A/N:It's been FOREVER since I've updated this fic!!LOL!!Anyway...hope u like it!!!!
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Blair put a hand on her hip, studying herself in the vanity mirror, trying to focus on the task at hand. The dress didn't look like it fit her properly. It was too tight around the waist. She had told Serena that in the dressing room earlier that day, but she convinced her to buy it. Oh, well. At least the color was in season. This was the first دن she spent out in weeks, and it was supposed to be a good thing. A celebratory thing. She was living her life again, having fun with Serena. Like the old days.

But as far as she was concerned, her night was already ruined. She and Chuck were supposed to have رات کے کھانے, شام کا کھانا at a restaurant uptown, but he sent her a text and cancelled an گھنٹہ after school let out. It was a strangely mysterious message too. That wasn't like him. She sighed, changing blouses in the closet. Trust was definitely something she needed to work on. There was no way they would ever last without it.

"This was the one آپ کہا آپ liked for Summer, right?" Blair inquired, stepping out so Serena could take a look.

Serena nodded happily, standing on the بستر as she modeled her dress. "You always look amazing, B. I don't need to tell you..."

Blair rolled her eyes, turning back to the mirror. For some reason, the thinking she was beautiful thing was never easy for her either. Especially lately. Even now, looking at her reflection... wearing the beautiful, expensive clothes. The elegant, diamond bracelet her father gave her for her birthday three years ago. The high heels. Her perfectly styled hair. It may as well be gone. All she saw was a scared, broken person barely holding onto her former self. Whoever that was. She suddenly felt dirty, like that night, and had to look away. Would this ever stop? If she was alone, she would have screamed into a pillow.

"What's wrong?" Serena asked, plopping down on one of the pillows. "You look sad."

Blair shrugged, picking up her phone from the desk. Serena pulled her اگلے to her on the bed. "I'm sure he's doing something important. Or... آپ know."

"Or what?" Blair snapped.

"Come on, B, we both know Chuck. I mean, really. What else do آپ expect from him?"

Blair had no clue how to answer that question. Then, an epiphany hit her like a bullet to the head. Of course. Why else would Serena have insisted out of the blue that they spend the entire rest of the دن shopping, and then have a sleepover? The last time they had one of those was on her birthday three years ago. That son of a bitch. Now who didn't trust who? Her eyes locked with Serena's. "So, how'd آپ come up with the idea for us to spend the دن together? Sort of sudden."

"Oh, I don't know. آپ were sick and we haven't had a lot of time to... talk یا hang out or..." Serena trailed off, eyes on the بستر sheets. Uh huh. That's what she thought. That arrogant son of a bitch. Some things really didn't change.

"How much did he give you?" Blair asked, seriously.

Serena rolled her eyes, laying down. "He didn't give me anything!" She held a تکیا over her face, embarassed. "How did آپ know?"

"This isn't even your fault. I'm mad at him, not you." Blair assured her. "Did he at least tell آپ where he was going?"

"No, not in so many words. He just suggested that I entertain آپ for the rest of the day, since he had to منسوخ last minute. I guess he knew you'd be mad. If I knew where he was, and if he was doing something with someone other than you, I'd tell you. Trust me. That last thing I want is for him to hurt آپ like that. آپ don't deserve it. But..." Serena continued, "I don't think that he is. I've been watching آپ guys together these past few weeks. It's obvious that both of آپ ... I don't know. It's none of my business. It just seems like you're both different. Maybe I'm imagining it."

"No, you're right. We're really trying to make this relationship work. A part of me wants to trust him, and the other part only knows the one side of Chuck. But I've seen the other. I know he doesn't دکھائیں it to everyone, but I've seen it, and that's the Chuck that I want, آپ know?" Blair said.

Serena nodded and pulled her friend into a hug. "You guys are gonna make it. I know it."

Blair wanted to believe that مزید than anything in the world. But the doubt was still there. Maybe he was just worried about leaving her alone. They hadn't spent much time apart since the دن she came back to school.

...where was he?

--

Chuck sat at the bar, scanning the room carefully. He had the فہرست Vanessa gave him in his hand. Four names should be enough. It wasn't exactly hard for him to charm information out of someone. He glanced to his left as someone sat beside him.

