Chapter 4 - Suspicious Minds
Author's Notes: I decided to take a break from writing from Blair's point of view in order to write from another character's point of view, Jenny's. This was very tough to write because my brain found it difficult to break from Blair's character even though Jenny had lots to say.
Hopefully this does not detract from the story and hopefully sheds more light into the previous and next chapter.
This story takes place somewhere after the previous story but, not directly afterwards - it's kind of a coda for the next chapter really but, I thought it would work/sit nicely here, so that when you read the next chapter after this one, it will act as an exposition.
Look forward to reading your comments.
No beta all mistakes are mine.
Jenny is running late getting to Dan's house. Their father had called her over an hour ago telling her that the coast was clear for her to go to the Dan's house to get the plan in motion. He and Dan were out getting some coffee and then were going to Bunker Studios to listen to some emerging artists/band that Dad was looking at producing.
Who would have known that putting finishing touches to a chiffon dress for a client would take over an hour? She hopes Dad and Dan are not back at Dan's yet. She sends a quick text to her father as she makes her way out of her apartment.
Rufus texts back telling her that he already has it covered.
Breathing a sigh of relief, she flags a down a cab and makes her way to Dan's place in Clinton Hill.
Getting out of the cab, she passes a twenty to the cab driver and jumps out of the car, yelling at him to keep the change. Pushing the gate she lets herself into Dan's compound and dashes up the concrete steps towards the main door [1] in a little run.
As she pushes their father's spare key through the keyhole the door swings open abruptly to reveal a scowling Blair Waldorf.
"You are late!"
What is Blair doing here? She stammers a quick excuse, "Sorry I got held up…"
"Save your excuses for someone who cares Jenny. It's a good thing my plans were not dependent on you anyway!"
Her plans, what do her plans have to do with Dan's birthday? Gosh she hopes this is not one of Blair's schemes; she thought they outgrew that years ago. Plus she didn't think Dan was on Blair's radar.
Blair walks away leaving Jenny standing agape by the door. Jenny contemplates that this might be some sort of trap and slowly walks into the apartment in trepidation, sizing her surroundings surreptiously as she shuts the door quietly behind her.
Stealthily taking off her coat, she noses around hoping to spy sometime that would give up whatever Blair has store as she absentmindedly places her coat and purse on the nearest chair/armchair.
"Uh uhn, you either hang that on the coat hanger or put it one of the bedrooms, I'm not having this place looking like a mess when Dan walks in."
Who is Blair to tell her where to put her stuff in her brother's house?
Fuming quietly she grabs her coat in a huff and places it along with her purse on the wooden coat hanger nestled between the door and the adjoining wall and follows Blair into the living room.
Turning around she finally takes in her environment properly and notices the beautiful decorations amassed in Dan's living room. There are different colored balloons and streamers everywhere and strategically placed banners screaming "Happy Birthday Dan" upon the walls.
Blair is at the dinning table putting finishing touches to the food and decorations nestled there which in her opinion does not need any finishing touches because they already look perfect.
Summing up some courage she breathes out chokingly, "What are you doing here Blair?"
Blair sizes her and then gives her a look that clearly implies that she is an idiot.
With a withering look and harrumphingly retorts, "What does it look like Jenny?"
"Actually I am not in the mood for twenty questions a la Lil J, so you can either stand there looking like a goldfish or come over here and help me set up before your brother gets home".
Feeling sheepish about forgetting why she was here in the first place she grudgingly asks Blair what is left to be done. Blair points in the direction of the kitchen and asks her to get the hot plates from the plate warmer.
Jenny walks out of the living room into the passage and walks in the direction of the kitchen. Upon getting to the kitchen she is stupefied because she has no clue where the plate warmer is, what it looks like or that her brother indeed has one.
She wonders if she has been sent on a wild goose chase and if this is part of Blair's elaborate plot. Blair being here is just plain weird, it has to be a plot.
In addition, she does not understand why Blair is bossing her around in her brother's house.
She knows Blair and Dan had thing years ago but, it ended badly and it was hardly a blimp in anyone's radar. Dan rarely talked about it; actually he refused to talk about it. But, that was years ago and does not explain Blair's presence here.
She forgoes looking for the plates or plate warmer and rushes back to the living room.
"I'm not going to let you get away with whatever you have planned Blair. Dan is a good person and I don't know what he has done to deserve you setting him up. I won't let you hurt me brother."
"Are you deranged?"
