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Disclaimer: I don't own the lyrics I used in this chapter.
Twelve hours and another 1000 miles later, Chuck and Nate were finally unable to drive any further without some sleep. So they took the exit to Oklahoma and Chuck stopped at the first parking space they hit. Nate followed.
The five got out of the car and took a look around.
"Okay, I'm sorry but I'm exhausted. Nearly one and a half day of driving with only break to fuel the gas, I can't do it anymore. I need some sleep." Chuck admitted.
"Yeah, so do I." Nate added.
"Poor baby." Blair pouted as she took Chuck's face in her hands and gave him a soft kiss on his lips. He smiled.
Serena eyed Nate but he just swallowed once and then smiled at her. Eric hold the map they bought on the last gas station.
"You guys, we could make it in another day. There are only 1000 miles left." Eric told.
"Yeah, after a break for some sleep." Chuck spat. He didn't want to sound so angry but he was tired to death.
"Yeah, let's look for a hotel or something." Blair added.
"Look!" Serena pointed at a youth hostel sign down the street.
"No way in hell!" Chuck shook his head. "I want to sleep in a real bed."
"You guys, I've an idea. Come on. Just another ten minutes." Eric said and opened the car door. They eyed him curious but followed in the car. Eric told Chuck were to go. Several minutes later, they arrived at a typical one-family-home in suburb. It had a large front garden with perfect trimmed grass, a large terrace and the walls looked like fresh painted and perfect white.
Chuck stopped the car and so did Nate. They left the car and followed Eric in the front garden.
"Eric, who lives here?" Serena asked confused.
"You'll see." Eric knocked on the front door. It took a minute and a handsome young boy opened the door.
"ERIC!" he shouted and hugged. Eric. "What on earth are you doing here? And who's this?" the boy asked excited.
"Julian, the blond girl is my sister Serena, that's Nate, Blair and her boyfriend Chuck." Eric told him and pointed at each of them. Julian stepped forward to shake hands.
"Julian, we need a place to hide for a night. And I hoped, we could…." Eric started but Julian cut him off with a hand sign.
"Of course, come in! You're lucky, my parents are abroad." He leaded them in and in a big living room. He offered them to sit down which they gladly did.
"So what's the big story?" Julian asked curious. Eric told him what happened and what they were doing so far.
"Wow, you try to run away from the princess-fairytale-life." Julian said.
"It never was a fairytale. And will never be." Blair replied sad.
"But we on our way to one." Eric said with a smile.
"Know what? I'll get you some food and drinks and let our housekeeper prepare the guest rooms." Julian clapped his hands as he jumped up.
"Eric, can he be trusted?" Chuck asked concerned.
"Absolutely. I met him at the Ostroff Center and we're friends ever since. He would never do anything to hurt me. So we're save. Until your family PI decided to show up again." Eric said.
Chuck nodded.
"Okay everyone! Dinner and afterwards I'll show you your rooms." Julian smiled.
"Thank you." Chuck rose and hold up his hand to shake Julian's. Julian took Chuck's hand.
"Too bad the little brunette over there is your girlfriend." Julian smirked. And Chuck returned the smirk.
"BUT I am. Sorry but he's taken." Blair said as she rose, ran over to Chuck and hugged him.
"Jealous, Waldorf?" Chuck asked teasingly.
"Always." Blair whispered.
After the dinner, Julian leaded them upstairs.
"So, Ladies and gentlemen. Finally, the bedrooms. There's one with a king-size bed and the other one is full-size bed and a couch." Julian explained to them.
"Okay. Blair and I going to take the king-size bed." Chuck said unhesitatingly.
"The hell you will. I'm just as tired as you man and I have to drive tomorrow another 1000 miles!" Nate shouted.
"Okay, suggestion: Nate, Chuck you two take the big bed, I'll share the other one with Serena and Eric is going to take the couch." Blair recommended. Chuck and Nate opened their mouths to protest but Blair cut them off. "No, the suggestion is final. A command I'd better say. Good night." Before anyone could react had Blair pushed Eric and Serena in the other bedroom.
"Blair, what is the point in that?" Serena asked confused.
"I'm not willing to forgive Nate yet. But those both stubborn kids over there." she pointed at the door "are going to work things out. They were best friends since forever and I won't be reason to destroy that. I won't allow it."
"Can you believe Blair?" Nate asked angrily.
"I know why she did it." Chuck responded nonchalant.
"Oh, wow. Explain it to me, because I don't." Nate spat.
"She wants us to work things out."
"There's nothing to work out."
"What does that mean, Nathaniel? We're done?"
"I never knew we're a couple….No Chuck, I meant that there's nothing to work out. We both know that Blair and I were over a long time ago but we were both too weak to gave up and live of our own. Now, she seems to be happy with you. Yeah, it makes me a bit jealous but not in that way. Besides: now that Serena and Dan broke up, and I don't have to worry about Blair, I want finally be with Serena." Nate explained honestly.
Chuck was amazed. "Okay. I'm happy that you give us the green light. And I hope Serena will finally admit what's obvious ever since – you two belong together."
"Wow, Chuck. One day being Blair's boyfriend and you're suddenly a gentleman and polite."
"Yeah, I'm also scared about that much affection that little minx has over me." he smirked.
"Okay, enough sweet talk. Let's sleep because I bet the UES mafia who's searching us doesn't."
