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things worth having are worth cheating for
？Oh my God； youhave to burn this one！？ Serena held out a picture of her first…grade self in a
fuzzy alligator costume and dug her feet into the butter…soft forest green Pratesi sheets covering
Nate？s bed。 His bed was always unmade； despite the fact that his family had a maid who
bulldozed through his room every day； washing everything in sight。 Serena and Nate lay side by
side on their stomachs； a worn leather photo album between them。
？I don？t even rememberwearing that；？ she mused； tossing the aging photo onto the already messy
floor。 Even though he？d only been home for one day； his room was a total disaster。 Piles of clothes
were strewn everywhere； and his huge wooden desk was pletely covered with notebooks；
magazines； and PlayStation games。 A broken Brine lacrosse stick leaned dejectedly in one corner。
？Ido。？ Nate laughed； retrieving the photo。 ？It was Halloween。 We？d just gone to the Bronx Zoo
on some field trip； and you became obsessed with alligators。？ He smiled lazily at her。 ？You ran
around telling everybody you were going to live with the alligators。？ Serena？s bare foot was right
next to Nate？s； and she moved it a fraction of an inch closer； feeling the heat from his body as he
turned the pages of the photo album。 She bit her lip。 She needed to focus on the job they？d e
there to do？to choose the pictures for the slide show at Blair？s graduation party。 Blair。 Nate？s
girlfriend。 The love of his life。 She looked down at the tan leather photo album again and took a
deep breath； letting it out slowly。 There was Blair？s tanned； happy face； her arms entwined around
Nate？s neck as she pulled his face closer to hers； grinning into the camera。 They？d probably kissed
moments after they took that picture。 Because they werein love 。 Her heart sank with the thought。
？This is so weird；？ Nate said； turning the page。
？What is？？ Serena asked； hoping Nate hadn？t suddenly developed the ability to read minds。 She
twirled a lock of blond hair around one finger； waiting for him to finish his thought。
？Oh； noway ！？ she exclaimed； pointing at the photo album as he turned to the next page。There
was Nate； blissfully passed out between a smiling Serena and Blair； the words BUCK NAKED
scrawled in red marker across his bare； hairless chest。 ？I didn？t even know we had this！ I？ll let you
keep the alligator one if you promisenever to burn this one。 。 。 。？ She looked up and gave him a
mischievous smile。
？Deal。？ Nate stuck his hand out； and she shook it； slowly drawing her hand away。
Looking down at eighth…grade Nate； so peaceful and sleepy； Serena couldn？t help remembering
how warm his skin always was； and how； on the night they？d lost their virginity to each other； she
hadn？t needed a blanket at all？sleeping with Nate was like sleeping with your own personal
furnace。
And just as dangerous 。 。 。
？What were you saying though before？what？s weird？？ Serena looked down at the ends of her
hair again； afraid of his answer。
？I don？t know。？ Nate flipped the page and pointed to a picture of Blair on the steps of the Met
with Serena； their arms wrapped around each other； tongues sticking out at the camera。 ？Things
seemed so much easier back then。 No college。 No worries。 No responsibilities。？ ？Like taking
theCharlotte for a month without asking？？ she said； grinning。 ？It must？ve been awesome。？ She
cleared her throat and rolled over onto her back； her hands on her belly。 Her stomach dipped and
rolled in anticipation and nervousness。 She wasn？t sure she really wanted to know the answer to
that question； but at the same time； she couldn？t seem to stop herself from asking。
？It was。？ Nate closed the photo album and looked at her。 ？Being out there with no parents；
nothing to worry about； just me and Blair 。 。 。 it was probably the best month of my life；？ he said；
although he was really thinking about how kissable Serena？s lips always looked？the way they
were always a little parted； with just a trace of a smile。
Serena？s heart plummeted in her chest。 She wanted so badly to have been the one out there with
him； totally alone； nothing around but the endless expanse of blue water and their half…naked
bodies。 She wondered for the millionth time if he had found her letter and read it。 Somehow； she
doubted he had。 If he？d found the letter； he would？ve said something； right？ But there was
probably no point in asking anyway。 He loved Blair。 There was no question。 She felt dizzy at the