"What?" stumbles out of her mouth uncontrollably. She is taken aback by Blair's response.
"Look I know you had some lost years where you dressed like a Courtney Love reject but, I thought that was a passing phase. But it is obvious to me that you have clearly lost your marbles."
"Don't try and use subterfuge to con me, I'm on to your …"
"Look Jenny, frankly I don't care what cockamamie thing you've cooked up in your head, I need those hot plates now, so go into the kitchen and get them."
"Blair…"
"I swear if this surprise birthday party is a disaster I will not only tell your brother that you deliberately sabotaged his day because of some petty high school vendetta you still hold against me. I will also hold you responsible for ruining everything and will make you pay. You know me Lil J, I don't make empty promises."
She finds herself rushing back into the kitchen looking for hot plates and a hot plate warmer. She can't find them, wherever or whatever they are.
After a few minutes, she rolls her eyes in disbelief and chastises herself for letting Blair get to her.
She can't find the blasted plates and decides to grab the first set of plates she finds in the cupboard and returns with them to the living room.
Blair gives her a dirty look and in a scolding tone tells her those are not the plates she asked her to get but, are cold plates from the cupboard.
Still unsure of what Blair is talking about she asks Blair where warm plates are.
"In the plate warmer, where else!"
Looking perturbed Jenny returns to the kitchen, she puts the plates back in the cupboard and then stands by the kitchen island wondering where the hot plates and plate warmer might be.
A fuming Blair stomps into the kitchen a few minutes later muttering something about doing everything herself and Humphrey better be double appreciative of her efforts and for not killing his idiotic sister.
Blair opens a compartment next to the oven and using a pair of white napkins pulls out a stack of plates gracefully. Holding the plates close to her, she eyes Jenny for full measure before walking out of the kitchen.
Feeling like a prize idiot Jenny follows her back into the living room where Blair is placing the plates into a metal container next to the chafing dishes on the dinning table. After finishing her task Blair grabs her phone from the dinning table and makes a phone call.
It's to their dad (Rufus) telling him that it was time.
The whole thing feels her with dread and a tinge of déjà vu; what is Blair up to?
Blair barks at her that she is going upstairs to hide in one of the bedrooms and she mustn't tell Dan that she is here.
Blair walks out of the living room and Jenny uses that opportunity to take a peek around to make sure there are no booby traps lying in wait. She also makes a quick call to her father to stall him but, he is not picking up. So she lives a voicemail and sends a quick text.
Her efforts are in vain because a few minutes later Dad and Dan arrive boisterously through the door. Dad yells surprise as he and Dan step into the living room. She echoes the same word "surprise' quietly, intent on not being a part of Blair's dastard plan to entrap her brother.
Dan jumps back in a startled fashion and looks pleasantly surprised. He pulls dad and her into a hug and smiles so brightly that it pains her that this might end up being an evil plot.
Blair rushes down the stairs and flies into the living room yelling "surprise." Dan leaves their side and engulfs Blair in a tight hug "I thought you were going to be in Paris." Blair returns the hug enthusiastically.
"Ok I should have smelt a rat when Dad was so keen to spend time at the Brooklyn Museum. I mean he hated the place when I was a kid and only ventured in it because I liked going there. I don't know why I believed he was dying to see the exhibits."
"Ah thanks guys. I was pleasantly surprised." Blairs strokes Dan's arm and announces "Shall we eat?" Blair
"Oh yes!" Rufus responds clapping his hands together enthusiastically and then walks over to the table. Blair grabs Dan's hand and drags him towards the laden dinning table. Jenny looks on in bewilderment, is it possible that she was in the twilight zone? Is she the only one on her alert that Blair's presence here could spell trouble? Dan and Dad seem to be taking Blair's presence here as a given.
Dan, Dad and Blair grab plates from that metal thingy where Blair placed them earlier and serve themselves food and then ensconce to the living room area and munched away, chatting happily.
Her Dad beckons for her to join them. Slowly she walks to the table, grabs some food and joins them; all the time keeping an eye on Blair. She was going to make sure any of Blair's attempts where foiled and her brother's day was not ruined.
Blair opens a bottle of Krug Brut Vintage champagne while Dad and Dan go back to the table for seconds.
Blair hands out glasses of champagne to everyone and they all raise their flutes and make a toast to Dan.
Everyone gulps down their champagne, everyone but her. Who knows what it's laced with?
Dan and Dad tuck into their seconds.
