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left　was　the　sugar　factory；　billowing　smoke　out　of　great　smokestacks　and　adding　to　the　smog。　
Across　the　bridge；　Manhattan　loomed　large　and　full　of　promises。　A　born　Manhattanite；　Dan　could　
never　get　over　the　feeling　when　he　was　in　Brooklyn　that　something　exciting　was　going　on　across　
the　water；　and　that　he　was　missing　out。　

？Over　here；？　Vanessa　called　over　the　roar　of　interborough　traffic。　She　ducked　under　a　metal　beam　
supporting　the　giant　wooden　water　tower　that　dominated　the　roof。　？We？re　totally　protected　from　
the　sun　and　rain　under　here。　And　see；　the　condensation　from　the　water　tower　even　keeps　the　air　
kind　of　cool。？　

Dan　went　over　and　ducked　under　the　water　tower。　A　black　futon　was　spread　out　on　the　ground；　
plete　with　an　assortment　of　black　fake　fur　throw　pillows。　Vanessa　seemed　to　have　her　own　
outdoor　love　den。　

？You　and　Aaron　must　spend　a　lot　of　time　up　here；？　he　mented　awkwardly。　

She　sat　down　on　the　futon　and　began　pouring　vodka　into　the　plastic　Scooby…Doo　
glasses。　？Actually；　I　promised　Blair　not　to　hog　it。　We　only　just　discovered　it　on　Saturday；　and　
yesterday　it　was　raining；　so　actually　Aaron？s　never　even　been　up　here。？　

Meaning　she　and　Aaron　had　never　done　it　up　there；　which　kind　of　made　Dan　feel　better　about　
sitting　down　on　the　futon。　Vanessa　handed　him　a　vodka　tonic。　？Sorry；　no　limes。？　

He　sat　down　and　lit　a　cigarette。　A　helicopter　motored　loudly　by。　He　had　to　admit；　this　was　kind　of　
a　cool　place　to　be。　

？So；　graduation　speaker；　huh？　I　was　even　thinking　about　maybe　skipping　my　graduation。？　
Vanessa　clicked　her　glass　against　his　and　then　took　a　big；　long　sip。　？To　us。？　

Dan　squinted　at　her　as　he　drank；　holding　the　plastic　glass　with　his　cigarette　hand；　his　pale　face　to　
the　sun。　There　was　something　different　about　Vanessa　this　time。　Something　lazy　and　dangerous　
and　sexy。　


Cobra　curled　on　hot　cement；his　mind　began　writing　furiously；　because　it　couldn？t　help　itself。　

Vanessa　grinned；　returning　his　intense　stare　with　a　self…conscious　chuckle。　？I　don？t　know　why　
I？m　doing　this　but　？？　she　began。　Then　she　put　down　her　glass；　leaned　slowly　toward　him；　and　
shoved　her　tongue　down　his　throat。　

Whoa！　

Dan？s　dreamy　brown　eyes　grew　huge。　He　wondered　if　maybe　Vanessa　had　been　drinking　all　day　
and　had　somehow　confused　him　with　Aaron。　Or　maybe　he　and　Aaron　had　gotten　caught　in　some　
sort　of　mind…melt…time…warp…space…time…continuum…body…sping　ordeal　straight　out　of　the　type　
of　bad　ic　book　he　used　to　read　when　he　was　nine；　and　he　reallywas　Aaron。　Nevertheless；　it　
was　sheer　ecstasy　kissing　Vanessa　again；　and　sheer　agony　to　even　think　of　pulling　away。　But　after　
a　few　minutes；　he　forced　himself　to　do　it。　？Um；　can　I　just　ask　you？what　are　we　doing？？　

Vanessa　grabbed　the　hem　of　his　faded　red　Stussy　T…shirt　and　lifted　it　up；　peeking　at　his　pale；　flat　
stomach。　？Don？t　you　sometimes　wonder　what　the　big　deal　is？？　she　asked；　as　if　that　were　answer　
enough。　

