y Constance Billard； the New York City all…girls private school she？d
attended since kindergarten； had been kind enough to take her back。
？I？d sort of thought I was bound for munity college and living with my parents for the rest of
my life；？ she admitted。 ？Now here I am acting in this movie； living on my own； and going to Yale
in the fall。？ She grinned drunkenly and a little seductively at Thaddeus。 ？I guess you just never
knowwhat？s going to happen。？ Secretly； it was an invitation to kiss her。 But they were in a
crowded restaurant full of starers and gossips？it was probably best that he didn？t。
？Should we go？？ Thaddeus asked； as if he couldn？t wait to take her somewhere more private。
As the pair stepped outside onto the crowded； steaming street corner； they were startled by a
sudden； insistent cry。
？Thad！ Thad！？ A bulky； bearded figure emerged from the shadows wielding a camera。 He
snapped pictures as he hurried toward them； the bright flash illuminating the otherwise dark
stretch of street。
Thaddeus put his arm protectively around Serena？s waist； a phony but still charming smile
plastered to his handsome face。
Serena smiled； too。 She was used to having her photo taken for newspaper society columns。
She？d even modeled a few times； but it felt a little scary to be hounded like this。
？Let？s go；？ sighed Thaddeus。 He waved at the photographer。 ？Okay； man； that？s cool； that？s
enough。 We？re going。？
But the guy trailed them； weaving and bobbing like a boxer； snapping and clicking the camera？s
shutter so quickly it sounded like machine gun fire。 He finished a roll； deftly reloaded the camera
in a matter of seconds； and kept shootin