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Black　Satin　（yes；　I　have　it　and　you　don？t）　areso　totally　distracting。　See　you　at　the　party。　

You　know　you　love　me。　

　gossip　girl　


the　gift　that　keeps　on　giving　

Blair　glided　through　the　arched　entry　to　the　Met？s　newly　reopened　Greek　and　Roman　exhibition　
space　and　glanced　around　the　enormous　limestone　room。　Corinthian　columns　propped　up　the　
forty…foot　ceiling；　where　a　domed　skylight　opened　up　to　the　night　sky。　Ancient　war　scenes　
emerged　from　gold…veined　marble　walls；　and　dozens　of　marble　pillars　propped　up　the　very　
anatomically　correct　Greek　statues。　Waiters　in　gold　togas　with　silver　trays　wove　expertly　through　
the　throngs　of　superbly　dressed　revelers。　

The　party　was　a　who？s　who　of　Blair？s　life。　Standing　in　little　clusters　were　the　elegantly　dressed　
parents　of　almost　everyone　she　had　grown　up　with；　delicately　sipping　champagne　and　smiling　
politely　while　gossiping　furiously　under　their　breath。　Serena？s　parents　looked　as　tall；　blond；　and　
poised　as　ever；　her　mother；　Lillian　van　der　Woodsen；　looking　statuesque　in　a　stunning　silver　Oscar　
de　la　Renta　strapless　gown　that　even　most　girls　Blair？s　age　couldn？t　pull　off。　Chatting　with　Mrs。　
van　der　Woodsen　was　Misty　Bass；　Chuck？s　mother；　her　hair　piled　high　on　her　head　like　a　sad　
imitation　of　Marie　Antoinette。　

Let　them　eat　cake！　

Next　to　Misty　was　her　husband；　Bartholomew；　trying　to　get　a　peep　down　Isabel？s　mother；　Titi　
Coates？s　low…cut　black　chiffon　Badgley　Mischka　dress。　

Like　father；　like　son　。　。　。　

Mr。　Coates；　Isabel？s　middle…aged　movie…star　has…been　father；　was　in　a　crisp　black　tuxedo；　
looking　even　more　distinguished　than　usual　standing　next　to　the　bulbous；　sweaty　Cyrus　Rose；　who　
was　patting　his　pot　belly　and　grabbing　fistfuls　of　appetizers　from　every　platter　within　reach。　Blair　
shuddered　in　disgust　but　was　forted　by　the　fact　that　she？d　be　seeing　her　real　father　tonight？if　
he　ever　made　it。　He？d　called　from　the　Charles　de　Gaulle　airport　in　Paris　eight　hours　ago　to　tell　
them　they？d　missed　their　flight　because　Ping　was　having　a　bit　of　fit；　projectile　vomiting　all　over　
the　place；　and　that　they　might　only　catch　the　tail　end　of　the　party。　They？d　have　to　drop　the　twins　
off　with　the　Waldorf　Roses？　nanny　and　then　hurry　over。　Well；　at　least　baby　Yale　could　teach　the　
little　brats　some　manners。　

The　classical　Greek　statues　crowding　the　walls　made　the　party　seem　even　more　packed　than　it　
already　was。　Blair　bent　down　to　fix　the　strap　of　her　cerulean　patent…leather　Manolos。　The　shoes　
were　a　perfect　match　to　her　night…sky　blue　Viktor　&　Rolf　strapless　party　frock；　and　they　gleamed　
like　they？d　been　candy…coated；　glistening　in　the　candlelight。　Something　moved　behind　her　and　
Blair　whipped　her　head　around；　losing　her　balance　and　nearly　toppling　onto　the　cool　marble　floor。　
Did　one　of　those　Adonises　justmove　？　The　chiseled　statue　gave　her　a　wink　as　he　changed　from　one　
classical　pose　to　another。　Blair　looked　closer　and　realized　that　mixed　in　with　the　classical　Greek　


and　Roman　sculptures　were　models　covered　in　chalky　clay…colored　paint。　

？Blair…Bear！？　A　voice　broke　into　Blair？s　thoughts　and　she　looked　up　to　see　her　father；　looking　
dapper　and　handsome　in　a　jet…black　Gucci　tux。　His　sandy　brown　hair　was　spiked　up　like　a　kid？s；　
and　the　distinguished…looking　laugh　lines　at　the　corners　of　his　bright　blue　eyes　were　the　only　signs　
of　his　real　age。　

