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ry　readings。

Last　night；　after　her　parents　had　gone　to　bed；　she；　Erik；　and　his　fiancée；　Fiona；　had　had　a　long　conversation　about　long…distance　love　while　drinking　homemade　cocktails　from　her　parents’　extensive　liquor　cabinet。　Fiona　was　a　six…foot…tall　blond　Australian　surfer　whom　Erik　met　on　a　beach　in　Melbourne　during　his　junior　year　abroad。　She　was　clearly　head　over　heels　for　Erik；　she　was　funny　as　hell；　and　Serena　was　glad　they　were　going　to　be　sisters　so　soon。　After　a　few　drinks；　Serena　had　worked　up　the　courage　to　ask　them　if　they　thought　long…distance　could　ever　really　work。　Ever　since　Dan　had　found　out　he　was　going　to　Iowa；　she’d　been　nervous　about　how　they’d　deal　with　the　separation。　Of　course；　that　was　when　she　still　thought　she　had　a　few　years　of　college　left。　But　now　that　she　was　graduating；　she　could　do　anything　she　wanted。　And　all　she　could　think　to　do　was　follow　Dan；　even　though　they’d　never　officially　talked　about　it。

What　Fiona　had　said　when　it　came　to　her　and　Erik’s　relationship　sealed　the　decision　for　Serena。　“I　told　him　I’d　follow　him　wherever　he　went；”　Fiona　had　said　proudly；　without　apology。　“And　if　he　was　with　another　girl　when　he　got　there；　I’d　cut　his　balls　off。”

“Who　could　say　no　to　that？”　Erik　had　teased；　kissing　her。

That　was　all　the　reassurance　Serena　needed。　If　Dan　was　going　to　Iowa；　then　so　would　she。　She’d　even　found　a　place　for　them。　The　house　was　a　fantastic　two…bedroom　bungalow　designed　by　Frank　Lloyd　Wright；　next　to　a　river　and　surrounded　by　trees。　The　grainy　picture　on　the　website　made　it　almost　look　like　a　sailboat　with　all　these　wonderful　built…in　cabinets　and　furniture。　It　was　forty…five　minutes　away　from　Iowa　City；　but　that　wasn’t　too　bad。　Besides；　they’d　both　have　cars；　and　after　living　in　the　middle　of　the　biggest　city　in　the　world　for　their　whole　lives；　Serena　couldn’t　think　of　anything　more　romantic　than　settling　down　with　her　boyfriend　so　far　away　from　the　rest　of　humanity。　After　all；　all　they　needed　was　each　other。

No　Barneys；　no　Elizabeth　Arden；　no　City　Bakery　cookies…　Is　she　crazy？

According　to　the　Web　site；　the　house　was　available　for　rent；　but　Serena　wanted　to　work　out　all　the　details　before　she　told　Dan。　She　was　fine　waiting　a　day　to　tell　him　in　person；　even　if　it　did　feel　like　torture　right　now。

“This　is　from　me；”　Fiona　said；　smiling　as　she　held　a　thin；　silver…wrapped　present　toward　Serena。　Serena　slid　her　finger　under　the　tape　and　eagerly　ripped　off　the　wrapping　paper。　Inside　was　a　photo　album。　On　the　inside　cover　was　inscribed：

To　Serena—

“The　world　is　a　book　and　those　who　do　not　travel　read　only　one　page。”—St。　Augustine。

Enjoy！

Love；　Fiona

“Oh　my　God；　so　cool！”　Serena　grinned　as　she　flipped　through　the　pages。　Fiona　had　traveled　the　world　for　two　years　before　she　started　college；　a　fact　that　always　made　Serena　envious。　Serena　had　always　wanted　to　do　that；　but　the　closest　she’d　e　was　a　few　weeks　in　the　south　of　France　when　she　was　a　senior　in　high　school。　Inside　were　pages　of　photographs；　hand…drawn　maps；　contact　lists；　and　need…to…know　information　about　different　countries　and　cities　around　the　world。　“Did　you　really　make　this？”　Serena　asked。

