dove　into　the　crowd；

slipping　through　a　trio　of　shirtless　musclemen；　making　a　beeline　for？where　else？？　the　bar。

？Vodka　martini。？　She　smiled　at　the　bartender；　giving　him　her　best　yes…I？m…on…the…guest…list　look。

She　almost　never　drank；　but　holding　a　martini　might　give　her　a　new　outlook　on　life。

The　bartender　went　right　to　work　and　smoothly　handed　over　a　glass。　Clutching　the　stem；　Vanessa

turned　back　into　the　crowd；　unsure　who　to　talk　to。　There　was　Chuck；　laughing　as　he　made　small

talk　with　a　very　tall　man；　and　there　were　the　two　impostors　from　the　beach；　frowning　and

pathetically　dabbing　at　their　stained　outfits　with　damp　napkins。

Tough　choice。

Vanessa　wove　through　a　thicket　of　linen…pants…clad　types；　heading　toward　the　edge　of　the

pool。　？We　meet　again；？　she　offered　by　way　of　introduction。　？I？m　Vanessa。？

The　blond　girl　stared　at　her　dumbly　through　her　tear…blurred　slightly　crossed　eyes。

？You　again。？　The　faux　Blair　glared　at　her。　？We　must　go　change。？　The　girl　grabbed　her　friend？s

hand　and　started　walking　away　from　Vanessa。　？Maybe　you　should　also　change。？

Vanessa　resisted　the　urge　to　pitch　her　drink　at　the　girl？s　bucktoothed　face。

Sliding　off　her　flip…flops；　she　took　a　seat　and　dangled　her　feet　into　the　aqua…colored　water。　She

sipped　her　martini　nervously；　trying　to　drink　her　way　through　that　horrible

I？m…at…a…party…and…no…one…is…talking…to…me　shame。　Then　she　glanced　at　her　watch；　fiddled　with

her　outfit；　and　stared　at　the　placid　surface　of　the　swimming　pool；　pretending　to　be　engrossed　in

each　task。

？Yooo…hooo。　Excuse　me；　dear。？

Had　someone　called　security？

Vanessa　turned　oh…so…casually　to　e　face…to…face　with　Bailey　Winter