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Vanessa　shrugged。　？I？m　returning　it。？　

Aaron　went　over　to　the　dress　and　pulled　the　hanger　off　the　rail；　twirling　it　around　to　get　the　full　
effect　of　the　dress。　？Put　it　on；？　he　suggested；　holding　it　out　to　her。　

She　shook　her　head。　？I　already　tried　it　on　a　couple　of　times。　Besides　graduation；　I　don？t　have　
anywhere　else　to　wear　it。？　

Aaron　hung　on　to　the　dress。　？Look；？　he　began。　？I　kind　of　don？t　think　it？s　a　good　idea　for　you　to　
e　with　me。　First　of　all；　with　Mookie　I　kind　of　don？t　have　any　more　room　in　my　car。　Second　of　


all；　I？ve　kind　of　known　for　a　while　that　you　and　Dan　have　kind　of　been　hanging　out　a　lot。？　

　Kind　of。　

Vanessa　crossed　her　arms　over　her　chest；　all　of　a　sudden　feeling　a　little　too　large　or　a　little　too　
stupid　or　a　little　too　something　she　couldn？t　quite　place。　Heknew　？　But　hadn？t　she　and　Dan　been　
totally　discreet？　

You　call　having　sex　in　broad　daylight　on　a　rooftop　discreet？！　

？I？m　sorry；？　she　managed　to　utter。　It　was　all　she　could　think　of。　

？It？s　okay。　But　you　should　have　told　me　when　I　tried　to　give　you　this。？　Aaron　held　out　the　corny　
silver　joined…hearts　love/friendship　ring。　？I　found　it　in　a　drawer　with　the　serving　spoons。？　He　
didn？t　even　look　that　upset；　which　made　Vanessa　feel　even　worse。　Obviously　she？d　been　paying　
so　little　attention　that　he？d　had　time　to　think　about　this　and　get　over　it。　But　aside　from　feeling　
terrible；　she　was　also　totally　relieved。　

Aaron　held　up　the　dress　again　and　twirled　it　around　on　its　hanger。　？I　also　kind　of　think　you　don？t　
want　to　miss　graduation。　You　love　those　girls；？　he　added　gently；　sounding　only　slightly　gay。　

？Yeah；　right；？　Vanessa　agreed　sarcastically；　but　again　she　felt　totally　relieved。　She　could　wear　the　
dress　even　though　she　was　supposed　to　hate　white。　She　could　sit　next　to　Blair　and　make　fun　of　Mrs。　
M　and　finally　graduate；　and　the　whole　class　would　get　drunk　together　afterwards；　even　though　
they　were　all　supposed　to　hate　each　other。　

Okay；　maybe　she　did　love　those　girls　just　a　little　bit。　

Aaron　waggled　the　dress　in　front　of　her。　？You　know　you　want　to。？　

Vanessa　snorted　and　snatched　it　out　of　his　hands；　catching　him　in　a　hug　as　she　did　so。　？Don？t　
think　you？re　getting　away　without　kissing　me　good…bye。　I　don？t　know　when　I？m　ever　going　to　see　
you　again。？　

She　kissed　him　quickly　on　the　lips　and　then　pressed　her　forehead　into　his　warm；　familiar　shoulder；　
her　body　a　bundle　of　nerves。　She　was　breaking　up　with　her　boyfriend；　she　was　about　to　graduate；　
there　was　a　party　to　go　to；　and　a　whole　four　years　at　NYU　awaited　her；　with　no　more　stupid　
flicking　uniforms！　

Yippee！　Except；　hasn？t　she　sort　of　forgotten　about　someone？　

Vanessa　changed　into　her　dress　right　in　front　of　Aaron；　feeling　almost　sisterly　toward　him　now　
that　they　were　broken　up。　She　still　loved　him　and　probably　always　would。　But　the　great　thing　
about　love　was　that　itevolved　。　


Let？s　make　sure　she　remembers　that。　

？What　do　you　think？？　she　asked；　doing　a　Barbie…esque　spin　in　Blair？s　white　wedge…heeled　shoes。　

