Chapter XXIV

Ignorance is Bliss

Blair awoke as her curtains were flung open, the sun falling across her face. She kept her eyes closed, there was a blissful moment of unawareness but then a feeling of dread inside reared its ugly head inside her stomach. The memories of last night came back to her, along with a pounding headache. Her mouth was dry and there was a strange taste in the back of her throat, Chuck's face swam into her view, the look on his face as he sneered at her more prominent than ever… Blair snapped her eyes open, quickly sitting up and casting off her silken sheets.

"Finally Mees Blair," Dorota said, raising her arms in mock celebration. "I have been calling you for twenty mineetes!"

"Well I'm up now!" Blair said cooly, trying to keep herself composed.

"Yes, but you are going to be late," Dorota noted. "You have assembly today, remember?"

"How could I forget," Blair groaned, recalling the tragic farce that was the committee she was supposed to be the head of. "Maybe I'm coming down with something Dorota," she whined, feeling her forehead.

"Perhaps hangover-itis Mees Blair?" Dorota suggested, looking slyly at Blair from the corner of her eye where she was picking up her dress from last night, unusually carelessly thrown aside.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Blaire retorted quickly, faking innocence with wide doe eyes. "I was finishing that stupid project all night. I probably caught leprosy from Humphrey!" She held her hand back up to her forehead in a tragic pose.

"Really Mees Blair…that is strange," Dorota said, regarding Blair now. "Perhaps we should tell Mees Eleanor…"

"Who pays you?!" Blair demanded, tearing away all false pretences she scowled at her long suffering maid.

"Mees Eleanor," Dorota answered with, not even blinking at Blair's fierce glare. "And remember you are not the only one who can read Gossip Girl."

"Gossip Girl!" Blair exclaimed, her eyes widening as she remembered the gossip mongering fiend. She quickly scrabbled for her phone on her bedside table, almost dropping the clock in her rush. She flicked it open, pressing on the Gossip Girl icon.

Morning Upper East Siders. Well, last night was a doozy, for some of us at least… But last night was so…well last night. Tonight however…that's a whole new ball game. Chuck Bass has just sent out automated e-mail invites for the party of the century, at his family suite no less. Supposedly to celebrate alcohol and drug awareness week, in typical Bass fashion. The theme, you ask? The Tudor court! No guesses about who is going to be the King, but I wonder if we'll see a certain Queen at his side or not? Despite the excitement this does stir, Bass has left sending the invitations pretty late, so better hurry on ordering your maids to the costume shop tout suite ladies! I hear there's a strict door policy, only royally dressed seniors allowed!

xoxo GG

"Euuuurrghhh, what is going on?" Serena groaned as a banging noise emitted from downstairs and into her room. Dan groaned beside her, his arm shifting where it was slung over her waist. He still had Chuck's jacket on, his mouth slightly agape as he slept. Serena was tempted to roll over, bury her face in his chest and ignore the noise, but just as she had the thought the sound seemed to intensify, making a return to slumber impossible.

"Dan," she said, shaking the other boy as she checked her phone, it was probably time to get up anyway, though her spinning head told her otherwise.

"Mmmmmpphhh," Dan feebly tried to push her hand away. "Five more minutes…"

"Dan, come on, we have school," Serena said, leaning over to peck him gently on the cheek. His eyes fluttered open at the contact of her lips, he blinked rapidly. "Wossat noise?" he murmured, scowling at the sound.

"No idea, want to go down and yell at whoever's making it?"

"Sure," he grunted as he rose, yawning and stretching lazily. Serena watched him with a small smile which he returned self-consciously, suddenly extremely aware of being in her bedroom. Serena sighed as the banging interrupted whatever Dan was about to say, rising she took him by the hand.
"Come on, maybe Mom forgot to tell us she was getting an ice rink installed while she was away."

"Is that meant to be a joke, because with your Mom I'm still not entirely sure…" Dan managed to expel in between a veracious yawn. Serena just laughed as they padded their way down the stairs with bare feet and mussed hair. What met them certainly wasn't what she had been expecting. There was staff running around the main living area, hanging what looked like tapestries from the walls and placing other assorted decorations. Serena wandered into the room, looking around her with wide eyes, barely finding her voice to ask what exactly all these people were doing in her family suite.

"So I'm pretty sure it's not an ice rink…but is that a throne their building?" Dan queried, his eyes planted upon a handful of men who were trying to erect a wooden structure that did resemble a large throne. That was the source of the banging noise and now drills apparently, as one of them began to work on the nails, the noise seeming to perforate Serena's eardrums.

