said　mysteriously。

She　looked　down　and　fiddled　with　the　little　ruby　ring　on　the　middle

finger　of　her　right　hand。　The　film　was　rolling；　and　Blair　was　getting

warmed　up。

“I　think　Serena　is　pretty　messed　up　about　it。　But　I　promised　her　I

wouldn’t　say　anything；”　she　added。

Her　friends　nodded　as　if　they　understood　pletely。　It　sounded

serious　and　juicy；　and　best　of　all　it　sounded　like　Serena　had

confided　everything　to　Blair。　If　only　Blair　could　script　the　rest　of　the

movie；　she’d　wind　up　with　the　boy　for　sure。　And　Serena　could　play

the　girl　who　falls　off　the　cliff　and　cracks　her　skull　on　a　rock　and　is

eaten　alive　by　hungry　vultures；　never　to　be　seen　again。

“Careful；　Blair；”　Chuck　warned；　nodding　at　Serena　and　Nate；　who

were　still　talking　in　low　voices　over　by　the　wet　bar；　their　eyes　never

straying　from　each　other’s　faces。　“Looks　like　Serena’s　already　found

her　next　victim。”

Serena　was　holding　Nate’s　hand　loosely　in　hers；　swinging　it　back

and　forth。

“Remember　Buck　Naked？”　she　asked　him；　laughing　softly。

Nate　chuckled；　still　embarrassed；　even　after　all　these　years。　Buck

Naked　was　Nate’s　alter　ego；　invented　at　a　party　in　eighth　grade；

when　most　of　them　had　gotten　drunk　for　the　first　time。　After

drinking　six　beers；　Nate　had　taken　his　shirt　off；　and　Serena　and　Blair

had　drawn　a　goofy；　buck…toothed　face　on　his　torso　in　black