第3部分(第3/7 頁)

　bow…tied　Barneys　bag—some　of　Blair’s　favorite　New　York　things。　Blair　had　reciprocated　with　a　stuffed　bulldog　wearing　a　Yale　T…shirt。　It　was　sitting　on　Serena’s　dresser；　next　to　a　silver…framed　picture　of　the　two　of　them　wearing　enormous　hats　at　a　Kentucky　Derby　party　sophomore　year。　They’d　send　e…mails　and　texts；　but　never　anything　long　or　involved。　It　was　fine；　though。　Blair　and　Serena　were　the　type　of　friends　who　could　go　for　weeks　and　even；　one　time；　months　without　speaking；　then　pick　up　right　where　they　left　off。

As　for　Nate…　Serena　hadn’t　talked　to　him　since　he　left；　to　sail　the　world　for　a　year。　He　had　left　her　crushed；　and　she　wondered　if　she’d　ever　see　him　again。　But　she　didn’t　want　to　think　about　that　right　now。

Or　ever。

“Are　you　going　to　Chuck’s　New　Year’s　party？”　Isabel　asked；　draining　the　rest　of　her　Grey　Goose　and　cranberry。　“I　mean；　I　know　he’s；　like；　such　a　misogynist；　but　I　figured；　you　can　only　protest　so　much；　you　know？　I　prepared　Casey。”

“Wait；　Chuck　is　back　from　military　school？”　Serena　asked；　suddenly　eager　to　hear　everything。　She　hadn’t　thought　about　Chuck—with　his　sketchy　history；　his　trademark　monogrammed　scarf；　or　his　questionable　sexuality—since　graduation。　But　the　last　she’d　heard；　after　getting　rejected　from　all　twelve　schools　he’d　applied　to；　he’d　gone　to　some　tiny　underground；　remote…country…boot…camp　men’s　college。　Of　course　her　parents　saw　Chuck’s　parents　socially；　but　they　never　mentioned　what　he　was　doing。　It　was　an　unspoken　rule　on　the　Upper　East　Side　that　parents　didn’t　discuss　their　unsuccessful　children。

“He　must　be。”　Isabel　shrugged。　“The　party’s　on。　I　saw　Laura　Salmon　at　City　Bakery　this　morning　and　she　told　me　she　was　hanging　out　with　Rain　Hoffstetter　at　some　lame　Constance　alum　tea　party　that