"Come on," she yelled at Dan over the noise, grabbing his hand and heading for the kitchen in the hopes of escaping the sound and finding someone who could inform her about what exactly was going on. Swinging the kitchen door open she strut in rather moodily, Dan behind her. The noise was considerably better in here, once Dan closed the door firmly behind him. A woman with a clipboard who was standing by the table, looked up at their arrival, but clearly from the expression on her face she was not impressed with their appearance. She returned her gaze upon the person sitting at the table, who was wearing dark shades and nursing a glass of a weird coloured liquid which Serena recognised as the infamous hangover cure. A blender full of the odd beverage sat next to him on the table.

"Chuck!" Serena exclaimed, interrupting whatever the clipboard woman was going to say to him. Serena was taken aback at his appearance this early in the morning, especially considering last night…

"Do you have to always be so loud sis?" Chuck drawled with his usual snideness, his hand going to massage his temple. He was slightly pale, but other than that and the shades which were obviously there to hide his hangover he didn't appear too badly off. He, typically, was acting like nothing untoward had happened last night. He'd always had an uncanny ability to bounce back Serena supposed, which allowed her to turn to her next urgent call of business immediately.

"What the hell is going on in the living room?" she demanded.

"It's being prepared," Chuck answered, sighing heavily. This early in the morning it was far easier to just give Serena what she wanted, he was not in the mood to play.

"Prepared for what exactly?" Dan queried, a small disbelieving smile on his face as he glanced back at the sound of further bangs while Chuck poured himself another glass. "A nuclear bomb?"

"For this," the woman with the clipboard answered for Chuck with some annoyance, taking out of her copious notes a decorated piece of paper she shoved under Serena's nose. Serena took it, examining it along with Dan.

It was decorated with a red and deep purple. Gold lettering spelt out the title. Senior Court. Serena barely bothered to read the rest of it, it was a classical Chuck Bass invitation.

"You're having a party tonight, I knew that already. But why is it here in Mom's suite?!" Serena demanded, shoving the invitation right back into the woman's face and turning her attention on Chuck.

"Well last time I checked it was the 'family' suite," Chuck pronounced, smirking slightly.

"Which Mom has spent, like weeks decorating and would be more than upset if in a few short hours tonight you got it trashed," Serena pointed out.

"Relax," Chuck drawled. "That's why it's a senior's only invite."

"That's meant to inspire confidence?" Dan noted wryly, leaning against the counter.

"Whose side are you on Humphrey?"

"Well…uh…was that rhetorical or a real question?" Dan blundered, slightly taken aback.

"Depends, would you like me to keep your reserved place in the senior court?" Chuck raised his eyebrow over his dark shades. Dan blinked slowly, trying to process what Chuck Bass was actually saying.

"Why can't you have it at Victrola?!" Serena demanded, cutting across Dan's flabbergasted silence.

Chuck sighed heavily, drawn back to the discussion with the blonde. "Because Victrola has another engagement far more profitable for business, that's the call I got last night. Which is why I thought, with Bart and Lilly away, here would be a perfect substitute."

"What about your suite?" Serena narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously now, as both the clipboard woman and Dan watched the exchange as if observing a tennis match.

"Well, it was supposed to be held in Mr Bass' suite originally, but this area is so much more impressive," the woman interceded here again, thinking herself very efficient and unaware of Chuck's shaded eyes turning to her and his scowl.

"Which is exactly why you'll just have to move it right back down to Chuck's suite," Serena snapped, in a distemper.

"Serena, it's not suitable right now!" Chuck's jaw tightened imperceptibly as he lost his patience with her and snapped.

"What do you mean. We didn't mess it up that badly, wh-"

"Look, I've got to go, otherwise I'm going to be late for school, I suggest the two of you concentrate on getting dressed and forget about the rest of this, otherwise you might miss the presentation," Chuck rose authoritatively, taking one final sip from his glass and settling his blazer as if the last word was said on the matter.

"But Mr Bass we have-"the woman stepped forward now anxiously with her list. Chuck shoved his now empty glass into her hand without a second look.

"I'll see you two in the front row," he drawled confidently, smirking as he strolled past them and out of the kitchen before Serena could launch a further protest.

Nate woke up in the Humprhrey loft to the sound of his phone trilling along with his pounding head. It wasn't the first time he founding himself missing his staff. He managed to lean over and turn his phone off, wishing ardently he could escape back to unconsciousness. But he knew missing the assembly would get him in far too much trouble with Blair than a few more minutes of sleep were worth. Groaning he managed to drag himself blindly towards the shower, feeling like his head was full of cotton wool. After standing in the shower until the tank ran cold on him (another feature of the loft he did not appreciate). He stumbled out of the bathroom, dressed in his school uniform and feeling slightly more refreshed, to the smell of waffles and honey.

