A/N: This update took way longer than it was suppose to but I had a minor injury falling down the stairs. I was stupid and put down my arm to catch myself and ended up spraining my wrist. It's feeling better BUT it makes typing take forever.
xoxo Kate.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or its characters
Rated: T mostly for language.
Blair was walking with Serena who was in her next class, their only class together, when she had an idea. "Wait, Serena why don't you just give me all of the photos now while we have time, so that you don't have to keep being late for class?"
Serena looked at Blair as though she was seriously contemplating the decision. "Chuck specified that they were to be given out periodically Blair?"
Blair shot her a glare and Serena continued.
"But, I don't see the harm and giving you all of them now." Serena said with a grin.
Blair couldn't help but be excited. Chuck had done well with this gift. It meant a lot to her to be able to revisit all these memories and the fact that he had bothered to collect them all, spoke volumes.
Serena smiled. "Plus, if I give you all of them now, it means that I get to see them too."
Blair nodded. "Of course."
Serena reached into her locker and pulled out a small stack of photos. Blair couldn't help but be a little surprised at the sheer number of them. She hadn't expected that many more.
"Come on, let's get to class." Blair said as she took the photos. "I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures."
Serena smiled. Blair looked happy for the first time in so long and she felt like she could finally relax. It seemed that helping Chuck win her over was definitely the right thing to do for her best friend. She hadn't seen her glow like this since the day they were suppose to leave for Tuscany.
Blair took her seat when they reached the classroom and started right in on the photos. She picked up the next photo cautiously. Chuck had lied about what he had written on the last photo. His promise that day was that she would always have him and she knew from experience that that wasn't true. As she saw the photo though, she laughed. She, Nate, and Chuck were sitting on the bed, each holding an Audrey movie and a croissant. She remembered clearly the day that that it had been taken, it was a Sunday fairly soon after the last photo.
"Miss. Blair, guest here for you." Called Dorota.
Blair groaned and rolled over on her bed. She didn't want to see anyone today. It was hers and Serena's tradition; Audrey Hepburn movies and croissants on Sunday mornings. "Tell them to go away."
"But I don't want to." Chuck had said, appearing at the door holding a bag of croissants. "Did you think that I forgot my promise already?" Chuck asked with a smirk.
Blair smiled. "Let me go get dressed. You know where I keep the Audrey."
Chuck nodded and started in the cabinet. He knew it was going to be a while before Blair was ready. Blair surprised him though and took only ten minutes. "That was quick." Chuck said gesturing toward her appearance.
"I'd already had a shower, I just put back on pajamas and got back in bed because I wasn't planning on doing anything today." Blair said as she sat down on the bed.
"I just thought you woke up looking this good." Chuck said quietly.
Blair couldn't keep the blush from her cheeks. She hit his arm playfully. "Stop it. So what are we watching."
"How about Charade?" Chuck asked holding up the box of the DVD he had already inserted in the player.
Blair practically shrieked. "Sounds perfect. I love Charade."
About twenty minutes into Charade, Blair heard Dorota again. "Miss. Blair, Mr. Nate for you."
Blair looked over at Chuck, "Pause it, I'll be right back."
Chuck did as she said and watched as she climbed off the bed and quickly straightened up in front of the mirror. She climbed down the stairs only to find Nate wearing her favorite sweater, the one she had sewn the pin into, holding a bag of croissants and a couple of movies. "Nate what are you doing here?" Blair asked as she reached the bottom.
Nate smiled. "Sorry I'm late. I brought croissants and Audrey, though."
Blair laughed. "Come on upstairs. Chuck beat you here though."
Nate paused for a moment. "Chuck's here?"
Blair turned around and smiled at Nate. "Yes. It seems as though both of you are trying to take over for Serena."
Nate shrugged and continued up the stairs. "Hey man." He said among entering the room.
"Nathaniel, how nice of you to join us." Chuck said with a smile.
"I'm going to go down stairs and help Dorota get some hot chocolate, I'll be right back." Blair said as she turned and left.
Nate leaned over to Chuck. "So I get that this was hers and Serena's tradition but I was just wondering why she always wants to watch the same movies?"
Chuck rolled his eyes. "Don't ask her that man."
"Why not?" Nate asked.
"Because I can already tell you the answer." Chuck said leaning back on the bed. "Blair likes knowing how things are going to turn out."
Nate laughed. "So you already asked her, huh?"
Chuck started shaking his head. "No, Nathaniel I just know Blair." He did know Blair, much better than Nate did. And apparently he cared about her a lot more too. How could Nate have slept with Serena, when he had Blair? It was something he would never understand. And as he knew Blair, he knew that she was going to be angry with him when she found out and learned that he knew.
Nate looked at him skeptically as Blair walked back through the door with Dorota and hot chocolate.
"Hey Blair," Nate called.
"Mmhmm." She asked handing them both hot coco.
