Chapter 5 of This is Life
"Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life."— Leo Buscaglia
Author: Lily
Disclaimer: I do not own Gossip Girl or any characters. Gossip Girl belongs to Cecily Ziegesar, Josh Schwartz, Stephanie Savage and the CW.
Summary: Post 1.10 — Takes place after Chuck sees Nate and Blair kissing. What would have happened, if Blair hadn't slept with Nate and Chuck would have apologized to her?
Rating: T / PG-15
Pairing: Chuck/Blair
A/N — A special thanks to Anki for her BETA. *hugs*
*
"Everyone has beauty, but not everyone sees it."
*
"B, you're here!" Serena squealed, hugging her tightly.
Of course, Blair always looked amazing, no matter what she wore, but there was something different with her today. Serena couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it reminded her of the weeks before the Cotillion, when Blair would have a permanent smile plastered on her face with no reason.
Maybe it did do Blair good to be away from Nate, she thought contemplative.
"Thanks, S," Blair hugged her back. "Happy New Year," she said to the person standing next to Serena.
Dan looked at her puzzled. "Are you talking with me?"
"Of course, Brooklyn," Blair rolled her eyes. "Do you see anyone else around here?"
"Uhm…" Dan looked at Serena quizzically.
"Don't expect me to be like this during the whole Brunch, Cabbage Patch." Blair smiled sweetly.
For him to leave. Which he did, not bothering to put up much of a fight.
"Blair…"
"I tried, S." Blair batted her eyelashes innocently, even though her smile was quite smug.
Serena sighed.
"You look happier," she noticed.
"Really." Blair scanned the room for Chuck, but he wasn't here yet.
"I mean… you broke up with Nate last night and yet you look like he's just declared his love for you. At least."
"Maybe he and I are just… not right." Blair finished lamely and was thankful to see some guests arriving, "don't you have to go receive them?" she asked, annoyed, that Serena would pick today of all days to be that observant.
"I do." Serena replied, but still stood beside her, not moving an inch. "Blair, about Nate - he is…"
"- madly in love with a girl, who isn't me? I know." Blair cut her off annoyed, but immediately felt sorry, because Serena looked hurt. "Let's just… I don't want to talk about it right now, okay?"
Serena nodded insightfully, deciding she would ask Blair later about it, and went to greet the guests.
--
"So, have you made your decision?" Chuck inspected Nate carefully.
They were sitting in his limo, on the way to Brunch. Chuck had decided to drop Blair off at her house early in the morning, careful not to let any Gossip Girl spy see them together and then he had gone to pick up Nate for Brunch. He was anxious about what his best friend's resolution was.
"I think I've decided to - wait with telling you. I might change my mind… later on."
Chuck shook his head. Last minute decisions? Not a good decision. But again, that was Nate.
--
Blair huffed annoyed.
Arriving early for brunch had been the worst idea ever. Watching the Van der Woodsen family greeting the arriving guests with Humphrey, her thoughts strayed elsewhere.
To Chuck. Like so often lately.
She sighed. Somehow she felt, like the air around her seemed to shift and she immediately knew, that Chuck had arrived. Her prediction was confirmed, when she turned around and spotted him greeting Lily.
Blair's mien fossilised, when she saw who was with him.
--
Chuck gazed across the room while talking with Lily, his stepmother-to-be, and immediately saw Blair. She was standing alone, looking as ravishing as ever in her ivory cocktail dress, which was strapless, exposing her neckline (making Chuck gulp) and ending right above her knees.
Running his eyes up her body, his eyes met hers and he saw the corner of her mouth quirking up in a smile. He smiled back and even thought he'd seen her eyes brighten, when he noticed, that Nate was looking at her too. His smile froze and he quickly avoided her gaze.
--
Brunch was awkward since the adults had decided to let the 'kids' have their own table. Now Dan, Serena, Nate, Blair and Chuck were sharing one table and Nate tried to ease the tension, which was hard, considering…
1. He was Nate Archibald.
2. Both Chuck and Blair couldn't stand Dan for longer than it took to throw a haughty look at him.
3. He was being avoided from Blair and Serena.
"So Dan… how's your family doing? I mean… since your mother decided to come back." Serena attempted to start a conversation.
Blair and Chuck rolled their eyes and clattered loudly with their cutlery, while Nate decided to set a good example, sitting up straight and listening to their chatter interestedly.
"Good… really good. But Jenny doesn't get along with her that great, since-"
"Little J? I've never seen her getting along good with anyone besides Eric." Blair interjected.
