Chapter Seven- Fight the Power
[Dan's P.O.V]
What is that damn music I keep hearing? Its becoming annoying and I'm trying to sleep. Rolling over onto my back I quickly begin to notice that she's not laying beside me. Of course I would usually be sleeping with her after sex, but she's been crashing here at the loft all week long and she's finding it hard to sleep. Blaire asking me to sleep with her as in just sleep was weird, but after everything that happened with the robbery, I knew that it would be the only way to put her at ease. Sitting up in the bed, I run my fingers through my hair as the sleep still manages to control me but I know that I have to figure out where Blaire went off to just in case she maybe upset. Coming out into the living room I quickly spotted the brunette curled up on the sofa looking on intently at the television with a bowl of popcorn in her hands. Joining her on the sofa, I roll my eyes at the fact that its Breakfast at Tiffany's again. Grabbing some popcorn out of the bowl, there was no need for me to protest that she would need her sleep for classes and then work because she'd only do what she wanted to do. For a while I was a little disinterested in the struggles of Holly Golightly but as I noticed how into it Blaire was, I began to give it a shot. Both of us snacked away on the popcorn like it was breakfast food and at this point in the morning it was gonna have to be breakfast.
"It's always nice to know that I converted one to the great Hepburn" Blaire told me as she turned the television off with the remote
"I wouldn't go that far, but I have to say it wasn't that bad" I admit to her knowing that I wouldn't hear the end of this "What are you doing up?" I then asked
"I couldn't sleep" Blaire replied
"I thought that was the purpose of me sleeping with you? so you could sleep" I asked her
"Yes, but then that stopped working. Do I have to give a reason?" Blaire asked
"I'm going to need an answer or else the questions will keep flowing" I replied
"I knew you'd ruin this for me. Breakfast at Tiffany's then Humphrey questions" Blaire said "That's a horrible combination" she said
"So will we both be attending class today?" I asked her
"Will you talk to Rufus?" Blaire fired back as I couldn't help but laugh at her witty comebacks before I got up from the sofa and headed into the kitchen to pull at pots and pans "If your planning on cooking can you make waffles?" she then asked me as I just shook my head
"I should start charging you with all the food your eating" I tell her as I begin to mix together the flour and milk
"As in rent?" Blaire asked as she made her way over towards the kitchen to sit up on the counter
"Rent? That would mean that you'd be living here" I replied still going on with my mixing
"I'm here all the time basically, then it would be sort of a problem solver to your whole Rufus ordeal" Blaire said again as I began to notice that she really meant it
"Wait? You mean this, we're not just joking or making pointless conversation?" I asked her turning all of my attention towards her
"Yes, I mean it" Blaire smiles like it was a brilliant idea that she just came up with. For a moment I just looked at her trying to access what was going on in her head, I mean the girl hated Brooklyn and loathed my loft and now she wanted to make it a permanent stay. Before I could even formulate a sentence my cell phone began to ring, feeling like it was a good distraction for the moment, I ran over to grab the phone to see that it was my dad calling. For a moment I truly contemplated the idea of not answering but something inside of me just wouldn't go through with it.
