Disclaimer (never done one before?!):
I do not own Gossip Girl or any of its characters.
A.N. : First and foremost, let me apologize for taking so long to update this, but it has been a crazy couple of months, I've had tons of homework (I literally slept like 3 hours yesterday), some weird "romantic" problems (yeah, it's weird even to me to be involved in that kind of stuff since I'm kind of a loner) and a personal project to present (I haven't got even half of it done and it's for next week! I'm freaking out!). I really have no idea of where I got the time to write this but here it is anyway, I really hope you will REVIEW! I really love hearing what your opinion of the story is, no matter how long or short, your reviews always make me smile and want to update faster ;) I should probably just post this now and get started on my personal project :P but... there's a BIG chance I won't. Ok, maybe I'll have to cut off my internet service. So, if I'm not updating or answering reviews soon it's because I've decided to give up on internet alltogether.
"Damn that mother chucker". Tossing and turning under her fancy bed sheets, Blair Waldorf realized she couldn't sleep… again. Blair Waldorf was a lady after all and almost never cursed, however, it seemed as if, when it was about Charles Bass… none of the former and proper rules could be applied. The face of that man she loathed would haunt her every time she tried closing her eyes: his strong and defined features, dark looks, and that attraction she felt towards him made it impossible for her to stop thinking about him. And she hated him for it. For what felt like the thousandth time that night she cursed the very man with whom she had been conversing barely hours ago.
Serena had been having a little more fun at the beach after Nate had parted with tender words and hopeful promises hours ago. She lay there, on the white sand. Then, finally got up and figured it was probably time to return to her hotel room. In her drunken haze, she barely noticed anything at all as she made her way through the long corridor that led her to her room. She giggled as her bare feet made contact with the soft, velvety material of the expensive Oriental rug that adorned the long hallway.
Georgina hadn't been awake at night when Serena tiptoed in the room both of them shared late at night. Georgina didn't wake when Serena noisily made her way through the room, tripping over various objects in the process, and giggling uncontrollably. Serena vaguely thought there must be a reason she maybe should be more careful and less noisy so as not to wake her roommate, but the very idea seemed so very absurd at the moment she decided to just brush it away. As soon as her head touched the comfortable and luxurious pillow, she fell profoundly asleep; that night Serena was able to sleep soundly and not go through a restless night for the first time in a very long time.
As soon as she heard the drunken giggles and unsteady steps on the hall so late at night, Georgina had closed her eyes and pretended to be deeply asleep. She remained completely still, listening as Serena made her way to her bed to finally collapse on top of the comforter, not even bothering to take her dress off and change into her pajamas. Georgina remained very still, listening to the soft snores from the blonde girl sleeping beside her; only when she was absolutely sure Serena was completely dead to the world did she dare to slowly crawl out of her bed and towards her. Georgina got Serena out of her heavy dress and corset and proceeded to help her into her long nightgown. The tedious process seemed to take forever, but Georgina was smiling wickedly as she redressed the young blonde socialite, for she now had enough dirt to bury not only the Van der Woodsens, but also the Archibalds, Vanderbilts, and the hateful Waldorfs very, very deep underneath the ground. Nothing in life could be possibly better than those hateful, stuck-up snobs finally getting a spoonful of their own medicine. Smiling scornfully at the drunken girl, Georgina tucked Serena under the luxurious covers of her hotel bed and tiptoed to her own bed as quietly as she could. With all the powerful families of New York finally gone, she could finally have a shot at everything she ever wanted. Georgina closed her eyes and dreamt of her future, which included eternal elegant balls, ever-full champagne glasses, an outrageous collection of French lace dresses, all the right connections, a mansion, an endless amount of servants…
No matter how hard Blair tried to fight to eradicate the memories from that morning it was no use. It was no use denying that almost tangible attraction – that almost magnetic and irresistible pull – she felt towards Charles Bass. Blair huffed and puffed under her fluffy, feathery comforter and Egyptian cotton sheets. She tried replacing images of a mysterious dark-haired gentleman bending to kiss her hand tenderly with those of a certain golden-haired, blue-eyed gentleman taking her by the arm and guiding her through Central Park. Now, the only thing she hoped and longed for was Nathaniel finally going down on one knee and proposing his undying love to her. It was the only thing that would make her truly happy, she told herself over and over again. When she got properly engaged to Nathaniel (at last!) she would have secured her social status, would have the husband of her dreams and, overall, her life would have the perfect fairytale ending she had dreamed of since she had been a little girl. Now, all she had to do was be strong and keep chasing those tempting images of Charles Bass away – which strangely made her feel all tingly and warm inside – to the deepest recesses of her mind. Blair Waldorf sighed and decidedly clamped her eyes shut; putting all of her effort in constructing a realistically bright daydream, a sunny future in which smiling brunette and fair children run around an immense country house. If there was a sure thing, it was that the Waldorfs were known for being stubborn and not giving up so easily.
