Blair felt a slight peck on her cheek. Her eyes opened and Chuck's chin was perched on her shoulder. It was the दिन Eleanor would be returning home. She could still feel the sting of her tears from last night. Chuck brought up the obvious, that Eleanor might think it was strange if she came घर to find Chuck practically living in her house. The fight was brutal and went on for at least an hour, until Blair finally gave in, which never happened. Maybe it was because of the lack of sleep या the fact that Chuck was actually making sense. Either way, she didn't like it. She'd never not wanted to be away from someone so badly.

After finally saying those three words to one another, they spent the last three days talking about nothing. He even made her laugh once. This shocked her. She hadn't come close to that since it happened. "It's okay." Chuck assured her, stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. "You laughed. It's not exactly a crime."

Blair shook her head, feeling the tears coming. Crying had become a normal thing, and she hated that. Only the weak cried. "I don't know why..."


"You're trying to live your life again. There's nothing wrong with that, Blair." Blair implanted herself into his lap and closed her eyes as his arms were locked around her body.

He hadn't even tried to किस her. Not once. That wasn't like Chuck at all. But she wasn't अभिनय like herself either. Blair traced a shape over and over on her nightgown. She could feel pain starting to bubble in the pit of her stomach. "Don't go. Please." Blair begged, as a last resort. Maybe she could convince him after all. Eleanor wouldn't be that difficult to fool.

Chuck sighed, playing with the ends of her hair. "I don't exactly feel comfortable with it either. I'd lock myself in here with आप if I thought we could get away with it."

Blair chuckled quietly. "That's comforting."

He should have turned and left the room. But, of course, he needed another fix. There was no way he would make it until the अगला afternoon. They had already come up with a lie for that. Blair had been sick and he was helping her catch up. This was logical since they were practically taking the same classes... या similar ones at least. Here's hoping Eleanor didn't know his current grade point average.

Chuck carefully climbed over Blair and laid his head on the तकिया अगला to her. He felt her body scoot closer to his, letting him know that she was semi-comfortable. Before he knew it, his face was closing the अंतरिक्ष between them, their lips only inches apart. This was wrong. He shouldn't be thinking about this. Not now. Not after what she'd been through. He stopped himself and studied her beautiful face. The expression was unreadable, maybe confusion? "You okay?"

Blair opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. There were too many words floating around in her head. He had done so much for her, gone above and beyond the call of duty. He had been wonderful, understanding, and even respectful. The right thing to do would be to let him किस her. Why not? They had admitted their feelings, he even कहा it first, which is what she wanted in the first place. But things had changed. Everything was different now.

"You don't trust me?" Chuck asked, suddenly.


"No," Blair replied quickly. "I mean, yes. I trust आप और than anyone. God, Chuck, after the past week and a half, I'd trust आप with my life if the situation called for it." She bit her lip, trying to figure out what she was feeling. This was all very new to her. How could she convince him that it really wasn't him? Then she got an idea. A test. "Do it."

His eyebrows knitted together. "Do what?" He asked.


"Kiss me." Blair demanded eagerly, closing her eyes. Maybe it wouldn't be as scary as she thought. "It's just Chuck..." she reminded herself.

Chuck backtracked a bit, weighing his options. This was the first time he'd actually thought something like this through. She didn't seem scared, just conflicted. That was a good sign. He moved closer again and kissed her gently on the lips. He forgot what a good kisser she was, even if he was doing और than half of the work. This felt natural, like something he could do forever.


After the किस ended, Blair paused for a few moments. Chuck was looking back at her expectantly. Much to her surprise, she was still alive and in one piece. The world hadn't ended and everything was as it should be. It took all of the will power she had not to stop breathing right then and there. She was in प्यार for the सेकंड time in her life, या maybe the first. The fear and complete agony were gone, for the moment, and replaced with something beautiful.

Chuck brushed her bruised eye with his thumb. "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" He questioned.

"No, आप didn't hurt me. आप were perfect." Blair smiled from ear to ear, not believing how happy he made her.

He smiled back, pressing his forehead against hers. He felt complete, like he had finally found another purpose. The feeling had to last. It just had to.

--

B: I can't do this.
C: Eleanor?
B: I'm going crazy.
C: I'll b there soon.
B: Hurry. I need u.
C: I प्यार u.
B: U too.


"Blair? आप aren't eating? Why aren't आप eating?" Eleanor asked her daughter, cell phone in one ear. She put a frustrated hand to her forehead. "No! Have the मॉडेल there tomorrow द्वारा one and not a मिनट later. We have a lot of work to do before the show. See that आप do that." Click. Eleanor dug into her फल plate, attention focused on Blair again. "Well?"

Blair looked up from the phone in her lap. "Well, what?"

"You don't look well. I can't believe आप didn't let Dorota take आप to a hospital या at least a doctor! I should आग her on principal." Eleanor complained, making sure to speak loud enough so that Dorota could hear the टिप्पणी दे from the kitchen. "If आप refuse to be examined द्वारा a physician, you're going back to school tomorrow, and that's the end of it. I hope you've been keeping up with everything. It's crucial. Colleges have आप under a microscope now और than ever."


School? What? Blair's insides were turning. She wasn't ready. There was no way. "Just a few और days to recover and I'll go. I've barely been sleeping, mother."

Eleanor scoffed, noticing the bags under her eyes. "So I see. Did आप get into some kind of trouble? Is that what's really going on here? Because I don't want to get a call from the head master out of the blue. Just tell me now."

"I didn't do anything!" Blair shouted, twisting the napkin on her lap with both hands. Eleanor stared back at her in shock, not knowing how to react to the outburst. After making sure the door was securely locked, Blair was pacing the floor द्वारा the time she reached the solace of her bedroom. She knew her Mother would react this way. Yet another reason why no one would know. All she would do is tell her that it was all her fault, that she was asking it. That she went there looking for trouble.

Maybe she did. She was mad at Chuck that night, after all. Vanessa didn't twist her arm. In fact, she was the one who insisted on going to the after party in the first place. How stupid was she? What kind of a person went to a dormitory swarming with drunk college students and didn't think something bad might happen? She shouldn't have left herself so wide open.


"You didn't really want me to go and get your friend. आप followed me up here."

Now she really did feel sick. Why did Chuck even want her, let alone प्यार her? She let this happen to herself.

This really was her fault.

--