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diverted　her　attention；　Georgie　would　forget　all　about　the　pills。　？What？s　that？？　

？A　hoof　pick；？　she　answered　quickly；　holding　out　the　pills。　？The　groom　uses　it　to　clean　out　the　
horses？　hooves。　e　on；　take　one。？　

Nate　shook　his　head；　his　mind　fumbling　for　a　way　to　get　both　of　them　out　of　the　realm　of　horse　
pills　and　into　safer　territory。　

？Georgie；？　he　said　looking　into　her　dark　brown　eyes　with　his　sparkling　emerald　green　ones　and　
grabbing　her　wrist　hard　so　that　the　horse　pills　scattered　on　the　floor。　He　swept　her　up　in　his　arms　
and　kissed　her　dark　red　lips。　？Let？s　go　back　downstairs；　okay？？　

Georgie　let　her　head　fall　heavily　against　his　chest。　？Okay；？　she　demurred。　Her　dark；　silky　hair　
trailed　almost　to　the　floor　as　Nate　carried　her　down　the　long　hall　from　the　attic　stairs　to　her　
bedroom。　He　pulled　back　the　plush　white　duvet　and　set　her　down　on　the　bed；　but　she　clung　to　him。

　？Don？t　leave　me　alone。？　

Nate　wasn？t　planning　to。　Who　knew　what　she？d　do　if　he　did。　

？I？ll　be　back　in　a　sec；？　he　said；　extracting　himself。　He　walked　across　the　room　and　into　the　
bathroom；　leaving　the　door　ajar　so　he　could　catch　Georgie　before　she　did　anything　dumb。　Lined　up　
on　the　counter　next　to　the　bathroom　sink　were　three　little　bottles　of　prescription　pills。　Nate　
recognized　the　name　Percoset　because　he？d　taken　the　painkiller　when　he？d　had　his　wisdom　teeth　
removed；　but　he　didn？t　recognize　the　names　of　the　other　two。　None　of　the　three　prescriptions　were　
made　out　to　Georgina　Spark。　


He　washed　his　hands　and　then　went　back　into　the　bedroom。　Georgie　lay　flat　on　her　stomach　in　
her　white　cotton　underwear；　snoring　softly　and　looking　much　more　innocent　than　she　deserved　to。　
Nate　sat　down　beside　her　and　watched　her　for　a　while。　The　bones　in　her　vertebrae　stuck　out　from　
her　back；　moving　up　and　down　as　she　breathed。　He　wondered　if　he　should　call　someone；　or　if　it　
was　normal　for　Georgie　to　just　take　a　bunch　of　pills　and　then　go　to　sleep。　

In　the　Breakaway　meeting　that　day　Jackie　had　said　that　if　they　were　ever　struggling　and　needed　a　
hand　to　reach　out　to；　they　could　call　her。　Nate　pulled　his　cell　phone　out　of　his　pocket　and　searched　
for　Jackie？s　number；　which　she？d　insisted　everyone　program　in　during　the　meeting。　Nate　had　
thought　there　was　no　way　he？d　ever　need　it。　He　stood　up　and　went　back　into　the　bathroom　as　the　
phone　began　to　ring。　

It　rang　for　a　long　time　before　Jackie　finally　answered　groggily。　？Yes？？　

Nate　looked　at　his　watch；　realizing　too　late　that　it　was　two　o？clock　in　the　morning。　？Hey；？　he　said　
slowly。　？This　is　Nate　Archibald　from　your　group　that　met　today？？　he　explained；　wishing　he　
sounded　less　stoned。　？I？m；　um；　at　that　girl　Georgie？s　house？　I　just　found　out　she　took　a　whole　
bunch　of　pills　and　I　think　she？s　fine？she？s　sleeping？but　I　just　wanted　to　ask　you；　you　know；　
should　I　do　something？？　

？Nate；？　Jackie　said　urgently；　suddenly　sounding　like　she？d　just　drunk　ten　cups　of　coffee；　？I　want　
you　to　read　me　the　labels　on　the　pills；　and；　if　you　can；　tell　me　how　many　she　took。？　

