Chapter II: Those Captivating Words You Say
"Trying to forget someone you love is like trying to remember someone you never met." -Unknown

Chuck turned over in his sleep, a vibrating in his pocket went on consistently until he finally reached into the pocket of his slacks and pulled it out. He had his hand on the off button on his phone, but something on the screen made his heart jump every which way in his throat. He frantically read the text on his phone, over and over again until it registered.

What this? Chuck Bass spotted, infatuated by lonely boy Dan Humphrey. Has our ladies man switched sides?

"It was just spin the bottle."

"Really?" Jenny smirked and grabbed Dan's laptop away from him.

"Yes, really. It was Serena's idea anyway."

"Serena shoved you into the closet?""

Dan took his laptop back.

" I-I didn't mean it that way-Dan, don't worry about."

"Ha, don't worry about it...?"

"Yeah, because this won't be over for weeks."

"Thanks Jenny."

"You're welcome."

Shit. Shit. Motherfucker.

Chuck went on a silent rampage in his mind as he tried to keep his calm. He searched his room for his uniform.

"Where's my fucking tie?"

He checked under the sofa and under his bed and in the bathroom. He was checking under the glass coffee table, when his maid called for him.

"Mr. Bass?"

"What-"

Thud.

"Fuck!" He rubbed the back of his head, "What do want?!"

"Is everything alright?"

"No-Yes! Yes! Everything is fine!"

He stood up and then looked at his hand, it was dabbed with blood.

The door opened and his maid, Dana, came in. She was only thirty-one, a replacement for the maid Chuck had fired after the "I won't allow anymore alcohol in this penthouse" incident.

"Mr. Bass?"

"I said I'm fine." He sat down.

He looked up at her, she was bending over and checking the back of his head. She had knockers that could kill any guy. Especially in her uniform, not a typical porno maid outfit, but a nice fitting one indeed.

"I told you-"

"It looks like you have a mighty big bump on your head."

"Obviously."

"Looking for this?"

As she handed him the tie and left, he felt like he should have wanted so badly to stop her, but he didn't. Instead, as his head throbbed with pain, he put his head in his hands and cursed again.

Even Chuck Bass had emotions, he certainly wasn't crying, but he felt that sense of difference. Like he wasn't who he used to be and he was walking in new territory now. Even money and power couldn't help this situation.

"Have you seen Gossip Girl?" Blair chuckled and grabbed her boyfriend by his tie, "Dan and Chuck-disgusting, it's bad enough Dan was screwing my best girl friend, but now Chuck Bass? He's really digging for that gold."

Nate looked at her, silenced by her comments.

"What? I'm just telling the truth."

Blair and Nate sat down on the steps and waited for the bell to ring.

"I just think it's a rumor, Chuck isn't gay."

Blair shot him a look, "Honestly, look how his elaborates about his sexual escapades. He has better taste than me, as hard as that is to admit. How much proof do you need?"

Nate lowered his head, "I just don't believe everything on Gossip Girl."

"Well when has it ever been wrong?"

Serena tucked her blond hair behind her ear. She checked her lip liner and puckered her lips, applying more lip gloss.

Her phone vibrated and she picked it up, she knew it would be Blair pestering her to hurry up.

"Dan and Chuck?"

Even though she was there, she knew it was just a harmless teenage game, but somewhere, deep in her instincts, something clicked. The way Dan moved in her, without passion, and the way he had held her hand or last week when he made the excuse that he was "busy" when they had a date planned.

Yes, it was something, but something that she ignored.

Chuck sat down, ignored the stares he received from every girl near him. He glared at them, annoyed at the fact that Gossip Girl actually did have an effect on them. And that it also had an effect on him.

"Today we'll finish up Hemingway's novel and start on our term papers."

Chuck looked down at his blank sheet of paper in from of him. He realized then how much school bored him, and he looked, casually towards Dan's desk. He rubbed the back of his neck and stared back down at his desk.

He wondered if Dan was feeling the same things he was feeling.

God, shut up, mind. Please. He begged. Please let me be normal. I'd do anything, please. He begged, I'll give all my money to charity. Just please don't let me be gay.

And then door opened and Dan Humphrey hurried inside.

All least I tried, Chuck thought.

"Mr. Humphrey. You're late."

"I know. Sorry." He hurried in and sat down. Chuck's thoughts were interrupted by Dan's eyes. Bags had formed under his eyes, marking that he did have troubling thoughts on his mind. Chuck began to feel less alone.

Dan stared blankly at the front. Chuck was right, Dan did have a troubled sleep. Serena wasn't on his mind anymore, he didn't want to cuddle with her, let alone have sex, his libido was going berserk just like the song, studying had become a chore, and now everyone thought he was gay with rich boy.

"Dan, read the passage on page thirty-four."

Dan sighed and got his book from his book bag.

Chuck stared at him, uncaring that everyone around him was watching him carefully. When Dan Humphrey spoke Chuck took a hold of his breath.

"Look at the ugliness. Yet one has a feeling within one that blinds a man while he loves you. You, with that feeling, blind him, and blind yourself. Then, one day, for no reason, he sees you as ugly as you really are and he is not blind anymore and then you see yourself as ugly as he sees you and you lose your man and your feeling... After a while, when you are as ugly as I am, as ugly as women can be, then, as I say after a while the feeling, the idiotic feeling that you are beautiful, grows slowly in one again. It grows like a cabbage. And then, when the feeling is grown, another man sees you and thinks you are beautiful and it is all to do over."

"Thank you Dan."

Dan shut his book and his eyes wandered over and touched Chuck's. Chuck didn't move his away, while Dan looked down and then checked if Chuck still held his gaze.

