Thank you so much for the reviews! So it's really for you guys I'm updating, because I was unsure about the change from oneshot to story. Thanks again!
Disclaimer: Me owning Gossip Girl? Funny.
Everyone on the Upper East side knows it's the time of the year again that the Archibalds take off across Europe, and return more beautiful than ever. And that can mean one only one other thing:
Shopping.
--
With the cold against her, Blair storms past the boutiques with countless of shopping bags in her hands. She'd bought new dresses for herself and Audrey, scarves for her boys, and everything else she deemed necessary to get.
Checking her mental checklist off, she's far too absorbed in her thoughts to notice a black stretch limo slowing down next to her.
"Care for a ride, Archibald?"
She stops instantly, her blood running cold.
"Chuck?" She furrows her brow. "What the hell are you doing?"
"This." He's fussing with something she can't see, and she strains to peek. Seconds later, a bunch of peonies are being held up by his hands. They're beautiful, really. Pink, with veins of deep red, tied together with a silk ribbon.
"Why?" she has to ask first, still looking into the peonies. She's trying very hard not to look at him, because she knows if she does, well, it'll be hard to look away.
"Because my son came home the other day, telling me that you seemed to have a soft spot for flowers."
"So you come and stalk me?"
"Stalk is such a harsh word. . ." Grinning, he steps out into the streets with the flowers still in his hands. "But here I am."
"Unfortunately," she mutters.
"Don't take it out on me just because Nathaniel doesn't get you flowers."
She stiffens. "Of course he does."
"Oh, really?" he asks, raising an eyebrow. He's clearly enjoying himself, and so is she, though she'll never admit. "Then tell me about the last time."
"I'm not discussing my marriage with you," she says fiercely.
"Fine." He shrugs, smiling knowingly. She wants to slap it off of his (handsome) face.
She rolls her eyes, trying to keep a straight face. She still hates him. "So what do you want?"
"To give you these," he says calmly.
"Out of the blue?"
"Well, we talked at the dance last week."
"Once. It was a very short time."
"Well, I miss you." He smiles crookedly, and she crumbles inside. "Reason enough for you?"
"No," she says baldly. The corners of her lips turn upward.
He cocks his head in the direction of the limo, and smirks. "Aren't you going to get in?"
"What's it going to cost me? I know you, and I know there are strings attached."
"Have a drink with me," he tells her earnestly. "Or coffee, brunch, dinner. . .Whatever you like."
She hesitates.
"Just one. For old times' sake," he urges, using Nate's old line. "As friends."
Blair bravely looks up into his dark eyes, and finds herself nodding slowly.
"Great," he replies happily.
She grins teasingly. "Next week, Thursday. I'll order everything they have, and you pay without complaint."
"It's a small price to pay, then." He smiles at her, and for a moment, she forgets that she's supposed to hate him. "Should I pick you up?"
"No. Nate will bring me there."
A dark look crosses his eyes, and she tells herself she imagines it. He holds the door open for her, as she pushes her bags in, but makes sure there are some to put between them. Then he sits in and slams the door, throwing her a glance.
"Bring back any memories?" he asks lightly.
"Of what?" she asks sweetly. They grin at each other, their heads tilted sideways.
"Me."
She shakes her head, rolling her eyes. "Do you really think I need your limo to remember you?"
--
"So you're having a non-date type of date with Chuck?"
Serena raises her eyebrows expectantly, as Blair scowls.
"It's not a date, S. It's just. . ."
"Just what, then?"
She shrugs, sipping her drink. "Just Chuck," she lies. Thursday is all she can think about lately, and even if she knows she shouldn't be, she's looking forward to it. "We can be friends."
"Right. You and Chuck Bass? B, are you sure this will be a good idea?"
"No," she admits. "But I can't back out, and besides, I'm doing nothing wrong. Nate knows."
"And he's okay with it?"
She smiles. "Nate trusts me."
"Well, as long as everything's okay," Serena tells her, looking unsure. "Be careful."
"God, you sound like I'm flying to Afghanistan."
"You might as well."
"It's just Chuck," she repeats. Lie again. In fact, while face to face with Serena, it's his eyes she's thinking about; his dark, smoldering eyes, and the way they look at her in such a different way. . .
"—B, snap out of it!"
"I'm listening," she says quickly, and wrinkles her nose. "No need to yell."
"Did you hear what I said?"
She grins. "Of course."
It's just a phase anyways, she thinks. She'll get tired of thinking about him so much, and then she'll get over it, just like she did before. It was nothing, it is nothing, and it'll pass soon.
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