Chapter XVI
Rumour Has It
Blair smiled softly, the warm sun bathing her skin. She snuggled closer to the warm familiar body of Chuck next to her, taking in his cologne. Her muscles felt pleasantly weak, the warmth seeping into her very bones. After spending a good amount of time in Chuck's suite Blair had insisted he take her home, it was a school night after all. Once they got there however she had found a message left by Eleanor on the answering machine telling her she wouldn't be home tonight, and no sign of Dorota. How could a girl resist, especially when Chuck was so insistent? She sighed contentedly again, so glad it wasn't an important school da-
Her eyes snapped open suddenly. It was Friday, and if she remembered correctly she had a calculus mid semester exam first period, which meant it was an important school day. Blair quickly sat up, panic rising in her throat as she scrabbled for the clock on her bedside table, trying to focus her eyes on the time. Chuck groaned softly beside her, annoyed at the disturbance to his pleasant slumber.
"Thank you," she cried to the ceiling as she saw it was seven thirty, and getting to school on time was still a possibility.
"Where are you going?" Chuck groaned, looking blearily from the bed and trying to grab Blair's hand as she quickly threw the covers off her and ran to the bathroom.
"It's Friday," Blair exclaimed from the doorway, looking back at him.
"So?" Chuck glanced up at her from the bed, his hair was sticking up at odd angles, his eyes bleary.
"I have a calculus test today," Blair almost shrieked. "In about thirty minutes, and I'm not even dressed yet."
"I repeat, so?" Chuck drawled, raising his eyebrows. Old habits were hard to beat.
"You're hopeless," Blair cried out, turning around and closing the door behind her, clicking the lock shut just in case he got any ideas about wasting her time. "Just to remind you if you skip another day of school this year you're going to have to face another disciplinary meeting, with Bart."
Chuck's smug smirk disappeared at this reminder.
"Fine, I'm up, I'm up," he groaned, scowling slightly as he rose from the bed and grabbed his trousers, doing a slight unsteady dance to get into them, and almost falling over.
"You're still going to be late," Blair commented from behind the door, the muffled sound of her voice suggesting she was brushing her teeth. Chuck rolled his eyes at her nit picking as he slipped on his shirt and his shoes, not bothering with the jacket or socks.
"That's why school's have locker rooms. I'm texting Serena now, I'm sure she won't mind providing a uniform service."
"Good luck," Blair scoffed loudly.
"See you at school," Chuck returned with quietly, pausing at the bathroom door, his socks and jacket rolled up in his arm. Blair didn't reply however, the sound of high powered water from the shower muffling any noise. Chuck hesitated for a second, but the buzz of his phone interrupted the moment, prompting him to exit the room and close the door softly behind him. He glanced down at the message from Serena.
I'll do it, but only because Bart is pretty pissed you didn't come home last night. Eric and me have tried damage control but nothings worked so far = S. Where were you?- S
His phone buzzed again with a second message.
Btw where the heck do you keep your uniform?-S
Chuck smirked at the second SMS, trying to push away his slight uneasiness at the thought of Bart's temper. He typed a quick reply, starting with at Blair's. He paused however, his thumb hovering over the send button. He felt uncertain about revealing that information right now. He wasn't sure exactly what this was between him and Blair, or if he should tell anyone yet. In the end he erased the beginning of the message, leaving the end bit. He hit send as he reached the elevator with strangely no sight of Dorota.
Check the rumpled bundle under the bed.-C
He got a reply soon after.
Ewwwwwwwwwwwwww, don't you ever get anyone to clean under here?-S
He smirked at the many but didn't reply, instead scrolling through his contacts until he found Arthur's number. For reasons he didn't bother examining he told the driver to pick him up down the street, closer to Nate's place. He didn't want his limo spotted in front of the Waldorf apartment, just until he and Blair had a chance to define whatever this was…
By 8:15 Blair stepped out of her town car and onto the pavement in front of the St Judes and Constance Billiard steps. She was perfectly manicured, her red headband set neatly on top of her brown curls. She set her fashionable designer Gucci satchel on her slim shoulder, her eyes scanning the steps for Serena. Instead they found Penelope and her three other minions perched pretentiously on the top stairs. She would have abandoned them for her search for her best friend, but Penelope chose that moment to look up, catching Blair's eyes with a superior little smile and wave. Forcing herself to not grind her teeth Blair returned the smile, walking up to her small court.