"Hello" I answered the phone
"Dan, I'm so glad I got ahold of you. Guess where I'm at?" Rufus asked as if everything was fine between us
"Where are you at?" I asked not really caring all too much where he was
"I'm down by the peir. Yeah, I was going out to pick up some things from the market and I just got lost, so I came to the peir" Rufus laughed like I was supposed to find that story hilarious when really it sounded stupid but I would never tell him that
"Oh, that's…that's great" I replied looking back to see Blaire dipping her finger in the mixture "Is there a reason why you went over there?" I then asked playing along with
"I was hoping that you could meet up with me. We could have a couple of drinks and have lunch" Rufus suggested to me
"I don't know. This isn't like some set up type of deal where you get me out there and spring some person on me?" I asked
"No, nothing like that. Just meet me out here, I'll wait for you" Rufus said before he hung up the phone not really giving any choice but to oblige his wish. Heading back into the kitchen, Blaire immediately perked up wondering if we were going to further discuss her proposed idea
"Who was it?" Blaire asked trying to pretend like she wasn't snacking on the batter
"It was my dad. He wants me to meet him down at the peir" I replied
"That sounds…fun" Blaire said
"Not so much. I'm starved, you?" I said trying to just distract myself with what my dad was trying to accomplish by inviting me to the peir and where Blaire got this idea to move in together. Things were just coming at me from every angle and I wasn't sure if I was being punked at this moment. Grabbing the batter, I continued on making the waffles, placing them on plate once they were done we both went about eating not saying much in between. "What are you going to do today?" I asked her
"Nothing, much. Probably watch another Hepburn movie" Blaire replied
"What about class and work?" I asked her
"I'm working from home and I e-mailed my assignments" Blaire said
"But its been like a week now, I mean don't you think you should leave and explore?" I asked her
"I explored and got robbed…I think I've explored enough on my own" Blaire quickly replied
"Look, I know that what happened to you was horrible but you've got to get back to your life. Get back to the Waldorf lifestyle" I said with a bit of laughter towards the end which she didn't find the least bit funny like I did. For a moment I read her face trying to figure out the look that she was conveying but nothing came to mind as to what I should do, I mean I was beginning to read Waldorf pretty well but this must have been a new chapter that I hadn't covered yet. Dropping her fork she quickly ran towards the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Following behind her I stood back to make sure that she would hit me in the face when she slammed the door. Leaning up against the door, I listened in to hear what exactly she was doing and of course it ran through my mind that she could have been using the restroom but nothing sounded so from what I was hearing. "Blaire. Blaire. Blaire, open the door? I have to use the restroom" I told her
"Piss on the plants, you don't water it anyways" Blaire fired back as I simply gritted my teeth
"I would prefer to use a toilet. Please just let me in, then you can continue on with this…whatever this is" I told her before I heard her put down the toilet seat, listening in closely I could have punched through the door if I had that type of strength
"Aw…" Blaire moaned as I heard peeing sounds "It feels so good to pee" she moaned even more loudly than the first time as I began to feel the urge to pee even greater now that she mocking me "I love the feeling of water running!" she yelled as she turned on the water faucet
"C'mon, don't be like this?" I begged of her as I shuffled from side to side trying to get my mind off of peeing
"My bladder is sure happy" Blaire bragged
"You can't just stay in there" I said banging on the door "I need to pee and you need to get back to your reality" I told her
"Watch me!" Blaire yelled back as she hit the door
"Your crazy!" I yelled before I ran over to grab my phone then my jacket on the way out because at this point I needed a toilet
[Blaire's P.O.V]
I was going to protest his ass if it was the last thing I did. I'm standing by this, and I will hold myself hostage in this restroom so that the jackass Humphrey will finally realize that he's an ass. I know it doesn't make sense for me to hold myself up in a bathroom that his grime for days and possible roaches crawling around but I've got to prove a point. This doesn't measure up to the great leaders before me, and what they protested against but me being locked in Humphrey's bathroom is a huge step if you know me. There was no intention to do this today so when I heard Humphrey leave, I snuck out and wanted to finish my waffle because lets face it…the Humphrey waffles were as good if not better than what Serena had told me of her nights here. Was I running from my problems? Maybe…but I deserve to have a off the wall moment because I've allowed others around me to have them…for once can I be the screwed up one with the issues…is that really too much to ask for. This waffle is insanely good…how hard can it be to make a waffle, he makes it seem like there's an art to it…Humphrey always thinks he's so damn special because he got the life's lesson as opposed to Gucci. Pouring the batter into the square thingy….see, its easy. Maybe not…..what's that burning smell and how come its not all waffle shape. Crap…great, now my cell phone is ringing.
