Author's Note: Guys, really, thank you for voting, I got a better handle of what you guys want and it was easier to work on the chapter without worrying so much. By popular demand (and because it worked out this way when I wrote it), a combination of B and D, and a little bit of C, is going to happen. I thought you guys would get a kick out of the idea of A, though there was a slim chance that plot line would actually ever happen (maybe as an amusing blooper/deleted scene chapter or something). Anyway, hope you enjoy the chapter! Also, thanks Haley, for working on the trailer! If you have school and everything don't worry about it, just work on it when you can and let me know when it's done because I'm so excited! Thanks again for voting everyone! And what about 'New Haven Can Wait'- craziness right?

Chapter Twenty-Four
"Looks like I got to be hot and cold
I got to be taught and told
Got to be good as gold
But perfectly honestly
I think it won't be good for me
'cause it's a hindrance to my health
I'm a stranger to myself
Miniature disasters
And minor catastrophes
Bring me to my knees
Well, I must be my own master
Or a miniature disaster will be...
It will be the death of me."
-KT Tunstall

On Monday night Dan endured Jenny talking to her friends on the phone, chatting about the fact that he had had an affair with Blair, and that he was such a jerk for screwing over Serena, and how everyone hated the brunette now. He simply laid on his bed, hands folded on his chest, grinding his teeth against each other, trying to stop himself from ripping the cell phone out of his sister's hand and throwing it out the window. Some part of him wondered why he wasn't glad everyone hated Blair, but then another part of him realized that she didn't deserve it. She had done what Nate and Serena had, initially done- so, why could everyone be hypocritical now? He clenched his jaw in anger. Why was it that Serena and Nate got so unfairly gained attention and sympathy, and Blair was left to ridicule and shame? Where was the sense in any of it? He wondered.

Mercifully, after a little more than a half hour of Jenny's anti-Blair/Dan commentary, his father knocked on the door and told her it was enough of the phone for one night, and so he gained some peace.

But despite the eventual silence of the loft, Dan had a hard time falling asleep, and an even harder time staying asleep properly. He woke up every hour or so, in a different position, with his sheets and blankets twisted around his body, feeling anxious and ill-at-ease. Every time he tried to go back to sleep, it felt like it took hours, and as if he couldn't find a comfortable enough spot on the bed, or a peace of mind to actually relax back into slumber. And when he saw the sky, turning a light salmon color, he was grateful and relieved.

Until he realized the morning also meant school.

He showered and dressed earlier than usual, taking great care in everything he did- not because he wanted to look especially good, but because it wasted more time to be particular. And by the time he was ready, looking over some notes for a test he thought he had that day, Jenny and Rufus were just rising from bed.

As Jenny went about her own shower, Rufus strolled into the kitchen, finding an already brewed pot of coffee- courtesy of Dan. Once he had poured himself a cup, he approached his son in his bathrobe, looking worried.

"Dan?"

Dan looked up, having been trying very hard to concentrate on the Great Depression, as opposed to Blair Waldorf, waiting for his father to say something.

Hesitantly, Rufus spoke, "You're up extremely early," he pointed out. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Dan said with finality, in no mood to actually speak his mind.

Sighing, his father sat down, and making Dan wince inwardly, before he said, "Look, son, I know the gist of what's been going on, and if you want to talk about it-"

"Dad, I appreciate what you're saying, but I really don't want to talk about any of it," he replied, unable to even allow his father to finish his sentence.

"Dan, I know that everyone knows about this thing with Blair-"

Dan cut across him, "Which is over."

"And that you're probably getting flack for it," he continued, as if his son hadn't burst into his sentence. "But maybe it's a blessing in disguise."

Rufus received a stare that questioned his sanity.

He smiled a little, amused, "Now that everyone knows, you and Blair can be together- and to hell with everyone else."

"Dad," Dan said tiredly. "Blair told me that she had been using me the whole time- to screw over Nate and Serena."

This managed to leave Mr. Humphrey speechless, before he managed to say, "What?"

