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Nate　peered　over　her　shoulder。　？Do　you　want　to　take　it　or　should　I？？　

Jenny　didn？t　want　it；　and　he　obviously　did。　？You　take　it。？　She　held　out　her　palm　and　Nate　
pinched　the　tab　between　his　thumb　and　forefinger。　He　opened　his　mouth；　closed　his　eyes；　and　
stuck　out　his　tongue；　pressing　the　tab　onto　it　before　opening　his　eyes　and　closing　his　mouth　again。　
Like　that；　he　didn？t　look　very　hot；　but　Jenny　was　still　intent　on　hooking　up　with　him。　This　was　her　
swan　song；　her　last　chance　to　forge　her　own　memories　and　be　remembered。　

Oh；　she？d　be　remembered　all　right。　

？Does　it　taste　like　anything？？　she　asked；　genuinely　curious。　

？Nope。？　Nate　smiled。　The　more　time　he　spent　alone　with　Jennifer；　the　more　he　felt　like　his　old　
self　again。　All　she　wanted　was　a　little　no…obligation；　no…expectations　end…of…the…year　fun　before　
she　took　off　for　boarding　school　or　wherever　the　hell　she　was　going　this　summer；　and　that　was　his　
specialty。　He　bent　down　and　kissed　her　carefully　on　the　lips；　like　he　was　biting　into　something　that　
was　still　too　hot　to　eat。　？But　you　do。？　

Jenny　loved　the　idea　that　she　was　using　Nate；　and　the　fact　that　hewanted　her　to　use　him　gave　her　
even　more　of　a　thrill。　He　stroked　her　curly　brown　hair　and　she　tilted　her　chin　up　and　gazed　into　his　
stunning　green　eyes。　？Remember　when　I　fell　so　in　love　with　you？？　

Nate　smiled　again　and　kissed　her　again。　He　did　that　for　a　while；　smiling　and　kissing；　smiling　and　


kissing；　like　he　was　lapping　up　a　delicious　ice　cream　cone。　

？You？ve　got　skin　like　？　like　？petals　；？　Nate　remarked　as　the　E　began　to　take　effect。　He　rubbed　the　
tip　of　his　nose　against　her　temple。　？Grr。？　

Jenny　giggled。　It　felt　pletely　amazing　to　be　this　close　and　fortable　with　Nate　again。　He　
was　absurdly　handsome；　and　being　kissed　by　him　felt　really；　really；really　good。　But　Nate　was　
beginning　to　trip；　and　she　didn？t　want　to　lose　her　virginity　to　a　boy　who　thought　he　was　a　
Labrador　puppy。　She　wouldn？t。　

Well；　at　least　she　has　that　much　integrity。　

Still；　this　was　her　last　crazy　night　out　before　she　flew　to　Prague　for　the　summer。　She　wasn？t　quite　
ready　for　it　to　end。　

Nate　rubbed　his　chin　against　her　carefully　plucked　dark　brown　eyebrows；　and　she　lifted　her　chin　
to　catch　him　in　another　long；　hungry　kiss。　Her　brother　was　always　moaning　about　how　much　his　
life　sucked。　But　she　couldn？t　have　disagreed　more。　It　wasn？t　like　she？d　planned　for　life　to　be　this　
thrilling。　It　just　was；　it　really　was。　

Nothing　like　a　little　mystery　

？Marcus；　darling？？　Blair　called　tentatively　through　the　molded　white　wooden　door　to　Marcus？s　
suite。　She？d　never　actually　called　him　？darling？　out　loud　before；　but　it　was　being　her　favorite　
endearment。　？Are　you　in　there？？　

She　considered　stripping　down　to　only　her　Bvlgari　pearls　right　there　in　the　hallway；　but　the　Yale　
Club　was　booked　solid；　and　what　if　some　bow…tie…wearing　Yale　professor　saw　her　naked　tonight　
and　then　she　wound　up　having　him　in　Intro　to　Law　or　another　one　of　her　freshman　classes　next　
year？　

