f　her　idea。　“I

need　your　help；”　Serena　said；　squeezing　Blair’s　arm。

Blair　kept　her　body　stiff　until　Serena　let　go。

“Sorry；”　Serena　said。　“Listen；　I　want　to　make　a　movie；　and　I　thought

you　could　help　me；　you　know；　with　the　cameras　and　stuff；　since　you

take　film。”

Blair　glanced　at　Kati　and　Isabel；　who　were　quietly　sipping　milk

behind　her。　Then　she　smiled　up　at　Serena；　and　shook　her　head。

“Sorry；　I　can’t；”　she　said。　“I’ve　got　activities　every　single　day　after

school。　I　don’t　have　time。”

“Oh；　e　on；　Blair；”　Serena　said；　grabbing　Blair’s　hand。

“Remember；　we　always　wanted　to　do　this。　You　wanted　to　be　Audrey

Hepburn。”

Blair　removed　her　hand　and　folded　her　arms　across　her　chest；

glancing　at　Isabel　and　Kati　again。

“Don’t　worry；　I’ll　do　all　the　work；”　Serena　added　hastily。　“All　you

have　to　do　is　show　me　how　to　use　the　camera　and　the　lighting　and

stuff。”

“I　can’t；”　Blair　insisted。　“Sorry。”

Serena　pursed　her　lips　to　keep　them　from　trembling。　Her　eyes

seemed　to　be　growing　larger　and　larger；　and　her　face　was　turning

splotchy。

Blair　had　seen　this　transformation　in　Serena　many　times　as　they

grew　up　together。　Once；　when　they　were　both　eight；　they　had

walked　the　three　miles　from　Serena’s　country　house　into　the　town

of　Ridgefield　to　buy　ice　cream　cones。　Serena　stepped　out　of　the　ice

cream　shop　with　her　triple　strawberry　cone　with　chocolate　sprinkles

and　bent　down　to　pet　a　dog　tied　up　outside。　All　three　scoops　fell

splat　into　the　dirt。　Serena’s　eyes　had　grown　huge　and　her　face

looked　like　she　had　the　measles。　The　tears　had　just　started　to　roll；

and　Blair　was　about　to　offer　to　share　he