her。 She was awesome。”
“Yeah； well； I’m the director； so it’s my choice。 And I chose Marjorie。
Okay？” Vanessa really didn’t want to hear about how awesome
Serena had been。 “Besides； I keep hearing all these stories about
Serena。 I don’t think she’s all that reliable。”
Vanessa was pretty sure that everything she’d heard was
pletely bogus； but it couldn’t hurt to mention it to Dan。
“What do you mean？” Dan said。 “What kind of stories？”
“Like she manufactures her own drug called S； and she has some
pretty bad STDs；” Vanessa said。 “I really don’t want to deal with
that。”
“Where’d you hear that？” Dan said。
“I have my sources；” she said。
A bus roared up Madison on its way to the Cloisters。 On the side of it
was a massive photograph of a belly button。 Or was it a gunshot
wound？ Scrawled in blue girly writing on the side of the poster was
the name “Serena。”
Vanessa stared after the bus。 Was she losing her mind？ Or was
Serena really and truly everywhere？ Every last bit of her？
“I just don’t think she’s right for us；” Vanessa said； hoping Dan
would e around if she used the word “us。” It was their movie；
not hers。
“Fine；” Dan said coldly。
“So； are you ing out with me and Ruby in Brooklyn on Friday？”
Vanessa asked； eager to change the subject。
“Nah。 I don’t think so；” Dan said。 “See ya。” He clicked off and
tossed the phone angrily into his black courier bag。
That morning his sister Jenny had stumbled into his room； her eyes
all bloodshot and her hands covered in black ink； and dropped an
invitation to that stupid falcon party on the floor beside his bed。
He’d actually dared to think that since he was going to be Serena’s
costar； he might actually take her to the goddamned party。 Now；
that little dream was all shot to hell。
Dan couldn’t believe it。 His one chance to get to know Serena was
gone because Vanessa wanted to exercise her artistic license to
make the worst film ever made。 It was unbelievable。 More
unbelievable still was that Vanessa； queen of the alterna…rebel
scene； had actually stooped to spreading rumors about a girl she
barely knew。 Maybe Constance was finally rubbing off on her。
Oh； don’t be a spoilsport。 Gossip is sexy。 Gossip is good。 Not
everybody does it； but everybody should！
A bus stopped at a light right in front of him。 First Dan noticed
Serena’s name。 It was scrawled in blue； in messy girl’s handwriting
on a giant black…and…white poster of what looked like a rosebud。 It
was beautiful。
Jenny was a zombie on Thursday from missing a whole night’s
sleep； but she’d gotten the Kiss on the Lips invitations done； and
now she and Dan each had an invitation of their very own。
She was starving； too； having consumed only a banana and an
orange for dinner the night before。 She’d even skipped her morning
chocolate…chip scone。 So； at lunch； Jenny wrangled two grilled
cheese sandwiches and two coffee yogurts out of the Constance
lunch ladies and carried her feast out into the cafeteria； hunting for
a seat at a quiet table。 While she ate； she had to make up the
homework she’d skipped last night。
Jenny chose a table in front of the wall of mirrors on the far side of
the cafeteria。 None of the older girls liked to eat lunch by the
mirrors because it made them feel fat； so that table was always
empty。 Jenny put her tray down； and was about to start stuffing her
face when she noticed a sign…up sheet taped to the mirror。
Jenny lunged for her backpack to find a pen。 She scribbled her
name at the top of the list—she was the first one to sign up！—and
then sat down in front of her heaping tray of food； her heart
pounding。 Life was full of miracles。 It just got better and better。
More miraculous still； Serena van der Woodsen herself was ing
out of the lunch line and making a beeline for Jenny； carrying her
tray。 Was Serena actually going to sit with her？ In person？
Deep breath in； deep breath out。
“Hi；” Serena said； beaming at Jenny and setting her tray down。
God； she was beautiful。 Her hair was the pale gold color some of the
other Constance girls tried to achieve by spending four hours in the
hair salon on the top floor of Bergdorf Goodman getting their
highlights done。 But Serena’s was natural； you could tell。
“Did I just see you sign up to help with my movie？” Serena asked。
Jenny nodded； speechless in the presence of such greatness。
“Well； you’re the only one so far；” Serena sighed； sitting down
across from Jenny； facing the wall of mirrors。 She didn’t have to
worry about feeling fat when she ate。 She didn’t have any fat。 She
raised her golden eyebrows at Jenny。 “So； what can you do？”
Jenny poked at her grilled cheese。 She couldn’t believe she’d gotten
two sandwiches。 Serena probably thought she was a disgusting pig。
“Well； I’m pretty artistic。 I did the school hymnals； you know； in
calligraphy？ And I’ve got some photographs in Rancor this year； and
a short story；” Jenny explained。
Rancor was Constance’s student…run arts magazine。 Vanessa
Abrams was the editor。
“Oh； and I just did the invitations for that big party next week that
everyone’s going to；” Jenny said； eager to impress。 “Blair Waldorf
asked me to do them。 Actually 。 。 。” Jenny reached into her bag and
pulled out an envelope with Serena’s name printed on it in ornate
calligraphy。 “The guest list Blair gave me still had your boarding
school address。 I was going to put it in your locker or something；”
Jenny said； blushing。 “But now that you’re here 。 。 。” She handed the
envelope to Serena。
Do I sound like a stalker？ Jenny wondered。
“Thanks；” Serena said； taking the envelope。 She opened it and read
the invitation inside； her eyes dark； her forehead creased in a frown。
Oh； God。 She thinks it’s ugly！ Jenny thought； panicking。
Serena put the invitation in her bag and picked up her fork again；
looking distracted。 She took a bite of lettuce and chewed on it。
Jenny was taking mental notes on how to act as mysterious； poised；
and cool as Serena was acting at that very moment。 If only she
could have heard the livid thoughts in Serena’s head； railing against
Blair。
She didn’t want me to e to the party。 She didn’t even tell me
there was a party。
“Wow；” Serena said finally； still munching her lettuce。 “Okay； you’re
hired。” She held out her hand and smiled sweetly at Jenny。 “I’m
Serena；” she said。
“I know；” Jenny said； blushing even redder。 “I’m Jenny。”
Disclaimer： All the real names of places； people； and events havebeen altered or abbreviated to protect the innocent。 Namely； me。
hey people！
S AND B： HOT IN THE HOT TUB！
This just in from an anonymous source： Apparently； back when they
were still tight； S and B shared a hot hot…tub moment together in
C’s suite in the Tribeca Star。 Was the kiss an expression of their
true feelings for each other？ Or were they just messing around like
two silly drunk girls？ Either way； it definitely adds a little tension to
the mix。 What fun！
And in case you haven’t seen the poster plastered on all th