from　falling　down；　their　eyes　glassy　and　bright。

？Hey　Serena！？　Kati　giggled；　her　zebra…striped　Norma　Kamali　dress　sliding　down　her　nonexistent

chest。　？You　don？t　have　a　date　either？　You　should　e　with　us？we？re　going　to　snag　some　Greek

gods！？　Isabel　erupted　in　a　fit　of　giggles。　？How　about　that　one？？　She　pointed　across　the　room　at　a

painted　figure　wearing　a　barely　there　loincloth　made　entirely　out　of　silvery　olive　branches。　Kati

started　to　hiccup　uncontrollably；　which　made　both　girls　laugh　even　harder。　The　painted　god

grinned　at　Isabel；　his　white…plaster　curls　falling　over　his　painted　and　powdered　angular　features。

？Hold　this；？　Isabel　slurred；　handing　her　drink　to　Kati。　She　staggered　over　to　the　god　and　climbed

up　on　the　small　dais　supporting　him。　Without　so　much　as　a　hello；　she　grabbed　the　male　statue　and

kissed　him；　white　paint　smearing　her　black　crepe　D&G　Grecian　gown。

Way　to　leave　town　with　a　bang。

Serena　turned　away　and　checked　her　reflection　in　the　long　mirror　hanging　behind　the　bar。　After

much　deliberation？though　not　nearly　as　much　as　Blair？she？d　chosen　a　low…cut　silvery　Valentino

cocktail　dress　with　silver　trim　around　the　waist。　Her　legs　looked　endless　beneath　the　midlength

skirt；　finished　off　with　a　pair　of　gold　Christian　Louboutin　sandals　with　their　trademark　red　soles。

Normally　she　preferred　one　of　her　brother？s　old　BROWN　T…shirts　and　her　ratty　Sevens；　but

tonight　she　felt　a　bit　like　Cinderella；　hoping　to　win　the　prince？s　heart。　She　glanced　back　at　where

Nate　and　Blair　had　been　standing。　Nate　was　now　alone；　leaning　against　the　wall　and　staring

pensively　out　into　the　crowd；　with　Blair　nowhere　in　sight。

Serena　pushed　through　the　thron