Chapter III
Well if they Don't Dance, Then They're No Friends of Mine
Spotted: Queen B. Sharing drinks with S on a school night. First late to class, now this? Watch out B, your love for bad boys may already be corrupting you.
Eric came home to the strong smell of pot, a mixture of vomit and garbage, wafting from the upstairs bedroom. It didn't take a genius to figure out who it was. He sighed heavily, throwing his bag down on the floor. He was usually the tidy one of the family, but he'd had a rough day. Not only had he been called a derogatory term by a homophobic jock with more muscles then brain cells, but Jenny had been sticking with him and Jonathan like a leech.
Eric grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl laying on the counter. He glanced back at the stairs as he leant against the counter and bit into it. He contemplated whether he should approach his obviously broody brother or not. He'd gotten a text from Serena telling him that Bart was back and Chuck was in one of his moods, so she'd gone shopping. He guessed she'd tried to talk to him, but he hadn't been all that responsive. Eric could just see him swearing Serena out of his room. Then again Serena probably hadn't even tried.
Sighing as he reached the apple core Eric threw it at in the nearby trash can and picked up his bag again. He made his decision and headed up the stairs.
Chuck's room, for some inconceivable reason, was next to Serena's. Lilly obviously trusted that Serena's vocal disdain for him would keep any problems from arising. For once their Mum was right. Serena and Chuck had never had any sort of attraction, she wasn't his type, and she knew too much about his sordid history to ever look at him in a romantic light. Eric had been relieved about that. Chuck, unlike most of the other men or boys in his life, would not be there and then gone on his sister's or mother's whim. He thought that even if Lilly and Bart's marriage disintegrated, Chuck seemed to genuinely like him and they may actually remain friends. At least Eric guessed it was like and not amusement, sometimes it was hard to tell with Chuck.
Eric reached his brother's door, and paused. He raised his fist to knock, and then thought better of it. Instead he tried the silver handle first. To his surprise the door popped open and Eric entered. Chuck was lying on his silk sheets, on his stomach. A joint was held lazily in his hand, lolling off the bed. His blazer was thrown on the floor, and his shirt was untucked. His purple Nike sneakers lay on top of his bedside table for some inconceivable reason.
"Hey," Eric choked out, covering his nose as the smoke rolled over him.
Chuck glanced lazily up at him. Noticing Eric's discomfort he actually flipped over onto his back and reached his hand out towards an ornamental vase sitting on his side table, extinguishing the rolled up paper. Eric imagined the vase was left over from when the interior decorator went through the house. Of course Chuck's whole room looked like it had been from that time. The colours were silver and varying shades of grey, along with a little dark blue. Lilly hadn't been sure what kind of taste Chuck had, so she had attempted at a neutral air. It was still a neutral room, bar a few ties lying on the floor and a red coat thrown over a chair, it could have been something out of a display home. Eric guessed Chuck spent more time in 1812 then he did here. He had noticed that the suite certainly had Chuck's flare for colour, on the few occasions he and Chuck had spent up there playing games.
"Are you here for a particular reason little brother?" Chuck drawled, looking at him from his position on the bed. "Or just enjoying the fumes?"
"Martin Grant called me a fag today," Eric said matter of factly. He blinked, stunned at his sudden honesty. He hadn't been planning to come into the room and broach this subject, but there was something about Chuck that inspired confidence, though heaven knew why. Well the words couldn't be taken back now, so Eric left the matter for lost and went to sit on the chair which the red coat was occupying.
Chuck called Martin Grant a very rude word, that would have made Eric's ears burn, if one of Lilly's boyfriends hadn't sworn like a trooper at basketball matches.
"It's no big deal," he said mildly, surprised at Chuck's vehemence. The older boy had actually deigned to sit up at the news, and there was a dangerous flash in his dark eyes.
"No, big, deal," Chuck enunciated each word carefully, looking at Eric without comprehension.
"I don't want you to put a hit out on him or anything," Eric said quickly. "I just guess I needed to tell somebody."
"He's a jerk," Chuck began, censoring his language somewhat. "He needs..."
