AN
More drama and characters in this chapter! Hope you like it. I love reading all your reviews so keep em coming :)
Summary
A story about how Dan and Blair fall in love.
This is set after Season 2. The only difference is that Chuck doesn't come back from Europe, so the Chair 'I love you too' scene never happens.
Disclaimer
I own nothing but the story.
True Love Waits
When Blair makes the realisation that she is in love with Dan Humphrey, she doesn't know who to turn to. She can't go to Serena because Dan and her and have a history. Blair can't go to Nate because she and Nate have a history. Blair can't go to Dan because she's in love with him.
She continues to hang out with him, because she ends up missing him when he's not around. Yet, he shows up at her dorm room too much and she finds it increasingly harder to suppress her feelings.
She distracts herself by spending time with Justin. He keeps asking her for Journalism notes and inviting her to his lacrosse games and she's running out of excuses for why she can't go. She decides that he certainly isn't bad to look at (although she prefers darker hair now), so they begin dating.
She rarely talks about Justin to Dan, except for 'I'm dating Justin from Journalism', and he never asks her about it. She's thankful because she doesn't know how long she'd survive the conversation before blurting out 'But I would rather date you'.
When exam time comes around, she finds herself studying in the library everyday with Dan. They barely talk, too immersed in trying to pass their first year of college.
'You've changed you know?' He says suddenly and she looks up to find him staring at her in awe.
She doesn't know if she should take his comment as a compliment or insult so she remains silent and waits for him to continue.
'Don't get me wrong. You're still an absolute bitch', he jokes and she smiles with him, 'Who would have thought; Queen B and Lonely Boy being friends in college'.
'Humphrey, if this is the part where you pull out the matching friendship bracelets you made, I'll have to pass'.
His laugh is an actual real laugh, not simply a chuckle and not just a smirk, and she loves the sound of it.
His laughter dies out and he looks into her eyes again, like he's waiting for the right moment to say something.
'You're not broken anymore', he says quietly but she hears it loud and clear.
You saved me, she wants to say.
'I never was', she replies instead.
'You're not the same girl anymore. You're strong. And you did it all by yourself'.
'Are you going for a job as an motivational speaker?' She jokes and simply smiles at him as her way of saying thank you. And he's right, Dan Humphrey didn't save Blair Waldorf. He might have helped speed up the process, but ultimately, Blair Waldorf saved herself.
The holidays come quickly and Dan invites her to his family Christmas dinner, 'Serena will probably want you there', he says casually one night. He off-handedly includes that she can invite Justin as well. It's difficult to say no when she had been complaining to him that she had no plans for the holidays weeks earlier. So she agrees and hopes that she and her fill-in boyfriend can make it through the Van der Woodsen-Bass-Humphrey dinner in one piece.
She's happy to find out that Vanessa will be visiting her mother and won't be there. She is not happy, however, to hear that Chuck will be taking a day off from his booze and prostitutes to make an appearance at the Christmas dinner.
When they enter the apartment, Serena immediately jumps to hug Blair. Blair introduces Justin to everyone and smiles when she sees Chuck scowling in the corner. Yet she can't help the feeling that she'd rather be holding Dan's hand while Chuck scowls in the corner.
She pushes away the thought as Lily calls them to dinner. She finds that she's actually having an enjoyable time as Dan and her recount stories from college.
She doesn't realise she's neglecting her date until Chuck states loudly, 'Does pretty boy here know you're whoring yourself to Humpty Dumpty, or did you hire him to hide the fact that you both are already slumming it in Brooklyn?'
The whole room goes quiet as Chuck smirks at Blair. She's too afraid to look at anybody's face. Was she being too obvious about her crush on Dan?
No one says a word so Chuck continues, 'If anyone here knows Blair Waldorf, it's me. And I know what it looks like when she wants somebody. I'm going to put it simply pretty boy, your girlfriend here either wants to hump the Humphrey or is already at it. So it seems you've got a whore on your hands'.
'Chuck, I think we all know who the whore is around here', Serena responds and Blair has never loved her best friend more.
'Pot calling the kettle black', Chuck replies monotonously still staring at Blair.
Dan gets up from his seat and moves towards Chuck as Chuck continues, 'Oh I'm trying to keep up, do you want to get into Blair's or my sister's pants. It's getting too confusing here'.
'Chuck...' Blair pleads to the one person she loved too much and would have given up everything for.
'I look forward to reading Brooklyn's next story about the poor UES girl so desperate to be loved. Such a pity'. He continues to spit out and Blair has never felt so worthless in her life.
Chuck gets up then and simply says, 'Thank you for a lovely dinner Lily'. And leaves with a smirk, content with the situation he has left everyone in.
Lily tries to break the uncomfortable silence by announcing that it's time for dessert and it seems to be somewhat successful as one side of the table starts with meaningless conversation.
Blair stares down as her plate is removed and is unable to move. She doesn't take a bite of her dessert and remains silent for the rest of the meal.
'Can I go to Jonathan's Christmas dinner now mom?' Eric asks Lily as soon as the meal ends and Lily nods in approval.
Blair feels a shift next to her and she knows that Justin is going to use this as his cue to leave.
'I've got another Christmas dinner to go to as well', he lies without looking at Blair, 'Thanks for the lovely dinner'.
Blair walks him to the elevator. She is unable to form any words through the short walk, although it seems like eternity.
'Look,' he says as they wait for the elevator, 'You can tell me if what that guy was saying is true or you can tell me it's a lie. I just want the truth'.
She pauses. She could take the easy way out and tell Justin that Chuck was lying and she wants to be with him and not Dan.
But Blair Waldorf does not do easy, 'I have never slept with Dan. But I think I have feelings for him. And I'm sorry if I've led you on'. It's the first time she's told anyone and she feels relieved that someone finally knows.
'I can't say that everything's cool Blair. But I can assure you you're not a whore'. He leaves then and she can easily say that it's the best breakup she's ever had.
She's too afraid to walk back into the dining room but before she can form her escape plan, Serena grabs Blair by the wrist and drag's her into her room.
'So you're in love with Dan,' it's a statement not a question and Blair is scared to respond. She doesn't want to lose Serena as her best friend, but she doesn't want to lie to her either.
'I'm in love with Dan', Blair echoes quietly.
She looks up to see Serena smiling at her.
'You're not mad?' Blair asks incredulously. She was sure Serena would give her a lecture about falling in love with best friends and ex-boyfriends. But Serena hugs her excitedly instead.
'I totally knew as soon as you both walked in. Justin is hot and all, but he's not your type. When I asked him what his favourite movie was, he said Terminator 2 and I knew you so wouldn't tolerate that. And then the way you and Dan talked to each other. You're both so totally in love, it's so cute'.
'I'm glad that you approve and all S, but you've got it completely wrong. This thing between Dan and I. It's not reciprocal. He's in love with Vanessa, he told me. So don't say anything to him or anyone, because it's not a big deal. It's just a small crush I have and I'll get over it soon enough'.
'But Blair —'
'No Serena. Promise me you won't tell anyone'. Blair demands her.
Serena has no choice but to listen to Blair, 'Okay I promise. But I watched you both during dinner tonight. You've both changed. You need someone like Dan, B. He can make you happy'.
'I don't need anybody'. Blair responds sternly.
Serena knows how Blair works. She builds up walls when she's afraid of looking weak. And Chuck makes her feel weak.
She doesn't push Blair further because knows how hard it is to convince her when she has her mind set on something.
Serena also knows that Dan is more easily convinced than Blair.