Blair did was glance at Kati and Isabel to see if they’d noticed the

slip。 Blair was acting strange; and Serena fought down a rising

panic。 Maybe Nate was wrong; maybe Blair really was mad at her。

Serena had missed out on so much。 The divorce; for instance。 Poor

Blair。

“It must really stink without your dad around;” Serena said。 “But

your mom looks so good; and Cyrus is kind of sweet; once you get

used to him。” She giggled。

But Blair still wasn’t smiling。 “Maybe;” she said; staring out the

window at the hot…dog stand。 “I guess I’m still not used to him。”

All six of them were silent for a long; tense moment。

What they needed was one more good; stiff drink。

Nate rattled the ice cubes in his glass。 “Who wants another?” he

offered。 “I’ll make them。”

Serena held out her glass。 “Thanks; Nate;” she said。 “I’m so fucking

thirsty。 They locked the damned booze cabinet up in Ridgefield。 Can

you believe it?”

Blair shook her head。 “No; thanks;” she said。

“If I have another; I’ll be hungover at school tomorrow;” Kati said。

Isabel laughed。 “You’re always hungover at school;” she said。 She

handed Nate her glass。 “Here; I’ll split mine with Kati。”

“Let me give you a hand;” Chuck offered。 But before he could get

very far; Mrs。 van der Woodsen joined them; touching her

daughter’s arm。

“Serena;” her mother said。 “Eleanor would