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All characters Gossip Girl

Inspired by the Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

The party was in full swing when they arrived. The night sky was dark and starlight, as if a blanket covered in diamonds swamped the sky. Car's lined the driveway with people waiting to enter to the house.

Blair walked into the mansion not holding onto Nate's arm, her Vanderbilt diamond sparkled under the lights, casting small rainbow shards on the back of her hand. It was big, gold and ugly. Blair hated gold. She hid it under her fur stole.

Every room was full with socialites, climbers and dancing girls, there were large bowls full of champagne, a lively jazz band played music that hit your soul and the candle light gave the party a darkened sense of escapism from the cold, hard world outside.

Nate looked on unimpressed. What kind of party was this? Wrapping an arm around Blair's waist he pulled her over to the champagne fountain, "This is the kind of friend you have made?" he whispered harshly.

"Serena made a new friend, not I." she replied boredly. Blair looked around the large foyer, there were many doors leading from this room and a large staircase winding upstairs, her curiosity was already getting the better of her.

Serena and Dan made their way to the balcony, a few people meandered on the terrace and at the end of the balcony cut a lone figure in a dark grey suit, "Chuck!" Serena called out, rushing over to him, the beads on her dress making music.

He turned around, his pink bow tie pulled to perfection, a single peonie hung from his pocket and his signature smirk plastered on his face, "Sis, so good to see you." he kissed her cheek.

"Behave! We've not been siblings since we were thirteen!" Serena smiled, hitting his arm slightly.

Bart Bass and Lillian van der Woodsen were married briefly ten years ago and divorced two years later. It was a business arrangement, it got Lily a roof (a very expensive roof) over her children's head, gave her some time to get back into the business of socializing and benefit hosting and Bart got some good publicity and turned Bass Industries into a family business. They remained friends and Lily kept in contact with Chuck since they had divorced, the odd phone call, letter and telegram.

Chuck dipped his head, ever the charmer, "The family that plays together, stays together." he looked up at Dan and shook his hand. Dan wasn't sure if Chuck liked him or put up with him, "Humph. Nice to see you showed."

Chuck skulked off into the mass of people gathering at the doors and disappeared into the crowd, not once talking or greeting any of his guests.

"Do people know this is Chuck's party?" Dan enquired, he found it strange that for such a public figure like Bass, throwing such a lavish party, why was none of this 'polite society' thanking him for the invite.

"This is an escape, you don't thank him for that. No, they probably don't know it's his house."

Nate sat at a table in the yard, playing a game of poker with Carter Baizen. Blair was rolling her eyes and toying with the hem of her dress, as Nate played and lost a few hundred dollars, "Tough luck, Arch. Guess your lucky charm isn't much help." Carter leered, winking at Blair as he took the bills from the centre of the table.

Carter Baizen was an insect. He decided when we was eighteen he didn't want to live under his father's rules, so he up and left New York and got on a boat to Europe. He spent eighteen months spending his trust fund, gambling, women and booze. He came back, claiming that he'd seen the world and was ready to settle down and be a true gentleman. Luckily his father was having none of it and told him if wanted to be accepted back into the fold, he needed a wife. Being Carter Baizen he's had four weddings planned and four brides left crying at the altar.

"Aaaah. I can't give up now can I?" Nate complained. How did Carter always win?

It was a warm night. Blair's stole came off a while ago, her dress clung to her hips, it didn't help that Nate kept his paws around her waist since they walked into the joint. "I'm going to explore." She announced haughtily and removed Nate's hand.

Nate had a good hand, so nodded and leaned his face up, when no kiss was received he spun his head around, but she was gone.

Blair made her way through the dancing-girls and drinking men, making her way to the staircase and ascending. The stairs were solid, her hand danced on the marble hand rail, her diamond scraping the top. Serena saw her walking up and followed, curiosity killed the cat.

"B! Are you having fun?" Serena asked as she caught up to Blair, who was leaning against a marble pillar, glass of half empty champagne hung loosely between her slender fingers.

Blair turned around, "If having fun means watching Nate lose money to Carter Baizen, then yes, fabulous," Blair shot her eyes around the upstairs landing, you could see the entire downstairs events from here, the jazz band had taken a break and there was one man tinkering on the piano at the bottom of the stair case, therefore the noise level had lowered significantly, the hoots of laughter and giggling girls made up for it.

"I think we should go get Nate," Serena said quickly, pulling Blair back down the staircase, Blair looked back around at the floor she was on, all the doors were bolted shut apart from the patio leading to a balcony. Blair huffed but followed obediently. Her kitten heels clinked the floor with every step, Serena wobbled on hers, they were much higher, strappier and not right for walking down stairs.

