Chapter XII
In the Garden of Eden Honey, That's Where I'll be Tonight
Dan checked his watch as he stood in the elevator, settling his book laden bag on his shoulder as he headed up to the penthouse suite. He wondered dismally when Thursday had come so fast. Attempting to tutor Chuck for a second time was unlikely to be any more fun than trying to tutor Chuck for the first time.
"Daniel," Lilly said, greeting him with an actual smile she looked up from the couch, where she had been sitting, at his entrance. "Are you looking for Serena?"
"Chuck actually," Dan amended, feeling that dread build in him once more. The last tutoring session had been awkward enough, he was not looking for a repeat to be played out in front of Serena's Mom. Unfortunately Bart had already paid him for three weeks in advance, and Dan was loathe to take the money without the work. He had considered shoving an envelope filled with the three cheques into the mail box reserved for the Van der Bass' downstairs, but he thought he at least deserved it to the man to explain why he was quitting before he actually did so. Besides he could also use the money. That meant taking Chuck for this weeks 'tutoring' session and once Bart was back handing in his resignation immediately. He was pretty sure it would make Chuck and him prodigiously happy if someone else could take over his role of tutor, knowing Chuck it would preferably be a long legged model type.
"Oh Charles isn't here, I didn't know you two were friends?" Lilly commented with surprise, interrupting Dan's reverie.
"We're not," Dan clarified, "I'm actually supposed to be tutoring him, right now..." he frowned slightly. He thought Bart had seemed pretty disapproving of Chuck slacking off, even if that one time his disapproval had been unfairly applied. He surmised, by Chuck reaction to Bart's words, that he would at least show up for the session, even if he wasn't actually prepared to do any work. He guessed Bart wasn't here to see though, so Chuck, as usual, was doing what he wanted.
"Oh," a crease formed between Lilly's eyebrows and she frowned slightly. "Well maybe he just forgot, you could try to look for him in 1812? Or the Palace bar?"
"Uh...actually that's okay," Dan said, fingering his wallet. He contemplated giving Lilly the cheques now, but decided against it. "I was meaning to talk with Mr Bass about it anyway...I don't think it's working out so I'll just...I'll just go and discuss it with him when he gets back..." When Bart came back he'd just explain he wasn't able to do the job anymore and give him the two weeks wages, rather than one. Though he thought bitterly he could have used the money. But that was Chuck for you, what was a bit of money to a billionaires self entitled son?
"All right then," Lilly said softly, she hesitated as if she wanted to say more to him, but she didn't and Dan turned to leave, glancing at the staircase in the vain hope he might catch Serena coming downstairs. He had no such luck, and exited the suite with no event, though with a hostile feeling towards Chuck, who he had dumbly wasted taxi fair for.
When Dan got to the lobby he automatically glanced sideways where the bar area was housed, in the last vain hope of catching a glimpse of a tall blonde. Instead he spotted Chuck, sitting with his back to him at a table alone, presumably with a scotch glass in hand. Although only the back of his head was visible, you couldn't mistake the St Judes uniform, which like Dan he hadn't changed out of yet. Feeling annoyed, and fingering the cheques in his pocket once more, he decided to confront the other boy, who had just pressed his phone to his ear.
Walking up to the table he went as if to to tap Chuck on the shoulder, Dan paused as he caught a bit of Chuck's conversation.
"Father, I was just thinking perhaps when you flew in we could catch a game together...?" he started off with his usual confident drawl, but Dan almost detected a note of real hope in there. His voice immediately dropped however with his shoulders as he heard Bart's reply on the other end. "Lilly told you...No...Look it was not my fault Serena...Oh please, with that again?...I did...It's not like that if you'll just list-" his voice had dropped lower with each passing comment, he sunk into his seat. "Well perhaps Lilly had a point about that," he muttered suddenly sullen and rebellious. Bart didn't seem to like to hear that and his voice rose to an angry buzz. "I'm just saying maybe if you were here..." This comment led to an even more furious rumble, Dan could almost make out Barts words if it wasn't for the low music playing in the bar. "No I see..." Chuck murmured bitterly. "I understand, but if you would jus..." he trailed off, taking the phone from his ear, obviously Bart had hung up on him.
Dan hesitated, unsure whether to still approach him or not. He felt like an intruder on something unpleasant, and perhaps something he didn't entirely want to hear. Perhaps Chuck wasn't the big jerk he made him out to be, Dan wasn't sure if he was ready to face that truth and all the implications that came with it. Chuck threw his phone onto the table with a clatter, and Dan made his decision. He walked around the table, looking at Chuck who had just accepted a bottle from a waiter. Chuck turned his dark eyes on him, disbelieving as Dan took the seat opposite him, dropping his bag down under the table. He noted the three empty glasses which were already scattered on the table and a full bottle of wine which he was just about to open.