Aaron　flinched；　as　if　it　hurt　to　see　her　looking　so　incredibly　gorgeous。　He　held　out　his　
hand。　？e　on。　I　heard　on　the　radio　the　subways　are　a　mess。　I？ll　drive　you。？　

Aw。　How　e　boys　get　so　much　cuter　after　we　break　up　with　them？　

V？s　first　love　note　of　the　day　

　To：vabrams@constancebillard。edu　

　From：aaron。rose@bronxdale。edu　

Subject：idea　of　the　day　

Okay　I　know　I　just　kissed　you　good…bye　like　an　hour　ago；　but　I　had　an　awesome　idea　on　the　way　
up　to　school？man　that？s　a　long…ass　subway　ride！　Anyway；　what　if　we　just　get　done　with　our　finals　
and　skip　graduation　because　a）　it？s　going　to　be　boring；　b）　our　parents　could　care　less；　and　c）　you　
said　yourself　you？re　not　really　a　white…dress　kind　of　gal。　We　could　take　off　in　the　Saab；　drive　to　
the　Grand　Canyon；　watch　the　sun　set；　eat　some　one　hundred　percent　organic　wild　mushrooms；　and　
dance　naked　with　the　coyotes　out　under　the　stars。　I　want　to　spend　the　summer　exploring　the　
country　and　holding　you　in　the　glorious　moonlight。　Damn；　there？s　the　bell。　Anyway；　think　about　it。　
You？re　my　girl。　

　Love　you；　

A　

Who？s　that　girl？　

？And　that　is　why　I？m　standing　here　today　in　a　pair　of　limited…edition　Manolo　Blahnik　dancing　
shoes　and　an　Oscar　de　la　Renta　suit　that　was　tailored　just　for　me；？　Blair　told　her　audience　with　an　
indulgent　smile　as　she　wound　up　her　speech。　？Don？t　ever　let　anyone　tell　you　should　be　happy　with　
what　you　have。　There？s　always　more；　and　there？s　no　reason　you　shouldn？t　have　it　all。？　


Everyone　in　the　church　remained　politely　silent；　as　if　they　weren？t　quite　sure　whether　she？d　
finished　her　speech　or　not。　

Not　that　anyone　was　actually　paying　attention。　

？Hey；　is　that　who　I　think　it　is？？　Kati　Farkas　whispered　to　Isabel　Coates。　The　two　girls　craned　
their　necks　to　see　over　their　classmates？　heads　as　Vanessa　appeared　in　one　of　the　church？s　side　
entrances。　Her　face　was　a　happy　pink　and　her　dress　a　stunning　white。　Her　wedge…heeled　shoes　
were　awesome；　and　her　little　white　fishnet　gloves　were　outstanding。　She　looked　so　different　from　
her　normally　black…clad；　frowning　self；　she　was　barely　recognizable。　

？Yeah；　and　she　actually　looks　kind　of　？good　；？　Isabel　remarked　reluctantly。　？Of　course；　Blair　
picked　out　her　dress。　Otherwise　she　probably　would？ve　e　wrapped　in　a　white　sheet　or　
something。？　

Actually；　Vanessahad　flirted　with　the　sheet　idea；　but　the　Morgane　Le　Fay　dress　was　so　much　
more　flattering。　

？Um；　that？s　all；？　Blair　announced　from　her　place　at　the　podium。　She　looked　around　for　Mrs。　M；　
and　that？s　when　she　noticed　Vanessa。　First　Blair　narrowed　her　eyes　to　show　that　she　was　pissed　as　
hell　at　Vanessa　for　being　so　late。　Then　she　gave　her　friend　and　former　roommate　a　thumbs…up　for　
looking　so　pletely　amazing。　The　audience　broke　out　into　weak　applause　as　she　made　her　way　
back　to　her　seat。　

