I own nothing.
Characters are Gossip Girl.
Inspired by The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
It was just starting to get dark when Serena dropped Dan off at his house.
"I think that was the best afternoon I've had with someone who tried to kill me." Dan stated as Serena pulled up at his gate.
Serena giggled, "Well you're the most fun victim."
"I've got to ask you something, you don't have to answer if you consider it inappropriate."
"Go ahead." she replied.
"Nate and Blair.. they're like really engaged?"
Serena's smile faltered slightly. "Yeah, they are. It's kind of complicated."
"You can tell me."
She sighed, "They have been engaged for a year, I didn't even know they were seeing each other, until the announcement party, I always thought she's marry..." her gaze fell away from Dan's brown eyes to the house behind him, "you know what, I don't think we should be talking about this." she snapped.
Dan was taken aback, "Okay, I'm sorry. It's just, they seemed like strangers. Blair did not want anything to do with him."
Serena glared, but she wasn't very good at it, so she just sighed. "They are." she whispered. Tears threatened to fall, Dan reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Meet me tomorrow evening? We'll have dinner." she stated after a few moments silence.
"I'd like that."
The next morning, Dan was lost in his dreams of blonde hair, blue eyes and car accidents, jolted out of bed due to a ferocious knock on the door.
He was greeted with a middle-aged man wearing a cream linen suit.
"Good Morning sir, Mr. Bass sends his well wishes to your moving in and invites you to Brunch." he smiles politely.
Dan looks confused, "Mr. Bass?"
"Yes sir, your next door neighbour." he points behind him to the house.
"Oh, yes. Well awfully nice, what time am I expected?"
"Anytime now." he smiles politely once again and walks back through the trees to the mansion.
"Mr. Bass. Hm." Dan stands at his door and turns back inside to prepare. What the hell do you wear to a brunch anyway?
Dan ends up in his woolen suit again. Walking up to the house he regrets it, mud still stains the back of the pants and his sweating like a beast.
"Mr. Humphrey! Mr. Bass is waiting for you on the third floor balcony." the same man from earlier announces to him.
More stairs? He'll die! Dan grits his teeth and follows the butler.
On reaching the third floor balcony, Dan see's a buffet has been put out. He's starving. To the left, staring out to the water stands the Mr. Bass.
Today, he wears peppermint green, patent cream loafers and his hair is swept up away from his face, peaking in a small coif.
He turned around, his matching green bow tie with cream pocket square and flower shows him to be the epitome of the Urban Dandy. Chuck Bass.
He puts his hand out, "Morning, Humphrey. Can I call you Dan?"
Dan takes it, "of course, what can I call you?"
"Chuck, Charles, Mr. Bass. Whatever suits you, I'll call you Humphrey if you don't mind?" he offers Dan a seat.
"That's, uh, fine. Thank you for the invitation."
"Nonsense, you practically live in my back yard, you're welcome anytime."
His voice is a slow sensual drawl, full of class, arrogance and confidence. Dan hates him.
"Afterall, I like to know when I have a reporter in my grasp." he smirks.
Dan's eyes bug out, nearly spitting his freshly squeezed orange juice, "I'm a sports writer."
Chuck looks at him tiredly, "Cut it. I don't care what you do. I know you're the Insider. Whatever you call yourself. Write what you want about whomever you want. We might be able to help each other." Chuck takes a swig of, what Dan is guessing is Scotch.
"Help you? Excuse me, sir. You don't look like you need help from me."
Chuck smiles and takes a bite from the melon sitting on his plate. Dan feels uneasy.
Dan and Chuck spend the morning discussing business, lifestyle and unimportant chatter. Dan already knows the basics of Chuck Bass womanizer, Chuck Bass CEO, Chuck Bass son of recently deceased Bart Bass, Chuck Bass Party Boy and Chuck Bass. He learns that Chuck is very inquisitive, he 's very interested in Dan's work, he also gives Dan a tour of the property.
"So, what was that car accident I saw you get into yesterday?" Chuck enquired.
"Nearly got knocked down, awful driver. Serena van der Woodsen."
Chuck's head spins round, "Serena, aye?"
Dan nods, "you know her?"
Chuck smiles sadly, "Yes, somewhat." He answers briefly, "What is she doing in the Hampton's?"
"She's back from Europe, staying with a friend, Blair Waldorf, if you know Serena, you must know her and her fiancé, Nate?"
Chuck is staring again, "Hm? Oh yes, yes, Old Sport, now answer me this. I need your help with something..." Chuck trails off and strikes up a deal with Dan, "I need some publicity, mainly for my clubs in the City. See while I'm here, I can't be in the City and live like Chuck Bass. I need to be seen as Chuck Bass here."
Dan nods, "I'm having a party tomorrow night, you should come, bring your friends. I need you to make sure you report every nasty, dirty scandal you see and report it to your boss. Tell them it's my party. I need this business to generate back in the City. Call it something of a practise for Victrola. Do you understand?" Chuck has come to a standstill and is standing directly in front of Dan.
Dan, for some reason, gulps, "Well, yeah, of course. Only if you don't mind? Why do you want this all spread?"
Chuck smiles, "The Chuck Bass Brand has gone somewhat adrift over the last few months, what with my father dying and all... I need a bit of excitement. Every week I want a while column dedicated to the decadence, the darkness and complete scandal of these parties. So when I come back in the Fall, the clubs will be full."
"I can do that. So you want me to invite Serena, I'm supposed to be having dinner with her."
"Yes invite all of them."
Dan nods, "Well, I better be off, I need to change and get hold of Serena to let her and Blair know."
Chuck shakes his hand, "Yes, I need to be organising things, the band will be here soon. One last thing though Humphrey, don't tell them it's my party."
Dan is confused, isn't he friends with them?
"I want it to be a surprise," Chuck explains, "borrow the car," he throws the keys.
He says nothing else and leaves Dan standing in his foyer.
At eight pm, Dan arrives back at Blair's and he supposes Nate's home. He's still uncomfortable with the two of them, he decides he will try to get more information from Serena tonight. Serena comes floating out from the house, wearing a black gown ankle length tight-fitting gown, covered in small black beads, wearing multiple strings of white pearls and a white feather boa. Blair comes behind, herself in a rose-gold colour of the same gown, with a creamy stole around her shoulders and her hair pinned to perfection, Nate also follows suit in a tux.
They roll into his car, Blair raising her eyebrows in surprise that Dan isn't driving a rusty truck. Serena tucks in next to Dan, smiling at him, "Daniel, good to see you again. We're grateful for the invitation." Nate says. Dan looked back and smiled at them both, Blair sitting as far away as Nate as possible. Nate rolls his eyes.
"Yes, Humphrey, thank you for the invitation. All this blonde was starting to give me a headache." Blair gripes.
Dan drives back towards Chuck's and his houses, "Dan, who's party are we going to?" Serena asks warily.
Dan looks up, "I met Chuck today." he says quietly, "he's having a party, told me to invite my friends."
Serena smiles weakly, "it's really sweet Dan, but I don't think this is a good idea, I mean Chuck, Blair and Nate in the same room together won't end well. Hell, they don't know he's here." she whispers, although she looks at Dan like she wishes she didn't say that much.
Dan looks up, "What? What is with those three? Has something happened? Serena? How do you know him?"
Serena hushes him, "My mother and his Father were married when we were kids, my mother and Chuck keep each other updated, I was on my way to see Chuck when I nearly knocked you over."
Dan pulls into the drive way, "Tell me more later?" and Serena nods.
Bit shorter, and I know no CB yet, but needed to get this out of the way before we can reunite them!
Hope you enjoyed Bx