"What are you doing Humphrey?" he drawled with disgust, sneering as he took in Dan. "They don't serve trash here."
Dan tried to remind himself of the conversation he had just over heard, ignoring Chuck's comment with some effort.
"Believe me it's not through my own violation. I believe we had a tutoring session," he pointed out. "Which was supposed to be happening ten minutes ago."
"Do I look like I need your tutelage?" Chuck queried, raising his eyebrows and holding up the bottle of wine. "In case you've forgotten I'm Chuck Bass. And though my father hired you as some misguided attempt to look honourable, we all know what really counts when it comes to college. It's all in a name Humphrey Dumptey and it's going to get someone like me into Yale, and someone like you into a glorified State school...if you're lucky..."
Dan gritted his teeth at the reminder. "Well that may be so, but at least I would have gotten there on my own merit," he snapped, losing his temper at Chuck's smirk. "At least when I bring that diploma home to my Dad I know it was all me, and not because of some money he threw at the board to save face."
There was a moment of silence as Chuck looked at Dan, his eyes darkening, his jaw tightening. Dan stared him down.
"I'm sure your father will be proud with your mediocre diploma," Chuck finally drawled darkly, his voice unreadable. "Now if you don't mind, not that I'd care if you did, I have a lady to seduce."
With that he got up, taking the bottle of wine with him and not sparing another glance at Dan. Dan watched him go, feeling a bite of conscience at the fact he had purposefully used the information he had gleaned from Chuck's conversation with Bart, against him. He thought vaguely that only Chuck Bass would try and pick up someone still dressed in his school uniform. Getting up to also leave, Dan remembered the cheques in his pocket. He thought he might as well give them to Chuck now and never have to see his annoying face again. Glancing at the bar as he settled his tie he saw the woman who Chuck was talking to look at him with disgust. Dan smiled, maybe there was justice in this world. He walked up to Chuck, leaving his bag under the table to collect after he quit his unsatisfying job. He fumbled for the cheques in his pocket as he came closer.
"My mistake," Chuck murmured to the woman, stepping back from her. The bottle of wine lay beside him on the bar, Chuck fingers immediately went to it, feeling in his pocket for a joint to enjoy along with it upstairs. Dan tapped him on the shoulders and he turned around.
"You again?" he snapped, obviously he did not take rejection well.
"Again not voluntary, I just wanted to..." Dan began, about to take out the cheques. That's when some guy, who had just walked up to the woman, grabbed Chuck on the shoulder and turned him around to face him.
"What the hell?" Chuck growled, shaking off the guys beefy arm. Dan looked at him with some trepidation, he was about thirty, and had his arm protectively on the woman's waist.
"My girlfriend just said you called her a prostitute," the guy growled, glaring at Chuck.
"I believe the term is call girl, and I'm sorry. I already apologized to her, it was an honest mistake," Chuck stated, fixing the collar of his blazer and looking up at the taller man.
"Honest mistake?" the guy asked, disbelieving. "You're going to have to do a lot better than sorry..." Some other men at a nearby table also got up, with frowns on their faces, going to stand behind their friend as they heard the first sign of confrontation.
"Is there something wrong Tommy?" one man asked.
"Yeah this little twat just called Sharon a prostitute," he answered, not taking his eyes from Chuck, the two other guys also zeroed in on Chuck with death stares.
"I told you it was an honest mistake. She can have a complimentary drink on the house if that will satiate her virtue, though with a dress that short..." Chuck drawled lazily, annoyed now at the guys persistence and the others involvement.
"You little prick," the guy swore, glaring at Chuck and going to grab his shirt.
"Hey, hey," Dan said, quickly stepping in and trying to diffuse the situation. "He said sorry, you know maybe we should all try and be adults here and..."
"This is none of your business you..." one of Henry's friends stepped forward, pushing Dan hard so he fell into Chuck and calling him something extremely rude. Dan glared at him, feeling his own anger rise.
"Yeah well how about I make it my business you ass," he snapped, and he swung his fist as hard as he could, hitting the guy hard in the face. "Ow," he exclaimed as he felt something crunch in his hand, he shook it cradling it to his chest.
Chuck was looking at him stunned, having backed up a few steps. Dan glanced at him, then at the the other two men, who were looking at him with wide eyes, then at their friend who was clutching his face.
"You're going to pay for that you little shits," he growled furiously.
"I think now would be a good time to run," Dan said, quickly turning. Chuck seemed to have the same idea, typically grabbing the bottle of wine he headed around the bar he dodged a server and made for double black doors, Dan was hard on his heels, following him. The burst through the doors into the clamour and smell of the hotel's kitchen. Chuck quickly made his way down the rows of workers, his sights set on the exit sign, Dan followed a beat behind.
