Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or its characters.
Sorry guys it took me a little longer to upload! I have been traveling this weekend but believe me when I tell you all I have wanted to do is write! Thank you so much everyone for the kind words and comments! I will try to upload as much as I humanly can! Everyone have a happy Superbowl Sunday ;)
Chapter Seven: One Step At A Time
Blair heard Dan give the cab driver her address, but the thought of going home in her state, and the people that would see her, caused her to panic.
"NO!" She sobbed. Dan looked at her confused. "Dan no! I can't go home!"
Dan nodded and seemed to understand. He hugged her closer before instructing the cab driver to turn in the direction of Brooklyn. Blair felt her panic subside but it only caused her memories of the past 10 minutes to fill her mind once again. Fresh tears started lining her face and she burrowed her face into Dan's chest.
Dan held onto Blair and let her cry. He wished there was something more he could do. It hurt him to see her like this. Reaching up he stoked her head gently and whispered quiet soothing words. Blair slowly started to calm down at the sound of Dan's voice and the feel of his hand through her hair. She felt safe. Without thinking he gently bent down and kissed the top of her head. Blair felt the butterflies swarm her stomach, but she didn't care. She felt Dan freeze, as he realized what he had just done. She didn't want this moment to end so she snuggled closer to him. He seemed to get the hint and relaxed, and Blair smiled as she felt his embrace around her tighten a little.
The cab came to a stop in front of Dan's Brooklyn loft. Blair felt her heart drop a little as Dan released her grabbing for his wallet. She sat up and tried to straighten herself the best she could. She could only imagine what she looked like.
"Thank you." Dan said handing the cabbie cash. He smiled at Blair before opening the car door and helping her out.
Blair looked up at Dan's building. She had been there only 3 times before and the most recent time to work on her resume, and she had come to think of Brooklyn as being more vintage than dirty. Besides, Dan seemed to really love it here, and for some reason it made her like it. Dan saw her looking at her surrounds and got the wrong impression.
"Blair? We can go back to Manhattan if you want?" He offered.
"No." She shook her head. "This is where I want to be." And it was. Blair couldn't think of any better get away than Humphrey's loft. Here there was no one to impress—no pressure, and it was also a place where she could be alone with Dan. That thought sent a surprising thrill through her, and she felt her cheeks flush. Embarrassed she started walking up Dan's front stairs, but Dan didn't follow. She turned and looked at him in confusion.
"Dan?" She ask.
He was just standing there starring at her with a mixed look between amused and confused.
"Blair I think we need to have your head checked." He finally broke in a laugh.
"What? Why?" She panicked a little wondering if he had seen her flushed cheeks.
"You hate Brooklyn." He grinned nodding at his surroundings. "You do realize we're in Brooklyn?"
Blair sighed in slight relief.
"Yes Humphrey I know we're in Brooklyn." She said mockingly with a smile.
"And you want to be here?" He asked finally, slowly walking towards her.
"It's where you are, isn't it?" She asked above a whisper. Dan's grin broadened at her response.
The way he was looking at her made her shiver with anticipation as he glided forward. Dan could see the effect it was having on her and made his knees a little weak but he kept moving. He didn't know how they got here. For as long as he had remembered he and Blair had always hated each other, but this wasn't the Blair he thought he knew. He realized that he never really knew Blair—never really saw her for who she was and Dan was afraid he liked it too much. He looked up at her as he stopped at the bottom step and she slowly walked towards him until she was on the first step, making her level with his height. Blair reached up and cupped Dan's face and glided her thumbs over his cheeks gently while looking directly into his eyes. Her beauty took his breath away. Her eyes were a little blood shot from crying and her mascara smeared at the bottom of her eyes, but the way her dark brown eyes were looking at him made his heart beat faster. Dan saw something he had never seen before in her eyes. Compassion, warmth, and love. It made his heart swell. He reached up and brushed her hair from her face. Blair gasped and closed her eyes at his touch. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Dan…" She whispered.
The way Blair said his name lit a fire inside of Dan, and he couldn't contain himself anymore. He leaned forward but stopped suddenly at the sound of his dad's voice. Blair opened her eyes and looked at him worried. He nodded behind her. She turned around to see Dan's father and Ben the felon walking out of the front door. Blair quickly dropped her hands and took a step away from Dan, looking down at her feet.
"Dan! I had no idea you would be home!" His dad smiled. Dan saw Ben look down at his feet refusing to make eye contact with Dan.
"A change in plans. Hi Ben." Dan said standing up on the first step next to Blair.
Ben finally looked up and nodded.
"Hi." Ben mumbled.
"Blair? Is that you?" Mr. Humphrey asked finally taking notice of her. Blair looked up and forced a smile.
"Yes. Hello Mr. Humphrey." She responded quickly.
Dan could see his father's wheels turning in his head while he took in the site in front of him. Before his dad could ask any other questions he turned to Blair and handed her his keys.
