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Besides； she wanted to surprise Dan。 He’d always seemed so down on their Skypes。
“I missed you too。” Dan kissed Vanessa again。 He didn’t like their lips being apart。 “I have so much to tell you；” he breathed。 He’d meant to tell Vanessa about Columbia over a glass of red wine or at least after he’d taken a shower and brushed his teeth。 But he couldn’t handle the thought of waiting another minute。
“I have so much to tell you too！” Vanessa said eagerly。 There was so much he needed to get caught up on in her life。 She couldn’t wait to bring him to Bushwick and go to one of the all…night parties that her sophomore friends Brianna and Kara held on the first Sunday of every month。 She couldn’t wait to show him some of the films she’d made。 She couldn’t wait to spend all day at the International Film Center； making out and watching movies。
Dan stood up。 “Follow me。” He led the way toward his bedroom。
“Is it a present？” Vanessa asked as she trailed down the hallway after him。 She hoped not。 They’d decided not to give presents to each other this holiday and instead put the money toward an emergency plane ticket fund so Dan could e visit when the distance was feeling unbearable。
“Nope。” Dan grabbed the acceptance letter off his desk and thrust it toward her； buzzing with anticipation。 He’d memorized every word。
Vanessa scanned the document while Dan watched。 He noticed a sparkly barrette sweeping a lock of hair behind her left ear。 Vanessa never used to wear jewelry。
She also never used to have hair。
Finally； Vanessa looked up； a faint smile playing on her full red lips。 “Does this mean you’re not going back to Evergreen？”
Dan nodded happily as he closed up the space between them and pressed her back against the doorframe。 “I hated Evergreen。 All I could do was think about you； and about us。 I couldn’t write without you。 I need you；” he said。 How did long…distance relationships ever work？ He could hardly stand to be in a different room than Vanessa。
“I know；” Vanessa murmured。 Dan’s breath was hot against her cheek。 Had Dan really spent every waking moment at Evergreen just thinking about her and wanting to e home？ She knew he hated it there； but hadn’t he even tried to like his classes？ To make friends？
“So； I was thinking we could live here until we find a place。 We could get a studio downtown。 It wouldn’t be that expensive；” Dan mused； running his fingers through Vanessa’s short hair。 It was silky and unfamiliar； but Dan instantly loved it； just like he loved every part of her。
Vanessa nodded； trying to imagine living with Dan。 They’d tried a few times last year for short periods of time； but it had never really worked。 One of them would always get moody or jealous。 But maybe now that they were in college； it would be different？
“And we can arrange our schedules together。 There’s this one class at Columbia called The Poetry of Film that I was thinking of taking。 Maybe you could take it as a visiting student？ Or maybe you could transfer。” His hand grazed the hem of her black long…sleeve thermal top。
“Transfer？” Vanessa pulled back slightly。 “But I like NYU。” She loved her classes； and most of the people she’d met。 The film students tended to stick together； going from screenings to happy hours to late…night onion ring runs at Tick Tock Diner in a herd。 In high school； Vanessa would have thought that type of behavior was ridiculously lame。 But having a big group of friends was actually fun。
What was she getting so worked up about？ Dan was her boyfriend； and he was moving back to the city。 Of course he just wanted to spend more time with her。 And of course that was what she wanted too。 “e here。” She smiled and reached toward Dan； pulling him in for a kiss。 His lips tasted reassuringly familiar； like Crest and Folgers。
Just then； her cell vibrated from her back pocket。 She pulled out the phone and frowned。
“What？” Dan asked impatiently。
Vanessa scanned the display。 NEW YEAR’S PARTY AT MY CASA。 210 AVE B。 HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE—HOLLIS。 Hollis was her TA for her Intro to Film class。 He was only twenty…five but he’d already screened a few of his films at the Tribeca Film Festival。 One of them had even been picked up by an indie film pany。 He was intense； but approachable and funny； and would be the first to tell you if your film sucked。 In fact； he’d given her first assignment a C＋ because he thought it was too perfectly executed。 This has technical precision； but not heart。 Do you want to make credit card mercials or films？ he’d asked。 It should have been obnoxious； but she respected his honesty。
