A Bittersweet Retreat

Chapter 1

As I zip up the last of my bags, I let out a sigh. I momentarily wonder if I've made a mistake, signing up for this two-week retreat in the wilderness, but then remember that it's too late to back out.

When I first signed up for this retreat, three months ago, I felt as though my life was in shambles. What would have been my wedding date was rapidly approaching and I realized that over the course of the past year, I had made little change in my life. After my engagement to Carter Baizen, my college boyfriend, ended, I thought it was the beginning of a new start for me. But 12 months later, I was still leading the dull life I swore I'd change.

So this is now my fresh start. An adventurous retreat that no one would ever expect me, Blair Waldorf to embark upon. I would be thrust into an environment completely out of my comfort zone, I would try new experiences such as zip lining, archery, and hiking that would change my life. I was determined to make these two weeks the start of my extraordinary life.

I grab the little pink cat carrier that my beloved pet is tucked into and head out the door. As I climb into the car, I open the latch of the crate beside me. "Cat, what will I do without you for the next two weeks?" I say into Cat's soft orange fur. "Or I should say, what will you do without me?"

I think for the umpteenth time what a very bad idea it is to have my unreliable younger stepbrother Aaron in charge of Cat for the next fourteen days. Aaron, who became my stepbrother when I was 10 and he was 6. I was desperate for someone to watch Cat rather than board her which seemed so sad and lonely so when Aaron offered, I was hard pressed to say no. So here I am, on my way to drop her off and praying he will follow through on a promise, for once.

Pulling up to Aaron's apartment complex, I tuck Cat back into her crate and climb out of the car. I knock on the door and glance at my watch, I gave him a half hour leeway, a classic trick in which I always lie about the time by padding it with 30 minutes so he's less likely to be late. I hear music playing rather loudly and decide he probably didn't hear me knock.

Opening the door, I discover that the raucous apartment is packed with Aaron nowhere in site. I traipse past the drunken crowd of at least 20 people and head straight for his bedroom, I knock loudly and try the door but it's locked.

"What the fuck?" I mutter. "Aaron, open the door!" When there's no reply I try the next door which is ajar. As I knock, it pushes open and I peer into the dimly lit room. "Aaron?" I ask tentatively.

"Blair," Comes a voice that's not Aaron's. Once the door opens fully, I see it's Dan, Aaron's equally infuriating roommate.

"Oh," I say, stepping back feeling as though I've intruded. "Sorry, I was just looking for Aaron."

"I figured. But he's... preoccupied at the moment." He says, vaguely. "Can I help you though?"

"Not really. What is he doing? Is he here? Can you open his door for me?" I start to head down the hallway towards Aaron's door. Dan's voice halts me.

Dan smirks, "I don't think you'd want me to do that."

"Why not?" I say, dubiously.

Surveying his expression, I realize what he means. There's definitely a girl in there. "Oh god, don't tell me." I wrinkle my nose. "Gross..."

Dan laughs and then seems to notice Cat as he steps into the hallway with me. "He was supposed to watch her, wasn't he?" He gestures towards Cat.

"Yep. I should have known better than to trust him to do it though. I thought maybe for once he would prove me wrong by following through." I sigh, frustratedly. "I'll have to board her instead."