"Blair? Why don't you go on up?" He smiled. "I'll let you pick the movie this time."
Blair smirked and took the keys.
"I was thinking Love In The Afternoon." She grinned taking the keys from Dan's hand. Dan felt his heart beat faster at her settle hint, but tried to keep his composure.
"Figures Waldolf." He laughed. "Another Audrey Hepburn classic."
"Well, she is my favorite." Blair replied simply. She turned around and started up the stairs. "Bye Mr. Humphrey. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around."
"I'm sure you will Blair. Nice to see you." Rufus smiled politely.
Blair squeezed by Rufus and Ben but paused at the front door. She couldn't resist.
"Oh and I'm sure I'll be seeing you too Ben?"
Ben looked hesitantly behind him and smiled at Blair.
"Umm…perhaps." He replied nervously. "Nice to see you Blair."
With that Blair disappeared into the building leaving the three men behind. She rushed up the stairs and hurried inside the loft. She shut the door and leaned up against it taking a deep breath.
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God." She whispered to herself running her hands threw her hair.
What was going on? She was pretty sure that if Rufus and Ben wouldn't have interrupted she and Dan would have been making out on his front steps right now. Oh God. The thought made her weak at the knees. And just the images she imagined took her breath away.
When did this happen? She and Dan had only really been friends for about 2 or maybe 3 months. It felt too soon for anything like this, but her feelings for him now were so overwhelming. She had been able to fight them off in the past, talking herself out of the effects she would feel when they were close, but now they were over powering her. Yes, she had known Dan for 3-4 years, but they had hated each other didn't they? She use to loath him. She use to find him annoying and frustratingly self righteous. But in the last couple of months she had come to know the Dan Humphrey that was compassionate, caring, and sensitive. He enjoyed the same things she enjoyed. Movies, literature, authors, and she liked the person she was with him. She didn't feel like she had to change or compromise. So what was the big deal? Why couldn't she and Dan just be together?
Serena. That thought made her a little sick. The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Serena, but she had moved onto Ben hadn't she? The last conversation she had had with Serena was about Ben and how Serena was falling for him. How she and Ben had felt like they had never had a chance to see where there relationship would go. That wouldn't make a difference to Serena though Blair thought. Even though Serena and Blair were best friends they still had that common jealousy in situations like this. But she dated Nate Blair found herself thinking.
Blair walked over to the couch and plumped down in annoyance. All this thinking was giving her a headache and she felt exhausted. The thought of curling up with Dan and watching a movie was really nice. She might actually take him up on that.
Dan. The thought of him made her heart race again.
Suddenly the loft door opened and Dan stepped through closing it gently behind him. He turned around and looked at her smiling. She couldn't help but smiled back.
"Hi." he started.
"Hi." she answered.
The way he was looking at her made her blush and she couldn't help but look down as her cheeks flushed. He slowly walked towards her and held out his hand. She took it and stood up in front of him.
"Blair…" he started.
"Shhh."
She reached up and laid her hand on his mouth.
"This is where I want to be." She said firmly moving her hand to brush a lock of hair off his forehead. She looked up and met his gaze. He looked so sweet. His forehead was creased with a little worry but in his eyes she saw exactly what she needed. Warmth, understanding, and love.
Dan felt himself get braver as he lifted his hand up to cup Blair's cheek, while the other one reached around behind her, pulling her against him. Blair ran her hands slowly up his chest and wrapped them around his neck moving herself closer to his body as well. She bent her head forward against Dan's.
"One step at a time Humphrey." She whispered with a smirk.
With that Dan closed the distance between them and gently brushed his lips against Blair's. The moment their lips met Blair felt too many things. The butterflies, shivers, weak knees, flushed cheeks—all at once. Dan pulled away slowly resting his head against hers once more and looked at her, waiting for her reaction. He himself felt dizzy with the intense passion that had just shot through him, but what if Blair hadn't felt it? Blair opened her eyes and met his gaze. Immediately Dan saw the passion burning in her eyes.
Without any further interruptions he pulled her in once again, crushing his lips against hers in a much more powerful kiss. Blair's knees went weak and she moaned at Dan's kiss, opening her mouth a little granting him access to deepen the kiss which he did gladly. She tightened her grip around him as he explored her mouth passionately and pulled him down, sending them both into the couch, him on top of her. Everything Dan was doing felt wonderful. His hands, his body, his tongue. She felt everything melt away. All the pain, all the fear, and all her loneliness. Nothing mattered right now except for her and Dan. This moment was there's and it would be the beginning of something she had secretly wanted for a long time.
Blair felt herself getting lost in all of Dan Humphrey and nothing had ever felt this good.
Well there it is! I hope you all enjoyed and I can't wait to update soon! Please do not hesitate to comment or make suggestions! All welcomed! Thank you everyone!