Blair didn't lose her hand, FYI.

Nora had to refrain herself from crushing Blair's hand as she forced her to hung up her phone after confiscating it.

She was going to cry later, why ruin things now?

By the next morning, Nora who didn't want to interrupt the boys' Lost Weekend, remained with the girls, joining them to the scheduled session.

Nora kept by the back as Blair attempted to pose to the photographer, looking too stiff and awkward that she was tempted to remove the girl from the area before she embarrassed herself even more.

There was a grimace playing on her lips as Serena stood next to her.

"This is painful to watch" Nora murmured as Terry, the photographer kept instructing Blair the way he wanted her to. But every indication was met with stiff, unnatural poses. Nora could tell Terry was getting frustrated. She glanced at the blonde next to her as she nodded with a grimace.

Terry lowered his camera, looking frustrated as he called out a break, "Who chose this girl?"

"Eleanor" Nora answered, raising her eyebrows. Terry pursed his lips at the girl he knew had power in the room. "Why? Is there a problem?"

Serena, used to Nora talking down people, awkwardly stepped back.

"Miss Bass" Terry began carefully, raising his camera as if to prove a point, "She is so prim and stiff, like a bookcase, it's unnatural"

Nora made no move to defend Blair. She knew he was right.

Laurel, Eleanor's assistant did though, giving him a look, "Yes but she looks stunning in the clothes, don't you agree?"

"To my eye, like a goddess" Terry tell them honestly, then gestured down at his camera, grimacing. "To this eye, yuck. Like a statue. This is retail. It's not an editorial. She needs to let go, have fun, loosen up. How's the client gonna like the dress if the model doesn't even like herself?"

Terry walked off, leaving the girls alone.

Nora hummed, slowly turning to Serena. "She's more natural when being silly with you. She's more her than with everyone else, even me"

Serena's eyes lit up. "Are you suggesting that I help her? What have you done to our Nora?"

Nora's lips curled in a smile. It didn't reach her eyes, something Serena failed to notice or simply didn't bother to acknowledge, "You're my best friends. Who else would I want if not you two to success?"

Serena smiled so brightly, hugging her. "I knew you were still sweet deep down. At least with us"

Nora didn't hug Serena back, stiff in the hug. "This is for Blair. Don't forget that I still haven't forgiven you"

Dejected, Serena pulled away from the hug, her smile replaced with a frown, "Oh. I... I knew that. It's okay though. You being here means a lot, even if it isn't for me"

Serena backed away, turning around to walk towards Blair who was having a conversation with the girl fixing her make up.

"Yeah, you won't think so soon" Nora murmured to herself as she watched her supposal best friends talking. She walked to Terry, clearing her throat.

Terry was cleaning the lenses of his camera, jumping a bit at Nora's presence, "Miss Bass"

"Ready your camera" Nora commanded, "You're having your goddess"

Terry grimaced, looking towards Blair, "She will not change from one minute to the other"

Nora smirked, leaning closer as if to tell him a secret, "I wasn't talking about Blair"

Terry's eyes slid to the blonde who was now showing Blair how to let loose, looking more natural and loose than the brunette, "Oh, yes"

Terry lifted his camera only to be halted by Nora's forceful hand, lowering it down. "Slow down, you idiot. Listen to me very closely. Those two are your models as of now. Remember too that Blair's your main focus"

"But you said-" Terry looked confused.

"You can show Eleanor your fantastic session later as you see it fit" Nora told him firmly, her voice low, "For now, Blair is the one you're focused on, even if your lenses are aimed at Serena most of the time. Can I trust you to do that simple job? You'd be compensated, of course. And recommended to popular magazines"

Terry gulped, nodding. The thought of going to high places too tempting to disobey, "Yes, yes. I can do that. I can capture a goddess and a statue bookcase in a shot while making one shine"

Nora smiled, this one looked a little more genuine. It made her look younger. Terry had the urge to snap her photograph for it, though he refrained for fear of her rage.

"Excellent" Nora stepped back, then nodded at the girls, her cold smile making a presence again, "Go then. Make them shine"

Quickly, Terry did as told, seeing the poses he definitely enjoyed more, snapping his photos to both girls, though once in a while Serena captured more his camera, exactly how Nora instructed him to.

In the computers, the photos were showing up, the editors working on them.

Nora leaned down, whispering something to the editor. The man nodded slightly. Nora stepped back, her smile growing.

Eleanor heard the commotion, coming closer, her eyes lit up and smiling as she watched the two girls in the photoshop.

"You're not up there" Eleanor observed to the girl next to her.

"Modeling isn't my style" Nora commented as they both watched Blair and Serena having fun while posing for Terry.

"Then what's your style?" Eleanor asked.

Nora didn't answer.

Truth to be honest, she hadn't thought about it.

Eleanor hummed, but didn't push for an answer

When Serena's phone rang and she went to answer it, Nora beat her up for it. Serena's hand froze mid air as Nora had already her own hand inside her purse, pulling out the phone.

"Who is Dan?" Nora drawled, raising her eyebrows.

Serena cursed under her breath, "I forgot. I have to meet him" she held her hand for her phone, "Can you give me my phone back?"

Blair pouted, dropping her hand from her latest pose. "No, you're staying here" she said. "I need you"

Serena hesitated, looking between the two girls.

