第2部分(第6/7 頁)

　buzzed　around　Serena；　Amanda；　and　her　other　two　actress　friends；　Alysia　and　Alison。　They　called　themselves　the　three　A’s；　even　though　Alysia’s　real　name　was　actually　Jennifer。

The　three　A’s　were　admittedly　a　little　too　into　material　things；　but　they　were　also　goofy　and　fun　and　never　turned　down　a　party。　Usually　Serena　had　a　blast　hanging　out　with　them；　but　tonight；　she　felt　a　little…　off。　It　was　two　days　after　Christmas　and　her　parents　had　just　left　for　their　villa　in　St。　Barts；　while　her　brother；　Erik；　was　already　back　in　Melbourne；　Australia；　where　he　was　spending　his　sophomore　year　abroad。　It　wasn’t　like　Serena　wanted　to　spend　New　Year’s　Eve　with　her　family；　but　she　also　didn’t　like　waking　up　in　their　huge　Fifth　Avenue　apartment　alone。　She　downed　her　champagne　in　one　gulp；　telling　herself　that　she　just　needed　to　have　fun。

After　all；　she　is　the　expert。

“Hey；　you’re　that　farm　chick！”　one　spiky…haired　brunet　guy　stuttered；　not　looking　Amanda　in　the　eye。　He　wore　a　pink　and　white　striped　button…down　and　his　teeth　were　Chiclet　white。

“Yes。”　Amanda　sighed。　“I　am。　But　I　have　to　stand　over　here　now。”　She　took　two　steps　away　as　Alysia　and　Alison　snorted　in　laughter。　Serena　offered　the　guy　a　sympathetic　smile。　Even　though　she　was　beautiful；　she　was　never　mean。

An　infuriating　bination。

“God；　you’d　think　Knowledge　would　know　to　not　to　let　guys　like　that　in。　Did　you　see　his　hair？　It　was；　like；　sprayed　on。”　Amanda　flipped　her　long　blond　extensions　over　her　shoulder　as　she　named　the　beefy　bouncer　whose　job　was　to　keep　Saucebox　as　exclusive　as　possible；　even　though；　to　Serena；　it　felt　exactly　the　same　as　every　other　bar　she’d　been　to　recently。

“Serena？”

Serena　whirled　around；　ready　to　have　another　one　of　those　so　what　are　you　w