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？I　don？t　know。？　Nate　flipped　the　page　and　pointed　to　a　picture　of　Blair　on　the　steps　of　the　Met　
with　Serena；　their　arms　wrapped　around　each　other；　tongues　sticking　out　at　the　camera。　？Things　
seemed　so　much　easier　back　then。　No　college。　No　worries。　No　responsibilities。？　？Like　taking　
theCharlotte　for　a　month　without　asking？？　she　said；　grinning。　？It　must？ve　been　awesome。？　She　
cleared　her　throat　and　rolled　over　onto　her　back；　her　hands　on　her　belly。　Her　stomach　dipped　and　
rolled　in　anticipation　and　nervousness。　She　wasn？t　sure　she　really　wanted　to　know　the　answer　to　
that　question；　but　at　the　same　time；　she　couldn？t　seem　to　stop　herself　from　asking。　

？It　was。？　Nate　closed　the　photo　album　and　looked　at　her。　？Being　out　there　with　no　parents；　
nothing　to　worry　about；　just　me　and　Blair　。　。　。　it　was　probably　the　best　month　of　my　life；？　he　said；　
although　he　was　really　thinking　about　how　kissable　Serena？s　lips　always　looked？the　way　they　
were　always　a　little　parted；　with　just　a　trace　of　a　smile。　

Serena？s　heart　plummeted　in　her　chest。　She　wanted　so　badly　to　have　been　the　one　out　there　with　
him；　totally　alone；　nothing　around　but　the　endless　expanse　of　blue　water　and　their　half…naked　
bodies。　She　wondered　for　the　millionth　time　if　he　had　found　her　letter　and　read　it。　Somehow；　she　
doubted　he　had。　If　he？d　found　the　letter；　he　would？ve　said　something；　right？　But　there　was　
probably　no　point　in　asking　anyway。　He　loved　Blair。　There　was　no　question。　She　felt　dizzy　at　the　
thought。　How　could　she　go　up　to　Yale　with　them　in　a　week　and　watch　as　Nate　and　Blair　stared　into　
each　other？s　eyes　for　four　long　years？　She　didn？t　think　she？d　be　able　to　stand　it。　

Nate？s　phone　rang；　breaking　the　peaceful　silence。　He　grabbed　it　from　the　floor　and　as　he　reached　
out；　his　T…shirt　rode　up　a　little；　exposing　the　smooth；　tanned　skin　of　his　back。　Serena　swallowed　
and　tried　to　look　away。　Nate　pushed　the　speakerphone　button　and　a　gravelly；　decidedly　grumbly　
voice　was　released　into　the　air。　

？Nate？　Is　that　you？？　

Nate　looked　over　at　Serena　in　confusion；　wrinkling　his　forehead。　

？Uh；　yeah；？　he　said　cautiously。　？This　is　Nate。？　

？Well；　this　is　Chips；？　the　voice　growled　menacingly。　？Meet　me　at　the　New　York　Yacht　Club　in　
half　an　hour。？　There　was　a　click；　then　the　sound　of　a　dial　tone。　

？Fuck；？　Nate　mumbled　under　his　breath。　After　a　moment　he　jumped　to　his　feet　and　slid　them　into　
a　beat…up　pair　of　black　and　white　Marc　Jacobs　Vans。　


