And Now Everything I See, Whether It's An Airplane or A Dream, It Makes Me Wonder

[uppereastsides]

It was late when Dorota came to tell her she had a visitor. She almost got indignant, telling her that she wouldn't see anyone so late, but then Dorota added that it was "Mr. Dan" for her. Well, she supposed some exceptions could be made. Besides, Serena had been asleep for a while now, surely it wouldn't matter if she left her side for a little bit, right?

So she got herself out of bed and brushed her hair out before pulling on one of her robes over her nightgown. Somewhere in the back of her head a voice was still mocking her for making sure she looked nice for Dan Humphrey of all people. But it was easy to ignore.

She finally made her way down the stairs into the foyer where Dan was still waiting. She smiled, looking at him curiously.

"What are you doing here so late? I thought you knew how much I value my beauty sleep."

She was more teasing then mad though. If she didn't want to see him, she would have sent Dorota down with that message instead of coming down herself.

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[brooklyns]

He remembered that Blair had said she'd stay with Serena that night. Cece dying had been a shock, a surprise to everyone involved as much as it had been to Dan and other people outside the situation. There had been the mess with fake Charlie - Ivy - and her having been there at the end. Not real Charlie - ...Lola - or, Cece's daughters or granddaughter. He admired Blair for sticking by her friend even after they had had that fight over Blair and him. But, according to Blair, they were given the go ahead.

Dan had texted first, if only to make sure Serena had gone to sleep.

When he exited the elevator, Dorota was on her way out. Her eyes had lit up when she saw the younger Humphrey.

"If it's too late, I--"

He was fully prepared to see her tomorrow, for Blair to not find out he had even come by. But, Dorota insisted he wait there. So, he did. He waited and gave a good look around the apartment he had been in a thousand times. This might as well have been his thousandth and one time. This time was different in every way. A smile came to his lips.

When he heard Blair's voice he turned, seeing her on the staircase. He didn't move from that spot. Not yet. She was going to come down to him. Because, if she didn't, that would mean it was his time to politely leave. It wasn't that he was testing whatever they had started, but more that he was respecting how Blair was. If she came down the stairs, completely, he was welcomed.

"I - couldn't sleep," he answered her, before raising his right hand. He carried a few DVD's. "Have you seen Suspiria?" She was a fan of Rosemary's Baby and while Suspiria was a little bit more vivid, it was still lesser known and artistic. He didn't want to say he'd missed her, or that he couldn't sleep because he was thinking about her and his day and where they could go from there, about Chuck and his betrayal, effectively ending their friendship, or about his father - in his new family, happy. Somehow, life was turning out -- good.

But, as Humphrey's do, waiting for the other shoe to drop also kept him up. He really needed to get over that instinct.

[uppereastsides]

A smile spread across her lips as she realized Dan was waiting for her to finish coming down the stairs. He knew her well. Knew that if she didn't want to see him, she probably wouldn't come down the stairs all the way, if at all. He knew her, and her many little quirks. It wasn't new information, but it felt different now than it had before. Because not only did he know all her little quirks, but he respected them, played along even when she was being irrational. It was more than could be said of a lot of people in her life.

At his question, she shook her head a little. "I haven't seen that one." But she'd probably end up liking it, if he had chosen it for them to watch. And if not, well then she could list all the things wrong with it and debate with him about it, like they had many other films they watched together, and that could be fun to, in it's own way.

She hadn't been able to sleep anyways. She had too much on her own mind. The dowry. Chuck. Dan. Serena. Her life had only become that much more complicated in the last twenty four hours as she finally came to term with her feelings for Dan, but she found herself not minding as much as she thought she would.

Serena had given her blessing, more or less, and that's what counted most to her. Everything else they could still figure out. Somehow.

"Luckily for you, I haven't been able to sleep yet either. So I guess I can watch it with you," She said, finishing her descent down the stiars and making her way over to him.

[brooklyns]

"You guess."

It was touch and go there for a second before he saw that she was finishing her descent. When he realized she was joining him at his level, his smile widened. He handed her the two DVD cases, Suspiria and His Girl Friday. She could choose which she wanted. One was Italian horror, Argento at his best.

