Chapter 4

Chuck woke up to the sound of Serena's high pitched laughter coming from downstairs. Keeping his eyes closed he reached out next to him only to realize he was alone. He sat up and rubbed his eyes. He took in the room in the daylight. There was no sign of Blair besides her scent on the bed next to him. Chuck wondered if Serena and Nate had caught them and Blair was already awake. Great. He thought. Chuck didn't feel like enduring his friends teasing him and Blair about the fact that they couldn't keep their hands off of each other if left alone. He slowly pulled himself out of the bed and started picking up pieces of his suit off of the floor. Currently he only had his dress shirt on, unbuttoned of course. Chuck used the full length mirror over in a corner behind the door to get himself looking presentable again. Once his entire suit was back on, his tie was straightened, and every piece of his hair was in place, he decided to make his way out of the guest room. He was anxious to see what was going on with the other three downstairs.

When Chuck came down the stairs he decided to head toward the kitchen. Serena's squawking was coming from there so he expected they'd all be there eating breakfast. When he walked into the kitchen he was surprised to see his best friend and his step sister half naked and about to fuck on top of the table. Blair was nowhere in sight. Once the two realized he was standing there they jumped off of the table.

"Chuck!" Serena screeched covering herself with Nate's shirt she grabbed off of the floor. "What are you doing here? We thought you left."

Chuck was a bit disturbed to see his step sister basically naked but it still wasn't anything he hadn't seen before. So his voice was very calm when he spoke.

"Why would I be gone sis…? I thought the point of this was for the four of us to spend the weekend up here. That's a lovely shade of lipstick by the way Nathaniel." Chuck addressed his best friend who had Serena's lipstick smeared all over his lips and his chest.

Nate laughed. "Actually some of it is strawberries."

Chuck gave a smirk back at him then turned back to Serena who didn't look nearly as amused at the fact that Chuck had just walked in on her making love to her boyfriend.

"Blair left last night." Serena told Chuck. "When we asked where you were she said she assumed you'd be a long eventually."

"Excuse me?" Chuck said still confused.

Serena sighed. "She was acting like you two had made up and were leaving together. Nate and I assumed we had the place to ourselves…apparently we assumed wrong."

"Well you know what they say about people who assume…"

"Chuck!" Serena interrupted him. "Don't even."

Chuck sighed and picked up a strawberry that was in a container on the counter. "We didn't make up." He told them.

Nate rolled his eyes at Chuck. "No offence man, but if you weren't making up upstairs last night then what exactly where you two doing? Were you having a pillow fight and jumping up and down on the bed? We checked the news already…it wasn't an earthquake."

Serena hit Nate in the arm.

"Ouch…Jeez! I just mean…it sounded like you two were having fun up there…. That's all."

"It's complicated Nathaniel. " Chuck spoke to the strawberry in his hand.

"We still don't know what is going on with you two." Serena stated rolling her eyes.

Chuck looked up at her with a serious face. "Did you ever think that maybe you don't want to know?"

Serena said nothing. She just gave him a concerned look.

"I'll let you too get back to what you were doing. I'm going to go find Blair."

Chuck sighed, placed the strawberry he was holding on top of the counter, and walked out of the room.

He knew his sister and friend had his best interest at heart but Serena and Nate were just one of those mushy couples. Everything was all rainbows and sunshine. There was nothing wrong with that. That was just them. They found each other. He was glad for them. But he and Blair were not even close to mushy. Even when they were completely together they were always fighting about something or challenging each other in some way. That was just who they were. When he and Blair felt things they felt them in full force. Their emotions and temperaments mirrored each other's. It was part of the reason they couldn't control their urges when left alone. Chuck really didn't even know how he kept away from her for so long. He first remembered being attracted to Blair when they were around nine or years old. Part of the reason he and Blair were just friends for so long was not because Chuck thought of her as just a friend, but just the opposite. Chuck liked her too much. He remembered that ever since middle school he would have to physically stop himself from calling her too much. Anything that would happen he would want to tell her about it, after he told Nate of course. But there were some things that Blair and Chuck shared back then that Nate didn't even know about.

