Chapter 8

Blair and Serena lay on Blair's bed after endless minutes of making out, they both knew they still had a lot to talk about. Serena wasn't sure what to do about telling Blair. She knew if she didn't tell her now, it'd end up eventually getting out, and then it might ruin everything.

"B…?" Serena whispered, looking over at the brunette lying beside her.

Blair looked back at her with a soft smile. "Yea?"

Serena swallowed thickly. How could she tell her now? After what just happened? It never really occurred to Serena that Blair would still have any feelings for her, except anger, after all this time

Sensing the fear Serena was struggling with, Blair slowly reached out her hand, lacing their fingers together. "What is it?"

"I-- I have to tell you what happened that night," Serena began, feeling the tears well up in her eyes.

Seeing the pain on Serena's face, Blair knew that she had a secret that could possibly end them. But Blair also had a secret, and she knew it could also mess up any chances of them being together. So she leaned in and captured the blonde's lips, kissing her slowly, with as much love and tenderness as she could.

When they pulled away, Serena had tears running down her face and Blair was quick to brush them away and say, "Whatever it is, its in the past, okay? I forgive you, S. I know how messed up you were, but I also know where your heart was."

Serena nodded, tears still falling. "With you. It was always with you, Blair. And I swear, from this point forward, I'll do anything I can to make it up to you. I know I cant take away the pain I've caused you and it kills me, but I've really changed, and I'll never hurt you again."

Blair nodded softly, "I believe you."

Serena smiled through her tears. Blair was so amazing, and she knew she didn't deserve her forgiveness, but it didn't matter. She was lucky, and she wasn't going to question it.

"So what does this mean?" Serena asked, finally getting to the big question. Were they together? Was Blair going to break up with Nate? Would they tell anyone?

"I want to be with you," Blair said honestly, not breaking eye contact with Serena. "But I think its best if we keep it between ourselves for now. I have to break up with Nate and I don't need Gossip Girl or anyone else making this seem like an illicit affair. This is real, isn't it?"

"Yes," Serena smiled, "Its very real. And you're right. We should wait until we're both ready to face everyone. I'm not going to lie, Blair, I'm scared."

"Me, too. But we'll have each other when the time comes, right?"

"Right."

______________________________________________________________________

The alarm sounded and Ashley groaned, hitting the snooze button. The previous night, she'd stayed up talking to Spencer for hours and now her only motivation for going to school was that Spencer was going to meet her afterwards for coffee.

Kyla, ever the morning person and obviously not fully related to Ashley, came bounding into her sister's room. "Come on, Ash, we can't be late today."

Ashley stretched and then remained still. "Why not?"

"Because! Now, get your ass out of bed!" her sister said, pulling on the bed covers.

"Alright, alright. Give me a minute," Ashley conceded, getting out of bed and walking into her private bathroom, closing the door behind her.

"Fifteen minutes, Ash!" Kyla yelled through the door before walking over to the laptop on Ashley's night stand. It was already on Gossip Girl so she hit refresh, and read the latest update. Just as she finished, her phone rang.

"Hey Jenny," she answered, knowing it was her best friend by the ring tone.

"Oh my God, Ky, guess what I just found out?" Jenny said into the phone excitedly.

"What?" Kyla asked, the enthusiasm in her voice matching her friend's as she walked out of her sister's room and towards her own.

"Did you read Gossip Girl's update yesterday about Serena's cousin?"

"Uh, yea, duh. My sister is like dating her," Kyla said before remembering that she wasn't supposed to tell anyone, especially Jenny.

"Seriously?!" Jenny asked and Kyla forgot about what her sister said.

"Yeah, Ashley told me last night," she proclaimed proudly, "Anyway, what did you find out about her?"

"You're never going to believe this but she lives in my building. She moved in a few months ago, but she has a different last name."

"Whoa, that's really weird. How'd you find this out?" Kyla asked, completely engrossed.

Jenny went on to explain Dan's encounter with Blair on the steps, when he nearly knocked her over, and how Dan's friend Vanessa is Spencer's neighbor. Spencer had originally asked Vanessa not to tell anyone that she was a van der Woodsen, but since it was now all over Gossip Girl, there was no longer a need to.

"Okay, Kyla, Im ready, let's go," Ashley yelled from the hall.

"I'm coming!" Kyla called back, then said into the receiver, "Hey, I'll meet you at school in ten, and we'll talk more."