d； feigning cluelessness。 “Sorry about that。”
“So tell me about the party；” Serena said。 “What’s it for again？”
Blair couldn’t talk about the cause without smiling self…consciously
because it sounded so lame and unsexy。 That’s why she’d named
the party Kiss on the Lips。 To give it some allure。 “It’s for those two
peregrine falcons that live in Central Park。 They’re an endangered
species； and everyone’s worried that they’re going to die or starve
or the squirrels will raid their nests or whatever。 So they set up a
foundation for them；” she explained。 “Don’t laugh。 I know it’s kind
of stupid。”
Serena blew out a puff of smoke and giggled。 “Well； it’s not like
there aren’t people that need saving。 I mean； what about the
homeless？”
“Well； it’s as good a cause as any。 We wanted something that
wasn’t too heavy to start the season off；” Blair huffed； annoyed。 It
was fine for her to laugh at the cause she’d chosen for the party；
but Serena had no right。
Serena steered the conversation back on course。 “So is the party
like； just for us； or is it for parents； too？” she asked。
Blair hesitated。 “Just 。 。 。 us；” she said finally。 She downed the rest of
her drink and looked at her watch。 “Um； I kind of have to take off；”
she said。 She slid her bag over her arm and picked her pack of
cigarettes up off the table。
Serena frowned。 She h