Chuck stepped out the front door and took a seat on the porch in an old wooden rocking chair. It was cold. He could see his breath, but he really did not want to go back inside the house. He text his limo driver and asked him to come and pick him up. The driver said he would be there in twenty minutes. Chuck put his phone inside his coat pocket and grabbed a quilt that was on the back of the chair. He wrapped the quilt around him. The quilt reminded him of a time he and Blair were thirteen at a fourth of July picnic in the Hamptons.

The Fourth of July picnic that year was at Cece Rhodes' summer house. The yard was of course huge and Chuck remembers how much food they had. He also remembered stealing the key to the liquor cabinet out of Cece's night stand drawer. Serena had told him where the key was last summer. He was excited to tell Nate what he stole so the two of them could sneak off into the study and drink like adults. Chuck was just barely a teenager and he already had a burning desire to get wasted every night. He had wanted to drink scotch for as long as he could remember. His father drank scotch and in a weird way drinking it made him feel closer to his dad, more accepted by him. Scotch was a man's drink.

Chuck shoved the key deep into his pants pocket and almost ran out the back door to look for his best friend. When he got out to the yard he scanned the picnic for his friend. The sun was going down. So it was getting harder for him to make out who everyone was.

"Boo!" someone shouted as they put their hands over his eyes from behind. "Guess who!"

Chuck groaned in annoyance because he knew exactly who it was. "You know Serena it's already dark. There is no reason to cover my eyes I wouldn't be able to see you anyway."

Serena let go of him and came up in front of him with her hands on her hips.

"Not true." She said proudly. "My hair glows in the moonlight." She giggled.

Chuck rolled his eyes. "Did you need something? I'm kind of busy." Chuck always thought Serena was pretty. All of the guys at school did. But she was also one of those girls that could drive you crazy with how bubbly she was. Chuck wanted to find Nate right then. He didn't feel like playing games with Serena at the moment.

"Rude much?" Serena snapped at him.

Jesus! he thought. Girls his age were so moody it was insane.

"Have you seen Nate?" Chuck asked her ignoring the fact that she snapped at him.

Serena stood there with her arms crossed. "Why do you want to find him?"

Chuck bit the inside of his mouth.

"Wait did you get it?" Serena came closer to him and whispered.

"Wha…" Chuck started to say.

"You did! You stole the key I told you about huh?" Serena spoke quietly and smiled with excitement.

Chuck sighed heavily and then nodded.

Serena smiled and bit her lip. "Well why are you out here then? Come on we can share!"

Chuck didn't even have time to protest before Serena, who at the time was taller and apparently stronger than he was, was pulling him back into the house. She had him by his shirt sleeve and was leading him toward the study.

"Hey watch it!" Chuck snapped at her. "This shirt is expensive."

"Shut up Chuck. You have a billion more just like it."

"Not just like this one." Chuck stared. "All of my shirts are tailored to fit me and…"

"Shush!" Serena interrupted him. "If my mother would just go outside instead of standing right in our way…oh shit she is coming over here…"

Chuck gave another sigh. He had no time for this. He needed to find Nate so they could have their man time.

"Serena, Charles…" Lily VanderWoodsen said curiously as she gracefully approached the two thirteen year olds.

She was wearing an amazing sheer bright pink dress. Chuck remembered it because of the color and the sparkling silver beads going down the one side of it. Chuck always appreciated fashion on anyone at any age. It is how you can tell the real Upper East Siders from the guests, or outsiders as Chuck liked to think of them. People that were outside of the world he lived in were simply of lower class. He was a Bass after all. No matter how disappointed he made his father, no one could ever take away his Bass name. It was clear he was above most of the people on the planet.

"Mom." Serena addressed in a bored tone while rocking back and forth on her heels.

