Fool Me Twice

Always

May 2017 
The Spectator's Mixer 

Blair was having difficulty between choosing whether to keep up her appetite or her temper. The food choices were limited which made going hungry easy. She looked at the wrist watch again and stared dismally at the hour hand still lingering around 10. She looked across the open air terrace party and saw Chuck smiling and sipping cocktails with the same charm that had Bass Industries succeeding better and better each year. She sighed. 

Earlier in the evening Chuck had stopped her from taking Henry with them. She had dressed the poor boy with promises of Chocolate soufflé and dipped apples. But with the change of plans, she was forced to ultimately bribe him with a new set of toys and given him up to Dorota. She wasn't particularly upset with Chuck., his argument had been reasonable. It was a loud mixer for an energetic crowd who would be spent and haggard on a Friday Evening. Henry would be as out of place as the delicious looking pancakes placed on the buffet table. Who even approved the menu? She must have a word with Nate. 

"If you glare at the pancakes any longer, they might catch fire." came a dry voice of her best friend and he took the seat opposite to her. Blair diverted her gaze from the delicious breakfast food. 

"Pancakes Archibald? Tell me who the organizer was again, so that I can never hire them." she retorted. 

Nate smirked and rolled his eyes. 

"I am as clueless as you. See now that I have expanded the team beyond college graduates and do-no-gooders, I can actually afford to have a marketing team." he retorted. 

Blair raise her glass of champagne and said with a transparent teasing smile. "Well, let's drink to that." 

Left Hand Free by alt-J was blazing from the speaker and Blair finally felt the alcohol she had been sipping and she stopped thinking about Henry alone in their huge home. 

"He looks quite in his element." Nate said nodding in the direction Chuck was holding court. 

"Yes, he always does." 

For a second both of their eyes met and Nate seemed to perceive the bitterness in her statement. Blair looked away and shook her head. 

"You should come by the house more often. I miss you. Henry misses his uncle Nate." she said

Nate smiled at the mention of Henry. "I will, I will. He had Dorota call me last week to check if I was abducted by the aliens" 

"He did what?" Blair laughed. "I guess he does take after me." she said with a proud smirk. 

"I will come more often I promise. With Mom in Chicago with her latest boyfriend, you guys are my only family here anyway." 

"I see your mother's latest foray into the world of dating hasn't been pleasant for you." Blair quipped

"Says the girl who wanted to give Cyrus food poisoning." 

"Well I didn't! I love that old man. Well, the thought of Eleanor dating was scaring but Nate I was 18! You are older and wiser." 

Nate smiled at her words because he recognized the teasing glint. Blair Waldorf definitely did not define growing up wiser. She grew up like Blair, getting wiser by the year, but no less wicked and devious. 

The lull in the conversation prompted another glance at the clock for Blair, who was irritated to find time was quite crawling today. Nate ordered another chute of champagne and took a quick sip so as to imbibe courage. 

"So, is it true then?" Nate asked looking deeply into his champagne chute. 

Blair didn't have to ask what he was talking about. His strained jaws and focused eyes spoke volumes.