【 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ━━ 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 】

𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻, mask off, princess
𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝘅 - 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲.
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LONG AGO, WHEN EUROPEAN royals grew bored with palace balls, they took a page from the peons and added some pageantry.

Couture and canapés are just another Saturday night. Until you add a mask but preparing for a ball is an event itself.

Which is why queens invented handmaidens, "Katie mentioned something about a corset made of cotton and there are wigs involved." S hums as we are all seated on Blairs' bed.

"It's a masquerade. You have to conceal your identity." B tells our blond friend, "Especially you." B adds turning to me. Nodding, I take a deep breath, shifting my gaze to Serena, "Again, I'm so sorry, S." I apologize.

"And again apology accepted. You were drunk and upset. Trust me, I have been there." she reassures, holding my hand.

Sending her a smile back, I nod, "Other news, B, has something special planned for Nate." I say changing the subject. As it is quite embarrassing to remember a drunken rant.

"It's a game." B smiles, happy to tell her plans, "It's a scavenger hunt." she says correcting her previous words, "Nate starts the night with a clue, which leads him to a lady in waiting." she starts to explain, "Who gives him the clue to the next lady—" B says.

"Wait, hold on. You have ladies now?" S questions.

"If he finds me at midnight before the masks come off, he can claim his prize." Blair continues ignoring S her question, "And what's that?" Serena asks. Making Blair wiggle her brows, "Oh... Yeah, right. Sorry." the blond says awkwardly.

Groaning I fall back on the bed, "I want to lose it too." I whine out, "And you will." S tells me, "I know, just-" I sigh, "Never mind, this is more important. Especially after everything that happened." I wave off.

"Or what hasn't happened. I just wanted to find some way to make it special." Blair tells us.

"That's really romantic, B." I tell her, "If you don't want me to come tonight. I totally understand." Serena says.

Giving her an open opportunity to exclude the girl, "What? No! I want you to come." Waldorf denies, "In fact, I was hoping you would be one of my ladies."

"Will you give Nate the last clue?" Blair offers the blond — which would seem to any other person like it came out of the blue, but if you heard my hour presentation as to why she should choose Serena. Then you would too — "Are you sure you want me to?" Serena asks.

"Tonight is all about starting over. I trust you." B reassures. Causing me to smile happily at the scene unfolding right infant of me, "This is such a cute moment." I squeak.

Making both of them turn to me, "And I just ruined it, I'm so sorry." I breathe out in realisation. Pulling me into a hug, the blond shakes her head, "You made it better." she denies.

Smiling up at them, I nod, "Well, I'll be honoured to serve you, my queen." Serena bows with me still in her arms, "You are going with Dan, right?" I ask looking up at the blond. Where she shakes her head at, "I know him. A masked ball? Dan would never want to go to something so pretentious."

"Where he has to wear a mask and a tie." naming a few things he has to do for the party and hates, "He likes you. He would wear a tux, a mask, and one of mother's dresses if it meant he could go out with you. Come on." Blair says in couraging S.

As she nods I hand her, her phone, "Now, we need to fix you a date. Which I already planned out to perfection." Blair informs me happily, "Who?" I ask, "You go with him out tonight and you will have a boyfriend by Cotillion." she continues.

"Who?" I ask again. Raising her shoulders, she just smiles. While Serena is talking to Dan, I hold my thumbs up. But when Jenny walks in her whole moods change, "Why didn't you ask?" I ask her confused as she just hangs up the phone without asking Dan to the party, "I think I need a date." she announces.

Taking her binder B flips through potential dates for Serena, "Totally not creepy..." I whisper, "You haven't even seen yours." she says raising a brow at me, "A file about me, or...?" I question, "A binder for you." she corrects.

While we were looking for dates, Nate was looking for something way different, "Evidence." Nate tells his friends looking through the shelves, "Of what?" Chuck asks stopping his mask choosing, "I still can't believe she didn't tell me." the younger Bass' says again.

"Who didn't tell you, what?" Nate asks. Not understanding what his friend meant, "Is this still about the boyfriend thing?" Chuck asks his younger brother. Looking up he nods, "Yes, it's still about that." he scuffs as he only heard about it days ago.

"Get over it, dude. It happens. You get a summer fling. Learn about sex. Dump them and go to the person you actually like." Charles explains, "How did I not know that?" Tommy asks himself. Yet he got a reply anyway, "Because you were never the one that got dumped." the young Archibald shrugs while opening a book.

Finding exactly what he was looking for. Just like I was trying too.

Browsing to racks, and racks I can not find what I'm looking for, "It's been a while since I saw you in an actual store." a familiar voice says.