A few minutes later Dan and Blair fight over pierogies. Blair wants Dan to share the pierogies on his plate and he tells her to go and get hers as there are many in the chafing dish on the table. Some sort of playful wrestle ensues and Dan remains the victor but, Blair's post wrestle pout makes him secede and he feeds her some of the pierogies on his plate.
What in the world? Jenny mutters to herself and she looks on in disbelief. She rolls her eyes at the stupidity of men. Just keep falling into her evil plans Dan, why don't cha?
She looks at her Dad for support but, he thinks Dan and Blair's antics are cute and he is chuckling away at their display. The onus definitely lies on her to spare this family from whatever Blair has planned.
It is cake time, she makes sure she rushes to get the cake and lights the candle before Blair does.
As she brings out the cake, Dad begins the rendition of "Happy Birthday to you" song and she and Blair join in. Dan blows the candles of his cake first and cuts his cake.
Blair grabs her mobile and takes photos of the Dan and the cake, the whole family and then selfies of the whole family and Blair.
Jenny sees to the cutting of the cake before Blair can, she is taking no chances. She ignores the dagger looks from Blair.
Very soon everyone is ensconced in the living room munching away and sipping more champagne. The Krug is very nice.
Dan opens his presents with glee while the rest of them munch on some more cake; it practically melts in the mouth and has a soft and luxurious texture. She asks Dad if he got it from the bakery he usually gets their cakes from, only for him to reply that Blair bought the cake.
Much to her surprise Dan's present from her and Dad is a first edition Hemingway. She knew Dad was seeing to the presents but, she thought the most he would get Dan are some fancy pens or rare vinyls. A first edition, she wonders how much that must have set him back.
Blair got Dan half a dozen Mont Blanc pens and molehill books.
Later she hears Dan whispering thank you to Blair for helping their Dad with the Hemingway book, only for Blair to protest that she had nothing to do with it. Dan replies by saying that the only way their father and/or Jenny could get him a Hemingway talk less a first edition is if they had some help. And the only person he knows with that sort of knowledge is her.
Dad went to Blair, why?
They play board games like scrabble and trivial pursuit while sipping some more champagne. Dan and Blair beat her and Dad in both games. So, after two sets of each board game they decide to stop. Dan suggests watching some films instead and brings out an old fashion film projector with film reels and a screen; apparently this was the birthday present Blair gave him a few days ago as a decoy.
He arranges the projector and screen in place and then waxes lyrical about someone called Rohmer. Gosh Dan and his art house films! Blair insists that they have to watch My Night at Maud's.
Dan puts the film reel in place, starts the projector and joins Blair on the sofa.
Blair mutters that they can't watch films without pizza and in unison they yell out 'gourmet'. What is that about?
Dan stops the film and Blair orders some gourmet pizza. The pizza arrives a few minutes later and they all settle down to eat it with some merlot. Dan then starts the film again and switches of the light. The living room is awash with soft light streaming from the screen and the lowering ember of the fire place as they watch My Night at Maud's.
The film comes to an end and Dan asks her to switch on the light; she gets up to do so.
Dad is snoring softly from the armchair while Blair is fast asleep with her head on Dan's lap and a cushion pillowing her head. So that's why Dan asked her to get the light.
Dan shakes Blair's shoulder gently trying to wake her, apart from a few mutterings she doesn't budge. Dan says to no one in particular "she is definitely gone and not waking up till morning.
He asks her to wake Dad so that he can sleep in one of the spare rooms. She does as he asks. Dad gets up, bids them good night and walks upstairs.
Dan asks her if she is staying over, she wants to decline but, remembers that Blair is here and wonders if the coup d'etat might happen tomorrow. So, she nods in response to his question. He tells her that she can have the other spare room.
"Where is Blair going to sleep, will you be taking her home?"
He shrugs, "Nah she can probably have my room. If I leave her here, she'll probably get a stiff neck and I'll never hear the end of it."
"Where are you going to sleep then?" she asks forebodingly
"I'll probably share with Blair."
Dan must have seen the look of shock on her face and adds in an assured tone, "Oh…don't worry we've done this many times she wont mind. It's kinda like our movie night tradition."
Dan moves gently, gets up lifting Blair in his arms and walks upstairs towards the bedrooms.
She looks on in stupefied silence and vows to get to the bottom of this.
Previous Chapter ][ TBC
When I thought of Dan's house in Clinton Hill I imagined the 184 Hall Street, Clinton Hill property that was listed on the realestate dot nytimes dot com website - alas it is no longer listed.