ling up
her pale yellow ankle socks so they looked nerdy and ridiculous。 She？d wanted her act of
martyrdom to go unnoticed by the rest of the senior class。 Now everyone knew about it。 ？Is there a
problem？？ she responded； sounding a lot bitchier than she？d intended。
？But Blair； youwant to be our speaker； right？？ Vanessa Abrams asked from her seat right next to
Blair？s。 Vanessa was wearing a black tank top and no bra and should have been sent home for
being inappropriate and out of uniform。 Normally this sort of go…class…go type of homeroom drove
her nuts； but she？d been feeling so nostalgic about graduating lately； she was actually sort of into
it。
？Yes；？ Blair admitted。 ？I do。？
Vanessa rolled her eyes and gave her friend？s arm a gentle little shove。 ？Then what do you care？？
Blair shrugged。 ？Can we go now？？ she asked Mimi； eager to get out of her uniform and into the
tight white Juicy Couture clamdiggers and green Marni halter top she？d brought to wear shopping
with Lord Marcus。
Serena shot Vanessa a grateful glance。 She really hadn？t meant to make a fuss。 And maybe； when
she thought about it later？like； years later； when they both had blue old…lady hair and had retired to
Mustique or some other hot and sunny place； Blair might hate her a little less。
After homeroom； the senior girls congregated outside Constance Billard？s great blue doors； still
buzzing about the senior speaker situation。 They couldn？t help but notice the gorgeous； tall；
golden…haired boy who was standing on the sidewalk only a few feet away； wearing perfectly
ironed jeans and the cutest salmon…pink…and…white checked Thomas Pink button…down shirt。 Blair
brush