“That　sounds　amazing。　You　should　definitely　go　there；”　Blair　said；　so　sweetly　that　no　one　but　her　nearest；　dearest；　and　greatest　enemies　would　hear　the　threatening　subtext。

“How　marvelous　to　be　dating　an　artist。　That’s　how　Cyrus　is。　Always　seeing　the　world　a　different　way；”　Eleanor　mused；　gazing　adoringly　at　her　tubby；　bald；　red…faced；　gold　cuff　bracelet–…wearing　husband。　He’d　gotten　fatter　in　the　four　years　since　they’d　been　married；　something　that　hardly　seemed　possible。

What　Cyrus　and　art　had　to　do　with　each　other　Blair　didn’t　know。　“I’m　starting　at　McMahon　Cannon；”　she　announced　to　no　one　in　particular。　Or　she　would　be　once　she　got　the　official　offer。　McMahon　Cannon　was　one　of　the　premiere　litigation　firms　in　the　city　and　would　look　great　on　her　résumé　when　she　applied　to　law　school。　Her　interview　had　gone　well…　she　hadn’t　tried　to　kiss　the　interviewer；　thank　God；　and　they’d　had　a　nice　conversation　about　Yale。　She　was　confident　that　she　would　be　accepted。

“That’s　great；　Blair；”　Serena　said；　sounding　so　genuinely　happy　for　her　that　Blair　wanted　to　tear　her　pretty　blond　hair　out　of　her　head　one　bloody　clump　at　a　time。　She　reminded　herself　that　while　Serena　was　going　to　be　reading　poetry　to　cornstalks；　she　was　going　to　be　wearing　power　suits　and　Louboutin　pumps　and　doing　things　that　mattered。

“You　girls　were　always　so　ambitious！”　Eleanor　trilled；　then　headed　off　to　the　kitchen　to　ensure　that　Myrtle；　the　cook；　was　handling　the　dinner　preparations　exactly　according　to　her　no…carb　specifications　and　hadn’t　drunk　herself　into　a　frenzy。

“Well；　glad　everything’s　going　well　with　you；”　Blair　said　flatly；　making　her　way　toward　the　dining　room　table。

Serena　nodded　and　sank　down　into　her　assigned　seat　next　to　Blair。　The　two　girls　star