"I can't talk right now" I said desperately trying to hang the phone up
"Uh, what? B, where are you? I'm at your place and Darota says your nowhere to be found" Serena said
"I can't talk, I'm burning up a kitchen" I said trying my best to get Serena off the phone
"What? Who's kitchen…wait, your in a kitchen?" Serena asked
"Yes, S. I'm in a kitchen that might be burning up" I said "Now, I can't give breaking news and put out the possible fire that could burn this whole place down" I said panicking more and more by the minute
"Tell me where you are, I'll come?" Serena asked and in that moment I knew that her knowing where I was and have been wasn't the best thing especially since she was the main person I didn't want finding out about Humphrey and I and our little sexual arrangement
"No!" I declared "I mean I don't want you to come because I don't want to have you dead…look, there's a lot of smoke and I have no idea what is going on" I told her almost wanting to cry because I just wanted the smoke to stop
"Smoke? B, you could be in danger and I'm not going to just let something happen to you" Serena replied and I could help but roll my eyes at the fact that she wanted to be the best friend at this moment
"No, I don't….I don't want you…look there is no fire it just a lot of smoke" I explained to her
"You said you were in a kitchen, right?" Serena asked
"Yes" I replied
"Were you using any appliances or something?" Serena asked
"Yes…the…uh, coffee machine" I said "I know, I know. I'm a hot mess in the kitchen but just help me before it does turn into actual fire" I cried
"Okay, Dan told me this a long time ago…whatever it is, unplug it!" Serena said as if she was answering a question at the exact moment a buzzer was going off and me being the idiot that I was at this point quickly unplugged the waffle maker and excitedly hopped up and down once the smoke stopped
"I did it! I unplugged it!" I said jumping up excitedly
[Dan's P.O.V]
I can't believe she locked me out. She locked me out of my own damn bathroom. She's freakin' insane, that's what she is…I thought Serena had a few screws loose but clearly Blaire is giving her a run for her money in that department. There is no way in hell that we could ever live together because we'd kill each other. I'd kill her, and I assure you I wouldn't feel bad about it because she asked for it. I should be thinking about why the hell my dad wants to all of sudden hang out but instead just the thought of Waldorf infuriates me. Pulling up in front of the pier I pay the cab driver and immediately begin to regret even showing up. I feel like such a female at this point…no, I can't feel that way because that's what Waldorf calls me…dammit! I'm literally cursing myself out in the head just as my dad walks up over towards me. Doing my best to straighten myself up because I know I smell due to my lack of showering or peeing…basically my usual routine. For a moment we walked in silence just looking out the boats trying to think of what to say to keep things pleasant.
"How have you been?" Rufus asks to break the ice
"Good. Everything has been going good" I replied
"And school?" Rufus asked
"That's been good as well" I quickly replied
"I talked to Jenny the other day, she misses you so much. She's busying herself with her design internship that your mom got her" Rufus said
"Yeah, she e-mailed me about it. She even sent some of her stuff that she completed" I smiled "She's doing well, better than if she would have stayed" I added
"But this is home, wherever she goes this will always be home" Rufus said
"It's not feeling like home these days. It feels like we're trying to erase something as opposed to build on to this home" I sighed unable to let it just pass
"I want the same things you want, I know it may seem like I don't, but I do. My ultimate wish is that my kids are successful and live their dreams" Rufus said "That's what I want…that's what I struggled to have happen" he said
"And what makes you think I'm not trying to get towards my dream? I'm breaking my back just to get there" I told him
"Because it just seems your coasting through, after everything with Serena…" Rufus said before I quickly had to cut him off
"Okay, Serena shouldn't be evidence as to me not going after my dreams. Yes, she was a dream girl but I've painfully seen enough reality to know that we'd never work" I told him
"Which is why I want you to realize that this is your time to finally get out there, no Serena hang ups…just you going after your dreams" Rufus said
"What do you think I'm doing?" I asked him wondering what the hell he wanted from me
"Odd end jobs just to pay the rent, that's not what I wanted for you" Rufus said
"And you think living the penthouse lifestyle will change my ambition. Ambition is the same regardless in a penthouse or crappy loft, difference is that not everyone has ambition even if it was fed to them on a silver spoon" I said
"There's no way of getting you to listen, is there?" Rufus laughed to himself
"Maybe not, not when your not willing to compromise" I said before a moment of silence passed between us "What do you want me to do? What will make us better?" I then asked
"I want you to get a real job, a career and start growing up" Rufus said as I couldn't help but laugh at the ghost of Rufus Humphrey