Nate looked over at Chuck before focusing on Blair. "Why do you want to watch movies that you've already seen."
Blair smiled. "That's easy, I like knowing how things end."
The picture was adorable. She remembered making Dorota take it. That had been the last Sunday that Chuck had just shown up though because she asked him not to come again. With Serena gone she wanted that to be hers and Nate's thing. Chuck had been disappointed, she knew he missed her; but she needed something that could be just for her and Nate. She flipped the photo over, Chuck had written in the center, I wish I could give you the ending you had planned. At the bottom it said, back in her handwriting surprisingly, Sunday with the Boys 2007. Chuck must have gotten the photo from her house. It made since though. She was probably the only one with a copy.
Blair looked at the next photo and had to struggle to keep from frowning. It was this years Kiss on the Lips party. The day after she had found out about Serena. It was a photo of the whole group in the limo. But what she remembered about that evening was that she had gone to his apartment to be picked up by the limo and they had had a small fight before everyone else got there.
"Nate slept with Serena." Blair said as Chuck opened the door to his suite. She was early on purpose. She needed someone to talk to and Chuck was the only option really, with both Nate and Serena being the problem.
"I know." Chuck said, backing up to allow her in.
Suddenly Blair's eyes went wide with surprise and fury. "You knew! You knew and you didn't tell me?" She asked walking into the suite.
Chuck leaned against the back of the couch. He knew that this day would come eventually. "I didn't want to hurt you."
"So you kept in from me. My boyfriend lost his virginity to my best friend, when we were suppose to be waiting for the right moment and you knew." Blair asked, trying not to cry since she had already done her make up.
"I'm sorry." Chuck said looking down. "I am, but now that you know, you can move on right? Maybe the breakup is for the better."
"We didn't break up Chuck." Blair said quietly.
Chuck's head popped up. "WHAT! Nate cheated on you Blair. You can't just take him back."
"And you can't tell me what to do." Blair said sharply. "I love Nate and he's sorry for what he did. He and I are going to be just fine."
How could she take him back after this. This wasn't right. "Blair, come on. I know how you feel about Nate but the fairy tale's over."
"Damn it Chuck, just let me try to be happy okay." Blair said, before looking away.
But she had taken too long before looking away and Chuck had seen the look in her eyes. "It happened again didn't it." He said quietly.
"Yeah." Blair whispered, still looking to the side.
Chuck walked over and wrapped his arms around her. She needed Nate in her life. He was part of her plan and when things went wrong with her plan, she got sick. He held her until she started holding him back. "You're right Blair. He loves you and I'll do whatever I can to make sure that things between the two of you work out." It killed him to say that when he knew that Nate didn't even really know the meaning of the word love and he certainly didn't appreciate her like she deserved. But Nate was what she wanted; so Chuck was going to help her get that.
"Thanks Chuck." Blair said quietly as he held her.
Blair looked on the back of the photo. I'm always going to want you to be happy Blair. She noticed that it was another one of hers because it was her handwriting on the bottom Kiss on the Lips Party 2007. Chuck had done as he said he would that day. He did everything he could to help her with Nate. Providing them with his suite at the Brunch, helping her take down Serena, coming up with clues for Nate at the Masquerade and there were photos from each of these things; one of all of them arguing at the Brunch, another of her, Chuck, and Dr. Ostroff at the Ivy Week Mixer, and the last Chuck and Blair in their normal clothes but wearing each other's Masquerade masks.
"Chuck I need help thinking of more clues." Blair whined laying on the bed.
Chuck glared at Blair. "Come on Blair, just have fun at the dance tonight with Nate and take the limo back for your special night." It killed Chuck to be helping to set this up once again but he knew that it was what Blair wanted.
Blair narrowed her eyes, glaring right back. "I need this to be special Chuck, so please just help me."
Chuck rolled his eyes and exhaled."Okay, you said Kati and Is were wearing black and pink feathered head dresses right?" Blair nodded. "How about, 'Your lady-in-waiting is closer than you think. Her head dress is feathers of black and pink."
"Chuck that's brilliant." Blair said, smiling.
Chuck smirked. It was worth doing stuff like this to see her smile. "So what's your mask look like tonight?" Chuck asked.
Blair pointed toward the side table and Chuck followed her gaze. He saw the intricate gold mask and picked it up, placing it over his own features. When Blair looked back up she laughed out loud. "And what are you tonight?" She asked through her laughter.
"The Devil of course." Chuck said, pulling his mask from behind his back and tossing it to her. She put it on and he had the same reaction she had had upon seeing her mask on him. He burst out laughing. "Dorota" He called. "We need you to take a photograph."
Blair rolled her eyes but he could tell she loved the thought of Dorota taking their picture. He laid next to her on the bed and gently bumped her shoulder. "Are you in the mood for repaying me now?"
Blair looked at him inquisitively "What are you talking about Chuck?
