OK OK. I know I haven't updated As You Like It in like over a week, but I've been so busy. It's been such a crazy week so far and the greatest thing is that it isn't quite over just yet. Especially for me considering I have two classes on Saturday...Anyway, so this is a newbie, I don't know how I feel about it, but if you guys like it I'll keep writing it. Anyway, I'll be posting a new chapter for As You Like It either tonight or tomorrow morning. I'm currently working on it, so I haven't forgotten it or completely abandoned it. Anyway hope to get you guys' feedback on this new fic. Enjoy, Happy Readings! xoxo

"It's just not going to work! Me and you, the concept is mind boggling! I don't know what I was thinking!"

"You? What the hell was I thinking? And you're right. This will never work. You're a whore! A stupid, rude, inconsiderate jerk! And I hate you!"

"You weren't saying that last night," he said tersely as he grabbed her arm before she could turn away from him.

"Forgive my lapse of judgment!" she said sarcastically. "And that's just sex. We can't build a relationship on great sex."

"Lapse of judgment? One made 100 times over? Right... Spare me." His grip tightened on her arm, almost painfully. She refused to wince, and she refused to struggle against his grasp.

"I will! You won't have to deal with me anymore. Let go of me. Now." She said menacingly.

"Fine. You and I, we're through. Have it your way!" he said, turning on his heels and walking out of the veranda and in to the bustling party inside.

She sagged against the brick of the building and let out a desperate wail.

They were through.

It was over.

--xoxo--xoxo--

Five Years Later

"Come on, Blair. It'll be funny. It's sexy, sassy, smart. And it's all for a great cause," Serena told Blair, urging her to reconsider her decline to the party invitation.

"Serena, a Lock & Key party is nothing more than a pitiful excuse for a bunch of desperate people to get down and dirty for the night," Blair said nastily as she tried to end the conversation with her friend.

"Oh, come on B. Let loose. Have some fun. Go crazy!" Serena prodded over the phone line.

"Why are you even interested? Aren't you engaged, Mrs. Brooklyn?" Blair questioned trying to sober up Serena from the ridiculous idea that she was currently swimming in.

"Sure. But Dan's also coming! And we'll just mix and mingle. He's guaranteed to get the key to my lock, so we'll find each other by the end of the night."

"He has the key to your lock alright," Blair mumbled as she stood from her seat and began gathering her things. It was a Friday night. She was exhausted. All she wanted to do was go home, read a good book, and go to sleep. When she had become a hermit? she couldn't recall, but ever since she'd picked up the job as head buyer for her mother's fashion company, she'd dove in head first into her career and never looked back. It was around the same time that she'd had her heart crushed.

Shaking her head to clear the dark thoughts from taking over, she realized Serena was giggling at her latest comment and waiting for Blair's response.

"Look Old Maid, I'll have you home by 1 AM if things aren't to your liking," Serena tried to bargain.

"Twelve," Blair found herself answering, knowing full well that Serena would not take no for an answer.

"Yay! Perfect. And dress beauti- No scratch that, you always look beautiful. Dress sexy!" Serena said excitedly.

"I do dress sexy."

"Right. OK, well whatever. Overdo it a bit, OK? I want you to have some fun tonight."

"I can have fun in regular clothes, Serena. I'm not going to trash it up just because you want me to..."

"Don't be a party pooper, Blair. I'll approve your outfit when I go pick you up. Now hurry home and get ready. I'll pick you up at eight." The line went dead before Blair could respond.

Great. Another wasted night at some ridiculous social gathering Serena thought was all the rage. Perfect.

--xoxo--xoxo--

"So you wear this lock around your neck, and a gentleman in the room will have the key to open it. Your mission is to circulate the room trying to find who has the key to your heart. If you're able to find the person with the key to your heart, or vise versa, you owe each other a date," the guy at the door explained as he handed the heart pendant to Blair. Blair rolled her eyes unenthusiastically.

"Wow. How original," she groaned gruffly.

"Hush, B. Thanks Tony. This sounds great," Serena said merrily as she took her pendant and handed Dan the key that matched her own necklace. "Now be good, Dan. If the key doesn't fit..." she warned with a gleam in her eye.

"I know. I know. There are no locksmiths within a three mile radius. Don't worry, Hon. I'll find you by midnight." Dan kissed Serena on the cheek and led the two women inside.

The room was filled. It seemed that the entire Upper East Side was jammed pack into that tiny room. The atmosphere was exotic. There were drapes of all colors and patterns, the lights were a deep gold and red splashed across the room, giving a glamorous feel of opulence and seduction. There was music playing, soft and jazz like, adding even stronger hints of sex and passion to the air.

Blair gazed around appreciatively. Serena turned to her friend and smiled wickedly. "Now aren't you happy you came?" she asked with that I-told-you-so grin.

"I guess you were right, S. This isn't half bad."

--xoxo--xoxo--

"Excuse me, I'm going to go to the bathroom," Blair said as she stood on wobbling legs and left Serena and the guys they were chatting with at the bar.

The music had kicked in and was now much louder and hip. The lights had dimmed into hues of blue and purple, casting everyone and everything in shadows. Blair felt a drumming sensation running through her veins as the alcohol in her system awakened tingles long forgotten.

She hadn't drank alcohol in so long. Well she had, but not as much as she was drinking tonight. Every guy that came over to her and Serena offered them a drink and tried to open their locks. Serena always allowed them to try and open her heart pendant, even though she knew that it would be to no avail. And as for herself, well she prayed and hoped that midnight would come and no one would be able to open her heart. The odds were in her favor, she mused, as she checked her watch and saw that it was already 11:30 PM.

Slipping into the bathroom, she splashed some water on her face and fixed her hair and makeup. She needed to freshen up and sober up before the they headed out of the party. Appearances were still everything to her, and she refused to look like a drunken fool on the streets.

Making her way out of the bathroom and through the crowds of couples mixing, mingling, and making out, Blair found her way to the bar she'd vacated a few moments before but did not spot Serena anywhere. Annoyed, she took out her cellphone and found a new message flashing.

Went to find Dan. It's almost midnight! Meet you at twelve.

-S

Blair sighed at the treacherous message's sender. Abandoned once again by her best friend. Fantastic.

Making her way to the open balcony of the building, she headed outside and stood there taking in the cool New York air.

She was tired. She was a little tipsy. And now she was annoyed at Serena. She just wanted to go home.

"Last licks gentlemen," the voice boomed through the sound system of the party. "Try to find the lucky lady who's heart you possess and earn yourself a date with a lovely woman..."

Blair grunted and began to rub her temples slowly. No more alcohol for me for a long time.

"Looks like we're both trying to escape the same thing..." a warm voice whispered from behind her.

Blair's hands stilled their motion as her entire body froze on the spot. That voice...

Oh my God..

Blair turned around slowly. She could envision the scene from some cheesy romance movie unraveling before her. Girl shocked and speechless. Slow motion and hesitant turn to face the unwelcome presence. Noticing the man she use to love standing a few feet away from her.

Blair gasped when her eyes met his. They were sparkling and dark, just the way she remembered.

"Ch-Chuck?" she stuttered, completely blown away by his presence. She didn't even know he was in New York. The last thing she had heard, he had headed to Los Angeles and had decided to settle in over there.

"Good evening, Waldorf. It's been a long time," he said quietly as he took a few more steps closer to her.

No, God no, this could not be happening. Chuck Bass could not possibly be here standing before her. Life couldn't be that cruel to her.

"Well...aren't you going to say something?" Chuck pressed as Blair stood quietly in the corner of the balcony