knew about them。
That makes sense。
?Uh…huh;? Serena replied excitedly。 ?Look atthese。 ? She pulled some old photos from her bag
and handed them to Blair。
Blair stared down at the picture of Nate sleeping; the words BUCK NAKED scrawled across his
adolescent; scrawny chest in black magic marker。 She?d written the ?BUCK? part; and Serena?s
wavy script had filled in the ?NAKED??they hadn?t even talked about it; they?d just had the exact
same thought at the exact same time。 Blair laughed; running her fingers over the slick surface of
the photograph。 ?I can?t believe you found this! What were we; like; thirteen? We were so
freaking immature!? They looked so innocent; lying there with Nate between them。 Blair smiled;
suddenly feeling nostalgic。 The Three Musketeers?that?s what their parents had called them since
grade school; a cluster of adults shaking their heads and smiling as Serena and Blair tackled Nate
in their various living rooms; sitting on top of him until he screamed。
Sounds like a dream e true。
?Oh my God。? Blair turned to face Serena and pushed her sunglasses up on top of her head。
Some girl?s art portfolio nearly slapped Blair as the girl hurried up the stone steps。 ?Remember in
seventh grade when we all drank a bottle of champagne; and Nate had to go out to dinner with his
dad afterwards; totally tipsy?? Serena laughed as she stuffed the photos back into her bag。 ?How
could I forget? And remember how we went back to your house and tried to make brownies?
Except we were both so uncoordinated we spilled the batter all over the floor; and then Kitty
Minky ate it and threw up in your mom?s closet?all over her new pair of Fendi boots? I?ve never
seen your mom that mad before。? Blair laughed; moving slightly closer to Serena on the steps。 Her
anger was slowly dissolving。 If Serena would just confess about that fucking love letter; Blair
could just forgive her and they could move on。 With her family turning on her; she really needed
her best friend。
?Can I bum a smoke?? Blair eyed Serena?s slouchy black leather Gucci bag。 Serena nodded and
pulled out her pack of Gauloises; handing one to her。 Even though she?d brought her own Merit
Ultra Lights; Blair decided that with Yale ing up so soon; she?d better start smoking a more
serious brand of cigarettes。
Doesn?t she mean more pretentious?
A horde of little kids dressed in shorts and T…shirts stumbled up the steps; holding onto a long
piece of red rope。 Blair watched as the kids struggled to make it to the top of the steps; yelling and
laughing; all moving together in a group。 She remembered how in first grade; for whatever
ridiculous reason; everyone in her class had decided that she had cooties。 Serena was the only one