"Remember, I told you that you could repay me latter for my services in the Serena Spy Project. We are back in your bedroom you know." Chuck said with a smirk.
"And you're still disgusting." Blair said hitting him, but she did it playfully.
"For you, always, Waldorf." Chuck said smiling.
Blair had a pretty good feeling about what was going to be written on the back of the photo and she flipped it over to find exactly what she though would be there. I'd be disgusting with you anytime Waldorf. And it was her handwriting again at the bottom, The Masquerade Ball 2007. Things between her and Chuck were different during that time. They weren't the same people they were when they were best friends; but they still knew each other better than anyone else.
She was surprised by the next picture though, she had thought that it would be one of her dancing at Victrola but it seemed to be taken a couple days before when she had come to see the club with Chuck. It wasn't posed so someone in the club must have snapped the shot of the two of them. She flipped the photo over. I guess now you really are my toughest critic. It was his handwriting at the bottom this time, The Day I Bought Victrola - 11/14/07.
With Serena there, Blair was passing her the pictures when she finished and Serena was putting them in the album; so Blair was able to continue on to the next picture. This time she did get what she was expecting. It was a photo of her dancing on the stage at Victrola.
Blair was watching the dancers on stage and drinking her champagne as though she was hypnotized by the music. Chuck was right, this was a place to escape.
"I know you don't want to talk about what happened but . . ." Chuck started as he looked over at Blair. He had been worried that this day was going to come for some time. Sure Blair had said that she was at Victrola to escape and forget but he cared about her too much to leave her alone.
Blair didn't even let him finish. "Relief. I feel relief." She was surprised to find that the words she was saying were true. She was relieved to finally not have to worry about the state of hers and Nate's relationship. For the first time she could remember, she was actually single. She was still watching the dancers when she spoke again. "You know I've got moves."
Chuck sat up in his seat. Blair might be putting on a tough face but he knew how much she cared about Nate. It was his job to make sure that for tonight at least, she forgot that. "Really?" He said sitting up. "Then why don't you get up there?"
Blair laughed. "I'm just saying I have moves."
"Come on, you're ten times hotter than any of those girls." Chuck said nudging her shoulder. He didn't think that she would do it, it was so un-Blair Waldorf-like, but he knew he would have succeeded in making her forget if she did.
"I know what you're doing Bass." She said immediately. She wasn't going to let him think, even for a second that she didn't know that he was just trying to make her forget about Nate. Then suddenly she realized that Chuck didn't think she was capable of going on stage; he had underestimated her. "You really don't think I'd go up there."
"I know you won't do it." He said with a smug smirk. This was Blair after all; no matter how much champagne they had had tonight, she wasn't going on stage.
He really didn't think that she would do it! Well truthfully, the normal Blair Waldorf wouldn't; but tonight she didn't want to be that girl. So she said words no other girl would say to Chuck Bass. "Guard my drink."
Chuck couldn't keep the look of surprise off his face as he pointed the way to the stage before leaning back. This should be good. Knowing Blair, he figured she would go up there and do some kind of Audrey Hepburn like dance moves then come back; just enough to prove to him that she could do it.
As she ran up the stage, Blair decided she was going to really do this. She wanted to lose herself and she wanted to prove to Chuck that she could do more than move. So she started dancing and didn't even think about it as she slid the zipper down the side of her dress.
Chuck sat up as he saw her touch her zipper. She wouldn't. But then she did. He was in awe as he watched her dress fall to the ground. This wasn't the Blair that he had known for the past couple of years; this girl was carefree and sexy as hell, not that Blair wasn't always sexy, just never in this way. He stood as she continued dancing. Chuck couldn't keep his eyes off of her as she danced on the stage and he couldn't deny the strain that was beginning in his pants.
Blair knew that she had surprised Chuck. She could see the stunned expression on his face amidst all the other faces of people she didn't know.
When he told the drag queen that he didn't know the girl on stage, he wasn't lying. That certainly wasn't the Blair he knew. He took a sip of champagne before toasting her. He had always respected her, something that he felt for few other women, but now, now he was in awe of her.
Blair couldn't help but smile as Chuck toasted her. She had won the little game. She ran off the stage right after the song finished and straight to where he was standing.
"You ready to go home?" He asked, still awestruck.
Blair couldn't stop smiling. "Let me finish my glass of champagne then I'm ready."
Chuck nodded and Blair downed her glass. "Okay, I'm good."
Chuck smiled and held out his arm. "May I escort you to the limo."
"Certainly." She said taking his arm and smiling again.
Once they were in the limo, she looked over at him. "Thanks for the lift home."
"You were amazing out there." There, he'd said it. The words had been on the tip of his tongue since she had gotten off the stage. She had been incredible and she should know it.
