ature　class；　she’d　take　the　train　into　the　city　and　she　and　Dan　would　stay　holed　up　in　his　tiny　bedroom　until　Sunday　evening；　venturing　out　only　to　Lincoln　Plaza　to　see　a　movie　or　to　the　diner　on　the　corner　for　breakfast。　She　loved　Dan　and　loved　spending　time　with　him；　but　she　sometimes　felt　they　were　missing　out　on　something。

Um；　like；　life？

“Actually；　it　is　kind　of　weird；”　Serena　decided；　watching　the　way　Jenny　was　gazing　adoringly　up　at　Nate。　She　wasn’t　annoyed　to　see　Nate　with　Jenny—in　a　weird　way；　it　made　sense。　But　she　did　care　that　Jenny　was　getting　so　caught　up　with　playing　house　when　she　still　had　all　of　college　in　front　of　her；　and　that　Nate　didn’t　seem　interested　in　anything　besides　taking　care　of　Jenny。

Blair　gazed　at　her　little　brother；　Tyler；　across　the　room。　He　was　sixteen；　and　had　grown　up　from　being　a　weirdo　little　Cameron　Crowe–obsessed　kid　to　kind　of　a　cool　guy。　A　smile　played　on　her　lips。

“What　are　you　thinking？”　Serena　nervously　chewed　her　bottom　lip。　With　Blair；　you　never　knew。

Behind　them；　the　servers　cleared　their　plates　away；　making　room　for　the　dessert　course。　“Tyler　doesn’t　have　a　girlfriend；”　Blair　began。

Tyler　was　cute。　He　was　skinny；　with　shaggy　hair；　and　looked　like　the　downtown　DJ　he　was；　Serena　thought。　And　he　was　a　really　good　kid。

“I’ll　have　Tyler　e…mail　her　and　invite　her　to　one　of　his　events；”　Blair　announced。　“He　needs　a　girlfriend。　He　sometimes　turns　his　dirty　socks　inside　out　and　then　wears　them；　because　he　thinks　that　means　they’re　clean。”

Serena　burst　into　laughter。　“Dan　used　to　do　that；　too！”　she　squealed。

Dick　Cashman　peered　over　at　the　two　girls。　“Can　you　little　ladies　let　me　in　on　the　joke？　Sounds　like　a　good　one！”

“Meow　meow；”　Blair　responded；　choking　on