Well；　it　would　certainly　make　the　class　more　interesting。　

？Marcus？？　Blair　pressed　her　ear　against　the　door；　listening　for　him。　Nothing。　She　tried　the　knob。　
The　door　was　unlocked。　She　pushed　it　open　a　few　inches　and　stuck　her　head　inside。　？Marcus？？　
Still　nothing。　She　pushed　the　door　open　all　the　way。　

The　drawers　of　the　suite？s　antique　oak　armoire　had　been　pulled　open　and　a　damp　towel　lay　
strewn　on　the　bed。　The　air　was　heavy　with　steam　and　the　scent　of　Marcus？s　Carolina　Herrera　for　
Men　cologne。　The　closet　door　stood　open。　The　cedar　suit　hangers　were　all　bare。　Marcus　was　gone。　


　Whoops。　

Blair　sat　down　heavily　on　the　bed；　feeling　very　much　like　the　jilted　but　beautiful　heroine　in　one　
of　the　epic　films　in　her　head　that　she？d　temporarily　stopped　watching。　She？d　forgone　her　
enormous　Jackie　O　sunglasses；　her　signature　Herm？s　head　scarf；　and　her　Burberry　tea…length　
trench　coat；　because　the　heroine　who　was　in　love　and　part　of　a　couple　didn？t　need　them。　Now　she　
wanted　them　back。　

How　had　this　happened？　Was　her　only　purpose　in　life　to　serve　as　a　fuck…over　mat　for　boys　like　
Nate　and　Lord　Marcus　to　wipe　the　soles　of　their　lying；　cheating　Church？s　of　London　shoes　on？　

Her　stomach　churning；　she　stood　up　and　rushed　next　door　to　her　own　suite；　fully　intending　to　
make　herself　sick　as　soon　as　she　reached　the　toilet。　Propped　up　on　the　bureau　was　a　large　
cream…colored　envelope　with　the　wordsMy　Darling　B　scrawled　on　it　in　Marcus？s　swirly　script；　
and　a　small　black　velvet　box　with　the　word　BVLGARIprinted　on　it　in　gold。　Blair　resisted　opening　
the　box　and　tore　open　the　envelope。　Inside　was　a　note　from　Marcus　written　on　a　matching　
cream…colored　Crane？s　note　card　with　LORDMARCUSBEATON…RHODESprinted　on　it　in　Yale　
blue　ink；　along　with　a　British　Airways　plane　ticket。　

Blair　remained　standing　as　she　devoured　the　note；　trying　to　ignore　the　small　explosions　in　her　
stomach；　like　soap　bubbles　popping。　

Dearest　darling　Blair；　Bee；　my　bumblebee；　

How　could　I　have　known　when　I　planned　a　brief　visit　to　New　York　after　I　finished　up　at　Yale　that　
I　would　meet　a　girl　and　fall　in　love？　And　not　just　any　girl？you。　It　would　be　impossible　to　describe　
my　feelings；　so　I　dashed　out　and　bought　you　two　little　somethings　to　go　with　the　necklace。　
Promise　me　you？ll　wear　them　all　when　I　see　you　next；　which　should　be　only　a　few　weeks　away　if　
you？d　be　so　kind　as　to　get　your　gorgeousness　on　the　flight　I　so　presumptuously　booked　a　ticket　
for？first　class；　of　course。　It？s　in　two　weeks；　which　gives　you　ample　time　to　buy　a　whole　new　
wardrobe；　have　a　series　of　facials　or　tanning　treatments；　or　whatever　you　do　to　keep　yourself　
looking　as　stunning　as　you　always　do。　Sorry　for　running　out　on　you　like　this；　but　it？s　your　
graduation…from…high…school　party；　the　only　one　you？ll　ever　have；　and　I　didn？t　want　to　put　a　
damper　on　it　by　saying　good…bye。　All　right；　I？m　off。　Please　e　to　England。　I　shall　miss　you。　

　Love　for　always；　

　Marcus　

Blair　snatched　the　black　velvet　box　off　the　white…painted　bureau　and　pried　it　open。　Two　perfect；　
enormous　round　pearls　glowed　back　at　her；　each　dangling　from　a　gold　cursiveB　？the　earrings　to　
match　the　necklace。　She　ripped　out　her　boring　pearl　studs　and　put　in　the　Bvlgaris。　