" Lily, you look lovely today. That dress is so elegant. You do it justice." Chuck spoke to her with the smoothest voice he could muster.

"Why thank you Charles" Lily Smiled at him. "You look very handsome yourself. Where is your Father? I haven't seen him today."

"He's actually away in Hong Kong on Business." Chuck said dryly. When is Bart Bass not away on business? That was what she should have asked next.

"Oh" She frowned at him. "Well do tell him we missed him."

"I'll do that." Chuck replied.

"I'm sorry Charles but I must steal Serena away for just a minute or two. There are a few people I'd like to introduce her to." Lily told Chuck while taking Serena's hand

"What?" Serena asked frustrated. "Does it have to be now? Chuck and I were gonna…go out and watch the fireworks."

"Yes it has to be now" Lily whispered to her daughter. "Say goodbye to your friend." Lily said as she turned attempting to lead Serena in the direction she wanted her to go.

Serena groaned irritated. "See you later Chuck."

Chuck smiled and saluted her.

Serena snarled at him.

"Careful your fangs are showing." Chuck whispered in her ear.

"CHUCK BASS!" Serena shouted at him furiously. She came toward him in a threatening manner, which at the time was a bit intimidating to Chuck because she towered over him.

The guest looked up at the two teenagers for a minute. Serena still had a look of disgust on her face. Chuck just looked around and gave his most innocent look to the crowd and to Lily who had since turned to look at her daughter again.

"Serena people are staring. Tell Charles you'll see him later tonight." Lily whispered in her ear.

"I already did mom… but he…" Serena started trying to explain what was going on but Lily had no interest in hearing why her daughter had just screamed at the Bass boy. She just lead Serena to the other side of the room. Serena and Chuck had grown up together and they had always fought like siblings. It was still funny to Chuck how things ended up working out that way.

Chuck felt a feeling of relief flood over him as he rushed toward the restroom. He had to pee the entire time and he felt like he was trapped between two women. Normally that wouldn't have been the worst thing for him. But it was Serena and her mother trapping him. He did not sign up for that.

When he got to the bathroom door he tried turning the handle, but it was locked.

"Shit!" Chuck whispered as he sat down against the wall next to the door. Maybe if he crossed his legs he wouldn't feel the urge to go.

"You may as well go to the other bathroom up the stairs." Chuck heard a young voice say.

It was Eric, Serena's younger brother. Eric was a few years younger than he was, but he was just one of those kids. One of those kids who was wise beyond his years. He was also very mellow and mature, much unlike his older sister.

Chuck just stared at Eric confused, trying to avoid the urge to just pee his pants right then and there.

"You are waiting for the bathroom right?" Eric asked him.

Chuck nodded.

"Well Blair has been in there for over an hour. So like I said, you'd be better off rushing to the upstairs one."

Chuck nodded again as a thank you to the younger boy as his darted up stairs to use the other restroom.

When Chuck was done in the rest room he went quickly down the stairs and looked around. It was now completely dark outside and he could tell the fireworks were going to be starting soon. He saw almost all the guests moving towards the door to go get a spot on the lawn. If Chuck could just find Nate before the fireworks started they'd have the perfect opportunity to sneak away and lock themselves in the study for an hour or so. Chuck was very much looking forward to having a drink at this party. Chuck and Nate always started every party scouting for hot girls. They'd pick one for each of them to challenge each other to go and talk to. Sadly most of the people at this party were either way too young for him or way too old. The girls that were his age already knew Chuck only wanted them for one thing, based on their previous experiences with him. There was of course Serena who Chuck mostly saw as a pain in the ass when she was talking, which was always. And then there was Blair. Chuck remembered not being able to get into the bathroom because of little Miss Waldorf.

Chuck turned his head and looked at the bathroom door. It was still closed. Mostly everyone was outside now except for a few older women who looked like they may have fallen asleep. Chuck walked up to the bathroom door. Surely Blair was done by now and outside probably giggling about something with Serena. Chuck reached the door and tried turning the knob. It was still locked. He put his ear to the door and then he heard Blair inside sobbing.