？I？m　sorry；？　he　said；　putting　his　cell　phone　into　his　pocket。　？But　I？ve　gotta　go。？　？Sounds　like　
you？ve　got　a　hot　date。？　She　winked　and　waited　for　his　sly　eback；　but　he　only　gave　her　a　
halfhearted　smile。　Serena　searched　his　eyes；　trying　to　figure　out　what　was　going　on。　Nate　turned　
and　started　digging　through　one　of　his　desk　drawers；　pulling　out　some　rolling　papers；　a　stick　of　
deodorant；　and　some　random　unicorn　stickers　Blair　had　probably　given　him　in；　like；　seventh　grade　
or　something。　？But　before　you　go；　I　just　wanted　to　tell　you　that　they？re　pushing　up　the　release　date　
forBreakfast　at　Fred？s。　。　。　。　？　？Seriously？？　He　turned　to　look　at　her　again；　producing　his　iPod　from　
the　drawer　and　throwing　it　into　his　navy　blue　Jack　Spade　canvas　backpack　along　with　his　keys。　？I　
guess　you？ll　be　a　real　movie　star　soon。？　He　grinned；　closing　his　backpack。　？Sure　you？ll　still　have　
time　for　us　little　people？？　？I？ll　always　have　time　for　you；　Natie。？　Her　voice　was　small　but　serious。　
As　she　held　his　green…eyed　gaze；　Nate　leaned　over　and　kissed　her　softly　on　the　forehead；　his　lips　
lingering　for　a　moment　on　her　skin。　He　stroked　the　top　of　her　head　briefly　with　one　hand　and　then　
walked　quickly　to　the　door。　Before　the　door　swung　shut；　he　looked　back　at　her　？a　kind　of　wordless　
question　swimming　in　his　green　eyes。　And　then　he　was　gone。　

Serena　sat　there　in　a　daze；　one　hand　tracing　the　path　of　his　lips　on　her　face。　Her　forehead　felt　
strange　and　electric？like　her　skin　had　just　been　branded　by　the　soft　pressure　of　Nate？s　mouth。　She　
could　still　feel　the　silky　warmth　of　his　lips；　and　all　she　wanted　was　to　chase　him　out　the　door　and　
kiss　him　back。　

But　not　on　the　forehead　this　time。　

b　stakes　out　her　best　frenemies　

？Hot　dogs！　Get　your　hot　dogs　here！？　

Blair　perched　on　a　fire　hydrant　directly　across　from　the　Archibald？s　town　house　on　
Eighty…second　Street。　A　Sabrett　hot　dog　cart　was　parked　on　the　sidewalk　a　few　feet　from　her；　and　
the　salty　aroma　of　hot　dogs；　sauerkraut；　and　hot；　golden　pretzels　was　making　her　feel　slightly　
insane；　and　very　hungry。　Her　stomach　growled　and　she　rolled　her　eyes　in　annoyance。　Even　though　
she　was　totally　starving；　she　wasn？t　going　anywhere　or　eating　anything？especially　not　a　greasy；　
disease…filled　hot　dog？until　Serena　came　out　and　explained　to　her　what　the　hell　was　going　on　and　
why　she　was　hanging　out　at　Nate？s　house。　Rumbling　stomach　or　not；　right　now　the　only　kind　of　
dog　Blair　was　interested　in　was　her　lying；　cheating　boyfriend。　

　Woof！　

She　crossed　her　arms　over　her　chest；　her　forest　green　canvas　Kate　Spade　tote　resting　in　her　lap。　
She　pushed　her　tinted　blue　Prada　aviators　up　on　her　forehead　and　watched　as　the　heavy　wooden　
door　to　the　town　house　swung　open。　Nate　came　tumbling　out；　shoving　his　white　iPod　headphones　
in　his　ears　and　practically　running　down　the　street。　Where　was　he　off　to　in　such　a　hurry？　Maybe　


the　？paint　fumes？　had　gone　to　his　head。　Moments　later；　Serena　appeared；　looking　right；　then　left；　
her　black　leather　tote　swinging　from　her　shoulder；　blond　hair　gleaming　in　the　sunlight。　Aha！　

Blair　watched　as　Serena　proceeded　to　practicallytiptoe　down　the　street　toward　the　park。　As　she　
reached　the　corner；　she　stopped　suddenly；　pulling　her　cell　from　her　bag。　Who　was　she　calling　now？　
Did　she　need　to　call　Nate　only　seconds　after　parting　to　plan　their　next　rendezvous？　Blair　leaned　
forward　on　the　bench；　trying　to　make　out　Serena？s　expression　as　she　held　the　phone　to　her　head。

　Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep。　

Blair　jumped　as　her　cell　began　to　vibrate　and　ring　from　the　confines　of　her　tote。　She　grabbed　it　
and　looked　at　the　caller…ID　screen。Well；　of　course。　

