Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or the characters.
Chapter Five: "Friends"
Blair looked out of the coffee shop windows to see Mother Nature come alive. The wind gusts had picked up and snow had really started coming down. Great I have to go back out into that, was all she could think. Just then Blair looked up to see Dan rush into the Coffee Shop covered in snow and looking like he had just come out of a wind tunnel. She laughed silently to herself. He spotted her and made his way over.
"You are late again Humphrey." She sighed, "And you were the one who picked this place."
"Sorry Blair. It's crazy out there."
Dan sat down and took his jacket off but not before he shook his head, shaking the melting snow in Blair's direction.
"UGH! Stop!"
Dan laughed hysterically but calmed down when he met Blair's glare.
"Seriously Blair you have to lighten up." He smirked pulling out his laptop.
"Sorry that I don't find amusement in having wet snow splashed onto my favorite Vera top."
"I'm sorry Blair. What was I thinking?" Dan scoffed sarcastically. Blair glared but couldn't help herself from letting it turn into a smirk.
"Just don't let it happen again Humphrey."
Before Dan could make a comeback remark, they both looked up at the sound of a familiar laugh. Blair knew Serena's laugh anywhere, but felt her stomach drop when she remembered who Serena had said she was meeting tonight.
Dan looked up and saw Serena sitting on the other side of the Coffee Shop with Ben the felon. She was sitting with her back to them drinking her favorite espresso. Suddenly the air felt too thick and Dan couldn't breathe.
Blair reached out and grabbed Dan's arm, trying to get his attention. She knew that look anywhere, because it was the same look of despair she wore when she would see Chuck. Dan looked down at her hand for a moment, hesitating before looking up at her face. His eyes were filled with so many emotions but what she recognized the most was pain.
"It's okay Dan. I understand." She practically whispered. And she did understand. She knew exactly what Dan was feeling at the moment, and suddenly the air became a little thick for her too. "Let's get out of here. My place is close?"
Dan silently nodded and Blair could tell that he looked relieved to leave. They packed there things and exited on the opposite side of the Coffee Shop to avoid any further awkwardness. As soon as they got outside they were greeted by a gust of wind that almost knocked Blair off her feet. Dan grabbed Blair around the waist and held her close. She gasped at the sudden contact, but continued to let Dan guide her down the last couple blocks to her building. As soon as they were off the streets Dan released Blair, and she found herself a little disappointed.
"Thanks Blair." Dan sighed walking with her over to the elevator.
"Like I said, I understand." She answered quickly and quietly pushing the elevator up button.
The doors chimed open and they stepped in silently. Dan felt like he needed to explain himself for how he behaved back at the Coffee Shop but realized that Blair did understand. Even though he pretty much hated Chuck, Blair had loved him, and who was he to question that. Dan would catch glimpses of pain that would flash across her face at even the mention of Chuck's name. The fact that he and Blair were in the same place at the same time in their lives made Dan want to laugh at the irony of it, but also made him grateful. There was no other place he would rather be right now. Suddenly the elevator halted and the emergency lights popped on.
"Aw! Not now!" Blair yelled pushing random bottoms and then pounding on the door. This is not happening!
"Hold on Blair let me see if the phone is working." Dan squeezed by her and opened the phone case.
Blair stumbled back and slid down the wall until she was sitting on the floor. She wanted to cry. That entire situation back at the Coffee Shop with Dan and Serena had made he relive some feelings that had emotionally drained her. Seeing Dan helpless had reminded her of her own helplessness. She was sick of feeling this way. Sick of feeling weak when it came to Chuck Bass. She was Blair Waldorf dammit! Since when did she need a man to make her happy! And now to top it all off she was trapped in an elevator with the only other person in Manhattan who could remind her and make her relive those nasty feelings!
"Well? What did they say?" Blair demanded seeing Dan hang up the phone.
"The power went out because of the storm. There trying to get it back on now."
"What about the generators!" Blair reasoned.
"I guess they were getting repaired this week and are down as well."
Blair half laughed at that.
"Great. So how long?"
"They said anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour."
Dan looked down at Blair and could tell she was fighting tears.
"Blair? Are you okay?" He asked bending down.
She glared at him and hit him making him stumble back onto the floor.
"Ow! Blair! What is your problem! He growled.
"YOU are my problem Humphrey! You had to pick the SAME damn Coffee Shop Serena was at didn't you!"
"Well you knew she was going out tonight I'm sure! You could have given me a heads up! It's not like I wanted to see them together!"
"YES! I knew they were going out! I just wish I would have known where! That was horrible!"