The doors burst open, Dan glanced behind him to see the three guys in hot pursuit, ignoring the surprised exclamations of the kitchen staff. Chuck also noticed them, weaving in between counter tops, narrowly missing having a pot of soup spilt over his shirt front.
"Mister Chuck," a chef exclaimed with a heavy French accent, watching with wide eyes as Chuck tripped over a waiter and sent their dish toppling. "What are you doing?"
"Sorry Alfonso, I'll pay for it later," Chuck called negligently behind his shoulder as he kept on running and Dan was forced to jump over the spilled spaghetti, slipping on some of it and almost falling himself.
"This way," Chuck snapped, grabbing Dan's blazer he pulled him away from the path of the exit sign and towards a side door. Dan followed, almost tripping over his own slippery shoes, as they burst through the door and landed in a narrow alley near putrid garbage bins and a pile of bags. They could hear the shouts from the kitchen, and Chuck quickly headed for the mouth of the alley, Dan went to follow, just as he tripped over a garbage bag he heard the door burst open and the three guys tumble out. Quickly scrabbling up he swore, heading after Chuck who had noticed and put on an extra burst of speed. They burst out of the alley with the guys shouting angrily after them in pursuit. Chuck and Dan paused for a second, trying to decide their options. The men were on their heels.
With one mind both Dan and Chuck took a risk and made a dart across the busy New York street. They managed to dodge cars which honked at them furiously, narrowly missing getting hit as breaks screeched. The older men were not so lucky, as a bus passed in front of them just before they could cross.
"Taxi," Dan gasped as they paused on the other side, amazed they were still alive. As he struggled for breath he was really wishing he'd had more sporting experience. Chuck was gasping for breath as well, wheezing. Dan supposed what they said about smoking was right, though he wondered if it included joints.
Dan tugged at the bent over Chuck and they made towards a cab which a woman had just hailed nearby.
"Sorry lady, but we really need this," Dan said apologetically, feeling guilty as he gently pushed the startled woman out of the way and slipped into the cab, Chuck didn't say anything as he slid in beside him and shut the door in her shocked face.
"Where to boys?" the taxi driver queried, not even blinking an eye.
"Brooklyn," Dan quickly recited his address, peering anxiously out the window for signs of the men.
"Money first," the grizzled driver dicated, taking in their dishelved appearance with suspicion.
"Here," Dan scrabbled in his pocket he took out whatever notes were crumpled up and shoved them at the driver,
"This isn't enough to get you there," he snapped, looking at the meagre bundle.
"Here," Chuck said, scrabbling in his own pockets he threw two notes at the guy from a large clip of them, not even bothering to check the numbers. "Now drive."
"Okay, okay," the guy grumbled but complied, pulling out of there with the screech of tires and the smell of burning rubber. Thankfully the traffic wasn't too bad down the street. As they turned into another Dan actually allowed himself a sigh of relief, sinking back into the cheap linoleum seats. He glanced over at Chuck, who was still clutching the wine bottle in hand, his hair ruffled and his usually perfect tie almost undone. Chuck didn't notice however, he scrabbled for something in his blazer pocket without looking at Dan, finally coming out with a corkscrew.
"What are you doing?" Dan queried, amazed as Chuck began opening the bottle.
"Hey, hey," the taxi driver complained, "No drinking in the taxi."
"I'll give you a $200 for being accommodating," Chuck drawled, pulling out two notes from his inner pocket he threw it negligently on the passenger seat, the taxi driver shut up at this, only muttering. "Don't spill any."
Dan marvelled that at a time like this, Chuck had the presence of mind to open the bottle without spilling a drop. He took a large swig from the bottle, heedless of conventions. Turning his dark gaze on Dan he hesitated for a second, then offered it.
"Want a drink?" he drawled. "It's the good stuff, so I'm sure you've never had it."
"What the hell," Dan said, hesitating for only a second he took the bottle "After all I'm probably going to be in jail for assault so may as well live it up while I can..." and closing his eyes tight took a healthy gulp, spluttering at the taste.
"For once Humphrey I like the way you think," Chuck smirked, taking the bottle back.
Spotted: Our resident Bad Boy Chuck Bass and our resident Lonely Boy Dan Humphrey getting into a bar fight, or at least splitting after throwing a punch. What an unlikely pair in crime. Anyone know what the dispute was about?. The real question is, what were C and D doing in a bar together? Questions, questions and I know I want all the answers. Including if the police will give me a reward if I turn these two naughty boys in? Jokes, still it was nice to contemplate for a second there... xoxo GG.