"Yeah, okay. I'll do it, when you get one" I said slowly backing away from him realizing that this was a waste of time "I'm going to be successful, and I'm going to do it my way" I tell him before I finally just turn around and walk away
[Blaire's P.O.V]
It's been two hours. Two whole hours in this bathroom. I swear if this isn't an open mind, I don't know what is anymore. Sitting on the top of the toilet I can't help but look around the bathroom and just realize it really isn't that bad. I mean it has the necessary items that is needed in a bathroom…well, extra towels would be nice because I don't do laundry. But nothing about this bathroom is so bad that it would be completely horrid. In some weird way I get a sense of family in this restroom…yeah, weird, I know but I do. We've moved so much that I don't think I had one memory of my restroom being truly my restroom, but I can see Humphrey as a kid with a bubble bath Mohawk that he probably thought was the coolest thing. I can see Humphrey and little Humphrey fighting over her hogging up time in the bathroom but I think that fight dwindled down because once little Humphrey went goth…looks were of no concern to her. There's a story in every house whether it be in a bathroom or a kitchen and I finally understand why Humphrey is bending over backwards to save this place or keep it. In some odd way, I would fight. I would fight like hell to keep the memories because that's all we have. Getting lost in my thoughts I can hear Humphrey make his way inside the loft and like clockwork I hear him toss his keys onto the counter. I know he's seen the mess in the kitchen…I didn't know how to clean it, so I just left it. I know stupid, and obvious but I had to get back to protesting. Hearing him come closer I can hear his body lean up against the door.
"You burned the last batch of waffles" Dan told me before I heard him take a seat outside the door
"Well, clearly I don't know how to cook" I replied
"You cooking would be a huge surprise to me" Dan said
"You know, for someone who wants to try out this whole friendship thing you sure like to insult me a lot. Friends don't do that or at least that often" I told him before I hear him doing that stupid chuckle of his
"Yeah, I said that, huh? We're suppose to be friends, and I sucked at that this morning…I sucked really bad" Dan laughed before he then turned serious on me "But as a friend I know this is more than you just being upset with me, your still scared" he said
"I got robbed, don't you think I should be?" I asked him
"Yes, but that doesn't mean you should just stay cooped up in one spot for the rest of your life. The greatest thing and the most infuriating thing about you is that your resilient, every time your presented with a no you find a way…an legal and illegal way…to make it into a yes. So do I find this whole hiding out in my loft a little funny, yes, but only because I know your soo much better than this and strong as hell" Dan told me as a part of me wanted to cry just to know that he thought that way about
"You make me out to be so strong but I'm not. Serena is the fearless one, I'm just the one pretending" I told him through mustered up tears
"I know which girl I was talking about and I was talking about you. Who else could propose the idea to pee in a plant?" Dan laughed as he remembered my earlier quote
"Do you still need to?" I asked him as I got off the toilet
"No, I peed all ready" Dan laughed "But I would like to talk face to face with you instead of through a door" he said before I began to contemplate if I should come out, but eventually my mind got the best of me and made me realize I couldn't stay cooped up in a bathroom all day because that was just unsanitary. Opening the door, Dan slowly rose to his feet, giving me that goofy smile of his that at this point was a little comforting to see because I don't know how many people would have smiled at me after the stunt I pulled "Hello" he smiled
"Hi" I replied
"So you messed up the kitchen and burned the waffle" Dan pointed out
"I know" I sighed "I'll clean it up" I told him
"Oh, you bet, but first…I think its only right of me to actually teach you how to make the so called famous Humphrey waffles" Dan proposed
"Your going to teach me how to cook? After everything I've done to the kitchen" I said giving him a slight smile to know that he wasn't upset with me over the mess
"But if you share the secret with anyone else, I will have to quote on quote kill you" Dan said before he extended his hand towards me
"Wait, let me get this clear though, your going to let me cook…I don't cook though" I laughed
"I'm painfully aware of that" Dan smiled at me
"Then we should do this the correct way. Before I snuck and you know, damaged the kitchen, but now I want to this the correct way" I told him as he looked at me confused
"I'm not following" Dan replied
"Ask me to cook" I told him
"Waldorf, will you just come with me" Dan sighed
"Not until you ask" I said
"You're the one who messed up the kitchen" Dan replied
"Yes, I did, which it is why its so important that you invite me into the kitchen" I told him as he just ran his hair in frustration but couldn't help but laugh at the same tiem
"Blaire, would you like to cook with me?" Dan laughed
"Are you sure?" I asked playing surprised by the sudden offer
"Waldorf" Dan said reaching the breaking point of his generosity
"Okay, okay" I laughed as I ran over to the kitchen
[Dan's P.O.V.]