？Daddy！？　She　ran　to　her　father？s　outstretched　arms　and　instantly　felt　forted。　？I　was　sure　you　
weren？t　ing。？　She　buried　her　head　in　his　crisp　white　shirt。　

？I　wouldn？t　dream　of　missing　your　big　night；　Blair…Bear。　And　you？re　going　to　be　even　happier　
when　I　give　you　your　gift。？　Her　father　pulled　back　and　stroked　her　cheek。　He　was　wearing　his　
emerald　green　cuff　links　that　Blair　had　always　thought　were　the　same　color　as　Nate？s　eyes。　His　
tanned　fingers　were　manicured；　and　his　hand　smelled　of　some　new；　powdery　cologne。　

Johnson　&　Johnson？s　Eau　de　Bebe　Ass？　

？What　gift？？　Blair　liked　the　sound　of　that。　？You　already　got　me　a　car　for　graduation。？　She　looked　
up　at　him　expectantly。　What　could　be　better　than　a　car？　A　plane？　A　horse？　Her　own　New　York　
apartment？　Her　own　New　Haven　town　house？　

Way　to　think　small。　

Her　father　leaned　in　to　whisper　in　her　ear。　？I　talked　to　the　dean　of　admissions　at　Yale。？　He　paused；　
his　bronzed　face　crinkled　into　his　trademark　case…winning　grin。　

Blair　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck。　？Oh；　Daddy！？　She　hugged　him　tightly。　She　didn？t　even　
need　to　hear　the　rest。　？Thank　you；　thank　you；　thank　you；　thank　you！？　

A　handsome；　tall；　tuxedoed　man　approached；　streaks　of　gray　in　his　dark；　fashionably　long；　
bed…back　hair。　？Giles！？　Harold　Waldorf　called　out　to　him。　？Finally；　you　get　to　meet　my　little　
angel；　Blair！？？Enchant？！？　Giles　exclaimed；　grabbing　Blair？s　hand　and　kissing　it。　His　teeth　were　
blindingly　white　and　his　chocolate…brown　eyes　warm。　？She　ismagnifique　！？　he　exclaimed　in　a　
heavy　French　accent。　

Blair　blushed　and　gave　him　a　little　curtsy。　She　was　finally　starting　to　feel　like　the　belle　of　the　ball。　
About　time。　

Didn？t　shejust　arrive？　

？Blair；　dear；　we　have　to　check　on　the　babies。？　Her　father　gave　her　a　quick　hug。　？We？ll　be　back　
soon　though。　I　think　you？ve　got　some　good　news　to　share　with　someone　anyway。？　Giles　kissed　
Blair　first　on　one　cheek；　and　then　the　other。　


？Au　revoir；　jolie　mademoiselle；？he　bid　her　graciously。　

Blair　grinned；　not　even　caring　that　her　father　had　just　arrived　and　was　now　leaving　again。　Nate　
was　back　into　Yale；　handsome　French　men　were　kissing　her　hands；　and　this　washer　party。　All　was　
right　with　the　world。　？Say　hi　to　Ping　and　Pong　for　me；？　she　called　after　them；　feeling　particularly　
generous。　

After　her　father　and　Giles　left；　Blair　scanned　the　room　for　Nate。　Instead；　she　found　Serena　
standing　by　the　bar；　her　elegant　silver　Valentino　silk　cocktail　dress　shining　in　the　light；　thin　silver　
bands　cinching　her　tiny　waist。　Blair　walked　toward　her；　her　cobalt　blue　Viktor　&　Rolf　gown　with　
its　intricately　beaded　bodice　trailing　silkily　behind　her　like　an　inky　pool　of　water。　She　smiled　
giddily　to　herself。　Serena　might　look　stunning；　but　next　year　she？d　be　stuck　in　the　dirty　old　city　
while　

