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the　wordVogue　printed　on　it；　and　her　brown　hair　was　cut　in　a　short　bob　with　thick；　
bronze…highlighted　bangs。　She　continued　to　type。Note：　Ask　Jed　where　the　film　came　from。　

Vanessa　considered　nudging　her　gently　and　saying；　？I　made　it；？　but　she　decided　it　would　be　more　
fun　to　stay　quiet　and　see　what　happened。　Maybe　someone　would　detest　the　film　and　make　a　big　
stink　about　it　and　Vanessa　would　bee　known　as　the　infamous　filmmaker　whose　bitterly　honest　
portrayal　of　New　York　had　been　a　real　downer　at　Fashion　Week。　She　wondered　how　Dan　was　
doing　at　the　Better　Than　Naked　show。　She　imagined　him　asking　that　hot　new　Brazilian　
super…model？Anike；　or　whatever　her　name　was？for　a　light　without　even　knowing　who　she　was。　
That　was　the　thing　Vanessa　most　loved　about　Dan；　his　divine　innocence。　

The　film　came　to　the　part　where　she？d　filmed　two　old　men　wearing　matching　red…and…black　plaid　
wool　jackets　and　black　wool　caps　playing　chess　in　Washington　Square　Park。　One　guy？s　head　
bobbed　against　his　chest；　his　burning　cigar　perched　precariously　on　his　sagging　lower　lip　as　he　
began　to　fall　asleep。　The　other　guy　snapped　his　fingers　to　make　sure　his　partner　was　asleep　before　
moving　the　chess　pieces　around　and　nudging　his　sleeping　friend　awake　again。　

Inside　Highway　1　the　sounds　of　the　storm　faded　and　boisterous　big…band　music　began　to　play。　A　
giant　cardboard　boat　was　hauled　onto　the　stage　by　muscular　male　models　pulling　thick　white　ropes　
and　wearing　only　simple　navy　blue　briefs。　The　boat　came　to　a　stop　and　the　gangplank　was　lowered。　
Out　came　the　models；　two　at　a　time？there　must　have　been　a　hundred　of　them；　and　how　had　they　all　
fit　into　that　boat？？all　dressed　in　navy　blue　satin　bra…and…panty　sets；　with　white　fish…net　
over…the…knee　stockings；　white　elbow…length　gloves　and　white　suede　over…the…knee　boots。　After　
marching　down　the　gangplank　with　military…style　efficiency　they　began　a　plicated　dance　that　
looked　like　a　cross　between　air　traffic　control　and　water　ballet。　Suddenly　the　neat　rows　of　
gesticulating　models　parted　to　reveal　a　dapper　dude　with　curly；　shoulder…length　red　hair；　wearing　a　
white　three…piece　suit；　carrying　a　jewel…encrusted　gold　cane；　andtap…dancing　。　

　No　joke。　

Red　curls　bouncing；　he　tap…danced　right　up　to　the　end　of　the　runway；　stopped　on　a　dime；　and　
began　to　applaud　the　audience。　Behind　him　the　models　stood　on　one　leg；　with　the　other　knee　
raised　high；　like　flamingos；　applauding；　too。　Then　the　music　stopped　and　the　audience　went　wild。　

The　redhead　had　to　be　Jedediah　Angel；　Vanessa　decided；　and　he　was　standing　directly　in　front　of　
her。　He　took　a　deep　bow；　looking　a　bit　like　the　Wizard　of　Oz　in　his　tight　white　suit。　Suddenly　he　
pointed　at　her　and　began　to　whoop　and　clap；　motioning　for　her　to　stand　up。　Vanessa　shook　her　
head；　alarmed；　but　Jedediah　Angel　kept　on　beckoning　to　her。　？Stand　up；　baby！　Standup　！？　

The　crowd　was　going　crazy　now。　They　didn？t　even　know　who　the　hell　Vanessa　was；　but　if　
Jedediah　Angel　wanted　her　to　bow；　she　must　besomebody　。　Giving　in；　Vanessa　stood　up；　her　face　
burning　with　embarrassment　and　her　shoulders　shaking　in　an　uncharacteristically　nervous　fit　of　the　
giggles　as　she　bowed　her　head　to　acknowledge　their　applause。　


