Love is a Losing Game
Chapter 9
Unfortunately for Blair, the world had decided to turn a deaf ear to her little issue and no hole appeared in the polished floor. That left her with two options, she could either make a run for the front entrance and hail a cab from there or she could put her brave face on and act as though his presence didn't affect her in the least. While she preferred the former, the latter was the most polite thing to do. And she normally could have pulled off such a calm demeanor as was demanded of in this situation in a second, but in order to do so properly, she needed to first control the erratic beating of her heart.
"Nathaniel, what a pleasant surprise." Lady luck was certainly not on her side today, there was hardly enough time to compose herself.
Chuck approached the table with Vanessa at his side, his hand comfortably rested on the small of her back. Such a public display of affection made Blair's blood boil, her teeth grinding together in quiet fury as she made an attempt to avoid the couple's gaze.
"Indeed it is, why don't you two join us for lunch? It'll give us all a chance to get better acquainted." Nate spoke in total ignorance of the heated glares that both Serena and Blair were sending him, oblivious to the trouble that he could cause with such an offer.
Blair's eyes widened in shock at the words coming from her boyfriend's mouth, stunned that he would offer her a seat at their table, as if she actually belonged there. Chuck caught site of Blair's obvious distress and smirked.
"The offer is most kind Nathaniel, but I feel that after last night's events, Vanessa would feel more comfortable sitting elsewhere. Perhaps another time."
With a dramatic roll of her eyes, Blair moved her focus back onto her half-eaten lunch.
"Blair is really sorry about what happened." Nate replied, shooting Vanessa a pleading look. The last thing he wanted was for something as trivial as this to come between everyone. Too bad that Blair didn't share his opinion.
"Don't put words in my mouth, Nate." She growled indignantly, throwing her napkin down angrily and storming towards the restrooms. With a heavy sigh, Serena quietly excused herself and went to follow her best friend. Bewildered at this turn of events, Nate turned towards Chuck for explanation but was met with only air.
After Blair's dramatic scene, Chuck had lead Vanessa to a reserved part of the restaurant, away from the hustle and bustle of the main room. While she examined the menus, Chuck couldn't help but sneak looks at his cell-phone, almost willing it to ring.
Seconds later, the phone began to vibrate. His eyes darted to the screen, his breath hitched in his throat as the caller id flashed across the display.
"That would be Blair calling, would it not?" Vanessa asked, not even bothering to look up from her menu. The torn look on his face confirmed her suspicions.
"Well go on and answer, can't keep the lady waiting." He smiled at her patience; it took a strong woman to put up with him. With a nod, he flipped open the phone and walked into the deserted hallway.
"Speak."
A huff of annoyance sounded through the cell phone's speaker.
"Do you answer all of your calls so rudely, Chuck or am I just that special?" The voice leaked through the amplifier but came more loudly from the end of the corridor. Her petite frame rounded the corner and came into view, her cell phone in hand.
"Now what is this? A sober Blair Waldorf coming to find little old me?" His phone clicked shut and disconnected the call while he leaned against the wall, arms crossed and eyebrows raised.
"Shut up Bass. I'm not here for fun and games."
"Is that right? And here I thought that's all you're in for, at least when it comes to me." She glared at him in response, her face blank of any emotion. Since she didn't seem to be up to keeping their conversation running smoothly, he decided to step in and get down to business.
"Why won't you leave him?"
"That was never a part of our arrangement."
"Arrangement?" He let out a bark of laughter, his voice adopting a frigid tone. "You mean this sick game we're playing? Sorry princess, but I'm throwing in my cards."
"Chuck…" "
Save it."
"Cut the act Chuck. Where is this coming from? You were more than content with what we had, no strings attached."
"Well obviously you made a mistake in your evaluation of yours' truly because I never wanted to share you with him."
"Oh, really? Because it sure didn't seem that way when you were off bedding a different girl each and every night of the week."
"You know for a fucking fact that they don't mean a thing to me, Blair."
"Yet you still sleep with them anyways." Her eyes had begun to fill with unshed tears, a habit that she had picked up when arguing with Chuck.
"End your sham of a relationship. Break up with Nate and I promise that you will be the only one that I bed." The end of his statement had taken on a slightly teasing tone, revealing the faith that he had in her, that she would chose him, once and for all.
Every single part of her wanted to take him up on his offer, how desperately she wanted to nod and bury herself in his safe embrace. But no matter how much she wanted him, she just couldn't do it.
Instead of the "yes" that he had been hoping for, she gave a reply that she had long since memorized.
"I just can't…."
"Then I just can't stop seeing Vanessa, it's as easy at that." Chuck's gaze was cold, determined not to let her see how badly she was breaking him.
"Vanessa? Honestly Chuck, if you're going to try to make me jealous, at least pick someone who knows the different between Jimmy Choos and Monalo Blaniks." Blair raised her voice, taking a step closer to him and meeting his gaze with fire in her eyes. Shooting his arm out, he took a hold of her shoulder, pulling her frame flush up against him. With uncommon gentleness he tucked a stray tendril of hair behind her ear and let his breath settle over her responsive skin. She wanted him to kiss her more than anything in the world.
"I'm done with you, Waldorf." He turned on his heel and left her disheveled in the empty hallway, grasping onto the wall for support. Her entire body felt weak from the newly emptied contents and the brutal confrontation with Chuck Bass. Chuck returned to his table and took a seat across from Vanessa. His head was beginning to ache from all the thoughts that had spawned from the argument.
"Back from a quickie in the back closet?" Vanessa joked.
Chuck let out a strained chuckle "Sadly, no."
"Oh, well poor Chuck Bass, don't look too depressed about it." She offered him a small smile, placing her hand over his.
