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And the cold war is back on。
“Blair！” Harold chided。 “The snow is still ing down。 It’s New Year’s Eve Day。 You kids are free to stay as long as you like；” he said； glancing out the window。
Serena followed his gaze。 The flurries from earlier this morning were now large； swirling flakes。 She and Dan were supposed to be back in New York this evening for Rufus’s infamous New Year’s Eve flambé party； but now it looked like they would be forced to stay another night。 She was as trapped as the animals at the Central Park Zoo。
And about to fall prey to a lioness。
heartbreak hotel
Vanessa woke up with a start on New Year’s Eve Day。 She turned over and stretched； realizing that she was alone in bed。 Since he’d gotten back； her and Hollis’s sleep schedules had been so off； it felt as though they were roommates rather than a couple sharing a bed。
She got out of bed and sleepily padded down the winding staircase into the living room。 She sniffed the air； surprised not to smell any muffins baking or eggs frying。 Hollis loved cooking breakfast； and Vanessa had gotten used to waking up to a feast。 She smiled happily at Hollis； sitting shirtless at the counter in a pair of flannel pajama pants and the same type of thick； woolly socks he’d given to Vanessa。
“Happy New Year！ Glidilegt Nytt Ar。 Isn’t that how you say it in Icelandic？” She’d looked up the pronunciation on the Internet； sure that the phone was the only way they’d municate on the holiday。 She skipped down the stairs and plunked down on the chair opposite him。 But Hollis was busy squinting down at his iPhone。
Finally； he looked up； his gaze icy。 “How’s Dan？”
A shiver of fear ran up her spine。 Hollis was reading the texts on her phone。 “Dan and I were texting last night。 While you were out；” she said coldly。 She wasn’t going to be made to feel guilty when she hadn’t done anything。
“Just texting？ ‘Depends who I’m meeting on the roof？’” he said in a mocking tone。 “No wonder you didn’t e out with my friends。 You wanted to go meet up with Dan。”
“What？ No！” Vanessa screeched； her voice echoing in her ears。 This was ridiculous。 Nothing could be further from the truth。 Last night she’d eaten half a tub of Ciao Bella on the couch with her feet under Norma。 Which was pretty much how she spent all her time these days。 For the last year； she’d been stupidly devoted to Hollis。 She’d put her whole life on hold for him。
“What else am I supposed to think？” Hollis asked in exasperation。 Norma emitted a low…pitched whine from the floor； as if to say she didn’t want any part of this。 “You didn’t want to go out last night； you didn’t even try to be friendly with the Streetscape people—it’s like you don’t even care…。” Hollis shook his head ruefully。 “Long distance sucks； I know that。 But it wasn’t like I was in Iceland for fun。 I was working。 You of all people should appreciate that。”
Vanessa blinked back angry tears。 Outside； the city was blanketed in snow； quiet and cold。 “You’ve been with the film people all the time； then you just e home and expect me to be your personal assistant；” she retorted。 “I didn’t want to go out because I was fucking exhausted from picking up after you。”
“Really？ Really； Vanessa？” Hollis snorted。 “Guess you weren’t too tired to text Dan all night。 How e you never texted me like that？” The hurt was evident in his voice。
Vanessa shook her head。 At one point in her life； Dan had meant more to her than anyone ever had。 He’d been her best friend； her confidant； the only person in the world who knew her better than she knew herself。 Even though they hadn’t spoken for two years； she knew he still understood her。
But it seemed too impossible to try to explain her relationship with Dan。 To explain any part of what she was feeling right now。 It was as if she and Hollis had lost their ability to municate a long time ago but were only just now realizing it。
She gazed at his balled…up socks under the coffee table； which he never put in the hamper。 Hurt and anger and confusion bubbled up inside of her。 Suddenly； she felt exhausted。 “Look； this isn’t working；” Vanessa found herself saying； her voice breaking。 “But I want you to know I wasn’t cheating。”
“I’m going to go；” Hollis said。 He stood and headed up the spiral stairs to their sleeping loft。 “Spend a few days away。 Clear my head。”
“No； it’s your apartment。 Don’t be ridiculous。 I just need a few minutes to pack。”
