Sinners and Saints

Chapter 7

Have you ever heard Upper East Siders, Burlesque is all the rage again. 

And sometimes a little ranging is exactly what you need. 

And as always, Chuck's aiming to be ahead of the curve. 

But let's not get ahead of ourselves...

Chuck and I walk into a club in midtown Manhattan. 

Two girls barely wearing any clothes walk out the front door. 

I roll my eyes before asking "You want your dad to invest in a strip joint?" 

"Correction. A burlesque club." Chuck states.

 "A respectable place where people can be transported to another time. Where they can feel free to let loose, no judgment, pure escape. What happens at Victrola, stays at Victrola." He further explains.

 "How..poetic." I tell him. 

I looked around the club taking it all in. 

I won't lie, the place was impressive.

 "Well it does have franchise potential. Chuck Bass, I do believe your years of underage boozing and womanising have finally paid off. Truly I am proud." I tell him, smiling brightly. 

"You are my toughest critic. Well, second toughest." Chuck responds, referring to his father. 

"So, you think your father will go for it?" I ask.

 "It is exactly the kind of innovative thinking upon which the Bass empire was built." Chuck tells me. 

"It is perfect. I've been waiting for this." 

"Well you know what else is perfect? Maintaining my perfect attendance record. Now come on, let's go to school."

Chuck stalls for a second. 

I'd assume he was admiring his work. 

"Victory party. Here, tomorrow." hey says.

 "I wouldn't miss it." I tell him. 

"Don't be nervous, he's gonna love it." I say encouraging Chuck about bringing this pitch forward to his father.

Once I arrive at school I notice the girls on the steps so I walk over to them to hear "So I heard on Gossip Girl that you were having sex with Dan out here."

 "Oh my sweet innocent ears what have I just walked in on" I tease the girls. 

"Just Serena's sex tape with Dan." Making a fake gagging noise Serena rolls her eyes at me. 

"Kati and Is filmed us?" she questions Blair. 

"No they haven't streamed it yet. But I heard it was aggressive." Blair answers Serena's question.

 "I must say. Dan has been surprisingly good at everything we've done." Serena informs us.

 "Which is... everything?" I ask. 

"No but feel free to ask any personal questions" Serena responds, smiling big. 

"You've talked about it right?" Blair asks. 

"No, moms we haven't." Serena tells us. 

"Well just remember to talk to him about this all but not in an invasive way where things get awkward. Just simply let him know how you are feeling. Honesty is key." I advise my blonde best friend. 

"Right." Blair comments, eyes lingering on me.

Spotted: Bass drunk off his ass.

I sigh after reading the Gossip Girl post deciding to give Chuck a ring. 

The call went straight to voicemail so I leave multiple text messages of words of encouragement and scolding him for getting drunk in the middle of the day. 

To my surprise when I get home from school both dad and Mr. Bass were at the bar to the right of the kitchen sipping on a beer. 

I greet them both before Bart stops me from heading up to my room. 

"London, have you been to Victrola?" he asks me.

 "The club? Yes. I think there is huge potential in it and I've never seen Chuck so passionate about something business wise before. He's invested in this and I know he can make it a success." Bart seems to think over my words before thanking me.

I had just woken up from a nap and was laying in bed flipping through some magazines when I get a call from Chuck.

 "Hey." I speak into the phone 

"Thank you. Whatever you said to my dad earlier worked. He's investing in the club." Chuck tells me excitedly. 

"Omg! Chuck, that's huge. Congrats!! I knew you could do this!" I tell him beaming from ear to ear. 

"None of this would have been possible without you." Chuck states, sounding incredibly sincere.

 He reminds me of our plans to meet at Victrola tonight before hanging up the phone. 

I lay in bed replaying our conversation in my head before I sit up abruptly realizing that I, London Kohler, likes Chuck Bass...in a romantic way.

 How could this have happened? I mean Chuck of all people! I guess we've been close friends for a while and we've always been there for each other but why did it have to be him. 

The man will sleep with anything that walks. 

This can't be happening. 

I need a drink, more like four or five.

Later this evening I was putting the finishing touches on my dress before scanning myself over in the mirror approving my look.

 I haven't decided when or if I would act on my feelings for Chuck but I did know that I wanted to have a fun time tonight and that Chuck would be just the person to help me have fun.

 As I open the door to leave Nate is on the other side hand raised as if he were about to knock on the door. 

"Oh. Hey! Aren't you supposed to be on your way to Victrola right now?" I question him. 

"Yes, but Blair and I just broke up.. for good this time so I'm not quite in the partying mood."

 Realizing this might take a while I send Chuck a text telling him I'll be late and then I walk over to the bar pouring Nate a glass of Scotch to drown his sorrows in. 

After consoling Nate for about two hours he finally heads home. 

I check my phone to see that Chuck sent me a text saying not to worry about not being able to come out tonight and that we could celebrate some other time this week. 

I tried to call him to ask him about how the rest of his night went but it went straight to voicemail. 

Strange. 

Well, I'm sure he just shut it off so he could go to bed. 

I'll try calling him again first thing tomorrow morning.