Chapter Ten:
Max scowled. Okay, so it was harder to find Liz in New York City than he had previously thought. But he and Liz had a connection! Last time he was in New York, Liz saved his life! They had a bond; they were soulmates! So why the hell couldn't he find her!?
Max had done a bit of research and found out that Gossip Girl reported on the events from those living on the Upper East Side. So that's where he started. He then looked at old gossip and found out that Liz was a Van Leih and that her grandfather owned a law firm in Manhattan, so Max decided that he would move his search there. If he couldn't find Liz at her grandfather's then maybe Max could talk to him and convince him to tell Max where his granddaughter was. After all, Max was great with parents and who didn't want to help their misguided granddaughter make up with the one person in the world that can make them happy; their soulmate.
As Max started walking to the law firm, only two blocks away, his mouth began to water as he smelled spicy Italian coming from a nearby restaurant. His stomach growled; the last thing he ate was airplane food on his flight to Philadelphia.
Max stomped down his hunger. His love for Liz was more important. After he had retrieved Liz, they could go out on a dinner date. Max smiled. Yes, he'd rather wait for Liz.
XOXO XOXO XOXO XOXO
Liz and Chuck walked into a fancy Italian restaurant only a couple blocks away from her grandfather's firm. As soon as the smell hit her, Elizabeth knew she would have to bring her grandfather here for lunch one day. It smelled absolutely divine.
A young hostess of about twenty greeted them at the door. Liz scowled in annoyance when she saw the look the hostess was giving her date.
"Bass," Chuck's deep and sensuous voice broke the silence.
The dark haired woman smiled in a seductive manner. Looks and money, just her type… She barely paid any attention to the stunning brunette at his side.
"Right this way," She purred, leading them to the back.
Elizabeth looked up, expecting Chuck to be looking at the woman's ass or at least smirking in a self-satisfied manner. She blinked in shock to see him staring at her. Liz blushed and looked away, almost walking into a table if it hadn't been for Chuck's fast reflexes bringing her closer to him.
He left his arm wrapped around her stomach as he smiled at her in amusement, causing her to blush slightly. The hostess turned around with a blinding smile that promptly turned into an annoyed pout upon seeing his arm wrapped tight around Liz's waist.
"Here you are," She told the two of them in a slightly exasperated voice as she laid two menus out, "Your waitress will be here shortly," the hostess walked away with a huff, still pouting. All the while, Chuck's attention never wavered from Elizabeth.
Liz smiled as she sat down on the comfortable chair at the secluded table. Chuck smirked from across from her as he opened his mouth to speak.
"Can I get you any drinks?" a voice interrupted.
The two of them looked up to see a tall blonde in her late teens, smiling brightly at Chuck. It was obvious to Liz that the hostess had quickly dished behind the scenes and that the blonde was not disappointed in Mr. Hot and Rich Bass.
Chuck scowled at the waitress in annoyance, if there was one thing Chuck Bass didn't like it was to be interrupted, "Coke."
The waitress reluctantly turned to take Liz's order.
Elizabeth smiled in amusement and ordered a Pepsi.
As the waitress disappeared behind some type of partition, Chuck spoke, "I guess that answers the age long question."
Elizabeth's head tilted in confusion.
"Coke or Pepsi," Chuck grinned.
She allowed a carefree laugh as the waitress came back scowling at how well Chuck and Elizabeth were getting along.
She turned her back to Liz and asked Chuck what he'd like to eat to which Chuck raised an eyebrow at Liz in an obvious move to everyone involved that she was to order first.
Once again the waitress forcibly turned to look at Elizabeth, a scowl etched on her pretty face.
"Chicken parmesan," Liz ordered, ignoring the rudeness of the waitress.
"Eggplant pesto with oregano not basil," was what Chuck told to the woman, not even allowing the waitress time to turn around.
The woman nodded before turning on her heel in a huff akin to that of the hostess'.
Elizabeth let out a laugh again but stopped when she heard Chuck let out a breathy chuckle as well.
"What?" He asked with a sexy smile on his lips.
"N…Nothing," Liz blushed, averting her eyes.
Chuck smiled knowingly but didn't say anything. The dinner continued on much like that. The two shared small tidbits of information, the waitress continued to flirt with Chuck, who in turn continued to ignore the blonde, and the two would laugh at the waitress's antics once she had left.
