he　way；　Aaron　and　I　broke　up。？

Blair　sucked　cold　air　in　through　her　nostrils；　her　freshly　glossed　lips　turning　up　in　a　smug　smile

as　she　absorbed　the　information。　？We？ll　talk　about　it　when　you　get　here。？　Clicking　off；　she　sat

down　on　the　cold；　hard　steps　and　buttoned　up　her　sky　blue　cashmere　toggle　coat；　pulling　the　hood

up　over　her　head　before　firing　up　a　Merit　Ultra　Light。　If　anyone　had　passed　by　on　the　road；　they？d

have　seen　a　mysterious　girl　in　a　blue　hooded　coat；　looking　defiantly　sure　of　herself；　even　though

the　plot　had　changed　and　the　script　had　to　be　entirely　rewritten。

what　we　talk　about　when　we？re　not　talking　about　love

？Everyone　get　their　coats；？　Serena　told　the　ninth　graders　in　peer　group　on　Monday。　？We？re

taking　you　out　for　hot　chocolate　at　Jackson　Hole。？

？Don？t　worry；　we　have　permission；？　Blair　added；　checking　herself　out　in　the　cafeteria　mirror。

She？d　gone　back　to　the　salon　to　have　her　hair　touched　up　and　now　she　looked　like　Edie　Sedgwick

from　the　Andy　Warhol　Factory　days。　It　was　totally　far　out。

？Wow；？　Jenny　breathed；　staring　at　her。　？You　look　great。？　Jenny　was　so　happy　since　meeting　Leo；

she　was　practically　bursting　with　love　for　everyone　she　encountered。

Blair　turned　around；　remembering　something。　？Have　you　been　checking　your　e…mail？？　she

demanded。

Jenny？s　eyes　lit　up。　？Oh；　yes。　Yes；　I　have！？

Blair　thought　about　taking　credit　for　Jenny？s　obvious　state　of　plete　ecstasy；　but　it　was

actually　more　fun　to　watch　Jenny　glow　in　plete　oblivion。　Maybe　it　wouldn？t　be　so　horrible

being　a　big　sister　after　all。　She　noticed　Elise　Wells　was　wearing　a　tight　black　cropped　sweater

instead　of　one　of　her　trademark　prissy　pink　c