"Suspiria is this... classic Italian horror about this ballerina. It's got real surprises and for the time, these, these -- impressive effects. And I think you mentioned liking His Girl Friday..." Maybe a horror movie described their lives that year, for the last couple of years, but it was something barely gruesome but well done that they could distract themselves with.

"Serena asleep?"

[uppereastsides]

"I guess."

She confirmed with a nod. She took the two DVDs, looking at them carefully, as if she was making a much bigger decision than what movie to watch. Finally, she made her choice, handing him back Suspiria.

"I'm in the mood to try out something new, tonight."

Which had been sort of the theme of the day. Trying new things. Exploring options she hadn't allowed herself to seriously consider before. It seemed fitting, somehow.

At his question about Serena, she nodded again. "I wouldn't be done here if she wasn't."

And it was true. As much as she liked Dan, if Serena was up and still needed her, that was the choice she would have made. Too often in the past she and Serena had let some boy or other petty matters come between their friendship. She wasn't going to let it happen this time.

[brooklyns]

He waited as she made a decision before taking Suspiria back. In a second, he decided she wanted to go with Italian horror at its finest. He saw through her double entendre. That day Blair had taken a different road - officially. It took a decidedly awkward reading of The Inside and oh, everything he'd ever done for her - along with the mentioning of an essay he witnessed her read back in their junior year at Constance and St. Jude's respectively.

Dan had no doubt that he'd lose out that night in favor of Serena. He just hoped that wouldn't become a running theme.

"Where do you want to watch it?"

[uppereastsides]

Denial was one of Blair's specialties, but even she realized when there was no point in doing it anymore. Like now. There's no point in denying her feelings for Dan anymore.

"We can watch it downstairs." She took his hand in her own, leading him to the living room area. That way, they wouldn't have to worry about disturbing Serena. Or her mother and Cyrus, for that matter.

[brooklyns]

Dan knew something about denial. Although, he dealt with his denial a year before. He got over that and then realized he had feelings for his frenemy turned friend.

He'd hardly ever spent real time in the living room area - much less to watch television. But, he took a seat on the expensive couch and waited for Blair to load the DVD player. If he wasn't going to sleep, he was going to be entertained and he was going to spend that time with a friend.

A good friend.

Whom he loved.

[uppereastsides]

Blair set up the dvd player and to before making her way to the couch, sitting down next to Dan. Considering she couldn't sleep anyways, it was nice to have some company. Especially his. He always seemed to know what she needed, even when she didn't tell him.

She pressed play on the remote, and the movie began. As it played she subconcious found herself moving closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

[brooklyns]

Dan didn't move away when Blair scooted closer but he was very aware of her movements. Dan had always been an observant person. Normally, Dan might internally freak, wonder if they were close enough, if she had meant to move closer or if it had only been a coincidence. But, it was late and Dan had Italian horror to focus on. He turned the sound down a little lower, not wanting to wake Serena up.

Or, he was focusing.

He didn't know at what time he had, but at some point Dan had drifted off to sleep. It hadn't been his first watch through or maybe he'd have paid better attention.

Dan blinked, eyes slowly opening. Realizing they'd fallen asleep in each other's arms, he shifted only slightly to get more comfortable and to turn the DVD player off before Blair's head dropped on his shoulder. Enjoying the moment, no matter how groggy he was, he smiled, closing his eyes once again.

[uppereastsides]

As he began to stir, she was roused from her slumber. She hadn't been asleep for very long, but she had felt herself begin to finally relax as soon as the movie had started. It was like all her tensions and worries had melted away. At least for a moment. Dan seemed to have that unique effect on her, the ability to help her feel safe even when everything else was going wrong.

But as she stirred, she suddenly realized they had both been sleeping. Out, in the open part of her home where anyone could find them. And she hadn't had a chance to talk to her mother or Cyrus about Dan yet. Let alone what would happen if Estee made one of her surprise visits.

With that in mind she reluctantly began to pull away from him, creating space.