A/N: I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I want to thank all those who have read this story and liked it. I really didn't think that it would have become this big! Well I love it anyways. Enjoy!

Blair smiled and walked into the penthouse. Eric had finally put on his tie and followed her to the living room. She sat on the couch. He sat beside her. She turned to him.

"Where's Serena?"

"She's at Dan's."

"Oh."

They sat in silence for a while until Eric broke it.

"When do you want to go to the after prom?"

"How about seven thirty."

"Okay, but we have an hour and fifteen minutes until then."

She smiled at him.

"Then let's go out and get something to eat."

"To eat? Won't there be food there?"

"Yes, but Hazel's throwing the party. Who knows what's in it."

"Good point."

"I'm full of them. So you want to go?"

"Sure."

She grabbed her sweater and her purse from the couch. Eric got his tux jacket and followed her out to the elevator. They got off at the lobby. They left without once glancing at the ballroom. Once they were outside, Blair called them a cab. They got in and drove to the nearest restaurant. Eric helped her out of the cab. Before they stepped into the restaurant, Blair stopped Eric.

"I have an idea."

"What?"

"How about we pretend we are boyfriend and girlfriend. It will be so much fun.!"

He smiled. He was up to anything tonight.

"Sure."

Blair smiled. He opened the door for her. She stepped in and he followed. They walked up to the waiter behind the front desk. Blair cleared her throat. He looked up instantly.

"May I help you miss?"

"Yes. I would like to have dinner with my boyfriend. Do you have any tables available?"

The waiter knew exactly who she was and who she was with. Rich kids always got what they wanted.

"Yes, miss. We have a table available for you."

She smiled.

"That would be wonderful."

The waiter picked up a few menus and showed them to their table. Eric put his arm around Blair. He had seen Chuck do it a million times and he had also seen Nate do it also. As they walked, people who were eating dinner looked up at them. They all smiled at the 'couple'. Eric tried not to laugh. Did people actually think that they were a couple? They finally reached their table. Eric pulled out the chair for Blair. She smiled. He sat across from her. The waiter gave them their menus.

"I will be back in a moment. Will you two be wanting any drinks?"

Blair spoke first.

"Water. Honey, what would you like to drink?"

She was looking at Eric. He smiled.

"Um some water would also be lovely."

The waiter walked away. When he was far gone, they burst out laughing. They tried to keep it down, but it was too hard. Some people looked at them, but thought they were just two lovebirds. The waiter came back with two glasses of water. He set them on the table.

"Have you decided what you would like to order?"

Eric went first.

"Yes, one plate of vegetarian spaghetti."

"Okay, sir. And ma'am what would you like?"

"I would like the same. Can you make it one shared plate?"

The waiter's eyes grew open, but he shook that off before anyone noticed.

"As you wish."

Blair gave him a plastered smile. He walked away. She turned to Eric. His eyes were also wide open. She giggled.

"Well we had to have a shared plate. He wouldn't have believed that we were a real couple."

Eric smiled and looked down at his napkin. He had to ask her and he might as well now.

"Blair, why did you want to do this?"

"Do what?"

"This. Pretend to be my girlfriend."

She took a deep breath.

"I don't know how to tell you this Eric, but I'm madly in love with you! I have loved you forever but I never knew how to tell you. Please Eric just tell me you love me too!"

He looked at her, shocked. He didn't know what to do. Sure he loved Blair, like a sister. How did this happen to him. He tried to find the words in his mouth.

"Blair, I'm flattered really, but we really can't be together. I mean I love you like a sister. No more than that. I'm sorry if you got the wrong idea."

He looked at her. She smirked. He frowned. Hadn't she just told him she loved him. She started laughing. His eyes became confused. What the heck? he thought.

"What are you laughing about?"

She laughed a little more. Finally she calmed herself down.

"You shouldn't believe everything you hear."

He gave her a confused look. She smiled.

"Eric, I am not madly in love with you! You need to know how to handle a joke."

She started laughing again and this time he joined her. Again people looked at them, but just as they were lovebirds. They calmed down after a while. He looked at her.

"You really had me fooled."

"I can't believe you believed me. I love you like a brother!"

She giggled. He looked up at her.

"You still didn't answer my question though."

"What question?"

"The one about why you wanted us to pretend to be boyfriend and girlfriend."

She took a deep breath.

"It's about Hazel and what ever she has planned."