"Blair," Penelope greeted her sweetly. The other three girls looked on with wide eyes.
"Penelope, Kat, Iz…Nelly," Blair added the last greeting with a drop in her tone, the other girl was still her biggest competition for Yale.
"We weren't expecting to see you today," Penelope noted as Blair stood there, looking down at the girls with superior analysis.
"Why wouldn't you?" Blair demanded archly, narrowing her eyes at the other girl.
"Well we thought with the thing on Friday…" Penelope trailed off.
"What thing on Friday?" Blair commanded, her thoughts racing to Serena and wondering if perhaps the slime Damien had dared to spread a story.
"Well with that call from Chuck, and then you leaving…" Penelope trailed off in calculation, raising her eyebrows superiorly. The other girls watched curiously, Blair could tell they were judging her with their eyes, waiting for her to concede to an encounter with Chuck so they could begin their lofty consolation and sage advice.
The blast about the call had yet to hit Gossip Girl, but Blair thought that it was not for want of Penelope supplying the information.
"What has that got to do with anything?" Blair snapped, annoyed at their predatory looks. "Chuck called me, so what? I didn't leave because of him."
"Really because it seemed like…" Penelope began, watching the other girl for a sign of weakness, a crack in her perfect veneer.
"Really Penelope, you should know I don't run when anyone calls, especially not a guy, unlike some people. How is Enrique by the way?" the stab hit home, Penelope coloured slightly at this, remembering a certain Enrique last year, who had treated her like a chauffeur. Her eyes dropped, Blair's smile turned triumphant, sometimes people needed to be put in their place and Blair was just the person to do it.
"Why did you-?" Iz began asking tentatively, Blair's viscous glare silenced her.
"I wasn't aware I had to answer to any of you," she snapped.
They all stayed quiet at this, the other two lowering their eyes for fear of being admonished. Satisfied Blair settled her skirt and perched on the step above the others, placing her satchel down beside her. Her discussion with Serena would have to wait.
"So, any updates I need to be made aware of?" Blair asked, commencing the ritual morning debrief.
"We've uh…completed the pamphlets and posters for the assembly," Nelly Yuki stuttered, looking up hesitantly and cringing as Blair turned her brown eyes to her.
"Efficient," Blair said, gracing her with a rare smile, it was always good to bestow subjects with praise as well as fear. "And ahead of schedule."
"Well I just thought, with the assembly coming up this Monday it wa…" Penelope began, butting in here and glaring at Nelly.
"Excuse me?" Blair asked stiffly, her insides freezing slightly at Penelope's words.
Penelope went silent immediately, thinking Blair was admonishing her.
"What did you say?" Blair asked impatiently, trying not to snap as she looked at Penelope urgently.
"I said the with the assembly coming up this Monday-" Penelope repeated the sentence, Blair only heard so far as Monday. The assembly was on Monday, this Monday, and they hadn't even done anything for it yet. And she was the one who Mr Pieser had put in charge.
Blair felt panic rise in her, an odd falling feeling. And that's when she noticed Chuck walking across the quad, still dressed in the suit he wore last night, a smirk plastered on his face as his eyes were trained on her. Blair couldn't deal with this, not right now. She glanced at the others, they hadn't yet noticed Chuck and his unusual intense gaze, to her relief.
"Excuse me," Blair said abruptly, cutting off whatever Penelope was saying, she rose abruptly rushing towards the school doors without a second thought, phone in hand. She didn't know what had happened, she was usually so on top of things, but with the drama with Chuck, and the stress of her essay, not to mention Serena's troubles, the time seemed to have slipped by like sand through her fingers. And now she was facing an emergency of her own. Blair scrolled down the contacts until she found him, pressing the Cabbage Patch doll icon.
"Blair?" he answered, his voice only half awake, clearly the tortured writer was not a morning person.
"Humphrey we have a crisis, meet me in the library in the morning break, don't be late," she snapped. She hung up without waiting for his answer.
Chuck spotted Blair as soon as he strolled through the gates. She was perched on the top step as per usual, above the small court that were her minions, like the Queen she was. Ignoring the stares of nearby people at his rumpled suit and untreated hair, he headed straight towards her purposefully. He couldn't help a small smirk curling his lips up as he recalled the events of last night.
