een at Constance the next two years。 She？d been up at
Hanover Academy； in New Hampshire？until she kind of missed the first few weeks of senior year
and they wouldn？t take her back。 Why would Mr。 Beckham； of all people； nominate her for senior
speaker？
Good question。
？So； are you going to do it？？ Isabel persisted。
Serena tried to imagine herself standing at the podium in Brick Church on Park Avenue；
addressing her class； dressed in their pristine white dresses and white gloves。Oh； the places you？ll
go。 Our future？s so bright； we？re going to have to wear shades ； etc。 She might have liked acting
and modeling； but inspirational speaking wasn？t exactly her thing。 Surely one of her other
classmates would be way more into it。
？Maybe；？ she replied； nonmittally。
You bitch； Blair thought； her ears aching from eavesdropping。 Ever since the infamous bathtub
incident at Isabel？s party； Blair had been obsessively determined to surprise everyone by rising
above Serena and Nate？s stupid； hurtful behavior； making it look like she really couldn？t give a
damn； and end the school year as the girl everyone most admired。
Not that she wasn？t already the girl everyone most admired。 She？d always had the best clothes；
best bags； best fingernails； coolest hair； and by far the best shoes。 But this time she wanted to be
admired for her courage； independence； and intelligence。 And being senior speaker at graduation
was definitely part of that package。 Right now Vanessa Abrams； Blair？s unlikely； shaven…headed；
black…wearing roommate； was back at Constance nominating Blair for senior speaker。 But as usual；
that sneaky bitch Serena had to go and fucking cop