when he mentioned Serena’s name。 She
removed her hand from his and crossed her arms over her chest；
her eyes suddenly distrustful。
“We had some drinks and sat out in the garden。 It was so hot；
Serena started splashing around in the fountain； and then she
started splashing me。 And I guess I got kind of carried away。 I mean
—” Nate fumbled。 He remembered what Cyrus had told him about
girls liking surprises。 Well； Blair was about to be very surprised； and
he didn’t think she was going to like it one bit。
“And what？” Blair demanded。 “What happened？”
“We kissed；” Nate said。 He took a deep breath and held it。 He
couldn’t just leave it at that。 He blew the breath out。 “And then we
had sex。”
Blair threw the quilt off her shoulders and stood up。 “I knew it！” she
shouted。 “Who hasn’t had sex with Serena？ That nasty； slutty
bitch！”
“I’m sorry； Blair。 But it wasn’t like； planned or anything；” Nate said。
“It just happened。 And it was only that one time； promise。 I just
didn’t want you to think this was my first time； when it wasn’t。 I had
to tell you。”
Blair stomped into her bathroom and snatched her pink satin
bathrobe off its hook。 She put it on； cinching the belt tight。 “Get the
fuck out of here； Nate；” she said； angry tears sluicing her cheeks。 “I
can’t even look at you。 You’re pathetic。”
“Blair—” Nate pleaded。 For a split second he tried to think of
something charming to say。 He could usually think of something；
but nothing came。
Blair slammed the bathroom door shut in his face。
Nate stood up and pulled on his boxers。 Kitty Minky poked her head
out from under the bed and stared