at a diner in
Merritt？she and her dad had always stopped there on their family trips to Southampton when she
was a kid？but they？d gotten lost； and it had taken an hour and a half just to find it。 Nate decided
not to remind her of this。
？Maybe you should take a little nap；？ he suggested。
？We？ll be there soon；？ Serena chimed in from the front seat。 ？I can almost smell the city。？
Nate sniffed at the cool； damp air。 He couldn？t smell anything but the gritty burn of his cigarette
and the honey…almond aroma of Blair？s hair。 He couldn？t see much； either； just the vague outlines
of the car and his friends； and the dark void of that along…the…highway wilderness； which was
barely illuminated by the thin sliver of summer moon。 After a couple of other pit stops？to fill up
the tank； to take dorky pictures of the three of them making faces in front of different scenic spots；
to stock up on cigarettes and Diet Coke and junk food？they？d managed to waste most of the night。
It seemed almost impossible that in a few hours Nate was supposed to climb back on that shitty
bicycle and show up at Coach Michaels？s house for another day of hard labor and sexual
harassment。
Guess he？ll be calling in sick。 Again。
？So what？s our plan； anyway？？ Serena glanced over her shoulder and into the backseat。 ？Where
exactly am I driving us？？
？Let？s go to the Ritz。？ Blair hopped up and down in her seat like a little kid who had to
pee。 ？Let？s get a suite and order room service and sleep all day tomorrow。？
？How about we go right to the Three Guys coffee shop and we pig out on pancakes？？ Serena
suggested。
Nate weighed the options： a hotel room shared with Blair