never　actually　hated　him　before。

“That’s　okay；　I　wouldn’t　want　to　do　it　with　you　anyway；”　Chuck

sneered。　“I　hear　you　have　diseases。”

“Get　away　from　me；”　Serena　hissed；　putting　her　hands　on　his　chest

and　shoving　him　away。　She　slammed　the　cab　door　shut　in　his　face；

and　gave　the　driver　her　address。

As　the　cab　pulled　away；　Serena　hugged　herself；　staring　straight

ahead　through　the　rain…spattered　windshield。　When　the　taxi　stopped

at　a　light　on　the　corner　of　Broadway　and　Spring；　she　opened　the

door；　leaned　out；　and　threw　up　into　the　gutter。

That　will　teach　her　not　to　drink　on　an　empty　stomach。

Chuck’s　scarf　swung　from　her　neck　and　dangled　in　the　puddle　of

pink　vomit　on　the　pavement。　Serena　pulled　the　scarf　off；　wiped　her

mouth　on　it；　and　stuffed　it　into　her　bag。

“Gross；”　she　said；　slamming　the　cab　door　closed　again。

“Tissue；　miss？”　the　cab　driver　offered；　passing　a　box　of　Kleenex

back　to　her。

Serena　pulled　one　from　the　box　and　wiped　her　mouth　with　it。

“Thanks；”　she　said。

Then　she　sat　back　in　the　seat　and　closed　her　eyes；　grateful；　as

always；　for　the　kindness　of　strangers。

“What　about　a　condom　or　something？”　Blair　murmured；　gaping　at

Nate’s　hard…on。　It　looked　like　it　was　going　to　take　over　the　world。

She　had　managed　to　get　all　of　his　clothes　off；　and　now　they　were

lying　down　on　her　bed　on　top　of　the　covers。　They’d