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 wanted?as usual。
The two girls downed the contents of their glasses in one gulp。 Then Blair put a delicate hand on
her hip。 ?Have you seen Nate?? she asked; raising one perfectly arched dark eyebrow。 ?I need to
talk to him。? Serena grabbed another glass of champagne。 She wished there were some simple
solution to this; but there wasn?t。 Blair looked so happy tonight; she didn?t want to ruin the party
for her。 She and Nate would just have to wait to tell her that they were together when Blair was
happily settled in at Yale; and then maybe she wouldn?t even mind that much。 Finally she took the
flute of champagne away from her lips。 ?I haven?t seen him yet;? she admitted。
Blair had noticed Serena stiffen at the sound of Nate?s name; and for a second she almost felt
sorry for her?what with that desperate love letter and all。 She was dying to tell Serena about
getting Nate into Yale; but it just seemed wrong to tell her before telling Nate himself。 After all;
Serena probably still harbored some desperate dream that she and Nate would live happily ever in
the city together while Blair was up in New Haven。 Like that wouldever happen。
?Well; I?m off to find him;? Blair chirped gaily。