n　her　into　a

bouncy　cheerleader　with　blond　pigtails。　She’d　have　to　be

brainwashed　for　that　to　happen。

“It’s　Serena　van　der　Woodsen。”

Vanessa　stopped　looking　at　herself　and　threw　the　shirt　on　her　bed。

“Oh；”　she　said。　“What’s　up？”

“Well；”　Serena　said。　“I　totally　understand　why　you　wanted　to　cast

Marjorie。　You　know；　for　your　film？　But　you　seem　to　really　know　what

you’re　doing；　and　I　really　need　the　extracurricular　or　Ms。　Glos　is

going　to　kill　me。　So　I　thought　I’d　try　to　make　my　own　movie。”

“Uh　huh；”　Vanessa　said；　trying　to　figure　out　why　Serena　van　der

Woodsen　of　all　people　would　be　calling　her　up　on　a　Friday　night。

Didn’t　she　have　a　ball　to　go　to　or　something？　Some　fête？

“So　anyway；　I　was　wondering　if　maybe　you　could　help　me。　You

know；　like　show　me　how　to　use　the　camera；　and　whatever。　I　mean；　I

really　don’t　know　what　I’m　doing；”　Serena　said。　She　sighed。　“I　don’t

know；　maybe　making　a　film　is　a　dumb　idea。　It’s　probably　a　lot

harder　than　I　think。”

“It’s　not　dumb；”　Vanessa　said；　feeling　kind　of　sorry　for　Serena

despite　herself。　“I　can　show　you　some　of　the　basic　stuff。”

“Really？”　Serena　said。　She　sounded　thrilled。　“How　about　tomorrow？

Can　you　do　it　tomorrow？”

Saturday　was　Vanessa’s　vampire　day。　She　usually　woke　up　after

dark　and　then　went　to　the　diner　or　to　the　movies　with　her　sister　or

Dan。

“Sunday　is　better；”