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Isabel　leaned　against　the　stoop？s　metal　railing　and　took　a　sip　from　a　paper　cup　full　of　whipped　
cream？topped　hot　chocolate。　She　was　wearing　a　Kelly　green　Dolce　&　Gabbana　coat　from　a　
weekend　sample　sale。　It　was　buttonless　and　tied　at　the　waist　with　a　thick　black　cord；　like　a　Kelly　
green　monk？s　robe。　

No　wonder　it　never　sold　out　back　in　October。　

？Maybe　if　you　got　some　Japanese　foot　bindingdone　those　boots　wouldn？t　hurt　so　much；？　Isabel　
continued。　？Or　if　you？d　letme　buy　them　instead　of　you；　sinceI？m　the　one　who　saw　them　first。？　

？Chinese；？　Jenny　couldn？t　help　but　correct。　？The　Chinese　used　to　bind　women？s　feet。？　

Kati　and　Isabel　stared　at　her　blankly。　？Shouldn？t　you　be　in　school？？　Isabel　demanded。　

？They？re　smoking　with　us；？　Blair　said　protectively。　It　was　kind　of　fun　having　two　little　
ninth…grade　sisters。　Not　that　she　ever　wanted　areal　little　sister　or　anything。　

Kati　pretended　not　to　notice　that　Blair　was　actually　being　nice　to　these　two　little　snot…nosed　
fourteen…year…olds　and　threw　her　arms　around　Blair？s　neck　instead；　kissing　her　on　each　
Stila…powdered　cheek。　


　Mwah！　Mwah！　

？I　can？t　believe　I　haven？t　said　anything；　but　your　hair　looks　totallygorg　。　I　just　love；　love；love　it！？　
she　squealed。　？You　were　so　brave。　I　heard　you　got　gum　in　it。　Is　that　why　you　decided　to　go　so　
short？？　

？Can　I　touch　it？？　asked　Isabel。　She　put　down　her　hot　chocolate　and　reached　out　to　pat　the　back　of　
Blair？s　head　with　a　tentative　hand。　？It　feels　so　weird！　Like　a　boy！？　

Blair　suddenly　wished　she？d　worn　a　hat　or　some　sort　of　turban　to　school。　She　dropped　her　
cigarette　on　the　step　below　her　and　squashed　it　with　the　pointy　toe　of　her　boot。　？e　on；　you　
guys；？　she　beckoned；　rising　to　her　feet　and　holding　out　her　gloved　hands　to　Jenny　and　Elise　like　
Mary　Poppins　collecting　the　children　at　the　playground。　？I？ll　walk　you　back　to　school。？　

Jenny　and　Elise　tossed　their　cigarettes　into　the　shrubbery　in　front　of　the　brownstone　next　door　
and　stood　up；　hitching　their　bags　up　on　their　shoulders。　Now　that　they？d　tried　smoking　cigarettes　
with　the　seniors　on　a　freezing…cold　stoop；　they　weren？t　exactly　sure　what　the　attraction　was。　

？Do　you　think　my　hair　would　look　good　that　short？？　Elise　asked；　hurrying　to　keep　up　with　Blair。　

Anything　would　have　been　an　improvement　on　the　my…first…haircut　bob　Elise　was　presently　
sporting；　but　Blair　didn？t　have　the　heart　or　the　energy　to　tell　her。　？I？ll　give　you　my　stylist？s　
number；？　she　offered　generously。　

As　they　turned　down　East　Ninety…third　Street；　Mary；　Vicky；　and　Cassie　burst　through　the　doors　
and　waved　to　them。　

？We　saw　you　leave　at　recess！？　

？We　came　out　to　get　you！？　

？We　didn？t　want　you　to　get　in　trouble！？　

Blair　put　her　arms　around　Jenny　and　Elise　and　herded　them　toward　the　school　doors；　wise　to　the　
fact　that　the　three　girls　were　just　being　obnoxiously　nosy。　？We？re　fine；？　she　told　them　
coolly。　？Shouldn？t　you　be　in　class？？　

