erena　replied　slowly；　her　voice　soft。　？Oh；　and　will　you

e　shopping　with　me　for　the　Met　party？？　？Of　course。？　Blair　nodded。　She　remembered　how

much　fun　they　used　to　have　playing　dress…up　when　they　were　little；　trying　on　clothes　in　her　room

all　afternoon　and　drinking　Campari　and　sodas　with　lime；　giggling　together　in　the　bathroom　mirror

as　Serena　expertly　painted　Blair？s　lids　with　black　liner；　or　lacquered　her　nails　with　ballet　slipper

pink　Essie　polish。

Even　if　Serena　had　written　Nate　that　stupid　love　letter；　Blair　was　the　one　who　was　with　him　now。

There　really　wasn？t　any　reason　they　couldn？t　still　be　best　friends。　Serena　would　be　the　famous　one

and　Blair　would　be　。　。　。　the　happy　one。

Right。

all　n　needs　now　is　a　peg　leg

Nate　crossed　West　Forty…fourth　Street　and　headed　toward　the　imposing　beaux…arts　limestone

building　that　housed　the　New　York　Yacht　Club。　The　large　bay　windows　resembled　the　sterns　of

ships　and　made　Nate　wish　desperately　that　he　was　still　out　at　sea　with　Blair；　her　wet；　sandy　hair

tickling　his　skin；　nothing　in　the　distance　but　blue　sky　and　endless　horizons。　He　only　felt　like

himself　when　he　was　on　board　theCharlotte　；　far　away　from　the　city　and　the　pressures　of　real　life。

Why　did　real　life　always　have　to　be　soplicated　？　He？d　been　back　on　dry　land　for　one　day；　and

he　was　already　in　serious　trouble。

Story　of　his　life。

He　pushed　open　the　front　door　and　stepped　inside　the　opulent　interior　of　the　old　club。　The

paneling　was　all　deep；　rich　mahogany；　and　everything　in　sight　was　gilded　in　gold。　He　pushed　his

shoulders　back　and　tried　to　stand　up　a　little　straighter　as　he　climbed　the　ornate；　winding　marble

staircase　to