Jenny was sitting at the counter, still clad in her pyjamas, spreading jam liberally over a piece of toast. Her eyebrows were drawn and there was a small frown on her face, undoubtedly elicited by Rufus' presence. The older man's stubble was threatening a full beard, his hair was mussed carelessly and he was still wearing the clothes he had on last night. But he was tinkering with the waffle machine however, a comforting familiar sight. He looked up at the sound of Nate, smiling with evident effort, obviously his head was also filed with cotton balls this morning.

"Glad to see someone's up for school from their own volition," he noted, glancing at Jenny, now Nate understood the tenseness of the scene. "Do you know if Dan is going to appear from his fortress anytime soon?"

"Uh…" Nate blinked slowly from where he was now leaning against the counter.

"Dan stayed out last night," Jenny supplied here innocently.

There was a moment's pause as Rufus processed this information, his back turned to Jenny and Nate.

"Dan stayed out last night," Jenny repeated.

"Really…huh?" Rufus finally grunted in response, as if he was very distracted by the waffle maker. Jenny scowled at his back, opening her mouth to say something further but Nate quickly tried to intercede and keep the peace, in the absence of Dan.

"Hey Jenny, do you want to catch the bus together?" he queried. Jenny's eyes immediately turned to him and she smiled brightly.

"Yeah sure," she said.

"Don't you have that presentation you and Dan were working on?" Rufus queried neutrally as he turned around now with a fresh plate of waffles. This elicited another scowl from Jenny, though Nate didn't notice it this time as he reached over and plucked a honey soaked waffle from the plate.

"Oh yeah…" Nate's enjoyment of the waffle lessened somewhat as he remembered the disaster that they were going to be forced to present to the whole student body today.

"That's right, the presentation is today!" Jenny exclaimed louder, both Nate and Rufus' eyes turned to her as she slapped her hand on her forehead, as if just remembering.

"I didn't know you were so enthusiastic about it Jenny?" Rufus queried, bemused.

"I'm not…just uh Vanessa dropped off the tapes for Dan last night…or this morning…" Jenny came to herself, lowering her hand and turning pink with embarrassment.

"For Dan?" Nate repeated, feeling a slight twist of his insides as he thought of the words they had exchanged last night. He'd been too long with Blair to dismiss these types of things. Even though Vanessa wasn't Blair he was in that common grey area he used to often share with Blair, that land where he didn't know whether they were in a fight or not… He was tempted to ask Jenny whether Vanessa had mentioned him at all, but that seemed so childish, though it was extremely alluring…

"Yeah…" Nate felt Jenny's eyes watch him curiously, he quickly smiled at her. "I'll go get them for you."

"Thanks," Nate murmured, but Jenny was already rushing to her room.

"I caught her messaging Eleanor's this morning," Rufus murmured, Nate glanced at him unsure if the older man was talking to him, he had his back to Nate, fiddling with the waffle machine once more. "She didn't even tell them that she wasn't coming back."

Nate sat there feeling extremely awkward and trying to think of something to say, his mouth suddenly very dry. He hated these types of situations, he felt ill equipped to deal with them, Dan always seemed much smarter at this than him. Luckily Nate didn't have to think of a fumbling answer, Jenny appeared once more, small black encased tapes in her hand and a CD.

"Here," she said, handing over the tape marked Mockumentary in Vanessa's large black print and a CD. Nate took them reluctantly, slipping them into his bag and finding himself half hoping they would smash on the way to school. "What about that one?" he queried, as Jenny hesitated.

"Oh yeah, she really stressed that it was important they didn't get mixed up," Jenny said, hesitating for a split second before handing over the tape to Nate. Nate took it, very aware about what was on the tape and blushing as some memories of last night swam to the forefront of his mind. He wondered for a second if Jenny had taken a peek at the contents last night…"Nate, are you listening to me?" Jenny asked, teasing. Nate looked up at her small shy smile and brushed the silly thought aside.

"Sorry I uh…what were you saying?"

"Just that Vanessa said Dan has to play the CD audio over the tapes," Jenny repeated.

"Right," Nate nodded, quickly burying the unmarked tape deeper into his bag.

"Perhaps you should start heading off Nate," Rufus noted, glancing at the clock. "If you want to get there early?"

"Right Mr Humphrey, thanks for the waffles," he placed the half eaten waffle on his plate feeling slightly awkward he smiled at Rufus and slung his bag over his shoulder, heading for the door. "I'll see you at school Jenny."

