Blair did was glance at Kati and Isabel to see if they’d noticed the
slip。 Blair was acting strange； and Serena fought down a rising
panic。 Maybe Nate was wrong； maybe Blair really was mad at her。
Serena had missed out on so much。 The divorce； for instance。 Poor
Blair。
“It must really stink without your dad around；” Serena said。 “But
your mom looks so good； and Cyrus is kind of sweet； once you get
used to him。” She giggled。
But Blair still wasn’t smiling。 “Maybe；” she said； staring out the
window at the hot…dog stand。 “I guess I’m still not used to him。”
All six of them were silent for a long； tense moment。
What they needed was one more good； stiff drink。
Nate rattled the ice cubes in his glass。 “Who wants another？” he
offered。 “I’ll make them。”
Serena held out her glass。 “Thanks； Nate；” she said。 “I’m so fucking
thirsty。 They locked the damned booze cabinet up in Ridgefield。 Can
you believe it？”
Blair shook her head。 “No； thanks；” she said。
“If I have another； I’ll be hungover at school tomorrow；” Kati said。
Isabel laughed。 “You’re always hungover at school；” she said。 She
handed Nate her glass。 “Here； I’ll split mine with Kati。”
“Let me give you a hand；” Chuck offered。 But before he could get
very far； Mrs。 van der Woodsen joined them； touching her
daughter’s arm。
“Serena；” her mother said。 “Eleanor would