It was actually surprising, I expected Blaire to be horrible in the kitchen but she was actually good, you know without all the burning. Today things with my dad was pretty crappy but I have to say the best and funniest part of my day was Waldorf. Crazy, huh? Cooking in the kitchen all we did was bicker and laugh in that exact order to be exact. Bicker and laugh, that could be the recipe to cure anyone's day or maybe it should be the recipe in general. Over the time that I've got to know Blaire I'm slowly realizing that there is something more to her that I don't think everyone has got the privilege to see, and I'd be lying if I didn't think that it was something I wanted to fight for her to do, to discover the real her. At one point I know she loved Chuck, and we're all entitled to our loves but I just think there is someone out there who will cherish and give her that nurture to grow into the strong person I know she can be. I'm not use to thinking such positive thoughts about her but I can't help it as we're sitting naked on the sofa watching Breakfast at Tiffany's yet again, instead of the usual popcorn… we have waffles to snack on and I have to say that the break from tradition is quite refreshing. This time I'm actually understanding the aw of Audrey Hepburn, and I have to stop because Waldorf just caught me actually paying attention.
"I caught you!" Blaire declared as she busted into laughter "Mr. I'll never enjoy that movie is actually enjoying it" she smiled
"Because I'm forced to watch it. I mean how many times have you watched this?" I asked her
"Two hundred and thirty three times to be exact" Blaire told me and the sad thing was that it sounded about right for her
"What is it about this movie that makes you watch it so much?" I asked her
"Its all about Audrey" Blaire smiled "She was a beauty and remains, her beauty is timeless" she said
"That's understandable. Audrey is hot" I laughed "Have you ever watched it after sex though?" I then asked
"Probably about twice, I'd watch it after every sexual encounter but it would become creepy after a while" Blaire said as I could only laugh at her statement
"Sex then Audrey, sex with Audrey would be a better fit" I teased
"Okay, now your just being disgusting" Blaire said
"Were you serious about your earlier thought? About you moving in?" I asked her before she put the movie on pause
"I think that was probably the scared in me talking" Blaire replied to the question "Besides, I annoy you too much to even live with you. I mean us living together would be…it would be complicated" she said
"We've past complicated" I laughed "And you don't annoy me, in some weird way your good for me at this point in my life" I told her
"We'd bicker too much" Blaire said
"But the sex is always good afterwards" I quickly replied
"True, but eventually we're gonna have to stop the whole sex with benefits…you've got to meet someone and so do I" Blaire said
"That's your problem. Right there is the problem, I asked you if you were serious about moving in, and now your giving me a list of reason as to why it won't work. I thought we were suppose to live outside of what we usually are" I laughed
"It would be like a huge screw you to Chuck" Blaire said
"That it would be" I agreed "But most of all it would be something you wanted to do, so since you like to be so formal…Waldorf, will you move in with me" I said getting up to kneel down on one knee all the while trying to cover my balls
"Your really serious?" Blaire asked
"Just give me an answer Waldorf" I quickly replied
"Don't snipe at me" Blaire replied
"Well you see I'm down on one knee and I'm naked" I replied
"And you act like I'm clothed…" Blaire said and I knew that wouldn't be the end of the bickering if we got started. Pulling her into a kiss, for a moment she seemed lost in it as we both got our kicks out of it but knew this was probably going to go further so there was no need to prolong the question
"Yes or no?" I asked breaking the kiss allowing us both to catch our breaths
"Fine" Blaire said quickly before pulling me on top of her. I wasn't quite sure she knew what she was getting herself into but I'm sure after a few hours of sex on the floor we'd be able to get back to the questions. For the first time in the many times that I had sex with the infuriating Blaire Waldorf, I swear this time felt different...it felt like the reasoning behind it had changed.