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liked　it　at　Croton；　then　it　was　probably　just　the　sort　of　school　Jenny　was　looking　for。　

？Don？t　be　put　off　by　how　straitlaced　everything　seems　here；　Jennifer；？　Harry　advised；　his　white　
teeth　flashing。　He　shoved　his　hands　in　the　pockets　of　his　cool　light　blue　linen　Zegna　trousers；　
which　he　was　wearing　with　straw　flip…flops？very　prep…school…boy…goes…to…the…beach。　？We　
basically　party；　like；　eighty　percent　of　the　time；　sleep　fifteen　percent　of　the　time；　eat　five　percent　of　
the　time；　and　study　whenever　we　have　time　left　over；　which　is；　like；　never。？　

Jenny　grinned。　That　sounded　fine？just　fine。　

Harry　Bass　pressed　his　lips　together　and　cocked　his　head　as　if　he　were　sizing　her　up。　？e　on。　
There　are　some　people　I？d　like　you　to　meet。？　

Her　heart　racing　with　eager　anticipation；　Jenny　followed　him　out　of　the　building　and　down　a　long　
sloping　pebbled　walkway　that　curved　behind　a　row　of　pretty　brick　buildings　with　black　wooden　
shutters　in　the　windows。　The　walkway　ended　in　a　narrow　dirt　path　that　led　along　the　banks　of　a　
quaint　little　duck　pond　and　into　the　heavily　forested　woods。　？It？s　just　a　little　bit　farther；？　Harry　
explained；　his　flip…flops　flapping　against　his　heels。　

Jenny　hesitated；　wondering　what　on　earth　the　people　he　wanted　her　to　meet　were　doing　in　the　
middle　of　the　woods。　Was　she　about　to　be　a　part　of　one　of　those　peculiar　boarding　school　traditions　
she？d　read　so　much　about；　like　bonfires　and　midnight　skinny…dipping？　In　the　middle　of　the　pond　a　
mallard　with　a　dark　green　head　was　quacking　loudly　at　a　demure　brown　duck；　trying　to　get　her　
attention。　Jenny　couldn？t　help　but　marvel　at　how　strange　it　was　to　have　spent　a　whole　day　in　the　
country　after　spending　her　entire　life　until　now　on　the　island　of　Manhattan。　

？Where　are　we　going？？　she　called　to　Harry　as　she　hurried　to　keep　up。　


Before　he　could　answer；　a　girl　in　a　fire…engine　red　bikini　stepped　onto　the　path　about　fifty　feet　
ahead　of　them。　？Hey；　Bass！？　She　shouted　so　loudly；　the　leaves　seemed　to　shake　in　the　trees　
overhead。　？You　and　your　new　girlfriend　better　get　your　asses　over　here　before　we　finish　all　the　
you…know…what！？　

？ing！？　Harry　shouted　back。　He　chuckled　at　Jenny。　？e　on。　You　know　you　want　to。？　

He　evensounded　like　his　cousin。　

Now　that　she　was　sure　she　and　Harry　weren？t　going　to　be　alone　in　the　woods；　Jenny　felt　more　
confident　about　following　him。　It　was　cooler　in　the　shade　of　the　trees　and　smelled　of　wet　moss。　All　
of　a　sudden　they　came　upon　a　group　of　five　guys　and　four　girls；　sitting　in　a　circle；　wearing　bathing　
suits　or　shorts　and　T…shirts；　the　rest　of　their　clothes　scattered　at　the　base　of　a　nearby　tree。　Some　of　
them　were　drinking　cans　of　Coors；　some　of　them　were　smoking　cigarettes；　and　all　of　them　looked　
extremely　happy　to　be　there。　

The　girl　in　the　red　bikini？skinny　and　pale；　with　long；　shiny　light　brown　hair　and　beautiful　hazel　
eyes？held　out　her　palms　to　them。　？One　more　minute　and　you…know…who　was　gonna　e　along　
and　nab　these；？　she　told　them　with　a　bright　smile。　Jenny　stared　at　the　girl？s　palms；　which　were　
dotted　with　little　white　pills。　