Chuck's Limo finally arrived about twenty six minutes after he text Arthur, his driver. Chuck got inside and immediately turned up the heat. "To the Waldorf Penthouse Please." He called to Arthur. Chuck looked back down at his phone. He was going to attempt to call Blair but then he remembered her phone was crushed. Maybe she got a new one by now. He dialed her number. It went straight to her voice mail. Dammit. He thought. He would have to go and get her a new phone tomorrow. If she was avoiding him he needed to have some way to still reach her. He set his phone down and leaned his head against the back of his seat. He was remembering that summer again when Blair and he were barely teenagers.

"Blair?" Chuck said into the door, loud enough for her to hear but quiet enough that none of the other guests heard him.

He heard Blair stop crying.

"Who is it?" She asked, trying not to sound like she had been crying. "I'll be out in a minute."

"It's Chuck." He answered her nervously, worried that she might snap at him. He and Blair usually got along OK if Blair was in a good mood. But if she wasn't in a good mood, she had this way of biting Chuck's head off and out of all the girls he knew she was too good at being angry with him. She was so good at it that she was actually the only one who could ever manage to really get to Chuck and hurt his feelings though he'd never admit it. He liked her. She was beautiful. She could be an amazing friend but he was also terrified of her at the same time. Chuck didn't really understand why he had all those complex feelings for her at thirteen. He understands a lot more now.

Chuck listened for Blair to reply but all he heard was silence.

"Blair?" he spoke to her again. "Are you OK?"

"I'll be fine..." She answered him weakly. She sounded really tired almost sick even.

"The fireworks are about to start. Don't you want to come outside?" Chuck asked her attempting to be as thoughtful and considerate as he could without prying. He really did want to know why she was in the bathroom for such a long time but he knew that if he said the wrong thing he would bring out the dragon in Blair. He really didn't want that to ruin his night.

Chuck pressed his ear up against the door again and listened for a reply. Blair wasn't saying anything but Chuck heard her get up and unlock the door. He was expecting her to come out right then, but she stayed in the room. He could hear her sniffling. He cautiously stepped into the bathroom and shut the door behind him.

Blair was sitting on the floor with her legs to the side of her. She looked up and Chuck and he could see she must have been crying for a while. Her eyes were red and puffy. Chuck grabbed a few tissues on the counter and sat down on the floor next to her. He held out the tissues for her to grab and she took them.

"Thanks." She whispered. "I just need a little bit more time. I can't go out there looking like this."

"You let me in?" Chuck said as if asking why of all people she would trust him to see her in that state.

"Yeah… and if you tell anyone about this I will rip out your eye balls and hang you with your scarf." She threatened him.

OK that was more what he was expecting her to say.

"I'm not going to say anything."

Blair glared at him. "I mean it don't tell anyone, not even to Nate…especially not Nate!"

"I mean it." Chuck answered her. "I won't tell anyone. I can keep a secret. I'm not all bad."

Blair took a deep breath and wiped her eyes with the tissues.

"What's wrong?" Chuck went ahead and asked her. "No offence. But you don't look so good."

Blair slapped Chuck's arm. "Thanks!"

"No Blair. I mean that you look like you are sick. Are you ok?"

There was silence for a good couple of minutes while Chuck stared at the side of Blair's face. Even thought she had been crying Blair still looked remarkably hotter than all the other girls at the party. Chuck reached out and stroked her arm. He didn't even realize what he did until Blair looked at him with wide eyes.

"Are you really hitting on me in the bathroom right now, Chuck Bass?"

Chuck shook his head. "No Blair. I'm sorry. I was just…" He stopped talking for a moment he was trying to figure out how to word what happened in the best way possible. He didn't want to sound like the jerk he usually showed her.

Blair continued to stare at him this time with curiosity, like she was trying to read his thoughts.

"You were just trying to be nice, weren't you?" she said to him, embarrassed that she reacted the way that she did.