Mary；　Vicky；　and　Cassie　stared　after　them　in　hurt　disbelief。　They　wereso　much　cooler　than　Jenny　
and　Elise。　What　did　they　have　to　do　to　prove　it？　

Serena　remained　on　the　chilly　stoop；　not　exactly　thrilled　that　she？d　been　left　alone　with　Kati　and　
Isabel。　She　examined　her　split　ends；　trying　to　e　up　with　the　perfect　you…got…into…college！　gift　
for　Aaron　while　Kati　and　Isabel　waited　eagerly　for　the　real　scoop　on　Blair？s　hair。　


？Did　she　have　lice　or　something？？　

？I　heard　she　had　this　manic　depressive　fit　and　hacked　it　off　with　a　nail　scissors。　She　had　to　go　to　
the　salon　to　fix　it。？　

？I　think　it　looks　cool；？　Serena　answered　dreamily　in　reply。　

Kati　and　Isabel　glared　at　her；　disappointed。　If　Serena　wasn？t　going　to　dish　anything　out；　they？d　
just　have　to　make　something　up。　

And　let？s　be　honest？that　sounds　likemuch　more　fun。　

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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！　

The　premature　male　midlife　crisis　

What？s　withC　？shighlights　？　Sure；　they　sort　of　match　his　stretchy　pastel　shirts　and　orange　Prada　
sneakers；　but　since　when　was　he　so　。　。　。　outr？？　I　also　heard　he　was　seen　on　Monday　night　dancing　
at　a　new　red…rope；　guest…list…only　club　in　Greenwich　Village　calledBubble　；　a　very　boys…only　kind　
of　scene；　if　you　know　what　I　mean。　Could　it　be　that　since　he？s　already　hit　on　every　female　in　the　
city；　he？s　moved　on　to　the　males？　

The　other　boy　I？m　a　little　concerned　about　isN　；　my　personal　favorite。　Yes；　he？s　still　as　hot　as　
ever；　and　yes；　I　would　give　up　my　Herm？s　Birkin　bag　to　be　his　fairy　princess。　I　just　wish　he？d　stop　
lurking　around　upper　Fifth　Avenue　taking　surreptitious　slurps　from　that　silver　flask　he　keeps　in　his　
pocket　and　looking　like　a　nervous　wreck。　If　he　needs　a　hand　to　hold；　he　knows　where　to　find　me。　

But　the　greatest　transformation　of　all　is　in　skinny；　scruffyD　。　If　you　haven？t　seen　him　since　this　
morning；　this　is　breaking　news：　he　got　a　haircut！　It？s　definitely　the　work　of　the　old　man　barber　on　
Broadway　and　West　Eighty…eighth；　but　his　sweet　brown　eyes　are　actually　visible　now；　which　is　
definitely　an　improvement；　and　there　seems　to　be　some　sexy…literary…dude　sideburn　action　
happening；　too。　He？s　got　it　going　on！　

Hanging　out　with　the　big　girls　


It？s　extremely　flattering　to　be　taken　under　the　wing　of　an　older　girl　and　given　a　glimpse　of　the　
we？re…so…cool…we…don？t…even…have…to…think…about…trying　side　of　life。　But　don？t　get　carried　away；　
thinking　said　older　girl　is　going　to　start　asking　you　out　to　the　movies。　She？s　not。　And　as　soon　as　
she　gets　too　busy　with　APs　and　parties　and　shopping　for　sandals；　or　whatever　it　is　older　girls　do　in　
their　spare　time；　she？s　going　to　forget　about　all　those　groovy　times　you　had　together。　She　might　
even　forget　your　name。　Of　course；　I　could　be　totally　wrong。　Maybe　you？ll　wind　up　friends　for　life　
and　sponsor　each　other　at　the　Connecticut　country　club　you　both　join　when　you？re　married　with　
kids。　Or　not。　Don？t　say　I　didn？t　warn　you。　

　Your　e…mail　

Q：？　？　Dear　GG；　

So　I　may　have　misread　what　was　going　on；　but　I？m　pretty　sure　I　saw　A　from　Bronxdale　with　this　

other　girl　in　our　class；　and　he　was　all；　？I？m　the　man；　I？m　into　Harvard；？　and　she　was　all；　？You？re　
so　hot。　I　want　you。？　Um；　doesn？t　he　have　a　girlfriend？

