Sorry for the long wait! I've been saturated with schoolwork. This chapter is riddled with angst. Enjoy!
Rose glanced at the clock. It was 5.37 am.
Slowly, she lifted the covers off, and started putting her clothes back on, not trying to wake the sleeping body beside her.
She quietly slipped out the door.
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Dan sat in his loft, waiting by the phone. He hadn't heard a word from Rose since last night. He checked his phone. No new messages.
Why did he have to go there with Blair? He had made a pact with himself not to think about her. Ever. Yet there was a part of him, buried deep underneath, that was still riddled with sadness. And although he was still livid, the fact that the roles were reversed and Blair was pining for him made him feel the slightest bit better. Now she knows how it feels.
Although, maybe she shouldn't know how it feels. Maybe I respect her too much to put her through that misery.
He shook his head, picked up a pen, and started clicking it absentmindedly.
His phone rang. He leaped to get it, without checking who it was. "Rose?"
"No, it's Blair."
Dan paused. "Blair, I told you, I don't want to hear from you."
"Dan," she sounded vulnerable, almost begging, "Please."
"No, Blair. This is a bad move. Go back to Chuck, like you always do."
"Dan..!"
He hung up.
He sighed and tried Rose again. No answer. Where was she?
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Blair glared at Chuck. She knew he had someone there last night. It was the way their bed reeked of cheap perfume, and the way he had slightly bruised lips. It was the way he was a little too nice. She'd seen it all before.
"Blair, darling, would you like pancakes or waffles?"
"...waffles," she said quietly.
Chuck got up to make them.
Blair sat at the end of their bed, feeling very sorry for herself.
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Rose climbed out of the cab, opposite the Empire. It was a pain that she had to return, but she had left her ring. The ring had been her grandmother's and it was extremely sacred to her. She ran in, desperately trying to smooth her hair down.
The elevator door opened at Chuck's floor. As she slowly entered, she was greeted by the looming presence of Blair.
"So, you're the slut that slept with Chuck."
"Blair..."
"Just shut up and listen. I'm not mad. In fact I expected this of Chuck. Maybe not of you, but that's a different matter. Now tell me, does Dan love you?"
"Yes..."
"Will he do anything for you, forgive you for anything, know your darkest secrets and still love you?"
"I'm sure he... wait..."
"–and so, I want you to tell Dan you slept with Chuck."
"What?"
"If he loves you, he'll forgive you."
"Blair..."
"Tell him, or I will," Blair hissed.
Rose looked as if she would cry. "You are a bitch."
"Whore."
"I need to collect my ring. Where is it?"
"Wherever your slutty hands left it."
Rose glared at Blair and stormed into the bedroom. She quickly grabbed the ring and made her way out. Blair had a look that could kill, but inside, she was extremely nervous.
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Dan slipped the waffles onto a plate. In the name of tradition, any Humphrey would eat waffles when they were feeling depressed or anxious. So that's exactly what he was doing.
A knock on the door distracting him from his woes. He opened it and saw Rose.
"Rose? What the hell happened to you?"
Rose looked a mess. She really did. Her mascara was all over her face. Her eyes were red and puffy. Her lips were dry, and her hair was awful. She looked as if she had not stopped crying. He immediately took her in his arms and she started sobbing into his sweater.
"I've done something awful, Dan."
He stepped away and held her at arms length. "I'm sure its not that bad," he said soothingly. "You can tell me."
She started sobbing again, big, hard sobs that rocked her whole body. "I...I sle... I slept with ..."
Dan frowned. "With who Rose?"
She started crying again.
"With who?"
"Chuck."
Dan turned around in exasperation. He ran his hands through his hair. "Why?"
"Dan..."
"Why? I thought you were different. I thought you were honest! I've been through this before..."
"Dan, no, wait..."
"Get out Rose... I need some time to myself."
"Dan!"
"GET OUT!"
He shut the door. He took a couple of deep breaths and sank onto the sofa, his breaths becoming more shallow, and he put his head in his hands, as he started to tear up. First Chuck takes Blair, and now he takes Rose.
"YOU TAKE EVERYTHING FROM ME!" he roared, and threw a cushion at the wall.
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Blair stared at the phone. She was waiting for the one call from Dan. The one where he apologised and said it was all a horrible mistake, and how they should go somewhere exotic and live happily ever after...
Of course, the phone didn't ring.
Blair sighed. She wasn't going to get anywhere staring at the phone. She had to be a woman of action.
She grabbed her bag and left.
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Rose waited at the airport. Her flight was leaving in an hour. She had time to kill. Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure walk toward her.
"Rose," he said.
"No," said Rose quietly. "I don't want to see you."
Chuck sat down next to her. "I know I must not be your favourite person right now, but listen to me. Blair is trying to get Dan back."
"What?"
"And I need your help to stop it."
Rose looked at him for a moment, confused.
"I'll cancel your flight. I'm a billionaire, I can buy you another one no problem. So what's it gonna be? Are you in?"
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The loft door opened and Blair stepped in, as she had so many times before.
Dan looked up, his eyes red, his hands in fists.
"Dan," she said quietly. She had never seen him this angry before. "Dan, are you..."
"No, I'm not okay. I bet you are enjoying this. I bet you enjoy seeing my pain."
Blair felt herself about to cry. She couldn't stand to see Dan like this. She let a single tear slip out. She closed the door and slowly walked over to where he sat, his eyes never leaving the floor. She slowly let her arms around him.
He didn't pull away.