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He　nodded　his　dreadlocked　head　sympathetically　and　took　another　puff　from　his　herbal　cigarette；　
which　smelled　like　boiled　broccoli　and　Lysol。　？So；　how？s　everybody　been　while　I　was　gone？？　His　
voice　was　muffled　by　Mookie；　who　was　practically　sitting　on　his　face　at　this　point。　？How？s　
Vanessa？？　？Can　you　move　that　disgusting　mutt　so　I　can　see　you？？　Blair　pulled　her　newly　long　hair　
back　into　a　ponytail。　Aaron　shoved　Mookie　off　of　his　chest。　The　dog　whimpered　and　slid　
reluctantly　onto　the　floor。　

？So；　how？s　Vanessa？？　He　asked　again；　sitting　up　and　crossing　his　legs　Indian　style。　？Is　she　
ing　to　the　Met　party？？　？I　think　so。？　Blair　picked　up　a　nail　file　from　the　floor　and　began　
furiously　filing　away　at　her　ring　finger。　？But　she？ll　be　ing　from　her　sister？s　wedding　in　
Brooklyn；　so　she？ll　probably　get　there　late。Why　do　you　care　anyway？？　？Who　said　I　care？？　Aaron　
raised　one　eyebrow　and　grinned　mischievously。　？Maybe　I？m　just　curious。？　True　love　never　lies；　
part　deux？　

summertime；　and　the　living？s　easy　。　。　。　

？Your　lemonade；　Miss　van　der　Woodsen。？　

A　crisp；　British…accented　voice　woke　Serena　from　her　light　slumber。　She　looked　up　to　see　a　
handsome　waiter　leaning　over　her；　a　gleaming　silver　tray　with　a　tall；　frosted　glass　of　lemonade　
balanced　perfectly　on　one　hand。　The　turquoise　water　of　the　SoHo　House　pool　sparkled　behind　him；　
casting　a　tint　of　blue　on　his　entirely　white　uniform。　

Serena　sat　up　in　her　deck　chair；　tying　up　the　straps　of　her　white；　barely　there　Marni　bikini　so　that　
she　wouldn？t　flash　him　by　accident。　


That？s　one　way　to　tip！　

？Thank　you。？　She　smiled；　pushing　her　white　Chanel　sunglasses　to　the　top　of　her　head。　This　was　
the　life。　

？Please　let　me　know　if　you　desire　anything　else；？　the　waiter　offered　with　a　polite　little　bow　
before　leaving。　

Serena　smiled　to　herself　as　she　leaned　back　on　her　pristine　white　deck　chair；　taking　in　the　scene　
around　her。　The　entire　poolside　area　was　furnished　in　white；　with　white　lounge　chairs；　oversize　
white　umbrellas；　and　white　monogrammed　SoHo　

House　towels。　The　stylish　guests　had　taken　it　upon　themselves　to　match　the　scenery；　clad　entirely　
in　white　bikinis；　wraps；　and　linen　pants。　The　pool　was　strikingly　turquoise　against　the　bright　white；　
and　the　tops　of　Manhattan？s　Financial　District　skyscrapers　glittered　in　the　distance。　

She　sighed；　feeling　the　hot　August　sun　warm　every　inch　of　her　smooth　skin。　This　really　was　the　
life。　After　their　press　conference　at　the　Soho　House　on　Tuesday；　Ken　Mogul　had　handed　Serena　
and　Thad　the　jet…black　key　cards　to　the　penthouse　and　let　them　know　the　room　was　rented　for　a　
week。　Since　Thad　had　his　own　apartment　in　the　city；　he？d　told　her　she　could　stay　in　the　room　the　
whole　time　if　she　wanted　to。　Serena　preferred　to　stay　in　her　own　room　at　home？her　parents　were　
hardly　ever　home；　though　they　wouldn？t　exactly　approve　of　her　living　in　a　hotel　room　on　her　
own？but　access　to　the　exclusive；　Meatpacking　District；　members…only　rooftop　pool　came　with　the　
card；　and　she　certainly　wasn？t　going　to　say　no　to　that。　The　only　thing　missing　was　someone　
special　to　enjoy　it　with。　

