"Where have you been all night?" Nate asked as Chuck entered the Empire suite and threw himself on the couch
"Is Eva mad?" Chuck asked, lying there.
"No, I covered for you, told her. you were working late and this morning you went to Lily's." Nate assured, observing Chuck who remained slumped on the couch, barely keeping his eyes open. "You wanna tell me what's going on?"
"I.. slept with Blair." Chuck said, rubbing his eyes
"You what?! Chuck... how did this happen?" Nate asked, disappointed
"I don't know, I went over there to confront her about Eva."
"You did a great job." Nate rolled his eyes
"Found out she hadn't slept with Jack" Chuck pointed out, ignoring Nate's remark
"What a relief." Nate replied, sarcastically
"But then... I found out she created the blast about him out of spite."
"That's so unlike her." Nate mocked
"Would you stop with the sarcasm?" Chuck said, irritated, "I'm exhausted."
"How could you sleep with her after all that? I'm surprised you two even like each other at this point."
"We don't. We hate each other." Chuck proclaimed
"Oh yeah. I can't tell you how many times I've slept with a girl I hate."
"Nate." Chuck silenced him
"Did you and Blair at least talk about this?"
"No, she left for Columbia before I got up... I'll try to catch her later."
"Chuck, have the screws gone loose in your head? May I remind you that there's a blast surfacing the web about Eva as we speak? She's the one you need to speak to. Get your priorities straight!"
"Will do. But first, a nap. I didn't get much sleep last night."
"Yeah... I'm sure." Nate groaned as Chuck made his way to his bedroom.
"Blair." Serena shouted out as Blair made her way to class.
"Oh, hi Serena, what's going on?" Blair asked, nonchalantly
"You wanna tell me why Chuck was asleep in your bed when I left this morning?" Serena asked sternly
"He was?" Blair attempted a gasp, and Serena stared her down, "Ugh, fine. I can't find an excuse quick enough, my wits have taken a back seat, I'm so sleep deprived, but we'll talk later okay?"
"No..." Serena grabbed her arm as she tried to walk off, "Blair, you realise he has a girlfriend right? The girl you've been sabotaging since she landed in New York."
"So? That's Chuck's dilemma."
"Blair! This isn't like you. You've worked so hard to get over Chuck, don't fall off the wagon now!"
"I haven't! It was purely an act of mutual loathing."
"Hate sex? Come on, Blair. You and I both know that whether it's love or hate, with you and Chuck, it's passion that fuels everything."
"I assure you, S. I was just releasing my anger, and I have. Haven't you noticed how calm and collected I am this morning."
"That's a pretty word for in denial." Serena mocked
"Look. It was a one time thing... or maybe a 4 time thing in one night."
"Blair!"
"Gotta go, take care!" Blair waved as she rushed into the classroom
By the end of the day, Blair was just about to head home when Chuck was stood outside the psychology building.
"What are you doing here, Chuck."
"I thought we should talk."
"As far as I'm concerned there's nothing to talk about."
"Stop playing this game, Blair. We both know you can't make love to me and then act like it never happened."
"You've done that with almost every girl in the Upper East Side."
"Not with you." He spoke firmly. Blair paused before quickly changing the subject.
"I don't know what you think happened, but nothing has changed. I meant what I said."
"Fine." Chuck straightened his tie. "I was going to resign from the position but you're right. Nothing has changed. And after what you pulled with Jack and Eva. You better watch your back." He warned before walking off. Leaving Blair speechless.
Blair then pulled out her phone and began typing
To: Gossip Girl
-Chuck Bass was spotted leaving the Waldorf residence this morning sporting last night's attire. Don't have visual evidence but feel free to give me the credit for this one.
Gossip Girl Blast: This just in from the Queen B, herself. She just informed us, Chuck Bass left her place this morning sporting last night's fashionable attire. Poor Eva. Looks like Chuck's taken a page out of her book. Except he whores himself out for free.
"Have you seen this?" Nate walked in the kitchen as Chuck sat at the table, phone in hand, "Do you now realise what a mistake it was. I told you to talk to Eva!"
"I can't exactly do that when I don't know where she is!" Chuck's voice slightly raising with anger.
"Talk to me about what?" Eva asked, walking in
"Eva!" Chuck said, walking over to her, "where have you been?"
"I'll leave you two alone." Nate insisted, heading to his room.
"What do we need to talk about, Chuck?" Eva asked, sitting on the couch, and Chuck went to join her.
"I... made a mistake."
"Yeah... I told you holding onto the Jack thing would cause Blair to retaliate. And she did, at my expense. Now everyone knows my hourly rate."
"I'm so sorry... -Wait you know?"
"Yes. I went to that little croissant place you told me about and some college girls were reading it to each other from gossip girl."
"I will make it up to you, I swear. You really don't deserve this. I will get Blair back for this."
"Did sleeping with her help?" Eva asked, glaring at him, leaving Chuck taken by surprise, "Upper East Sider's sure love to gossip."
"Eva..."
"So tell me, is it true? And don't lie to me again."
Chuck was silent, holding his head down in shame which Eva responded to by shaking her head
"I can't do this." She stood up and headed to the bedroom.
Chuck followed her as she began packing her bags
"Eva, please. Forgive me, I made a mistake. Blair keeps besting me-"
"Are you surprised? Blair has done nothing but atrocious things since I got here. Yet, you still choose to mend things with her before me."
"That's not true!"
"Chuck, please stop lying to yourself."
"Stop packing, please." Chuck pleaded, but Eva pushed his hand away. "Don't leave."
"I have to, Chuck. It's time for me to go home. I can't stay here. You and Blair are still so connected and you don't realise that you hurt the people around you when you deny it."
"So, let me come with you. Away from Blair, away from all of it."
"You're still doing it, Chuck! ...I'm not mad. Honestly, at this point, I feel sorry for you. You're still holding onto the loss of your past. Learn to let go and move forward, for your own sake."
"But-"
"Chuck... You don't realise it, but you can't keep using me to be Henry. If you let go of the pain, you'll realise you aren't the old Chuck Bass anymore. You've become a good man, and people know that now. Henry lives inside you. I hope you'll remember that, even when I'm gone."
She hugged him and took her bag. Chuck watched as she left.
He sat on the bed, pondering over Eva's wise words.
"You okay?" Nate asked,
"Yeah..." Chuck replied, "She was right... about everything. I'm surprised she didn't leave me sooner."
"She really was a saint." Nate sighed
"But not for me... It's time to abandon my delusions."
"Hi, Blair." Chuck said, standing below the staircase at the Waldorf's, "You proud of yourself? The blast got to Eva, and now she's boarding a plane as we speak."
"Eva left?" Blair asked, "Chuck I didn't mean to-"
"Make her leave me? Of course you did. But that's not why I'm here." Chuck wouldn't let her get a word in edgewise. "Eva leaving gave me the wake-up call I needed. See, coming to the realisation that I have to live knowing that there's no hope for me and you, doesn't mean I have to sit idly by while you hurt me. You have done enough. You involved the one person who gets under my skin. It's time I involve yours."
"Chuck. You wouldn't go that far." Blair urged
"I wouldn't... but after you humiliated me with Eva's former career, slept with me and acted like I'm nothing to you, torturing me with my uncle just to hurt me. That was too far. It's time the old Chuck Bass makes a comeback.