Turning around I see the older woman, "Online shopping, and Blair." I shrug. Smacking my lips I move them around, "I was in dire need for some shop therapy." I tell Lily.

"You and me both." she tells me.

Causing me to chuckle as she joins me on my trip. Helping me pick out the outfit, accessories. And of course the mask, "Thanks for the help." I say as we sit down by the relaxing area.

"Thank you." she tells me, "I missed this. Girl talk, shopping spree." she continues, "Any guys you want to impress?" Lily asks shaking her shoulders. Biting my lip I fiddle with my fingers, "There is?" she gasps, holding my arm.

Shaking my head I keep fiddling with my fingers, "Kind off, but also kind off not." I begin, "We talked over the summer. But then he just started ignoring me out of the blue." I confess.

Nodding she takes my hands in hers, "I don't know what he wants but I'm done waiting around for him." I deny, "Over the summer he said he wanted this. Then I told him that I did not want that. And he was willing to wait." I continue.

Looking up, I don't want to cry, "Now it just seems like he's trying to be his father." I blurt out, "What is that supposed to mean?" Lily asks confused.

"Being a man." I mock, "Not showing emotions, trying to outsmart, ignore problems, and whatnot." I rant.

Taking deep breaths, I try to not get emotional, "Are we talking about Thomas?" Lily asks suddenly, "What, no!" I scuff.

"Then why were you getting so defensive?" she asks, "Why were you?" I ask back.

"Touché." she hums. Taking our bags we walk out the store, "Men are complicated. No matter their age." she informs me.

"More a child." I roll my eyes, "Maybe a boy." I say giving him that. Making the blond woman chuckled, giving me a ride home to get dressed.

The process started right away, I will spare you the details but finally seeing the picture it all fell into place.

The form-fitting long-sleeved, open-back black dress paired with the same coloured mask was a good choice. My hair was in a messy low-bun, loose pieces of hair framing my face.

What really set the look apart was the bold red lipstick, heels and purse. Making an otherwise bland look, look more festive.

Yet on the Upper East Side appearances are often deceiving. From friends to hair colour, there's always more than meets the eye.

"Well, I'll walk around to throw off suspicion but call me with every detail." I tell Blair. Nodding she hugs me to her, "I will." she nods.

Squeezing her hand, I stay with her, not wanting to go, "Stop stalling, and go find your date." she says knowing exactly what I'm doing. Groaning I nod, "Okay, okay." I sigh. Finding my date we had surprisingly a lot more in common than I thought, "Drumroll of the kiss?" he questions.

"The best part is the lead up before it happens." I try to explain to him. Eventually, that idea was thrown out of the window. The same window as our chance of ever being together.

"It was horrible." I end, as I told this ran-do with a mask everything that happened with my date. Leading up to the kiss, and ending with the kiss. Causing him to laugh, "It's not funny." I deny, "Why not?" he asks catching the seriousness.

"My friend has a whole plan for me losing my virginity to him." I tell him. Humming he takes a sip of his cup, "But I can't even kiss him." I sigh out.

"Which is kind of necessary if you are going to sleep with him." he nods, "Exactly, you get it." I say waving my arms. Feeling someone hold my arm I glance over my shoulder, "It's almost twelve, and Nate still hasn't found me." B rushes out nervously.

"He will, don't worry." I reassure, "Can you—" she starts, "Look for him? Yes." I nod with a soft smile. Kissing my cheek she leaves quickly before anyone connects that, that's Blair.

Taking the guy's hand we look around the party for Nate. Only to spot him standing in the middle of the room, "Come on, you only have one minute left." I remind him. Nodding as if he snapped out of something, he quickly leaves as the count down already started, "Wait." I say as the mystery guy wants to pull his mask off.

"I think I know who you are." I tell him, "Do you now?" he smirks. Nodding I softly press my lips again his. Pulling the mask off in the process, "I stand correct." I smile.

Having Campbell smile back at me, "Really knew it was me?" he asks amused, "I really did." I grin.

Parting ways he gets the car as I find my friends, "Little Jenny Humphrey manages to get my pants off, and not enjoy it." Chuck complains, "Getting your pants off is not that hard." I retort, "Ha, ha." he laughs sarcastically.

"Well, maybe if he's lucky you'll take off his pants." he says pointing at the guy, "Maybe." I wink. Kissing B her cheek, I wave at them while walking back, "See you guys tomorrow."

authors note i changed his name from chris to daniell to jake and now it's campbell. so, it won't be confused later on when people with similar names come in and obviously with dan. so, if you catch the name chris, daniell or jake, lmk.