She couldn't deny the tingles up here spine as Chuck spoke. The way he looked at her made her stomach turn in a good way; like the first drop on a rollercoaster. No one had ever looked at her like that before; especially not Nate. It made her feel wanted and desired. She looked down at his lips and wondered what it would be like to be kissed by someone who really and truly wanted her. So she looked back up into Chuck's eyes and moved her body closer to his, until her shoulder was touching his. She began leaning in and reached for his hand.
Chuck couldn't believe what Blair was doing, moving towards him. Her eyes were telling him what she wanted and as she leaned towards him, he met her. They kissed but as she turned her body towards him he immediately pulled away. This was Blair, the girl who had been his best friend, the woman he respected and yes he wanted her. He wanted her more than he had ever wanted any woman; he wanted her in a way that he had never wanted any woman. So he asked a question he had never asked anyone before. "You sure?"
When she heard Chuck speak, she felt a tug on her heart. To her knowledge he had never asked a girl if she was sure before. She made in a split second decision that she knew would change everything. She wanted to make love to someone who really wanted her. So to answer him she squeezed his hand and kissed him.
When she kissed him, it felt like one thousand explosions occurred inside his body. She wrapped her arm around his neck and moved on top of him. Her other hand coming up towards his face. Chuck now over the surprise of her second kiss, began to deepen their kiss, reaching up and grabbing her hand. Blair quit thinking completely and just went with it because it felt so good to be desired and damn it she had forgotten how good a kisser he was.
Chuck ran his hands over her body as her hands ran through his hair. God she felt good he thought as he pulled her into him; pressing his body tightly against hers. He flipped her over as he continued exploring her mouth with his tongue and her body with his hands. He had wanted this for so long and he was going to make it incredible for her. He brought down her straps of her slip, further exposing her shoulders and neck, his weakness.
She had never wanted anything this badly in her life. As Chuck began helping her out of her slip, she pushed off his jacket. He kept up his effort to remove her slip as she undid his bowtie and tugged at his shirt. He simply reached up and yanked at it, snapping off the buttons before returning his attentions to her.
Chuck was careful with her in a way he had never been careful before. Constantly checking to make sure that she was okay and being damn sure he had on a condom before getting near here.
It had hurt a little when he entered her as she knew it would, but Chuck made her forget about the pain in seconds. He was attentive in the extreme and by the time they had finished she was exhausted.
Chuck had let the limo driver know what was up when he was getting his condom. He told him to sick around the Upper East Side until he told him otherwise so that they had plenty of time. As they finished Chuck did something he had never really done before and held her. He stroked her hair and kissed her temple as she fell asleep in his arms. After letting the driver know to head to her house. He gently pulled her slip over her head and was surprised when he didn't wake her. Getting his clothes on was even more of a challenge but he managed. In fact Blair didn't wake up until they were in the elevator. She clutched tightly to his chest as he continued up to her room; nodding at Dorota on the way. He laid her down in her bed and kissed her forehead before turning to leave.
"Thank you for tonight." Blair said quietly.
Chuck turned and smiled; but said nothing. He hoped she still felt that way in the morning.
Blair couldn't help but smile. As far as first times go, her's was just as special as she had hoped it would be; even if she didn't think so immediately. She flipped the picture, having no idea what Chuck could possibly write and apparently neither did he. There aren't words to express what happened that night. That was all that was written on the photo.
She looked down at the next photo. It was of her and Chuck on the balcony at her 17th birthday party the following night. They were smiling, so someone must have come up and snapped it. Chuck had somehow managed to make that night less than awful, even though it was what she thought she wanted at the time. That whole day had been a rollercoaster ride of emotions. She remembered that crazy conversation with Chuck outside of the Cathedral.
Blair was glad she was wearing sunglasses as she saw Chuck's limo pull up. The last thing she wanted right then was for him to see her surprise at seeing him there.
"Now this is the last place I'd expect to find you." Chuck said through the window of his limo as it pulled up next to Blair. He had stopped by her house this morning to ask her to breakfast but she had already left. It was Dorota who had told him that she had gone to Confession. He had no clue why, Blair wasn't even catholic.
"Go away Chuck. I've been given orders practically from God himself to avoid you." She said taking off her sunglass so that Chuck could see that she was serious. She was determined to fix this situation and that required Chuck to be Chuck and treat her like he treated all girls.
Chuck smirked. "Well would you consider avoiding me over breakfast?" He hadn't been able to sleep all night because he was thinking of her. He should have known, as much as he always cared about her that this would change things. Damn it, he was effing Chuck Bass; he wasn't suppose to feel this way. He wasn't suppose to want to take girls out to breakfast the morning after. But this was Blair Waldorf and that made things different.
Blair couldn't believe this. Chuck was suppose to be ignoring her and pretending like the had never slept together. Why couldn't he just think of her like every other girl. "Sorry but as is tradition on the day before my birthday, I'm going to the jeweler to put some pieces on hold for Eleanor and . . ."
"Nate." Chuck said interrupting. He couldn't believe this. After last night, she still wanted Nate to be her perfect Prince Charming. He was angry, so he started pushing Blair's buttons. "Oh, I don't think he'll be singing happy birthday this year."