UES, Waldorf Appartment.
The parents decided to move the base for the mission "catch-the-rebellious-kids" to Eleanor's house.
Bart sat on the couch and read newspapers. Eleanor sat in the living room and did some drawing. Lily walked through the house and took a look at the paintings. Anne sat on the opposite couch in the living room and read Nate's letter over and over again. She started sobbing as Bart looked up from the paper and eyed her.
"Anne, stop crying, please. We'll get them back." Bart said in a unusual soft tone.
"Yeah, and then I'm going to lock Blair in her room until she's thirty!" Eleanor added from her place in the living room.
"Actually, Eleanor, I think this is the reason why we have to search them. The lock-away-trick, isn't it?" Lily asked from the hallway.
"Oh, please Lily. No education tips, please." Eleanor answered sarcastically.
"What is that suppose to mean?!" Lily asked angrily.
"I'm just saying that you're not the best mother on this earth, Lily van der Woodsen." Eleanor replied snappy.
"Bass. It's Lily Bass now." Bart said and rose from the couch.
"Yeah. Emphasis on NOW:" Eleanor said and chuckled. Lily looked shocked and Bart got angry. Anne cried even more.
"Oh, Anne will you stop already? You're crying is not helpful!" Eleanor yelled as she rose.
"Would YOU stop already, Eleanor? Well, at least I know now where Blair learned to be such a bitchy….bitch!" Lily shouted.
"Bitchy bitch? How dare you! You're daughter, the little drug princess that got round will never be half good as Blair!" Eleanor spat.
"Okay, kittens. Stop it!" Bart commanded. The two women gave him killing glances.
"Mike will call any minute and then…." his cell rang. "See!" He picked up. "Mike, where are they?.....What's that supposed to mean?....WHAT? Make sure this guy will regret it for the rest of his live." Bart said in a stern tone.
"What is it, Bart?" Anne asked, still crying.
"We need more patience. They lost them." Bart admitted angrily.
The next day, 2 pm, Oklahoma.
The five were ready to go as Julian ran out of the house to kiss Eric goodbye for the fifth time.
"Okay, we're still in the schedule. We aren't supposed to be in Mexico 'til Wednesday Evening. Today's Monday, so we've still one and a half day." Chuck explained.
"Chuck, would you tell us already what's the plan when we finally cross the border?" Blair asked impatiently.
"Then Waldorf, you'll have to say goodbye to these wonderful cars and we'll fly in our new life – for good." Chuck said.
It took a few moment to realize what he just told them.
"Chuck Bass, tell me that you didn't make us car smuggler."Blair asked in a soft, angry voice.
"Deal with it, honey. You'll be grateful when we finally arrive." Chuck replied with a smirk.
"Finally arrive where Chuck?" Serena asked concerned.
"Cuba." Chuck answered nonchalantly. "Eric, let's go, please."
Eric finally pulled back from Julian and got in the car that Chuck would drive.
500 miles and a gas station stop later, Serena and Nate finally start talking.
"I'm sorry." Nate said.
Serena looked at him confused. "Why are you sorry?"
"For what I said."
"We didn't speak in the last 12 hours."
"I know. I meant before. You know, after the night at the wedding. I shouldn't have scare you that much."
"Nate, don't apologize. You confessed your feelings for me and that was really cute and I appreciated it. But the timing was sooo bad. I mean: you were the boyfriend of my best friend and I slept with you. That was the meanest thing we could do to her. And it didn't stopped us."
"You're right. But she's fine now. And so will we be. I know it."
Serena didn't answered.
"Look, Blair. It was really fascinating to listen to you for hours. But can we please listen to some music, PLEASE!" Eric pleaded. In the last twelve hours we had to listen to shared children memories of Chuck and Blair, to telling her favorite movies in detail over and over again and finally he got interrogated about his relationships.
"Okay. I've some CDs in my purse. Let's see…." Blair said.
She took one out. It was a punk rock CD.
"What's that?" Chuck said curious. "Waldorf, you're still surprising me. I never knew you listen to rock music." he chuckled.
"Only this CD. It's something special to me."
"What's the name of the band?" Eric asked confused.
"It's SUM 41. And it's their album from 2004." she said.
"2004, huh? So it's old. What's the name of the album you kept carrying around for five years?" Chuck asked with a smirk.
"Chuck. The name of the album is Chuck." she whispered and Chuck gulped as he eyed her.
"CHUCK! EYES! STREET!" Eric commanded. "Look you guys, it's too romantic, yeah but I don't want to die on a highway, okay?"
They stayed silent until song # 7.
Don't you,
Regret you met me.
Go through,
These steps to get me,
Back to where we start,
'Fore I fall apart.
…
This isn't me,
This isn't you,
But it's just everything we do.
Till you open up your eyes,
and understand this isn't real.
This isn't me,
This isn't you,
This is everything but true,
Till we come to realize,
It's what we put each other through.
Chuck took Blair's hand and squeezed it. How could this song were from 2004? It was like a presage. And when Chuck's eyes met Blair's he knew she thought the same.
"Nothing can turn us apart, baby. Nothing and nobody but us. And we won't, no more hurting. Okay?" Chuck asked very appointed and Blair nodded.
A/N: I hope you guys liked it. I know there was not really much drama or angst in it, but that will come soon enough.
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