It was understandable that she would think Chuck was just trying to get some, considering how he usually spent his time with girls. But Blair was not most girls. He really did want to know what was wrong even if he could do nothing to fix it.

"My mother told me I was getting chubby and that I needed to only eat the salad at dinner…"

Chuck just stared at her in shock. Blair was not Chubby...not even a little. Her mother was a fashion designer and had an odd view of what was fat and thin. But Chuck didn't understand why she would tell Blair to watch what she ate. There was nothing wrong with Blair's figure.

"I ate the salad in front of her, but when she went away to visit with some of her friends I stole a few rolls." Blair went on. "I was just still hungry…"

Chuck nodded to let Blair know he was listening so she could continue.

"I just felt so bad about eating extra. I kept replaying what my mom said to me that I only needed to eat a salad. She was right I do need to watch it."

"Blair…" Chuck tried to interrupt her to let her know her Mother was a nut job and that there was nothing wrong with her weight. But Blair continued talking.

"I just felt so guilty. I just… I had to get rid of it." She finished looking down at the floor.

"Get rid of what?" Chuck asked her sincerely not knowing what she meant.

"The rolls." Blair said looking up at him with tears in her eyes.

It suddenly dawned on Chuck what she meant by "get rid of it."

"Oh…Oh Blair… no…You shouldn't…you don't need to… you are not…" Chuck had so many thoughts, he didn't know what to say to her first.

Blair sighed and leaned back against the wall. "I'm so tired now."

"Blair, listen to me." Chuck said in a serious and commanding voice. "Look at me."

Blair lifted her head up and stared right into Chuck's eyes. Chuck's heart skipped a beat. He had to take a second to regain his thoughts before he could continue.

"Your mother is fucking crazy OK She should be in a looney bin. There is NOTHING wrong with you. You are beautiful. Your body is just fine. You are just as hot…hotter than any girl in any magazine I have ever seen."

Blair stared at him shocked. This was a new side of Chuck. She had before then known him as the boy who always had something sarcastic to say, who was always teasing her. Blair had never seen him so serious before, ever.

Chuck looked at her trying to read what she was thinking. She cracked a small smile at him.

"Wow Bass…you can be a gentleman." She said to him. "Thank you."

Chuck smiled back at her. "Yeah well I speak the truth tonight, but don't get used to me being all sincere. It's just not how I roll."

Blair gave a little laugh. Chuck practically glowed inside when he heard Blair laugh because of something that he said to her.

"You ready to go see the fireworks? I bet Serena is looking for you." He asked her.

Blair wiped off her face one last time and stood up. "Yes. Come on let's go find our friends." She said leading him outside of the bathroom.

They met up with Serena and Nate outside and the four of them sat on a huge quilt and watched the fireworks. Chuck never did get a drink that night. But what happened between he and Blair was better for him. He wasn't used to making people feel better especially not girls. He always seemed to say the wrong thing. But that night he had made Blair Waldorf laugh through her tears. He went to bed that night picturing those two beautiful brown eyes staring at him.

Blair sat on the sofa in her penthouse with a school book out, trying to study. She looked up when she heard the elevator door open. She had a feeling Chuck was going to show up sooner or later. So she wasn't surprised he was there. But she also didn't know what to say to him about why she left the Vanderbilt house.

"You need a new phone." Was the first thing out of Chuck's mouth.

"I'll get one tomorrow." She said pretending to read her book.

"Blair…" he walked over to her and sat down on the chair directly across from the Sofa. " We need to talk."

Blair bit her lip and looked at him. She closed her book. It was no use trying to study when Chuck was anywhere near her.

"Talk about what?" Blair asked him.

"I'm ready now to listen…" Chuck took a deep breath. The Elevator door was opening. "I want you to tell me about that night with you and Jack." Chuck finished.

"Well dear nephew…" He heard the voice of the devil come up next to him.

Blair froze. Her eyes grew wide.

"What would you like to know about the night Blair and I had together?"