She glared at him. "No one knows that Nate and I broke up and it's going to stay that way so that I can fix this." She said with authority before continuing with something that would have to convince Chuck to keep things quiet. "And I don't think your best friend would still be your best friend if he knew."
"If he knew how much I enjoyed the removal of a certain chastity belt in the back of this very limo." Chuck said immediately. If Blair wanted to play games, game on. She could pretend to be obsessed with Nate all she wanted but he wasn't going to let her forget what they had done.
No, she was putting a stop to this. She was not going to let Chuck continue with his little game. This wasn't a game to her. Nate was her future. So she stopped walking forward and instead took a couple of steps towards the car. "From this moment forward, the events of last night will never be mentioned again. Is that clear?"
Blair was all too easy to goad. She had nothing on him; while he had everything on her. "Not as clear as the memory of you purring in my ear, which I have been replaying over and over."
She looked down. Blair couldn't deny the feelings of desire she felt or the flush that rose to her cheeks. But she had to do what she had to do. "Well then erase the tape because as far as I'm concerned it never happened."
Chuck was officially angry. "I'll see you at your party tonight."
"You're officially uninvited." She said as she started walking. Chuck was not going to ruin her day; she wasn't going to let him.
Chuck yelled out the limo. "Never stopped me before." Damn it. Why was Blair being like this and why the hell did he care?
She should have realized what Chuck was trying to tell her in that conversation outside but she didn't, she was too obsessed with Nate. She just thought that Chuck was trying to be difficult. It wasn't until later that night that she actually put some of the pieces together.
He followed her out on the balcony, unsure of what he was going to say. On the one hand, he was fairly certain that he had deterred Nate from getting back together with her but he was also determined that he wasn't going to let some girl dictate his feelings. Even if she was Blair Waldorf. He was however excited about giving her her gift. "Are you ready for your present?" He asked walking in front of her. She surprised him by grabbing his hair and yanking. "Oww."
She had told him not to come anymore; she should have known he wouldn't listen. Damn it she didn't want to see him so he could rub what they did in her face.
Chuck was going to be the Chuck Bass he knew, Blair Waldorf be damned. "If you wanted to play rough all you had to do was ask."
Blair dismissed some party goer before turning back to Chuck. "You nauseate me." Nate was coming and she couldn't have Chuck acting all weird.
He was going to make sure once and for all that she knew that things were done with her and Nate since Nate was apparently too chicken to take care of it himself. "All this talk about how you have to be with Nate or the world will end; face it, it's over."
She and Chuck had known each other for a long time; once they had been best friends and now they were more like allies, hopefully just a normal conversation full of their witty banter would turn him back into the Chuck she was used to. Plus, she of all people was certainly going to call him out. "You sound like a jealous boyfriend." She said before looking out onto the city.
Chuck was startled by her statement; not because it was true, but because he wished it were. Apparently he answered a little to hastily to cover. "Oh please." He turned away from her, afraid of what she'd see if she looked at him at that moment. "Yeah right. You wish." I am Chuck Bass, I am Chuck Bass, I am Chuck Bass. He kept repeating in his head.
Suddenly it hit her. Chuck asking her if she was sure last night, his offer for breakfast this morning, his constant urging that she and Nate were over, all of his weird behavior made sense. She looked up at him and she could see it in his eyes, not to mention, it was written all over his face. "No. You wish." Disbelief filled her voice.
Damn it Blair was smart. He knew better than to underestimate her powers of perception. He had to cover and he had to cover quickly. "Please, you forget who you're talking to." He said looking back at her in an effort to remind her that he never wanted to be a girl's boyfriend. He looked away again.
"So do you." She said, reminding him that she knew him better than anyone. He looked back to her as she continued, almost unable to believe the words that were about to come out of her mouth. "Do you . . . like me?
Looking at her like that, Chuck knew he couldn't deny it. Blair was right; she knew him better than he knew himself most of the time. "Define like." He said, slightly ashamed of the fact that he was actually admitting to liking a girl, even if she was Blair Waldorf.
She scoffed. "You have got to be kidding. I do not believe this." Chuck would decide that the one girl that didn't want more than sex from him was the girl that he 'liked.'
"How do you think I feel." Chuck countered. Sex or no sex he and Blair were still friends, they could talk about this. "I haven't slept, I feel sick; like there's something in my stomach . . . fluttering."
"Butterflies?" Blair asked astounded.
Chuck took one look at her and knew this wasn't going well. She was still entirely too much infatuated with Nate for him to be saying these things.
Blair couldn't believe it. Chuck really did like her. This was beyond abnormal. "Oh no no no no no no no no no, this is not happening." Blair said walking around.
Chuck knew he had to say something to explain himself. "Believe me, no one is more surprised or ashamed than I am."
