tugging　on　Jenny？s　hand。　She　started　to　run　down　the　stairs；　pulling

Jenny　after　her。　？Go；　go；go　！？

Jenny　held　her　breath　as　she　followed　Elise　downstairs　and　sprinted　across　the　red…carpeted

reception　hall　toward　the　front　doors。　Trina；　the　school　receptionist；　was　barking　into　her　headset

and　sorting　the　mail　at　the　same　time。　She　didn？t　even　notice　the　two　freshman　girls　streak　past

without　stopping　to　sign　out。

Blair　sat　alone　on　the　East　Ninety…fourth　Street　stoop　favored　by　the　Constance　Billard　senior

girls；　furiously　smoking　a　Merit　Ultra　Light　and　running　through　the　college　interview　questions

she？d　been　prepared　to　answer　since　October。　There　were　only　two　days　left　until　her　interview

with　Owen　Wells；　and　she　absolutely　refused　to　fuck　this　one　up。

Tell　me　about　your　interests。　What　kinds　of　things　are　you　involved　in　after　school？

I？m　president　of　the　French　club　and　the　social　services　board　at　school。　I？m　also　a　peer　group

leader；　counseling　freshmen　on　social　issues。　I？m　nationally　ranked　in　tennis？I　play　all　summer；

but　only　twice　a　week　during　the　winter。　I　volunteer　in　soup　kitchens　whenever　I　can。　I　also　chair

the　organizing　mittees　for　about　eight　charity　functions　a　year。　We　were　going　to　do　a

Valentine？s　Day　ball　this　Sunday　to　benefit　Little　Hearts；　a　charity　for　children　with　heart

problems；　but　the　ball　got　canceled　because　of　Fashion　Week。　We　were　worried　no　one　would

e。　I　sent　a　letter　to　everyone　on　the　guest　list　and　still　raised　almost　300；000。　Fundraising　has

always　been　one　of　my　particular　strengths；　and　I　definitely　plan　to　volunteer　my　services　at　Yale。

Blair　could　just　imagine　Owen？s　eyes　widening　in　i