I wake up to the warmth of another body pressed against mine. A sensation that I have become all too pleasantly used to. I sigh, nestling my head comfortably into the crook of Dan's neck. Happiness surges within me, just from this small comfort and I'm struck suddenly by a thought.

This is happiness. Perhaps the happiest I've ever been. And if this ends, whatever it is, so will the new light that's found permanent residence in my chest.

The distant sound of the front door opening and clicking shut steals my attention and I feel Dan tighten his grip on me as I try to sit up.

"No," He says, drawing me back into him. "Stay."

"Serena's home I think," I let myself sink back into the comfort of his chest. Just for a moment longer. "She didn't sleep here, I never heard her come in last night. I should go check on her."

"She probably stayed with her friend," Dan muses sleepily. "Either way, I don't think your immediate attention is required by her presence."

"But my presence is required at work. And isn't yours?" I turn my head so I can gaze up at him.

His face clouds momentarily, "They can do without me. Who even reads the Weddings section these days anyway? How He Asked stole all our readers." He smirks suddenly and gives me a pointed look. "Although, I suppose I do still have one loyal reader…"

"It was like one article," I look back towards the window, turning my gaze away from him as my cheeks heat.

"That's not what Serena said," He teases. "She said there was a whole stack of articles you saved. In fact, I am feeling a little hazy on my past work and would love a walk down memory lane. Can you point me in the right direction?"

"There's not a stack," I roll over and draw the covers over my face. "Your so-called one loyal reader is also very close to kicking you out and ending her subscription to The New York Times."

"You wouldn't," He calls my bluff, moving closer so his arm is wrapped around me again. He slowly starts to draw the covers away from my face.

I gaze steadily at him, "I might."

"B," Our eyes both shift to the closed door where Serena's voice is drifting through. "Are you home?"

"See," I give him an I told you so look. "She needs me. I can sense these things."

He reluctantly withdraws his arm so I can get up. But not before planting a soft kiss on my forehead. "I'll let you get up then. And I guess I'll drag myself off to another dull day of spinning stories about floral arrangements. But," He gives me a hopeful look. "Maybe you can come over tonight?"

"I think I can agree to that," I smile as I put on my silk Natori robe. "You can use the shower by the way. There's L'occitane shampoo and conditioner in there. Oh and I think I have a jar of Oscar Blandi pomade in the cupboard."

"Is that a hint?" He gets up and starts toward the master bathroom, giving me a wry look.

"Yes," I nod. "Now, go, fix that hair. You look like a muppet right now."

I step out of the bedroom, closing the door gently behind me. Serena is waiting for me at the end of the hallway with an apologetic expression. "I didn't realize Dan would still be here. Sorry,"

"It's okay," I reassure her as I go into the kitchen to make coffee. "So, how was your night? You didn't sleep here… Do I even want to know?"

Serena looks horrified at the insinuation. "Oh, no. I just slept at Poppy's. I didn't want to wake you guys up. We had a mellow night, just caught up with a few of the other models and grabbed drinks after dinner. But seeing them all, it just felt so hollow. It made me really miss Nate…"

I reach over and squeeze her arm gently. "I'm sorry,"

"Don't be," She brightens. "We've been texting all week and we're getting dinner tonight."

"Wait," I freeze, mug in mid-air. "You have? So lunch went well? I didn't even hear about it. I sort of thought I shouldn't ask."

She nods, smiling. "I think we've sorted reverted to dating. Which is weird since we're technically still engaged. But I think it's a good thing. I have a good feeling about it."

I think about this and nod confidently a moment later. "It's a little out of order, getting engaged first and then dating, but I think it's right. I'm happy for you."

"Me too," She does a bit of a twirl in her floaty paisley maxi as she retrieves a box of oatmeal from the pantry. "Hey, we should go on double dates."

"Double dates," I keep my tone light. "What a novel idea."

But somehow, the idea gives me a little thrill.

"Have you been too busy with your new BF to update me on the latest goss?" Georgina demands, already waiting for me in my office when I get in. She's currently perched on my desk inspecting her manicure while looking completely annoyed. "Nate's in a chipper mood that I can only assume was caused by Serena… Am I correct?"

"Yes," I say gently swatting her off my desk. "Now get your AllSaints leather-clad legs off my desk and maybe I'll fill you in."

She huffs in annoyance and slides into the chair across from me, flicking her stick-straight hair off her shoulders. "Dish,"

"They're dating, essentially-"

"Have they forgotten they're engaged?" Georgina is incredulous. "Because the last time I checked that ring was so massive, it can't exactly be missed."

"I know," I shake my head. "But it's what they need I think. I wouldn't be surprised if we have to pull out those bridesmaids' dresses from our closets again."

"Oh my god," Georgina leans forward in the chair. "I'm back on bridesmaid duty?"