"Yeah he's a jerk," Eric interrupted him before he could continue on his rant. "An uneducated loser, who will end up selling pot in a park and get caught, possibly go to jail for five to ten years. Maybe he'll even get a boyfriend while there, making his comments to me kind of ironic. I know he's a jerk, but if I react to what he said, I'm implying I care what he thinks. And I'm better than that."
Chuck looked at the younger boy, opening his mouth as if to say something more, but then he closed it again. Grinning bemusedly instead he shook his head.
"What?" Eric asked as he chuckled.
"Nothing, I'm just wondering how you and Serena can share any DNA," he drawled.
"Hey, Serena has her moments," Eric retorted, part jokingly, part serious.
"So now we've established you're a wiser man than your elders, is there anything else you'd like to discuss?" Chuck enquired, lying back down on his bed and staring up at the dove grey ceiling.
"Why, are you planning to go somewhere?" Eric asked, smiling slightly at Chuck's flippant dismissal.
"No, I'm grounded," Chuck gave a short humourless laugh, fingering quotation marks in the air around the word.
"Wow the great Chuck Bass grounded," Eric said dryly.
"For the evening at least. Never fear, I'm sure my father will forget all about it in a day or so. He always does."
"Do you wish he didn't?" Eric asked, he realised how incredibly lame it sounded as it left his mouth, but he was sure he didn't imagine that slight bitterness to Chuck's voice.
"Am I paying you by the hour or something?" Chuck enquired dryly, raising his eyebrows he craned his neck to look at Eric.
"Huh?"
"For the shrink service." Chuck commented. "Its times like these I realise how lucky you are to have me in your life."
"Really?" Eric queried sarcastically. "And do you say that to all the girls you meet."
"Only the ones I plan to grace with my presence a second time," Chuck smirked, suddenly he sat up, grabbing one of his sneakers from his bedside table he attempted to undo the laces.
"Are you planning to go somewhere?" Eric queried watching his brother's progress. He wasn't sure if that was such a good idea, Bart seemed to have a very short fuse when it came to Chuck.
"We are going somewhere," Chuck said as he grabbed the second sneaker.
"We are?" Eric felt startled, his thoughts going to Victrola. Chuck had taken him there once on a Saturday, he wasn't entirely sure if his eyes had fully recovered yet. "But I thought you were grounded?"
"My Father said I couldn't go outside, he didn't say anything about leaving the suite," Chuck smirked wickedly, and Eric was definitely sure this was not a good idea.
"And then Bart was all like," and with this Serena lowered her voice, deepening it and scowling to reflect her step father's manner, she crossed her arms and puffed out her chest. "Oh and Serena, if you don't mind I'd like to chat later." At the end of her impression she deflated, uncrossing her arms and flicking her blonde hair back. "I mean, as if I have a choice? He marries my Mum and then thinks he can lecture me, after raising Chuck. Can you believe that B?"
"Right," Blair murmured, not entirely paying attention to her friend. Instead her concentration was on her pink strawberry dacqhurie. She was stirring it absently, her other hand clutching her red blackberry.
"So, a moment in the rain huh?" Serena asked sneakily, trying to hide her growing smile.
"I told you, nothing happened," Blair snapped, catching these words. Her voice rising an octave, as was habitual when she was desperately trying to lie to herself.
"Gossip girl doesn't seem to think so. Apparently someone spotted you two while heading to class. She's offering a reward if anyone can give her further information." Serena teased.
"What reward, a fake Prada?" Blair queried, vindictively stabbing the strawberry on her stick and popping it into her mouth. "I'm sure Little Jenny Humphrey will jump at the chance. Although she'd probably do better with some make up remover."
"Don't be cruel B. Jenny has been really quiet lately," Serena protested, feeling slightly sorry for the blonde girl. She knew all too well what it was like to get a frosty reception from Blair and her minions.
"I'm not the one who invented raccoon watch on gossip girl," Blair said, innocently. "I was just stating something we're all thinking."
"So is there anything going on between you?" Serena prompted, eagerly watching her friends for any sign of relenting. Since her and Dan had gone their separate ways her love life had been rather sparse lately. She wasn't yet ready to move on with anyone, she still found herself missing Dan on occasions.
"Nothing," Blair said, once more flashing innocent doe eyes.