"Yeah, she told me at the Winter Formal- before everyone found out about us- but she's been trying to play it off like it's not that bad, and that she's not a bitch," he shook his head, feeling disgust and hurt curdling in his stomach.

After a beat of silence where Rufus looked away from his son and thought, he said, "Have you actually sat down and talked to her about it? Did you at least hear her out?"

This surprised Dan, and he froze before shaking his head.

"You should probably do that before you make any judgments," he pointed out.

"Dad," Dan said, exasperated. "She used me- That's the bottom line."

Rufus hesitated, then said, "No. The bottom line is what she feels now- what she truly feels."

These words sent Dan's mind reeling, so he shook his head and stood up. Stashing his notebook into his bag and throwing it over his shoulder, he headed for the door, saying, "I'm leaving for school now- Tell Jenny I had to go in early for extra help," and he left. The walk to the subway stop was cold and lonely, and he nearly fell down the stairs because he was so distracted by thoughts of Blair and what his dad had said. Should he talk to her? should he give her a chance to explain herself? She had used him- bottom line- so what did it matter if she was sorry now? She was selfish, obviously, and that's all that mattered. But she had always been selfish, he reasoned, and that had never stopped him from loving her before. Impatient, he shook his head free of his thoughts, put his iPod volume on borderline deafening, and escaped into the underground labyrinth of subway stops.

But his father's words kept ringing in his head all morning.

The bottom line is what she feels now- what she truly feels.

So, Monday had been disastrous. Blair hadn't been prepared for the backlash she had received, even though she should have expected it. She had allowed Serena and Nate to knock her down in front of the whole school, and she hadn't made any progress with Dan. The whole student body knew of her embarrassments and the ridicule, and she felt a painful shame for it. And at this point, she didn't know what to do. All of her energy was drained. She couldn't even think about wasting her time on seeking further revenge on Nate and Serena, or about attempting to apologize to Dan further- because it all seemed entirely too fruitless for her to endure. So, she got up in the morning and got dressed, ignored breakfast, went to school, and painfully made her way through her classes. After school she worked on her homework, fed her unnamed cat, attempted to eat something herself, and laid around in bed, watching cartoons until she fell asleep. She followed this routine again on Tuesday and Wednesday, feeling entirely isolated and depressed.

Her whole life seemed to be spiraling downward, and she was seriously contemplating spending the rest of the school year in France.

Dan was very much aware of the change in Blair.

On Monday, she had gone to school with a fiery determination fueling her forward. It seemed like she didn't care what everyone else thought- like she was going to be Blair Waldorf no matter what. But then he watched her deflate right before his eyes. Over the course of one night, she went from fiery to watered-down. Their eyes no longer met in the halls, but he still looked at her any chance he got. And she was closed in on herself, not smiling, not talking, just going about her day like nothing mattered, and nothing ever would.

It pained him to see her like this, but- he kept having to remind himself- she deserved this if she was going to use people to hurt others.

The proverbial bomb dropped on Thursday though- and it was the one thing that shook the foundations of Dan's dignity and Blair's last thread of strength.

During lunch, Blair remained in the cafeteria, sitting on her own, working on her homework, too tired to actually leave campus to go to her cafe down the street. Dan noticed this from where he stood, waiting in line for a water that he'd sip and a bagel that he wouldn't eat. It made his chest ache and his heart yearn to help her- to see her sitting on her own, not complaining, silent and composed, trying to seem oblivious to everything around her. But he turned away and tried to think of other things, refusing to cave into Blair Waldorf's innocence.

"Look who has decided to grace us with her presence."

Dan heard it from across the room, and he turned, seeing Blair continue to stare at her book as Serena stood over her with her now-cronies.

"Was the caf deemed worthy enough for you, B?" she cooed, causing the girls to giggle around her.

Blair looked up, albeit slowly, and stared at Serena with blank eyes. Hadn't her ex best friend had enough? Couldn't they just end this war and call it quits? She didn't have the energy or the emotional strength to deal with a confrontation in front of the whole cafeteria- and she wasn't sure she could deal with even more humiliation either.

Nate approached Serena, looking around, "What's going on?" he asked.