Nate　picked　up　the　bottles　and　read　out　the　names。　He　didn？t　mention　the　horse　pills；　but　he　was　
pretty　sure　Georgie　hadn？t　ingested　any　of　those。　？I　don？t　know　how　many；？　he　said　helplessly。　？I　
wasn？t　watching　when　she　took　them。？　

？And　you？re　sure　she？s　asleep？　Her　breathing　is　regular？　She？s　not　vomiting　or　choking？？　

Nate　rushed　into　the　bedroom　feeling　more　alarmed　than　ever；　but　Georgie　was　still　sleeping　
peacefully；　her　ribs　expanding　and　contracting　gently　with　each　breath；　her　dark　hair　fanned　out　on　
the　pillow　around　her　head；　looking　exactly　like　a　sleeping　Snow　White。　？Yeah；？　he　said；　
relieved。　？She？s　sleeping。？　

？Okay。　I　want　you　to　stay　there　and　watch　her。　Just　make　sure　she　doesn？t　start　to　vomit；　and　if　
she　does；　sit　her　up；　lean　her　over　your　shoulder　and　pat　her　on　the　back　so　she　doesn？t　choke　on　it。　
I　know　it　sounds　unpleasant；　but　you　want　her　to　be　well。　You　want　to　facilitate　her　recovery。？　

？Okay；？　Nate　answered　shakily。　He　glanced　at　Georgie　again；　praying　she　wouldn？t　do　anything　
weird。　

？I？m　going　to　send　a　van　over　from　the　clinic。　It？s　going　to　be　a　while　because　the　roads　are　
basically　closed；　but　I　don？t　think　you？re　too　far　away？they？ll　make　it　there　eventually。　Are　you　
prepared　to　stay　strong；　Nate？　Remember；　you？re　our　hero　tonight；　our　Prince　Charming；　our　


knight　in　shining　armor。？　

Nate　walked　over　to　the　bedroom　window　and　peered　out。　There　was　so　much　snow；　the　circular　
gravel　driveway　in　front　of　the　mansion　was　indistinguishable　from　the　vast　lawns　beyond。　He　
didn？t　feel　like　Prince　Charming？he　felt　helpless　and　trapped；　like　Rapunzel。　Hadn？t　he　been　in　
enough　trouble　already？　？Okay；？　he　told　Jackie；　trying　to　sound　more　confident　than　he　felt。　？I？ll　
see　you　soon。？　He　hung　up　his　phone　and　stuffed　it　into　his　back　pocket。　

Of　course　our　Prince　Charming　was　pletely　unaware　that　he　might　have　just　saved　Snow　
White？s　life。　But　it？s　the　reluctant　heroes　of　fairy　tales　that　we　fall　in　love　with　over　and　over；　
despite　their　flaws。　

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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！　

Do　we　really　need　to　look　like　Little　Red　Riding　Hood？　

Every　Fashion　Week　I　find　myself　asking；　Why　are　all　the　models　in　the　shows　wearing　space　
suits；　or　dressed　like　Hansel　and　Gretel；　or　basically　naked；　when　I　wouldn？t　be　caught　dead　
looking　like　that　on　the　street？　Then　I　have　to　remind　myself　that　the　shows　are　really　a　spectacle　
and　that　the　whole　point　of　fashion　is　to　entertain　and　spark　the　imagination　and　make　the　world　a　
better　place。　Fashion　is　art；　and　art　imitates　life；　there？s　no　reason　to　it。　The　more　I　think　about　it；　
the　more　I　can？t　wait　to　dress　up　like　Little　Red　Riding　Hood　myself　and　prowl　around　looking　for　
wolves。　Time　to　shop　for　a　red　cape！　