“I　know　you　like　adventure；　but　you’d　be　well　off　to　avoid　making　my　travel　mistakes。”　Fiona　winked。

“Not　like　you’ll　have　too　much　time　to　travel。　Once　you　find　a　job；　you’ll　really　need　to　buckle　down　for　those　first　few　years；”　Mr。　van　der　Woodsen　remarked　as　he　peered　over　Serena’s　shoulder。

Serena　smiled　tightly。　She’d　tell　her　parents　about　the　Iowa　plan　after　she　told　Dan。

“This　is　great；　Fiona；”　she　said；　continuing　to　flip　through　the　pages。　As　she　came　across　a　photo　of　Carnivale　in　Spain；　it　dawned　on　her　that　a　life　spent　with　Dan　in　Iowa　wouldn’t　leave　her　much　opportunity　to　travel。　They　wouldn’t　have　any　money；　and　he’d　be　too　busy　writing　all　the　time。　Serena　felt　unexpected　tears　spring　to　her　eyes。

She　rubbed　her　eye　with　her　index　finger；　as　if　she　were　just　readjusting　a　contact　lens。

Fiona　winked　at　her。　“Now　what　do　you　say　we　set　up　a　Bloody　Mary　bar　in　the　kitchen？”

Serena　nodded　and　trailed　behind　Fiona　toward　the　kitchen；　feeling　deflated。　Fiona　saw　her　as　an　adventurous；　gutsy　girl　who　needed　practical　travel　tips　for　Belize　and　Thailand。　Instead；　her　grand　adventure　was　booking　a　one…way　ticket　to　a　flat　state　few　New　Yorkers　could　point　to　on　a　map。

Well；　maybe　if　she　moves　there；　people　will　start　to　visit。

“Essa！”　Moxie　blurted　happily　from　Ruby’s　hip　as　Ruby　opened　the　paint…caked　door　to　her　Prospect　Heights　walk…up　on　Christmas　Day。　Moxie　was　dressed　in　a　T…shirt　with　a　pigeon　wearing　oversize　headphones　and　black　leggings；　her　thin　brown　hair　tied　in　two　sloppy　braids。　She　looked　like　a　very　short　Williamsburg　hipster。

“Merry　Christmas；　little　sis！”　Ruby　hugged　Vanessa　warmly。　Ruby　wore　a　pair　of　gray　pajama　pants　and　a　black　SugarDaddy　tank　top　with　no　bra。　Behind　her；　Piotr　had　on　red　Santa…print　flannel　pants　and　a　felt　Santa　hat。　As　children；　Ruby　and　Vanessa　had　never　celebrated　Christmas。　Their　dad　was　Jewish　and　their　mom　thought　the　holiday　was　too　mercial。　Ruby　was　obviously　determined　to　let　Moxie　have　her　fun　with　Santa。

“Merry　Christmas；　guys！”　Vanessa　exclaimed；　breezing　into　their　cheerful　one…bedroom　apartment。　It　looked　so　domestic；　with　a　silver　garland　wrapped　along　the　molding　of　the　ceiling；　a　pile　of　presents　in　the　corner；　and　a　small　tree　in　the　center　of　the　room。　The　only　relic　from　their　artistic　past　was　the　large　painting　of　a　nude　figure　astride　a　bull　mastiff　dog　wedged　behind　the　couch。

“Watch　this。”　Ruby　grinned　as　she　picked　up　Moxie　and　put　her　next　to　the　pile　of　presents。　Moxie　curiously　pulled　on　a　silver　bow　and　then　tossed　the　present　back　under　the　tree。

“She　doesn’t　really　get　it　yet。”　Ruby　shrugged。　Vanessa　grinned　absently；　her　mind　a　million　miles　away。　What　would　Christmas　be　like　in　Indonesia？　What　if　she　didn’t　make　any　friends　and　her　movie　sucked？　What　if　while　she　was　gone；　Dan　and　Serena　got　engaged？

Which　apocalyptic　scenario　does　not　belong　with　the　others？

“Hello？”　Ruby　snapped　her　fingers　in　front　of　Vanessa’s　face；　breaking　her　out　of　her　reverie。

