“Go ahead；” the bouncer said； waving them on。
She’s with me？ Dan couldn’t believe his balls。 He’d had no idea they
were that big。
“I’d better look around for my sister；” he told Serena when they got
inside。
“Okay；” she said。 “I’ll meet you back here in ten minutes。”
The room was full of old familiar faces。 So familiar that no one there
was quite sure whether Serena van der Woodsen had just arrived or
if she’d been there all night。 She certainly looked like she’d been
having a good time。 Her hair was windblown； her dress was slipping
off her shoulders； there was a run in her tights； and her cheeks were
all pink； as if she’d been running。 She looked wild； like the kind of
girl who’d done everything everyone said she’d done； and probably
a whole lot more。
Blair noticed Serena right away； standing on the edge of the dance
floor in that funny old dress they’d bought together at Alice
Underground。
Blair pulled away from Nate。 “Look who’s here；” she said。
Nate turned around； gripping Blair’s hand when he saw Serena； as if
to demonstrate his devotion。
Blair squeezed his hand back。 “Why don’t you go tell her？” she
asked him。 “Tell her you can’t be friends with her anymore。” Her
stomach rumbled nervously。 After all the throwing up she’d done；
she really needed another tuna roll。
Nate stared at Serena with grim； slightly stoned determination。 If
Blair thought it was crucial that he tell Serena to get lost； then he’d
do it。 He couldn’t wait to get this all behind them so he could relax。
In fact； after he talked to Serena he was going to head upstairs and
find somewhere private to light up