ips from
side to side。
Nate glanced at Blair； who was watching them carefully； and
collected himself。 “Look； Serena；” he said； taking a step back and
removing her arms。 “I really can’t 。 。 。 you know 。 。 。 be friends 。 。 。
not like the way we were before；” he began。
Serena gazed into his eyes searchingly； trying to read his true
thoughts。 “What did I do？” she said。 “Did I do something？”
“Blair is my girlfriend；” Nate continued。 “I have to 。 。 。 I have to be
loyal to her。 I can’t 。 。 。 I can’t really be 。 。 。” He swallowed。
Serena crossed her arms over her chest。 If only she could hate Nate
for being so cruel and so lame。 If only he weren’t so good…looking。
And if only she didn’t love him。
“Well； I guess we should stop talking then；” she said。 “Blair might
get mad。” She let her arms fall to her 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