Patience is a virtue
Patience is a virtue.
”So you finally went and bought yourself a dress sense. Congratulations!”
“Is that your charming way of saying I look good?”
“Don’t put words in my mouth.”
“I’m just reading between the lines. I know that you would rather eat your arm than outright compliment me.”
“Well, you’ve got that right.”
****
She was sitting at the kitchen counter holding up an envelope by the tips of her fingers.
“Another one?”
“Yeah, I should reply.”
“Why?”
“Well she has been sending me letters for a month now.”
“So you’ve had ample time to respond. Except you don’t want to, and not for the reason you think either, which is that you can’t possibly forgive her for doing such a terrible thing. No Humphrey, it’s far less noble than that.” She looks at him.
“I’m sorry, am I needed for this conversation?”
“The reason you’ve not responded is that you like the attention. You like having some poor girl writing to you begging you for forgiveness.”
“Are you sympathizing with Vanessa?”
“No, I am calling you out on your megalomaniac tendencies.”
******
“Do you think you and Serena will ever get back together?”
“Sometimes. But other times I think that I just want her in my life in some way.”
“That won’t be a problem. Since you’re related.”
“Not by blood.”
“Well, someone out there shares your blood.”
“You get way too much pleasure from pointing out…”
“Your fondness for incest?”
“You know, you and Nate are the only people I’m not related to in some way.”
“And let’s keep it that way.”
******
“How are you?” he asks her, coming up to her at a party at the Van Der Woodsens.
“I’m fine. How are you?”
And it’s a horrible parody of their former friendship. Romance really does ruin friendship Dan thinks, or in their case, half a romance stopped dead in its tracks ruins a perfectly good non-friendship. Yet, he still wouldn’t take that kiss back, or the others that followed.
“I’ve been better.” He answers and he sees she is not happy with that. It alludes too much to their recent drama.
“Well, I feel great. Back to normal.”
And Dan would rather they fight than this. “You know, we can lie to other people, and even to ourselves, but let’s not lie to each other ok?” and then, “I still want to be with you.”
“And I am still not willing to give up my friendship with Serena for you. I will never be willing to do that.”
Well, Dan had asked for it. “And I will never ask you to. I just think that eventually she will come round.”
“I am not willing to take that risk. Not for you.” Not yet she leaves unsaid.
Dan looks to his feet and Blair wishes for a second that she could be someone else, that they could be other people.
“I don’t believe you.” He says in that low voice of his, and she wants to say yes, please do not believe me.
“Well, you should. It would make all our lives easier.”
“Keep telling yourself that Blair.”
“Oh, I plan to.”
And she walks off before he can answer.
******
“Humphrey.”
“Blair, it’s 2 in the morning.”
“Were you asleep?”
“Yes.”
“You should put your phone on silent then. I mean if you really don’t want to be disturbed.”
“Was that all?”
“No. I just wanted to say that I went to the Beuys exhibition. The day after we, you know.”
“Kissed.” Dan fills in.
“Yes.”
He waits.
“I liked it.”
“I thought you would.”
“Yes, I know. And I don’t know what to do with that information.”
“What information?” And Dan is alert now, thinking that maybe they are coming towards a breakthrough at this impasse they find themselves at.
“That you know what I would like. And that you’re right.”
“Blair, I…”
“I have to go. Sorry to wake you.”
“Don’t be sorry.”
“Goodnight Dan.”
Dan hears the dial tone and resists the urge to call back. He knows it would be the wrong move at this delicate time. He lies there instead, thinking of Blair, and wondering when he got so damn patient.