back inside to the stuffy cocktail
party。
Serena thought of herself as an emotional person。 The fashion designer Les Best had even named
a perfume Serena？s Tears when he？d caught her weeping in the snow at a photo shoot in Central
Park。 She？d always thought she？d be a basket case during graduation。 After all； she？d grown up
with these people； shared the same ups and downs； suffered the same disappointments and
triumphs。 But here she was； nothing short of ecstatic。 Even Nate？s mopey； distracted disposition
couldn？t bring her down； becauseshe？d gotten the part！
Yes； we heard her the first time。
In his usual pretentious； oddball manner； Ken Mogul hadn？t even watched her second audition。
He？d kept his back turned； trying to ascertain whether she radiated the right energy for the part。
When she finished delivering her lines； he didn？t turn around； just held up his hand and
said； ？Thank you。？
The second audition had taken place in an old warehouse in the Meatpacking District； on the
opposite end of Manhattan from Brick Church。 Serena was already dressed for graduation； and
she？d promised to pay her taxi driver handsomely if he waited for her outside。 Within seconds； she
was hurtling east on Fourteenth Street； praying that Mrs。 M wouldn？t make her repeat her senior
year and realizing too late that she？d left her shoes behind。
After graduation； over lunch at Tavern on the Green； her mom had been more miffed over the
missing white Jimmy Choos than the fact that Serena had nearly skipped the ceremony。 ？What
kind of girl goes around barefoot？？ Mrs。 van der Woodsen wanted to know。 Then Ken Mogul had
called Serena？s cell。
？I don？t