“I　got　that　Filmmakers　for　Change　grant　to　go　to　Indonesia　for　two　years。　Everything　paid　for。”　Vanessa　grinned　shyly。　Saying　it　made　her　feel　better；　more　sure　of　herself。　The　grant　was　an　honor　most　young　filmmakers　only　dreamed　of。

“Oh　my　God！”　Ruby　squealed；　hugging　her。

“God！”　Moxie　yelled　happily　from　the　floor；　the　silver　bow　clutched　in　her　chubby　hands。　Ruby　rolled　her　eyes。　“Piotr；　Vanessa’s　going　to　Indonesia！”

“Well；　I　mean；　I　got　it；　but—”

“But　you　are　going；”　Piotr　said　in　his　slow；　careful　English　from　the　couch。

“There　goes　our　free　babysitting；”　Ruby　said　mournfully。　“Just　kidding；”　she　added　quickly。

Vanessa　smiled　wanly。　Could　she　really　do　this？　The　fellowship　was　for　two　years；　and　while　theoretically　she　could　visit　home；　she　couldn’t　imagine　a　trip　back　to　the　U。S。　would　be　cheap。　And　two　years　was　sort　of　a　long　time。　Moxie　would　be　talking　in　full　sentences　by　then。　What　if　she　didn’t　even　remember　Vanessa？

“Should　I　go？”　she　asked　in　a　small　voice　she　didn’t　quite　recognize　as　her　own。

Ruby　pursed　her　lips　together　as　she　sat　down　next　to　Piotr。　“Well；　I　met　Piotr　when　I　left　for　that　SugarDaddy　foreign　tour。　I　was　scared　too；　but　it　all　worked　out　so　totally　well。”

“Same　for　me；”　Piotr　said　in　his　still　heavily　accented　English。　“I　came　to　the　U。S。　because　I　fell　in　love。”

“Like　that’s　the　only　reason？　You　also　said　you　couldn’t　wait　to　try　New　York　City　pizza。”　Ruby　shot　Piotr　a　skeptical　look。　“Vanessa；　you’re　twenty…one。　You　need　to　get　out　and　see　the　world！”　Ruby　said　in　her　big…sister　voice。

Vanessa　nodded　slowly。　She’d　lived　in　New　York　for　the　past　seven　years　of　her　life。　A　change　would　be　good。　But　all　she　could　think　about　was　how　far　Indonesia　was　from　Iowa…。

Here　we　go　again。

on　the　street　where　b　lives

Blair　surveyed　the　brightly　colored　wooden　block　tower　she’d　built　in　the　center　of　Yale’s　nursery　and　nodded　in　satisfaction。　The　Waldorf…Rose　family　had　always　opened　presents　first　thing　in　the　morning；　and　right　now　Tyler　was　in　his　room；　setting　up　a　bunch　of　DJ　equipment　he’d　gotten；　Aaron　had　taken　the　train　to　Scarsdale　to　visit　his　mom　and　friends　from　high　school；　Cyrus　and　Eleanor　were　grossly　feeding　each　other　eggs　at　the　breakfast　table；　and　Blair　was　happy　to　be　hanging　out　with　Yale。

“Yale；　over　here！”　she　cajoled。　Her　sister　sat　in　the　corner；　setting　up　her　stuffed　animals　in　an　elaborate　pile。　She　had　determined　that　none　of　the　other　stuffed　toys　liked　the　giraffe；　so　she’d　relegated　it　to　the　far　corner　of　the　room。

It　starts　early。

Blair’s　cell　buzzed；　skittering　on　the　hardwood　floor。　She　glanced　down　at　the　display。　Chuck。　His　flight　had　probably　just　landed；　and　Blair　couldn’t　wait　to　see　him。

“Hello？”　she　asked。

“I　want　to　talk！”　Yale　demanded；　reaching　for　the　phone。

“No；”　Blair　snapped；　yanking　the　phone　from　Yale’s　little　hand。　“Hey；”　she　said　sweetly　as　she　settled　into　the　pink　glider　by　the　dormer　window　in　the　corner。