Dan　didn？t　say　anything。　Vanessa　seemed　to　be　going　through　some　sort　of　experimental　period；　
and　he　wasn？t　about　to　get　in　the　way；　especially　since　it　seemed　to　involve　wanting　to　take　his　
shirt　off。　And　his　pants。　Even　his　socks　seemed　to　be　getting　in　the　way　of　her　need　to　express　
herself。　And　just　so　she　wouldn？t　feel　left　out；　he　helped　her　off　with　her　clothes；　too。　Before　long　
they　were　kneeling　on　the　futon　beneath　the　water　tower；　naked。　

Talk　about　d？j？　vu！　

You　can　take　the　girl　out　of　212；　but　you　can？t　take　the　212　out　of　the　girl　

？Do　you　have　anything　that　isn？t　？shiny　？？　Blair　Waldorf　demanded　as　she　fingered　the　dresses　
on　the　circular　rack　in　the　back　of　Isn？t　She　Lovely；　a　tiny　Williamsburg　bridal　and　
special…occasion…dresses　boutique　a　block　away　from　the　apartment　she　shared　with　Vanessa。　She　
walked　by　the　boutique　every　day　on　her　way　to　and　from　the　coffee　shop　where　a　car　service　
town　car　picked　her　up　in　the　morning　after　she　bought　her　large　latte　with　an　extra　shot　of　
espresso　and　dropped　her　off　after　school。　Today　she？d　wandered　inside；　thinking　it　might　be　cool　
to　buy　a　graduation　dress　in　a　place　so　pletely　off　the　map　that　no　other　girl　in　the　senior　class　
at　Constance　Billard　could　possibly　have　the　same　one　she　did。　The　problem　was；　with　no　designer　
label　to　show　their　merit；　she　wasn？t　sure　if　the　dresses　were　ugly　in　a　cool　way　or　just　plain　ugly。　

？This　one　is　very　popular　for　confirmations；？　the　overly　perfumed　saleslady　told　her　in　heavily　
accented　English。　She　held　up　a　dazzling　white；　rhinestone…encrusted；　polyester…lace…bodiced　


sundress　with　a　pleated　skirt　that　was　so　stiff　and　shiny；　it　looked　like　it　had　been　laminated。　

Blair　glanced　in　one　of　the　many　mirrors　all　over　the　store　and　glared　at　the　haughty　brunette　in　a　
short　light…blue…and…white　seersucker　Constance　Billard　uniform　skirt　and　neat　white…collared；　
baby　pink　polo　shirt　staring　back　at　her；　furious　with　herself　all　of　a　sudden。　Who　was　she　kidding；　
pretending　not　to　need　a　graduation　dress　that　was　made　to　order　by　Oscar　de　la　Renta　or　Chanel？　
She　hitched　her　nude　pink　Fendi　purse　up　on　her　shoulder　and　slid　her　tortoiseshell　Parsol　
sunglasses　up　on　her　nose；　tempted　to　buy　the　hideous　dress　the　saleslady　had　just　shown　her　and　
bring　it　home　to　Vanessa　as　a　joke；　pretending　she　was　going　to　wear　it　to　graduation。　But　the　
thought　of　spending　money　on　anything　so　hideous；　even　in　jest；　made　her　even　more　furious。　
When　had　her　life　bee　sobase　？　

Maybe　when　she　decided　to　ditch　Manhattan　and　bee　a　Brooklyn　hipster？　

Usually　Blair　couldn？t　leave　a　store　without　buying　at　least　one　thing；　but　usually　the　stores　she　
went　into　were　stocked　with　irresistibles。　As　far　as　Blair　was　concerned；　Isn？t　She　Lovely　should　
have　been　named　Isn？t　She　Ugly。　

Across　the　litter…strewn　expanse　of　Broadway　from　Vanessa？s　crumbling　gray；　five…story　walk…up　
apartment　building；　a　cluster　of　people　stood　looking　up；　their　mouths　agape。　