"Sure," Serena teased, casting a sideways look at her friend. "If you call a kiss nothing."
"Who said anything about a kiss?" Blair's voice rose in pitch and her cheeks coloured. "I did not kiss that Bass hole."
"What?" Serena stared at her friend, stunned at the reaction her teasing had caused. Then she burst into laughter. "Oh my gosh you did kiss him," she crowed in triumph at Blair's tell tale signs.
"Quiet," Blair hissed, casting her eyes around the bar to ensure no teenagers were sitting close by. She flapped her arms in desperation to hush her friend.
"I don't know whether to be disgusted or concerned," Serena teased, quieting her giggles.
"I know," Blair groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I don't know what I was thinking," her voice muffled, her curling hair forming a protective curtain around her.
"Do you...do you still like him?" Serena asked tentatively, watching her friend carefully. She teased her hair with her fingers nervously, not sure what to say to Blair's imminent confession or denial.
They were both saved from having to say anything with the sharp trill and vibration of both their phones. Blair looked up and her eyes met Serena. It was one of those occasions where they were thinking the same thing.
"You don't think anyone saw you?" Serena finally queried.
"I don't want to know," Blair groaned, quickly burying her face again."I can't even look."
"It might not even be about that..." Serena said doubtfully, biting her lip. She could tell Blair was on her way to a complete meltdown.
"Just get it over with," Blair said dryly, commanding. Serena obeyed, taking her pink phone from her bag she flicked it open in one fatal swoop and glanced at the new message from gossip girl.
I see London, I see France, I see Chuck Bass drunk off his ass. Not only that, but with a new drinking partner to boot. Wonder what a certain S would think of this. Xoxo GG.
Serena's relief that the post did not mention Blair was dispelled at the last sentence. Quickly she scrolled down to the accompanying pictures. They were like stills of a video, Chuck drowning down a bottle, not even bothering with a glass, at the Palace bar no less. Girls of questionable character surrounded him. And next to him, sitting on the couch, was Eric, looking red in the face. Chuck was pouring more alcohol into his glass. There was some white powder on the table.
Serena went very still, staring at her little brother. Her sensible, good little brother, being egged on by Chuck Bass to jump into the deep end. Somewhere Serena knew all too well was near impossible to climb out of. Serena was usually of a bubbly disposition, but right then she felt rage spread like cold ice around her body.
"Is it bad?" Blair asked, looking up at Serena's silence.
"I have to go," Serena said abruptly, not hearing her friend. She quickly grabbed her bag, fumbling with her purse she pulled out a twenty and threw it on the bar, sliding off the bar stool. "Sorry," she called behind her as Blair opened her mouth to query her abrupt actions. "But it's an emergency." Quickly turning, she rushed out of the bar like a whirlwind.
Blair frowned slightly, looking after Serena. Curiosity getting the better of her she reached for her own phone, flicking it open to view the post. A sinking feeling settled in her stomach as she imagined all sorts of dreadful scenarios, the worst being a coloured photo of her moment of weakness. She looked stunned at the post instead. Scrolling down to the pictures she saw Chuck, drunk and raucous, a skinny blonde sitting next to him in a low cut black dress.
Snapping her phone shut, she quickly slammed it down on the table and grabbed her strawberry dacqhurie. Drowning the remaining drink in one go, she gestured to the bartender. She required another drink, a stronger one this time.
"Chuck what the hell are you doing?" Serena snapped, stalking up to the couch Chuck was lounging on, in the corner of the Palace bar.
He looked up at the avenging blonde, her blue eyes hard, her face unimpressed. Her eyes flickered to Eric, who was sitting next to him with a buxom blonde on his knee. Both of them were giggling, he was most definitely not her usual sober brother.
"Serena?" Eric looked up, at his older sister, a goofy smile breaking over his face. "Heyyyy, whaddyou doing here?...Chuck got me some coke, it tastes funny, you want some?..."
"Looking a bit tense there sis, would you like some?" Chuck queried, breaking the silence as Serena stared at Eric in utter horror. He held up the scotch and indicated with his other hand the goods laid out on the table.