She was talking to Penelope but she chose that moment to look up, glancing distractedly across the quad until her eyes met his. He knew she saw him, their eyes locked, and the smirk turned into an almost smile, but before he could take another step she abruptly said something to the other girls and got up, almost fleeing through the school doors.
Chuck faltered in his step, his smile immediately disappearing, his eyes hardening. He'd thought she said she wanted to be with him, that she didn't care anymore. Last night was as near to perfection as they could hope to be. And yet with the morning sun it seemed she was back to avoidance. What kind of game was Blair trying to play now? Chuck didn't know, but he wasn't amused. Anger began to rise in him, replacing the morning's peaceful feeling, burning away the slight hurt at her public rejection that he would never admit to.
He started towards the school steps, this time with a more sinister motive. Before he could reach the first one however someone grabbed his hand.
"Chuck, where were you? I've been waiting by the gym entrance forever." Serena complained. She held his school satchel out to him, it was bulging, presumably with his uniform. Chuck grabbed it from her roughly, frowning in annoyance. "Is there something wrong?" Serena queried, noticing his dark mood and looking at him curiously.
"No," Chuck snapped, perhaps more aggressively than usual, glancing instinctively towards where Blair had been sitting. This just helped to fire Serena's curiosity further, as she followed his gaze.
"Is it um…about you and Blair?" she asked tentatively after a pause. She had been trying to be more considerate towards Chuck, to show her appreciation for his actions on Friday night. Of course she should have known better.
Chuck turned his dark gaze on her, the cool smirk he plastered on his face not matching his fuming eyes.
"There's nothing between me and Blair, as unobservant and blonde as you are I thought even you would know that," he drawled, as if the matter didn't concern him at all. Serna hardly registered the insults, merely targeting on his affected tone. As unconcerned as he outwardly seemed to be, she still couldn't brush away her suspicion. After all even she knew the more Chuck was hiding, the colder he became.
"Of course…I just thought with the bet and…" Serena trailed off into obscurity, nipping he lip with her white teeth. "She didn't answer her phone last night, that's all…" she finished with, watching Chuck curiously.
Of course she hadn't told Serena yet, Chuck thought wryly. She didn't want anyone to know, just in case, and he was perfectly fine with that. After all who wanted to be tied down, when he could have anyone? His eyes turned back to the minions, grazing over each one of them, his mind calculating which one would do the most harm. Serena followed his gaze, sure Blair wouldn't like the way Chuck was examining her current minion nemesis Nelly Yuki, even if what Chuck said was true and nothing was going on between them.
"Chuck, you've got to change into your uniform remember," Serena said, clicking her fingers in front of his face, and grabbing his arm. She began dragging him towards the gym. "The bell is going to go in five minutes and you haven't even had a shower."
"Since when have you been so concerned about my personal hygiene sis?" Chuck asked, raising an eyebrow and leering at her. Unusually though Serena did have a point. If there was one virtue Chuck actually did value it was cleanliness, which all contributed to his appearance (Chuck Bass persona). He was a self proclaimed narcissist after all.
"Since you started to smell," Serena proclaimed, scrunching up her nose. Chuck scowled but despite himself looked concerned. Serena couldn't hold back her sly grin at Chuck's alarm, it broke across her face giving up the hoax. It was the reason she was so bad at practical jokes, she never could hold her mirth.
"Not funny," he snapped unamused at her smile, "You better have remembered my scarf," he threatened. But he still allowed Serena to drag him along. He could always follow through with his plan after he had freshened up. It would probably be all the more effective for it.
Spotted: Lonely Boy in a library study room. Maybe not so shocking. But Queen B following him a minute later is! What I would give to have cameras in that room, sigh. At least a girl can dream, and speculate, and publish...
xoxo GG.
"Humphrey," Blair greeted stiffly as she entered the musty wooden room. She immediately shoved a bundle of papers in his face. Dan took them automatically, glancing at them and instantly noticing the angry strokes of red. Blair had been trying to remain composed throughout the day. Her mind was working furiously, trying to come up with a way to film and edit a whole mockumentary for the assembly in just one weekend. Her solution had been to make cuts, a lot of them. Red marks were all over the script, Dan frowned as he noticed they were mainly the things he had written.
"You've pretty much cut everything I wrote," he finally accused Blair, glaring up at her.