？Thank　you；　Blair。？　Mrs。　M　said；　taking　her　place　at　the　podium。　？And　now；　the　moment　you？ve　
all　been　waiting　for。　It　is　my　pleasure　to　hand　out　the　diplomas　to　the　graduating　class。　Vanessa　
Marigold　Abrams；　don？t　bother　finding　a　seat。　You？re　first。？　She　flashed　Vanessa　one　of　her　rare　
and　famous　warm　smiles；　forgiving　her　most　alternative　graduating　senior　for　missing　half　the　
ceremony。　

Marigold？！That？s　what　you　get　when　you　have　hippie　artist　parents。　

Vanessa　strutted　to　the　front　of　the　room　in　her　awesome　shoes；　ears　burning　at　the　sound　of　her　
ridiculous　middle　name　and　eyes　shiny　with　tears；　full　of　love　for　everyone　there；　including　Mrs。　

M。　She　couldn？t　believe　she？d　almost　missed　this。　Clasping　the　burgundy…leather…bound　diploma　
case　in　her　hand；　her　big　brown　eyes　shiny　with　happy　tears；　she　hugged　the　headmistress　like　she　
was　her　long…lost　grandma。　
？I？m　also　extremely　proud　to　bestow　on　you；　Vanessa　Marigold；　the　Georgia　O？Keeffe　Award　for　
creative　excellence；？　Mrs。　M　announced。　She　placed　a　light　blue　satin　ribbon　around　Vanessa？s　
neck。　From　it　hung　a　gold…plated　medal　embossed　with　one　of　Georgia　O？Keeffe？s　vaginalike　
poppies。　？Congratulations。？　

Vanessa　hopped　offstage　and　walked　down　the　center　aisle　of　the　church　to　Blair？s　third…row　


pew。　？Can　I　sit　here？？　

？Move　over；？　Blair　told　Rain。　Rain　was　wearing　a　white　tulle　dress　that　looked　like　an　oversized　
tutu　fromSwan　Lake　。　？Your　dress　doesn？t　needthat　much　room。？　

？Isabel　Siobhan　Coates；？　Mrs。　M　called；　holding　up　Isabel？s　diploma。　

Vanessa　wedged　herself　in　beside　Blair　and　grabbed　the　graduation　program　out　of　her　
hands。　？Shit。　Sorry　I　missed　your　speech。？

　No　she？s　not。　

？That？s　okay。？　Blair　tugged　on　Vanessa？s　dress。　？Tell　me　you　don？t　love　this　and　I？ll　totally　kill　
you。　You　should　wear　white；　like；　every　day。？　

Vanessa　blotted　her　tears　with　her　thumbs　and　flipped　open　the　burgundy　leather　case　holding　her　
diploma。　？Check　it　out；？　she　breathed。　Both　girls　studied　the　gold…embossed　piece　of　parchment　
paper　upon　which　was　printed　Vanessa？s　name；　followed　by　the　date　and　the　name　of　their　school；　
and　then　a　whole　bunch　of　stuff　in　Latin。　It　was　totally　official　looking　and　totally　worthless　
looking　at　the　same　time。　All　those　years　of　uniforms　and　too　much　homework　forthis？　

Vanessa　flipped　the　case　closed　and　held　it　tight　to　her　chest。　She　didn？t　care？she？d　made　it！　And　
her　whole　future　lay　ahead　of　her。　After　taking　every　film　course　NYU　offered；　she？d　bee　a　
famous　indie　filmmaker；　except　she？d　stick　to　true　indies？unlike　her　former　mentor；　Ken　Mogul；　
who　was　totally　selling　out　with　that　teen　movie　he　was　making　at　Barneys。　It　was　a　good　thing　
Aaron　had　broken　up　with　her　today；　because　now　she　was　free　to　meet　all　sorts　of　interesting　
people　from　around　the　globe；　and　she　could　experiment　with　different　relationships。　After　all；　
wasn？t　that　what　college　was　all　about？　

Yeah；　maybe。　But　again；　isn？t　she　kind　of　forgetting　about　someone？？　

Some　would　argue　that　her　last　name　begins　with　w　

？Serena　Caroline　van　der　Woodsen；？　Mrs。　M　called　out。　

？Shit；？　Blair　muttered　under　her　breath。　Where　the　fuckwas　Serena；　anyway？　She　glanced　back　at　
the　other　van　der　Woodsens。　They　looked　perky　and　excited。　Unbelievably；　they　still　hadn？t　quite　
grasped　the　fact　that　Serena　was　missing。　

