in the Hamptons with her psycho mom, that's for sure.
"Hey man," Nate smiled as Chuck entered his room at the center. "How'd you find me?"
"Overheard the nurses gossip," Chuck took a seat on the bed and toyed with the bottle of water he held onto for dear life. "seems like you're considered as quite the charmer," he smirked over to his friend, happy to see he's doing well. "How've you been?"
"Bored, sober, kind of put me off my game," he paused the video game he'd been playing for the past few hours and put aside the controller. It was too late for Erik, or anyone, to be visiting him, but knowing Chuck, he had a way around these rules. "Brought me any weed?" he asked hopefully.
"I quite" Chuck admitted before laying back on the bed. "I haven't so much as had a drink either in a while" Nate started to laugh, but not really getting it, was this some sort of Chuck Bass joke.
"Seriously, where's the stash?"
"I'm serious, after... everything. I figured I should just stop being a dick" Chuck stated blatantly to Nate. Nate actually listened, although the words of advice didn't flow as easily as they used to when he had a few joints.
"Chuck, sometimes we go over board... doesn't mean there's anything wrong with us" Nate explained wisely.
"I did go over the deep end back then, and so have you," Chuck explained. Nate may not have been as bad to fully quite, but he had to cool it, at least for a little while. He wasn't doing so well himself, in constant need of a joint, or a drink. They had that in common, they both had a vice, and at one point they shared her.
"I thought," Nate began, realizing that he missed talking to Chuck, having him as his advisor. "I though being with Blair would fix things, but I still fucked up" Nate laughed, rubbing at his head and thinking how he managed to get himself stuck in this place. Chuck only sat nervously at having to approach that topic. He couldn't talk about her that casually with Nate. He just kept thinking about how he practically cheated on his best friend, and helped his girlfriend cheat on him too.
"You still love her?" Nate finally asked and Chuck looked over unsure.
"I want her," Chuck corrected. Love had nothing to do with it, it can't.
"Not good enough man," Nate shook his head. "I won't let you have her until you love her... you won't deserve her otherwise"
Chuck wasn't even sure what had changed. In fact he just kept staring at Nate in shock. Was he giving him his blessing to go after Blair?
"I should go," Chuck got up, knowing he had a lot to think about. His loyalties with Nate came first, but even Nate wasn't holding him back, not that it ever had, but now something did. He couldn't just go after her to get her to sleep with him again. No he cared more for her than to do such a thing, didn't he?
"Alright, but next time..." Nate motioned smoking a joint and winked at Chuck.
Chuck sat in his limo for the next few hours thinking through what Nate had said. He asked him to love her, it just felt strange, too concise. Love. 4 letters, that held too much value, and was and should still be worthless to him. shouldn't it? He wasn't ready for that. He didn't know how to love anyone. Besides, she didn't want him, not yet anyways, and there was no way she'd love him. why give her something he wouldn't even get in return. But wasn't that the whole idea of love, to expect nothing in return? He couldn't do that, he was selfish, he wanted more for himself, and he knew that, but knew he couldn't drag her down like that.
"I hate him!" Blair yelled as she stepped back into her apartment the next day. Bags were being carried in by staff as she stormed to the house phone and dial. Her cell phone died from the many attempts she made to call Chuck. She would dial, but shut the phone before the first ring. She repeated this throughout the ride over, and all morning. Serena thought she was going mad, but that would be an understatement.
Now, Blair, having dropped off Serena at her apartment, began her new plan of attack.
"Blair?" he answered at the second ring and she smiled wickedly into the house phone.
"Come over"
Chuck nervously stepped out of the elevator. He finally came to a conclusion. He even succumbed to a drink, throwing away the whole idea of bettering himself. He didn't need to anymore.
"Chuck?" Blair descended the stairs, tightening the sash around her robe to hold it in place.
"Blair," he smiled to greet her. "Welcome back to the city," he leaned over and kissed her cheek, "I didn't expect you to come home so soon"
"Yeah," she relished in the feel of his skin against hers. She knew she could have him, he wanted her too. "I noticed you left, without a good bye even" she lift a questioning brow, grabbing two drinks from the table at her side, and offering him one.
"Sorry about that," he took the drink and studied it. Gin martini, classic Blair. "You know, I stopped drinking for a while,"
"Thirty days?" she brought up the number he'd expressed the other night. "How'd that go?"
"Pretty good," he tipped the glass back and finished it in one go.
"Well, I wanted to talk," Blair cleared her throat. She had his full attention now and ushered him to sit on the couch in the foyer. "I think, after everything that's happened, and for the sake of our mutual friendship with Nate, that we should be friends," she smirked, hoping he would take the bait. Hoping he would rise to the challenge, and fight her wit until they were in her bed.
"Yes," Chuck answered too quickly, earning himself a questioning look from Blair before he continued. "Yeah, completely. We fucked up... I fucked up big time last year, and I can't do that to Nate, or you.." Blair couldn't respond, for a second there she thought he agreed, Chuck hardly agreed when they were fighting. Did this mean they wouldn't fight anymore, no more witty remarks, or possible relieving activities... Who made that decision?
"So long as we have an understanding," she ended it, having now faced a situation she hadn't expected. Chuck and Blair, friends, buds, amigos. It sounded so... vile. But she couldn't very well be asking him to ravish her, tear at her robe, and revel in the sight of her in her best negligee, no matter how stimulating it all sounded.
"I owe you a lot Blair," she snapped back and listened to what else he had to say. "This summer, the work..." he began, but she interrupted, suddenly happy for Chuck.
"You got the grades?" She was smiling, not at all surprised that he couldn't do it, but that he did. She knew how much it meant to him, and she was honestly proud.
"Yeah," he smiled back, she was infectious like that. Her happiness rubbed off on him, and he hated it but loved it all the same. He wouldn't dare make her sad, if her smiles would make him feel this... high. "Bart was pretty impressed."
A moment of silent fell between them, and they just sat there smiling. Finally chuck leaned over and hugged her. "Thank you," it came out as a whisper, but just as the words left his lips he inhaled her scent. It was more than the grades, or the times she helped him study. He was thanking her for finally accepting his apology, finally letting him be her friend again at least.
Blair hugged him back, but didn't like this sudden change in Chuck. He wasn't... himself. He was too good, too nice, but something inside her knew that it was just for her. She hoped that it was, because starting school this year was going to be hard enough single as it is, let alone having to explain why it ended with Nate... again.