？Charmed；　Blair；？　Davita　drawled；　tapping　one　pewter…colored　Jimmy　Choo　slingback　against

the　caramel…and…burgundy　Bokhara　rug。　She　didn？t　seem　to　have　any　patience　for　family

reunions。Well；　good。　Neither　did　Blair。

？Now；　Blair；？　Eleanor　began；　speaking　rapidly？the　way　she　always　did　when　she　was　worried

about　something；　sweat　breaking　out　in　small；　jewel…like　beads　on　her　brow。　She　practically

pushed　Blair　onto　the　sofa。　？Davita　is　here　because　。　。　。　because　。　。　。　well；　I？m　glad　you？re　sitting

down；　because　I　have　big；　big；　big　news！？　Blairreally　didn？t　like　the　sound　of　that？what　could　be

bigger　than　Serena　manhandling　Nate　right　in　front　of　her？　They　had　finally　stopped　hugging；　but

were　now　paired　off　in　the　corner　of　the　room；　whispering。　Serena？s　delicate；　bell…like　laugh

grated　in　Blair？s　ears　like　the　whine　of　a　chainsaw。

？I？ve　invited　Davita　and　Serena　to　help　plan　a　going…away　party　for　you　and　Aaron　at　the　Met　the

night　before　you　leave　for　college！？　Eleanor　grabbed　Blair？s　arm；　squeezing　tight　with　excitement；

her　eyes　glassy　and　bright。　？That？s　just　nine　days　away！？　Davita　grabbed　a　clipboard　from　off　the

coffee　table。　？Let？s　see　。　。　。　so　far　we？ve　got　fabulous　gift　bags　full　of　Kiehls　and　Fr？d？ric　Fekkai

products；　and　of　course　flower　arrangements　by　Robert　Isabell？I　was　thinking　stargazer　and

Casablanca　lilies；　but　that　may　be　too　bridey　for　your　taste　。　。　。　truffles　from　La　Maison　du

Chocolat；　a　tower　of　cupcakes　from　Magnolia　Bakery。　And　I　thought　it　might　be　really　cute　to　run

a　red　carpet　outside　and　down　those　fabulous　Met　steps。　。　。　。　Blair？　What　doyou　think？？　Davita

frowned；　her　leathery　skin　crinkling。　Her　face　looked　l