【 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ━━ 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 】

𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆-𝗼𝗻𝗲, mind boxes are a mess
𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻 - 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

❝ AT LEAST YOU GET to wake up from your nightmare. I'm living with mine." S sighs dramatically as we walk to school. Rolling my eyes, I throw my cup away, "It's not that bad."

"That's because you like Tom." B retorts, "I don't." I deny, quickly. Maybe a little too quickly. As they both raise a brow at my reply, "You were hanging out with Dan tonight, right?" I ask, trying to change the subject.

"Yes, thank God. Finally, the return of some normalcy." S sighs relieved as B tries to make a run for it, "B, what are you doing?" S questions confused, "Giving homeschooling some serious consideration."

"Look, I know you think everyone's still talking about you. But your three-week-old scandal is ancient history." I reassure. Linking our arms, "Did you even hear the dirt that happened over break?" S asks the glasses-wearing, head-covered girl.

"Who would I have heard it from? Dorota? V was out all break."

"I was working." I remind her, "Yeah, working William." she mumbles. Causing a sudden heat to rush to my cheeks, "After the much-concerned effort, Maya finally made it into Brody Jenner's cell phone. Ugh." S starts, making her laughs.

"Oh, and Kati's dad moved her entire family back to Israel." I add, "And Constance's bad-girl-turned-good Serena van der Woodsen moved in with Chuck Bass."

Making me snore softly, "So, you two think this whole thing could have blown over by now?" our best friend asks again. Where we both nod to, "Come on." holding my hand up she takes the glasses off. Wanting to continue like that, "That too." S adds.

Making the Waldorf groan as she reluctantly pulls the scarf off her head. As soon as she does whispers start filling the air around us, "Don't worry, B."

The French revolution had cake. The American revolution had tea. But looks like the overthrow of Blair Waldorf, well...

A sudden white spot is trow onto B's head. Looking up there, are no birds but there are definitely B-worded girls eating yoghurt. Who said you need a silver spoon to dole out desert?

Taking the scarf I wipe away what I can as we walk into school. Only having people laugh at the situation instead of trying to help. Standing in the bathroom B continues to get it out, "Look, I know this is hard for you, B, but you can't let them beat you." S tries again to no avail.

"You're Blair Waldorf, remember?" I try, "Right?" she nods.

"Right." she agrees, all of a sudden realising who she is.

Walking up the steps B holds out her arms, "These are my steps and I'm not going to relinquish them without a fight." B continues taking a seat, "Though it would be helpful if there was one more person in our crowd." she looks around.

"Only old people and children. And- ugh. There's Chuck." the name makes my head snap up. My eyes exactly finding the one person I couldn't stop thinking about but also needed to avoid, "With blond mini-Chuck." B rolls her eyes, "He's trying to torture me." S tells us. Continuing to stare at the boy, I bite down my lip, "I... I can't believe it."

"I know!" Serena agrees, thinking the brunette was agreeing with her, "Does little J actually think she's anything but their lackey?" Blair questions. Letting them continue their conversation, I don't even realize how long I was staring, "Val?"

"I wasn't." I deny quickly, "They are taking her out to dinner for her birthday tonight."

"They what?"

Repeating herself, "Tabel service at Socialista." S adds, "So, Jenny Humphrey is official.." that's where I stopped listening to Blairs ongoing monologue.

Staring again, they start to walk. Making my eyes fall from his face all over him, to land on his ass. Biting down my lip again, "Val.." Serena starts slowly. The two girls following where their best friend's focus lies, "You are totally checking him out." B says loudly.

"What?" I ask shifting my gaze up, letting my lip go, "Tom, you were checking him out."

"I was not." I deny, "Ew." I try. Where they raise their brows to, "You weren't saying ew when his tongue was down your throat." B sips.

Making me roll my eyes, "The only thing you need to know. Is when you are nice and neutral you won't get yoghurt in your hair. Just let nature take its course." I tell her, instead of commenting.

"See, I said the same."

"Then it must be true." I shrug. Turning my head back, "He's gone already." S whispers. Furrowing my brows, I take my phone instead, "I wasn't." I sing softly.

"What is she doing?" B questions. Shifting my gaze up, the blond was walking over, "She is giving you the perfect opportunity for niceness." Serena reminds her. Blair immediately shaking her head at the chance to be kind to the girl, "No." she denies, "Yes." I nod.

"Serena, Val, I know you two have other plans tonight. But Blair, we are all going to Butter and I was wondering if you wanted to join us."

"She would be delighted!" S nods, "Yes, Butter!" I add happily. Where Jenny nods too, before she and the girls' descent down the steps, "Very nice." B hums, "Thank you." S and I nod in unison clicking our disposable cups.

"Now back on you checking out his ass." S sips, "I wasn't." I groan, looking away from them, "So, you don't like his ass?" B asks with a raised brow, "Or his hands over you.." the blond adds, her hands over my hair and face.

Slapping her hand away, I stand up, "We were kidding, V." S calls. Holding up my middle finger, I smile innocently at them.