"I think I may be drunk," Dan slurred, clutching the almost empty wine bottle as he stumbled out of the cab. "Actually, I think I know I am drunk."
"Lightweight," Chuck muttered part amused, part derisive as he exited the cab behind Dan. He was feeling hazy around the edges, but at least he was able to strand on his own, even if it did take him a little longer to translate words from thought to verbal language. He watched the taxi pull away with a sneer. "I cannot understand why anyone would use those to get around," he said, settling his blazer with an air of superiority.
"Mainly because us mortals don't have limo's," Dan pointed out, stumbling over his own feet and almost falling on the pavement as he made his way towards his building.
"Here," Chuck said, grabbing Dan before he fell face first onto the sidewalk.
"Did you just help me?" Dan asked, blinking rapidly as Chuck steadied him and he looked at the other boy stunned.
"Don't get used to it," Chuck drawled, quickly releasing him and brushing his hand onto his pants. "I just do-"
"Hey you boys," there came a booming voice from behind Chuck, cutting off whatever insult he was about to translate. He glanced behind him and swore under his breath as a chubby cop strode up to them, his leaner partner close behind. "What do you think you're doing with that?" he asked sternly, looking at the wine bottle in Dan's hand.
"Oh...I uh..." Dan stuttered, looking down at the incriminating piece of evidence, then up at the police officer. He knew right then he smelled heavily of alcohol, and Chuck was no better, with the smell of scotch also clinging to him from his drinks at the bar.
"We were just having some harmless fun," Chuck said quickly, grabbing the bottle from Dan.
"Public drinking is illegal, not to mention you two are under age," the other cop pointed out, looking pointedly at Chuck and Dan's school uniforms and reaching for his handcuffs. He could smell the alcohol on their breaths, not the mention Dan's unfocused eyes and Chuck's bleary ones.
"If you could just let it go this once I'm sure my father could compensate you," Chuck began smoothly in his confident drawl, concentrating on keeping the words separate. Dan knew it was a mistake as soon as it left his mouth. Perhaps that line worked on the Upper East side with security guards or bouncers, but these were cops in Brooklyn and both of their eyes hardened at Chuck's superior tone.
"Yeah, well how about he compensates us while he's picking you up from the station," the first cop announced, taking out his handcuffs now. Dan groaned, he could not believe just paces from his home he was being arrested. He really hoped neither Jenny or Rufus were looking out the window right now, he was staking his life on it.
"You cannot be serious," Chuck said incredulously, smirking in amusement as if he thought the guy was joking. The cop gave him an unamused look.
"Resist arrest son and I'll have to use force," he said, advancing now.
"Just do what they say," Dan muttered, pleading as Chuck made as if to argue further. The other cop turned him around and slapped the cuffs on him, biting into his wrist. Chuck shut his mouth with a snap as the heavy cop took the bottle from his hand and gave him the same treatment, a look of incredulity on his face.
"Hey, hey careful with the uniform, its tailor made," Chuck sniped, annoyed as the cop grabbed the back of his blazer roughly and pushed him towards their car which was parked down the street.
"Tailored, really?" the other cop chuckled under his breath derisively.
Dan followed behind, thinking that of all his years living in Brooklyn, the one time he passes a cop on the street is the time he had to be drunk with Chuck Bass.
"My Dad is going to kill me," Dan groaned for the tenth time. He was shaking his leg uncontrollably in a nervous state, a thousand dreadful outcomes running through his head. The terrible thing was he was feeling completely and utterly sober right then, which was something he could have used half an hour ago.
Chuck sat on the other steel bench in the small holding cell, leaning against the wall. He looked over at Dan impassively, not blinking an eyelash. He smelled of a brewery, he obviously had not sobered up, what with consuming most of the bottle himself, on top of the glasses of scotch he'd had at the Palace.
"Either that or he is going to leave me rotting in this cell. Or he is going to bail me out, only to kill me and then bury me in a hole where I will literally rot," Dan continued to babble, his eyes trained with dread on the grey wall opposite him. "Either that or I'm really going to jail, real jail, I mean I'm almost eighteen and ass-"
"Relax Humphrey," Chuck drawled, finally interrupting Dan's rant with some annoyance. Though his drawl was slightly more pronounced, that was the only indication he may have had a little too much to drink. "We were caught underage drinking, nothing more remember? We'll be out before the night is through. Trust me."
"Yeah its okay for you to say relax," Dan muttered, dismissing Chuck's reasoning, "You may have done this before, but you don't have Yale to worry about, or worse your father arriving here just so he can borrow a gun from a cop and commit homicide against his only son."
"At least your father will care enough to show up," Chuck commented bitterly once Dan ran out of breath in his tirade.