　Bee。　My　bumblebee。　


It　seemed　highly　doubtful　that　Marcus　was　engaged　to　some　overweight；　big…nosed；　blue…blooded　
duchess　if　he？d　bought　Blair　a　plane　ticket　to　travel　to　England　to　meet　his　mum。　Judging　from　his　
impeccable　stationery；　Lord　Marcus　was　a　bona　fide　lord；　too。　And　judging　from　the　note　and　the　
plane　ticket　and　the　pearls；　he　truly　loved　her。　

Opening　the　top　drawer　of　the　bureau；　she　tucked　the　plane　ticket　alongside　her　favorite　black　La　
Perla　demicup　bra。　

Contrary　to　popular　belief；　there？s　nothing　like　a　mysterious　departure　to　pique　a　girl？s　interest。　

You　know　you　love　me　

Serena？s　pale　blond　hair　was　matted　with　sweat　and　her　yellow　Tocca　dress　clung　to　her　skin　like　
wet　tissue　paper。　She？d　been　dancing　for　an　hour　and　she　could　barely　stand　up。　Vanessa　was　
leaning　against　the　wall；　chugging　from　a　bottle　of　Perrier；　her　cheeks　red　with　exertion。　Serena　
joined　her；　grabbing　the　water　out　of　her　friend？s　hand　and　pouring　it　down　her　throat。　

？You　haven？t　seen　Dan；　have　you？？　Vanessa　asked　breathlessly。　Now　that　she　was　finished　
dancing；　it　might　be　fun　to　find　a　quiet　nook　in　the　club　somewhere　and　make　out　with　Dan　for　a　
while。　

？Nope；？　Serena　remarked。　The　two　girls　surveyed　the　room；　their　eyes　stinging　with　the　salt　from　
their　sweat。　A　group　of　gray…uniform…wearing　tenth…grade　boys　from　some　Catholic　school　were　
making　a　human　pyramid　with　Chuck　Bass　on　top；　even　though　he　weighed　as　much　as　all　of　them　
bined。　One　of　the　L？？cole　girls　had　taken　off　her　halter　top　and　was　dancing　by　herself　in　the　
corner；　smoking　a　joint　and　strumming　a　guitar；　a　sun；　moon；　and　stars　tattoo　standing　out　on　her　
shoulder　blade。　

？This　party　is　weird；？　Vanessa　observed。　

？Have　you　seen　Nate？？　Serena　asked。　She　vaguely　remembered　arriving　with　him；　but　she　hadn？t　
seen　him　since。　She　squinted；　half　expecting　to　find　Nate　weeping　at　the　bar；　but　she　couldn？t　see　
him　anywhere。　

Blair　stepped　away　from　the　bar；　a　fresh　flute　of　bubbling　champagne　in　her　hand　and　a　fresh　
cigarette　dangling　from　the　antique　ebony…and…mother…of…pearl　cigarette　holder　between　her　
glossed　lips；　looking　like　a　character　out　of　an　old　movie。　Serena　pushed　herself　away　from　the　
wall　and　went　over　to　her。　

？I　love　your　pearls。？　


Blair　decided　not　to　spit　in　Serena？s　face　or　scratch　her　dark　blue　eyes　out。　？They？re　from　
Marcus。？　

Serena　nodded；　about　to　say　something　about　what　an　amazing　guy　Marcus　was；　but　she　was　
distracted。　？You　haven？t　seen　Nate；　have　you？？　

Blair　took　a　long　sip　of　champagne　and　blew　smoke　into　the　air。　She？d　been　busy　accepting　gifts　
from　her　mysterious　royal　beau。　She　didn？t　have　time　to　keep　track　of　Nate？s　erratic　
whereabouts。　？Not　really。？　

Serena　scanned　the　room　with　her　eyes。　？He？s　been　acting　strange；？　she　remarked；　chewing　on　
her　thumbnail。　？Don？t　you　think　so？？　