Nora was still holding Serena's phone, "Come on, S" she said, inwardly smirking but raised her eyebrows at the blonde. "When have you ever heard B admit she needs help? Are you going to ignore her?"

Blair nodded, batting her eyelashes, "I can't let my mother down"

"You said you wanted girls time in the first place" Nora tilted her head aside, "I am actually enjoying spending time with you two. If you leave, I may actually never forgive you"

She was enjoying herself for a whole different reason of course. Nora could see the guilt flashing in Serena's eyes as she briefly looked down before meeting their eyes with a brief forced smile.

Blair smiled in relief.

Nora smiled smugly.

Things were going exactly as she planned it.

~8~

Believe it or not, Will and Chad were having a good time in one of Chuck's parties.

Leaving the limo as it stopped in a bright lit up pub, the couple chuckled at Chuck's excitement as he guided the other boys inside, hanging back to wait for their girl's brother.

There was a tension between Chuck and Nate since Carter walked into the party. They couldn't care less about what happened to Nate but Chuck was getting more frustrated about Carter's presence, and this was Nora's brother. Even if he was an asshole, they knew Nora loved him - in her own twisted, weird way - so they didn't want his night to be ruined because of the fake guy.

"Come on" Chuck called out to his best friend who stared at Chuck blankly, gesturing at him to follow, "You can think of your boyfriend inside"

"I'm not coming" Nate told him bluntly, shaking his head.

Chuck dropped his hand, sighing as he approached his friend, "Seriously, Carter Baizen sucks" Chad and Will exchanged a look, having the feeling this will not end well, "Alright, I don't know what spell he's put you under but he's not your friend. He can't be trusted"

"True" Chad shrugged in agreement.

Nate glanced at them over Chuck's shoulder.

"Asshole recognizes asshole" Will added, pointing at Chuck. It made Chuck smirk over his shoulder at him. "I'd trust Chuck's word over Carter's anytime soon"

"You say that because you want to screw my sister" Chuck told him with a chuckle, "And for some reason you're seeking my approval"

Will scoffed, rolling his eyes but he didn't deny it. Chuck smiled knowingly. Chad raised his eyebrows amused.

Nate frowned at the boys, shaking his head, "And why is that? Why can't Carter be trusted?" he raised his eyebrows, voice raising, "'Cause he doesn't believe what you believe in?" Chuck silently scoffed in amusement, looking away, "It's exactly what he said. The money, the drugs, the privileges. They're just keeping us numb, so we don't notice that it's better out there in the real world"

"Oh" Chad scrunched his nose, "I call that bullshit"

"It sounds like bullshit" Will agreed.

Chuck seemed to agree with his sister's beaus, laughing, "Real world?" he repeated Nate's words mockingly, "Everyone out there wants to be us. We are what you aspire to, not run away from"

Nate scoffed incredulously, "You really don't get me, do you?"

Chuck glanced away momentarily before looking back at Nate, "That dream of yours, you know, what it is, really? Because I hear you talk about how you don't wanna go to Dartmouth and how you don't wanna follow in your father's footsteps, but what exactly do you want?"

Nate didn't answer, pursing his lips, "All I know is it's not this"

"Well, you better discover what it is before you throw everything away trying to find it" Nate shook his head, walking away. Chuck turned to face where he was going, throwing his arms up, feeling the others stop from being him. "And where are you going?"

"To do something stupid" Chad commented casually.

Will hummed.

Chuck chuckled, glancing at his sides to the other boys, "You're trying hard"

"We know your kind" Will said simply.

We're in love with one of you was the unsaid part.

"Come on, Chuck" Chad tilted his head, "You'd miss the fun"

"Now I can see why Nor is smitten with you two" Chuck began walking inside, "And why she hasn't tossed either of you aside. You're not boring"

"Chuck's approval is weird" Will laughed but followed.

Chad smiled slightly, following behind them. "But something that it means a lot so he doesn't destroy our lives"

~8~

Nora's phone rang as she got ready for bed.

Picking it up, she noticed it was from a photographer, smiling smugly. "Terry" she greeted coldly, sitting at her vanity, cleaning her face from her makeup. "I assume your call is to let me know I was right?"

"Miss Bass does have a good eye" Terry admitted. "You were right about giving me a goddess. However..."

"You don't want to disappoint Eleanor Waldorf by telling her you don't want her daughter as the model" Nora stated knowingly. Terry sighed. "Look. You're the photographer, darling. You're the one with who knows what the photos express and what the world would think of them. Not her. You're going to tell her exactly what you saw. You're going to show her both girls photos and compare them" she picked up a lip-gloss, staring at it absentmindedly. "Eleanor is desperate for having a perfect and successful line of clothing. Believe me when I say she's going to choose the best above her daughter's feelings"

"Aren't those girls best friends?" Terry asked confused.

"In word, only" Nora replied. "Are you going to do this or not? I was scrolling through my phone and I noticed I do have this agency number-"

"Of course I will, Miss Bass" Terry said quickly, defensively. "I do take seriously my job"

"And your promotions" Nora chuckled. "See you in the morning, darling"

Nora hung up, looking at herself in the mirror, lips curling up in a smile which faded into her cold usual expression.