"Don't forget Vanessa said It's really important you play the labelled tape," Jenny reminded him.

"Don't worry, I won't forget," Nate replied wryly, grinning and waving lazily to her as he headed out the door.

Eric glanced down at the invitation which had been shoved in his hand as he'd reached the school gates. Someone had decided that the internet simply wasn't good enough to spread the word of Chuck's big party, flyers had been printed and were being circulated around the school populace. Eric sighed as he read the details, yet another thing he'd been failed to be informed of. At least now he knew why there had been so many strangers running around the family suite early this morning.

"Eric, hey," Eric glanced up quickly at the sound of the now familiar voice. He glanced around the teeming students, finally catching sight of Damien leaning against the school wall and beckoning towards him. Eric grinned and jogged over.

"Hey," he greeted Damien as he reached his side. "I thought your Dad withdrew you from St Judes?"

"He did, I actually got up at this early to see you."

"Really?" Eric couldn't help feeling a slight lurch in his stomach as Damien smiled at him.

"Yeah, sure, we're buddies aren't we?" Damien said smoothly.

"Yeah…I guess…" Eric felt his tongue getting tied, blushing slightly. Suddenly he had a spark of inspiration as he realised he still held the flyer in his hand. "Hey, Chuck's holding a party tonight for the seniors…maybe you could…if you want…"

"I don't think that's such a great idea," Damien said, his smile slipping somewhat as he glanced at the flyer.

"Oh," Eric felt his own smile slip though he tried to hold onto it.

"It's just I don't think Bass would really appreciates me being there," Damien clarified, obviously noticing Eric's change in demeanour.

"Chuck's cool…" Eric brightened slightly that this was the only reason. "I'm sure if I talked to him…"

"That's real sweet Eric, but me and Chuck…we don't really gel…" Damien said, dropping his gaze, his whole demeanour showing he didn't want to discuss it further. "Actually the party is another reason I kind of came here…"

"Really?"

"Yeah…do you know Tyler Wood?"

"Not really," Eric said, feeling slightly uncertain now. "He hangs around the jocks a lot…"

"Yeah…he's a bit of a jerky hey? Well our father's know each other and my Mom wants me to give him this film from when we were five or something…don't ask me," he said at Eric's quizzical look.

"I think I understand," Eric said, smiling slightly. "My Mom sometimes asks me about some of her friends children as if just because she's friends with their parents that automatically makes me best friends with them or something…"

"Exactly," Damien grinned again. "Anyway he's not here today, he tends to skip. But I know for sure he'll be at the party tonight. I would do it next week, but my Mom won't get off my back about it, would you be able to…?" he looked at Eric uncertainly now, as if afraid of being rebuffed.

"Yeah sure," Eric quickly assuaged Damien's doubt, pushing aside his own feelings about approaching a jock like Tyler. Damien had been a really good friend these past few days, a small inconvenience wouldn't be so hard to put up with for that, after all it was difficult to find an earnest friend on the UES.

"Great, thanks," Damien replied as if he had no doubt in his mind, clapping Eric on the back. He glanced at something behind Eric's back distractedly. "Uh…I think it's time I go, but here's the film, just hand it over to him, he'll know what it's about." Damien quickly fumbled in his inner coat pocket, pulling out a few small old film canisters he shoved them into Eric's hand.

"Woah, I haven't seen film like this since I was like six…"

"I know old school right. But be careful with them okay, they're a few years old and there aren't any copies. My Mom would kill me if they get exposed or something…"

"Don't worry," Eric said, putting them into his bag as Damien watched him anxiously.

"Thanks again, I'll see you around Eric," flashing one more unique toothy grin Damien quickly turned and rushed down the street.

"See you…" Eric murmured, watching him go.

Chuck exited his limo, the sunglasses he was wearing this morning still on. The crisp air made him feel slightly more refreshed, but not by much. Last night had not been pleasant, after spending hours by the toilet, he'd finally managed to drag himself shakily down to his suite, and then… Quickly taking out the flask he'd stashed in his coat he took a swig. The best detox was a retox, it was the one good thing Baizen had taught him.

"Hey Chuck can't wait for the party tonight," a senior stoner shouted out, brandishing a printed version of his invitation. Chuck barely acknowledged him with a nod as his eyes caught something which made his temporary complacency disappear. Damien Dalgaard was leaning against the school outer wall, standing on the crowded side walk, talking to Eric. Chuck made his way purposefully over, Damien must have felt his piercing gaze for he glanced up at this moment, muttered something to Eric with a smile and quickly turned headed off down the street, fast.