？Hello？？she　answered　shrilly；　unable　to　keep　the　iciness　from　her　voice。　

？Hey。？　Serena？s　voice　was　bright　and　casual。　？What　are　you　doing？？　？Hey。　Nothing。　
Contemplating　killing　my　family。？And　you？　Blair　added　silently。　

Serena　laughed。　？What？d　they　do　this　time？？　

？I？ll　tell　you　later。？　Blair　sighed。　She　watched　as　Serena　stopped　walking　and　held　onto　a　
streetlight；　kicking　one　foot　against　the　metal　base。　

Oh…kaaay　。　。　。　

？So；　where　are　you　right　now？？　Serena　asked；　her　voice　questioning。　Blair　watched　as　she　leaned　
against　the　pole；　crossing　her　legs　at　the　ankles。　

？You　know；　just　out　and　about。？　Blair　kept　her　voice　neutral。　

An　ambulance　rushed　down　the　street；　siren　wailing；　and　the　sound　echoed　through　both　
phones。　？That？s　so　weird？it　sounds　like　you？re　right　next　to　me。？　Serena　sounded　confused　。　。　。　
and　maybe　the　slightest　bit　nervous？　

？It？s　funny　you　should　say　that。？　Blair？s　tone　was　icy　as　a　January　frost。　？Because　I？m　looking　
rightat　you。？　She　watched　as　Serena　whirled　around；　checking　the　crowd　frantically。　？Oh！？　she　
exclaimed；　spotting　her。　？I？ll　be　right　over。？　Now　this　should　be　a　fun　reunion！　

Ten　minutes　later；　they　sat　side　by　side　on　the　cool　stone　steps　of　the　Met；　smoking　cigarettes；　
iced　vanilla　lattes　sweating　in　their　hands。　The　sun　beat　down　on　their　heads　and　shoulders　like　a　
reprimand；　and　brightly　colored　banners　hung　from　the　entrance　to　the　museum；　advertising　the　
latest　Picasso　and　Van　Gogh　touring　collections。　

？So；？　Blair？s　voice　was　cool　and　measured；　？what　were　you　doing　over　at　Nate？s？？　She　glanced　


at　Serena？s　low…cut　black　cotton　Tory　Burch　tank　top。　？Because　it　certainly　doesn？t　look　like　there　
was　anypainting　going　on。？　？Painting？　What　are　you　talking　about？？　Serena　knew　it　must　be　
weird　for　Blair　to　have　caught　her　and　Nate　hanging　out　without　her；　but　the　iciness　in　Blair？s　
voice　felt　totally　wrong；　especiallyhere。　The　two　of　them　had　met　on　these　steps　countless　times。　
They？d　drunk　hundreds　of　coffees　and　smoked　probably　thousands　of　cigarettes　here。　Usually　they　
would　gossip　wildly　until　the　sky　grew　dark　and　it　was　time　to　head　home；　linking　their　arms　and　
walking　down　Fifth　

Avenue。　But　now　it　didn？t　feel　calming　or　familiar　to　have　Blair　sitting　next　to　her？it　felttense　。　
Serena　shifted　on　the　hard　stone；　trying　unsuccessfully　to　get　fortable。　

？Nate　told　me　earlier　he　couldn？t　hang　out　because　they　were　painting　his　room　and　the　fumes　
were　too　much　to　bear。　But　clearlyyou　were　able　to　handle　them；？　Blair　accused；　looking　straight　
ahead。　

？Listen；　I　think　you？ve　got　things　all　wrong。　Please　don？t　freak　out　before　I　tell　you　what？s　
really　going　on。？　Serena　snuck　a　glance　at　Blair；　whose　eyes　were　hidden　behind　enormous　blue　
aviators。　Sheseemed　mad；　but　Serena　couldn？t　really　be　sure；　since　cranky　was　kind　of　Blair？s　
natural　state。　She　hadn？t　wanted　to　ruin　the　surprise　of　the　slide　show；　but　she　knew　Blair　would　
never　trust　her　again　if　she　didn？t　explain　what　she　and　Nate　had　been　doing。　