"Sacrifices had to be made," she shrugged smiling superiorly. "Do you realise we only have two days to film and edit this to perfection?"
"Oh so my one second scene couldn't last, but you're idea to film at Tiffany's? I thought I told you to cut that, it has nothing to do with the project and you know it," Dan said huffily, brandishing the particular paper in front of Blair.
"We have to set the theme," Blair said, her smile turning into a sour glare. She was even more incensed because he was right, she knew it would end up on the cutting room floor, but she'd kept it in just to be contrary anyway. "People have to be able to relate. Your Dad's wannabe rockstar loft would just make them laugh."
"Oh and you-" Dan began snippily but before he could continue the door suddenly opened. Blair's heart jumped in her throat as she quickly turned. The last thing she needed now was to be spotted with Humphrey, alone in the library, bickering almost like familiar friends.
"Blair there you-Dan?" Serena's bubbly voice sounded, her eyes brightening as she saw her friend and turning into puzzlement as she spotted her boyfriend sitting behind the desk, eyes wide like he was a deer caught in headlights.
"Shhhhh," Blair hissed, quickly pushing Serena out of the way and slamming the door shut behind her, locking it. "Keep your voice down."
"What are you guys doing?" Serena asked, watching her friend as if she was crazy, then turning back to Dan. There was no suspicion in her voice, she knew Blair and Dan too well, but there was utter and complete bemusement.
"We have an assembly to plan," Blair exclaimed, turning on Serena. "Do you realise it's on Monday, and with all the confusion I haven't even organized anything? And I'm the one in charge!"
"Wow, that really is surprising," Serena shared a look with Dan, repressing a laugh.
"Yeah, you not immediately jumping at the chance to organize everyone? A shocker," Dan intoned dryly.
"This isn't funny," Blair hissed, giving them both a dark look.
"Okay, okay B. Don't worry we'll both help," Serena placated, keeping her voice in soothing tones as she touched Blair's arm gently. Serena may have not understood Blair's need to perfect everything, but she knew it was important to her. "You, Dan and Nate can start filming Saturday. And on Sunday we can all stay up all night if we need to."
Blair looked slightly more relaxed at her words, settling her curls and inhaling subtly. That was until she realised what Serena had said.
"Wait, where are you going to be on Saturday?" she demanded, pulling her hand away from the blonde's slender fingers as she looked at her suspiciously.
"Well uh…Mom kind of said…we…Chuck, Eric and I… have to do family stuff…" Serena murmured evasively, dropping her eyes from her friend's interrogative gaze. It hadn't been the ideal proposition to her either this morning over breakfast, but her desperation to keep Lily from finding out about Friday night kept her from protesting over much. Besides Bart had been the one to propose it, with his cool blue eyes and stern look, and it was hard to argue with the man directly.
"Family stuff?" Blair repeated, her voice raising an octave.
"Anyway Saturday wouldn't be uh…good for me either," Dan said, quickly intervening to turn Blair's wrath from Serena to him. It worked, however despite Serena's thankful look, he was wondering if it was worth it. Blair looked like she was about to spit venom at him.
"Not good for you? Well you'll have to make it good for you, won't you Humphrey!" she commanded, her voice becoming dangerously low and poised.
"I can't," Dan said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "My uh…Mom wants to visit…she's coming to New York…" he avoided both their gazes, knowing Serena would show concern and query as to why he hadn't said anything before to her. Blair actually paused for a second, some sympathy flickering through her, but that was quickly brushed aside for the crisis this put her in.
"And what exactly am I supposed to do with just Nate?" she demanded of both of them. Both their gazes turned back to her, blue and brown eyes revealing they were stumped. Before Serena could try and form a semblance of an answer the bell rang, calling them back to the class mill. Blair hissed as she checked the time, she had a French exposition to do, not assessable but still…
"I have to go," she said, looking up at the both of them with an accusatory glare.
"Don't worry B, we'll figure something out on Sunday," Serena promised, "It will all turn out fine," she finished with optimistically.
Blair rolled her eyes at the other girls positivity. As she grabbed the script abruptly from the stunned Dan and turned on her heels, she called "It better."
The words hung like threat in the air as she unlocked and flung the door open, flouncing out.
"I'm really hoping once I do Psych 101 I'll understand her…and yet why is it I already know it won't help?" Dan said, blankly looking after the haughty girl.
