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？I　cut　my　hair　to　look　like　Audrey　Hepburn；？　Blair　admitted。　She　turned　on　her　side　and　rested　
her　head　against　his　manly　chest　in　its　crisp　white　shirt。　？We　could　be　Audrey　and　Cary。？　

Owen　kissed　her　hair　and　squeezed　her　hand　gently。　？Here？s　looking　at　you；　kid；？　he　murmured。　
With　his　free　hand　he　began　to　rub　her　back　and　Blair　could　feel　his　gold　wedding　band　knock　
against　the　bumps　in　her　spine。　

Outside　the　snow　was　falling　harder　than　ever。　Blair　watched　it　fall；　unable　to　relax。　It　was　sort　of　
impossible　not　to　think　about　Owen？s　genius　astronaut　wife；　sitting　home　alone　as　she　wrote　out　
impossible　astronomical　equations　on　a　blackboard；　all　the　while　wondering　about　her　husband。　
Even　if　Blair　and　Owen　did　look　exactly　like　Audrey　Hepburn　and　Cary　Grant；　Blair　was　pretty　


sure　the　nice　girls　Audrey　played　didn？t　lose　their　virginities　in　hotel　rooms　with　married　older　
men；　no　matter　how　deep　the　snow　got。　Why　not　end　the　film　here；　while　it　was　still　good？　

Owen　was　breathing　deeply　now　and　had　stopped　rubbing　her　back。　As　soon　as　Blair　was　sure　he　
was　asleep；　she？d　slip　out　the　door　and　ask　the　concierge　downstairs　to　call　her　a　car　home。　After　
all；　she　had　a　reputation　to　maintain。　And　it　wasn？t　like　she　was　ditching　him。　

The　best　way　to　keep　a　guy　intrigued　is　to　disappear。　

some　girls　have　all　the　fun　

？Snowball　fight！？　Serena　cried　at　the　top　of　her　lungs　to　no　one　in　particular。　She？d　been　dancing　
with　a　pack　of　tipsy；　half…naked　Les　Best　models　and　her　blond　mane　was　matted　to　the　back　of　
her　neck；　creating　a　sort　of　unidreadlock；　beach　hair　effect。　She？d　been　relieved　of　her　I　
LOVEAARONT…shirt　for　a　cool　four　thousand　bucks　by　her　old　friend　Guy　Reed　from　the　Les　
Best　boutique　and　was　now　wearing　only　a　hot　pink　La　Perla　demibra　that　looked　like　a　bikini　top。　

？Snow　volleyball！？　a　guy　shouted　back　even　louder。　He　was　dressed　in　a　black　ski　suit　from　the　
Les　Best　ski　line；　black　fur　boots；　and　a　pair　of　black　fur　earmuffs　clung　to　his　ears。　He　pointed　out　
the　huge　bar　windows　to　where　a　volleyball　net　had　been　set　up　outside　on　the　snowy　sidewalk。　

In　a　matter　of　seconds　the　entire　roomful　of　writhing；　sweaty　bodies　attacked　the　coat　closet；　
pulling　on　the　nearest　Fendi　sheepskin　or　goose…down　Gucci　parka　to　protect　their　skinny　bodies　
from　the　cold　before　they　dashed　outside　to　frolic　in　the　snow。　

Serena　giggled　as　she　slipped　into　a　beige　fleece…lined　down　parka　with　a　beaver　fur？trimmed　
hood　that　would　have　fit　a　giant　Eskimo。　In　the　last　two　hours　she？d　drunk　more　champagne　than　
she　had　on　New　Year？s　Eve　and　she　felt　giddy　and　warm　all　over。　Before　she　could　even　zip　up　
her　coat；　someone　grabbed　her　hand　and　pulled　her　out　the　door　with　him。　

Outside　the　snow　had　enveloped　everything　and　the　streetlights　glowed　gold　on　the　downy　white　
blanket。　Without　the　constant　honk　and　roar　of　traffic；　there　was　a　pleasant　calm　about　the　city；　as　
if　it　had　finally　gone　to　sleep。　Shrieking　in　merriment；　the　gang　of　models；　stylists；　and　
photographers　plowed　through　the　thigh…deep　drifts　and　began　spiking　balls　over　the　volleyball　net　
with　total　disregard　for　the　peaceful　scene。　