She　could　already　hear　Ken　Mogul　whispering　in　her　ear；　？Get　used　to　it　baby；　you？ve　rocked　
their　world！？　And　even　though　itwas　kind　of　cool　to　have　so　many　people　acting　like　they　
worshipped　her；　she　couldn？t　wait　to　trade　stories　with　Dan　about　what　a　farce　the　whole　thing　
was。　

Unless　of　course　he？d　already　eloped　to　the　south　of　France　with　a　hot　nineteen…year…old　
Brazilian　supermodel。　

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ABC　Amber　LIT　Converter　v2。02　
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Disclaimer：　All　the　real　names　of　places；　people；　and　events　have　been　altered　or　abbreviated　to　
protect　the　innocent。　Namely；　me。　

　hey　people！　

Let　it　snow！　

There　are　fourteen　inches　on　the　ground　so　far　and　here　I　am；　snowed　in　at　the　hottest；　most　
exclusive　Fashion　Week　after…party　ever；　with　my　all…time　favorite　fashion　designer；　hundreds　of　
gorgeous　models　and　hunk…o…licious　actors；　the　most　discerning　fashion　magazine　editors　in　the　
business；　and　five　of　fashion？s　most　avant…garde　photographers。　I　honestly　don？t　care　if　the　whole　
city　shuts　down　because　of　the　snow。　I　never　want　to　leave！　

　Sightings　

Bwaiting　for　her　date　in　the　corner　of　that　romantic　little　bar　in　the　new　boutique　hotel　on　Perry　
Street。S　signing　autographs　at　theLes　Best　after…party　atCr？me　on　Forty…third。C　at　the　same　party；　
surrounded　by　younger　male　models；　also　signing　autographs？who　is　he　pretending　to　be？N　
escorting　our　favorite　Connecticut　heiress　home　to　her　Greenwich　mansion　in　her　limo。J　and　her　
new　best　friend　dashing　through　the　snow　to　collect　booty　from　Blockbuster　and　Hunan　Wok　on　
Broadway　near　J？s　house？sounds　like　a　party。D　being　swarmed　by　models　at　theBetter　Than　
Naked　after…party　at　theHarrison　Street　Club　。　Were　they　just　bumming　cigarettes　or　did　they　all　
actually　read　his　poem？V　at　theJedediah　Angel　after…party　atHighway　1　；　pretending　to　flirt　with　
everyone　in　that　delightfully　banal　way　of　hers。　

I　just　hope　everyone　is　as　ecstatic　as　I　am　about　being　stuck　where　they　are　until　the　weather　
clears。　Remember；　nothing　warms　you　up　faster　than　another　person？s　body　heat。　

Oops；　someone？s　taking　my　photograph　for　the　Style　section　this　weekend；　and　my　lips　are　in　


serious　need　of　some　shine。　Gotta　fly！　

You　know　you　love　me。　

　gossip　girl　

just　like　that　scene　intitanic　

？So　how　e　Dan　didn？t　invite　you？？　Elise　asked　as　she　rolled　a　steamed　dumpling　around　in　a　
puddle　of　soy　sauce。　

To　weather　the　snowstorm；　Elise　and　Jenny　had　gathered　a　feast　of　Chinese　food　and　Oreos　and　
videos　they？d　never　heard　of；　since　everything　else　at　Blockbuster　had　been　rented　out。　Now　they　
were　watching　the　New　York　Fashion　Week　coverage　on　the　Metro　Channel　in　the　living　room　of　
Jenny？s　sprawling；　ramshackle　Upper　West　Side　apartment。　Bizarrely　enough；　the　camera　had　just　
panned　over　the　audience　at　the　Better　Than　Naked　show；　zooming　in　on　Dan　for　a　moment　as　he　
scribbled　away　furiously　in　his　stupid　black　notebook。　

