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"Blair, are you seriously not going to go to Europe with me just because Chuck doesn't want you to?" Serena looked at Blair incredulously.
"Chuck and I just started our relationship this summer and it's bad enough that we're already fighting. I just don't want to make it worse by going off on a Euro trip when he clearly doesn't want me to." Blair continued tracing the word "Europe" onto the comforter, as she lay on her stomach on Serena's bed.
"So suddenly Chuck's wearing the pants in your relationship? I thought it was always 'what Blair says goes'?"
Blair quickly sat up and frowned, almost yelling, "Chuck does no such thing! I am an independent woman living in a modern era and do not rely on a man to make my own decisions, thank you very much!"
Serena raised her eyebrow and gave her a 'you can't be serious' look, clearly not believing a word Blair was saying.
"It's true! S, I just don't want to upset Chuck because now that I'm in a relationship with him, I have to care about his feelings too. I want this to work. I need this to work."
"I know that, B, but sometimes you and Chuck aren't going to agree on certain issues and there will probably be a lot of crazy fights in the future, knowing just how stubborn you two are. C'mon, B, you can't just give into Chuck every time you disagree on something. And do you really think anything is going to happen to us in Europe? I've gone tons of times, and not always in a state of sobriety mind you, and I came back just fine!"
"True...and if you do return to your old habits, you'll definitely need me there to rescue you, and what kind of best friend would I be if I let you go alone, knowing there wouldn't be anyone to help you in time of need?" Blair bit her bottom lip, then grabbed the pillow by her side and threw herself backwards onto the bed, muffling her groan of frustration into the silk covered pillow. "Will he know if I just leave the city for two weeks?"
"Hmm, I don't know. Your boyfriend only has a P.I. as number one on his speed dial."
"How 'bout you tell him I got some horrible virus and have been quarantined until further notice?"
"Right because Blair Waldorf spends her time in places where viruses like those can be caught. I can just see it...'Hey, Chuck, sorry, but your girlfriend Blair caught the swine flu when she was taking her morning route via the subway. Yeah, and it really spread when she got to Brooklyn and used a public restroom. Don't worry, she'll be fine though!'"
"Serena, don't be stupid. I'd never do any of that."
Serena glared at Blair and threw her hands up in the air. "Obviously! Ugh, why don't you just tell him we're going somewhere else? We can say we're going to Miami to stay with my aunt Carol since it's a nice, safe getaway."
"Don't you think he'd be suspicious?" Blair cast a doubtful glance towards Serena.
"Not if we act annoyed and pissed off at him. We'll act bitter about it and as if we really have no other choice if we want to still have a vacation."
"I don't know, S..."
"Look, B...What other choice do we have?"
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"I don't know why you just won't let her go, Chuck? You've gone all the way to freakin' Thailand. I mean, you laid around whorehouses there and you're not going to let her go with Serena to some ridiculously expensive hotel in Europe?" Eric paused his current game of Wii tennis with Chuck, turning to face his step-brother with brows furrowed in confusion.
Chuck sighed in frustration and threw his head back as Eric brought up the subject for the third time that day. "Exactly, little one who has oh-so-much to learn. I have gone to Thailand and God knows where, which is why I know exactly what kind of people roam around abroad. Her safety isn't the same as it would be here." Chuck resumed the game and took a swing, tossing the tennis ball above the computerized net.
Eric pressed pause again, much to Chuck's dismay and annoyance. "Tons of teenage girls go with their friends to Europe. They've been just fine."
"Look, E. I don't know who bribed you into persuading me to let Blair go on this trip, but it's not happening. Tons of teenage girls don't come back from their Euro trips. In fact, tons of them are sold and trafficked. Plus, most teenage girls aren't dating billionaires. Why do you think my dad was so protective and watchful of Lily, Serena, and you? He didn't keep files on you guys so that he could get to know you guys better or what your favorite colors are. He did it because once you have that much money, a lot of people will try everything in their power to get it from you. And the best way to do that? Through your loved ones because you'll do anything for them, and God knows I'd do anything for Blair. So if you're done with your so-called attempt at convincing me to agree to this trip, I'd like to get back to kicking your ass at tennis."
Eric stared at Chuck for a moment longer before slowly nodding his head in agreement. "Sorry, you're right. I didn't mean to pressure you, Chuck. I guess, ultimately, you know what's best."
