er sides and turned abruptly
away。
As she crossed the room； Serena’s eyes met Blair’s。 She stopped in
her tracks and reached into her bag； searching for the twenty…dollar
bill Blair had left on the table at the Tribeca Star。 She wanted to give
it back。 As if； somehow； it would prove she hadn’t done anything
wrong。 That night； or ever。 Her fingers found her cigarettes instead。
She pulled one out and stuck it between her lips。 The music was
getting louder and around her； people were dancing。 Serena could
feel Blair watching her； and her hands trembled as she fumbled
around in her bag for a light。 As usual； she didn’t have one。 She
shook her head in annoyance； and glanced up at Blair。 And then；
instead of glaring at each other； the two girls smiled。
It was strange smile； and neither girl knew what the other meant by
it。
Was Blair smiling because she had won the boy in the end and
stamped all over Serena’s party shoes？ Because—as usual—she
had gotten her way？
Was Serena smiling because she felt unfortable and nervous？
Or was she smiling because she hadn’t stooped to Blair’s petty level
of spreading nasty rumors and playing with Nate’s mind？
Or was it a sad smile because their friendship was over？
Maybe they were smiling because they both knew deep down that
no matter what happened next—no matter what boy they fell in or
out of love with； or what clothes they wore； or what their SAT scores
were； or which college they got into—they both would be all right。
After all； the world they lived in took care of its own。
Serena pulled the cigarette out of her mouth； dropped it on the floor
an