？Because　I？m　his　little　sister；？　Jenny　answered；　stunned　that　she？d　actually　just　seen　her　
brother？s　sallow；　sideburned　face　live　on　TV。　She？d　known　Dan　was　going　to　the　show；　but　she　
hadn？t　even　bothered　to　ask　if　she　could　acpany　him。　He　was　so　obsessed　with　being　Mr。　
I？m…The…Next…Keats　that　he　barely　even　noticed　her　existence　anymore。　

The　camera　shifted　to　the　Les　Best　tent　in　Bryant　Park；　where　Serena　van　der　Woodsen　strutted　
down　the　runway　wearing　a　cropped　white　baby　tee　with　I　LOVEAARONprinted　on　it；　her　gray　
Constance　Billard　School　uniform　skirt；　a　red　wool　cape；　and　Les　Best　ankle　boots。　It　looked　like　
she　was　supposed　to　be　a　sexy　version　of　Little　Red　Riding　Hood　or　something。　

Not　that　anyone　wouldever　pay　money　for　a　school　uniform。　

？Hey；　isn？t　that　our　peer　group　leader？　Serena　van　der　Woodsen？？　Elise　pointed　out。　

Jenny　stuffed　an　entire　Oreo　into　her　mouth　and　nodded；　her　cheeks　bulging。　It　was　Serena　all　
right。　Looking　as　perfect　as　ever。　

？Quick；　change　the　channel！　There？s　no　way　I　can　eat　anything　while　I？m　looking　at　those　legs；？　
Elise　squealed；　tossing　a　beaded　velvet　throw　pillow　at　the　television。　

Jenny　giggled　and　turned　off　the　TV　altogether。　She　picked　up　her　I　LOVENY　mug　of　Coke；　
glancing　warily　at　the　feast　spread　out　on　the　old　steamer　trunk　that　served　as　a　coffee　table。　The　
apartment　was　so　filthy；　she　worried　that　at　any　moment　a　disgusting　lobster…sized　cockroach　


would　drop　out　of　the　crumbling　plaster　in　the　ceiling；　right　into　her　cold　sesame　noodles。　She　
noticed　Elise　hadn？t　actually　ingested　any　food　yet。　？You　don？t　have　a　problem　eating　in　front　of　
me；　do　you？？　Jenny　picked　up　a　pair　of　chopsticks　and　twirled　them　around　in　the　cardboard　
container　of　noodles。　？I　promise　I　won？t　even　look　at　you。？　

Elise　picked　up　her　dumpling　with　her　fingers　and　bit　it　in　half。　？That？s　just　in　the　lunchroom　at　
school；？　she　said　with　her　mouth　full。　？I　can？t　eat　with　all　those　skinny　girls　looking　at　my　fat。？　

？You？re　not　fat；？　Jenny　responded；　even　though　being　around　Elise　actually　gave　her　an　appetite　
because　she　felt　so　tiny　in　parison。　Still；　it　was　kind　of　a　relief　to　see　that　Elise　didn？t　have　a　
real　eating　disorder；　she　was　just　insecure。　

That　was　the　thing　about　making　a　new　friend？you　were　never　quite　sure　if　you　totallyknew　them　
or　not。　

？Did　you　paint　that？？　Elise　asked；　pointing　to　the　oil　portrait　Jenny　had　painted　of　her　father；　
which　was　hanging　over　the　mantel。　Rufus　was　wearing　a　white　V…neck　undershirt　with　cigarette　
burns　in　it；　and　he　hadn？t　shaved　in　days。　His　wiry　gray　hair　stuck　out　in　all　directions；　and　his　
hazel　eyes　were　wild　with　caffeine…induced　excitement　and　from　doing　too　much　acid　in　the　
sixties。　It　was　a　pretty　accurate　portrait。　