"Yeah, show up so he can kill me," Dan repeated in case the other boy didn't get it, looking at Chuck in disbelief.
Chuck his gaze from Dan and looking sightlessly at the steel bars of the cell.
"At least that's something..." he replied cryptically.
"Yeah, really something murdering me. Then again I guess it could be worse, he could go for the whole disappointed route. I can see it now 'After everything your mother and I did for you? What were you thinking ruining your whole future over a bottle of wine?' Which might I add though expensive tasted like flowers, really off flowers..." Dan mused, dread growing. "You know I think I'd rather the murder."
"He expects something more from you, that is something," Chuck pointed out in his lazy drawl, a hint of something Dan couldn't pinpoint in his voice. "When my lawyer informs my father of this, the most he'll do is get annoyed by the inconvenience of having to take the call."
Dan looked at Chuck, stunned. "I'm sure he...uh expects stuff from you," he finally said, trying to fill the silence awkwardly. "Maybe he gets annoyed because he does expect something more. Some parents murder, some, you know, lecture or glare, or whatever Bart does..." he trailed off into silence, watching Chuck carefully in the hopes he hadn't offended him.
Chuck chuckled, but it was a hollow sound.
"He expects me to screw up, every time. You saw him on Thursday," Chuck pointed out, he glanced at Dan now, his lids heavy, shading his eyes, his words heavy almost slurred. "And I don't disappoint."
"Perhaps...if you um...tried..." Dan began awkwardly, feeling far out of his depth.
"It doesn't matter if I try, or if I don't try," Chuck said bitterly, gazing back at the bars without seeing them. "I'll always be a disappointment to him because he never wanted me."
"Oh come on," Dan said, trying to dispel the ridiculous notion, giving a wry smile. "Even Bart Bass doesn't hate babies. I'm sure there's at least one time in your life where he cared."
"Not me," Chuck said, glancing at Dan almost disinterestedly now. "His beloved wife died giving birth to me..."
There was a moment of silence as the implications of this sunk in.
"Oh," was all Dan could manage, stunned, his eyes locked on Chuck's pale face. "That wasn't your..." he began automatically. Chuck actually laughed.
"Wasn't my fault? Do you think he cares? He hates me, and maybe he's right. Maybe I did kill my own mother..." his hoarse voice trailed off with that thought, his eyes like dark tunnels.
There was a silence as Dan contemplated Chuck's words and the guilt this apparent soulless jerk had been carrying around for years.
"That's uh...that's really shitty man," Dan finally said the first thing that popped into his head, uncharacteristically.
Chuck actually laughed at this.
"You know Humphrey, sometimes you remind me of Nathaniel," he murmured, smirking. Before Dan could reply to this, undecided on whether it was meant as a compliment or an insult, a police officer came up the bars, key in hand.
"Charles Bass, your lawyers here, he paid your bail" the man murmured in a bored tone. Chuck looked up, quickly rising and settling his tie. Just as he was about to walk out of the cell he glanced back at Dan, who was looking on with a wry smile.
"I'll see if my lawyer can get you out too, without the need of a homicide," he impulsively offered.
"That uh...that's really good of you," Dan offered, stunned slightly. Chuck didn't say anything to that, just gave him a small ironic smile and turned and followed the police officer back up the corridor.
It was unclear which of the two boys were more surprised when Chuck actually returned twenty minutes later, his lawyer with a suffering look on his face, and the police officer.
"Thanks," Dan said. He stood outside the precinct, the chilly air making him wish he'd brought a coat. Somehow Chuck's lawyer had actually managed to wrangle it so Rufus wasn't called, and Dan was still stunned that he had just dodged a bullet, and even more incomprehensible was that his saviour had come in the form of Chuck Bass. He held out his hand and Chuck after a moment's hesitation shook it.
"You do realise you now owe me your soul?" Chuck drawled smirking.
"Well, I wasn't doing much with it anyway I guess," Dan quipped, giving him a small smile as he shoved his hand into his pant pocket.
"Charles I think its best if you get home now," the lawyer droned authoritavily from where he was standing near the limo. Chuck sighed but followed behind the man, Dan watched him go. Once he reached the limo Chuck glanced behind him.
"Coming Humphrey?" he asked.
"What...oh..." Dan said, realising at the raised eyebrows that Chuck was actually offering him a lift. He stepped forward before he could think.
"It's just that my driver will need directions to find our way out of Brooklyn," Chuck clarified, pronouncing the name with his usual disdainful manner, his lip curling like it was distasteful to say.
"Right," Dan gave a short back of laughter. "Well perhaps while I'm helping you navigate your way out of the lesser boroughs you could drop me home?"