？Isn？t　it　beautiful？？　Serena　breathed。　She　wished　Aaron　were　there　so　she　could　kiss　him　and　tell　
him　how　much　she　loved　him　while　stuffing　a　great　big　snowball　down　the　back　of　his　shirt。　But　
he　wasn？t？the　party　pooper？so　she　would　just　have　to　make　do。　She　turned　to　the　guy　holding　her　
hand。　It　was　the　guy　in　the　black　ski　suit；　and　he　was　tall；　blond；　and　gorgeous。　Everyone　there　


was。　She　let　go　of　his　hand　and　scooped　up　a　handful　of　snow。　？e　here；？　she　beckoned　him。　？I　
want　to　tell　you　a　secret。？　

He　took　a　step　toward　her；　his　breath　filling　the　air　with　steamy　clouds。　？What？？　

Serena　stood　on　tiptoe　and　wrapped　her　arms　around　his　neck。　Then　she　kissed　his　cold；　smooth　
cheek。　？I　love　Aaron！？　she　squealed；　stuffing　the　snowball　down　the　back　of　his　black　ski　suit　and　
tearing　off　through　the　snow　to　join　the　others。　

The　guy　chased　after　her；　grabbing　her　legs　and　knocking　her　down　just　as　they　reached　the　
volleyball　net。　The　game　was　halted　as　the　crowd　of　gorgeous　revelers　began　to　hurl　snowballs　at　
the　frolicking　pair；　stopping　now　and　then　to　light　cigarettes　or　reapply　their　lip　gloss　before　
joining　in　again。　Serena　howled　with　laughter　as　snow　went　down　the　back　of　her　jeans。　That　was　
the　great　thing　about　being　so　beautiful　and　so　carefree。　It　didn？t　matter　who　you　were　with　or　
what　silly　thing　you　were　doing？you　always　had　a　fabulous　time。　In　fact；　you　didn？t　even　have　to　
be　in　love　with　just　one　person　when　the　world　was　already　so　in　love　with　you。　

experimentation　may　be　overrated　

Jenny　and　Elise　were　still　kissing　when　Rufus　called。

　Ring；　ring！　

？Shit！？　Jenny　threw　Elise　off　of　her；　leaped　off　the　couch；　and　sprinted　into　the　kitchen。　It　wasn？t　
like　anyone　could　see　them；　but　she　still　felt　like　she？d　been　caught　doing　something　incredibly　
embarrassing。　

？Everything　okay？？　Rufus　growled　cheerfully　into　the　phone。　？I？m　stuck　down　here　with　Max　
and　Lyle　and　the　rest　of　these　losers。　The　snow？s　a　bitch。？　Rufus　spent　most　Friday　nights　down　in　
the　East　Village　at　an　old　bar　with　his　munist　writer　friends。　He　sounded　jolly；　the　way　he　
always　sounded　when　he？d　had　two　or　three　glasses　of　red　wine。　？You　girls　staying　out　of　
trouble？？　

　Jenny　blushed。　？Uh…huh。？　

？Well；　tell　that　friend　of　yours　to　stay　put。　No　one　in　their　right　mind　should　try　to　get　anywhere　
tonight。？　

Jenny　nodded。　？Okay。？　She？d　been　kind　of　hoping　Elise　would　go　home　so　she　could　take　a　hot　
bath　and　collect　her　thoughts；　but　she　couldn？t　very　well　ask　her　to　leave　when　there　were　four　
feet　of　snow　on　the　ground　and　it　was　still　ing　down。　？I？ll　see　you　later；　Daddy；？　she　said；　


almost　wishing　she　could　tell　him　how　confused　she　was　about　what　had　just　happened。　She　might　
have　been　a　budding　artist　but　that　didn？t　mean　she　had　to　experimentall　the　time。　

Jenny　hung　up　the　phone。　？So　what　should　we　do　now？？　Elise　asked；　wandering　into　the　kitchen　
with　her　jeans　still　unbuttoned。　She　separated　an　Oreo　and　licked　the　cream　out　of　the　inside。　