She couldn't take this, not tonight, not when Nate was suppose to be coming so that they could work things out. "Chuck, you know that I adore all of God's creatures and the metaphors that they inspire; but, those butterflies have got to be murdered." She said gesturing.
Chuck knew she wanted Nate and he didn't just sit around and take being told what to do. So he said something completely untrue. "Fine. It wasn't that great anyway."
"Thanks" She said softly. Blair couldn't deny that she was a little hurt by the statement; but she had accomplished her goal. Chuck was dropping it.
Blair couldn't help but smile at the memory of that night. Thinking back, Chuck had been amazing that night even with the silly bet he made about Nate not calling. The necklace he gave her later was more thoughtful that she would have ever imagined him being. She flipped the photo over anxious to read his thoughts on the night and was amazed by the amount he had written; it practically filled up the card.
You were the first girl I ever asked to breakfast the morning after sex and you were definitely the first girl I ever chased. I know I said some perverse things that day but I just wanted to make sure you didn't forget what we had done. I wanted you to know that it meant something to me; that it changed things. When you called me a jealous boyfriend, it almost killed me because I wanted it to be true; yet another first. I should have known that you would see through my playboy act to know that I cared about you; after all, you know me better than anyone. I know I told you I was ashamed of my feelings but I wasn't really ashamed of caring about you, I was ashamed that I couldn't hide or control the way I felt. I only made that bet with you to try to prove my point, that I would be there when Nate wasn't; that Nate and I were different. However, even though you didn't believe me, I really was sorry for how things with Nate went down that night. I never like seeing you upset and I hope that some of what I did made it something other than your worst birthday.
She was about to cry reading his message so she went on to the next picture. It was of the two of them in Central Park by the fountain. They had spent that Saturday pretending to be tourist all over the city. She looked at the next couple of photos, one from the top of the Empire State building, and one in the main lobby at Wicked. That day had been one of the most amazing days. She couldn't remember the last time she had had so much fun.
"Come on Blair, eat the hot dog." Chuck said holding out the steaming hot dog that he had just purchased from the vendor.
Blair looked at him, with a look of utter disgust on her face. "Eww, Chuck that's gross."
He laughed moving the hot dog closer. "Just try it Blair. Take one small bite and if you don't like it, we will throw it away and go eat lunch at Tavern on the Green."
Blair raised her eyebrows. Picturing Chuck sitting down for lunch at Tavern on the Green was just too priceless not to do it. "Fine." Blair said taking the hot dog, and biting into it.
Chuck watched anxiously. Tavern on the Green wasn't his scene in the slightest so he hoped that she did in fact like the hot dog. He watched as Blair tentatively took a bite and as her eyes lit up.
Blair was amazed by how good the hot dog tasted. She couldn't stop at one bite and soon enough she had eaten the whole thing. "Oh my god, the hot dog tasted amazing. Who knew something so cheep could taste so good?"
Chuck laughed. "Do you want another one?" Chuck asked. They were still right next to the cart. Blair bit her lip, what she always did when she was thinking hard about something. If Blair was considering the thought of eating another hotdog that meant that she was determining if the calories were worth the taste. She should know that she didn't need to worry about that with him. So he bought two more hotdogs, one for each of them. "Go ahead, you know you want to."
Blair smiled as she took the hotdog. This one she ate slowly savoring it as they walked through the park. This was strangely not weird at all. It felt totally normal to be walking through Central Park with Chuck. Maybe it was because they had always been friends. It wasn't the first time that she had walked by herself in Central Park with him; just the first time as anything more than friends. That's when they passed the bathroom. She turned to Chuck, "I'll be right back."
Chuck reached out quickly and grabbed her elbows. "Oh no you don't."
"Chuck take your hands off me, I have to go to the bathroom." Blair said looking at him like he was insane.
"Don't think for a minute that I've forgotten what happened on Thanksgiving. I may not have been there then to help you, but I'm certainly here now." Chuck said stepping closer to her.
Blair couldn't handle the way he was looking at her, he was looking at her like he saw her, which of course he did. So she looked away.
Chuck didn't understand why she did this to herself. Well actually he did understand, he just didn't like it. He knew enough to know Blair's worst insecurities and to him those insecurities were ludicrous. "Look at me." Chuck said softly and waited until she did look at him. "You are beautiful." Blair looked away again. "No, look at me." This time it took longer, but Blair did eventually look back at him. Chuck gently moved his hands up her arms and over her shoulders to cup her face. "You are beautiful, just the way you are."
This time she didn't look away because for some reason when Chuck said that she believed him. She didn't know if it was because he was Chuck Bass and he didn't lie to her or because of the look in his eye, the look that said he saw only her; but she believed him.
Chuck leaned in and kissed her, a kiss she returned, wrapping her arms around his neck. It was a few minutes before they remembered that they were in public and pulled back.
After they started walking again Blair turned her head to face him and said one word. "Thanks."