thought。 How could she go up to Yale with them in a week and watch as Nate and Blair stared into
each other？s eyes for four long years？ She didn？t think she？d be able to stand it。
Nate？s phone rang； breaking the peaceful silence。 He grabbed it from the floor and as he reached
out； his T…shirt rode up a little； exposing the smooth； tanned skin of his back。 Serena swallowed
and tried to look away。 Nate pushed the speakerphone button and a gravelly； decidedly grumbly
voice was released into the air。
？Nate？ Is that you？？
Nate looked over at Serena in confusion； wrinkling his forehead。
？Uh； yeah；？ he said cautiously。 ？This is Nate。？
？Well； this is Chips；？ the voice growled menacingly。 ？Meet me at the New York Yacht Club in
half an hour。？ There was a click； then the sound of a dial tone。
？Fuck；？ Nate mumbled under his breath。 After a moment he jumped to his feet and slid them into
a beat…up pair of black and white Marc Jacobs Vans。
？I？m sorry；？ he said； putting his cell phone into his pocket。 ？But I？ve gotta go。？ ？Sounds like
you？ve got a hot date。？ She winked and waited for his sly eback； but he only gave her a
halfhearted smile。 Serena searched his eyes； trying to figure out what was going on。 Nate turned
and started digging through one of his desk drawers； pulling out some rolling papers； a stick of
deodorant； and some random unicorn stickers Blair had probably given him in； like； seventh grade
or something。 ？But before you go； I just wanted to tell you that they？re pushing up the release date
forBreakfast at Fred？s。 。 。 。 ？ ？Seriously？？ He turned to look at her again； producing his iPod from
the drawer and throwing it into his navy blue Jack Spade canvas backpack along with his keys。 ？I
guess you？ll be a real movie star soon。？ He grinned； closing his backpack。 ？Sure you？ll still have
time for us little people？？ ？I？ll always have time for you； Natie。？ Her voice was small but serious。
As she held his green…eyed gaze； Nate leaned over and kissed her softly on the forehead； his lips
lingering for a moment on her skin。 He stroked the top of her head briefly with one hand and then
walked quickly to the door。 Before the door swung shut； he looked back at her ？a kind of wordless
question swimming in his green eyes。 And then he was gone。
Serena sat there in a daze； one hand tracing the path of his lips on her face。 Her forehead felt
strange and electric？like her skin had just been branded by the soft pressure of Nate？s mouth。 She
could still feel the silky warmth of his lips； and all she wanted was to chase him out the door and
kiss him back。
But not on the forehead this time。
b stakes out her best frenemies
？Hot dogs！ Get your hot dogs here！？
Blair perched on a fire hydrant directly across from the Archibald？s town house on
Eighty…second Street。 A Sabrett hot dog cart was parked on the sidewalk a few feet from her； and
the salty aroma of hot dogs； sauerkraut； and hot； golden pretzels was making her feel slightly
insane； and very hungry。 Her stomach growled and she rolled her eyes in annoyance。 Even though
she was totally starving； she wasn？t going anywhere or eating anything？especially not a greasy；
disease…filled hot dog？until Serena came out and explained to her what the hell was going on and
why she was hanging out at Nate？s house。 Rumbling stomach or not； right now the only kind of
dog Blair was interested in was her lying； cheating boyfriend。
Woof！
She crossed her arms over her chest； her forest green canvas Kate Spade tote resting in her lap。
She pushed her tinted blue Prada aviators up on her forehead and watched as the heavy wooden
door to the town house swung open。 Nate came tumbling out； shoving his white iPod headphones
in his ears and practically running down the street。 Where was he off to in such a hurry？ Maybe
the ？paint fumes？ had gone to his head。 Moments later； Serena appeared； looking right； then left；
her black leather tote swinging from her shoulder； blond hair gleaming in the sunlight。 Aha！
Blair watched as Serena proceeded to practicallytiptoe down the street toward the park。 As she
reached the corner； she stopped suddenly； pulling her cell from her bag。 Who was she calling now？
Did she need to call Nate only seconds after parting to plan their next rendezvous？ Blair leaned
forward on the bench； trying to make out Serena？s expression as she held the phone to her head。
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep。
Blair jumped as her cell began to vibrate and ring from the confines of her tote。 She grabbed it
and looked at the caller…ID screen。Well； of course。
？Hello？？she answered shrilly；