"It'll cost you two hundred," Chuck drawled sliding into the limo. Dan shook his head and followed, thinking that this night was the weirdest and yet strangely the most fun he'd had in a while.
"Where were you?" Rufus was sitting up, sipping on coffee on the couch and watching an old horror movie. He looked up as soon as Dan walked through the door, worry in his eyes. "You do realise its 12:00 and a school night?"
"I know I'm sorry, I just uh...got caught up," Dan supplied lamely, avoiding his Dad's gaze.
"And you couldn't call?" Rufus queried.
"Yeah, my phone died," Dan piled on the lie, he may as well. "Look I'm really beat Dad so is it all right if I just crash?" Dan didn't wait for a reply, quickly heading for his room before Rufus could interrogate him further.
"I know you're in senior year son, but just remember a call didn't hurt anyone," Rufus called after him as he closed his door.
Sighing Dan went to collapse on his bed, remembering too late that he'd left his bag under the table at the Palace bar. He just hoped wryly no one wanted to steal heavy books and notepads filled with aimless writing. He tried closing his eyes, too tired to change out of his uniform, but sleep was to no avail. He couldn't stop thinking about the conversation he'd had with Chuck in the holding cell, the way Chuck had seemed so different from the jerk he knew at school. Thinking of the misadventure of the night Dan wondered if perhaps Chuck Bass wasn't as bad as he first appeared, considering everything he'd revealed. If Dan accepted that though, he'd have to accept the fact that the UES wasn't as black and white as he'd always thought it was, and he didn't know if he was ready to re evaluate every core belief in his life before he was even in college.
Eventually, as he heard Rufus close his own bedroom door, Dan gave up sleep for lost, as these thoughts kept circling in his head, the events of the night playing over. Reaching for the laptop sitting on his bedside table he powered it up and started typing.
Blair stood on top of the Eiffel tower, wearing the perfect elegant white ball dress. She looked out over the city, the beautiful lights twinkled while fireworks played across the sky. She then glanced down at the Prince, kneeling at her feet, holding up a beautiful diamond tiara. He was handsome of course, with clear blue eyes and perfectly manicured blonde hair. He was murmuring such sweet things to her, though for some reason he was speaking in German, not French. That didn't matter though, it was inconsequential, all Blair noticed was that sparkling tiara.
"Yes, a thousand times yes," she replied once he finished his question, his intent clear though she didn't understand the language. And she reached out for the tiara, her fingertips just brushing the edges.
"Blair," she was stopped by the sound of her name from a recognizable husky voice. Instinctively she looked behind her. There was a forest behind her, a familiar figure was standing in the dark formed from the trees, his face hidden by shadow.
"What are you doing here?" she asked sharply, annoyed.
"Blair," he repeated, and this time she noticed there was something different in his voice, something odd.
"What do you want?" she repeated, demanding, frowning slightly. She was torn between turning her back on him and ignoring him in favour of the tiara and prince, or finding out what he was doing there.
"Come away from there," he said, and she finally could tell what was wrong with him, he sounded scared, an emotion she had never seen him wear, not obviously at least.
"Why?" she asked, and her voice had lost its sharp edge now.
"Come away from there, please," he was sounding desperate now, stepping forward slightly, but ensuring he remained obscured in the shadows.
"Are...are you okay Chuck?" she asked, concerned now. She was half turned from her Prince, indecisive, knowing he was serious as he actually begged.
"Please don't leave," he said it quietly, so soft her ears barely caught it. "Please..."
"Chuck, you're scaring me," she said, stepping towards him, her prince and the tower forgotten now. As soon as she took that first step her feet, now bare, met something wet. She glanced down and saw the hem of her gown was soaked red. She was standing in some sort of lake, filled with red wine instead of water, the strong smell of the wine filling her nostrils. She looked up again, Chuck was standing just at the edge of the shadows now, if he took one step forward into the moonlight she would be able to see him. Suddenly she was overcome with a desperate urge to see his face.
"Chuck?" she repeated his name, stepping forward now. He didn't move from where he stood, still. "Why don't you come away from there? You'll get wet standing in this lake."
"I can't," he said, his voice dark, bitterness in it.
"What do you mean?" she asked, annoyed now. "Don't be stupid, all you have to do is take a few steps."
"I can't," he snarled now.
"Yes you can," she snapped, barging forward, suddenly overcome with rage. She lifted up her dress, the wine getting surprisingly deeper with each step she took, seeping up her dress, transforming the white to red. By the time she reached the edge of the shadows in front of Chuck the dark red liquid was a little above her ankles. It didn't deter her however, she reached forward into the cold dark and grabbed him by the arm, trying to pull him forward into the light. He resisted pulling back, she almost toppled face first into the red liquid, but managed to just keep her footing.