Dan's stomach clenched defensively, watching as Blair closed in on herself, afraid, but he stayed where he was.

"Oh, nothing really," Serena smiled. "Just talking to our dear friend B."

Nate smirked.

"She's decided to slum it in the caf today," Penelope put in snidely, and they all laughed a little at the idea of Blair Waldorf slumming anything.

Feeling too outnumbered and defeated, Blair managed to say, "Can you guys just leave me alone, please? I'm not doing anything to bother you so just- go away."

This didn't seem to bode well with Serena because she smiled maliciously.

"You play this innocent poor-me card," she sneered. "When you're the one that fucked with us, Blair."

Something snapped within her and she smacked her open palm on her notebook, saying, "Okay! I get it, Serena! I hurt you guys! I did it intentionally but then tried to stop it! It all got screwed up and I'm sorry, okay?" she pleaded angrily. "I'm sorry!"

Serena's eyes were narrowed into slits now, the girls were all laughing as if Blair could possibly dare to say the things she was saying, Nate looked angry and amused, and the whole cafeteria was pretty much watching.

"But you did it intentionally, Blair," she said. "You used Dan and then you-"

"I know what I did!" she shrieked in return. "It was a mistake and I-"

Serena cut her off in return, "What, Blair? You what?" she shook her head in disgust. "You're sorry? Well, sorry doesn't cut it this time. You were having an affair with the guy I was dating to deliberately hurt us-"

"I think she gets it."

Blair looked up in surprise as Dan stepped in, almost standing between the group and her, as if shielding her with his body.

Serena looked taken aback, "Excuse me?"

"You've said it enough times, in several different ways- I think she gets what she did," he said solidly to Serena, though he was staring Nate in the eyes with defiance. He glanced back at Serena and said, "She's not doing anything, just leave her alone."

The blonde looked amused now, "I thought you had more dignity than that, Dan."

"Yeah, well, it's not about dignity," he said. "It's about decency- of which you're unfamiliar, I guess."

Nate stepped forward, "What was that?"

"You two act as if you're so scorned and hurt and betrayed, but- get real," he said, allowing the anger to roll off of his tongue in spades. "You're both hypocrites, you know that, right? You slept with each other and didn't tell Blair for months- and when she does something close you have a problem with it? If I'm correct- Serena, you didn't even like me, and Nate, you were just using Blair for your father's business," he paused, as they both looked away in semi-shame. "Take that into consideration the next time you decide to harass someone who doesn't deserve it anymore than you do," and with that he glanced at Blair, who was looking at him in shock.

He turned and walked away, heading toward the exit.

Blair was so stunned that she could only stare after him as he stalked away. She gathered her bearings shortly though, and leapt up from her chair, leaving her books and things behind her, as she raced after his retreating figure.

"Dan!"

She managed to catch up with him in the empty hall outside of the cafeteria, and he turned to her, looking tired and impatient. Despite his defense for her, he seemed like he couldn't stand the sight of her face.

He shook his head, saying, "What- What is it?"

Blair faltered, "I just- I just wanted to thank you," she said, trying to sound confident and sure. "You really didn't have to-"

"No, I didn't," he said easily. "And I shouldn't have, because you really don't deserve my sympathy."

She sucked in a breath then, feeling shocked.

"But you really don't deserve what those two were dealing you either," he amended.

"Dan, I'm so-"

He stepped away from her as she took a step toward him, saying, "I have to go," and he hurried away, unable to be so close to her for another moment without forgiving her for everything.

And Blair leaned against the wall in the hallway, taking deep breaths, trying to maintain control over herself, trying to stay sane. She wasn't sure how much longer she could endure seeing Dan every day, with him being so angry at her.

Because truthfully, she was sure she was a little bit more in love with him than before.

Author's Note: Okay, I know it was way short compared to other chapters- not to mention Nate and Serena are crazy psycho-bitches in this one- but it was kind of necessary for the story and everything. I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter! Let me know if you hated it! Hopefully the next chapter will be up sooner, though I can't make any promises. Thanks for reading and reviewing!