Blair　and　Nate　were　miles　away　in　their　cozy　New　Haven　love　nest；　feeding　each　other　
cornichons　and　oysters　and　all　sorts　of　other　cute；　couple…y　foods。　Her　father　might　not　have　given　
her　a　town　house　yet；　but　her　birthday　was　ing　up　in　November。　。　。　。　

Well；　her　mom　did　buy　her　an　island。　

？Hey。？　Blair　kissed　the　air　near　Serena？s　cheeks。　

　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。　

As　soon　as　she　sauntered　away；　Rain　and　Nicki　quickly　filled　the　spot　next　to　Serena。　Rain　held　a　
cocktail　napkin　in　her　hand；　and　Nicki　held　a　pen　as　they　awkwardly　tripped　over　themselves　to　
get　Serena？s　attention。　So　that　was　it？they　wanted　Serena？s　autograph。　To　Blair？s　surprise；　she　
didn？t　even　feel　jealous。　People　were　always　drooling　over　Serena；　and　they　always　would　be。　
What　did　she　care？　She　had　everything　she？d　ever　wanted。　

And　by　？everything；？　she　meant　a　living；　breathing　person；　right？　

Blair　was　about　to　check　the　neighboring　European　sculpture　room　when　she　spotted　Nate　out　of　
the　corner　of　her　eye。　He　was　leaning　against　a　tall　Romanesque　column　near　the　dance　floor；　
looking　glum。　Jeremy　Scott　Tomp…kinson；　Nate？s　skinny；　sideburned　friend　from　school　and　
Anthony　Avuldsen；　looking　incredibly　blond　and　athletic；　were　periodically　punching　him　in　the　
arm；　clearly　trying　to　pry　him　away　from　the　column　and　get　him　to　dance　or　drink　or　at　least　
smile。　Nate　just　waved　his　hand　at　them；　so　they　shuffled　off　to　the　dance　floor　alone；　dancing　like　
idiots　three　feet　apart　from　each　other。　Well；　if　the　sight　of　his　stoner　friends　jerking　their　arms　and　
legs　spastically　on　the　dance　floor　couldn？t　cheer　up　Nate；　Blair　knew　something　that　would。　She　
pushed　through　the　dancing　crowd；　practically　trampling　over　Laura　Salmon；　dressed　in　a　
salmon…colored　silk　Dior　dress　that　sagged　in　the　chest　and　was　way　too　old　for　her。　

Salmon　in　salmon。　How　appropriate。　

Blair　bounded　up　to　Nate；　throwing　her　arms　around　him。　？Guess　what？？　she　demanded；　her　blue　


eyes　sparkling。　？I　have　really　big　news。？　Nate　smiled　at　her　wordlessly；　but　his　eyes　were　a　million　
miles　away。　She　plowed　ahead　anyway；　grabbing　his　black　bow　tie　and　forcing　him　to　pay　
attention。　？So　I　told　my　dad　about　your　little　problem；　and　he　talked　to　Yale；　andI　got　you　in　！？　She　
threw　her　arms　tightly　around　him　again　and　whispered　in　his　ear。　？Now　we　can　be　together　at　
Yale？just　like　we　planned！？　Her　whole　body　shook　with　excitement；　but　Nate　just　stood　there；　
stock…still。　He？d　hardly　even　hugged　her　back。　She　pulled　back　and　looked　into　his　stunning　green　
eyes；　searching　them　questioningly。　

？Wow。？　Nate　shook　his　head　slowly。　？I　don？t　know　what　to　say。？　He　blinked；　trying　to　process　
what　she？d　just　said。　Go　to　Yale；　for　real？　Not　just　take　the　train　to　New　Haven　twice　a　day　and　
pretend　he　went　there？　？Blair　。　。　。　you？re　amazing。？　Now　that　was　more　like　it。　？I　know。？　Blair　
was　about　to　give　Nate　a　kiss　he？d　never　forget　when　she　spotted　her　mother　approaching　from　
across　the　room；　wearing　an　ivory…colored　floor…length　Versace　gown　encrusted　with　millions　of　
tiny　gold　sequins；　and　Gucci　stilettos　that　looked　like　they　were　made　of　twenty…four…carat　gold　
ropes。　Ever　since　Eleanor　had　lost　all　her　baby　weight；　she？d　been　wearing　tack