her and apart。 How she could still make him smile more than anyone else in the world。
“Deal！” Vanessa said。
She’d meant to just shake his hand； but she found herself leaning in。 Her lips connected to his； slowly at first； then more insistently。
As the shouts and music blared from inside the party； the icy wind slicing through her dress； Vanessa was suddenly reminded of another party she’d missed； another night spent out in the cold night air—the night she and Dan met。 She couldn’t have scripted it better herself。
Parting is such sweet sorrow…。
breaking the cycle… finally
“So； do you have any New Year’s resolutions？” Serena asked； slipping down in the hot tub and letting her long blond hair fan out behind her。 She’d seen Dan at one point； smoking Camels on the balcony like the angsty poet he was。 She’d say hi to him later。 For now； she just wanted to have fun。
“Fuck no；” Blair murmured； taking a drag of her Merit Ultra Light and letting the ashes fall into the steaming water of the hot tub。 Fuck resolutions。 All she really wanted to do was have fun。 For so long； her resolutions had been more like an endless list of to…dos： date Nate Archibald； get into Yale； get into law school。 For once； she just wanted to go with the wind； do what she felt like。
Sounds like someone else we know…
Out of the corner of her eye； Blair spotted Chuck wearing a dark red smoking jacket。 She was about to get out of the hot tub to say hi； but then she saw Rain Hoffstetter sidle up to him。 Blair sighed and eased back into the water。
Just then； Serena’s phone buzzed； skittering across the marble edge of the hot tub。 She grabbed it with her wet hand。
WAITING OUTSIDE。 YOU HERE？—NATE
Serena grinned as she pulled her h