Chuck Bass sat in his suite, drinking a glass of scotch. The very image of calmness. Not a single crease in his expensive suit. However, at that moment, his mind was in such a chaos! The plan he thought perfect had turned out against him. He'd spend most of the days before, and the most of the nights too, slowly taking sips from his ever-full glass of scotch and pondering. The little visit he'd paid to Miss Waldorf before, far from proving to him she was the perfect wife for Nathaniel and therefore off-limits, had only made him want her even more. As soon as he returned to his suite after his meeting with her, he realized he had the urge to feel numb, to be emotionless and cold; he did the only thing he knew in those situations: resorting to alcohol. And that was what he had been doing for many days: numbing himself and trying to forget about the precarious situation he was in. He'd tried everything to try and forget her; he'd even gone to the extent of having to look for hookers that looked like her and paying them extra money to let him call them by her name, hoping he'd finally get the release he'd so longed for. What was going on with him was unprecedented; it was the very first time something like that ever happened to Chuck Bass. And, oh, he was so ashamed of it he'd been avoiding everyone and everything lately.
Suddenly, the door of the Bass suite opened and revealed a much disheveled, very anxious-looking Nathaniel Archibald. Chuck slowly came back to his numb reality and arched his dark eyebrows in surprise as he took in the image of his childhood friend standing on the door and looking very unlike his usual self.
The very last thing Nate had expected was to find his oldest friend sitting on a leather couch, at the crack of dawn, looking all calm and collected, and very deep in thought indeed. In fact, knowing Chuck, he had expected to find him in bed with one… or maybe two hookers. But Nate was glad he'd found Chuck clearly… not busy today because he just needed someone to hear him out, he really needed to let everything he'd been holding go out and who better than his best friend?
- What a surprise Nathaniel. Do sit down and enlighten me as on what are you doing in my humble home at such ungodly hours. – said Chuck in his smooth voice, directing an inquisitive look and an arched brow towards his friend.
Nate let out a giant amount of breath he didn't know he had been holding in and collapsed heavily onto the nearest leather couch.
Chuck soon noticed his friend looked paler than usual and had a crazy glint in his eye… The usually calm Nathaniel had disappeared and in his place there was this colorless, anxious-filled, exultant and nervous version of his friend.
- So, none of your many mistresses here tonight. If I didn't know you well, my dear friend, I'd dare say something is wrong with you. But since I know you well, maybe too well, I know you happen to be planning something. – said Nate looking suspiciously over at his uncommonly serene-looking friend.
- Well Archibald, once again you have surprised me with your brilliant observations and that natural talent you have of being able to read me. – answered Chuck sarcastically and in a slightly dry voice, none of which Nate seemed to pay any attention to, or even notice. – Now, tell me what thoughts have been wandering upon your agitated mind. Do tell me what thoughts are those that have you here, restless, disheveled, and acting in no way like your usual self. – added Chuck as he took a large sip of his drink.
Nate looked frantically around, as if making sure there was no one else in Chuck's suite and then leaned closer to his friend, in a confidential manner.
- Chuck, you are my oldest friend, so I owe it to you to tell you first. I am a changed man, I feel as if I have been born again. I have never in my life felt like I do now. The trip, however short, changed my life and myself in the most profound of ways. I sit down in front of you, at the crack of dawn, in the urgent need to say what I have been so restless about. I am a man deeply in love and wish to marry the girl of my dreams, for I have learnt she feels the same way I feel.
At hearing the news, Chuck was finally able to piece everything together. As soon as he did, he could not help a cunning smirk from sliding onto his face.