What　happened　to　all　that　snow？！　

How　e　whenever　there？s　a　serious　snowstorm　in　the　city；　it　only　takes　a　few　hours　for　the　
snow　to　melt　off　the　sidewalks　and　then　everything　is　back　to　normal　again；　just　in　time　for　school　
on　Monday？　I　think　it？s　a　plot　to　ensure　that　we　all　have　to　go　to　school　on　Valentine？s　Day；　which　
should　totally　be　a　national　no…school　holiday。　I　think　I？m　going　to　take　the　day　off　anyway。　How　
else　am　I　going　to　enjoy　the　roses；　chocolates；　and　jewelry　I？m　going　to　get　from　my　secret　
admirers？

　Your　e…mail　


Q：？　？　Dear　GG；　
I？m　bummed　that　this　girl　I　like　maybe　doesn？t　like　me　in　the　same　way。　Your　site　cheers　me　up。　
？blue　
A：？　？　Hey　blue；　
How　do　you　know　she　doesn？t　like　you？　Have　you　asked　her？　Remember；　though；　I？m　always　


here　for　you　when　that　girl　lets　you　down。　

　？GG　

Q：？　？　dear　gg；　

you　are　hot。　will　you　be　my　valentine？

　？oskar　

A：？　？　Dear　oskar；　

Thank　you　for　the　pliment。　Unfortunately　I？m　already　spoken　for；　and　I　have　an　extremely　

hot　evening　planned。　But　if　you　still　want　to　shower　me　with　gifts；　I　definitely　won？t　plain。　

　？GG　

　Sightings　

Bleaving　a　downtown　hotel　alone　Friday　late　night　and　taking　thesubway　uptown；　of　all　
shockingly　pedestrian　things。　Guess　that？s　one　place　she　thought　she　wouldn？t　be　
spotted。Wrong　。S　；Les　Best？s　Chief　d？Affairs；　andLes　Best　himself；　wearing　his　signature　black　
ski　suit；　outside　the　offices　of　theLittle　Hearts　children？s　charity　early　yesterday　morning；　looking　
like　they？d　been　up　all　night。　Serena　was　wearing　a　pink　bra　and　some　guy？s　ski　jacket。　Whatever　
happened　to　her　boyfriend？N　arriving　atGrand　Central　yesterday　afternoon；　looking　dazed　and　
confused　but　still　gorgeous；　of　course。D　stumbling　out　of　a　cab　and　intoAgn？s　B。　Homme　to　shop。　
Wait；　are　we　talking　about　the　sameD　？　I　guessAgn？s　B。　is　French；　and　he　always　fancied　himself　
an　existentialist；　which　is　a　French　concept；　but　wait？I　digress。V　filming　a　bullterrier　trailing　
yellow　pee　behind　it　in　the　white　snow。　Well；　it？s　nice　to　knowshe　hasn？t　changed。　

May　your　Valentine？s　Day　be　filled　with　adoration；　pampering；　and　a　pair　of　gorgeous；　
tiny…heeled　Jimmy　Choo　sandals　that　are　pletely　useless　in　this　weather。　Just　remember：　You　
are　totally　worth　it。　


You　know　you　love　me。　

　gossip　girl　

the　icing　onb　？s　cake　

All　Monday　morning　Blair　had　been　dreading　peer　group。　Not　that　she　minded　talking　about　
hooking　up　with　boys；　or　peer　pressure；　or　whatever　else　the　freshmen　wanted　to　talk　about。　After　
all；　today　was　Valentine？s　Day；　soeveryone　at　Constance　was　talking　about　hooking　up　with　boys。　
What　she　dreaded　were　all　the　questions　the　ninth　graders　in　the　group　were　going　to　ask　Serena　
about　walking　the　runway　in　the　Les　Best　show；　what　it　had　been　like　to　hang　out　with　all　those　
famous　models；　and　blah；　blah；　blah。　They？d　probably　ask　about　her　stupid　I　
LOVEAARONT…shirt　and　what　was　going　on　with　her　and　Aaron；　becausethey？d　heard　blah；　blah；　
blah。　As　if　it　was　all　so　very　interesting。