"Sad, but true." Chuck smirked and they exchanged self-satisfied glances.
Dan shot him an icy glare.
Nate cleared his throat loudly and Serena looked around uncomfortably. They fell silent again and Chuck sighed. He finally excused himself, walking into an empty corridor. Blair's eyes followed him.
Back to the table Serena carried on her conversation with Dan undisturbed, relieved that Chuck had left the table.
Nate tried to talk with Blair, but she determinedly stared into another direction. After a while she gave up resigned, seeing as he wouldn't stop bothering her and turned to face him.
"You have something to say to me?" she asked him, bored and annoyed to the bone.
"I… uh," Nate smiled at her a little… could it be shy? He attempted to start with a little small talk, but she cut him off.
"I don't want to chat with you Nate; just tell me what you want to so badly." She rolled her eyes. Nate's smile froze, and she fought hard to be in control of that complacent smile that formed on her face at that motion.
"I think… I'm in love with your best friend." Nate answered in a small voice, not meeting her gaze. Both Dan and Serena turned to them, dropping their earlier conversation, baffled.
Dan's jaw dropped slightly, and Blair bit her lip to detain herself from laughing out loud.
"Well, if that's it," she said and stood up, starting to walk away. Coward. He couldn't even muster the courage to look into her face - then she stopped and looked back, "Well, it's too bad she's taken." She said, letting her bitch smile spread through her face.
She decided to follow Chuck. Leave it to the three of them talk things out.
--
Fixing her headband, she knocked on the door to the library, opening it ajar and peeking in. "Can I come in?"
She noticed, how incredibly sexy he looked, standing by the window, hands tucked into his pockets and looking like he was brooding over something. Chuck turned around quickly, a little startled, but he wiped that look off his face and smirked, nodding.
She approached him a little hesitantly. They hadn't had the chance to talk last night, because she had dozed off and they had woken up early in the morning, without talking about their almost-kiss, so this was the first time they were alone again - she was anxious about what would happen.
"Missing me already?" he teased.
She cocked her head to one side, smiling. Twirling a strand of her hair in her fingers, she walked closer to him.
"Maybe."
She caught the shock in his face, but he recovered quickly. He licked his lips and she watched this movement mesmerized.
Looking up to him, his eyes were burning in hers, and his gaze was heated reminding her of the way he had looked at her in his limo the night after Victrola.
She took a shaky breath and moved closer until their foreheads touched. Breathing in the familiar scent, which was so unmistakably Chuck, she leaned in further, never breaking their eye-contact.
Then she kissed him.
He kissed her back passionately, making her legs turn into jelly. She felt electricity coursing through her entire body and she sighed into his mouth. Her mind went blissfully blank, and it was amazing. She was losing herself in the feeling of his warm lips against hers.
She had missed this. Him.
She felt, as if she was alive again and all those weeks with Nate were just somewhere far, far away. It was astounding, how she still remembered his kisses. Soft lips capturing hers, gentle, but more passion behind them than she had ever experienced.
It was perfect. He was perfect.
--
"Blair…" He pulled back with difficulty, when she didn't respond.
"What are we doing?" Chuck looked down at her, feeling something harden at the sight of her beautiful face, flushed and lips slightly swollen from his kiss.
She looked up to him, a lust-filled look in her eyes. "What do you think?" she asked and moved closer again.
He turned his face away, because he couldn't do this right now, even if he wanted it so badly, he couldn't do this without knowing what Nate's decision was and if he was betraying his best friend at this moment.
She let up on him confused. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's just-"
Blair took a few steps backwards. "I'm not Serena?"
"What?" Chuck looked at her confused. What did this have anything to do with Serena?
She scowled at him, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Excuse me for being so imperfect and just being a Waldorf! I get it - I will never be as beautiful, as great as Serena Van der Woodsen. If you want, I can send her to you, after she's done with Dan and Nate and the rest of the St. Jude's boys!" She stalked to the door, embarrassed at being rejected and furious about something else.
"Blair - wait." Chuck finally got, what this had been about, catching her arm to hold her back. "I don't want you to-"
"Don't touch me!" she snatched his hand away and with a slam of the door she was away.
Fuck.
--
To be continued
A/N: Blair/Dan always makes me smile, they're just too adorable. *te hee* And don't worry about Chuck and Blair, yes? Feedback would be wonderful! :)
Oh, and I'm still swooning over the season finale *squee* Aww I'm so happy, I can't wait for the third season *le sigh* And do you know, what made me laugh my head off? Nate Archibald: class whore. Can I just say how much I love Gossip Girl?