t。？ Nate charged over to the pantry and started plundering it； removing jars and
containers and setting them on the travertine counter with a bang。
？I？ll load up on supplies； I guess。？The whole reason they？d e back to the van der Woodsen
apartment was to crash before they embarked on a road trip to find theCharlotte； and to stock up
on the essentials： clothes and booze。
Serena made her way to the liquor cabinet that her parents had never had the foresight to lock；
placing bottles of Grey Goose； Hendrick？s； Havana Club； and Patr？n into her Herm？s tote。 There
was something about raiding her parents？ stash while Nate and Blair puttered around her house
that reminded Serena of days long past。 Nothing had changed and yet everything had。 That
thought made her unexpectedly sad。
We all get a little moody around our birthdays。
Serena padded into her father？s library and slunk into his swiveling Aeron chair。 She grabbed the
telephone from his desk and dialed one of the few telephone numbers she？d ever memorized。
？Hello？？ Her brother Erik？s voice sounded very suspicious。 It was six o？clock in the morning；
after all。
？It？s me。？ Serena leaned back； placing her bare feet on her dad？s old mahogany desk。
？Shit； Serena。 Came up as the home number？was worried for a minute。？ Her brother laughed。
？They？re not here。？ She studied the book…lined walls； examining the framed family photos of
Erik playing tennis； of Serena astride a black horse； of her tanned parents sipping
Campari…and…sodas at an outdoor caf？ on the Amalfi coast。 ？Wimbledon；？ Serena and her brother
said in unison。
？They？re so damn predictable。？ Erik scoffed。 ？What are you doing home