　Not。　

Why　was　it　that　the　world　was　so　full　of　followers　when　there　were　so　many　choices　in　life？　
Blair　slipped　an　extra　slice　of　chocolate　cake　onto　her　tray　just　to　make　sure　she？d　have　something　
to　do　while　the　girls　in　peer　group　were　boring　her　to　death。　

？Hello；？　she　practically　yawned　when　she　sat　down　at　the　crowded　table　a　few　minutes　after　the　
group　had　begun。　？Sorry　I？m　late。？　

？That？s　okay；？　Serena　replied　gaily。　She？d　gotten　a　plimentary　trim　and　highlight　job　before　
the　fashion　show；　and　her　long　blond　hair　was　even　shinier　and　more　perfect　than　it　had　been　
before。　？We　were　just　talking　about　Elise？s　parental　problems。　She　thinks　her　dad　might　be　having　
an　affair。？　

Elise？s　thick；　straw…colored　bangs　were　pulled　back　and　clipped　to　the　sides　of　her　head　with　tiny　
pink　heart　barrettes。　There　were　dark　circles　under　her　bright　blue　eyes；　like　she？d　been　up　all　
night　worrying。　？That　sucks；？　Blair　said　sympathetically。　？Believe　me；　Iknow　。？　She　decided　to　
leave　it　at　that。　Peer　group　might　have　been　a　place　for　sharing；　but　she　wasn？t　about　to　go　into　the　
details　of　her　father？s　affairs　with　other　men　while　he　was　still　married　to　her　mother。　

Serena　nodded　vigorously。　？I　was　just　telling　them　how　all　families　are　totally　fucked　up。　
Actually；　Blair；　your　family　is　a　perfect　example；？　she　added　cheerfully。　

Blair　bristled。　？Thanks　a　lot；？　she　shot　back。　？But　I　don？t　think　everyone　needs　to　hear　about　my　
problems　right　now。？　


Jenny　bit　a　cuticle　and　banged　her　foot　nervously　against　the　leg　of　her　chair。　She？d　been　fretting　
all　morning　that　as　soon　as　peer　group　started；　Elise　was　going　to　dive　right　in　and　start　talking　
about　same…sex　kissing。　Thank　God　Elise　had　other　things　on　her　mind。　

？Anyway；　we　don？t　have　to　talk　about　our　messed…up　families　if　it？s　going　bother　you；？　Blair　
told　Elise；　trying　to　be　supportive。　

Elise　nodded　unhappily。　？Actually　therewas　something　else　I　wanted　to　talk　about。？

　Jenny　winced。　

　Oops。　

Blair　nodded　encouragingly；　？Yes？　What　is　it？？　Vicky　Reinerson　waved　her　hand　in　the　air。　She　
was　wearing　a　red　wool　cape　similar　to　the　one　Serena　had　modeled　in　the　Les　Best　show；　except　
hers　was　a　little　used　looking；　like　she？d　borrowed　it　from　her　grandmother　or　something。　

Guess　she　didn？t　get　the　message　that　capes　are　back　in　style　thisfall　；　not　this　spring。　

？Oh；　but　after　she？s　done　will　youplease　tell　us　all　about　the　Les　Best　show；　Serena？？　Vicky　
pleaded。　？Youpromised　。？　

Serena　giggled　as　if　she　hadtons　of　crazy　stories　to　tell。　Blair　wanted　to　smack　her。　？The　craziest　
thing　was　that　I　had　a　snowball　fight　with　Les　Best　himself　and　I　didn？t　even　know　it　was　him！？　
Serena　glanced　at　Blair；　who　was　glaring　at　her。　？Anyway；　I？ll　save　it　for　the　end；　if　there？s　time。？　
She　turned　back　to　Elise。　？What　was　it　you　were　saying？？　

Elise？s　face　turned　purple　as　a　plum。　？I…I　wanted　to　talk　about　kissing；？　she　stammered。　？About　
kissinggirls　。？　

Jenny　kicked　the　legs　of　Elise？s　chair。　Mary；　Cassie；　and　Vicky　snickered　and　nudged　each　
other？s　elbows。　This　was　going　to　be　good。　A　rumor　had　gone　around