Serena？　She　dropped　the　yellow　DVF　chiffon　gown　she？d　been　holding。　The　light　silk　fluttered

soundlessly　to　the　floor。

？You？rewhat　？？　Blair　demanded　in　disbelief；　shaking　her　head　from　side　to　side　like　she　had

water　in　her　ears。

？I？m　just　。　。　。　not　going。？　Serena　shrugged。　？I？m　going　to　stay　in　New　York　and　shoot　the　sequel

toBreakfast　at　Fred？s。　？　Serena　was　staying　in　New　York？With　Nate？　Blair　felt　the　ground　start　to

wobble　beneath　her。

Just　then　a　group　of　tourists　passed　by；　squealing　and　pointing　at　Serena；　cameras　hanging　around

their　necks。　The　crowd　engulfed　both　girls；　and　Blair　was　rudely　shoved　out　of　the　way　by　a　sharp；

jabby　elbow。　They　surrounded　Serena　in　a　mob。

？Thank　you。？　Serena　blushed　as　she　signed　one　of　the　tourist？s　matchbooks　from　Fred？s；

Barneys？　ninth…floor　restaurant；　about　to　bee　even　more　famous　because　of　her　new　film。

Blair　watched　as　Serena　signed　one　autograph　after　another；　bowing　her　head　humbly　and

graciously　without　so　much　as　a　glance　in　Blair？s　direction。　How　could　Serena　drop　a　bomb　like

that　and　then　move　onto　her　worshippers；　pletely　ignoring　her？　Blair　seethed；　manically

twirling　her　ruby　ring　around　her　middle　finger；　as　the　crowd　around　Serena　grew。　A　man　dressed

in　an　avocado…and…vermillion　seersucker　suit　kissed　Serena？s　hand；　and　a　suburban　mom　took　her

picture　with　her　Nikon　Elph。　Next　year　Blair　would　be　just　another　freshman　at　college；　and

Serena　would　be　。　。　。　a　movie　star。　A　movie　star　living　in　the　same　city　asher　boyfriend。　How　could

she　ever　pete？

Her　sandals　hit　the　floor　with　a　rude　slapping　sound　as　she　turned　her　back　on　Serena　and　her

idiotic　adoring　fans。　Da