Blair walked down the stairs in her complete ensemble, running a brush through her hair. Now all she had to do was find the hair gel. Her mother had used it last. Unfortunately, she was in Switzerland meeting with potential buyers for the month, and wasn't around to yell at. She looked herself over in the hallway mirror, smiling. The gold sequined halter top, yes GOLD, and black skirt went perfectly with the shoes she had picked out.

Maybe it was a bit slutty for her taste, but it was worth it. Besides, she'd bought the outfit in Paris two Summer's ago and never even wore it out once. Apparently, French girls were more adventurous when it came to fashion. Go figure.

"Good thing I didn't end up giving this to Serena." Blair smiled.

Her head turned towards the elevator as it opened and out walked Vanessa. Blair couldn't hide her distaste. Her outfit was atrocious.

"Are we going to your place first so you can change?" Blair asked, giving her another once over.

Vanessa looked down at herself. It had actually taken her two hours just to decide on a pair of jeans. Not that she owned that many. "Um, no. This is what I'm wearing. Why?"

"I can't be seen with someone wearing those shoes. Come on. You can borrow some of mine." Blair said, starting up the staircase. "What are you, a seven and a half?"

"Seven." Vanessa answered, following her. What had she gotten herself into? Next they would be exchanging hair tips. Well, maybe not. As Vanessa watched Blair take out several pairs of shoes and hold them up to her outfit, she realized that her hair always seemed to look like it had been done by a stylist. Her own hair on the other hand... another story.

"These are perfect. Here." Blair shoved them into her arms and disappeared into the bathroom.

Vanessa put on the shoes and looked at herself in the mirror. They fit nicely and she actually liked them quite a bit. "Thanks. These are great."

When they were in the limo, Blair checked her phone. If Serena was doing what she thought, her plan had officially been put into motion. Poor Chuck. He would never learn.

----

"What's wrong with you anyway?" Serena asked her stepbrother, applying the last of her eyeliner.

Chuck shrugged, lifting himself onto the bathroom counter. He had to admit it was nice having Serena around now that their parents were married. Always someone to annoy when he was bored. "Nothing. I'm just not going out tonight."

"Or drinking. I haven't noticed any of the Scotch go missing since Bart decided to jet off on Monday."

"I do it when you're not watching. Thanks for the concern, though." Chuck smirked. He hated how perceptive she was.

When Serena didn't respond, Chuck noticed her worriedly looking down at her phone. "You seem troubled. What's wrong?" His forehead creased, and he wondered why he had even asked. "You torture me, sister dearest. Don't tell me this is over Humphrey? He's much too boring to mope over, or while we're on the subject, even think about." Dan had really become a pain in his ass. It was on his list of things to deal with.

"Nothing to do with Dan. You know we're not together anymore. And I'm not the one who's moping" Serena snapped, indicating his silk robe, or as she liked to call emo-wear. "Which is precisely why I'm not telling you a thing."

Chuck perked up, head snapping in Serena's direction. "Since we're talking about Dan, I'm guessing your mood has to do with Waldorf?"

Serena let out an exasperated sigh. No one should ever tell her anything, especially Blair. "I never said anything about Dan or Blair. What drugs are you on this week? You seem more attentive than usual."

"But you implied it."

Serena stopped and glanced from Chuck to the counter top. She'd been caught red handed. It was written all over her face. "I'm kind of worried about her. She's going to this club tonight in Brooklyn with Vanessa. I wish I'd asked Dan to go with them. I don't know why I let her talk me out of it. She's really vulnerable right now." Her gaze fixed on Chuck's fiery, curious eyes. "But I don't have to tell you that."

"I'm sure she'll be fine." Chuck responded, nonchalantly.

Serena shook her head, putting her hair into a messy bun. "I don't know why you two can't just..."

There was a silence for several moments. "What?" Chuck asked her.

"Say whatever it is that you need to say to each other." Serena turned to him, hoping that he'd possibly wake the hell up. She couldn't be the go-between for these two forever. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but you belong with Blair."

Chuck was speechless. No one had ever said that to him before. He'd said it to himself, of course.

"That sounded better in my head."

"How do you know?"

Serena laughed, rolling her eyes. "Are you kidding me? Chuck, come on. Whenever so much as her name is mentioned you get that look. You never have that look."

Chuck looked down at the floor, avoiding eye contact. Again with the perceptiveness. It was unnerving. "I really don't know what you're talking about."

She forcefully turned his chin so he could see his reflection in the mirror. "That's the look."

Chuck ripped his face out of her grasp, sighing deeply. "I don't need this from you, or anyone else, right now."

"Just trying to give you some encouragement."

"I'm not the one who needs it. I've made my feelings known. Several times, actually." Chuck countered.

"So has she. She just isn't saying what you want to hear, and that makes you crazy."

Chuck could only glare back at her. Obviously Blair had let her in on the events of the past few weeks. The fact that she was siding with her wasn't surprising in the least.

Serena put the remaining makeup in her purse. "Don't worry, I only know the small details. Just think about it, okay?" She patted him on the shoulder and walked past him into the fourier.

Chuck let out a long, frustrated grunt after he heard the elevator doors close outside. He moved to the couch and plopped down, trying to find something decent on television. "Boring, boring, boring. When will these idiots ever learn that listening to teenagers whine about their problems is not entertainment?!" Chuck exclaimed, tossing the remote onto a chair. He could already feel his leg begin to fidget, and his face getting hot.

He should go out. That would take his mind off of things. Forget everything that Serena said. Do what he normally did. Drown his sorrows with meaningless sex and alcohol. Be your normal self and go out, you idiot. You're Chuck Bass, remember? You could have anyone. But you don't want anyone. You only want her. Damn it. What was happening to him?

He couldn't help but to laugh out loud at himself, something he could only do when he was sure the apartment was empty. This was a feeling he didn't experience often. Maybe for Nate or even Eric sometimes, but never for anyone else. He was worried about her... about Blair. And not just a little bit, but so much that his leg wouldn't stop moving up and down.

Damn you, Serena.

----

Next Chapter: Blair meets someone interesting at the club.