"Your feet will be rotten when you're old if you keep wearing those." Blair mumbled, linking her arms with Serena.

"I'll never get old, I'll be young and free forever!" Serena cackled, pulling two more flutes of champagne for her and Blair. The girls clinked their glasses together and took a long sip.

Dan caught up with the pair, "You'll never believe the sights I've seen tonight," he was saying, he then told an animated tale of the timber heir Theodore 'Teddy' Van Bleek jumping in the pool with two girls who had 'lost' their dresses, neither of which girls were his very pregnant, very-not-at-the-party wife. Serena giggled, Blair compressed a smirk. Hum-Drum Humphrey wasn't so bad.

Serena danced back out on the patio, Nate was still losing to Carter, his shoulders were slumped and Carter was puffing on a Cuban. Blair and Dan followed behind Serena, they had been chatting about books, music and other indescretions Dan had been witness to this evening.

"You're back." Nate stated.

Blair nodded in reply.

Nate got up from the table but stopped in his tracks as he looked behind Blair.

Chuck Bass was fast approaching, confidence oozed out his slow walk, his left arm raised holding a bottle of pink champagne, he caught Nate's eye. Nate had to look away and instantly put his arm around Blair who also turned around, Nate felt her breath hitch.

Chuck and Blair locked eyes. Chocolate on hazel, doe eyed on arrogant slits, dark on light.

There was only a few feet between them, but felt like an ocean, an ocean too close for Nate's liking. "Blair, it's so.. uh, it's wonderf-" Chuck stuttered. Chuck Bass didn't stutter. "You look fantastic," he smiled adoringly. Any woman in this room would want Chuck Bass to look at them like that.

Blair stood dumbfounded. Dan felt the atmosphere change. Suddenly, he understood what was happening. He thinks. Serena grabbed his hand, her eyes wide.

Blair's breathing had gotten heavier. Her eyes were open and bright. It was as if someone had turned on the light inside her mind. A red tinge made its way up the side of her neck. And her hands were shaking. Blair Waldorf does not show weakness.

"Great to see you, Charles. How have things been. I haven't seen you since our Engagement Party," Nate said, rather more aggressive than he meant to let on. He offered out his hand. He who makes the first move...

Chuck ignored him, "I'm so happy you came," he spoke to Blair and Blair only. It was slow, quiet and sensual. Their eyes locked. And Chuck had moved a few inches closer. She could smell him, it was overloading her senses. It was if time had stood still for the two of them, everything else was in slow motion apart from two beings. No one else at this party mattered. It was all a backdrop.

Nate coughed, "I didn't know you were back on the East Coast," he spoke before Blair opened her mouth, she hadn't yet taken her eyes from his which unnerved him greatly.

Chuck's eyes cut to Nate, "Surprise," he drawled maliciously, he moved once more closer, Nate pulled her to him as Chuck started to reach out his hand.

"I think we should leave." Blair announced, snapping from her reverie, her eyes darkened over once more, "It's getting late, I have a tennis lesson in the morning," her reasoning was rushed and insincere, her breathing was heavy as if she had held her breath for the last three minutes. She looked at Nate, whose eyes trained on Bass.

"Yes. Getting much too late," he pulled Blair, "Good catching up," Blair's strut unbalanced and nervous.

Chuck didn't try to stop her but did try to meet Blair's gaze once more, "Speak to Arthur at the front door, he'll give you a ride home,"

The Jazz Band picked back up again, filling the silent void of Blair and Nate's departure.

Blair didn't look back at him, Chuck knew she wouldn't.

Dan and Serena stayed on, much too early for SVDW. It was nearing midnight when they found Chuck again, he'd left Dan and Serena standing awkwardly at the scene.

"Chuck, you have to understa-" Serena started.

"Don't S. I know her," he waved her off. Chuck was leaning over the railing, his eyes set across the bay at the houses on the other side of the water. A few revellers remained, the hung on to eachother, the Jazz had slowed down as the evening took a turn. Empty champagne bottles lined the tables, there were shoes, bags, even a few pairs of trousers left lying around.

Serena smiled weakly, and rubbed her brother's(?) shoulder. Chuck smiled at the touch and then polished off the glass of scotch.

"You're welcome to stay the night, sis. Plenty of spare rooms," Chuck offered and Serena nodded in response.

"I'm going to call Blair's house, let her know." she made her way back indoors.

Chuck looked at Dan for a few moments, "You must think me pathetic,"

Dan shook his head, "Never."

A few minutes of silence passed them, "Can I ask you about all of this?" Dan probed nervously, his hands twisting around each other.

"What do you want to know?"

Hope you enjoyed, Bx