h the Wind。” She looked up again。 “How
’bout it？”
Serena jiggled her foot up and down and chewed on her pinky nail。
She tried to imagine herself alone on stage playing Scarlett O’Hara。
She would have to cry on cue； and pretend to faint； and wear huge
dresses with corsets and hoop skirts。 Maybe even a wig。
I’ll never go hungry again！ she’d cry dramatically； in her best
Southern…belle voice。 It might be kind of fun。
Serena took the flyer from Ms。 Glos’s hand； careful not to touch the
paper where Ms。 Glos had touched it。
“Sure； why not？” she said。 “It sounds like fun。”
Serena left Ms。 Glos’s office as the final class of the day was getting
out。 Gone With the Wind rehearsal was in the auditorium； but it
didn’t begin until six so that the students who did sports right after
school could still be in the play。 Serena walked up Constance’s wide
central stairwell to the fourth floor to retrieve her coat from her
locker and see if anyone wanted to hang out until six。 All around
her； girls were flying past； a blur of end…of…the…day energy； rushing
to their next meeting； practice； rehearsal； or club。 Out of habit； they
paused for half a second to say hello to Serena； because ever since
they could remember； to be seen talking to Serena van der
Woodsen was to be seen。
“Hey Serena；” Laura Salmon yelled before diving down the stairs for
Glee Club in the basement music room。
“Later； Serena；” Rain Hoffstetter said； as she slipped past in her
gym shorts； heading for soccer practice。
“See you tomorrow； Serena；” Lily Reed said softly； blushing because
she was wearing her riding breeches； which always emba