？Yup。？　Jenny　wound　more　noodles　around　her　chopsticks。　She　hadn？t　painted　anything　since　the　
portraits　she？d　done　of　Nate　in　December。　She？d　painted　his　face　in　every　style　she？d　studied。　
There　was　Picasso　Nate；　Monet　Nate；　Dali　Nate；　Warhol　Nate；　and　Pollock　Nate。　But　when　Nate　
had　broken　her　heart；　she？d　burned　them　all　in　a　metal　trash　can　out　on　West　Ninety…ninth　Street。　
It　had　been　a　moment　of　catharsis？their　love　turned　to　ashes。　Actually；　now　that　she　thought　about　
it；　she　should　have　saved　the　ashes　and　made　something　with　them？a　self…portrait　or　a　calming　
seascape？but　it　was　too　late　now。　

Elise　reached　for　yet　another　dumpling。　？Will　you　paint　me？？　she　asked。　

Jenny　glanced　out　the　smudged　living　room　window。　The　snow　was　so　thick；　it　looked　like　
someone　was　exploding　giant　down　pillows　in　the　sky。　？Sure；？　she　said；　standing　up　to　get　her　
paints。　It　wasn？t　like　she　had　anything　better　to　do。　

？Cool！？　Elise　tossed　the　remains　of　the　dumpling　back　into　the　container　and　unbuttoned　her　
too…tight　Seven　jeans。　Then　she　pulled　her　pink　Gap　turtleneck　over　her　head；　taking　her　pull…on　
crop…top　bra　with　it。　When　Jenny　returned　with　a　clean　white　canvas　and　her　palette　of　oils；　Elise　
was　sprawled　out　on　the　couch；　her　wiry　blonde　hair　dusting　her　freckled　shoulders；　pletely　
naked。　

？What　are　you　doing？？　Jenny　demanded；　mystified。　

Elise　stretched　her　arms　over　her　head　and　settled　her　head　back　against　the　throw　pillows。　？I？ve　


always　wanted　to　pose　nude；？　she　said。　？You　know；　like　that　scene　in　the　movieTitanic　。？　

Jenny　sat　down　cross…legged　on　the　floor　opposite　her　and　wetted　her　brush。　？Whatever；？　she　
remarked；　frowning　at　her　eager；　voluptuous　subject。　

Maybe　her　new　friend　was　less　insecure　than　she？d　first　thought。　And　a　lot　crazier；　too。　

some　like　it　hot　

Blair　sat　at　a　corner　table　in　the　downstairs　bar　of　Red；　the　new　cozily　romantic　Perry　Street　
boutique　hotel；　drinking　Absolut　and　tonic　and　trying　not　to　watch　the　coverage　of　Fashion　Week　
on　the　Metro　Channel。　It　seemed　like　every　time　she　looked　up　they　were　showing　the　same　clip　
of　Serena　prancing　around　the　runway　at　the　Les　Best　show　wearing　her　school　uniform　and　that　
stupid　I　LOVEAARONT…shirt。　Even　in　the　bar；　she　could　hear　people　murmuring；　？Who　is　she？？　
and　？Who？s　Aaron？？　It　was　enough　to　drive　Blair　right　up　the　red　velvet？covered　wall。　

？I　wore　my　Yale　tie　this　time；？　Owen　announced　with　a　sly　grin　as　he　strode　through　the　door　
wearing　a　tan　Burberry　trench　coat　and　a　black　wool　fedora　hat　that　made　him　look　even　more　
manly　and　dashing　than　when　she？d　first　met　him。　He　slid　into　the　red　velvet？covered　bench　next　
to　Blair　and　kissed　her　on　the　cheek。　His　face　was　damp　and　cold　from　the　storm；　and　the　feel　of　it　
against　her　face　made　her　whole　body　tingle。　？Hello；　gorgeous。？　

Instantly　Blair　forgot　all　about　Serena。　She　was　with　a　sexy　older　man　who　called　
her　？gorgeous。？So　there。　

？Hi。？　She　twisted　her　ruby　ring　around　and　around　on　her　ring　finger。　？I？m　sorry　I　dragged　you　
out　on　a　night　like　this。　I　was　just　so　。　。　。bored　。？　

The　cocktail　waitress　came　over　and　Owen　ordered　a　Bombay　Sapphire　martini　straight　up。　He　
pulled　a　pa