"Hey little brother," Chuck greeted Eric with his usual drawl as he approached, but his eyes were narrowed under his glasses and concentrated on Damien's back.

"Hey," Eric said, turning to glance at Chuck. "You look like hell."

"Oh how I do love having a younger sibling, so flattering for my ego," Chuck glanced down at him. "Anyway how would you know what I look like under these?" he tapped his expensive designer shades.

"I don't need to see under them to tell you have a hangover, I gathered it from Gossip Girl."

"You have been hanging out with my father far too much," Chuck noted.

"Yeah, speaking of Bart," Eric flourished the flyer at Chuck. "When were you planning on telling him about this wild party?"
"Never," Chuck smirked.

"More importantly then, when were you planning on telling me?" Eric queried with a quirked brow.

"Didn't I already?" Chuck frowned in obvious bemusement.

"Not exactly…" Eric shook his head, "So what am I supposed to do while this wild senior only party rages in my home?"

"You're the one exception to the rule," Chuck murmured, slightly distracted as he watched a town car pull up to the front of the school.

"You know there is no way Mistress Queller is going to wear those sunglasses for the assembly, right?" Eric queried, smiling despite himself as Chuck lifted his shades up distractedly, watching the occupant of the car exit it, typically Blair looking as immaculate as ever, if a bit tired.

"I'll be able to withstand light by then, don't worry." He let the shades drop once more, quickly glancing back at Eric. "Speaking of old hags, what was Damien Daalgard doing talking to you?" Chuck asked, scrutinising.

"He doesn't seem so bad," Eric shrugged noncommittally.

"Sure he isn't," Chuck said, "And what exactly makes you say that?"

"Nothing," Eric shrugged again, playing nonchalant. He didn't know why he didn't tell Chuck that he had grown so close with Damien, but he figured if Serena and he could have a secret from him, he could have his own secrets, as little as they were. "I don't know, he just seems like an all right guy."

"And you two have had many occasions to talk then?"

"No, this was the first time….he just uh…he was just asking after Serena or something…" Eric shrugged, trying to brush Chuck off he began walking towards the school steps. It seemed a reasonable excuse in his mind. Serena and Damien didn't speak about each other, and from what he gathered whatever was starting between them had ended abruptly, but that was no reason they couldn't be amicable.

"He what?!" Chuck demanded and his demeanour changed as he rushed to walk beside Eric.

"He asked about Serena…I think he misses her, I'm not sure I don't really know the guy…Is everything all right Chuck?" he frowned slightly as he noticed Chuck's jaw had tightened, a now familiar indication that he was severely aggravated about something.

"Fine," he said quickly, obviously dodging the question to Eric's annoyance, like he and Serena had been doing for a while now. "I better get upstairs, I've got that stupid assembly thing…I'll see you around Eric."

Eric found himself echoing see you to a back once again that morning.

Blair exited the town car, determined not to look right or left as she headed up the school stairs, her heels clicking rapidly against the pavement. The last thing she needed right now was to catch sight of Chuck Bass. When she entered the collective entrance of St Jude and Constance, the first thing she noticed was the posters all over the walls. Penelope and the rest of her minions had clearly been busy. Like a professional advertisement campaign there were posters all over the wall promoting anti-drugs and alcohol in splashes of red and black, the danger colours. She spotted Penelope at the door to the collective hall, handing out flyers to the early birds heading into the hall.

"Blair," Penelope greeted her with her usual self-serving smile and sweetness as the Queen approached. "Had a good night last night?" her words were all innocence but the slight smirk on her face was derisive.

"Better than yours no doubt," Blair answered coolly.

"Here, take one," Penelope said, handing Blair one of the white flyers, along with a red sheet of paper underneath, she raised her eyebrows expressively. "I'm pretty sure it will interest you."

"What ar-" Blair began, glancing down at the paper. Before she could extract the silken smooth red flyer underneath the alcohol anonymous questionnaire, an authoritative voice interrupted her.

"Miss Waldorf, there you are. All prepared for the assembly I trust?" Mistress Queller approached Blair with an appreciative smile. She had a soft spot for the driven young woman, who had thus far managed to keep a pure reputation at school, above the radar at least.

"Of course Mistress Queller," Blair smiled sweetly, quickly folding the flyer and discreetly placing it into her blazer pocket.

"I love all these flyers and posters, its excellent work," Queller said. Blair ignored Penelope's sour look as she smiled sweetly and kept silent as to who the praise should really go to. They were Blair's minions after all, they'd learnt all their artistic and organisational skills from her. "So shall we go in then, I believe Mr Archibald is already having the projector set up by the media students."

