Gossip girl

"When a Queen turns seventeen, the kingdom should celebrate. But what happens when the guests bring their own secrets to the party? This birthday might just be a royal disaster. XOXO, Gossip Girl."

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Blair's Birthday – A Night of Expectations

Blair Waldorf's birthday was always a grand event, an occasion that set the tone for the social calendar of the Upper East Side. This year, however, the stakes were even higher. Her carefully curated world had been shaken—by Nate's uncertainty, by Chuck's advances, and by the ever-looming shadow of Serena.

And then there was me.

Unlike the others, I wasn't a pawn in Blair's chess game. If anything, I was another player, moving at my own pace. That was why, as I walked into the Waldorf penthouse, I knew I needed to do more than just observe tonight. It was time to make my presence known.

Dorota greeted me warmly at the entrance, her eyes lighting up when she saw the gift bag in my hand. "Ah, Mister Aryan, Miss Blair will be pleased."

"I hope so," I replied, stepping inside.

The party was already in full swing. Champagne flowed freely, the air buzzed with the sound of laughter and whispered gossip, and Blair—dressed in a stunning deep red gown—was holding court in the center of it all. But even as she smiled, I could tell she was keeping score, watching who was here, who wasn't, and who wasn't giving her the attention she expected.

When her eyes landed on me, something shifted.

"You came," she said smoothly, but there was a slight uptick in her voice. A tell.

I smirked, handing her the elegantly wrapped box. "Did you ever doubt it?"

She took it, tilting her head. "Should I?"

"You tell me." I met her gaze steadily, and for a moment, the game of subtle power plays between us deepened.

Then, of course, Nate chose that moment to walk in.

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Nate's Guilt – A Relationship on the Edge

Nate had been avoiding Blair all night. I knew why. The weight of his secret—his moment of weakness with Serena—was pressing down on him. But there was only so long he could run.

Blair's expression hardened the moment she saw him.

"You're late," she said crisply, though the party had barely begun.

Nate rubbed the back of his neck. "Got caught up with something."

The tension was thick enough to cut, and as I stood beside Blair, I could feel her pulse quicken. This was a battlefield, and she wasn't about to lose.

She leaned in slightly, her voice soft but lethal. "If you don't want to be here, Nate, you can leave."

I watched as Nate struggled for a response. He wanted to be the good guy, but guilt made him hesitate.

Before he could stammer out an answer, I spoke up. "Blair, it's your birthday. Let's not waste time on apologies."

She turned to me, her eyes narrowing slightly before softening. She appreciated the intervention—not for Nate's sake, but because it redirected the attention back to her.

"Fine," she said, flipping her hair. "Let's enjoy the party."

But I knew this wasn't over.

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Chuck's Game – A Dangerous Proposition

Chuck found me later, lounging near the bar with his signature smirk.

"You're playing a dangerous game, my friend," he said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.

I raised an eyebrow. "Which one?"

He chuckled. "Blair. You're different from the rest of us. You don't beg for her approval, and that's why she notices you."

I took a sip of my drink, letting his words settle. "And what about you, Chuck? Still trying to win her over?"

His smirk faltered just slightly. "Let's just say I enjoy a challenge."

"Then you should know," I said casually, "Blair doesn't fall for just any challenge. She falls for the ones she can't predict."

Chuck studied me for a moment before laughing. "I see what you're doing. And I like it."

"I wasn't looking for your approval," I said smoothly.

He clapped me on the back. "That's exactly why you have it."

Chuck was watching me now, not as a rival, but as someone worth keeping an eye on. That was exactly what I wanted.

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Serena's Confession – An Unexpected Moment

While Blair's attention was on Nate and Chuck was weighing his options, Serena found me outside on the terrace. The city stretched out before us, the lights reflecting in her thoughtful eyes.

"Do you ever feel like you don't belong?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.

I leaned on the railing. "Why would you feel that way? You're Serena van der Woodsen."

She let out a small laugh. "Exactly. That's the problem."

I turned to her, waiting.

She sighed. "Ever since I came back, I've felt like I'm trying to be someone I'm not. Everyone wants something from me—Blair, my mom, even Dan."

I studied her. "And what do you want?"

Serena hesitated, then met my gaze. "I don't know."

I reached out, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Then maybe it's time to start figuring that out."

She looked at me, something unreadable in her expression, before smiling. "You always make things sound so simple."

"Sometimes they are," I said.

And for a moment, it felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of us.

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The Birthday Toast – A Shift in the Balance

As the night reached its peak, Blair stood on the grand staircase, raising her glass.

"To seventeen," she declared, her voice carrying through the room. "To another year of power, friendship, and, of course, always getting what we deserve."

Chuck smirked. Nate forced a smile. Serena clapped.

And then Blair turned her gaze to me.

"And to new… possibilities."

The way she said it, the way her eyes lingered—it wasn't just a toast. It was a declaration.

I raised my glass in return, my lips curving into a knowing smile.

Because Blair Waldorf had just acknowledged me as more than just a guest at her party.

I was officially in the game.