　？S。I。B。　

A：？　？　Dear　S。I。B。；　

What　does　S。I。B。　stand　for；　anyway？　Seeing　is　believing？　Sad　in　Biloxi？　Small　is　beautiful？　If　
what　you　say　is　true；　I？m　S。F。A。C。B。？sad　for　a　certain　blond。　

　？GG　

Q：？　？　Dear　Ggirl；　

I　heard　B　got　caught　doing　drugs　in　school　and　now　she　secretly　has　to　do　munity　service。　
She？s　going　to　rehab；　too；　which　is　why　she　cut　all　her　hair　off。　They　make　you　do　that；　like；　in　
prison。　

　？Daisy　

A：？　？　Dear　Daisy；　

It　sounds　like　a　bad　made…for…Lifetime　special。　You　don？t　really　believe　all　that；　do　you？

　？GG　

Oops。I？m　late　for　my　fake…tan　rubdown　at　Bliss？it？s　theonly　way　to　stay　smiling　till　summer！　

You　know　you　love　me。　


　gossip　girl　

nbuys　a　dime　bag　

On　Tuesday　after　school；　Nate　wandered　into　Central　Park　to　check　out　the　dealers　in　Sheep　
Meadow。　He？d　gone　a　full　twenty…four　hours　without　getting　high；　and　instead　of　feeling　healthy　
and　energized；　he　was　bored　out　of　his　drug…free　mind。　His　classes　at　school　seemed　twice　as　long；　
and　even　Jeremy　Scott　Tompkinson？s　lame…ass　fart　jokes　barely　made　him　crack　a　smile。　

The　late　afternoon　sun　hung　low　in　the　sky；　casting　an　eerie　golden　glow　on　the　frozen　brown　
grass　in　the　meadow。　Two　heavyset　guys　dressed　in　black　sweatshirts　with　the　wordStaff　printed　
on　the　back　were　passing　a　football　back　and　forth；　and　a　tiny　old　woman　wearing　a　red　Chanel　
suit　and　a　fox　fur　stole　was　walking　her　freshly　groomed　bichon　frise。　As　usual；　the　dealers　were　
all　sitting　on　benches　around　the　perimeter　of　the　meadow；　listening　to　WFAN　on　their　Discmans　
or　reading　theDaily　News　。　Nate　spotted　a　familiar　redheaded　guy　dressed　in　a　light　gray　Puma　
tracksuit　with　matching　gray…and…white　Puma　sneakers；　gray　wraparound　shades；　and　a　fuzzy　
black　Kangol　hat。　

？Hey　Mitchell！？　Nate　called　delightedly。　Damn；　it　was　good　to　see　him。　Mitchell　raised　his　hand　
in　greeting　as　Nate　walked　over。　？I　thought　you　were　in　Amsterdam；　man。？　

Mitchell　shook　his　head　slowly。　？Not　yet。？　

？I？ve　been　looking　for　you。　I　was　almost　going　to　buy　from　one　of　those　other　dirtbags。　You？re　
carrying；　right？？　Nate　asked。　

Mitchell　nodded　and　stood　up。　They　began　walking　down　the　pathway　together；　just　two　friends　
taking　a　stroll　in　the　park。　Nate　pulled　a　folded…up　hundred…dollar　bill　from　his　coat　pocket　and　
held　it　in　his　fist；　ready　to　slip　it　into　Mitchell？s　palm　as　soon　as　he　passed　over　the　goods。　

？I　got　a　new　shipment　in　from　Peru；？　Mitchell　said；　pulling　a　plastic　baggie　of　pot　out　of　his　
pocket　and　handing　it　discreetly　to　Nate。　

If　you　happened　to　be　in　the　park　watching　them；　you　might　have　thought　they　were　just　sharing　
a　snack　or　something。　That　is；　if　you　were　pletely　na？ve。　

