e　a　tiny　splash　as　it

hit　the　calm　surface　of　the　water。

Chips　nodded　approvingly　and　Nate　grabbed　a　rope　to　hoist　the　sail；　giving　it　a　fierce　pull。　The

sail　rose　above　him；　fluttered　in　the　breeze；　and　then　grew　taut。

？We？re　off！？　Chips　cried　as　the　boat　motored　out　into　the　harbor。

Nate　watched　the　dock　grow　smaller　and　smaller。　Maybe　college　was　the　right　choice　for　most

people；　but　it　wasn？t　for　him？at　least　not　now。　Yale　could　wait。　He　needed　time　to　figure　out　who

he　was　and　what　he　really　wanted；　and　he　was　never　going　to　do　that　if　every　spare　minute　was

taken　up　with　classes；　papers；　and　。　。　。　Blair。　Or　Serena。

The　tall　buildings　of　Manhattan　began　to　recede　into　the　distance；　and　the　spires　of　the　Chrysler

building　and　the　Empire　State　building　became　tiny　toy　versions　of　themselves。　The　island　Nate

had　called　home　his　whole　life　suddenly　looked　。　。　。　small。　He　planted　his　feet　on　the　teak　planks

of　the　deck　and　turned　his　head　into　the　wind　as　they　sailed　off　into　the　sparkling；　endless　blue。

Like　we？re　never　going　to　hear　from　him　again？　Not　a　chance。　The　world　is　big；　but　notthat　big。

the　long　goodbye

Blair　crossed　her　arms　and　tapped　her　toe　impatiently　on　the　platform　as　the　train　began　to　fill　up

with　hundreds　of　luggage…toting　passengers。　She　was　so　fucking　on　edge　that　she　felt　like　she

might　throw　up。　The　bright　silver　train　cars　were　momentarily　engulfed　in　a　white　cloud　of

exhaust；　and　Serena　coughed；　one　hand　covering　her　mouth。

Blair　dialed　Nate？s　number　for　the　bazillionth　time　and　sighed　as　it　rang　and　rang　and　then　went

to　voice　mail。　？Nate；　it？s　me；？　she　snapped　into　the　phone。　？I？m　here　on　the　platform　a