"I can't believe this, you're doing coke? You gave my little brother coke?" Serena screeched. The bartender looked up at this, obviously nervous but unsure what to do about the boss' drunk underage son. The other patrons had already cleared out, some with disdainful looks and intent to complain, others with amused glances. And those rare tweenagers who had been enjoying a boring dinner courtesy of their parents, with incriminating photos just as they were pulled away. Chuck had successfully managed to call some friendly young women of his, who were now filling up the couches on either side of him and Eric, and displaying very anti-social behaviour.
"Of course I didn't give Eric 'coke," Chuck drawled, shrugging. "This is strictly for the girls, they have a certain taste for it." He smiled like a wolf, a predator showing all his teeth. "I did however, provide Eric with the beverage coke, with a bit of scotch mixed in. He wouldn't have liked the taste otherwise, and you know how I like to accommodate my siblings."
"You spiked his drink!" Serena moved onto the next point of call. Perhaps it wasn't as bad as being high, but still it was her little brother.
"I merely offered him some refreshments," Chuck shrugged, seeing no moment to it. After all, Serena, Nate, Blair and him had done far worse at fourteen, then get a bit tipsy and giggle while a blonde sat on their lap.
"You're a pig," Serena snapped, expressing as much disdain and disgust as she could. "Come on Eric, we're going," she turned to her brother with this. Obviously she wasn't going to be the one to discover Chuck's elusive conscience.
"But I...just got here..." Eric began, looking up at his older sister from behind the blonde's full hair, with bemusement.
"And now you're leaving, come on," Serena said determinedly. She grabbed her brother's hand, pulling him up and displacing the blonde who tumbled half onto Chuck's lap. Eric stumbled, falling into Serena, she quickly supported his weight. The smell of alcohol was heavy on him.
"Woah..." he moaned, "Did the room always spin like this?" Of course it didn't come out as a coherent sentence, more like a jumble of words.
"Where are you going, the party is just getting started?" Chuck queried, pushing the ratty blonde off him and looking at Serena with a frown. "I think Eric has a right to decide if he wants to stay."
"No, he doesn't," Serena snapped, before Eric could open his mouth. "He is fourteen years old and you are a selfish jerk. You might want to spite Bart by screwing up your life Chuck, but don't you dare bring him into this. If you ever, ever come near my little brother again, I will personally make sure Mom finds out about this, and then you won't have another opportunity."
With that she grabbed Eric and practically dragged him towards the exit, and towards the elevators which would take them up to their penthouse suite. He stumbled, leaning on her.
"Serena I don't feel so good," he muttered, she prayed he wouldn't spew until they got up to their suite, or at least into the elevators.
"Fine bitch, way to ruin a party," Chuck called after her spitefully, glaring. Serena bit her tongue, and kept on walking, making an effort not to turn around and get into a very public fight with Chuck.
Chuck watched her stagger out supporting the disorientated Eric. The anger started to drain out of him as soon as they were out of sight, even though he desperately tried to cling to it. He clutched at his scotch glass, watching the amber liquid swill around as he rotated his wrist absently. Her words were still ringing in his ears. "Selfish jerk, screw up..." mirroring his fathers.
"So...do you have any more of that stuff?" the blonde queried softly, smiling, her head lolling as she brought up a manicured hand to stroke the lapel of his jacket.
"I'm not in the mood," Chuck snapped, pushing her off him unceremoniously and heading for the exit himself. It looked like he was going to be sleeping solo in 1812 tonight.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews, ChairLoveK, Ami, tvrox12, colourmehappy and QueenBee10. I really appreciate it! = D I'm so glad you guys like it so far! = )
I hope I'm staying in character. Please review if you're reading = ).
Next chapter: An awkward parent teacher meeting involving the Big Bad Bart. Plus Chuck and Blair share an embarrassing confrontation in class. And a new bad boy moves into the Upper East side. Sibling rivalry will be in future chapters too!
Oh yeah and when you read this imagine Chuck with his season 1 hair and unique fashion style, sigh I miss those days = (. Also in my early understanding, I thought the Bass suite was in the Palace at the top, so it's the same in this story.
Picture: google "a-bs-moment" (don't know if anyone cares about this lol, but it helps me visualise the scenes)