dove into the crowd；
slipping through a trio of shirtless musclemen； making a beeline for？where else？？ the bar。
？Vodka martini。？ She smiled at the bartender； giving him her best yes…I？m…on…the…guest…list look。
She almost never drank； but holding a martini might give her a new outlook on life。
The bartender went right to work and smoothly handed over a glass。 Clutching the stem； Vanessa
turned back into the crowd； unsure who to talk to。 There was Chuck； laughing as he made small
talk with a very tall man； and there were the two impostors from the beach； frowning and
pathetically dabbing at their stained outfits with damp napkins。
Tough choice。
Vanessa wove through a thicket of linen…pants…clad types； heading toward the edge of the
pool。 ？We meet again；？ she offered by way of introduction。 ？I？m Vanessa。？
The blond girl stared at her dumbly through her tear…blurred slightly crossed eyes。
？You again。？ The faux Blair glared at her。 ？We must go change。？ The girl grabbed her friend？s
hand and started walking away from Vanessa。 ？Maybe you should also change。？
Vanessa resisted the urge to pitch her drink at the girl？s bucktoothed face。
Sliding off her flip…flops； she took a seat and dangled her feet into the aqua…colored water。 She
sipped her martini nervously； trying to drink her way through that horrible
I？m…at…a…party…and…no…one…is…talking…to…me shame。 Then she glanced at her watch； fiddled with
her outfit； and stared at the placid surface of the swimming pool； pretending to be engrossed in
each task。
？Yooo…hooo。 Excuse me； dear。？
Had someone called security？
Vanessa turned oh…so…casually to e face…to…face with Bailey Winter