"Of course," Blair didn't even glance at Penelope as she walked beside Queller into the assembly hall. If the headmistress loved the campy posters and flyers, no doubt she would lap up the over moralising documentary. This was clearly another stepping stone for success to Blair, and she would concentrate on that and not on what happened last night.

Of course that was a bit difficult with reminders all around her. As she took her seat in the front row she noticed Nate talking with one of the media students sitting at a laptop. He glanced up at Blair, then quickly away, obviously feeling awkward. It had always been difficult for Nate, the constant bickering between his best friend and his girlfriend, and even though they weren't dating anymore he still had that feeling of torn loyalty no doubt, he often attempted to avoid both parties until things simmered down. Serena on the other hand would…

"Blair!" speaking of the devil…Serena's voice sounded loudly across the hall. She was dressed with her usual disregard for the school uniform, her skirt barely long enough to pass muster and heels that just met the rules by a millimetre. She had Dan's hand in hers and she pulled her reluctant boyfriend to the front with her. "Hey, Vanessa said Nate had the ta-" Serena immediately launched into discussion with Blair as she slipped into the seat beside her.

"How an earth do you manage to be so loud in the morning?" Blair rolled her eyes at her friend, who had typically assured her via message that she and Dan would be bringing the tapes personally only this morning. "And before you panic Nate's right there," Blair quickly interposed, stilling Serena's obvious anxiety, Nate was not usually known for his punctuality. Serena glanced over and smiled at Nate, waving at the blonde boy who looked up in time to return the wave with a slightly sleepier hand gesture.

"More important question, where's Pieser?" Dan queried, glancing at the rows 'reserved for the committee.
"Why, planning to declare your love for him?" as Blair said this snippily she glanced around the hall, curious herself, but there was no sign of Pieser anywhere.

"Dan, I thought you only had eyes for me!" Serena mock gasped.

"I do, except when Pieser is in the room. What? I just don't like having my back to that man, he creeps me out…?" this illicited from him as he dodged Serena's gentle punch. "Well at least now all we have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy our public humiliation," he noted wryly, giving up on his search for the teacher he turned to face the front again, leaning back in the seat next to Serena and yawning once more, late nights were clearly not his foray.

"It's not going to be that bad," Serena insisted, managing to keep her note of doubt to a minimal.

Before Blair could respond she noticed Chuck sauntering into the hall, slipping off sunglasses he shoved them into his blazer pocket as he strutted down the aisle of chatting students of all grades and headed towards the front row.

"Well hello one and all," he drawled lazily as he stopped by their row. Blair determinedly avoided his gaze, turning hers to stare unseeingly at the front. It was probably unclear to most people who knew the whole story, why Blair was avoiding Chuck, after what had occurred last night. It was almost unfathomable to Serena, who was Blair's best friend. Perhaps it had something to do with the strike before your struck mentality Blair had cultivated to perfection all these years, or perhaps it was just because it was Chuck she was dealing with, and ignoring him was far easier than having to actually confront anything to do with him. Whatever the reason Blair was doing a perfect imitation of a pristine statue, barely flickering an eyelash as Chuck glanced at her. If he could have seen her hands she had hidden in her skirt her façade would have been ruined however, her fingers were curled into a tight fist, her nails biting sharply into her palms. As it was he shrugged almost imperceptibly to himself and slid into the seat next to Dan.

"Looking a little worse for wear there Humphrey," he noted, as Dan attempted to stifle another yawn.

"Speak for yourself," Dan noted, glancing at Chuck who looked like he hadn't slept at all.

"Oh contraire, I'm as fresh as a daisy, thanks to a little remedy…"

"If that's fresh as a daisy I'm not really sure you can call it a remedy," Dan shifted in his chair with a speculative look on his face.

"Care to try a sip?" Chuck smirked wickedly as he produced a silver flask from his pocket, holding it up as an offering to Dan. Dan could clearly smell the contents wafting from the flask. Serena, who had been whispering something to Blair, also caught a whiff, her head whipping to glare at Chuck.

"I can't believe you brought that to school Chuck!" she whispered heatedly, trying to keep her voice down as she lent over Dan to bat the flask away. Blair's back stiffened but she was determined to keep her resolve, whatever Chuck did was none of her concern. "You better put it away before Mistress Quelller comes around!"

"Relax sis, it's only a small bottle," Chuck laughed dryly, but he assuaged Serena's fears by quickly capping the flask and returning to the inner sanctums of his blazer pocket, for fear she would tip it's contents.

"Do you really think it's a good idea for you to be drinking?" Dan queried quietly, his concern something else entirely. After all it wasn't every day you saw someone in the state Chuck was in last night, at least not for Dan.