"She's just a perfectionist," Serena excused. "She just wants to-" Serena trailed off here, her eyes widening as she recalled why she was here in the first place. "Blair wait," she fitfully called, surprising Dan as she rushed to the study room door with some vain hope. "I need to-" Blair was already gone however "-ask you about you and Chuck." She finished the sentence despondently.
"What about Blair and Chuck?" Dan asked curiously.
"I don't know," Serena sighed, turning around and slumping into the chair opposite Dan with frustration. "That's the problem."
They both had a free period now, something she had been looking forward to before, but now…
There was a silent pause between them, Dan was trying to focus on the script though he couldn't read anything while Serena glanced up at him, evidently hesitant to voice the obvious question. Eventually she dove, that was what girlfriends were for right?
"So, do you want to talk about your Mom?" she asked quietly, sympathy pooling in her blue eyes as she looked at Dan. She lightly touched his rough fingers with her own, her pale pink nail polish standing out against his sunbathed skin.
"Actually I uh…I have to collect a paper from the office. I'll see you after school," he said, gently moving his hand away and quickly rising and grabbing his bag, slinging it heavily over his shoulder. He gave Serena a quick peck on the cheek and disappeared before she could react, all movements without even meeting her eye. Serena touched her cheek, where he'd barely grazed his lips against her skin, as she watched him hurry towards the library exit, as if desperate to get away.
Chuck lent against the railing near the top of the steps, his eyes trained meditatively on the small group of Blair's minions standing in the courtyard criticising other girls as they walked past. He was washed and dressed in his uniform, his loathing for being unkempt over riding his disgust at using the common school gym showers. It was worth it in retrospect, he felt fresher now, his hair perfectly set, his scarf hanging in the place of honour around his neck. Sometime dozing in the back during Math's and Literature had done wonders for his mood. The spring had returned to his step, a fresher outset on life, and perhaps on this situation with Blair.
The idea of seducing Nelly Yuki, the girl that irked Blair the most right now, was becoming even less of an appealing one. The girl sitting timidly among the other minions while Penelope clearly tried to act like the top dog while the master was away. A flock of sheep without their ruler, it was pathetic. Chuck could do so much better, and perhaps Blair deserved better to. Perhaps Chuck should just confront her directly, rather than react in his usual way with games. Chuck couldn't help thinking, unusual for his cynical outlook on life, that perhaps there was something more to Blair then just a vindictive pleasure in manipulating him. Before he could explore that thought further his phone buzzed in his blazer pocket. Reaching up Chuck picked it out of the expensive lining, flipping it open and turning his eyes from his vigilant watch for Blair for a second to glance down.
It was a Gossip Girl post, something about a sophomore. Chuck sneered slightly, must be a slow day. Absently he scrolled down the blog, surprised there was nothing about last night and thinking snidely the monger had lost his edge. That's when his eyes caught the update posted earlier that day, most likely when he was in the shower. It was accompanied of a picture of Blair looking suspicious as she glanced behind her, her hand resting on the door to one of the library study rooms. Chuck barely registered the words for a second, disbelieving, but finally they sunk through. His fingers turned white as he gripped the phone, a sneer twisting his features. So Blair had time for Humphrey Dumpty? Well then Chuck would show her how much he time he didn't have for her. He'd always wanted to bag a minion before he got the Queen anyway. Chuck buried the phone back in his pocket, glancing up now with predatory eyes towards the timid Nelly Yuki.
As soon as the last word left Mrs Blake's lips Blair was out of her American History class as fast as her Valitino heels would carry her. She clutched her books in her hand, barely paying attention to the people she authoritively pushed past. Blake was a well known talker, the teacher every student dreaded having before lunch as she knew she had her audience trapped with their desire for good grades, or at least a pass in some pathetic people's cases. It was just Blair's luck she was the only teacher of history this year, and the single senior class being taught had to be before the lunch break.
"Move, some of us have important things to do," Blair snapped at some junior girls standing in the corridor gossiping. They looked up at her with wide eyes, quickly scrabbling out of her way. Blair didn't spare them a second glance or thought, desperately wanting to get to her locker, dump her books then rush to her debating meeting. It wouldn't do for the Senior Captain to be late. Usually she revelled in the rush of her life, the need to be in different places highlighting her importance, tested her efficiency and organization. She was not revelling so much today, her life seemed to be more hectic then busy recently.
