face　that　made　you　want　to　look　at　it。　She　would　be　the　kind　of　girl

to　make　Dan　glow—full　of　movement　and　laughter—exactly　the

opposite　of　Dan’s　quiet　energy；　which　burned　deep　inside　him　and

made　his　hands　shake　sometimes。

Vanessa　hugged　herself。　Just　thinking　about　Dan　made　her　feel　like

she　had　to　pee。　Under　that　shaved　head　and　that　impossible　black

turtleneck；　she　was　just　a　girl。

Face　it：　we’re　all　the　same。

“The　invitations；　the　gift　bags；　and　the　champagne。　That’s　all　we

have　left　to　do；”　Blair　said。　She　lifted　a　cucumber　slice　off　her　plate

and　nibbled　at　it　thoughtfully。　“Kate　Spade　is　still　doing　the　gift

bags；　but　I　don’t　know—do　you　think　Kate　Spade　is　too　boring？”

“I　think　Kate　Spade　is　perfect；”　Isabel　said；　winding　her　dark　hair

into　a　knot　on　top　of　her　head。　“I　mean；　think　how　cool　it　is　to　have

a　plain　black　handbag　now　instead　of　all　those　animal　prints　and

military　shit　everyone　has。　It’s　all　such　。　。　。　bad　taste；　don’t　you

think？”

Blair　nodded。　“pletely；”　she　agreed。

“Hey；　what　about　my　leopard　skin　coat？”　Kati　said；　looking　hurt。

“Yes；　but　that’s　real　leopard　skin；”　Blair　argued。　“That’s　different。”

The　three　girls　were　sitting　in　the　Constance　cafeteria；　discussing

the　uping　Kiss　on　the　Lips　benefit　to　raise　money　for　the　Central

Park　Peregrine　Falcon　Foundation。　Blair　was　chair　of　the　organizing