practically since I was born。 I like going to school with boys； and eating with them in the dining
hall。 It was like having a whole class of brothers。 But I missed my room and the city； the weekends
hanging out。〃 She pulled off her white cotton socks and threw them across the room。 〃And I know
it sounds totally spoiled； but I missed having a maid。〃
Jenny nodded。 She liked the sound of eating in a dining hall with a whole bunch of boys。 She liked
it a lot。 And she'd never had a maid； so it wasn't as if she'd miss that。
〃I guess it was a good preparation for college；〃 Serena mused。 〃I mean； if I actually decide to go to
college。〃
Jenny closed the magazine and held it against her chest。 〃I thought you were going to Brown。〃
Serena pulled a down…feather pillow over her face and then pulled it off again。 Was it really
necessary to answer so many questions？ All of a sudden she kind of wished she hadn't invited
Jenny over。 〃I don't know where I'm going。 I might not even go。 I don't know；〃 she mumbled；
tossing the pillow on the floor next to her socks。 Her flaxen hair fanned out around her perfectly
chiseled face as she gazed skyward with her enormous blue eyes。 She looked so lovely； Jenny half
expected a flock of white doves to flap out from underneath the bed。
Serena grabbed the stereo remote from off her bedside table and clicked on the old Raves CD that
she'd been listening to a lot lately。 The CD had e out last summer and reminded her of a time
when she was pletely carefree。 She hadn't been kicked out of boarding school yet。 She hadn't
thought about applying to college。 She hadn't even started modeling yet。
〃What's so great about Brown？〃 she questioned aloud； although her brother Erik went there and
would be totally pissed off if she decided not to go。 Plus； she'd met a hunky Latin painter at Brown
who was still totally in lobe with her。 But what about Harvard； and that sensitive nearsighted tour
guide who'd also fallen in love with her？ Or Yale and the Whiffenpoofs； who'd written a song for
her？ And there was always Princeton； which she hadn't even visited。 After all； it was the closest to
the city。 〃Maybe I should just defer for a year or two； get my own apartment。 Model some； and
maybe try acting。〃
〃Or you could do both。 Like Claire Danes；〃 Jenny suggested。 〃I mean； once you stop going to
school； it's probably really hard to go back。〃
As if you'd know； Little Miss Helpful。
Serena rolled off the bed and stood in front of the full length mirror that hung on the back of her
closet door。 She'd rumpled her turquoise Marni peasant blouse； and her blue…and…white…seersucker
Constance Billard uniform was hanging lopsidedly on her hips。 That morning she'd been late as
usual and had tripped running to school； losing her orange Miu Miu cork…heeled clogs and landing
facedown on the sidewalk。 Now the iridescent pink polish on the big toe of her left foot was
chipped； and a purple…and…yellow bruise stood out on her right knee。
〃What a mess。〃 She plained。
Jenny wasn't sure how Serena could even stand to look at herself in a mirror every day without
passing out in amazement at her own perfection。 That anyone as perfect as Serena could have
issues was totally unfathomable。 〃I'm sure you'll figure it out；〃 she told the older girl； being
suddenly distracted by a photo of Erik van der Woodsen； Serena's hot older brother； propped up on
Serena's bedside table in a silver Tiffany frame。 Tall and lanky； with the same pale blond hair； cut
in a long shag framing his face； Erik was a male version of Serena。 Same huge dark blue eyes；
same full mouth that turned up at the corners； same straight white teeth and aristocratic chin。 In
the picture he was standing on a rocky beach； tan and shirtless。 Jenny squeezed her bare knees
together。 Those chest muscles； that stomach； those arms… oh！ If boarding school was filled with
boys who were even half as gorgeous as Erik van der Woodsen； they could sign her up！
Easy there； cow girl。
Serena's pink iMac beeped； indicating that she'd just received an e…mail。
〃Probably one of our fans。〃 Serena joked； although Jenny thought she was serious。 Serena went
over to her antique letter…writing desk； jiggled her mouse； and clicked on the latest e…mail
message。
To： SvW@vanderWoodsen。
From： Sheri@PrincetonTriDs
Dear Serena；
Our sorority totally worships Les Best and some of us were at his show this spring； so you can
imagine how pletely thrilled we were when we heard you were considering attending
Princeton this fall。 And if you do go to Princeton； you have to bee a Tri Delt。 We already have
all these amazing fundraising ideas for this year； including a Les Best fashion show to benefit the
Wild Horses of Chincoteague； featuring us； the Tri Delts； as models！ The best part is you won't
even have to pledge。 Congratulations； Serena； you're already a sister！ All you have to do now is
get your behind up to Princeton a few days early this August so you can get a good room in our
house。
We totally can't wait。 Big kisses。
Your sis；
Sheri
Serena read the message again and then logged off； staring at the blank screen in shock。 Pushy
sorority sisters were just about the last people she wanted to hear from； and anyway； wasn't
Princeton supposed to be sort of intellectual？ She picked up the phone to call Blair and then
slammed it down again； realizing she'd pletely forgotten that Jenny was even there。 Jenny was
sweet and adorable and everything… but she didn't have； like； homework or a movie to go to or
something？
See； even perfect goddesses have a bitchy side。
Jenny slid off the bed and hitched up her extra wide supportive bra straps； guessing she was about
to be dismissed。 〃You know my brother Dan is singing for the Raves now；〃 she announced。 〃His
fist gig with them is tomorrow night。 I can put you on the special guest list if you want to e。〃
Jenny wasn't even sure if there was a special guest list。 All she knew she was getting free because
she was Dan's sister。 Dan thought he was so famous now that he was a member of a band with the
number one album on the East Coast； but if she showed up to the gig with Serena… two gorgeous
models out on the town in matching Les Best dresses… she'd pletely out famous him。
Serena wrinkled her nose。 She wanted to go to the Raves gig； she really did； but she and her
parents had already RSVPed yes to some Yale prospective students' get…to…know…you party
tomorrow night。 She couldn't exactly make her parents go by themselves。
〃I don't think I can；〃 she explained apologetically。 〃There's this Yale thing I have to go to。 But I'll
try to get down there if it finishes early。〃
Jenny nodded and stuffed the issue of W into her Gap tote bag； disappointed。 She'd envisioned
making an entrance at the Lower East Side club with Serena。 Never mind the Raves… they were
rock stars； big deal。 She and Serena were supermodels… at least Serena was。 Heads were
guaranteed to turn；
Guess she'll have to satisfy herself with being the lead singer's little sister。 Like that would ever be
enough。
TALK ABOUT AN IDENTITY CRISIS
〃Crack me like an egg！〃
Daniel Humphrey glared at himself in his bedroom mirror and took a long drag on a half smoked
camel。 A lame…voiced wimp in worn khaki…colored corduroys and maroon Gap T…shirt。 Not exactly
rock'n'roll。
〃Crack me like an egg！〃 he wailed again； trying to look angst…ridden； rebellious； and sickly cool
all at the same time。 The problem was； his voice always broke when he went into the higher
ranged； ing out in a breathy whisper； and his face looked soft and young and totally
unthreatening。
Dan rubbed at his bony chin and thought about growing a goatee。 Vanessa had always had a strong
aversion to facial hair； but what she thought was no longer relevant since they were no longer a
couple。
Almost two weeks ago at Vanessa's eighteenth birthday party at her apartment in Williamsburg；
Brooklyn； Dan had been discovered by the megapopular indie band the Raves。 Or rather； his
poems had been。 Thinking they'd both go to NYU next year a