Upstairs； she threw her things into a huge army green duffel。 She had nowhere to go。 Ruby and Piotr’s extended family were having a New Year’s Eve goat roast that she didn’t want to crash。 There was too much snow on the ground to get a bus to Vermont to her parents’。 She suddenly found herself thinking of the Upper West Side and Rufus’s flambé。
Maybe there was someplace she could go； after all。
a lot can go wrong in the cold light of day
Jenny felt like she was about to explode from the secret of what had happened last night。 She didn’t want to sit too close to Nate； in case anyone might suspect anything； so she’d watched Two for the Road and My Fair Lady sitting on an unfortable leather ottoman。 Now； the sun was beginning to set； Blair was about to put in Breakfast at Tiffany’s； and Jenny wasn’t sure if she could stand watching another romantic movie in the dark。
“Want to play a game？” she asked； kneeling down before the glass…fronted cabinet of games in the corner of the den。 The snow had let up； and she wondered if they’d all head back to New York。 She hoped they’d stay just one more night； even if it was New Year’s Eve and she was supposed to go to a party in the city with Tinsley； one of her friends from Waverly。 But she didn’t want to go to a party。 All she wanted to do was sneak back up to Nate’s attic bedroom again。
“Let me see。” Serena stood behind Jenny； peering at the games。 “Oooh； Clue！ Remember how your nanny taught us to play this and you were terrified Colonel Mustard was ing to get you？” she called over to Nate。 He smiled slightly。
Serena set up the board。 “Can I be Miss Scarlet？” she asked。
“I don’t see why not。 You always get what you want；” Blair said under her breath from the corner。 She was so over this snowbound adventure。 All she wanted was a quiet New Year’s Eve with her boyfriend； where they toasted their calm； peaceful lives； and planned their Gstaad skiing vacation。 Was that too much to ask？
“Who do you want to be？” Jenny asked Blair as she took the Mrs。 Peacock piece。
“I don’t care；” Blair said tersely。 Everyone was acting strangely today。 Serena and Dan were barely talking； Jenny seemed jumpier than usual； Nate was spacey and quiet； and Chuck was trying to make everyone get along。 Harold and Giles had wisely spent most of the day playing outside with the twins； as if they sensed drama on the horizon and wanted no part of it。 “I’ll be Mrs。 White；” she said finally； sneaking a glance at her white gold Rolex。 Four o’clock。 Too early to lie and say she was going to bed； even if it was practically dark outside。 They began halfheartedly playing。
Serena rolled the dice。 “Six。 Right behind Blair；” she noted as she moved her game piece。 Maybe she and Dan could get on the road after this game； and take their chances with the snow。
“Of course you’re following me；” Blair muttered。 Just like Serena had followed her to Yale。 Just like Serena had followed her to Newport。 She imagined them in their fifties； Blair having to move from home to home to keep away from Serena。
“A little self…centered； Mrs。 White？” Serena asked。 Her tone was light； but she was deadly serious。 What was Blair’s problem？
Blair glared at Serena。 “I suspect Miss van der Woodsen； outside Nate’s room； with a really slutty candlestick；” Blair hissed。
Serena gasped。 “You were there too。 Don’t try to act all innocent。”
“What？” Jenny chirped； backing away from the game board。 What did they mean； outside Nate’s room？
“Sorry； Dan； but you should know Serena was trying to sneak into Nate’s room last night。” Blair stood up abruptly。
Serena felt anger slice through her stomach。 It was so typical of Blair to blame everything on her。 “Let’s go； Dan。” Serena pulled at his arm。 “I need to talk to you。”
Dan climbed to his feet uneasily。 He felt like he was about to throw up。 So Serena had tried to hook up with Nate last night。 She hadn’t even denied it。
“Blair？” Chuck asked from the corner。 “Are you okay？”
“I’ll be fine once Serena gets out of here；” Blair snapped。
“Christ； not again。” Nate angrily kicked the table leg。 Why did this always happen？ Every time he came into contact with Serena and Blair there was a giant blowout。 He suddenly remembered learning about catalyst reactions in his high school chemistry class。 One random chemical could change everything between two otherwise normal chemicals。 It all made sense。 He was a fucking catalyst。
Um； you think？
He walked out of the living room； leaving everyone staring after him。 He couldn’t stay in the house with Blair。 He couldn’t drive back to New York with Serena。 But he had an idea。 His dad kept the Charlotte docked in Newport； and it w