ith　was　that　I　didn’t　even

bother　to　show　up　at　the　beginning　of　the　year。　I　don’t　blame　them；

I　guess。　But　to　tell　you　the　truth；　I　really　didn’t　care　about　going

back　to　school。　I　was　having　way　too　much　fun。”

Blair　rolled　her　eyes　again。　She　honestly　didn’t　care　what　the　truth

was。

“Did　you　ever　think　about　the　fact　that　these　are　like；　the　most

important　years　of　our　lives？　Like；　for　getting　into　college　and

everything？”　she　said。

Missy　brought　Serena’s　drink；　and　this　time　Serena　only　nodded　her

thanks。　She　looked　down　at　the　floor；　her　pinky　nail　between　her

teeth。　“Yeah；　I’m　just　realizing　that　now；”　she　admitted。　“I　hadn’t

thought　about　it　before—how　I　should　have　been　joining　teams　and

clubs。　You　know；　getting　really　into　the　school　thing。”

Blair　shook　her　head。　“I　feel　sorry　for　your　parents；”　she　said　quietly。

Serena’s　eyes　were　getting　big；　and　her　lip　was　trembling。　But　she

was　determined　not　to　let　Blair　make　her　cry。　Blair　was　just　being　a

bitch；　that’s　all。　Maybe　she　was　getting　her　period。

Serena　took　a　huge　gulp　of　her　drink　and　wiped　her　mouth　with　her

cocktail　napkin。　“So；　you　never　told　me　what　you　and　Nate　did　all

summer。　Did　you　ever　go　up　to　Maine　and　see　that　boat　he　built？”

she　asked；　pletely　changing　the　subject。

Blair　shook　her　head。　“I　had　tennis　camp。　It　sucked。”

“Oh；”　Serena　said。

They　drank　their　drinks　in　awkward　silence。

Serena　sat　up　suddenly；　remembering　something。　“Hey；”　she　said。

“You　know；　some　girl　actually　signed　up　to　help　me　with　my　movie？

A　ninth　grader。　Her　name　is　Jenny。　And　she　gave　me　an　invitation　to

that　party　next　week。　You　kno