Chuck kept thinking, that maybe, just maybe, they were just blind and eventually they'd see each other's ugliness.

Dan wandered out of his last period, thinking that he had to tell Serena. He had to tell her that he was confused about her and that he just didn't see them together anymore. No, that would be too obvious. People would...

When did he start caring? He looked down at his school uniform and around at the people he went to school with. He felt like no matter what he did, he'd feel out of place with school, with Serena, with the general population of New York.

"Where have you been?"

Dan sighed into the phone, "I was tired."

Serena felt that feeling again, "I'm sorry and if you're-"

"I'm not, okay?"

"Okay."

There was a long, pregnant pause before Serena started to talk again.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"I told you I'm fine."

Jenny walked in. "Dan dinner's ready."

"Okay I'll be right there. Look Serena I have to go eat, bye."

"Bye..." Serena hung up. and that feeling only grew.

Chuck could feel something as well. Dan didn't look the same during English class this morning. The way he spoke, and held himself certainly was different. Something about his sincere, hippie boy way infatuated Chuck. He wanted to tell someone, he wanted to tell Nate. But he knew he would be with Blair at his parents house, because his parents were on a business trip in France. He found that so cliché that Nate and Blair were having sex on every piece of furniture in his parent's house while they were on business trips.

His father only went on "business trips" for money and sex .His dad's reputation was polished by everyone he paid to stop from rumors to be spread about his nymphomaniac nature.

Chuck's mouth went dry. Father. Reputation. If his father ever found out what was written on Gossip Girl...

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"Nate?"

Chuck had decided to give it a try. He was sure Blair would've at least gotten tired by now.

"It's three in the morning."

"I know." Chuck growled, "Listen to me."

"I'm listening."

Chuck gulped, "Could you come over?"

"What? No."

"Why?"

"..."

"Fine I'll take a cab."

Chuck sat down on his bed and put his phone beside him. He was in his green bathrobe, his face clad with a concerned expression. Only one small lamp was on, casting an illuminating, yet calming effect on his room. His black hair was ruffled in every which way. His eyes had drops of light swimming in them.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes. Three in the morning was the most depressing time at night. It was that time of night that made you think. You're mind goes crazy and you begin to think over and over about things, everything.

After twenty minutes Nate tapped lightly on Chuck's door.

Chuck opened his door and went back to sitting on his bed. Nate shut the door behind him and sat down on the couch.

"What is it?"

"I'm confused."

"About what? Did you get that whole situatio-"

"I lied."

This whole gay thing was making Chuck different. He was truthful at least.

"Why?" Nate shot him an odd, confused look.

"Because it's something else."

"Okay, well are you in love?"

Chuck sucked in his breath again, much like he had done in English class.

"No."

He felt his stomach churn with nervousness.

"Chuck you know I won't care."

"I'm gay."

Chuck watched Nate soak in the news like a sponge.

"Um...no you're not, is this a joke?"

"Why would I fucking wake you up this late to tell you a joke."

"Well I don't know Chuck, because you're a jackass."

Nate stood up and walked over to Chuck. "Are you sure? Why didn't you say anything?"

Chuck stood up too, feeling threatened by Nate's strong voice, "I didn't know!"

"Why not?! That's pretty important isn't it?"

"I don't know."

Nate relxed, gathering his cool.

Chuck looked at him, defeated.

"Blair told me. I should've believed her."

"She told you I was gay?"

"Yes. I guess she was right." He chuckled, "Congratulations Bass, you're a fag."

"Thanks."

Nate sat down on Chuck's bed, " I don't care if you are."

"Well that's why I told you." Chuck sat next to him.

"I never would've guessed."

"Me neither."

Dan sat down on hid bed with his laptop on his lap. He had locked his door and now he had his finger grazing the enter key. He pushed down and imagesof naked men with other naked men shot up. He felt something in his chest constrict.

It was exciting, secretly indulging in his this virutal sexual world. Usually he just scanned through any type of sex pictures, ignoring this, knowing that it wasn't right. But now that he had opened the portal, he felt something in his middle area beg for more.

"Dan!"

"What?" Dan closed his laptop.

"It's Serena!"

Dan frantically jumped off his bed and hurried out of his room. He saw her standing in the doorway and he motioned her inside. Serena cleared her throat and checked the time. They both ignored greeting each other and went straight to his bedroom.

"Why haven't you called me?"

"I tried."

"No you haven't."

"Okay, I haven't but-"

"I'm right here in front of you, every day and you don't even try to touch me or kiss me. I have to come up to you."

"I mean look as us, what must people think when..."

Dan stared at her.

"I didn't mean it that way."

"Serena I-I don't want this."

Serena was taken aback. He was breaking it off with her? No.

"What do you want Dan? Chuck? Is that what you want? Well I'm sorry I don't have a dick."

"That's not it."

"Yes it is, I've never seen someone so bored having sex with his girlfriend."

"I'm not gay!" Dan raised his voice.

Serena crossed her arms, "Then I guess it's just me."

Dan sighed, "No, you're not it either."

"What, have you turned asexual overnight?"

"Why is everything about sex?"

"It is. Dan if you don't want to be with me anymore than that's fine."

"Serena."

"Dan I really thought this would work."

"Me too."

"Do you even love me anymore?"

"I..."

"Tell me the truth."

"No."

"Then why did you say it?"

"Because I felt it at the time."

"I guess that feeling is gone then."

"I guess so."

Chuck closed his eyes. He had said it. He had told Nate. Nate, his best friend. But still, he felt all messed up. What if Nate told the world that yes it was a game that he had played, but that game had become reality. It had secured it.

And as his eyes closed, Chuck smiled, only a little, just in case someone would see.