"You didn't seem to have a problem with drinking last night?" Chuck noted, recalling Dan's perusal of his wine. "Don't tell me the morning has brought back kill-joy Humphrey."

"After last night we should all be poster boys for abstinence," Dan pointed out wryly. "But you know that's not what I meant, I meant after-"

"I'm fine Humphrey!" Chuck growled and all the good humour had quickly fled his demeanour as he glared at Dan, daring him to say anything further, his eyes flicking to the brunette sitting stiffly at the end of the row.

"All right then…" Dan raised his hands lightly in a placating gesture, shrugging his shoulders as if it was no big deal. Nate thankfully chose that moment to approach them, sliding into the seat next to Chuck.

"I've given Rob the tape and CD, he's set it all up so we should be good to go," Nate said, not noticing the tension between the two boys.

"That's great!" Serena quickly interposed here with an enthusiastic exclamation, scrunching up her nose as she realised the exact implications of this. "Or is it…?"

"Well it's done now," Nate sighed, brushing his hand through his short blonde hair. "We should just sit back and enjoy the ride, that's what your always saying right Chuck." He grinned at his best friend, punching him lightly on the arm. Chuck returned the smile with a forced one of his own, tearing his eyes from Humphrey.

"Something like that," he drawled.

"Are you ready Blair?" Serena asked, turning to the brunette at the end of the row.

"Of course," Blair replied primly, settling her headband. "I'm always ready."

Nate glanced at her stiff posture, then at Chuck who was also concentrating on not looking her way and an understanding look passed between him and Dan, that of two people who could never possibly comprehend the kind of games these two played.

They didn't have much time to contemplate this further however, as Mistress Queller approached the podium now, tapping the microphone for silence. The hall had filled while the group was talking, Nate glanced behind him to see Penelope sitting directly behind him, along with Blair's other minions. He avoided her gaze, glancing behind her to ascertain that the whole school was in attendance, sitting on primly lined seats, some jostling each other, others whispering or slouching in their seats. Nate quickly turned his attention back to Queller as Penelope directed a sultry smile at him. Luckily he did for Queller began to speak.

"Good morning students," she began, Nate drifted a little after this, his eyes glazing as she continued on about the wonderful work the committee had done…If he and Chuck were among their peers in the back row, the seats they normally preferred for whole school assemblies such as this, Chuck would no doubt be rating all the girls from one to ten, based on their assets and causing Nate to snort most un-gentlemanly like at his friends impolite quips. As it was however Nate attempted to sit upright in his seat, staring over Mistress Queller's head with glazed eyes in a feeble effort to look like he was paying attention as Chuck played distractedly with something in his pocket beside him.

Blair sat upright and proper and perfect in her seat. But for once she wasn't listening to the person at the podium, she was trying so hard not to turn her head and glance past Serena and Humphrey tot that brunette sitting near the end of the row. She couldn't, because she knew is his dark gaze caught hers she would have to think about the end of last night and she really didn't want to think of that, on how she choked on those words, about how she had actually tried to say them, like some common desperate girl. Blair was not common and she was not desperate and she was determined she was not the one who was going to satisfy Chuck's vanity and stroke his ego with three words he gave no import to really. They were Blair's three words, Blair's right and Chuck owed them to her, not the other way around.

Even Queller's adulation at all the work the committee had done, helmed by Blair, only elicited a small smile from her. She just wished she could escape the close proximity with the Basshole, she would even trade the headmistresses smiles for that one blessing. Luckily Blair didn't have to wait long, as Queller finally sat down and the hall lights were dimmed to facilitate the projector screens use. There was a slight rumbling in the dimness, but then the tape played and Blair readied herself to witness their bad acting on the screen. What she saw was an entirely different show however…

"The four emotional phases of an alcoholic" Blair's voice sounded primly through the speakers as the title card showed and then it all went downhill from there.

"No, no, no, no," Blair was mouthing silently as she watched with stricken horror the scenes playing over the projector screen. There was no sound, the words were the ones they had planned and recorded, but the images…

"Phase one," Serena's girlish voice pronounced, "Learning the mood swing. A person is introduced to alcohol (in some cultures this can happen at a relatively young age), and the person enjoys the happy feeling it produces. At this stage there is no emotional cost. "

There they all were, in a circle, Blair included, drowning down tequila in unison and laughing. There was Chuck, in the limo, chugging down a glass of champagne while Nate and Serena laughed. There was Nate, toasting to the camera with a big cheesy grin on his face. Dan trying to fill his glass in the moving vehicle and almost spilling it all over Serena who giggled uproariously. And then Blair, smiling, a look in her eyes as Chuck poured her more champagne.