Um；　maybe　she　should？ve　thought　about　thatbefore　writing　her　best　friend？s　boyfriend　a　
three…page　love　letter？　

？So　you　know　the　party　at　the　Met？？　Serena　took　a　gulp　of　iced　latte　and　looked　out　at　the　street　
below。　A　tired…looking　mother　was　attempting　to　strap　her　writhing　toddler　into　a　stroller　while　her　
husband　looked　on　helplessly。　？Well；　your　mom　asked　me　and　Nate　to　go　through　all　these　photos　
to　make　a　slide　show　for　the　party：　a　？This　Is　Your　Life；　Blair　Waldorf？　kind　of　thing。　That？s　why　
we　were　hanging　out　today。？　Serena　reached　into　her　tote　and　rummaged　around　at　the　
bottom。　？She　asked　us　to　keep　it　a　secret；　but　clearly　you？re　too　much　of　a　sleuth　for　us；？　she　
joked；　hoping　to　lighten　the　mood。　

？Seriously？？　Blair　perked　up。　She　hadn？t　even　considered　the　possibility　that　Serena　and　Nate　
might　be　getting　together　to　do　something　nice　for　her。　And　she　loved　surprises；　as　long　as　she　
knew　about　them。　

That　makes　sense。　

？Uh…huh；？　Serena　replied　excitedly。　？Look　atthese。　？　She　pulled　some　old　photos　from　her　bag　
and　handed　them　to　Blair。　

Blair　stared　down　at　the　picture　of　Nate　sleeping；　the　words　BUCK　NAKED　scrawled　across　his　
adolescent；　scrawny　chest　in　black　magic　marker。　She？d　written　the　？BUCK？　part；　and　Serena？s　
wavy　script　had　filled　in　the　？NAKED？？they　hadn？t　even　talked　about　it；　they？d　just　had　the　exact　


same　thought　at　the　exact　same　time。　Blair　laughed；　running　her　fingers　over　the　slick　surface　of　
the　photograph。　？I　can？t　believe　you　found　this！　What　were　we；　like；　thirteen？　We　were　so　
freaking　immature！？　They　looked　so　innocent；　lying　there　with　Nate　between　them。　Blair　smiled；　
suddenly　feeling　nostalgic。　The　Three　Musketeers？that？s　what　their　parents　had　called　them　since　
grade　school；　a　cluster　of　adults　shaking　their　heads　and　smiling　as　Serena　and　Blair　tackled　Nate　
in　their　various　living　rooms；　sitting　on　top　of　him　until　he　screamed。　

Sounds　like　a　dream　e　true。　

？Oh　my　God。？　Blair　turned　to　face　Serena　and　pushed　her　sunglasses　up　on　top　of　her　head。　
Some　girl？s　art　portfolio　nearly　slapped　Blair　as　the　girl　hurried　up　the　stone　steps。　？Remember　in　
seventh　grade　when　we　all　drank　a　bottle　of　champagne；　and　Nate　had　to　go　out　to　dinner　with　his　
dad　afterwards；　totally　tipsy？？　Serena　laughed　as　she　stuffed　the　photos　back　into　her　bag。　？How　
could　I　forget？　And　remember　how　we　went　back　to　your　house　and　tried　to　make　brownies？　
Except　we　were　both　so　uncoordinated　we　spilled　the　batter　all　over　the　floor；　and　then　Kitty　
Minky　ate　it　and　threw　up　in　your　mom？s　closet？all　over　her　new　pair　of　Fendi　boots？　I？ve　never　
seen　your　mom　that　mad　before。？　Blair　laughed；　moving　slightly　closer　to　Serena　on　the　steps。　Her　
anger　was　slowly　dissolving。　If　Serena　would　just　confess　about　that　fucking　love　letter；　Blair　
could　just　forgive　her　and　they　could　move　on。　With　her　family　turning　on　her；　she　really　needed　
her　best　friend。　

？Can　I　bum　a　smoke？？　Blair　eyed　Serena？s　slouchy　black　leather　Gucci　bag。　Serena　nodded　and　
pulled　out　her　pack　o