Only three words were written on the back of the photo. You are beautiful and at the bottom One Week Until Debutante Ball. She smiled but then groaned at the next picture. It was a group picture of everyone on the last day of Cotillion practice. Everyone from her, Chuck, and Nate to Prince Theodore was there. Yet all Blair thought when she saw this picture was where she went afterwards. They had been careless that day when they left practice. Both she and Chuck had left together and walked down the street to her house; but, she was almost to the point where she didn't care if they were seen.
"You were pretty hot on Princess Theodore's arm today." Chuck said huskily between kisses as he let his hands roam her body.
Blair couldn't deny that their witty banter was almost as good as the sex; it was their version of foreplay. "Aw is that what I am to you, just an accessory?" She said as he pulled her body closer to his. Her leg wrapped around his waist, tightened.
Chuck couldn't keep the smile from his lips. He seemed to have that problem a lot lately around Blair. He spoke between kisses. "Next to him, yes. On me, you'd be so much more." He said as he flipped her over on top.
Most of the time when she was with Chuck she thought of nothing else but today she couldn't help comparing him to Nate. Maybe because this was the first time she and Chuck had ever done this in her bed. Making out with Nate had never been this fun or exciting. "Yes but I can't be on you remember. Because you don't want Nate to find out and I don't want anyone to." She said moving her mouth to meet his as he rose partially of her bed.
Chuck continued sitting up until they were sitting with her straddling him on her knees. He had only slept with the same girl more than once, one time and he was so damn bored the whole time that he never did it again. But with Blair he was never bored, he couldn't get enough of her. He continued kissing her as she spoke.
"But you'd have to learn how to behave yourself first." She could hardly believe what she was suggesting but the sex with Chuck was so good that if he turned into a one woman guy, she wouldn't mind being that woman.
They kissed again until they were interrupted by the ding of the elevator. "Miss. Blair, Mr. Nate for you." Called Dorota.
Chuck collapsed back on the bed. Damn it, Nate would have to choose now to decide he wanted Blair back. Now when she was finally happy with someone else, namely him. He needed to show Blair that he could make her happier than Nate ever did.
Blair huffed disappointed, as she had to get off Chuck. What was Nate doing here?
Blair laughed a little thinking back. She had been so frustrated when Nate got there and interrupted; but neither she nor Chuck was still in the mood after Nate had left. In fact they had had a small argument over her going to the ball with Nate. Nothing major, but she could tell that Chuck was jealous. It was okay, he had made it up to her the next day; which she was reminded of by the next picture. It was one Chuck had made of her, regardless of the fact that she definitely looked disheveled and she was wearing only a sheet. But before she let herself think about it she flipped over the group picture to see what Chuck had written. I promise, I've learned to behave myself now, was written in the center with Two Days Before the Debutante Ball.
"Chuck I have to go." Blair said giggling as he kissed her bare neck. She was sitting on the edge of his bed wrapped a sheet.
"No you don't. Stay." He said kissing her neck again from behind her. His kisses moved up her neck, until he was kissing the edge of her ear.
Blair leaned back into him. "I can't. I am suppose to meet Nate in just under an hour for his tux fitting."
Chuck pulled her down. "I can work fast." He said as he moved his head down, down, down.
"Don't Chuck, I don't have, oh . . .okay." Blair said giving in.
About thirty minutes later, Blair was getting ready to get out of bed and Chuck wrapped his arms around her. "See aren't you glad you stayed?"
Blair turned her head to the side so that they were almost facing each other. "Yes, but you didn't exactly play fair."
Instead of responding Chuck sat up. "Are you happy? Right now I mean, are you happy?"
Blair looked at him for a moment. This was Chuck, she knew she couldn't lie to him. "Yes." She said sitting up and giving him a soft kiss.
"I've been thinking about something you said yesterday, about me having to learn to behave myself before anyone could know about us. Well, I know Nate wants you back and I'm just saying that if there is a fight, my hat's in the ring." Chuck said softly.
Blair stood up. "I have to go."
"Smile." He said taking a camera off the bedside table and snapping a picture.
"CHUCK! I'm in a sheet." Blair said whining. As she started throwing on her clothes. She really was late and it was no time to start making pictures.
"And you're happy. I want you to have something to remind you that you were happy because if you go back to Nate you're going to lose that." Chuck said, no longer smiling.
Blair frowned. "I have a lot to think about, okay."
She flipped over the photo, already knowing exactly what was going to be there. Remember, we were happy once. With the caption, One Day Until the Debutante Ball. The next photo surprised her because she didn't know that it existed. It was of her and Chuck dancing at the Debutante Ball. She couldn't help but replay their conversation that night in her head.
Chuck cued the music as he saw Blair enter the ballroom. He couldn't believe that the plan he had orchestrated to prove to Blair that Nate wasn't a perfect gentlemen actually worked; well actually he could but a lot of small things had had to fall into place. He smirked as she approached.