“Merry　Christmas；　gorgeous；”　Chuck　said。

“Are　you　back？”　Blair　asked　eagerly。　After　so　much　time　apart；　she　was　looking　forward　to　an　uninterrupted　month　together。

“I’m　at　the　Village　apartment；”　Chuck　said；　referring　to　the　Cornelia　Street　one…bedroom　his　parents　had　bought　him　for　his　twenty…first　birthday。　He’d　barely　lived　in　it　at　all；　since　he　was　at　Oxford　all　year　and　they’d　spent　most　of　last　summer　in　the　south　of　France。　“Can　you　e　over？　There’s　something　I　want　you　to　see；”　he　added　mysteriously。

“Yale；　go　find　Tyler；”　Blair　manded；　leaving　the　nursery　and　heading　next　door　to　the　guest　room　where　she’d　been　staying。　“See　you　soon；”　she　said　into　the　phone　before　hanging　up。

Once　Blair　emerged　showered；　shaved；　and　wearing　a　black　silk　Theory　high…necked　silk　dress　that　was　just　the　right　bination　of　nice　and　naughty；　she　took　the　elevator　to　the　lobby　and　had　the　doorman　catch　one　of　the　many　empty　cabs　that　was　sailing　down　Central　Park　West。

The　city　looked　beautiful；　like　the　front　of　a　holiday　card。　Snow　was　beginning　to　fall；　but　the　sun　was　shining　brightly　and　reflecting　the　light　off　all　of　the　Midtown　skyscrapers。　Blair　sighed　happily。　She　loved　New　York　in　the　winter。　Anyone　could　love　the　city　in　the　summer；　when　cafés　set　up　tables　outside　and　you　could　spend　hours　sitting　on　the　steps　of　the　Met　drinking　iced　coffees。　But　in　the　winter；　you　had　to　seek　out　the　things　that　made　New　York　magical：　steak　frites　at　Le　Refuge；　cuddling　into　a　warm　Searle　peacoat；　your　hand　intertwined　with　an　adorable　boy’s。

“Thanks；”　Blair　said　when　the　cab　turned　off　Sixth　Avenue　and　onto　Cornelia　Street。　Cornelia　was　Blair’s　middle　name。　It　felt　like　destiny。

She　stood　in　front　of　the　five…story　brick　building　and　pressed　buzzer　number　two；　stamping　her　feet　against　the　cold。　Chuck　buzzed　her　in　and　she　quickly　ran　up　the　steps；　surprised　to　see　him　standing　in　front　of　the　black　apartment　door。

“Hi！”　Blair　threw　her　arms　around　his　broad　shoulders。　He　wore　a　pair　of　khakis　and　a　dark　blue　button…down；　and　his　hair　was　a　little　longer　than　it　had　been　at　Thanksgiving。

“Merry　Christmas；”　Chuck　breathed。　He　kissed　her　and　Blair　eagerly　kissed　him　back。　“Your　present’s　inside。　It’s　a　surprise；”　he　breathed　into　her　ear。　It　was　then　that　she　realized　Chuck　was　tying　a　blindfold　over　her　eyes。

Now　that’s　what　I　call　a　Christmas　present。

Blair　readjusted　the　blindfold　so　it　wouldn’t　flatten　her　hair。　Chuck　placed　his　hands　on　her　shoulders　and　directed　her　inside。　Blair　heard　the　pop　of　a　champagne　cork。　Was　that　the　surprise？

“You　can　take　it　off。”

Blair　reached　up　and　swept　the　blindfold；　which　was　actually　one　of　Chuck’s　flamingo　pink　ties；　off　her　forehead。　She　blinked　in　surprise。　Before；　the　one…bedroom　apartment　had　been　decorated　in　blacks　and　grays；　with　leather　couches　and　ottomans　and　chrome　tables　and　silver　lighting　fixtures。　Now；　it　was　decorated　in　shades　of　pewter　and　lavender；　the　walls　painted