Again；　Blair　really　didn？t　have　an　opinion　on　the　subject。　The　moss　green　sweater　was　where　
she？d　left　it；　folded　on　a　chair　nearby。　？I　guess；？　she　allowed。　

That　tiny　big…chested　ninth　grader　Jenny　Humphrey　stepped　out　of　the　alcove　where　the　men？s　
room　was；　her　curly　dark　hair　slightly　askew　and　her　mouth　red　and　swollen；　as　if　from　too　much　
kissing。　She　paused　and　held　out　her　hand；　as　if　to　a　child。　Then　Nate　appeared；　looking　happily　
disoriented。　Jenny　put　her　arm　around　his　waist；　and　he　turned　and　kissed　her　eagerly　on　the　
mouth；　as　if　her　lips　were　made　of　chocolate　or　something。　

？Oh！？　Serena　exclaimed；　as　if　she？d　been　pinched。　She　blinked　her　dark　blue　eyes；　trying　to　
ascertain　whether　she　was　truly　hurt　or　just　surprised。　It　had　never　felt　right；　her　and　Nate　being　
together。　And　it　would　be　better　to　be　single　this　summer　so　she　could　focus　on　the　film。　At　least　
now　she　wouldn？t　have　to　bother　breaking　up　with　him。　Not　that　they？d　ever　really　been　together。

　No；　not　really。　

？Typical；？　Blair　scoffed。　She　shook　a　Merit　Ultra　Light　out　of　her　pack　and　handed　it　to　
Serena。　？Don？t　be　mad。　He　can？t　help　himself。？　

Serena　took　the　cigarette　and　propped　it　between　her　lips；　waiting　for　Blair　to　light　it　for　
her。　？I？m　not　mad；？　she　sighed；　feeling　relieved。　For　once；　she　and　Blair　were　bonding　over　Nate　
instead　of　fighting　over　him。　It　was　a　wele　change。　？So；　will　you　loan　me　that　for　the　movie？？　
She　pointed　at　Blair？s　cigarette　holder。　？Although　I？ll　probably　set　my　ass　on　fire　if　I　try　to　use　it。　
I？m　such　a　klutz。？　

Blair　loved　it　when　Serena　put　herself　down。　It　gave　her　hope。　？Of　course　I　will。？　

Instinctively　the　two　girls　turned　as　someone　careened　toward　them　from　across　the　room。　Nate？s　
face　was　slack；　his　green　eyes　were　huge；　and　his　body　seemed　more　loose…limbed　than　usual。　He　
came　at　them　with　his　arms　open；　grabbed　Serena；　and　pulled　her　into　an　even　gooier　kiss　than　


he？d　just　given　Jenny。　Serena　giggled　and　pushed　him　away。　

　？Natie！？　

But　he　was　unflappable。　Letting　go　of　Serena；　he　reached　for　Blair；　pressed　his　wet　lips　against　
hers　and　sort　of　inhaled　her　entire　mouth。　

？What　the　fuck？？　Blair　exclaimed；　stepping　backward　to　free　herself。　

Nate　just　stood　between　the　two　girls；　smiling　like　the　luckiest　guy　on　earth。　？We？re　all　too　
beautiful；？　he　said　by　way　of　explanation。　？I　can？t　stop　kissing　us。？　

Blair　met　Serena？s　gaze。　Yes；　Nate　was　acting　strange。　He　was　off　his　tits；　as　they　say　in　England。　
Still；　there　was　something　infectious　about　his　puppylike　exuberance。　They？d　just　graduated　today。　
Why　not　act　a　little　strange？　And　why　not　kiss　everybody？　Some　of　them　might　never　be　together　
again。　

And　some　of　them　were　going　to　be　together　quite　a　lot。　

？You　want　to　see　something　really　cool？？　Blair　asked；　cocking　her　right　eyebrow　in　a　way　that　
all　the　underclassmen　at　Constance　had　spent　hours　trying　to　imitate。　

She　stepped　forward　and　put　her　hands　on　Serena？s　bare　shoulders。　Immediately；　Serena　
understood　what　they　were　about　to　do。　The　two