i'm the best of the best.

His eyes laid softly onto her eyes, a color resembling that of the dark soil that lay under nascent plants. His attention divided between what could of been and what was now; a facade beside their chaotic beauty. “ We both know you’d rather not hear about my escapades, and my neverending intention to corrupt Nathaniel,” Chuck smiled, a hint of rueful laughter crawling from his crooked breath. That was always the way Blair left him. “ How’s work?”

“I can’t really say I’ve ever liked hearing about your escapades, but the idea of corrupting Nate?” she raised her eyebrows, thoughts going back to the countless conversations she’d shared with Chuck concerning similar subjects. Back then she’d worried that Nate would be affected by Chuck’s behavior, but Blair knew better now. She had Nate now, and nothing could ruin that this time. “We could both try together, and he’d still come out shiny and new.” She let her statement fizzle in the air for awhile, “It’s been good,” she ducked her head. “Mom’s good, the business is good, my career is good. Everything is as expected. And you?”

Hazel clapped her hands together once and nodded. “I like to hear it too! That sounds like a plan! I can take care of the invites if you’d like!”

“Perfect, I always knew I could count on you,” Blair grinned. “Shall we consider a guest list for this little get-together?” She knew that invitations was a little bit over-the-top to go out with a few old friends, but nobody did over-the-top better than Blair Waldorf.

“Of course.” Iz replied, a half-truth and a half-lie._ Barely_. Sometimes. In the moments where she felt lonely or reminisced. “Life isn’t the same without you.” It isn’t a game of second-guessing and passing down commands. Not that Isabel always thought of it as a bad thing. It was a high school experience she’d never trade in for anything else. “We will. Don’t worry.”

She smiled to herself. Now that was the answer she was waiting for. “Good, that’s all I wanted to hear,” she said, speeding up a bit as they got closer to hot chocolate nirvana. “Come on,” she said, pushing the door open with her back. “I’m not counting carbs tonight.”

Hazel’s heart practically sped twice as fast at the thought of causing some drama with her long adored Queen. Besides, not that she ever would but who was she to decline such an invite? “As always, Blair - I would follow you to war, so lead the way and I’m sure we’ll find some lives to ruin.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear,” Blair said with a muted smile. “How does next Saturday sound? We can invite some mutual friends of ours.”

The urge to roll her eyes at Blair’s correction was strong but putting her acting ability to action Penelope laughed instead. The sound lingering in air around them before being carried away by the wind Blair was currently complaining about. “It was a joke Blair, obviously I knew why your eyes were closed.“ Pushing herself up off the bench it took the brunette less than a moment to get her driver on the way. "He’s gonna meet us at the entrance.” Regardless of her slight annoyance at Blair’s overreaction to a little wind, Penelope had actually been enjoying their time together today. It was easier to reign in the jealousy when it was just to two of them. “And we can decide whose place we’re changing at in the limo?”

“Evidently,” Blair spoke firmly, obviously putting an end to the conversation. Regardless of whether it was a joke or not, Blair was not fond of those kinds of jokes. There was no reason for Penelope to make herself sound dumber than she already was-- not for a joke or to ease the silence-- and it wasn’t even humorous. “Sounds good,” she agreed to the plan with ease. “We’ll stop over at my place. I wanted to drop off my bags anyway.” She gestured to the few shopping bags she’d picked up throughout the morning and wondered in the back of her head what Penelope was planning on changing into.

Hazel shrugged. “A day in the life you know?” She stated with a small smirk. “If you really were interested, I was in California and I was basically the epitome of hashtag waste his time trend. He supplied me with several new wardrobe additions, you know? But he didn’t get a piece of this sweet ass.” She winked and listened, terribly intrigued by her Queen’s words. “Any drama that has happened without you is hardly worth paying attention too, wouldn’t you say?” 

A smile grew on Blair’s face as she listened to Hazel’s anecdote. The use of “hashtags” in daily conversation Blair was not fond of, but otherwise the gossip was good and interesting-- Not particularly deep or secret, but it was a step in the right direction and Blair knew she had to build momentum. Oh, how her minions had grown up. Mother would be proud. “I couldn’t agree more,” she said finally. “In fact, I would love to stir up some drama very soon. Maybe visit some of our favorite spots in the city and see what goes from there?”

“I know.” Isabel replied, slightly exasperated. It suddenly felt like a chore to hang out, hot chocolates with Blair came with twenty strings attached at minimum. More on a bad day. “We just haven’t seen each other in so long…” She trailed off, leaving the words hanging in the air.

“I take it you missed me then?” Blair teased-- she had never intended to miss out on hot chocolates with Isabel. As much as it pained her to admit it, she missed her friends in New York as well. “I’m not saying we can’t make it work, Is, I’m just saying we have to keep track of the time.”