included　Serena　van　der　Woodsen。

“They’re　sending　out　the　invitations　this　week；”　Roger　said。　“It　has　a

funny　name；　I　can’t　remember　what　it　is；　something　girly。”

“Kiss　on　the　Lips；”　Chuck　said；　stubbing　out　his　cigarette　with　his

obnoxious　Church’s　of　England　shoes。　“It’s　the　Kiss　on　the　Lips

party。”

“Oh；　yeah；”　Jeffrey　said。　“And　I　bet　there’s　going　to　be　a　lot　more

than　kissing　going　on。”　He　sniggered。　“Especially　if　Serena’s　there。”

The　boys　laughed；　congratulating　each　other　on　their　incredible　wit。

Dan　had　had　enough。　He　tossed　his　cigarette　on　the　sidewalk　only

inches　from　Chuck’s　shoes　and　headed　for　the　school　doors。　As　he

passed　the　three　boys　he　turned　his　head　and　puckered　his　lips；

making　a　smooching　sound　three　times　as　if　he　were　giving　each

boy　a　big　fat　kiss　on　the　lips。　Then　he　turned　and　went　inside；

banging　the　door　shut　behind　him。

Kiss　that；　assholes。

“What　I’m　going　for　is　tension；”　Vanessa　Abrams　explained　to

Constance’s　small　Advanced　Film　Studies　class。　She　was　standing　at

the　front　of　the　room；　presenting　her　idea　for　the　film　she　was

making。　“I’m　going　to　shoot　the　two　of　them　talking　on　a　park

bench　at　night。　Except　you　can’t　really　hear　what　they’re　saying。”

Vanessa　paused　dramatically；　waiting　for　one　of　her　classmates　to

say　something。　Mr。　Beckham；　their　teacher；　was　always　telling　them

to　keep　their　scenes　alive　with　dialogue　and　action；　and　Vanessa

was　deliberately　doing　just　the　opposite。

“So　there’s　no　dialogue？”　Mr。　Beckham　said　from　where　he　was

standing　in　the　back　of　the　classroom。　He　was　painfully　aware　that

no　one　else　in　the　class　was　liste