they see you in maga…zines。？
But they don？t get to enjoy intimate dinners with him； poor babies。
？I mean； my name？s not even Thaddeus； for Christ？s sake。？
？What do you mean？？ she asked； confused。
？It？s Tim。 My agent thought it should be something catchier。？
？I guess it worked。？ Serena nodded； wondering suddenly if she shouldn？t changeher name。 It
might be good for her career。
Yeah； Serena van der Woodsen isn？t catchy at all。
He dug into his pocket and pulled out a soft pack of Parliament Lights。 ？At least it？s quiet here；？
he said； lighting up。
That？s right。 You？re safe； right here； with me。？No photographers here；？ Serena giggled。 ？Just the
two of us。？
？Working on our chemistry；？ Thaddeus laughed。 ？Our homework。 Chemistry homework； get it？？
Better stick to the script； dude。
It was easily the best homework assignment Serena had ever been given； and she was sure she
was acing it。 The question was how to nuzzle up to him but make it clear she wasn？t rehearsing。
She wanted to make sure he saw her as Serena and not Holly； and that he could distinguish the
fake kisses from the real thing。
？Hello； again；？ came a voice from above them。 It was Jason； her downstairs neighbor； wearing a
navy pinstripe suit。 His blue…and…yellow…striped tie was loose around his neck and the collar of his
white oxford shirt was unbuttoned。 She hadn？t seen him since he？d e to her rescue her first
day in the apartment； and she？d actually sort of forgotten about him。
？Hi； Jason。？ Serena wanted to be polite but she honestly hoped he？d just disappear。 He was
friendly and cute but she and Thaddeus had homework to do。
？What？s up？？ Thaddeu