？April；　you　rock。？　Harry　scooped　a　tab　of　Ecstasy　out　of　the　girl？s　hands　and　popped　it　in　his　
mouth。　？Go　on；　Jennifer；？　he　urged　Jenny；　pointing　at　April？s　outstretched　palms。　？The　quicker　
you　eat　one；　the　quicker　you？ll　fall　in　love　with　me。？　He　grinned　devilishly。　？I　mean；　our　school。？

　Oh；　really？　

Jenny　had　been　offered　drugs　before。　She？d　even　been　stoned　once；　with　Nate　Archibald；　the　first　
day　they？d　met；　in　Sheep　Meadow　in　Central　Park。　She？d　fallen　in　love　with　him　that　day　and　had　
stayed　in　love　with　him　until　he　broke　her　heart　on　New　Year？s　Eve。　Probably　if　she　hadn？t　been　
stoned；　she？d　have　understood　that　she　and　Nate　had　only　just　met　and　that　she　needed　to　get　to　
know　him　a　lot　better　before　she　kissed　him。　

She　reached　out　to　pinch　one　of　the　tabs　of　Ecstasy　out　of　April？s　hand　with　no　intention　of　
actually　ingesting　it。　It　was　so　tiny；　no　one　would　even　notice。　

？Yum；？　she　cooed；　pretending　to　be　delighted　as　she　cupped　her　hand　over　her　mouth　and　let　the　
teeny　pill　fall　past　her　chin　and　cascade　down　into　her　ample　double…D…sized　cleavage。　

We　always　knew　it　would　e　in　handy！　

？We　were　about　to　play　Duck；　Duck；　Goose；？　one　of　the　Coors…drinking　guys　announced　with　a　
pletely　straight　face；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　organize　a　friendly　touch…football　scrimmage。　He　
was　wearing　nothing　but　a　pair　of　electric　blue　bike　shorts；　and　he　looked　like　a　Tour　de　France　


bicycle　racer；　with　ropy　muscles；　a　shaved　head；　and　intense　blue　eyes。　？Wanna　play？？　

？Sure！？　Harry　Bass　responded　enthusiastically。　He　wrapped　his　arm　around　Jenny？s　waist　and　
kissed　the　top　of　her　head。　？My　little　cucumber；？　he　murmured　affectionately。　

Jenny　had　the　feeling　the　tab　of　E　Harry　had　just　taken　was　not　his　first　of　the　afternoon。　She　was　
about　to　shrug　him　away　when　she　realized　that　she　was　going　to　have　to　at　leastpretend　she　was　
on　Ecstasy；　otherwise；　it　would　be　obvious　she　hadn？t　taken　it。　Problem　was；　she　didn？t　even　
know　how　long　it　was　supposed　to　take　to　start　working。　？Yay！？　she　squeaked。　？Let？s　play！？　

They　joined　the　circle　and　sat　down　between　a　chubby　Japanese　boy　sporting　Madras　plaid　
Bermuda　shorts　and　a　cute　rocker　haircut　and　the　muscular　boy　in　the　blue　bike　shorts。　Everyone　
was　grinning　so　hard；　it　looked　like　their　teeth　hurt。　？I？ll　go　first；？　April　volunteered。　？But　first　I　
think　we？re　going　to　need　some　of　this。？　She　passed　around　a　few　packets　of　cinnamon　Dentyne　
gum。　

？You？re　a　goddess；？　blue　bike　shorts　boy　told　her　appreciatively。　He　shoved　three　pieces　of　gum　
into　his　mouth　and　began　to　chew　them　voraciously。　？Mwa；　mwa；　mwa！？　

April　cracked　tiny　pink　bubbles　with　her　gum　and　then　clapped　her　hands　together。　？Okay；　
people；　let？s　go！？　She　wound　her　way　around　to　the　outside　of　the　circle　and　began　to　walk　
counterclockwise；　tapping　each　person　on　the　head　as　she　passed。　？Duck；　duck；　duck；　duck；　duck；　
duck；goose！　？　she　shouted　as　she　tapped　the　Japanese　guy　with　the　cool　haircut　on　the　head　and　
then　sprinted　away。　He　jumped　to　his　feet　and　gave　chase；　catching　her　in　his　arms　and　wrestling　
her　to　the　ground。　They　lay　like　that　for　a　while；　panting　and　sort　of　petting　each　other。　

