"Hi," Dan slurred out as eloquently as he could. He rolled himself over, wanting to get a better look at the person in hiding. He wouldn't think that anyone would remove his or her presence from everything that was happening out there, at least anyone that wasn't him.

"Hi." That was the only response he received. The tone was bitter but more so reserved. This only provoked Dan's already instilled curiosity.

Gaining a more upright stance, Dan stood tall and took a step up. He dangled the bottle of Jack Daniels, as if it was some sort of peace offering. As he approached the mysterious stranger, he became more focused. Large doe eyes accompanied by a button nose, plump lips and soft brunette curls that finely rolled off her bare shoulders. Her petite frame was dressed up in a short black strapless dress, showing off an ample amount of skin while still oozing elegance. She was exquisite.

"Why are you hiding out here by yourself?" Dan inquired, hesitantly stepping forward. Each step felt like he was walking into some sort of trap. That magnetic pull that had prevented him from fleeing was evident now more than ever. There was no escape.

"I'm not," she responded, holding up a half full bottle of gin.

Her cavalier manner caused Dan to laugh softly, cocking his head as if to say touché. Just as he was about to smile, it dawned on Dan that this mystery woman was none other than Blair Waldorf.

"You're Blair, right?"

"Obviously."

"I'm Dan, not so obvious but I was just hanging out with your friend Serena before, so."

"So?"

Blair was put off by the mention of Serena. An insecurity she endlessly fretted over was always being acknowledged as Serena van der Woodsen's friend. Deep down, Blair knew over the years she'd acquired more power than Serena but there was always a lingering sense it was only because the blonde had given it to her.

"What tore you away from her?" Blair asked, surprised that any man would have snuck off when Serena van der Woodsen was in their peripheral vision.

"I needed a break from all… that." Dan's arm gestured behind him, flicking his fingers. "She was looking for you though, asking where you were and everyth-."

"I don't recall inviting you," Blair chimed in, cutting him off midsentence.

"That's because you didn't."

A sober Dan would have been far more fearful about talking back to someone like Blair. He would have apologized profusely and left instantly. Retorting to her quick remarks was like walking on thin ice. At any moment, Dan was bound to fall through and plunge to an icy death.

She had no idea who he was and didn't care to find out up until five seconds ago. Very few people dared to talk back to her and those who did were cast aside. She widened her lips and her gaze on him grew more intense. This was the first instance of the evening where something had actually managed to surprise her.

"It looks like the bouncers aren't going to get a tip."

Blair began to tiptoe down the stairwell, coming closer to Dan. He expected her to brush past him and enter the social scene, leaving their encounter brief. Instead she took a seat one of the lower steps, turning over shoulder to look at Dan. Even though her face was stern, there was warmth he could detect beneath the surface. It was inviting and surprisingly more alluring than Serena's bubbly attitude.

"Are you going to sit down or what?" Blair snapped.

On queue, Dan placed himself down by her side, still clasping onto his bottle of Jack Daniels.

"I thought your gin was company enough."

"It is," she spoke, her tone far more gentle than it was before, "but I am worried that if I start talking to it, it might talk back."

For someone so fierce, Blair had an impeccable way of putting Dan at ease. It was by far the most genuine interaction he'd had with anyone all night.

"That could be fairly amusing for an onlooker to witness. I am sure a few people would pay big money to see that go down."

Without giving him consent to make her smile, Blair's lips coiled into a look that would hint at her being happy. How was this Dan guy managing to make her feel better without even trying? Since before she had arrived to her own party, Blair's mood had been down in the gutter. Her mother had meticulously commented on everything wrong with Blair's appearance and how she'd be so much better looking if she dropped four pounds. Another meal skipped, another knife wedged deep into her self-esteem. It hadn't helped that Nate was being more distant than ever with her as of late or that all her friends were gossiping over what outfit Serena would show up in and how gorgeous she'd look in it. It took all the self-restraint she had not to gauge her eyes out. It didn't matter who Dan was or how expensive his suit was. He'd made her smile and that was good enough for Blair.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Like clockwork, Chuck Bass had appeared into thin air and brought Dan and Blair back down to earth. Her smile had faded and Dan had quickly noticed the lighter side of her go along with it. It hardly surprised Dan, given that Chuck was the catalyst for all the damage inflicted on his peers. He represented the abuse of power that existed in Manhattan and Dan had an inkling that Blair was searching for an escape from the only world she knew.

"Don't make me blow my rape whistle, Chuck," she spat before shaking her head and smirking.

Standing up, Blair looked down at Dan before pushing past Chuck and walking back into the party. That manner in which Blair dismissed Dan left him aching for more. He couldn't work her out. She was vile and cantankerous, he'd heard all about that side of her, yet he had managed to catch a glimpse of something more human to her.

Her hasty departure left Dan and Chuck alone in the almost empty stairwell, exchanging a knowing look.

"Should we go have some more jäger?" Dan asked, in dire need of diminishing the tension between the two men.

"I don't see why not. The night is young and so are we."

Chuck saying that gave Dan a sense of relief and he made his way off the stairs, prepared to go back into the party until Chuck grabbed onto his shoulder and stopped him.

"Just try refrain from fucking my best friend's girl, okay?"

Chuck patted down Dan's shoulder, giving him the cruelest smile before taking Dan's Jack Daniels, spinning around strutting back out into the party. It was assuming, uncalled for and completely obnoxious but, then again, so was Chuck Bass. Furrowing his brows, Dan took a deep breath before following the scarf wearing bandit's lead.