for hours。 Soon she and Nate would be at Yale； living together like real grown…ups； and Serena
would be here in the city； busily being the next big thing。 Blair shook her head； bewildered by
how much things had changed in what really was so little time。
Serena watched Blair？s foxlike profile as the slide changed in time to Eleanor？s pletely
ridiculous music selection。 On…screen； Serena； Nate； and Blair were ten years old； eating
Fudgsicles in Central Park on Blair？s favorite navy blue Yale blanket。 Nate sat cross…legged while
the girls perched precariously on each of his knees。 Serena？s eyes filled with tears at the
realization that even back then； they were sharing him。
Sharing is caring； right？
As much as things had changed； some things had always been the same。 She looked around for
Nate and spied him standing near the Met？s front doors； his gaze locked on the screen。 She raised
her hand and waved； trying to get his attention； but he didn？t see her。 She grabbed the snowy
white tablecloth in her fist and squeezed the material between her fingers as Chuck？s white
monkey climbed onto her arm and began picking at her blond hair。
？Sorry；？ Chuck whispered； removing the monkey from her shoulder and placing it in his lap。 ？If
you don？t behave？？he wagged his index finger in the monkey？s face？？I？m sending you to the zoo。
And I think we both know they don？t have cupcakes and champagne there。？ Vanessa watched the
screen； surprised to see her own enormous face smiling down at her as an image of her
Williamsburg apartment appeared。 Her shaved head was tilted toward Blair？s shining brunette
mane； their tongues stuck out at the camera； near…white polish gleaming on Blair？s nails as she
held one hand up in the peace sign。 Vanessa smiled； still clinging to Dan？s hand as she waited for
the next slide。
？It？s so weird that you guys were roommates；？ Dan muttered。
？Totally；？ Vanessa whispered。 But even though they still had nothing in mon； Vanessa was
glad she and Blair were friends。 As different as they were； they？d accepted their differences and
painted each other？s toenails。 And wasn？t that what true friendship was about？ Vanessa nearly
gagged at her own sentimentality； but it was all true； so fuck it。
Dan stared up at a large photograph of Serena at the Raves show； suddenly noticing himself up
on stage in the background； sweat dripping from his black T…shirt； his hair flying as he jumped into
the air； mike cord wrapped around one skinny arm。 He laughed at his own idiotic antics and
squeezed Vanessa？s fingers for reassurance。 Vanessa had been with him through every bizarre
moment over the last year？from back when he was just a nerdy guy scribbling in a shabby
notebook all the time； to a published poet in theNew Yorker ； to an almost rock star。
Almost。 Except for the whole puking…on…stage part。 And now； on the verge of a road trip out West
that would lead him God knew where； she was still here？and still holding his hand。
You love my lady lumps。 Check it out！
The screen flicked to an ad for Serena？s Tears。 Serena stood in Central Park in a skimpy yellow
dress； one lone tear glistening on her smooth； perfect cheek。 Next came a shot of Blair； starring in
her fourth…grade production ofAnnie ； an enormous grin on her face。 She？d refused to wear a wig
and had chosen brown pigtails instead； calling it artistic license。
Next Nate recognized a photo he？d taken of Blair sun…bathing on his roof； one eye closed in an
adorable wink。 Then there was a picture of Serena on the set ofBreakfast at
Fred？s； wearing an enormous wide…brimmed black Bailey Winter hat； a triple strand of creamy
white pearls around her throat； blowing the camera a kiss。 And finally came a photo of Blair？s and
Serena？s faces pressed together； beaming at the camera； the frame so tight that there was nothing
else in the picture but their two gorgeous faces。
Nate ran his fingers through his hair。 The only thing missing from the photo of Blair and
Serena？s smiling faces was his own face wedged between them。 He？d always been there； in
between them？ing between them。
Nate watched as Serena got up from her seat and hurried across the room to Blair？s table。 The
two girls stood in front of one another for a moment and then Serena opened her arms； pulling
Blair in for a hug and resting her shining blond head on Blair？s shoulder。 Blair turned her head to
the side； and Nate could see the tears streaking her face； even in the dim light of the darkened
room。
As he watched the two girls he loved holding each other and crying； a smile crept across his face。
It slowly grew and grew and the rest of his face brightened。 He pushed through the glass doors of
the Met just as the lights went up and slipped out into the warm August night； running down the
stone steps。 They were the same steps he？d sat on with Blair and Serena a million times； their
perfect legs extending from their short； itchy Constance uniforms； cigarettes and coffees in their
hands。 At the bottom of the steps he stopped and looked back at the imposing stone building with
its brightly colored banners。 He was going to think with his balls once and for all。
Uh…oh。 Is he going to steal more Viagra？
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ABC Amber LIT Converter v2。02
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Disclaimer： All the real names of places； people； and events have been altered or abbreviated to
protect the innocent。 Namely； me。
hey people！
This late night post…party wrap…up is ing at you from the luxurious confines of my boudoir；
cats and kittens； where I？m lying in bed wrapped in one…thousand…thread…count Egyptian cotton
sheets。 I？m also scarfing the only surefire hangover buster？chocolate croissants from Balthazar。
But none of this is nearly as deliciously or delectably yummy asB？ s goodbye party。 All I have to
say is； if you weren？t there； too bad。 You missed out on the party of the year？if not the century。
But I won？t rub it in your faces？too much。After all； there？s always next year。 Or not。
Anyhoozle； I？ve just taken my La Mer ice mask out of the freezer and am ready to lie back in
bed and depuff my tired lids； so this will have to be a quickie。 And everyone knows that
sometimes； quickies are just what the doctor ordered。 Notthat kind of quickie！ Get your mind out
of the gutter。
sightings
Cand his new friendG are inseparable？and the party was no exception。 Those of you who stuck it
out until the bitter end will rememberC andG dancing around a fast…melting ice
sculpture？whileC ？s fuzzy white snow monkey stuffed his furry muzzle with gold…flecked
cupcakes。 。 。 。K andI in the Met？s bathroom stalls； their arms and legs streaked with white paint；
taking turns holding one another？s hair out of their faces。 That flight down to Rollins together is
going to be brutal。B having her picture taken arm in arm withS on the front steps of the Met？guess
those two kissed and made up？again。 。 。 。 Speaking of performances on the steps of the Met； how
about those crazy Czech weirdos； doing their encore performance of ？Ode to Love？ at about 4
a。