“I　didn’t　sleep　very　well；”　Blair　grumbled。

“I　can　always　change　room　arrangements　when　your　friends　leave；　so　you　can　get　your　beauty　sleep；”　Harold　offered。

“They’re　not　my　friends；”　Blair　muttered。　“I　don’t　know　why　they’re　here。　I　thought　it　would　be　a　relaxing　holiday　with　just　the　family；　and　I　have　to　read　Ulysses；　and　I　can’t　do　anything　when　I’m　so　stressed　out。　Look；　Daddy；　do　you　think　I’m　breaking　out？”

“Morning！”　Serena　said　loudly　as　she　clattered　down　the　stairs。

“Serena；”　Harold　boomed　jovially。　“Coffee？”

“Yes　please。”　A　bowl　of　fresh　pumpkin　spelt　scones；　courtesy　of　Giles；　sat　on　the　counter。　Serena　took　one；　plunging　her　thumb　into　the　flaky　pastry。

“Hi；”　Blair　said　icily。

“Hi；”　Serena　responded；　taking　a　buttery　bite。　“I　like　your　bracelets。”

“Thanks。　My　boyfriend　gave　them　to　me；”　Blair　said　pointedly。　“Speaking　of；　where’s　yours？”　And　when　are　you　all　leaving？　she　wanted　to　add。

“He’s　still　sleeping。”　An　awkward　silence　fell　over　the　kitchen　as　Serena　tried　to　search　for　clues　about　whether　or　not　Blair　and　Nate　had　been　together　last　night。　It　was　hard　to　tell。　Blair　seemed　edgy　and　bad…tempered；　but　that　didn’t　mean　anything。　She　was　often　edgy　and　bad…tempered。

“How　are　your　parents？”　Harold　asked　politely；　breaking　the　silence　as　he　settled　on　a　chair　opposite　Serena。

“They’re　great。　Right　now；　they’re　in　St。　Barts　for　New　Year’s。　My　brother；　Erik；　is　getting　married　next　year；　so　they’ve　been　really　busy　with　plans。”　Serena　nodded　happily。　Erik　had　met　his　fiancée　when　he　went　to　Australia　for　his　junior　year　abroad；　and　they’d　been　inseparable　since。　The　only　downside　to　the　wedding　was　the　floor…length　lilac　taffeta　dress　she’d　be　obligated　to　wear　as　a　bridesma