Later that same day, the cake taste testing for the upcoming Bass-Rhodes wedding was a... blast?

There was a lovely atmosphere in the air which sadly broken by a messenger, "Don't put your dirty package on the table." Lily starts, as Serena does exactly as she asks. Making the boys snore, "If I had a dime for every time I heard that." Chuck grins, "That's enough." Bart Bass says, cutting the friendly banter off.

Opening the box excitedly, her smile falls at the contents, "Porn and handcuffs? This is low, Chuck. Even for you." the blond scuffs, trowing the box on his lap, "What? I didn't send this." Chuck chuckles, "Could you..?" Lily asks Dan, "Yes, my pleasure. Not that-"

Only making it awkward for him, Bart and Lily. While it stays very amusing for the remaining people in the room.

"Spotted Blair Waldorf alone at Butter. A humiliating party of one." I read. A frown taking over at the words that register in my brain, "I need to go."

"I can come with you." Will stands up. Just needing to go, I nod, not wanting to have a discussion.

Quickly leaving Brooklyn we arrive at Butter as fast as we can, "Hey, we are here!" Will and I, jazz running in. Causing her brows to furrow, "Sorry, we're late." I apologise as we sit down. Having - for Blair - a surprisingly good night. At least we did. Whereas a couple blocks away two brothers can't say the same.

The youngest one of the two literally screaming sense into his twin. To once and for all to stop his desperate attempt at saving him.

Yet the next morning was more of a slow burn, "Thanks for the waffle!" I call as we quickly made our way out of the loft, building, and up the steps of our school. Having the bell ring as soon as I take my seat. Taking my binder out, the class starts as I read my notes over. Polishing wherever I can for the SAT's that are creeping up faster then I wished.

Today might have been the first day since I met the brunette that we haven't talked all day long. Which meant that B didn't tell me about anything happening and the plans she made. Having said girl call, I pick up in a second. Explaining in every single detail what happened - which was definitely not what I expected, "Will, I... I think you should go home." I tell him slowly.

Causing his brows to furrow, "Your sister needs you." I tell him, immediately making him stand up. Which definitely is an admirable trade, "That's why you're friendless, girlfriendless. Even your own father thinks-"

"Bart kicked me out." Chuck cuts the blonds ongoing monologue off, making her brows furrow.

Having a spam of angry texts from Eric on what Serena did. My brows furrow, calling him instead, "Explain it slowly." I instruct the boy, "It turns out Chuck is innocent. It was someone else but because of Serena, he's gone. And Tom went with him."

"Where did they go?" I ask confused, "Back to their old place."

Descending down the stairs, "Uhm... Eric. I'll call you back." I whisper, ending the call. Not realising where I was going until I saw the boy standing, "Tom?" I ask. Immediately gaining his attention, taking quick steps to him I wrap my arms around.

Slowly letting go, my lips are on his. Because for some - unknown - reason that felt like the right thing to do. Humming into the girl's mouth, he pulls her closer. One thing, leading to another. As he opens the door, tapping my hair he chuckles softly.

Leaning against the wall. The heat soon came back. Our intertwined fingers moving over the wall. As he continues to kiss down the girls neck. Earning the boy a soft moan. A clearing of a throat, causes my eyes to snap open as his head raises, "Our lovely sister is in the bathroom." Chuck informs us.

Looking at the amused grin on the older boys face, my cheeks heat up, "Serena is here?" I ask, letting my arms down, "She can't know this happened." I tell him immediately, "Or that she's here." Tom adds.

"Promise?"

"My lips are sealed." sliding his finger over his amused smile.

Taking that as a good sign. Tom opens the door to his room, pulling me closer. My hand finding back a place in his hair. His lips on mine as he gently lays me down on his bed. Continuing to kiss, I unbuckle his belt, "Okay, okay, stop." Tom pulls away.

"You don't talk to me the whole break. And now you're undoing my belt. Kind of sending mixed signals here, Val." he raises his hands. Sighing I sit up, "I know, I know." I nod, running a hand through my hair, "Look, I... I kinda liked you, I guess. And then I met Will, who took me completely by surprise. Literally, he almost hit me with his bike."

"But Will and I are friends and that's great." I start to ramble. His brows furrowing, "We had this conversation already." he reminds me.

"I know, I just.. I don't know what you are Tom. I've these boxes in my head. One for boyfriends and one for boys that are friends." I start to explain.

Holding his face, my eyes switch between his beautiful orbs, "But you don't fit in either of them. Because you aren't like any other guy." I whisper, "You are good, decent, and maybe a little messed up at places. But you are good to me."

Nodding at my words, I take a deep breath before I say, what I'm going to say next, "I like being around you. And kissing you. And I don't know what that means. But I do know that I really really like kissing you." I semi-confess.

Making his lip tuck up, "I really like kissing you, too." he whispers back, sweetly kisses my lips. Pulling away, a small giggle leaves the girls throat at the tintling feeling on her lips.

As he presses his forehead against her, for a moment it was completely peaceful for the two. Nothing on their minds but each other.