"Possibly," I click on my computer and flip open my planner. "I'll be sure to tell Serena how excited you are at the prospect. Now, I believe you have a job to go do,"

"Ugh, no fun." Georgina huffs off and in the direction of her own office. "But I reserve your company for our Friday night girls night. No boys and no wedding talk unless it's the complaining type. So work on ditching that sunny disposition, B. Love ya,"

"Love you too," I call back with a lazy wave of the hand.

I skip my lunch break, favoring a green juice sipped while replying to emails and am able to get off work half an hour early. For once, I am out of the office before the sun has set and the golden light guides me to Dan's apartment.

When he opens the door to let me in, he pulls me into his arms and breathes me in. "I missed you today,"

I quirk a brow, leaning back slightly. "You just saw me this morning. Before I rather unceremoniously kicked you out of my apartment." I kiss him in between words.

"I know," He guides me in and gently takes my coat off my shoulders. "How was Serena by the way?"

"She was good. I guess things are back on track with her and Nate." I follow him into the kitchen and survey what he's cooking. It looks like a pasta of sorts and smells delicious. "This looks good, can I help?"

"No, I got it. Thanks." He smiles at me, "I'm happy for Serena."

"They want to go on double dates," I announce as he turns his attention back to the stove.

He looks at me, smirking. "Like at the bowling alley and the diner afterward drinking milkshakes? So old-fashioned,"

"I know," I look down at my hair, trying to find a split end. "It could be fun though."

He laughs and comes over, kissing the top of my head. "I was kidding. Of course, we should."

I let my eyes drip back upward at him, "Really?"

"Anything you want. We can even go to the drive-in." He teases.

"Hey, speaking of movies," My attention is diverted. "What are we going to do tonight now that we've seen every movie worth seeing in the tri-state area?"

"Well," He looks at me seriously. "There is this thing called Netflix..."

"You don't say," I lean back against the counter, sardonically.

"Yes," He nods. "Maybe you want to go investigate it and see if there's anything decent to watch while I finish cooking?"

"Sure," I head into the living room, realizing we haven't spent much time in here. The couch is a tufted relic, probably picked up at one of the local overpriced flea markets. I search it for the remote, coming up empty. I then frown at the bare coffee table, save for a couple of books on film. "Where's the remote?"

I spot a drawer in the ebony wood table. "Nevermind," I call as the drawer slides upon and I discover the slim remote sitting atop it. When I retrieve it, a stack of paper below it catches my eye. The red streaks and slashes across it don't do enough to hide the title.

The Perennial Bridesmaid

Lincoln Hall

Below the title, a name catches my eye, Clair Carlyle. And just a few lines below, Sabrina van Skoneker. What the fuck?

I pull out the document and flip through it. Ignoring the red slashes and annotations littering the sides. My eyes solely focusing on all the words that give me the sensation of deja vu. A slow panic travels through my body as I realize this cannot be coincidence. No names could just so happen to be that similar to mine and Serena's.

More lines that sting and cut me deep.

Always, always a bridesmaid.

My hands are shaking now as I try to read.

"Wait!" I hear Dan's hurried steps crossing the room. "That isn't- You shouldn't be reading that. It's not-"

"What it looks like?" I finish his sentence as I look up at him with my eyes burning, a tear threatening to fall. "Always, always a bridesmaid? Is that what you think of me?"

I can barely get the words out as my mind blurs in a frenzy of newsprint. Dan can't seem to think of what to say, as he hesitant steps closer. I step back, clutching the papers to my chest. "Don't."

How did this all crumble so fast? We were supposed to eat pasta, watch some French film, fall asleep together. And now, it's all ending.

"Blair," His face is twisting in agony. "Please, let me explain it to you. It was before-"

"You used me," I cut in, not caring to hear his explanation. From somewhere far off, I think I smell burning. Whatever, let the fire take us both down. "All along. This was all for your article,"

"No," Dan interjects quickly. "I didn't use you."

I compose myself, setting my posture straighter as I wipe a tear from my cheek, angrily. "It certainly looks that way to me. I'll have you know that if this ever gets published, I will fucking sue you and The New York Times for libel. My stepdad is a lawyer and he always wins every case. So I'd destroy that if I were you. "

I collect my bags, throwing the stack of papers back on the table so heatedly that they all scatter throughout across the living room. Dan rushes to me, trying to stop me. "Blair, please don't leave." I think there are tears in his eyes and he looks so desperate that for one tiny second I think of staying. Of hearing him out.

Maybe it doesn't have to be over.

But then the words replay in my head, in Arial 10 point font.

Always, always a bridesmaid.

I march out the door and let the door slam shut behind me.

Only once I'm in the cab, do I let myself cry properly.

It was all a lie.