"Although...there is a way you could make it better." He flashed her a devious grin, eyes sparkling with mirth.
"Don't even think about it, buddy."
"We're buddies now?" Vanessa chuckled at his surprise, "Of course."
"Blair." Serena helped her friend back into her seat, "What happened to you?" Blair looked at her with a weary expression, choosing not to go into her recent argument.
"Where's Nate?" "He had to go see his parents, an emergency of some sort. He asked me to take you home. Now what happened after I left you in the bathroom?" "Nothing," Blair shook her head profusely, looking back at Serena pleadingly "Can we just get out of here?" "Of course." As soon as they climbed into a cab, Blair leaned against the window, closing her eyes and hoping to forget.
Chuck walked Vanessa back to her loft, standing in the doorway they smiled politely at one another.
"Thanks for lunch," Vanessa whispered "and the beautiful flowers." Chuck's smile was replaced with a devilish smirk, quickly leaning in for a kiss. To his surprise, she pulled away before he had a chance to plant one on her.
"You don't want this." her voice firm but kind, "Neither do I."
His eyes turned to the floor. "I'm sorry." he mumbled, angry with himself for ruining his relationship with such an amazing girl, and in such a short amount of time.
"Bye Chuck," she kissed him on the cheek before closing her door.
"Wait, do you think I can come in? Hang out? Do what ever it is you Brooklyn people do for fun?" He asked quietly, nervousness leaking through his words.
Vanessa grinned, "Only if you promise to stop trying to bed me."
"You have my word."
"Come on in then." Ushering him into the small loft, she closed the door behind him. "Now for the million dollar question. Do you watch Lost?" Her face tensed in anticipation.
"What's Lost?" He asked, taking a seat on her less than comfortable couch. "Oh, you did not just ask that." She replied dramatically, putting the DVD into her player and turning off the lights. "I'll make an addict of you yet."
This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship, or an amusing one at least.
"Blair..."
She turned around quickly in her living room, breathing frantically. She was nervous as hell.
"Nate," her voice cracked, "I didn't think you'd be here so soon. I thought-"
"What's wrong?" He interrupted her, staring intensely with those puppy dog eyes.
Her heart was beating out of her chest. How would she reply? I love you, let's be together forever, by the way I slept with Chuck? To the point.Yet too blunt.
"I think we need to break up." She whispered, she felt as if she couldn't breath. The sentenced escaped her lips without a moment of thought. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. What am I doing? She thought to herself.
"Blair...What?" Nate looked confused. He was still staring at her with those bright green eyes, the care and worry were replaced with confusion and shock, "Where the hell is this coming from?"
"I need a break, Nate. From you. From us. I need-" she choked back tears, "I need you to stay away from me." She wanted to scream at him. She wanted to reveal every little detail of her intimate affair with Chuck Bass. She wanted to yell, punch, kick him for being such an ignorant, oblivous...too perfect gentlemen. She wanted to give him a legit reason for breaking his heart. She wanted for him to hold her tight and comfort her. Tell her it will be okay with Chuck. God, that name. She was on the verge of a break down, ruining everything she worked so hard for, for what? Chuck Bass? How stupid was she? Nate kept his eyes on her. The face she knows and loves all too much standing before her, begging for answers was all too much for Blair.
"Dorota, please show Nate out." She wiped away her tears in a frenzy, turning her back quickly to avoid any more confrontations with Nate and rushed up to her room. The unexpected break up, her actions, the past 72 hours of her life flew by in a haze. She tried to make sense of it all. She needed to clear her head. Maybe Breakfast at Tiffany's, a glass of gin and a few sleeping pills will do the trick. Throwing back the drink, she climbs into bed, throws the cover over her body and falls asleep to Audrey Hepburn's voice singing her to sleep. She would fix all this tomorrow. By noon, she will be back with Nate. Move on with her life. Go back to the plan of Yale, Nate, the white picket fence and those 2.5 kids. Nate will surely take her back. Everything will go back to normal. But for tonight, just for one night, she would take a break from her picture perfect life and allow herself to miss Chuck Bass. Just for one night.
"Serena"
A surprised Serena Van Der Woodsen tightened the rope around her robe as she opened her door to Nate Archibald pounding on her door.
"Nate...what are you doing here?"
"Blair..." He was desperate, confused and needed answers. Serena would surely know what's going on with her best friend but how would he ask? He wasn't sure where he stood with the gorgeous blonde girl before him. He had never spent time alone with her since he had chosen to commit to Blair.
"Come in." she guided him to the living room. He throws himself onto the loveseat as she hurries to the bar, fixing him a strong drink.
"I'm so sorry about Chuck and Blair...but you have to understand-"
"Wait, what?" He stood up and looked at her questionly.
"Uh...nothing. Never mind what I said." FUCK. Serena thought to herself. She messed up big time.
It's a shame they've alll known each other all their lives. Because Nate could always tell when Serena was lying, he knew her all too well. The only two other people he knew that much about were Chuck and Blair, which would explain...everything was falling into place.
"They have something going on, don't they?" he raised his voice, and Serena was overtaken by fear, "Is that why she broke up with me?"
"She broke up with you?"
"Answer the fucking question." he demanded agressively, taking a step towards her and shaking her fragile body harshly.
"Nate, it's in the past. It was stupid, it's over." Serena was begging him to believe her. She knew it was too late as he rushed out the door. Surely to find Chuck.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." she mumbled over and over to herself, pacing around frantically. She struggles to dial the memorized numbers on her phone. When Blair's phone goes straight to voicemall, Serena realizes it's too late. She grabs her goat and rushes out the door.