She paused in her pulling when music pierced the oddly silent struggle. She shook her head, trying to remove it from her ears, when it continued to trill louder, and louder, coming from behind her. Chuck's arm also slackened, taking advantage of his momentary distraction she pulled hard, stumbling back as he fell.
He fell forward onto his hands, she looked down at him, feeling slightly triumphant.
"I need you Blair," he spluttered, his voice hoarse and strained.
"What?" she asked, uncomprehending, the feelings of triumph dissipating to be replaced with foreboding.
He straightened up, still on his knees, soaked with the red wine, so much so that the colour of his clothes were unrecognisable. He was looking up at her with his dark eyes, his face ashen. And then she saw it, the dark red stain, almost black, in the middle of his shirt right where his heart was. From the wound his red blood was flowing down, mixing with the dark wine.
"Blair, I need you," he whispered, his voice hoarse and desperate.
All she could do was stare down at him in horror, as the music grew louder, and louder, and louder...
Blair's eyes snapped open, she gasped, her breath caught in her throat. She quickly sat up, blinking rapidly. The music was still playing, and she realised it was her phone ringtone, sitting on the bedside table next to her antique clock and dim lamp. She quickly grabbed it, flipping it open without glancing at the number, a sense of foreboding filling her as she glanced at the clock and saw it was four in the morning. Normally she would, like a sane person, turn her phone off when she went to bed. But being best friends with Serena van der Woodsen had taught her the need to keep it on, just in case. Though Serena was now reformed, Blair had gotten into the habit of leaving her phone on during the night.
She could hear breathing on the other end, but the person didn't say anything.
"Serena?" Blair asked, knowing somehow that it wasn't her.
"Wrrrooonnngggg," an accented drawl sounded from the mobile speaker. Blair scrunched up her nose as she recognised it. She knew she had been dreaming something disagreeable about Chuck just now, something about wine, a lot of wine typically...but she couldn't exactly remember the details. The dream had slipped through her fingers before she could grasp at its substance, only leaving behind an unpleasant feeling of dread.
"Are you drunk dialling Bass?" she queried, her lip quirking up in slight amusement, trying to shake off the silly residual foreboding from the dream.
"P'rhaps," he slurred. He rarely got drunk, he had the amazing ability to sustain a lot of alcohol ever since they were young. She supposed he'd been doing some serious drinking tonight, well more serious than usual.
"I've been thinking Waldorf," he abruptly said, interrupting her musings.
"I hope this is PG," she noted wryly. She didn't hang up on him however, she'd done her own share of drunk dialling in her time, and she hadn't had to listen to his drunk ramblings in a while, she supposed she owed him that.
"He couldn't stand being with her, because she drove him insane," he murmured, his words slightly slurred at the edges, but still comprehensible.
"Wait, you're talking about that again?" she queried. She'd decided to pretend their recent conversation had never happened, avoiding Chuck in school. He had appeared to be doing the same, and she thought the matter was settled between them. Apparently no one had made drunk Chuck aware of this.
"He couldn't stand being with her because she drove him insane, but he couldn't let her go, because he couldn't stand seeing her with anyone else," Chuck continued on his rambling, not acknowledging her, if he had even heard her.
Blair allowed him to speak, waiting patiently now for him to continue, but he didn't, the sound of his breath the only break in silence.
"What's your point Chuck?" she finally asked tiredly.
"He's selfish Blair, and he didn't know any better, because he'd always gotten what he wanted. He just didn't know any better..." he said, his voice quiet, trailing off.
"So you thinks that excuses him killing her?" she said bluntly, incrediously.
"No...I don't know," he suddenly snapped in annoyance. "I don't have all the answers, do I?"
There was a pause, she didn't reply, just let the silence stretch hoping he'd pass out and she could get some sleep.
"Why do we always have to argue about everything?" his voice was tinged with slight regret now, his sudden mood swings as chaotic and abrupt as his thoughts.
"I don't know Chuck," she said softly.
"I miss us," he said, his voice quiet now and oddly vulnerable.
"Chuck there is no us," she began heatedly now.
"No, not that...lets not argue about that now. I mean I miss...I miss... Do you remember when Lilly took off that one time too many, and Serena was a sobbing heap, and so you, Nate, Serena and I all got drunk off Lilly's best bottle of champagne and danced around the suite to The Rolling Stones?"
Blair was shocked and surprised he remembered that. Her white teeth unconsciously nipped at her red lip, it was times like these she was reminded of Chuck's more vulnerable side. Even she forgot sometimes there was something more underneath his blasé facade. Before she could form a reply to this however he had moved on erratically.