His eyes grew confused. What did Hazel have to do with this.

"Hazel?"

"Yes. She has something planned for me and I know her little army has something planned for everyone else I know. I thought maybe if Hazel thought she knew 'everything' then maybe getting her back could be a little easier."

Eric sat there, still confused. Blair took another breath.

"If I make her think that we are an item, then she'll go for Chuck. He won't go for her, but maybe he could lead her on and reject her. So do you understand, this is all a plan."

Eric looked into her doe eyes. If this had been a year ago, he probably would have turned the other way. But everything since last year had changed. He smiled at her.

"I get it."

She smiled back.

"I hope I didn't hurt your feelings."

He chuckled.

"I'm actually more relieved. You really had me believing that you loved me."

She snickered. The waiter came back with their food. He placed it on the table.

"Anything else?"

Eric looked up at him.

"No, that will be all."

He left. Eric looked at Blair.

"I bet this tastes a whole lot better than that crap me and Chuck made you."

They both laughed. She got her phone out of her purse and opened it. She turned to Eric.

"I'll be right back. I need to call someone. You can start eating without me."

He nodded. She got up and went to the hall that led to the restrooms. She called the one person she knew she needed to talk to. After the second ring, they picked up.

"Hello?"

"Chuck. I need to talk to you."

"Sure. Go ahead."

"You know how Hazel and you are going to the after prom together?"

"Don't remind me, but yes."

"Well make sure you lead her on."

"What?"

"Just lead her on."

"Why?"

"She and most of the Upper East Side thinks that I'm dating Eric."

"Why would she believe that?"

"Because I'm on a date with him right now."

"Okay. But why do I have to lead her on?"

"So she thinks she will hurt me more. Trust me."

He took a deep breath before replying.

"I trust you."

She smiled.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"Chuck?"

"Yeah."

"I hope you don't get mad at me."

"Why?"

"I might need to do some things to make it look like we really aren't together anymore."

"Sure. I understand. I hope you get your revenge."

"I hope so too."

"You ready for tonight?"

"Yeah. Hazel can do whatever she wants. She can't hurt me."

"That's true. And I'll make sure she doesn't."

"Thank you, prince charming."

"Anytime, princess."

She hung up and went back to the table. Eric sat there. Almost all of the spaghetti was done. She laughed when she saw his face covered in sauce.

"Gosh, you eat like a kid."

She grabbed a napkin and started to clean his face. Eric laughed. He did feel like a kid. She finished and put the dirty napkin aside. He smiled at her.

"So your plan in motion yet?"

"Yeah. I can't wait to see what Hazel has in store for me."

"Well it can't be too bad."

She smiled at him. The waiter came back.

"Are you two done?"

"Yeah. Could you bring the cheque please?"

"Okay."

He took the plate away. Eric looked at Blair, with a worried expression on his face.

"You didn't eat."

"I wasn't hungry."

"Are you sure you're not hungry?"

"Yes."

He looked at her again, just to see if she was telling the truth. The waiter came back with the cheque. Blair slipped in her credit card and passed it to the waiter. He went and came back with her credit card. They grabbed their stuff and stepped outside. As they waited for a cab, Blair turned to Eric.

"You really are a sweet guy."

He just smiled.

"Thanks."

She looked into his eyes.

"Are you willing to do something for me?"

"Sure."

"Can you kiss me?"

He was completely thrown off guard.

"What?"

"Kiss me. Kiss me so Hazel thinks she can have Chuck."

"You sure?"

"It will only be a friendly kiss. We won't feel a thing."

Eric took in a deep breath. He put his arms around Blair, bringing her in closer and planted his lips on hers. She was right, he hadn't felt a thing. In a way it was sort of creepy. They separated after a while. They knew that had to make it look real. She turned to look at him.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

She smiled. He called them a cab. They climbed in and rode to the Palace. Once they arrived, Eric helped her out of the cab. They walked in with confidence. They stopped in front of the grand doors leading to the ballroom. Eric looked at Blair. She had a worried expression on her face.

"You ready?"

She looked at him.

"Yes."

He grabbed her hand and they walked in through the majestic doors.

Hello Upper EastSiders,

Looks like things are heating up between E and B! They had a nice romanctic dinner at Pierre's. Once they were finished, they headed outside where they shared a kiss! Look's like the chances of H and C are more likely now! Good luck H, we know you need it.

XOXO Gossip Girl