Elise　seemed　to　be　hinting　that　she　was　ready　to　move　on　to　the　next　chapter　inThis　Is　My　Body　
for　Women　；　but　noway　was　Jenny　going　to　find　out　what　that　entailed。　She　faked　a　yawn。　？Dad　
says　he？s　ing　home　soon；？　she　lied。　？I？m　kind　of　tired　anyway。？　She　glanced　out　the　kitchen　
window。　Everything　was　white　and　the　snow　was　still　falling。　It　looked　like　the　end　of　the　world。　

？e　on。？　She　led　the　way　to　her　bedroom。　？Dad　wants　you　to　stay　over。？　All　she　had　was　a　
single　bed　that　she　was　definitely　not　sharing　with　Elise。　Not　when　Elise　was　so　。　。　。horny　and　
unpredictable。　？You　can　sleep　on　my　bed　and　I？ll　sleep　on　the　sofa。？　

？Okay；？　Elise　replied　dubiously。　？I　better　call　my　mom。　You？re　not　mad　at　me　are　you？？　

？Mad？？　Jenny　repeated　casually。　？Why　would　I　be　mad？？　She　pulled　open　her　dresser　drawer　
and　handed　Elise　an　oversized　T…shirt　and　a　pair　of　sweatpants。　？Sleep　in　these；？　she　directed。　
Otherwise　Elise　might　decide　to　sleep　in　the　nude；　which　would　be　very　uncool；　especially　if　
Rufus　came　home　later　that　night　and　barged　into　Jenny？s　room　to　give　a　senseless　sermon　on　the　
meaning　of　life；　as　he　was　sometimes　known　to　do　when　he？d　drunk　too　much　wine。　She　pulled　
out　some　pajamas　for　herself　and　closed　the　drawer。　？I？m　going　to　take　a　shower。　You　can　use　my　
cell　phone　if　you　want　to　call　your　mom。？　

Elise　took　the　clothes　and　gazed　up　at　the　paintings　on　Jenny？s　wall。　Over　the　bed　was　one　of　the　
Humphreys？　cat；　Marx；　dozing　on　the　stove；　painted　in　thick　oils。　Marx　was　a　deep　turquoise　color；　
and　the　stove　was　red。　Near　the　window　was　a　self…portrait　of　Jenny？s　feet；　with　her　toenails　
painted　orange　and　the　bones　in　her　feet　painted　blue。　

？You？re　really　good。？　Elise　slipped　her　jeans　down　over　her　knees。　？Don？t　you　want　to　finish　my　
portrait？？　

Jenny　grabbed　her　pink　terrycloth　bathrobe　from　the　hook　on　the　back　of　her　door。　？Not　tonight；？　
she　responded；　quickly　heading　down　the　hall　to　the　bathroom。　She？d　take　a　long；　hot　shower；　and　
hopefully　by　the　time　she　came　out　Elise　would　be　asleep。　Tomorrow　they　would　eat　their　Eggos　
and　go　sledding　in　the　park　and　goof　around　like　normal　girls。　No　more　experimentation。　As　far　as　
Jenny　was　concerned；　experimentation　was　pletely　overrated。　

nfacilitates　recovery　of　messed…up　orphan　heiress　


？Hold　the　reins　in　one　hand　and　the　whip　in　the　other；？　Georgie　instructed　Nate。　They　were　up　in　
Georgie？s　attic；　but　instead　of　hanging　out　inside　the　gorgeous　antique　carriage　and　smoking　dope　
and　kissing　and　being　mellow；　Georgie　was　acting　all　hyperactive　and　making　Natedrive　the　
carriage。　

The　attic　itself　was　incredible。　It　was　full　of　beautiful　old　things　from　days　gone　by；　but　kept　in　
perfect　order　as　if　at　any　time　someone　was　going　to　carry　them　downstairs　and　put　them　to　use　
again。　The　carriage　was　painted　gold　and　lined　with　purple　velvet；　and　under　the　seat　inside；　in　a　
little　leather　chest；　were　fur　rugs　and　muffs　to　keep　your　hands　warm　while　you　went　out　for　a　ride。　
Best　of　all；　eight　white　carousel　horses　with　white　feather　plumes　affixed　to　real　leather　harnesses　
were　pulling　the　carriage。　