"We wouldn't be together now you know, if I'd gone to Tuscany, It would have been over forever. I couldn't stand the thought of that," he slurred. She felt her shoulders tense as he mentioned it. "It wasn't the right time, you know it wasn't, and I knew it wasn't. We were both...we both still wanted something different...at least you did. You wanted me to be your Prince Blair, to replace Nathaniel. I'm not Nathaniel...I'm not a prince...you didn't want me then...just like everyone..."
"Having a pity party now Bass?" Blair queried, shaking off his grave tone, trying to lighten the mood.
"Maybe I'll change the theme of the senior bash," he mused wryly.
"It's around four o'clock in the morning Chuck, you should get some sleep, school tomorrow remember, and you actually have to go?" Blair noted after a drawn out pause, stifling a yawn of her own.
"How could I forget," he noted darkly.
"Good, then I'll...see you," she said, ending rather lamely, about to take the phone from her ear as he didn't reply.
"I meant it, you know," he abruptly said, stilling her hand.
"Meant what?" she asked, feeling slightly weary and sure it was going to be something nonsensical, but succumbing to her curiosity nonetheless.
"You're the only one I could ever really...Even if I don't always show it to you, and I can't say it, I mean it Blair. Just know that."
She sat there stunned, unable to form a reply, about to open her mouth and utter something. But before she could he engaged the call, the dead tone ringing through her ear.
Lowering the phone Blair stared down at its dully lighted screen. She finally had the presence of mind to snap it shut. She glanced over at her clock and saw it was now four thirty, yet she wasn't tired anymore, she was wide awake. She put her head in her hands, feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. She had been so sure just a few days ago, that it could never work...but maybe it wasn't about the words. She couldn't deny that he made her feel a way no one else ever had. Whether that was a good or bad thing...maybe that was up to her to decide...
Maybe she just had to learn to let go, to stop trying to hurt him with past wrongs and move on...Like they said, there was a fine line between love and hate.
Suddenly sitting up Blair grabbed her laptop from her bedside table, an idea overtaking her. At least if she was up at this hour she could do something productive with her time. She brushed away the thought that she was just trying to distract herself from her real issues. She booted up the computer and opened the word document, the one with her essay topic printed neatly at the top of the paper, and nothing else. She began typing, filling the white space with precise black letters.
A/N: I hope this was sufficiently different from the scene in the Serena also Rises to be a little bit entertaining. If it wasn't I apologize. I just always thought that jail scene was really powerful, and I always wondered what would have happened if Chuck had never found those notes on Dan's story. Dan wouldn't have sent it, and maybe they would have become some sort of friends. Anyway I hope it's not OOC, although I know some of the scenario and dialogue with Dan and Chuck is a bit of a stretch.
Also the things Chuck says when he is drunk...well I always imagined he'd be a bit of a depressed drunk, a bit of cynical, tortured romantic. He's drunks so he's supposed to be out of character, that's how I explain that part lol = P.
THANKYOU TO EVERYONE WHO REVIEWED THE LAST CHAPTER XOXO= D.
PLEASE REVIEW, EVERY REVIEW GIVES CHUCK A HUG FOR ALL HIS DAMAGE = ).
Up next: Someone gets roofied, someone gets punched, and someone gets kissed. = ).
Inspiring picture of the chapter: Google: "chuck lilly victor+ gossip girl tumblr" Click on the the first pic. I know it's made up of different screen shots, but the relevant pic is the first pic on the top left hand corner, of Chuck adorably drunk lol. That's how I imagine him sitting, up in his suite in his bathroom while talking to Blair lol. (I loved that scene between him and Lilly though, so sweet )
I added the extra Chuck/Blair scene, because I know you all want it haha. I know it's not much, but just be patient for one more chapter = ).
Well five reviews so as promised, new chapter = ). Sorry this A/N is so long, but when I get the chance I like to personally reply to reviews. = ).
Thank you for the review guys, I'm glad you liked it. = ).
Fiction by cereza: Wow thanks, I'm glad you discovered it and reviewed = ). Thanks for the compliments, you're very generous = ). I'm so glad I made someone laugh = ), I think it's always easy to make people cry, but it's harder to make people laugh. Thank you for the review = ).
Mlharper: I did change my name recently lol. I used to be called Sairra, but I made it up and I was fourteen, so I thought it was time for a change. Haha I love the Tudors, hence the little reference lol = P. Thanks for the review = ).
Amz: That's exactly how I feel too, season two teenage esque drama was my favourite = ). Thank you for the review = ).
Thegoodgossipgirl: Glad you liked it. Hopefully there will be a small SB scene coming up next. Thank you for the review = ).
Anonymous: Thank you, I'm glad I'm portraying that tension = ). Thank you for the review = ).