Jenny　noticed　that　none　of　the　other　kids　were　even　watching　them。　They　were　too　focused　on　
their　gum…chewing；　or　they　were　rubbing　their　hands　up　and　down　each　other？s　backs　and　giggling。　
Then　she　felt　a　hand　on　her　back；　too；　underneath　her　shirt。　

？Let？s　take　our　shirts　off；？　Harry　suggested　eagerly。　

？Okay；？　Jenny　agreed；　not　wanting　to　be　a　prude。　She　only　had　three　buttons　left　buttoned；　
anyway。　The　guidebooks　were　definitely　right　about　Croton。　It　was　wild；　and　maybe？once　she　got　
used　to　it？exactly　what　she　needed。　

？Wow；？　he　murmured　as　she　folded　her　shirt　neatly　and　placed　it　on　the　grass　beside　her。　The　
look　on　his　face　was　the　absolute　definition　of　the　phraseto　gawk　。　

？Now　you；？　Jenny　said；　feeling　confident　in　the　knowledge　that　she　was　the　only　sober　one　in　the　
forest。　Well；almost　。　

？What　the　hell　are　you　kids　doing　back　here？！？　a　deep　voice　boomed。　An　athletic…looking　man　
with　curly　brown　hair　and　a　brown　mustache　strode　down　the　path；　barefoot；　wearing　faded　Levi？s　


and　a　threadbare　light　blue　oxford　shirt；　unbuttoned　to　midchest。　

April　sat　up　and　wiped　her　mouth；　her　brown　eyes　shining。　？Hi；　Mr。　Tortia。？　

Mr。　Tortia　didn？t　look　as　angry　as　he？d　sounded。　He　almost　looked　like　he　wanted　to　hang　
out。　？So；　what　did　I　miss？？　he　demanded　eagerly。　Then　he　noticed　Jenny。　？And　who；　may　I　ask；　
are　you？？　

Harry　rubbed　the　spot　between　Jenny？s　bare　shoulder　blades。　？She？s　a　prospective。　And　I　think　
maybe　she　took　your　share。？　

Jenny　crossed　her　hands　over　her　chest。　Actually；　his　share　of　the　E　was　somewhere　inside　her　
nude…colored　Bali　extra…support　bra　with　double…duty　underwire　and　chafe…free　superwide　straps；　
but　she　wasn？t　about　to　volunteer　that　information。　

Mr。　Tortia　picked　something　out　of　his　tobacco…stained　teeth　and　flicked　it　angrily　into　the　grass；　
looking　genuinely　pissed　off。　？This　is　a　school；　not　a　strip　club。　Put　your　clothes　back　on；？　he　
snapped　at　Jenny。　

　Gladly。　

Jenny　snatched　up　her　pretty　Japanese…style　shirt；　rising　to　her　feet　as　she　slipped　her　arms　inside　
the　sleeves　and　buttoned　it　up　to　her　chin。Who　the　hell　is　this　guy；　anyway？　she　wondered　with　
frightened　indignation。　

？You　can？t　be　serious　about　attending　this　institution；？　Mr。　Tortia　observed；　his　thick　brown　
mustache　slick　with　sweat　and　spittle。　？Croton　prides　itself　on　its　discretion。　Our　students　are　the　
cr？me　de　la　cr？me！？　

Jenny　gazed　down　at　the　circle　of　Croton　students；　their　bare　navels　and　nipples　blinking　up　at　
her　in　the　warm　summer　sun；　their　mouths　working　the　Dentyne；　blissed　out　from　the　Ecstasy；　and　
exhausted　by　a　single　round　of　Duck；　Duck；　Goose。　Discretion？　Cr？me　de　la　cr？me？　The　cr？me　de　
la　cr？me　of　fuckups；　maybe。　And　what　right　did　this　dude　with　the　mustache　have　to　tell　her　
whether　she　could　go　there　or　not？　