She　picked　up　her　cell　and　dialed　a　number　she　knew　as　well　as　her　own。　

？Hey　stranger。？　Nate　picked　up　on　the　first　ring；　his　slightly　sleepy　voice　sending　shivers　up　her　
spine。　She　pictured　him　still　lazing　in　bed；　no　shirt　on；　just　waking　up　from　a　dream？about　her；　of　
course。　

？Hey　yourself。？　She　grinned　into　the　phone。　？What　are　you　up　to　right　now？？　

Twenty　minutes　later　Nate　bounded　out　onto　the　deck　of　the　SoHo　House　pool；　his　brown　leather　
flip…flops　thwacking　against　the　stone　tiles；　oblivious　to　the　ogling　female　eyes　that　were　fixed　on　
his　perfect　body。　In　his　green　Billabong　swim　trunks　and　faded　gray　T…shirt；　Nate　was　the　only　
person　on　the　entire　roof　deck　not　wearing　white。　

？Hey。？　He　smiled　widely　as　he　reached　her　deck　chair；　his　golden　brown　hair　falling　into　his　eyes。　
A　shiver　of　nervous　goose　bumps　spread　over　her　skin。　He　sank　down　into　the　chair　beside　
her。　？You　look　。　。　。　fortable。？　？Cheerio；　old　chap；？　Serena　responded　in　a　playful；　mock…British　
accent；　and　held　up　the　black　key　card；　marked　with　only　four　letters？SHPH。　？Soho　House　
Penthouse；？　she　explained　with　a　flirtatious　wink。　


Nate　reached　for　the　card　to　get　a　closer　look；　but　she　playfully　swatted　his　hand　away。　

He　shrugged　and　took　off　his　shirt；　settling　into　the　plush　white　lounge…chair　cushion。　？Your　
British　accent　sounds　faker　than　Madonna？s。？　He　picked　up　her　glass　of　lemonade　and　took　a　long　
swig；　smacking　his　lips　in　satisfaction　as　he　put　the　half…empty　glass　back　down。　

？First　you　insult　my　accent；　and　then　you　drink　my　lemonade？　You？re　in　for　it；　buddy。？　She　
stood　and　grabbed　his　arm；　dragging　him　toward　the　pool。　They　tumbled　over　the　edge　and　hit　the　
water　with　a　loud　splash；　narrowly　missing　an　Elizabeth　Taylor　look…alike　in　a　white　one…piece　
swimsuit　and　matching　head　turban　doing　water　calisthenics　in　the　shallow　end。　Maybe　it　
reallywas　Elizabeth　Taylor。　

？Excuse　me。？　The　woman　scowled；　moving　away　from　Serena　and　Nate　as　they　stood　in　the　
water　dripping　and　panting。　

Serena　took　a　deep　breath　and　plunged　underneath　the　surface　of　the　water。　For　as　long　as　she　
could　remember；　she？d　loved　being　underwater；　the　whole　world　drowned　out；　only　the　sound　of　
gently　rushing　water　in　her　ears。　She　opened　her　eyes；　the　chlorine　stinging　them　slightly；　and　saw　
Nate　underwater　right　in　front　of　her；　his　green　eyes　wide　open　too。　His　hair　was　standing　straight　
up；　and　he　waved　his　hand；　a　liquid　？hello？　escaping　his　lips　with　a　rush　of　bubbles。　

She　giggled；　nearly　choking；　and　suddenly　thought　of　the　games　of　Marco　Polo　she　and　Nate　and　
Blair　had　played　when　they　were　younger。　Nate　would　always　cheat；　shouting　？Marco！？　and　then　
opening　his　eyes　for　a　moment　to　see　where　they　were。　Then　he？d　grab　the　girls　with　huge　
splashing　lunges；　pretending　he？d　just　found　them　by　accident。　Nate　never　seemed　to　care　which　
girl　he　caught；　he？d　just　grab　whomever　was　in　front　of　him　and　held　on。　Serena　closed　her　eyes；　
the　sting　of　the　chlorine　now　too　much　to　bear；　and　shot　up　to　the　surface。　

