rlotte　docked　in　Newport；　and　it　wasn’t　snowing　that　hard。

Nate　ran　up　to　the　attic；　grabbed　his　black　Lacroix　wallet　from　the　oak　dresser；　and　shoved　it　in　the　back　pocket　of　his　khakis。　He　picked　up　what　few　things　he　had　with　him；　shrugged　on　his　coat；　and　made　for　the　door。

When　he　opened　it；　he　found　Jenny　standing　there。

“It’s　not　a　good　time；”　he　mumbled；　trying　to　sidestep　her。　“I’m　leaving。”

Jenny　stayed　where　she　was；　blocking　his　path。　“I　want　to　go　with　you；　Nate；”　she　said；　her　large　brown　eyes　wide　and　pleading。　“Please？”

“I’m　not　going　back　to　New　York。　I’m　taking　my　dad’s　boat　and　heading　up　to　Maine；”　Nate　invented。　He　wasn’t　sure　where　to　go；　but　he　knew　he　needed　to　get　far　away　from　here。

“I’ve　never　been　to　Maine。”　Jenny　offered　a　small　smile。　“I　know　you　didn’t　hook　up　with　Blair　or　Serena。　I　know　you’re　different。　And…”　She　paused　and　looked　shyly　at　the　ground。　She　was　wearing　her　red　coat　and　hunter　green　galoshes；　and　looked　adorably　Christmasy。　“I　really　want　to　be　with　you。”

Jenny　bit　her　pink　bottom　lip　as　she　waited　for　his　answer。　Her　sophomore　year　at　Waverly；　she’d　been　in　a　love　triangle　of　her　own；　locked　in　a　vicious　battle　with　her　roommate　over　Easy　Walsh；　a　sweet　boy　from　Tennessee。　True；　Nate　and　Blair　and　Serena　had　known　each　other　for　a　long　time；　and　the　emotions　ran　deep。　But　she　knew　Nate；　and　she　knew　he　had　good　intentions。　She　glanced　up　again　and　met　his　eyes。

Nate　paused；　taking　in　Jenny’s　sweet；　hopeful　expression。　He　could　still　hear　Blair　and　Serena’s　shrieks　from　downstairs。　But　Jenny…　Jenny　didn’t　look　like　she’d　yell　at　anyone。

“Are　you　sure？”　he　asked　finally。

Jenny　nodded。　“There　are　stairs　over　there。”　She　pointed　to　the　service　entrance