dirty and mean; the dream was just the same
It would be easier to run, she thinks, as she walks away from her easy way out and towards her tattered remains of an Empire. It would be easier to avoid everything and everyone.
But her best friend grabs her hand and they fall into step and the noise of the city provides their very own marching tune.
They march into battle, head held high, each last shred of dignity exposed for the world to see. Their reputations may be shot to hell, but they’re not dead yet.
They still have a lot of fight left in them.
----
Old traditions are replaced with new and ‘coffee on the steps of the met’ becomes a distant memory.
Instead they make new ones; frappacinos by the fountain and before long it becomes their private fortress against gossiping eyes. They toss a coin in, at the beginning of each day, a secret sacrilege to whatever spirits are watching out for them and somehow that simple gesture makes the world feel lighter.
There are days, when the light shines brightest and the sky is clearest that the fountain sparkles in the way that dreams do. And if they stare hard enough, they can see their futures.
Decidedly hopeful, they decide.
And on most days, that’s enough.
---
Although dethroned, notoriety follows her around like it never left and queen or not, she still frequently graces Gossip Girl’s homepage.
Social climbing’s only interesting before it comes old. Seeing someone climb is nothing new. Someone falling, however, is more scandalous. The ‘Little J’ train loses steam and after a month all anyone wants to see is how she will fall.
Because she will. No one conquers the Upper East Side at fourteen. Not without repercussions.
Blair shrugs off the scandal like she’s been doing it all her life. And when people ask how she does it, she just replies that she learnt from the master.
They think she means Serena, and, in parts, she does. But like mother, like daughter and the respect she has for Eleanor exceeds anyone she’s ever known.
Beneath the designer contour and thinly veiled insults they band together.
Mother and daughter against the world. It had a nice ring to it.
---
The joke was on them, in the end. Blair’s revenge came swiftly and with fierceness no one had ever witnessed. It was predicted, expected, anticipated and no one was spared.
Kingdoms crumbled, reputations were ruined, names dragged through mud and Blair reigns supreme. Like she always does.
In the end, they all came crawling back. Just like she knew they would.
It’s a satisfying feeling, reaching the top after falling so hard. So long as you watch your back.
---
She makes sure not to forget events that took place that winter; and the invisible bruises and Gossip Girl archives are testimony to that. If she strains hard enough, she can still hear their whispers in the wind, but it’s not so loud, now. Not so painful.
But on days when she’s doubtful, she bypasses the steps straight to the fountain and tosses in a coin. And when the sun shines the brightest, the water clearest, she can see her future.
Wearing a smirk and a trademark scarf.
Forgiveness has always been her forte.
They toss in a coin together.
Cloudy with a chance of love.
For the time being, that’s enough.