Hmm；　wonder　why？　

Oblivious　and　not　at　all　curious　about　anything　the　locals　might　find　interesting；　Blair　hurried　
across　the　street；　mounted　the　crumbling　cement　stoop；　and　unlocked　the　building？s　graffitied　
front　door。　She　held　her　breath　as　she　climbed　the　steps　up　to　Vanessa？s　second…story　apartment。　
The　building　was　practically　sitting　on　top　of　a　sugar　factory；　and　the　air　around　it　was　as　sweet　
and　heavy　as　syrup…logged　French　toast？mixed　with　a　twinge　of　stray　cat　pee。　

　Yum。　

？Foul；？　Blair　muttered　aloud　while　still　trying　to　hold　her　breath。　How　she　longed　for　the　
immaculate　putty…colored　marble　lobby　of　the　Seventy…second　Street　full…service；　white…glove；　
luxury　apartment　building　where　she？d　lived　until　now。　Oh；　how　she　missed　the　sweep　of　the　
doorman？s　hunter　green　wool　cape　as　he　opened　the　door　to　her　cab　and　helped　her　with　her　bags；　
shielding　her　from　the　rain　with　his　enormous　black　umbrella。　How　she　yearned　for　the　hum　of　the　
burgundy　velvet…upholstered…elevator　as　it　whisked　her　up　to　the　penthouse。　

The　black…painted　door　to　the　apartment　was　standing　open；　shedding　little　chips　of　old　black　
paint　onto　the　dusty　cement　floor　of　the　hallway。　？Honey；　I？m　home！？　Blair　called　out　tentatively　
as　she　stepped　inside　the　apartment　that　she？d　gladly　redecorated　only　a　few　weeks　before　in　
shades　of　lavender；　dove　gray；　and　celery。　The　small；　low…ceilinged　one…bedroom　looked　so　much　
prettier　than　it　had　when　she？d　moved　in；　especially　without　those　revolting　black　sheets　in　the　
windows。　She　and　Vanessa　had　even　bonded？they　really　had。　And　it　was　fun　to　live　somewhere　so　


different　from　the　place　where　she？d　grown　up。　Really；　it　was。　But　she　was　still　a　little　homesick。　
After　all；　Isn？t　She　Lovely　was　hardly　a　replacement　for　Barneys。　

？Oh；yeah　。　Oh；yeah　。　Oh；yes　！？　a　boy？s　voice；　hoarse　with　ecstasy；　echoed　down　the　back　
stairway　and　into　the　apartment。　

　Ew。　

Blair？s　lips　curled　into　a　grimace。　Vanessa　and　Aaron　were　at　it　again；　up　on　the　roof。　Not　that　
they　hadn？t　spent　the　entire　night　last　night　moaning　and　howling　like　wild　dogs。　Blair？s　stomach　
turned　and　she　poured　herself　a　glass　of　water　from　the　Brita　filter　she？d　bought　because　she　
didn？t　trust　the　water　in　Brooklyn。　Since　breaking　up　with　Nate；　she　hadn？t　once　made　herself　
sick？that　would　be　the　ultimate　sign　of　weakness；　and　she　was　no　longer　weak？but　the　image　of　
Vanessa　and　Aaron；　their　shaved　heads　locked　and　their　pale　bodies　thrashing　up　on　the　roof　in　
broad　daylight；　was　too　similar　to　the　image　of　Serena　and　Nate　thrashing　around　in　Isabel　
Coates？s　pool　house　bathtub。　It　was　enough　to　make　her　want　to　violently　hurl　the　mango　
smoothie　she？d　drunk　three　hours　ago。　

Gulping　her　glass　of　water；　she　gripped　the　cracked　white　Formica　countertop　to　steady　herself。　
On　the　ancient　electric　stove　was　a　pot　of　stale　water　with　two　cold；　gray…pink　tofu　dogs　lolling　
inside？leftovers　from　her　stepbrother　Aaron？s　disgusting　breakfast；　or　lunch；　or　dinner。　What　with　
the　awful　dresses　in　the　store　across　the　street；　the　yucky…smelling　entryway；　the　moaning　sex　
from　the　rooftop　that　was　supposed　to　be　reserved　for　twilight　v&t？s　with　Vanessa　while　they　
planned　a　way　to　sabotage　Serena？s　run　for　senior　speaker；　Blair　had　hadenough　。　She　dug　into　her　
Fendi　purse　and　grabbed　her　cell　phone；　pressing　the　buttons　frantically。　