"Three shots. Vodka." The guy said, throwing his student id on the counter. Chuck looked down at it. Andy James. That was one of the names.

"Sorry, but I know you... don't I?" Chuck asked. "Another one of these things, last year. I came in with Cory and a few other guys."

Andy nodded, acting like he remembered. "Yeah, yeah! Sure. I remember you. How's it going, man?"

"Chuck. It's going good. I'm actually in town for the weekend from school. It's a good thing I ran into you. Cory emailed me his new address and somehow it got deleted. I was looking for him, but I haven't seen him around."

Andy shook his head, turning around to face the crowd. "Nah, haven't seen him tonight. But he lives two blocks from here in an apartment with two other roommates. It's on Steinbeck Ave. Here." He wrote down the address on a napkin and slid it over to Chuck. "It's the only apartment building on that street. Rest are town homes. آپ can't miss it."

"I appreciate it." Chuck gets up to leave. Andy smiles, nodding over to two girls at the end of the bar, smiling at both of them. Both Chinese exchange students. "Want a little something before آپ go? They don't speak a word of English."

"As appetizing as that sounds, I'll pass."

--

Blair turned in her sleep, fighting yet another nightmare. This was one of the worst. Probably because she hadn't had one in two یا three nights. Her eyes shot open when she felt a hand اقدام down her arm, and she pushed against the person's chest.

"Hey, hey, hey..." Chuck whispered harshly, taking her face in his hands.

Blair breathed a sigh of relief. She would know that voice anywhere. It took her a moment to remember why she was on the floor of Eric's bedroom. Ah, yes. The wine. When she sat up, she noticed Jonathan laying اگلے to him on the bed. Chuck chuckled quietly as he pulled Blair to her feet with both hands. "Why don't آپ wait for me in my room? I don't want to witness the uprising of Dragon-Lily when she walks in on this tomorrow morning."

She nodded and headed اگلے door. She was still on edge. The light from the small lamp helped. Chuck sitting اگلے to her before another thought could fully process. She exhaled when he wrapped his arm around her waist. "Another one?" He asked.

"I don't want to think about it." Blair answered, closing her eyes. I'd do anything to make this stop, she wanted to tell him. Please make this stop. I can't live like this anymore."You're shaking." Chuck commented.

"I'll be fine. I just need a منٹ to shake it off." Blair said, running her hands through her hair. She looked over at him. He was staring right at her. "What?"

"You can't keep going on like this, Blair. Look at you, you're terrified. That's why..." Chuck said, suddenly turning away from her. "I should have... God damn it to hell." He snarled softly, bunching both pants legs tightly with his fists.

Blair watched him, confused. She had no clue what was wrong with him. One منٹ he was fine, the اگلے he was silently having a meltdown. She scooted closer to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Chuck, I'm okay. It was just a nightmare. What-- what's wrong? Did something happen?" A سٹریٹ, گلی light outside revealed his bloody knuckles. She grabbed his hand to examine it. "You're hurt. Chuck, what happened to you? Talk to me." She pleaded, pulling his face towards her.

"No." He turned to her quickly, but still wouldn't look her in the eye. "No, nothing happened. Let's just go to sleep, okay?"

--

Blair was enjoying snuggling against Chuck's chest the اگلے morning, but another feeling washed over her when his bruised hand draped around her arm. With that, she quietly made her way across the bedroom. She was on a mission: to find out exactly what happened last night. Obviously he was keeping something from her, and if her instincts were correct, it was about her, which meant he was trying to protect her from something. Anyway, his behavior was too weird to ignore.

She rifled through the mess on his dresser, rolling her eyes when she came across several condom wrappers. Then something caught her eye. White sticking out of his pants. She pulled the napkin out, read the address, and then proceeded to stop breathing. The address was less than half a mile from the area of the dormitory in Brooklyn. No, that couldn't be right. He didn't even know his name. There was no way.

But then how did he get the address?
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Only 3 مزید chapters left!!!Comments and/or ratings are LOVED!!! =)

XoXo

Abigail