who　had　been　at　his　place　for　over　an　hour；

reading　Rolling　Stone　magazine。　Tyler’s　idol　was　that　movie　director；

Cameron　Crowe；　who　had　toured　with　Led　Zeppelin　when　he　was

only　fifteen。　Tyler　refused　to　listen　to　CDs；　insisting　that　real　vinyl

records　were　the　only　way　to　go。　Blair　worried　her　brother　was

turning　into　a　loser。

Serena　steeled　herself　and　pulled　up　a　chair　in　the　space　next　to

Blair。

“Blair；　I’m　sorry　I’ve　been　such　a　plete　asshole；”　she　said；

removing　her　linen　napkin　from　its　silver　ring　and　spreading　it　out

on　her　lap。　“Your　parents　splitting　up　must　have　totally　sucked。”

Blair　shrugged　and　grabbed　a　fresh　sourdough　roll　from　a　basket　on

the　table。　She　tore　the　roll　in　half　and　stuffed　one　half　into　her

mouth。　The　other　guests　were　still　making　their　way　toward　the

table　and　figuring　out　where　to　sit。　Blair　knew　it　was　rude　to　eat

before　everyone　was　seated；　but　if　her　mouth　was　full；　she　couldn’t

talk；　and　she　really　didn’t　feel　like　talking。

“I　wish　I’d　been　here；”　Serena　said；　watching　Blair　smear　the　other

half　of　her　roll　with　a　thick　slab　of　French　butter。　“But　I　had　a　crazy

year。　I　have　the　most　insane　stories　to　tell　you。”

Blair　nodded　and　chewed　her　roll　slowly；　like　a　cow　chewing　its　cud。

Serena　waited　for　Blair　to　ask　her　what　kind　of　stories；　but　Blair

didn’t　say　anything；　she　just　kept　on　chewing。　She　didn’t　want　to

hear　about　all　the　fabulous　things　Serena　had　done　while　she　was

away　and　Blair　had　been　stuck　at　home；　watching　her　parents　fight

over　antique　chairs　that　nobody　sat　on；　teacups　nobody　used；　and

ugly；　expensive　paintings。

Serena　had　wante