Chuck had bombarded Blair with calls, texts and emails all weekend. He'd sent flowers, her favourite chocolates and wine. All were returned. He'd tried to visit numerous times but Blair had issued the doorman with strict instructions that Chuck Bass was not allowed near the Waldorf residence for the time being, maybe even indefinitely, Blair wasn't so sure about her future. She knew Chuck could never give her what she needed, she wasn't sure if she could have him in her life anymore. She was done playing games, she wasn't trying to be cruel, she needed a clean break for her own self-preservation. She couldn't let herself get sucked in again, Chuck Bass was like her very own Niagara Falls, one in which she had leapt feet first into too many times before. She wasn't sure her heart would survive another fall.

She thought she would be more upset but she wasn't really. It wasn't really over between them as it had never really had the chance to begin. It had always been games and sneaking around. She knew he loved her, there was no doubt in her mind, but she also knew she'd never be 'that' guy. She laughed to herself at her own foolishness, she thought she could actually have her happy ending with Chuck Bass. It was insanity. The only way Chuck could give Blair the future that she desired would be against everything that made him Chuck Bass in the first place. She thought back to his words after that disastrous night in Brooklyn, 'Chuck and Blair holding hands', Chuck and Blair going to the movies'…then her own voice 'Chuck and Blair getting married'. It was a total fantasy, one Blair needed to let go of.

Blair felt anxiety swell in her chest as she walked up the steps of Constance that Monday morning, she couldn't avoid Chuck at school. She would just have to do her best to get through it until graduation. Yale would be all that would keep her going until then. Yale…which she would never have had without Chuck. She didn't have too much time to obsess over Chuck, she noticed large crows of people gathering around her whispering and pointing not so subtly. Penelope, Hazel and Nelly all rushed toward Blair, their faces full of an odd combination of fear, apprehension and in Penelope's case a look of smug satisfaction.

"Blair…" Nelly stammered in a panicked voice.

"What's going on? Why the hell are you looking at me like I've walked in dressed in ski pants and Ugg boots?" she said eyeing them all seriously.

Hazel stepped forward, "We're so sorry Blair we're totally here for you."

"What is she talking about?" Blair said looking to the other two.

Penelope replied with a slight sneer, "Well we know you must be completely humiliated about Chuck and Miss Carr. I mean its one thing to be rejected, but for your teacher…how mortifying."

Blair scowled, "Chuck didn't reject me for Carr, besides we weren't even together."

"Yeah but everyone knows you two had this…thing between you." Hazel piped in.

Blair spun round and glared at her, "Hazel until you actually have a boyfriend of your own as opposed to the imaginary ones in that pasty little head of yours it would probably be best for you to keep your nose out of grown up relationships."

"I though Chuck wasn't your boyfriend." Penelope sniggered.

"He wasn't, he's not…" Blair said, getting flustered. Then she saw the tall blonde walking toward her. "S!"

Serena did not look fearful or anxious as she walked toward Blair, instead her face was stern.

"Blair I need to talk to you." she said seriously.

Blair didn't say another word as she pushed past her subjects and followed Serena to the other side of the courtyard.

"Thank you for saving me from those insipid fools," Blair said and then squealed grabbing Serena's arms excitedly. "OMG I can't believe I haven't told you yet S, I'm back in at Yale!"

"Really?" Serena asked apprehensively.

"Yes the Dean's office called me the other night, apparently there had been some terrible misunderstanding which has been rectified and they've offered me my rightful place." She exclaimed.

"What kind of misunderstanding?" Serena asked.

"I don't know, some sort of clerical error but it doesn't matter now S, I'm in!" Blair sensed Serena was not completely overjoyed as she should be. "Why aren't you happy for me S?"

"I don't know I just think it's a little too convenient that you get rejected from Yale because Rachel told them about your hazing and then not only is she sacked from her job but your suddenly back in Yale just like that." Serena said looking at her friend seriously.

"What happened with Miss Carr and Chuck had nothing to do with me S, I already told you." Blair insisted.

"Right and I suppose the new Bass library that's opening at Yale next fall has nothing to do with you getting back in as well?" Serena said disapprovingly. "Come on B I know you."

Blair looked to the floor like she did when she was a little girl on the rare occasion her father ever discipline her. Finally she looked up at S, with her best wounded expression.

"Ok Chuck did offer to help me with Yale; he had a meeting with the board and suggested a new library would be good for the company image. The Dean accepted as a thoughtful gesture from Bass Industries." She said slowly, "Chuck mentioned how much it would mean if the Dean reviewed my application, which he did..."

Serena eyed Blair still not convinced.

"…but the thing with Miss Carr was all Chuck. S why would I risk everything now when I was so close to getting it all back? Yale is all I have ever dreamt about S, you know how much it means to me."

Blair could see Serena was weakening through her squinted eyes, "But Rachel was the whole reason you got rejected in the first place. You're right Blair I know how much Yale means to you and I know you wouldn't let the person that almost took it all away from you just walk away."

"Usually you'd be right S, my penchant for revenge and destruction does seem to be insatiable but not this time. Not with Yale." She pleaded; she needed to convince Serena she had nothing to do with this. "Besides when I'm the wife of a Supreme Court Judge I'll track her down and have her struck off the teaching register and then deported to some god awful sub-Saharan nation with no water and electricity."

Serena giggled, "Blair…"

"S I promise you I had nothing to do with this."

Serena smiled, "Ok. I just needed to be sure; Headmistress Queller's been asking a lot of questions B."

"So it'll give the old Dragon something to occupy her time and let those who really run the school get on with it." Blair said wickedly.

"Be careful B, you don't want to get expelled." Serena said cheerfully.

"S come on, this is Constance and St Jude's no one's been expelled from here in years. We're the offspring of the richest families in Manhattan, no student has ever done something so awful that a cheque book couldn't solve." Blair said.

Serena pulled an uncertain face, "I wouldn't be so sure B, Chuck hasn't been so lucky."

Blair froze in horror, "What?"

"Chuck's been expelled." Serena said seriously. "Mom was called in this morning; she is still his legal guardian."

Blair was speechless, this was all her fault. Serena continued to explain, "Queller had proof he was the one with Rachel, and with his record already she said she had no choice. Mom tried everything, used all her sway as head of the PTA but its Chuck. I mean it was only a matter of time."

"Where is he now?" Blair croaked.

"Back at the penthouse I guess," Serena replied. "B! Wait!"

Serena called but Blair ran off without another word into the bust Manhattan morning street. She had to fix this.