Nate　sidestroked　into　the　shallow　end　and　hopped　up　onto　the　edge　of　the　pool；　letting　his　legs　
dangle　in　the　water。　Serena　looked　so　peaceful　floating　on　her　back　in　the　calm　water；　her　blond　
hair　forming　a　halo　around　her　head；　an　angelic　smile　on　her　face。Being　with　Serena　was　so　much　
less　stressful　than　being　with　Blair。　Immediately　he　thought　of　his　last；　highly　stressful　interaction　
with　Blair；　whom　he？d　been　avoiding　since　the　day　before　yesterday；　when　she？d　thrown　her　
shoes　at　him。　

Blair　had　left　him　hundreds　of　voice　mails；　but　Nate　thought　he　should　wait　to　speak　with　her　
until　she？d　had　a　little　more　time　to　cool　off。　

Just　not　in　this　particular　pool。　

He　knew　that　Blair　was　angry；　but　he　also　knew　that　she？d　eventually　forgive　him；　just　like　she　
always　did。　He　could　still　visit　her　at　Yale　on　the　weekends。　And　Serena　would　be　here　with　him　in　
New　York。　He？d　always　thought　he？d　have　to　choose　between　the　two　girls；　but　now　it　seemed　he　


could　have　them　both。　That　was　pretty　ballsy；　if　he　did　say　so　himself。　

Serena　opened　one　eye　and　discovered　Nate　staring　at　her。　With　a　rush　of　water；　she　stood　up；　her　
wet　hair　falling　down　her　back　in　a　slick　mass。　Winding　it　around　her　hand；　she　squeezed　the　water　
out　and　then　tied　her　hair　into　a　neat　knot。　Her　swimsuit　straps　had　fallen　down　again；　and　she　
hitched　them　up　before　anything　embarrassing　happened。　

Not　that　it？s　anything　Nate　hasn？t　seen　before。　。　。　。　

？Impressive。？　He　smiled；　kicking　a　little　water　up　at　her　with　one　golden　foot。　？Um；　putting　your　
hair　up　without　a　barrette　or　whatever；？　he　stammered；　turning　pink。　？Not　the　
swimsuit…almost…falling…off　part。　Not　that　I？d　mind　that；？　he　added。　

？Really　now？？　she　hopped　up　on　the　ledge　beside　him；　her　hair　promptly　falling　out　of　its　
not…so…secure　bun　and　draping　messily　over　her　shoulders。　？Because　along　with　that　key　card　
es　a　very　beautiful；　veryempty　hotel　suite。？　She　inched　a　little　closer　to　him　on　the　pool　ledge。　

Nate　grinned；　the　sun　bouncing　off　the　water　and　making　his　green　eyes　glitter　even　more　than　
usual。　He　opened　his　mouth　to　speak　but　was　interrupted　by　a　voice　behind　them。　

？Serena　van　der　Woodsen！？　a　syrupy；　high…pitched　voice　exclaimed。　They　both　turned　to　see　
Bailey　Winter；　all　five　feet　of　the　famous　designer；　dressed　in　a　white　linen　suit；　a　hot　pink　
handkerchief　in　his　pocket　and　an　enormous　pair　of　white　sunglasses　perched　on　his　head。　His　
houseboy；　Stefan；　was　behind　him；　manning　the　leashes　of　Bailey？s　five　pugs。　？You　remember　
Stefan；？　he　chirped　with　a　wave　behind　him。　？And　of　course　you　remember　Azzedine；　Coco；　
Cristobal；　Gianni；　and　Madame　Gres。？　He　tittered；　gesturing　at　the　dogs。　

How　couldanyone　forget？　

？Of　course！？　Serena　jumped　up　and　gave　Bailey　a　damp　hug。　？It？s　so　good　to　see　you！？　she　
exclaimed　affectionately。　

