New York。 He？d always thought he？d have to choose between the two girls； but now it seemed he
could have them both。 That was pretty ballsy； if he did say so himself。
Serena opened one eye and discovered Nate staring at her。 With a rush of water； she stood up； her
wet hair falling down her back in a slick mass。 Winding it around her hand； she squeezed the water
out and then tied her hair into a neat knot。 Her swimsuit straps had fallen down again； and she
hitched them up before anything embarrassing happened。
Not that it？s anything Nate hasn？t seen before。 。 。 。
？Impressive。？ He smiled； kicking a little water up at her with one golden foot。 ？Um； putting your
hair up without a barrette or whatever；？ he stammered； turning pink。 ？Not the
swimsuit…almost…falling…off part。 Not that I？d mind that；？ he added。
？Really now？？ she hopped up on the ledge beside him； her hair promptly falling out of its
not…so…secure bun and draping messily over her shoulders。 ？Because along with that key card
es a very beautiful； veryempty hotel suite。？ She inched a little closer to him on the pool ledge。
Nate grinned； the sun bouncing off the water and making his green eyes glitter even more than
usual。 He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a voice behind them。
？Serena van der Woodsen！？ a syrupy； high…pitched voice exclaimed。 They both turned to see
Bailey Winter； all five feet of the famous designer； dressed in a white linen suit； a hot pink
handkerchief in his pocket and an enormous pair of white sunglasses perched on his head。 His
houseboy； Stefan； was behind him； manning the leashes of Bailey？s five pugs。 ？You remember
Stefan；？ he chirped with a wave behind him。 ？And of course you remember Azzedine； Coco；
Cristobal； Gianni； and Madame Gres。？ He tittered； gesturing at the dogs。
How couldanyone forget？
？Of course！？ Serena jumped up and gave Bailey a damp hug。 ？It？s so good to see you！？ she
exclaimed affectionately。
After Bailey had designed the costumes forBreakfast at Fred？s； he？d invited Serena and Blair to
be live…in muses at his East Hampton summer home。 Their stay had had its share of problems；
mainly due to a pair of skinny Eastern European models determined to make their life there a
living hell。 In a horrendous scene at one of Bailey？s famous parties； they？d ruined his furniture；
horrified the guests； and then run out of the party？and away from the Hamptons？without so much
as a goodbye。 Serena had felt so guilty for leaving on such bad terms that she？d written Bailey a
note later on in the summer； apologizing for their behavior and thanking him for their stay。 He？d
written back saying that he couldn？t possibly hold a grudge against someone so lovely and
talented； and that she was wele any time。
？What are you doing back in the city？？ She grabbed a white towel and wrapped it around her
midriff。
The little man folded up his sunglasses and put them into his pocket。 ？The Hamptons get so dull
at the end of the summer。 All the fun？s here in the city！？ He waved his petite hands in the air。 ？You
certainly are at the center of all the action？I can？t believe my little Serena is being a big； big
movie star！？ He shrieked and grabbed her hands。 ？I just went to a screening ofBreakfast at Fred？s ；
and of course the costumes areto die for ； if I do say so myself； but you； my dear； are the icing on
the German chocolate cake！？ he added； pinching Stefan？s toned behind； apropos of nothing。
Liz Taylor was lounging on a deck chair a few feet away with a little white Chihuahua curled at
her feet。 She looked up from her copy of ItalianVogue ； and her dog jumped down to sniff
Cristobal？s butt curiously。
That？s one way to say hello。
？Serena van der Woodsen； fromBreakfast at Fred？s ？？ the woman demanded loudly in an
imperious Spanish accent。 So she wasn？t Liz Taylor after all。 ？I thought you looked familiar。 I
absolutelyadored that movie。 。 。 。？ A crowd began to form around Serena。 Suddenly it hit Nate that
she was starring in a big…time film； and that she was about to bee really famous； a movie star。
He wondered if from now on it was going to be like this all the time； getting stopped on the street；
mobbed by fans； paparazzi following them everywhere。 Serena smiled shyly as she autographed
someone？s towel。 He could already see the gossip columns； wondering why the acplished
young starlet was hanging out with a loser still stuck in high school。 Not that he cared what other
people thought； but still。 It would be 。 。 。 weird。 He ran his fingers through his hair； wishing he had
a joint with him； and then remembered that he did？in the pocket of his now…soaking shorts。 Oops。
He picked up his towel and started to dry off。 Then he heard his phone？s muffled ring and found
it underneath his T…shirt。 He flipped it open； grateful for something to do besides watching Serena
and feeling dumb and useless。 ？Hello？？ ？Long time no see。 What are you up to right now？？
Blair？s voice surprised him。 She sounded downright chipper； and not angry at all。
？Hey 。 。 。 ；？ he mumbled； wandering to the very edge of the roof。 The city was sprawled out
beneath him； the low town houses of the Meatpacking District giving way to new Chelsea condos
and the midtown high…rises beyond。
Serena noticed him wander away and hoped he was talking to Blair； perhaps calmly explaining
that he and Serena would both be staying in the city this year 。 。 。together 。 Of course she felt
slightly guilty stealing Nate away； but once Blair was happily ensconced at Yale？her dream
school？she？d forget all about them。
？Thank you soo much。？ The Spanish woman？s voice broke into her thoughts。 She proudly waved
her autographed ItalianVogue 。 ？Binky and I are such fans。 Aren？t we； Binky？？ She swept up the
tiny dog with one arm。 Binky strained in her arms； reaching for Cristobal？s wiggling and
whimpering form at his owner？s feet。
？Of course。？ Serena nodded。 ？My pleasure。？ Bailey grabbed her arm and began to whisper in her
ear。 ？You must be my only muse。 I？ll dress you exclusively in my designs； just like Audrey
Hepburn and Givenchy！？ But Serena barely heard him； distracted by the sight of Nate putting his
T…shirt back on。 He waved； mouthing； ？I？ll talk to you later；？ as he backed toward the exit。 She
sighed。 So much for taking advantage of her hotel suite。
That？s okay？they have the rest of their lives to spend together。 Don？t they？
b can barely contain herself
Nate rounded the corner of Nineteenth Street and crossed Sixth Avenue； without waiting for the
walk signal。 The Container Store loomed up ahead； its huge display windows and royal blue
awnings a little too showy for a store that sold plastic storage bins and shower racks。 Nate pushed
through the glass doors and into the enormous store； taking in the high ceilings and fake
Romanesque columns。 He searched for a familiar chestnut…brown head of hair as he strode down
the wide central path； glancing down endless aisles with labels like SHELVING； CLEANING；
HOME OFFICE； KITCHEN； and BATH。 The store was heavily air…conditioned； and he could feel
goose bumps formi