Elizabeth's tinkling laugh echoed once they were out the door and into the street. Chuck followed, also deeply amused at the waitress' last ditch flirting attempt.
Chuck heard a deep sigh and looked back at his companion who had suddenly stopped and was looking up.
He looked up as well, but couldn't find what ever it was she was looking at.
"What is it?" He asked gently, hand moving to grip her elbow.
"The stars," She replied.
Once again, Chuck looked up, a serious look to match Liz's also serious face, "You can't see the stars. The skyscrapers are too high."
"And don't you miss it?" Liz asked heartbreakingly, looking into his eyes.
Chuck looked up thoughtfully before replying.
"You can't miss what you've never had."
With that one sentence, Chuck bore more than just his feelings on stars and Elizabeth understood that immediately. She didn't know exactly what it was he was talking about, but she knew that it was important and most likely, the saddest thing she would ever hear.
She nodded in understanding before taking his hand in hers and leading him on a walk.
"So, how's Serena?" Liz asked, attempting to change the subject.
He laughed at her try, "Graceful, but I'll let it pass. Serena's fine. Bruises and her eye is still swollen, but she'll live. She's gotten a bit jumpier, but that's to be expected, I suppose."
"And how do you feel?" Liz asked.
Chuck looked at her in confusion, "What?"
She smiled patiently, "Your sister was brutally attacked. How do you feel?"
"…Well, I suppose I feel worried about her. I think I might be getting paranoid about her safety, but she hasn't complained yet…" Chuck answered slowly as he thought.
Elizabeth stopped and looked at him for a second, trying to decide on whether or not it was a good idea to bring it up before decided on continuing on.
"People don't ask you your opinion on things very often, do they?" She asked softly.
Chuck looked at her uncomprehendingly, "Of course they do."
"I don't mean whether you like the blue sweater or the brown. I mean how you feel about things that happen to you or to those around you," Elizabeth explained, well aware that Chuck new exactly what she was talking about.
His face grew serious, "No. No they don't. I think you might be the first one. First one I can remember, anyway," Chuck chose to ignore the soft, almost pitying look Liz gained, "My father has always chosen what I was to do and who I was to do it with. Sometimes, I…. Never mind," Chuck shook his head before increasing his pace in an attempt to change the solemn mood.
Liz wanted so badly to ask what it was he was going to say, but knew better than to push. People had secrets; secrets they weren't just going to share with someone they didn't know that well. If anyone could understand secrets, it was her.
Elizabeth quickly changed the subject to pets as they continued their walk, talking about happy, simple, superficial things. Things that would put an amused smile back on his face.
It was almost eleven when Elizabeth and Chuck reached her proverbial doorstep outside of her penthouse building.
Elizabeth turned around to compliment the evening when she found Chuck staring back at her intently. At first she was worried that Chuck had less than innocent intentions, but soon realized that his face expressed deep thought.
Suddenly, Chuck moved forward, enclosing on her personal space. For a brief moment, all she could think about was the smell of his cologne.
"Sometimes, I worry that I don't have any real opinions of my own," Chuck whispered the rest of his unfinished sentence from earlier in her ear before giving her a slow, sensual kiss to her lips. There was no tongue and the only parts of their bodies that were touching were their mouths and their interlocked hands. It was the chastest kiss Chuck had ever given.
Slowly Chuck moved away. He lifted his hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear before walking down the steps and onto the sidewalk, never looking back.
Elizabeth blushed and lifted her hand to her lips in the most clichéd moment she ever experienced. But that didn't change her heavy breathing, her weak legs or the pounding of her heart, both from his kiss and his confession.
So, maybe Liz Parker lost love long before she came to New York City.
But maybe Elizabeth Van Leih had just found it in the Upper East Side.
It appears that New Girl has fallen for the biggest trap of all. Love. This scoop has just gotten juicier. Now, the question becomes, not if she can survive, but if she's just been tricked by UES's playboy. Everyone knows Chuck Bass is ruthless in his pursuit of what he wants. And right now, he wants the New Girl… but what will tomorrow bring? If New Girl thought she was swimming in shark infested water before, then she's left stranded without a lifejacket now. All that's left is to see if the Bass shark takes a bite and calls the others with New Girl's blood, or if said Bass protects her from his fellow meat eaters.
Watch out for tomorrow's scoop
XOXO
Gossip Girl