"Have you seen Nate?" She asked as she approached Chuck on the dance floor. She couldn't believe what Nate had done, punching Carter in the middle of the Debutante Ball; it wasn't like him.
"Nate was asked to leave, but here I am." Chuck said taking her into his arms for a dance. He couldn't keep the self satisfied smirk from his face. He had noticed earlier that she was wearing his birthday present. It looked good on her.
Blair could feel that something was off and when she looked at Chuck she knew. "I know that look." She said softly. "It's the look when your plan falls into place." Even as she spoke, the various pieces of the puzzle put themselves together in her head. "You're enjoying this."
As Blair spoke, Chuck went from satisfied to anxious in seconds. This could still work out though. Blair knew him and would know that he was just doing this to keep from losing her.
"You knew Carter was going to my house." Everything was finally starting to make sense. "You tipped off Gossip Girl."
Chuck kept telling himself that things could still work out. Blair was after all still dancing with him; but then she kept talking.
"You ruined my Cotillion on purpose." She couldn't believe she hadn't realized sooner. Of course Chuck was the one behind it all. He hadn't denied a single statement. She stopped dancing with him and stepped back. "You did all this for your own enjoyment and didn't care what it would do to me. Which is exactly why you and I could never work." She had been struggling with the decision for two days; Chuck or Nate, Nate or Chuck. Chuck had made it easy for her.
"Hey slow down there Waldorf." Chuck exclaimed. No this wasn't happening. He had worked too hard trying not to lose her and all it had done was chase her away. He had to do something drastic; something remind her of why they did work. So he tried to pull her in for a kiss.
"You make me sick." Blair said pushing him off of her. What the hell was he doing, trying to kiss her in front of all these people after what he had done. "This thing between us, it's over. For good." She said walking away.
Chuck reached out and grabbed her arm. If she would just let him explain. "Blair wait, I didn't mean to . . ."
But she cut him off. "Don't talk to me." She spat before turning and walking away.
"Blair." Chuck shouted. But she didn't turn around. Damn it, what had he done? So he followed her and watched her with Nate.
Blair remembered all too clearly how she had felt that night. Chuck had done the exact opposite of what he had intended and pushed her strait into Nate's arms. What Chuck didn't know was that she knew all along that he would follow her; she wanted him to see her with Nate. She wanted to get back at him; to show him what he couldn't have. Maybe that's why she hadn't taken off his necklace while she and Nate slept together. She flipped the photograph over, eager to see his thoughts. I'm sorry for ruining your Cotillion; I just didn't want to lose you. At the bottom, the caption read, Debutante Ball.
Chuck smiled before turning to Mrs. Hamilton. "All in favor of reinstating me as CEO, vote Yay, all opposed, Nay. Care to begin, Mrs. Hamilton?"
Mrs. Hamilton smiled. "Yay."
"Mr. Jamison." Chuck said.
"Yay." Spoke the elderly man clearly.
"Yay." Said Mr. Richardson.
It was Mr. Keaton's turn. "Yay."
Followed by Mr. Hardin. "Yay."
Jack rolled his eyes, these people had all voted in favor of Chuck before. The next three all went in his favor. This was a done deal. Hargrove was a toss up but he knew he had Gloria and the Fleming's in his corner so it was a lock. After the three Nays, Hargrove was up followed by Gloria.
Mr. Hargrove looked at Mrs. Hamilton before speaking a soft. "Yay."
Jack shrugged. It didn't matter that the old man had flipped. He still had the votes he needed.
Ms. King smiled as she said. "Yay."
Jack's mouth dropped open and his eyebrows shot well into his hairline. "Excuse me, could you repeat that?"
"I said 'Yay' Jack." Gloria said smiling.
"But Baby, how could you? I love you." Jack said with puppy dog eyes.
Gloria rolled her eyes. "Cut the line of bull Jack. For God's sake, the morality clause should be null and void anyway, since you weren't exactly acting upon high principles yourself. Unless you call sleeping with me to get board room votes at the same time you were screwing Chuck's girlfriend moral?"
The eyes of all the board members opened wide with shock at Gloria's revelation and Jack looked like he might collapse.
Mr. Fleming turned to Jack with a scowl on his face. "My God Jack, Blair's in high school."
Jack's face was red with anger and embarrassment. He could see Chuck leaned back in the office chair smirking from the corner of his eye. "I worked hard for this job and this is my company damn it!" Jack shouted slamming his hand on the table.
"Not any more it isn't." Mr. Fleming said shaking his head. "I assume you know the way out."
Jack stood up from his chair and kicked it backwards, sending it banging into the wall. He left with one final punch at Chuck. "Have fun failing."
Mr. Fleming turned to Chuck. "Charles Bass, as head of the board I would like to reinstate you as CEO of Bass Industries. Congratulations."
A/N: I know, it took forever, but it was super long to make up for it. Reviews are always appreciated.
Xoxo
kate