"Horrible for who? YOU? Are you serious Blair! I'm the one who just saw my EX-girlfriend of practically a month out with some felon! You really are selfish! You know that?"
Blair looked up at him in shock and leapt at him slapping frantically.
"OW! BLAIR!" He growled again.
Dan was caught off guard at first and got a couple stings to the face but got a hold of her then. Blair fought against his firm hold at first but then let her tears take over as she started to sob. Dan was utterly confused. Blair had gone from understanding to furious in a matter of moments. And what had she meant it was horrible?
Then it clicked.
Blair wasn't angry at Dan for the situation physically with the running into Serena, but for the emotional reminder it might have had. Dan suddenly felt bad for losing his temper. He slowly released Blair's hands and pulled her into a hug, cradling her while she sobbed. She hesitated at first unsure, but then collapsed into his arms. They stayed like that for some time until Blair's sobs had quieted. Dan watched her sit up and smooth her hair back, trying to regain her composure.
"Not a lot of people have seen me like that." Blair finally spoke. Her voice was soft but raspy from her sobs.
"Then I'm honored." Dan smiled. Blair half smiled.
"Dan… I… I'm…"
"Blair don't worry about it. I should have realized sooner why you were upset." He whispered. Blair readjusted herself closer to him.
"I have really good days, but then I will see something that reminds me of him and all that pain comes flooding back." She hardly got out. Dan could hear that she was still fighting her tears and reached over taking her hand in his. He was surprised when she didn't repel from his touch. He noticed that her hands were warm and soft. He liked holding Blair's hand.
"That's what happened to me down at the Coffee Shop. But you got me out of there before I could break down." He said softly looking down at her. Blair couldn't help but look up and meet his gaze.
"You were close to losing it?" Blair asked in disbelief. Dan Humphrey had a reputation for being pretty cool in usual hot situations.
"I think I would have gone over there and caused a scene if you hadn't pulled me out of there." Dan laughed.
"That's hard to believe Humphrey. You usually keep it together." Blair smirked. Dan smiled at sighs of the regular Blair coming back to life.
"Yeah well maybe New York City has had its positive and negative effects on me."
They both laughed at that.
"I'm sorry for hitting you Dan." Blair said in her best sincere voice. Dan grinned at hearing it for the first time.
"And I'm sorry for calling you selfish Blair. What you did for me today was the farthest thing from it."
Blair smiled at Dan for a moment, and then took a deep breath, taking in her surroundings once more.
"Well now what are we going to do Humphrey? I'm sure the wireless is down in the building too." Blair asked reaching for her laptop.
"I have a better idea." Dan grinned grabbing for his bag.
Blair watched Dan pull out old Constance school newspaper articles and set them in-between them. He looked up at her eagerly.
"What is all this?" She asked picking up one of the papers.
"Well I couldn't really put my finger on it when I was reading your paper these past couple weeks, but I finally did."
"What are you talking about?" Blair asked confused.
"Flip to page 9." Dan instructed.
Blair flipped as told and nearly dropped the paper when she got there.
"How..?" Blair managed to get out looking up at Dan.
"A. Bennett I presume?" Dan smiled.
"Dan! How did you?" She managed to ask.
"When I started reading your papers it reminded me of a Column I really enjoyed in the school paper and the more I thought about it, the more it reminded me of you, so I did a little searching. There was no Audrey Bennett in our school that year, and when I put together that your favorite actress is Audrey Hepburn and your favorite book is Pride and Prejudice it made sense. I still wasn't sure until I just saw the look on your face." Dan laughed.
Blair was shaking her head in disbelief. No one had every figured her out like this—no, no one had ever figured her out in this way before. She looked up and smiled at Dan.
"You must think I'm a geek." Blair laughed.
"No. I think you are smarter than you let on and if that to you is a geek, then please do embrace your inner geek Blair."
Blair laughed out loud at this and Dan joined. Suddenly the lights in the elevator came on with a shake, and the elevator began climbing the floors to Blair's residence.
"Come on and help me gather these up Dan. Maybe I can get some ideas from my old papers?" Blair smiled pulling their mess together. Dan bent down and helped.
"I'm seeing a whole different side of you Blair Waldorf." Dan laughed.
"And I'm seeing an entire different side of you Dan Humphrey." She smiled.
Dan held out his hand.
"Friends?"
Blair hesitated looking at his hand a moment but then smiled.
"Friends."
I really enjoyed writing this chapter! Hope you all enjoyed! Is the relationship moving at a good pace?
Thank you for reading and for all the comments! :) Suggestions and ideas all welcomed! :)