wdy； sis。？
？Got the party started； I see。？ Serena hugged her brother excitedly。 ？In case you forgot； my
birthday？s not till tomorrow。？
？You only turn eighteen once。？ He threw his arms around her and lifted her off her feet
easily。 ？Happy almost birthday。？
？This is for me？？ Serena asked； a smile spreading across her face。 Okay； so it wasn？texactly her
idea of a birthday party； but it was sweet that her brother had remembered。 Even if it was probably
just a convenient excuse for a blowout。
Probably？
Behind her； Blair and Nate shuffled out of the backseat。 Serena had volunteered to drive since
she knew how to get here the best； and Blair couldn？t drive stick； but did they really have to ride
in the backseat togetheragain？ What was she； the chauffeur？
Kind of looks that way。
？What？s up； guys？？ Erik greeted them。
？Hey。？ Nate nodded at Erik。 ？Good call on the party。 I almost forgot that tomorrow？s your
birthday；？ he said； turning to Serena。
Blair slipped her hand into her best friend？s。 ？What？s an appropriate afternoon cocktail； birthday
girl？？
Is there one that？snot appropriate？
The scene by the pool was like something out of a screw…ball college edy。 A gaggle of
obviously drunk guys in board shorts cannonballed into the water； splashing their buddies seated
nearby。 A crowd lingered near the double…height French doors that led to the library？and the
well…stocked bar。 And there were so few girls in evidence？a couple stretched out on chaises near
the diving board and a trio of giggling girls attempting some kind of drinking game？that wherever
they congregated； a drooling group of boys was not far off。 Someone ha