？Serena？　Are　you　present？？　asked　the　headmistress；　scanning　the　church　with　her　glassy　brown　
eyes。　？Has　anyone　seen　Serena？？　The　pretty；　never…quite…reaching…her…potential　blonde　was　


forever　late　for　morning　assemblies；　but　one　would　have　thought　she　could　pull　it　together　to　be　on　
time　for　this　particular　event。　

The　other　girls　twittered。　No　one　offered　the　headmistress　an　answer。　Blair　glanced　back　at　
Serena？s　family　once　more。　Now　they　looked　confused；　although　the　van　der　Woodsens　never　lost　
their　cool。　Erik　jutted　his　chin　at　Blair；　silently　suggesting　that　she　go　up　to　accept　Serena？s　
diploma　for　her。　

？Blair　Cornelia　Waldorf；？　Mrs。　M　announced　sternly。　No　Constance　girl　had　ever　missed　
graduation　before；　and　she　was　cross　now；　very　cross。　She？d　allowed　Serena　to　e　back　to　
Constance　after　she？d　been　thrown　out　of　boarding　school；　and　now　Serena　couldn？t　even　be　
bothered　to　turn　up　for　mencement？　

Thank　goodness　Blair？sW　came　right　after　Serena？sV　。　In　fact；　some　would　argue　Serena？s　last　
name　began　withW　and　therefore　came　after　Blair？s。　Not　that　it　mattered　or　that　anyone　really　
cared　at　this　point。　

Blair　went　up　to　the　podium　to　receive　her　diploma。　？I？ll　take　Serena？s　for　her；？　she　whispered；　
hoping　her　voice　wouldn？t　carry　over　the　microphone。　

Mrs。　M　smiled　tersely　and　shook　her　hand。　？That　won？t　be　necessary；？　she　replied；　nodding　at　
something　over　Blair？s　shoulder。　

Blair　spun　around　to　find　Serena　sprinting　up　the　aisle　inher　suit？exactly　the　same　white　satin　
Oscar　de　la　Renta　suit　with　the　swishy　pleated　knee…length　skirt　that　she　herself　was　wearing。　And　
because　Serena　was　practically　a　foot　taller　than　Blair　and　they　both　weighed　the　same；　it　looked　
even　better　on　Serena；　despite　the　fact　that　she　was　barefoot；　her　hair　was　all　over　the　place；　and　
she？d　forgotten　her　gloves。　

？Sorry；　Mrs。　M！？　Serena　panted；　flashing　their　headmistress　the　famously　charming　smile　that　
had　won　over　everyone　from　avant…garde　artists　to　the　admissions　offices　at　Yale；　Brown；　Harvard；　
and　everywhere　else　she？d　applied。　？Just　think？this　is　the　last　time　I？ll　ever　be　late！？　

Blair　wanted　to　slap　her　for　being　so　charming　when　she　should　have　been　in　serious　trouble。　In　
fact；　Serena　probably　would？ve　failed　chemistry　and　not　graduated　if　it　hadn？t　been　for　her。　She　
hated　they　way　they　must　look　standing　side　by　side　in　their　matching　suits。　People　probably　
thought　they？d　bought　them　together　or　something。　One　thing　was　for　sure？Blair　was　definitely　
making　Serena　change　her　outfit　before　her　big　party　at　the　Yale　Club　tonight。　No　fucking　way　
was　she　allowing　Marcus　to　see　how　much　better　Serena　looked　in　that　damned　suit。　

Mrs。　M　had　had　enough。　Half　an　hour　of　shaking　parents？　hands　and　offering　a　few　lame　
anecdotes　about　their　sweet；　intelligent　daughters；　and　she　was　off　to　Woodstock　for　the　summer　
to　watch　Vonda　weed　their　heirloom　tomato　collection　wearing　only　the　red　embroidered　hal