poised as ever； her mother； Lillian van der Woodsen； looking statuesque in a stunning silver Oscar
de la Renta strapless gown that even most girls Blair？s age couldn？t pull off。 Chatting with Mrs。
van der Woodsen was Misty Bass； Chuck？s mother； her hair piled high on her head like a sad
imitation of Marie Antoinette。
Let them eat cake！
Next to Misty was her husband； Bartholomew； trying to get a peep down Isabel？s mother； Titi
Coates？s low…cut black chiffon Badgley Mischka dress。
Like father； like son 。 。 。
Mr。 Coates； Isabel？s middle…aged movie…star has…been father； was in a crisp black tuxedo；
looking even more distinguished than usual standing next to the bulbous； sweaty Cyrus Rose； who
was patting his pot belly and grabbing fistfuls of appetizers from every platter within reach。 Blair
shuddered in disgust but was forted by the fact that she？d be seeing her real father tonight？if
he ever made it。 He？d called from the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris eight hours ago to tell
them they？d missed their flight because Ping was having a bit of fit； projectile vomiting all over
the place； and that they might only catch the tail end of the party。 They？d have to drop the twins
off with the Waldorf Roses？ nanny and then hurry over。 Well； at least baby Yale could teach the
little brats some manners。
The classical Greek statues crowding the walls made the party seem even more packed than it
already was。 Blair bent down to fix the strap of her cerulean patent…leather Manolos。 The shoes
were a perfect match to her night…sky blue Viktor & Rolf strapless party frock； and they gleamed
like they？d been candy…coated； glistening in the candlelight。 Something moved behind her and
Blair whipped her head around； losing her balance and nearly toppling onto the cool marble floor。
Did one of those Adonises justmove ？ The chiseled statue gave her a wink as he changed from one
classical pose to another。 Blair looked closer and realized that mixed in with the classical Greek
and Roman sculptures were models covered in chalky clay…colored paint。
？Blair…Bear！？ A voice broke into Blair？s thoughts and she looked up to see her father； looking
dapper and handsome in a jet…black Gucci tux。 His sandy brown hair was spiked up like a kid？s；
and the distinguished…looking laugh lines at the corners of his bright blue eyes were the only signs
of his real age。
？Daddy！？ She ran to her father？s outstretched arms and instantly felt forted。 ？I was sure you
weren？t ing。？ She buried her head in his crisp white shirt。
？I wouldn？t dream of missing your big night； Blair…Bear。 And you？re going to be even happier
when I give you your gift。？ Her father pulled back and stroked her cheek。 He was wearing his
emerald green cuff links that Blair had always thought were the same color as Nate？s eyes。 His
tanned fingers were manicured； and his hand smelled of some new； powdery cologne。
Johnson & Johnson？s Eau de Bebe Ass？
？What gift？？ Blair liked the sound of that。 ？You already got me a car for graduation。？ She looked
up at him expectantly。 What could be better than a car？ A plane？ A horse？ Her own New York
apartment？ Her own New Haven town house？
Way to think small。
Her father leaned in to whisper in her ear。 ？I talked to the dean of admissions at Yale。？ He paused；
his bronzed face crinkled into his trademark case…winning grin。
Blair threw her arms around his neck。 ？Oh； Daddy！？ She hugged him tightly。 She didn？t even
need to hear the rest。 ？Thank you； thank you； thank you； thank you！？
A handsome； tall； tuxedoed man approached； streaks of gray in his dark； fashionably long；
bed…back hair。 ？Giles！？ Harold Waldorf called out to him。 ？Finally； you get to meet my little
angel； Blair！？？Enchant？！？ Giles exclaimed； grabbing Blair？s hand and kissing it。 His teeth were
blindingly white and his chocolate…brown eyes warm。 ？She ismagnifique ！？ he exclaimed in a
heavy French accent。
Blair blushed and gave him a little curtsy。 She was finally starting to feel like the belle of the ball。
About time。
Didn？t shejust arrive？
？Blair； dear； we have to check on the babies。？ Her father gave her a quick hug。 ？We？ll be back
soon though。 I think you？ve got some good news to share with someone anyway。？ Giles kissed
Blair first on one cheek； and then the other。
？Au revoir； jolie mademoiselle；？he bid her graciously。
Blair grinned； not even caring that her father had just arrived and was now leaving again。 Nate
was back into Yale； handsome French men were kissing her hands； and this washer party。 All was
right with the world。 ？Say hi to Ping and Pong for me；？ she called after them； feeling particularly
generous。
After her father and Giles left； Blair scanned the room for Nate。 Instead； she found Serena
standing by the bar； her elegant silver Valentino silk cocktail dress shining in the light； thin silver
bands cinching her tiny waist。 Blair walked toward her； her cobalt blue Viktor & Rolf gown with
its intricately beaded bodice trailing silkily behind her like an inky pool of water。 She smiled
giddily to herself。 Serena might look stunning； but next year she？d be stuck in the dirty old city
while
Blair and Nate were miles away in their cozy New Haven love nest； feeding each other
cornichons and oysters and all sorts of other cute； couple…y foods。 Her father might not have given
her a town house yet； but her birthday was ing up in November。 。 。 。
Well； her mom did buy her an island。
？Hey。？ Blair kissed the air near Serena？s cheeks。
Mwah！ Mwah！
？Isn？t this wild？ Check out the naked guys in body paint over there！？ Serena set her empty
champagne flute down on the faux…marble bar behind her and grabbed a full one。 She hated how
nervous she felt around Blair。 How much did Blair know about her and Nate？ How much would
Serena be brave enough to tell her？ ？It？sbeyond 。 Your mom really outdid herself。？ Maybe it was
best just to act cheerfully； casual； like she wasn？t about to steal her best friend？s boyfriend right
out from under her nose。
Blair pushed closer to the bar； practically knocking over Rain Hoffstetter。 Rain？s chestnut brown
hair was usually sweaty from soccer and pulled back in a lopsided ponytail； but tonight she was
wearing it in loose waves around her face； and a black…and…silver Calvin Klein gown made her
athletic body look slightly less manly。
But only slightly。
Next to Rain stood Nicki Button； famous for her two nose jobs？which Blair didn？t think had
done her all that much good。 Rain and Nicki fought more than Serena and Blair did； mostly over
clothes； not boys； but since both were headed to Vassar； maybe they？d made their peace。
Until five minutes from now； when they both realize they？re wearing the same Prada slingbacks
in silver and white。 Totally last spring。
？Excuse me； ladies。？ Both girls practically jumped backwards as Blair reached past them and
grabbed a flute of champagne。 She turned back to Serena and clinked her glass against her
friend？s。 ？To us；？ she toasted heartily。 She could afford to be a little magnanimous。 She？d gotten
exactly what she want