scanned the room for Nate。 Instead； she found Serena
standing by the bar； her elegant silver Valentino silk cocktail dress shining in the light； thin silver
bands cinching her tiny waist。 Blair walked toward her； her cobalt blue Viktor & Rolf gown with
its intricately beaded bodice trailing silkily behind her like an inky pool of water。 She smiled
giddily to herself。 Serena might look stunning； but next year she？d be stuck in the dirty old city
while
Blair and Nate were miles away in their cozy New Haven love nest； feeding each other
cornichons and oysters and all sorts of other cute； couple…y foods。 Her father might not have given
her a town house yet； but her birthday was ing up in November。 。 。 。
Well； her mom did buy her an island。
？Hey。？ Blair kissed the air near Serena？s cheeks。
Mwah！ Mwah！
？Isn？t this wild？ Check out the naked guys in body paint over there！？ Serena set her empty
champagne flute down on the faux…marble bar behind her and grabbed a full one。 She hated how
nervous she felt around Blair。 How much did Blair know about her and Nate？ How much would
Serena be brave enough to tell her？ ？It？sbeyond 。 Your mom really outdid herself。？ Maybe it was
best just to act cheerfully； casual； like she wasn？t about to steal her best friend？s boyfriend right
out from under her nose。
Blair pushed closer to the bar； practically knocking over Rain Hoffstetter。 Rain？s chestnut brown
hair was usually sweaty from soccer and pulled back in a lopsided ponytail； but tonight she was
wearing it in loose waves around her face； and a black…and…silver Calvin Klein gown made her
athletic body look slightly less manly。
But only slig