？Are　you　a　teacher　here　or　？？？　she　asked　politely。　

Mr。　Tortia　squatted　down　and　held　his　palm　out　to　April；　who　handed　him　a　piece　of　Dentyne。　He　
stood　up　again。　？As　a　matter　of　fact；　I？m　the　headmaster；？　he　replied　flatly。　He　pulled　on　his　
mustache　and　offered　her　his　first　smile。　？Discretion　lesson　number　one：　Let？s　not　mention　this　
little　incident　to　anyone。　Got　it？？　

Jenny　nodded　mutely。　


Mr。　Tortia　held　up　both　hands　and　waved　with　his　palms　facing　backwards；　like　the　Queen　of　
England。　？Arrivederci；　little　prospective　girl！？　he　chimed；　dismissing　her。　

Harry　reached　up　and　patted　Jenny　on　the　bottom。　？Drive　safely；？　he　told　her　affectionately；　even　
though　she　was　obviously　not　old　enough　to　drive。　

　Arrivederci；　fuckups！　

Her　whole　body　trembling　with　outrage；　Jenny　hurried　down　the　path　through　the　woods；　
wishing　with　all　her　heart　there　was　a　subway　stop　right　there　by　the　duck　pond。　She　could　swipe　
her　MetroCard　and　catch　the　3　train　down　to　Ninety…sixth　Street　and　Broadway；　and　be　home　in　
time　forAmerican　Idol　。　The　green…headed　mallard　quacked　at　her　mockingly　as　she　hurried　
by。　？Cr？me　de　la　cr？me！　Cr？me　de　la　cr？me！　Cr？me　de　la　cr？me！？　he　seemed　to　be　saying。　

Jenny　whipped　out　her　cell　phone　and　dialed　information。　？Taxi。　In　Croton　Falls；　New　York；？　she　
instructed。　

？We　have　no　listings　for　Taxi；？　the　operator　responded　blandly。　？I？ll　check　Limousines。？　

？Fine。？　Jenny　typed　the　number　for　the　Village　of　Croton？s　only　limousine　service　into　her　cell　
phone。　With　the　money　her　father　had　given　her　bined　with　the　money　already　in　her　wallet；　
she　could　probably　get　the　driver　to　take　her　all　the　way　home。　

Who　said　she　wasn？t　the　cr？me　de　la　cr？me？　

V　experiments　with　double　happiness　

When　Aaron　came　home　from　band　practice　Vanessa　was　standing　in　front　of　the　bathroom　sink；　
contemplating　her　hair？or　lack　thereof？in　the　round；　toothpaste…spattered　mirror；　still　wet　from　her　
shower。　She？d　ridded　herself　of　Dan？s　musty　smell　and　was　horrified　to　discover　that　she　sort　of　
enjoyed　the　fact　that　Aaron　had　absolutely　no　clue。　

When　she？s　bad；　she？sbad　。　

？Nice　towel；？　Aaron　observed；　planting　a　kiss　on　the　nape　of　her　neck。　

？Thanks。？　Vanessa　batted　her　eyes　and　placed　her　hands　on　her　hips；　modeling　the　
lavender…and…black　chintz　floral　bath　towel；　one　of　the　many　Blair　had　purchased　for　the　
apartment　during　her　short　but　sweet　stay。　

Aaron　wrapped　his　arms　around　Vanessa？s　waist。　？Did　you　get　my　present？？　


He　looked　cute　in　an　orange　T…shirt　and　baggy　green　army　shorts；　and　he　smelled　like　hay　from　
the　herbal　cigarettes　he　was　always　smoking。　

？Blair　moved　out；？　Vanessa　told　him　evenly；　ignoring　his　question　about　the　cheesy　
love/friendship　ring　he？d　left　on　the　kitchen　counter　that　morning。　？She　couldn？t　stand　living　so　
far　away　from　Barneys　in　a　walk…up　with　graffiti　on　the　door。？　

？Well；　can　you　blame　her？？　Aaron　smiled　at　their　reflection　in　the　mirror？two　dark　shaved　heads；　
two　pairs　of　brown　eyes；　two　pairs　of　thin　red　lips。　？Did　you　get　my　e…mail？？　

We　could