When Blair reached the corridor with her locker in it. Nelly Yuki was waiting obediently there, however there was another intruder not so welcome. Chuck was arrogantly leaning against her locker, his eyes locked on Nelly Yuki, an avarice smirk gracing his face as he raised his hand and brushed his finger against her cheek. The timid girl stepped back nervously, a blush spreading across her cheeks and neck. Blair knew Chuck could be very persuasive when he was at his most charming.
"What is going on here?" Blair heard the shriek in her voice, but she didn't even care. All she could do was stare with wide brown eyes, irrational anger rising in her. Nelly turned to look at her with wide eyes behind her oversized glasses, panic written all over her face. Chuck turned his gaze more leisurely, a haughty look on his face.
"Nelly and I were just getting acquainted," Chuck drawled, watching the Queens reaction carefully with some amusement. Blair looked at him for a moment, like he had grown a second head. It took her a second to actually understand what he was saying.
"You," she turned her rage to the girl. She knew she would just play into Chuck's twisted hands if she tore that smug look off his face by ripping out his hair, like her fingers were itching to do. "You know to be a part of the elite Chuck is out of bounds!"
It had always been the rule, as soon as Blair became Queen, Chuck Bass was just not seemly. Of course the Queen could scheme with him, become friends and share quips, and later on share other things…but she was the Queen! She was an exception to all the rules, it was one of the perks that came with the title.
"He was just-" Nelly began, her voice breaking with fear.
"I don't care what he was just doing," Blair snapped, cutting her off, a crack in her perfectly controlled voice.
"Easy Blair," Chuck sneered, putting a dominant hand on Nelly's waist, to both Blair and the girls shock. Nelly jumped slightly at the unexpected contact, and Chuck smirked. "Don't you have Brooklyn trash to rendezvous with?"
"That's it," Blair hissed, she shoved her books into Nelly's hands and grabbed Chuck by his arm, digging her nails in.
"What are yo-Ow," Chuck protested as Blair dug harder, dragging him forcefully towards the girls bathrooms which were situated conveniently down the hall. She swung the door open violently, shoving Chuck in first.
"Out," she snapped at two freshman girls who had looked up shocked at the entrance of Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf. "This is a seniors bathroom, be thankful I don't do worse," she snarled as they stood frozen, the bolder of the two looking like she was about to protest. "And if I hear this getting out to Gossip Girl, you know your life won't be worth living. I take it you understand?" she raised her eyebrow cooly.
They almost gulped in synchronization, nodding frantically with wide eyes they haphazardly threw their make up into their bag and ran out the door past Chuck and Blair. As soon as they were out Blair grabbed the door, slamming it shut. She quickly went to the cupboard which was under the sink. It held toilet paper and other bathroom paraphernalia but behind them was a familiar small door stopper. Blair took it out, efficiently shoving it into the door crack, to ensure they weren't followed.
Chuck used the opportunity to glance around the feminine bathroom, curiosity over taking him. Surprisingly even he had never been in here. He noticed with some disappointment it mirrored the boys one, except with larger mirrors and a shell pink scheme instead of ocean blue. As soon as Blair straightened his eyes turned back to her.
"You stole that idea from me" he commented with wry amusement from where he had taken position leaning against the sink top.
"Don't look so smug, every slimy perverted idiot who hits on anything that moves has his moments," she retorted at his superior air.
His smirk disappeared at the insult, his eyes darkening.
"Well at least I have the sense to not lock myself in a library room with Brooklyn," he retorted, his face twisting with forceful disgust.
"What are you talking about?" Blair demanded, coming forward now, her voice rising an octave with frustration.
"This," Chuck snapped, taking out his phone and flicking a few buttons before throwing it at Blair. She caught it, glancing down at the post on Gossip Girl.
"Cabbage Patch and me? As if," Blair scoffed, looking up at Chuck now with a raised eyebrow and sceptical look. "Wait a second…" she began slowly as she noticed Chuck's shoulders relax slightly, a flicker of relief on his face. "Were you jealous?" she demanded, partly amused partly disbelieving.
"Jealous of what?" Chuck snarled, rising now from the sink top and glaring at Blair, "If you want to risk catching things in Brooklyn that's hardly my problem. Why should I care?"
Blair mentally stepped back, shocked at the vehemence with which he said the words. She realised perhaps there was more going on here then she had originally thought.
