Who: Blair Waldorf, Chuck Bass Where: Brunch at the Waldorfs' What: Serena's back, Nate's missing, Blair's nonplussed
Blair smiled tightly at Penelope's question, sipping delicately at her mimosa before deigning to reply. "Of course I knew," she said breezily, hoping to inject just the right amount of careless disdain into her tone. "S is just a bit earlier than I thought she'd be returning, that's all. I'm sure she changed her ticket to be home in time for my party. Really, who wouldn't rearrange their plans for that caliber of social event?"
At that she smirked and turned on her heel, cellphone clenched in one hand, her glass in the other. It almost felt like the phone burned into her palm, but she only tightened her grip around it. The blurry image of her erstwhile best friend's face was still there, all she had to do was press a single button and Serena would be gazing back at her on the small screen. It was unnerving.
Her assortment of classmates mingled about the dining and living rooms, their plates of omelets and French toast mostly forgotten now thanks to the Gossip Girl blast. She felt anxious and out of sorts, and wished desperately that she didn't have an entire audience of her peers to be conscious of. Nate was nowhere to be seen, she noted worriedly, eyes scanning for his familiar head as she entered the living room. Blair hadn't seen him since a half an hour before the blast went out, too caught up in playing hostess to fuss over her boyfriend. Had he left earlier without telling her? Or worse, had he left in response to the news? Blair wouldn't let herself fully consider the second option, pushing the unpleasant thought away the moment it nudged at the corner of her mind.
While Nate seemed to have vanished from her home without a trace, he had apparently left behind his constant companion she noted. The sight of Chuck lounging leisurely on the antique chaise was strangely reassuring. She didn't pause to examine her unexpected reaction to the presence of her boyfriend's best friend--regally reclining with the air of someone who owned the place--instead crossing the few feet of carpet that separated them.
"Did you know?" she said quietly, her gaze traveling quickly around the room to make sure no one was within earshot. Blair relaxed slightly when it seemed they were safely sequestered away from prying eyes and ears, allowing her tight grip on her phone to ease up. She perched on the edge of the chaise, trying to strike a casual pose.