Chuck shook his head and chuckled, "Let's just hope you're not as much as a girl on the court as you are in real-life or else you really have no hope of making a comeback and beating me."
Eric grinned, pressed resume, and swung the ball out of the court boundaries.
"Hopeless," muttered Chuck.
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Chuck made his way towards his bedroom, only stopping after he heard giggles and bad pop music coming from Serena's bedroom. The bad music he was used to, but the giggles, no matter how often he heard from her bedroom, always intrigued him. The giggles were usually related to some naughty conversation between Serena and Blair. More often than not, the conversation included Chuck and resulted in Blair storytelling with a dreamy look on her face, and Serena making gagging noises in disgust.
But tonight, as he approached Serena's room and quietly eavesdropped behind her door, he found that the giggles were a result of something entirely different.
"Oh my god, that bathing suit is hideous, S! Why would you ever buy that?" shrieked Blair, eyes wide in shock.
Serena laughed and threw the bathing suit into the 'no-good' pile and proceeded folding some shorts before tossing them in her suitcase.
"What about this one, S? Too skanky?" Blair held up a skimpy, two-piece bikini, which was surprising to say the least since most of Blair's bathing suits were vintage style one-pieces.
"Wow, B. All the guys will totally be drooling over you in that! It for sure goes in the case!"
Blair giggled and tossed the bikini into her suitcase.
Chuck had enough of eavesdropping and decided to make his presence known after Serena's last comment.
"Ladies, maybe you should model those suits and get some approval for them before packing them in your cases, which brings me to the question, where do you plan on going?"
Blair rolled her eyes and continued tossing things into her suitcase. Serena turned to face Chuck, and gave him a nasty glare. "Chuck, first of all, it's called knocking. No one invited you in. Second of all, we don't need your approval for everything."
Chuck clenched his jaw in agitation and kept himself from spitting out a nasty remark.
Serena continued on, "And since you must know, we're going to Miami to stay with my aunt Carol since you won't let Blair go to Europe...and, for some reason, my dear best friend has decided to let you control her vacation destinations and agreed not to go to Europe. Miami is the next best thing, unless you find some fault in that as well?" Serena narrowed her eyes and gave him a fake smile.
Chuck pondered the idea for a moment, looking at Blair to study her reaction. She had glanced at Chuck after Serena was done explaining to catch his expression, but quickly looked down when he caught her looking. Chuck walked over to Blair and gently grabbed her arm.
"Is this true, Blair?" Chuck's eyes bore into the side of Blair's head until she stilled in her movements and slowly turned her face towards Chuck.
She knew Chuck could read her like an open book and was afraid her face would reveal all. She, however, used her years of practice with covering her true emotions and carefully placed a mask over her emotions so that she could maybe fool Chuck into letting her go. "Unfortunately, yes. I'd much rather spend my time at the Arc de Triomphe than on a beach in sticky, humid weather, but you've pretty much made that impossible, haven't you?"
Chuck let go of Blair's arm and ran his hand through his hair, apparently falling for her act. "Blair, I only want what's best for you. Now that we're dating and I'm heading Bass Inc., I have to be careful of not only my well-being and surroundings, but yours too. I love you and I just want you safe."
Blair felt a pang of guilt run through her and unconsciously bit her bottom lip like she always did when she worried. She chanced a brief glance towards Serena, only to see her shaking her head, as if to say 'don't give in!'
Blair put aside her feelings of guilt and gave a small smile to Chuck before responding, "I love you too, but you can't control everything Chuck. You can't keep me locked up like a favorite watch in your safe."
"What if I kept you in a really nice penthouse instead?" Chuck asked, wrapping an arm around her waist and using his free hand to grab one of her curls that was framing her face before tucking it behind her ear.
Blair rolled her eyes and shook her head no. Chuck felt a sliver of disappointment even though he knew she'd never agree to his request. "But, Blair, promise me you won't go to Europe just yet? I may not be able to control everything, but that won't stop me from trying, especially when it comes to you. I can't afford not to try with you. You're everything to me."
Blair no longer felt a pang of guilt, but rather a flood of the emotion wash over her. She briefly closed her eyes to avoid Chuck's pleading eyes and calmly lied, "Okay."
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A/N: Hope you liked this chapter, please please review and let me know what you guys thought about it! I really want to know! =]