OUT OF A PARTY IN TRIBECA OR LOCKED ON THE ROOF OF YOUR OLD APT IN WILLIAMSBURG？
Vanessa smiled。 Dan was alluding to the first time they’d met； when they’d both found themselves locked out of a party back in high school。 Vanessa had e out onto the fire escape to get some air； and Dan had e out for a cigarette； closing the fire door behind him and locking them both out。 Together； they’d climbed down the side of the massive brick building； and wound up at a nearby bar； talking late into the night and quickly being friends。 That felt so long ago now。
Vanessa pulled her legs underneath her and spread a blanket over her legs。 It was nice to hear from Dan； and especially nice that he didn’t seem to hate her anymore。 Outside； she could hear people from the bar across the street talking and laughing。 She smiled to herself； then texted back： DEPENDS WHO I’D BE LOCKED OUT WITH。
Now who says texting is impersonal？
tangled up in s…
Serena scampered up the snowy hill； pulling a handmade toboggan behind her。 “Natie； let’s race！” she called； her breath ing out in small white puffs。 The floodlights outside the house were on； casting the property in an eerie glow。 Chuck and Blair were already halfway down the hill。 Jenny was still struggling up with her toboggan。 It kept slipping from her mittened hands and sliding back down。
“Okay。” Nate ran after Serena。 It struck him that they were twenty—actual adults—and yet all they wanted to do was act like little kids。 It was like that dumb cliché： The more you change； the more you stay the same。 Maybe growing up was just about being closer to the person you always were。
And he came up with that without any herbal aid。 Impressive。
“Hey！” Nate easily caught up with Serena； wrapping his arms