was　one　thing　around　here　that　wasn？t　going　to　change。　She　just　wished　she　had　Blair　or　Nate　to

giggle　with　her　about　it。

Davita　flounced　back　into　the　room；　snapping　her　cell　phone　shut　with　a　decisive　click。　？Okay；

ladies；？　she　said；　breaking　into　an　enormous　smile；　her　obvious　veneers　as　wide　and　white　as

Scrabble　tiles。　？Where　were　we？？　？Well　。　。　。？　Eleanor　motioned　to　Serena；　her　gold　Cartier　Love

bracelets　clinking　loudly　against　one　another。　？I　was　just　telling　Serena　we　have　a　lot　to　celebrate

right　now。　In　addition　to　everyone　leaving　for　college；　there？s？？

？We？re　hoooooooome！？　A　taunting；　singsongy　girl？s　voice　called　out　from　the　foyer；　a　voice

Serena　would　know　anywhere。　Her　heart　fluttered。　The　sound　of　bags　being　thrown　onto　the

marble　floor　was　followed　by　the　unmistakable　patter　of　Blair？s　light；　quick　steps。　Serena

swallowed　hard；　watching　as　Nate　and　Blair　appeared　in　the　doorway　of　the　Waldorf　Roses？

massive；　antique…strewn　living　room；　hands　clasped；　looking　sun…kissed；　glowing；　and　more

gorgeous　than　ever。

As　if　that　were　even　possible。

Nate？s　green　eyes　lit　up　when　he　spotted　Serena　sitting　on　the　couch；　and　she　smiled　weakly；　her

stomach　folding　like　pancake　batter。　Just　the　sight　of　him　in　his　stained　and　wrinkled　cutoff　khakis

and　ratty　gray　T…shirt　made　her　feel　lightheaded。　The　last　time　she？d　seen　him；　standing　at　the　top

of　the　staircase　at　her　family？s　house　in　Ridgefield　while　she　hovered　at　the　bottom；　the　whole

world　had　gone　quiet　as　she　overheard　him　telling　Blair　he　loved　her。Loved　。　With　those　words

ringing　in　her　ears；　something　in　Serena　had　finally　clicked。　She？d　watched　him　lead　Blair　upstai