“My friend is having a New Year’s Eve party downtown tomorrow night…。” Vanessa tried to picture Dan interacting with some of her new friends； like Matt and Chip； the gay couple who made extremely explicit XX…rated films。 Dan could sometimes be a little… antisocial。
“My dad wanted me to go on some retreat thing；” Dan told her； disappointed。 “I just told him I’d e。”
“I understand；” Vanessa said； pleased that she could go to Hollis’s party without worrying about Dan。 “I don’t want you to disappoint your dad。 Besides； we have plenty of time now。”
Dan melted all over again。 It was so cute that Vanessa was concerned about his dad。 He took her hand and interlaced his fingers with hers。
“You’re right；” he murmured； drawing her close。 “I’ll be back in a few days。” It would mean a lot to his dad to spend some father…son time together。 Especially since he and Vanessa would be moving in together soon。 He couldn’t wait。
Because nothing says forever like a cramped studio apartment。
wele back
Blair heaved a sigh of relief as she hauled her Louis Vuitton duffel to the curb outside La Guardia on New Year’s Eve day。 Just a few hours ago； she’d said goodbye to Pete at Logan Airport before hopping a muter plane to New York。
“Where to？” The cab driver gazed at her through the Plexiglas partition。
“Nine ninety…four Fifth Avenue。” Blair rattled off Serena’s address as if it were her own and leaned back against the cab’s black pleather seats。 The past few days at the Carlsons’ had been torture。 After the “no ring； no bring” announcement； the cozy atmosphere had felt decidedly claustrophobic。 Now she was actually looking forward to spending New Year’s in the city and seeing Serena again。 She rummaged through her thyme green Lanvin weekender bag for her iPhone。
“I’m ing over！” Blair announced as soon as Serena picked up。 The cab hit a traffic snarl right before the Queensboro Bridge。 Instantly； the cars around them started honking。
“You’re in New York？” Serena squealed。 “Oh my God； I can’t wait to see you！” Her excited； crackly voice filled the cab。
“See you soon！” Blair clicked off。 The familiar skyline came into her vision； and a smile curled across Blair’s lips。 She was back。
The cab navigated its way into Manhattan and weaved across the east side。 On Fifth Avenue； it stopped in front of a familiar； green…awninged building across from the Met。 A familiar blond figure stood outside； two coffees in hand。
Blair rolled down the window of the cab and sucked in her breath。 Of course； she’d seen photos of Serena in all the weekly gossip magazines she pretended not to read； but Serena in person took her breath away。 She wore a tattered pair of J Brand boyfriend jeans and a fuzzy white cashmere sweater。 Her thick blond hair was loose around her shoulders and her makeup…free face was flawless。
Serena yanked the cab door open and tackled Blair in a bear hug。 “I’ve missed you！” She hugged her tightly。 Serena had gotten a Cartier watch from her parents for Christmas and a Burberry ski parka from Erik； but this was all she really wanted： her best friend home for the holidays。
“Me too；” Blair replied honestly。 The cabbie removed her bags from the trunk and set them on the sidewalk。 Instantly； Roland； Serena’s ancient doorman； took the bags and brought them inside。
Once they were alone； Serena stared dumbly at her friend。 She couldn’t believe Blair was right in front of her。 She looked older； somehow。 Her hair was longer than it had been last summer； her small face more angular。 But she was grinning widely in a way that reminded Serena of how she’d looked as a little kid。
“I bought you coffee。” Serena proffered a white Dean & Deluca cup。
Blair took a sip and smiled as the skim latte with two Splendas slid down her throat。 That was the great thing about old friends。 They knew you； right down to how you took your coffee。
“Can we sit on the steps for a little bit？” Blair asked almost shyly； gazing at the Corinthian columns of the Met across the street。 Back in high school； they spent hours on the steps； gossiping and pouring their hearts out to one another。 The steps were the center of their universe。 Blair had even had her going…away party inside the famous museum。 It felt right that they begin their reunion there； instead of in Serena’s apartment。
“I was hoping you’d say that。” Serena grinned； already crossing the street。
They settled midway down the steps。 It was surprisingly warm for December； and the museum entrance was crowded with people。 Blair spotted two