？Thanks；　man。？　Nate　handed　over　the　hundred　and　tucked　the　plastic　baggie　into　his　coat　pocket；　
breathing　out　a　deep；　relieved　breath。　Too　bad　he　didn？t　have　any　rolling　papers　with　him　or　he　
would　have　rolled　up　a　big　fatty　right　then　and　there。　？So；？　he　said；　figuring　it　was　only　polite　to　
make　some　casual　conversation　with　Mitchell　before　taking　off。　？You　still　moving　to　Amsterdam　


or　what？？　

Mitchell　stopped　walking　and　unzipped　his　Puma　jacket。　？Nah。　I？m　stuck　here　for　a　while。？　He　
pulled　up　his　gray　thermal　shirt　to　reveal　his　bare；　freckled　chest。　There　were　wires　taped　to　it。　

Nate　had　seenLaw　&　Order　enough　times　to　know　what　those　wires　meant。　The　bleak　scenery　
seemed　to　close　in　on　him；　and　he　stumbled　backwards。　Had　he　blacked　out　or　something？　Was　
this　all　a　bad　dream？　

Mitchell　let　his　shirt　drop　and　zipped　his　jacket　up　again。　He　took　a　step　toward　Nate；　as　if　he　
was　worried　Nate　would　try　to　make　a　break　for　it。　？Sorry；　kid。　They　got　me。　I？m　working　for　the　
man　now。？　He　jerked　his　head　at　the　benches　behind　them。　？Those　？dirtbags？　on　the　bench　are　all　
cops；　okay；　so　don？t　try　to　run。　You　and　I　are　going　to　wait　here　until　I　give　the　sign；　and　then　one　
of　them　is　going　to　walk　you　down　to　the　precinct　on　Amsterdam。Amsterdam　？pretty　ironic；　huh？？　

Nate　could　tell　Mitchell　was　trying　to　get　him　to　smile　so　the　dealer　wouldn？t　have　to　feel　so　bad　
for　busting　him。　？Okay；？　Nate　said　woodenly。　How　had　this　happened？　He？d　never　been　
double…crossed　before；　and　it　was　a　pretty　crappy　feeling。　He　dropped　the　baggie　of　pot　on　the　
ground　and　kicked　it　away　from　him。　？Shit；？　he　swore　under　his　breath。　

Mitchell　picked　up　the　baggie　and　put　his　hand　on　Nate？s　shoulder。　He　raised　his　free　hand　in　the　
air　and　waved　to　the　cops　on　the　benches。　Two　guys　stood　up　and　hurried　over。　They　didn？t　even　
look　like　cops。　One　of　them　was　wearing　black　Club　Monaco　jeans　and　the　other　was　wearing　a　
stupid　red　pom…pom　hat。　They　flashed　their　badges　at　Nate。　

？We？re　not　going　to　cuff　you；？　Club　Monaco　explained。　？You？re　a　minor；　right？？　

Nate　nodded　sullenly；　avoiding　the　cop？s　gaze。　He　didn？t　turn　eighteen　until　April。　

？When　we　get　to　the　precinct　you　can　call　your　parents。？　

I？m　sure　they？ll　be　thrilled；Nate　thought　bitterly。　

Across　the　meadow　the　two　guys　playing　football　and　the　old　lady　and　her　fluffy　white　dog　were　
all　huddled　together；　watching　Nate　getting　busted　like　it　was　the　first　episode　of　some　hot　new　
reality　show。　

？You？ll　be　out　in　a　couple　hours；？　the　red　pom…pom　cop　said；　writing　something　in　a　notebook。　
Nate　noticed　the　cop　was　wearing　gold　hoop　earrings　and　he　realized　she　was　a　woman；　despite　
her　broad　shoulders　and　thick…fingered　hands。　？They？ll　fine　you　and　probably　give　you　mandatory　
rehab。？　

Mitchell　kept　his　hand　on　Nate？s　shoulder　as　if　to　offer　moral　support。　？You？re　lucky；？　he　added。　


Nate　kept　his　head　down；　hoping　no　one　he　knew　would　see　him。　He　didn？t　feel　very　lucky。

　introducing　the　newd　

Tuesday　afternoon；　Vanessa　stood　outside　Riverside　Prep；　filming　the　frozen　remains　of