"I thought…after last night…" she began hesitantly, some vulnerability cracking through, her brown eyes searching Chuck's hard face. He softened slightly, looking down at her, relenting as her eyes seemed to pool with hurt.
"Last night was-" he trailed off, his voice turning husky. Gently he reached up, brushing her cheek with his fingers softly.
"Chuck," she sighed, and something else welled up. He couldn't resist her soft inviting lips, leaning in he kissed her hungrily.
They broke apart after a few seconds, the mood having changed, all thoughts of anger and jealousy forgotten. Blair took charge now, pulling the lapel of Chuck's blazer, directing him towards the counter now as her lips attacked his again. Once his back hit the marble surface he took her in his arms, turning them around and lifting her up so she could sit on the smooth surface, a much more convenient position. Blair scrabbled with his tie, pulling at it as Chuck ran a burning trail down her neck, his fingers entangled in her hair. They were lost in each other, nothing seemed to matter but this moment.
The rattling of the door knob interrupted them, causing them to both look up with feral anger at whoever had dared to interrupt them.
"It's closed for cleaning idiot," Chuck yelled out as the persons persistent attack of the door knob. It stopped immediately at the sound of the male voice, obviously whoever it was fled, intimidated. He turned back to Blair. "We should have rented a library study room," he smirked gruffly against Blair's neck.
"This is better," Blair sighed as she worked silkily on the buttons of his shirt. "More private." Her voice only held the slightest bit of calculation, but Chuck, used to reading her, caught it. He paused mid kiss, his mind warring with his desire. His desire may have won out if Blair hadn't decided to say something.
"Chuck?" she prompted softly, eagerly. "Someone else could come at any second." Her choice of words decided him. He pulled away from her, his eyes dark, as he looked at her.
"Would it be a bad thing if they did?" he asked her, the words coming out slowly as he tried to gage her reaction.
Blair looked at him with perfect confusion, too perfect. "I don't know wha-" she began.
"I know you were avoiding me," Chuck pointed out, keeping his voice low. "Why? I thought you said you wanted me?"
"I do want you," Blair insisted, grabbing his hand before he could move away from her. She knew she couldn't lie further to him, he knew her too well. So she tried the half truth. "I just think…maybe it's better this way." She absently rubbed her thumb against his palm, looking down at it and the signature silver ring on his finger.
"Better to keep me a secret?" there was a slight bitterness to his voice despite himself, she didn't miss it.
"No, not you just…Everything got so complicated last summer, moved so fast," she played on his own weaknesses, looking up at him under shaded eyelashes. Disappointment nipped at her as he didn't protest, some acceptance in his eyes. "I don't want what happened then to happen again." She added that last barb in, and found it was the truth. She didn't want it to happen again, couldn't handle the public humiliation, the hurt that came along with it. At least this way, if he left standing alone again, no one need know.
"You want to take it slow then, holding hands and movies?" Chuck mocked, smirking slightly in amusement. He had been having his own doubts about this, his own fears. What happened if she woke up and realised he was just a stop gap, a filler until she finds the true Prince she deserved, and left him broken and alone…? But he still couldn't help from feeling hurt at the thought she wanted to keep him a secret, though he would never admit it, even if it did serve both their purposes.
"No," Blair gave a small half smile herself, protesting as he went as if to move away and she grabbed his arm, pulling him closer. "Just secret, for now…" she looked up at him with dark brown eyes, tilting her lips towards him. "You have to admit secrets can be exciting sometimes…" she whispered sultrily into his ear as she wrapped both her arms around his neck, a small smile curving her blood red lips.
"Very sexy," he murmured huskily, smirking as his lips met her upturned ones.
Neither of them voiced what they were both thinking, how long would this last? They just enjoyed each other, for now…
Spotted: Well, heard would be more accurate. Chuck Bass' familiar drawl warning away a girl from the senior female toilets. I wonder who was locked in there with him?
xoxo GG
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews I really appreciate them = ).
Please if you read review! = )
Inspiring Picture: Google: "Chuck scarf" . It should be the 3rd picture with the trees in the background and he's leaning against the stone railing.
Also: Google: "2460229819_small_1" for the end scene
Inspiring song: Rumour Has It by Adele. Love her music.
Next chapter: An interesting Saturday with the Van der Woodsen Bass'.