？Blair　darling？　To　what　do　I　owe　the　pleasure；　chica？？　Chuck　Bass　answered　in　a　loud　voice；　
sounding　more　gay　than　usual。　？Don？t　tell　me；　you？ve　secretly　been　in　love　with　me　all　these　
years　and　now　that　we？re　about　to　graduate；　you？re　finally　bold　enough　to　tell　me。？　

？Not　exactly；？　Blair　snapped。　？You？re　the　only　one　I　know　with　a　car。？　

？A　pearl　gray　convertible　Jag　isn？t　just　a　car；　it？s　a　mobile　pleasure　den。？　Chuck　tooted　the　horn　
in　the　background。　？I　happen　to　be　in　？the　car？　as　we　speak。？　

？Whatever。？　Blair　threw　open　the　loose…hinged　plywood　door　to　the　cramped；　mothball…smelling　
coat　closet　in　the　living　room　and　yanked　out　her　two　matching　brown　leather；　gold…embossed　
Louis　Vuitton　duffel　bags。　The　bags　were　still　partially　packed；　since　Vanessa　didn？t　have　enough　
closet　space　to　acmodate　Blair？s　endless　wardrobe。　All　she　had　to　do　was　fold　in　the　dresses　
hanging　from　the　closet　rail　and　fill　a　shopping　bag　or　four　or　five　with　the　mere　thirty…six　pairs　of　
shoes　she？d　brought　with　her；　and　she？d　be　ready　to　roll。　？Can　you　e　get　me？？　

？Of　course；　my　sweet。？　Chuck？s　voice　took　on　a　faux　paternal　tone。　？You？re　not　in　any　sort　of　
trouble；　are　you？？　


Blair　grimaced　at　the　sight　of　a　roach　motel　camped　in　the　back　of　the　closet；　a　half…dead　roach　
flailing　its　hind　legs　on　its　doorstep。　？I？m　inWilliamsburg　；？　she　wailed；　as　if　she　were　being　held　
hostage　in　somebody？s　basement。　

？And　Manhattanneeds　you；？　Chuck　intoned。　？We　absolutely　need　you！？　

Blair　giggled。　It　felt　good　not　pretending　anymore　that　she　was　going　to　bee　one　of　those　
hipster　girls　who　wore　striped　kneesocks　and　vintage　kilts　and　kooky　glasses；　ate　hummus　all　the　
time；　and　went　to　art　galleries　after　school　instead　of　to　Barneys。　She　pulled　her　favorite　
red…and…white　polka…dotted　Diane　von　Furstenberg　wrap　dress　off　its　hanger　and　put　it　on；　
shedding　her　black　Habitual　jean　skirt　and　boring　dark　gray　C&C　California　T…shirt。　Manhattan　
needed　her。　Of　course　it　did。　

？I？ll　be　there　in　five；　honey。　I？m　just　getting　on　the　bridge　now；？　Chuck　assured　her；　the　Jag？s　
engine　roaring　in　the　background。　？So；　where　am　I　taking　you；　anyway？　Back　home？？　

Blair　hadn？t　thought　about　this。　Or　rather；　she　had；　but　home　wasn？t　her　first　choice。　Her　mother　
was　still　mentally　unsound　after　marrying　Cyrus　Rose　that　fall　and　having　his　baby　daughter　that　
spring。　Cyrus　was　loud　and　sweaty　and　obnoxious　and　preferred　to　wander　the　house　wearing　only　
a　loosely　tied　green　silk　robe　and　nothing　else。　Baby　Yale　was　adorable　most　of　the　time；　but　she　
had　taken　over　Blair？s　room；　shunting　Blair　into　Aaron？s　old　room；　where　Blair？s　cat；　Kitty　
Minky；　had　developed　a　peeing　problem　in　reaction　to　the　scent　of　Aaron？s　boxer；　Mookie。　
Speaking　of？wherewas　Mookie？　He　usually　came　with　Aaron　when　Aaron　stayed　over　at　
Vanessa？s　instead　of　sleeping　in　Blair？s