She is sitting at the bar in the Palace, sipping a glass of white wine, when Serena joins her. The blonde orders a drink, and her radiating smile causes the bartender to fumble with the bottle.
Blair smirks at the man's inelegance, and raises a perfectly shaped eyebrow in her friend's direction.
"Should you really be flirting with bartenders when you are engaged to be married?"
Serena shoots the man – completely unaware of being the centre of conversation - another dazzling smile as she accepts her drink.
"I might be engaged, but I am not dead."
"I really am happy for you." She reminds her friend, and is surprised as her voice breaks a little. "And I am sorry if I haven't acted that way."
Serena's smile widens.
"I know you are, B, it is okay; you have had a lot on your mind. But will you be my Maid of Honor?"
The question has her feeling even guiltier, and she can feel tears welling up in her eyes.
"I would be honored." She smiles through the tears. Serena squeals with joy and throws her arms around her neck, hugging her tight.
"I saw him today."
"You did?" Serena knows who she is referring to without any further explanations, and loosens her grip around Blair's neck, giving her a curious look. "What happened?"
"Nothing," She snaps, but then remembers that Serena knows nothing about their rendezvous, and isn't referring to anything like that. "I mean…we bumped into each other in Central Park, that's all."
"Do you believe him now?" Serena doesn't sugarcoat her question.
Do you?
"I think so." She admits, taking another sip from her glass. "…Yeah, I do. I am just not sure it changes anything."
The truth in her statement hurts more than she expected it to, and brings with it a feeling of guilt that she is more than a little hesitant to explore further. Another sip of wine does nothing to dissolve the lump in her throat.
"Do you want it to?"
The answer that echoes in her mind is far from what she is willing to admit. She shrugs her shoulder in a vain attempt to appear somewhat indifferent, but then contradicts the gesture with her next words. An honest answer.
"I don't know."
"He has missed you, you know." Serena points out, eyeing her carefully as she takes another sip of her drink.
A flutter in the pit of her stomach that for the first time - in a long, long time – doesn't only hurt.
I have missed him too.
From: Al
So, you saw Blair today?
From: Fish
Who told you?
From: Al
Serena.
Well?
From: Fish
My dear sis needs to learn how to keep her mouth shut.
From: Al
Don't avoid the question.
WELL?
From: Fish
Still seeing that moronic banker?
From: Al
You suck.
From: Fish
That will never be a part of my repertoire.
From: Al
Ew. Fish!
I really don't want to know about your 'repertoire'.
From: Fish
Then stop asking so many questions.
From: Al
Aaah!
Fine, I'll just ask Serena then.
From: Fish
Why? What has she heard?
From: Al
Well look who's being nosy now.
From: Fish
Al…
From: Al
Chuck?
From: Fish
You suck.
From: Al
Now who is it that's talking about 'repertoires'? ;)
From: Fish
I'll need therapy for that.
tbc