？e　on；　faster；faster　；　giddyap；giddyap　！？　Georgie　shouted　at　the　carousel　horses；　cracking　her　
long　leather　whip　and　bouncing　up　and　down　in　the　red　leather　coachman？s　seat。　

Whoa。　

Nate　sat　back　on　the　seat　beside　her　and　tried　to　light　another　joint；　but　Georgie　was　bouncing　
around　so　much；　it　fell　right　out　of　his　hand。　？Fuck！？　he　cried；　exasperated。　He　leaned　over　the　
side　of　the　carriage　to　see　where　the　joint　had　fallen　on　the　white…painted　wood　floor；　but　the　attic　
was　lit　only　by　a　single　dim　bulb　and　he　couldn？t　see　the　joint　anywhere。　

？That？s　okay。？　Georgie　jumped　down　from　the　carriage。　？e　on；　there？s　something　I　want　to　
show　you。？　

Reluctantly　Nate　left　the　joint　where　it　had　fallen　and　followed　her　to　the　other　side　of　the　attic；　
where　a　bunch　of　antique　wooden　trunks　were　stacked。　？This　is　where　all　my　old　horse　stuff　is　
kept；？　Georgie　explained。　She　opened　the　top　trunk　and　pulled　out　a　handful　of　ribbons　she？d　won　
at　horse　shows。　？I　was　a　really　good　rider。？　She　offered　the　ribbons　to　Nate。　

All　of　them　were　blue；　with　the　name　of　the　petition　

stamped　on　them　in　gold。HAMPTONCLASSICJUNIORHUNTER　

GRANDCHAMPION；　Nate　read。　？Cool；？　he　said　handing　back　the　ribbons。　He　wished　he？d　
found　that　joint。　

？Check　this　out。？　Georgie　pulled　a　large　white　plastic　canister　out　of　the　trunk　and　placed　it　in　
Nate？s　hands。　

The　canister　rattled　as　Nate　turned　it　over。　The　name　of　an　equine　veterinary　practice　was　printed　
on　one　side。Connecticut　Equine　Health。　He　looked　up　at　Georgie　questioningly。　

？They？re　horse　tranquilizers。　I？ve　taken　them　before。　Half　a　pill　is　enough　to　send　you　to　another　


planet；　I　swear。？　

Nate　noticed　that　there　were　tiny　beads　of　sweat　on　her　upper　lip；　which　was　strange；　because　the　
attic　was　unheated　and　he　was　freezing　his　ass　off。　He　shrugged　and　handed　the　canister　back；　
uninterested。　

Georgie　unscrewed　the　top　and　shook　the　giant　white　pills　into　her　sweaty　palm。　？e　on。　This　
time　I？m　taking　a　whole　one。　Or　maybe　we　should　each　take　two　and　see　what　happens。？　Her　dark　
hair　fell　into　her　eyes　and　she　shook　it　away　impatiently　as　she　counted　out　the　pills。　

Nate　stared　at　her；　feeling　frightened　all　of　a　sudden。　He　was　pretty　sure　Georgie　had　taken　some　
kind　of　pill　when　she？d　disappeared　into　her　bathroom　before；　and　she　had　already　been　baked　
before　that；　so　adding　a　horse　tranquilizer　to　the　mix　sounded　like　the　worst　idea　he？d　ever　heard。　
What　was　he　going　to　do　with　a　totally　fucked…up　ODed　girl　in　the　attic　of　a　huge　mansion　in　
Greenwich；　Connecticut；　in　the　middle　of　the　worst　snowstorm　in　New　England　history？　

？I　think　I？ll　pass。？　He　pointed　to　a　little　metal　device　in　the　trunk；　thinking　that　maybe　if　he　
diverted　her　attention；　Georgie　would　forget　all　about　the　pills。　？What？s　that？？　

？A　hoof　pick；？　she　answered　quickly