第21部分(第6/7 頁)

　the　dress　and　quickly　speed…walked　away；　as　if　at　any　moment　one　or　both　of　them　might　tackle　her。

“How　was　your　New　Year’s？”　Blair　asked　icily。

“It　was　good；”　Serena　said　lightly。　“I　saw　Nate…。”　She　trailed　off　uncertainly；　noticing　an　ominous　flicker　in　Blair’s　blue　eyes。　“Where’s　your　boyfriend？”　Serena　changed　the　subject。　Maybe　giving　Blair　the　chance　to　talk　about　her　perfect　relationship　would　warm　her　up　a　little　bit。

Blair　shook　her　head。　There　was　no　way　she　was　going　to　tell　Serena　what　had　happened　between　her　and　Pete。　She　hugged　her　arms　across　her　chest。　“You　saw　Nate？”　she　repeated　sarcastically。

Serena’s　blue　eyes　widened　as　she　caught　on　to　the　meaning　behind　Blair’s　tone。　Could　Blair　have　heard　what　happened？　Or　worse；　seen　her　and　Nate　together　at　the　party？

But　it　wasn’t　like　Serena　had　done　anything　wrong。　After　all；　she　and　Nate　were　both　single。　Blair　was　the　one　with　the　boyfriend。

“You’re　not　with　Nate　anymore；”　Serena　reminded　her。　Even　though　he　wishes　you　were。　Serena　suddenly　remembered　fighting　with　Blair　over　the　battered　polar　bear　they’d　gotten　on　their　first…grade　field　trip　to　the　Central　Park　Zoo。　Serena　had　snatched　it　from　Blair　in　an　uncharacteristically　aggressive　move；　and　Blair　had　broken　into　tears。　“It　didn’t　mean　anything。　It　was　just　a　dumb　New　Year’s　Eve　hookup；”　Serena　said　softly；　searching　her　friend’s　face。

Blair　narrowed　her　icy　blue　eyes。　What　the　fuck　was　Serena’s　problem；　practically　screaming　that　she　and　Nate　had　hooked　up？　Serena　had　probably　followed　her　into　Barneys；　just　to　have　the　chance　to　gloat　and　humiliate　her。　Blair　knew　it　didn’t　make　sense；　really；　but　she　also　knew　that　there　was　no　room　in　her　life　anymore　for　Serena。　Maybe　when　they　were　younger；　t