Cotillion Chaos (dair)

#2

Blair is oddly quiet these days. Where did you go, B? Also I heard the rest of the gang went out last night! Oh no, did it not go bad for Serena as usual? Maybe don't mix ex lovers, triple sec and your new beau as the cherry on top! I heard it makes lighter fluid or are these fighting words? Xoxo, Gossip Girl.

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Blair read the words of Gossip Girl and was suddenly thankful she decided to stay in last night and not make a fool of herself. She didn't need that kind of attention on her with the Cotillion up ahead. Did she mention the New Yorker was considering an article on her?

She was still contemplating her choices when Dan showed up to practise late and with a busted corner lip and a stormy environment for his eyes. Something conflicting appeared in her chest and before she could stop herself, she was reaching up and letting her thumb brush the newly ripped tissue as the rest of her palm cupped the bottom of his face, "Does it hurt?"

"Mildly." A confused trance hit him with her unexpected touch.

"Don't tell me you actually punched him for me?" she smirked to play it all off as a joke. Though it came off more intimate than she had intended when he stared at her like that.

He's a stained glass window of emotions before jumping back from her touch in a daze. "What? Who told you?"

Her smirk disappeared at his words. "What?"

"Okay, children! We're getting that spin down today." Their tutor walked in and Blair quickly shot Dan a look that this conversation wasn't over, which he tried to ignore by smiling and greeting the teacher.

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S and Nate sure look close now that a certain third wheel ex has been removed. B and Lonely Boy who? Xoxo, Gossip Girl.

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"Okay! We're all done for today!" Their tutor disappeared without even turning off the classical music and rather than immediately disperse away from Dan as usual, Blair dug her nails into his arms that she was currently in.

The action gave her sudden sensory influx as her brain seemed to connect with her body that there were strong, giving muscles and a tall, dark frame under her touch. The realization was overwhelming as she took in how brown his eyes were and how they seemed to see too much. His scent pulled her in and made her chest ache softly. What the hell was this?

"What were you saying before?" she asked and it came out more abruptly than she expected. God, why was she breathless and worse why did she care so much?

Unintentionally or not, Dan licked the broken corner of his mouth before nervously laughing at having her full attention. "Well, you're going to find out here or some other place," he shook his head. "But you don't have to hold me hostage."

"I don't see your arms moving anywhere," she smirked before they broke apart after. Blair took a couple steps back but didn't go any further as she waited for her explanation with crossed arms.

"Do you want the short or long version?" he finally asked after a drink of his water and a hand running through his hair.

"Short but I get to ask questions."

He stared at her before nodding. An interesting truce being built between them; one not built on Cece. "So Serena wants us all playing nice, which means..."

"Being friends with Nate and Chuck," Blair smirked.

Dan made a face but nodded, "Which we attempted yesterday before Serena left for the bathroom and when she came back Chuck was on the floor and my hand looked like this." His hand had some splitting of the skin and a slight bruise.