stal tumbler she？d
filled？again？from the bottle of her father？s Oban whiskey she？d hid from the rest of the revelers。
It was her birthday and her house？why not save the good stuff for herself？
？Serena。？ Henry？s familiar voice split the night。 It felt like a hug just knowing he was nearby。 He
was so handsome； and he probably still loved her。。。。
And maybe she was just alittle drunk？
Someone had managed to get the van der Woodsens？ back garden fire pit going； and Henry and
three guys Serena didn？t recognize were huddled around it； warming themselves against the
surprisingly brisk summer evening。 Except for the flickering flames and the stars high overhead；
the night was dark。 It was a forting； familiar kind of darkness。 Serena had spent so many
summer nights here； like the night she ditched Henry。
？I？ve been looking for you。？ Serena settled down next to him on one of the low stone benches
that encircled the fire pit。 She was wearing an ancient pair of Seven cutoffs and he was still in his
swim trunks。Their bare knees were almost touching。
？Well； you found me。？ He used the tiny stub of the cigarette he was smoking to ignite a new one。
？This is your birthday party； right？？ asked one of the other guys； who Serena recognized as one
of her brother？s Brown freshman year suitemates； although she couldn？t remember his name。
？It？s my birthday tomorrow。？ Serena glanced at her slim Chanel watch。 ？In approximately
ninety…seven minutes； actually。 And it？s also Bastille Day。？
？Vive la France。？Henry raised the bottle of Corzo tequila in his hands and clinked it against her
glass。
？Vive la France。？Serena tipped her glass back； draining her whis