As these first few images flashed across the screen they all seemed frozen in the front row, watching it distantly. Then Blair was distantly aware of a slight disturbance coming from Dan's direction, no doubt Humphrey made to get up but Serena and Chuck quickly pulled him down into his seat, Chuck hissing something into his ear. Blair didn't hear what it was though, she was still in a state of frozen shock, her eyes glued to the projector screen.

"Phase two," Dan's voice sounded now, quiet and deep, "Seeking the mood swing. A person will drink to regain that feeling of euphoria experienced in phase one; the drinking will increase as more intoxication is required to achieve the same effect. Again at this stage, there are no significant consequences."

There was Dan and Serena attempting to dance wildly in the middle of the club. There was Chuck, walking along with the Karkov bottle in hand, taking a swig in the park. There was Blair, when they were playing I never, taking a sip from the same bottle in the limo and making an unattractive face at the taste. There was Serena, hanging half out of the window, trying to order burgers and smiling at the camera with a glass of champagne in her hand.

"The Third stage," Nate's voice now sounded. "At the third stage there are physical and social consequences, i.e., hangovers, family problems, work problems, etc. A person will continue to drink excessively, disregarding the problems."

There was a shot of people gyrating in the club, a big sweaty mess. There was the back of Serena and Dan, running flat out. There Humphrey was, choking on the tequila, while Blair helpfully slammed him on the back, taking obvious pleasure from putting in more force than required. There was Blair and Serena sticking out of the sun roof of the limo, Serena had practically yanked Blair out. There was Humphrey at the edge of the lake, looking like he was about to fall in. There was Chuck, Nate and Dan being led out of the club by the security guard's.

"The fourth stage can be detrimental," Blair's voice sounded again. "As Johnson cites it as a risk for premature death. As a person now drinks to feel normal, they block out the feelings of overwhelming guilt, remorse, anxiety, and shame they experience when sober."

There was the front of the bottle shop, looking even more foreboding and shady, Chuck and Serena's backs were visible as they walked towards it. There was Serena dancing with abandon while Dan tried not to step on her feet in the club. There was the inside of Chuck's suite, with glasses all over the table, Nate sitting on the couch with a glass in hand looking dopey. There was Blair, running into Serena and almost toppling them both over onto the pavement near Central Park. There was the club again, an unknown man walking towards the frame and saying something silently, angrily covering the camera lense with his hand. There was Chuck, lying on the couch of the Van der Bass suite, looking waisted, empty glasses and white powder on the table in front of him. There was Blair grabbing the wine bottle from Dan to fill her glass. There was Chuck again, stumbling in the bathroom towards the toilet bowl, looking pale, and the camera dropped just as he tilted forward, capturing his knees hitting the floor as he worshipped that porcelain god…

"If you know anyone who has an alcohol problem, or you yourself suspect you do, seek help before it's too late," Blair's voice sounded and the screen went black.

And then, in a hall filled with the teenagers of the Gossip Girl era, there was resounding and absolute silence…

A/N: A nice long chapter there, I had to split it in two. Chuck and Blair drama coming up. Thanks to eckomoon and Where's Waldorf for reviewing last chapter. And to the rest of you (looks over her half moon glasses disapprovingly ; P jks). Come on, how about dropping me a line and reviewing if you're reading, just to let me know you're there : )? Perhaps tell me what you think is working and what isn't for the story? : ) Who knows, you, yes you could be the lucky 200th reviewer and receive good luck through virtual space ; ).

Chapter Picture: There's two, google: 'School-Lies-blair-waldorf-648115' and '1-12-School-Lies-blair-and-chuck-7762934'.

A/N 2: The dialogue written as the voice over for the presentation is completely pilfered from Wikipedia article: 'Alcoholism'. I cited it in the very story through the characters but just thought I'd make it very clear it is not my words!

I'm pretty busy now, I have some family from overseas visiting plus helping my eldest brother pack for a holiday (I'm such a good sister ) ) so I'l update for two weeks.

I'm creating a pdf file with chapter pics and the story and an end list of chapter songs. When I eventually do finish this and post it all up on ffnet(which I have to because I have a whole plan written out and have practically written the ending) I shall edit the whole story properly pdf it with pictures and send it to any faithful reviewers who are interested in having a pdf copy : ). (Although I won't be offended if anyone isn't haha ; P).

Thanks a whole bunch to: eckomoon, Amy, , Melly, xoxo S, Lost-in-you and Susan for reviewing : D. You guys are the bomb : ). 3