After　Bailey　had　designed　the　costumes　forBreakfast　at　Fred？s；　he？d　invited　Serena　and　Blair　to　
be　live…in　muses　at　his　East　Hampton　summer　home。　Their　stay　had　had　its　share　of　problems；　
mainly　due　to　a　pair　of　skinny　Eastern　European　models　determined　to　make　their　life　there　a　
living　hell。　In　a　horrendous　scene　at　one　of　Bailey？s　famous　parties；　they？d　ruined　his　furniture；　
horrified　the　guests；　and　then　run　out　of　the　party？and　away　from　the　Hamptons？without　so　much　
as　a　goodbye。　Serena　had　felt　so　guilty　for　leaving　on　such　bad　terms　that　she？d　written　Bailey　a　
note　later　on　in　the　summer；　apologizing　for　their　behavior　and　thanking　him　for　their　stay。　He？d　
written　back　saying　that　he　couldn？t　possibly　hold　a　grudge　against　someone　so　lovely　and　
talented；　and　that　she　was　wele　any　time。　

？What　are　you　doing　back　in　the　city？？　She　grabbed　a　white　towel　and　wrapped　it　around　her　
midriff。　


The　little　man　folded　up　his　sunglasses　and　put　them　into　his　pocket。　？The　Hamptons　get　so　dull　
at　the　end　of　the　summer。　All　the　fun？s　here　in　the　city！？　He　waved　his　petite　hands　in　the　air。　？You　
certainly　are　at　the　center　of　all　the　action？I　can？t　believe　my　little　Serena　is　being　a　big；　big　
movie　star！？　He　shrieked　and　grabbed　her　hands。　？I　just　went　to　a　screening　ofBreakfast　at　Fred？s　；　
and　of　course　the　costumes　areto　die　for　；　if　I　do　say　so　myself；　but　you；　my　dear；　are　the　icing　on　
the　German　chocolate　cake！？　he　added；　pinching　Stefan？s　toned　behind；　apropos　of　nothing。　

Liz　Taylor　was　lounging　on　a　deck　chair　a　few　feet　away　with　a　little　white　Chihuahua　curled　at　
her　feet。　She　looked　up　from　her　copy　of　ItalianVogue　；　and　her　dog　jumped　down　to　sniff　
Cristobal？s　butt　curiously。　

That？s　one　way　to　say　hello。　

？Serena　van　der　Woodsen；　fromBreakfast　at　Fred？s　？？　the　woman　demanded　loudly　in　an　
imperious　Spanish　accent。　So　she　wasn？t　Liz　Taylor　after　all。　？I　thought　you　looked　familiar。　I　
absolutelyadored　that　movie。　。　。　。？　A　crowd　began　to　form　around　Serena。　Suddenly　it　hit　Nate　that　
she　was　starring　in　a　big…time　film；　and　that　she　was　about　to　bee　really　famous；　a　movie　star。　
He　wondered　if　from　now　on　it　was　going　to　be　like　this　all　the　time；　getting　stopped　on　the　street；　
mobbed　by　fans；　paparazzi　following　them　everywhere。　Serena　smiled　shyly　as　she　autographed　
someone？s　towel。　He　could　already　see　the　gossip　columns；　wondering　why　the　acplished　
young　starlet　was　hanging　out　with　a　loser　still　stuck　in　high　school。　Not　that　he　cared　what　other　
people　thought；　but　still。　It　would　be　。　。　。　weird。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair；　wishing　he　had　
a　joint　with　him；　and　then　remembered　that　he　did？in　the　pocket　of　his　now…soaking　shorts。　Oops。　

He　picked　up　his　towel　and　started　to　dry　off。　Then　he　heard　his　phone？s　muffled　ring　and　found　
it　underneath　his　T…shirt。　He　flipped　it　open；　grateful　for　something　to　do　besides　watching　Serena　
and　feeling　dumb　and　useless。　？Hello？？　？Long　time　no　see。　What　are　you　up　to　right　now？？　
Blair？s　voice　surprised　him。　She　sounded　downright　chipper；　and　not　angry　at　all。　

？Hey　。　。　。　；？　he　mumbled；　wandering　to　the　very　edge　of　the　roof。　The　ci