off the floor and pushed open the door。 “Just take me home。”
Dan put his arm around his sister and Serena took his hand。
Together； they wound their way through the crowded party。
“Wait！ Your gift bags！” Rain Hoffstetter squealed from her post at
the front door。 She handed Serena and Jenny each a black Kate
Spade tote bag。
Dan pushed open the doors and ran out into the street to hail a cab。
When he found one； Serena got in first； then Jenny； and then Dan。
Jenny put her feet up on the hump in the floor and hugged her
knees； resting her head against them。 Serena reached down and
stroked her curly brown hair。
“You guys go home first；” Serena offered。
Dan glanced at Jenny。 She needed to go to bed。 “All right；” he
agreed； and gave the driver his address。
Serena leaned back； still stroking Jenny’s hair。 “Wow；” she said
ironically。 “I haven’t had this much excitement since I left boarding
school。”
Dan stared at her； his eyes wide and trusting。 “So； those
stories 。 。 。” he said； and then he blushed。 “I mean； did any of that
happen； for real？”
Serena frowned。 She fished in her bag for a cigarette； and then
thought better of it。 “Well； what do you think？” she asked。
Dan shrugged。 “I think it’s a bunch of bullshit；” he said。
Serena raised her eyebrows playfully。 “But how do you know for
sure？” she asked。
Her mouth was open； the corners of it quavering up and then down。
Her blue eyes glowed in the light of a passing car。
No； Dan couldn’t imagine her doing any of the things Chuck had
accused her of。 The only thing he could imagine her doing was
kissing him。 But there was time for