I rush into the apartment, not even certain if I bother to shut the front door behind me. I bolt for my bedroom, locking it behind me and throwing myself on the bed, sobbing now.

I've been such a fool.

"Blair," Serena's panicky voice is just audible through my shuttering heaves. "Blair, what happened?"

I think I hear whispers, two voices perhaps.

Fantastic, I have an audience for what will most likely prove to be the biggest meltdown in all of NYC.

"Is she okay?" It's Nate's voice, I know that now. I put a pillow over my head to block out the sounds. It doesn't work.

"I don't know." I hear the door try to open. "B, can you let me in? I'm worried,"

After the handle jiggles for the eleventh time, I realize she's unlikely to give up so I haul myself up. I catch my face in the mirror as I cross the room to unlock the door and see my cheeks are littered with black streaks of mascara. I release the lock and then crawl back into bed, letting my face be buried into all of the pillows.

"B, what happened?" I feel Serena's hand come to my back while I shake my hand in response. "You were at Dan's weren't you?"

I manage to sit up just enough to nod. "I won't be going back," I say vaguely, sniffling.

"Why not?" Serena's hand pushes my hair out of my face. At my hesitation, she adds, "It's me, B. We're sisters. You can tell me anything."

"I know," I manage, now letting myself sit beside her, resting my head in my knees. "It's just. I feel like such a fucking idiot,"

"Why?" Serena asks gently. "I can't believe that. You're the smartest person I know and I think that Yale degree proves you're far from an idiot."

"Dan was just using me. It was all just for his article." A fresh wave of pain hits me as I say the words aloud. "Always, always a bridesmaid. That's what he wrote about me,"

Serena reels back at this information, her eyes widening. "Oh, B." She leans her head against my heaving chest as I cry more.

I don't know how long we stay like that. But long enough that I begin to drift into sleep, my tear-streaked face certainly staining my pillow.

Through the heavy fog of drowsiness, I hear Serena leave the room, tiptoeing across the room.

"Will she be okay?" I think I'm dreaming now as I hear Nate's voice.

"I don't know. It's so awful Natie, Dan wrote some article about her."

"The guy that was supposed to write about our wedding?" There's a pause. "I'll make sure it never goes to press. Whatever it takes."

"I think she really liked him." Serena's sad sigh invades my dreams. "Maybe even loved him,"

The voices fade away and I'm left with haunting dreams of what could have been.

The first thing I do when I wake up is head for the bathroom to wash away yesterday's heartbreak. If I've learned one thing from all the movies I've watched in my lifetime, it's that sorrow is far more beautiful when sported with a face ready for the silver screen.

I put on about a pound of various eye creams, hoping that it'll remove the circles beneath my empty eyes. The leftover traces of heartbreak are covered by an intense regime of concealer and foundation application. By the time, I emerge from the bedroom, even Serena looks impressed.

"B?" She surveys me. "I made coffee. Why do you have makeup on? And Manolos? Where are you going? Nate gave you the day off."

"I won't be needing it." I take a sip of the coffee, letting the heat sear my tongue. "I'm going to work."

"You are?" Serena looks baffled despite the fact that it's a Thursday and 90 percent of NYC is heading off to work at this very moment. I remember then that she has her job interview today.

"Of course," I reply tersely. "I've done enough wallowing. Any more would be pathetic. Isn't your job interview today?"

"Blair," Serena sighs. At my ignorance of her concerned tone, she answers my question. "Yes it is, but you can text me if you need me. I'll call you right after. I really wish I could be there for you today-"

"S," I cut her off. "I'm fine. Dan wasn't even my boyfriend. He just was some asshole journalist." The words sting but I press on. "I'm not going to let him cause a setback. Besides I have a libel suit to go file."

Serena stops me as I try to reach the front door. "Dan called you, like twenty times last night. You left your phone in your bag on the counter," She holds it out. "And he texted you a bunch. I think you should read-"

I take the phone and swipe at my entire text chain with him then press delete. Next, I go into Missed Calls and press clear. "Deleted."

It's like it never happened.

"Blair!" Serena admonishes. "Don't you want to know what he had to say?"

"And hear some half-ass excused why he just wasted three months of my time? I don't need his lies. It was all so he could buy his way out of the Weddings column. I was just a casualty. I should let him publish the article, actually. That would fucking show him how little I care." I turn away so she can't see forming tears which contradict my bitter tone. I shrug my trench coat on. "Anyways, I'm going to be late for work. I'll see you tonight, S."

I step out the door, willing myself to forget all about Dan Humphrey.

TBC...

As a few of you guessed, the last chapter, unfortunately, was the calm before the storm. From here, we are going into Part II which is from Dan's point of view. I thought that would allow more clarification and insight into his seeming betrayal of Blair. So don't give up on him just yet!

Thank you all so much for reading! I truly appreciate each and every one of your reviews too :)