st　time　Serena　saw　her。　She　automatically　looked　over　Isabel’s　shoulder；　sure　she’d　see　Kati　Farkas；　Isabel’s　BFF　and　constant　wingwoman。　Isabel　and　Kati　had　done　everything　together　since　the　fourth　grade。　Kati　had　even　turned　down　admission　to　Princeton　so　she　and　Isabel　wouldn’t　have　to　be　separated。　But　instead　of　Kati；　a　girl　with　a　ski…jump　nose　and　chin…length　straight　brown　hair　stood　next　to　Isabel。　She　wore　a　tight　black　sleeveless　satin　dress　and　looked　like　she　could　be　Kati’s　slightly　older　sister。　But　Kati　didn’t　have　sisters。

“This　is　my　girlfriend；　Casey；”　Isabel　announced　proudly。　She　readjusted　her　white　Marc　Jacobs　tote　strap　on　her　shoulder。

Girlfriend　girlfriend？　Serena　noticed　Isabel’s　hand　intertwined　with　the　girl’s。

“We　met　in　a　women’s　studies　class。”　Isabel　smiled　adoringly　at　Casey。

There’s　her　answer。

“This　is　Serena　van　der　Woodsen。　We　went　to　school　together；”　Isabel　explained；　her　hand　now　resting　lightly　on　Casey’s　back。

“Nice　to　meet　you；　Casey。”　Serena　smiled；　holding　out　her　hand　to　the　tall　girl；　who　took　it　gingerly。

“Nice　to　meet　you　too。　I　haven’t　seen　any　of　your　movies；”　Casey　announced　bluntly。

As　if　anyone　asked。

“Oh；　that’s　okay。　How’s　Kati？”　Serena　asked　Isabel；　easing　back　onto　her　stool。　She　couldn’t　help　but　wonder　if　Isabel　was　really　gay；　or　just　going　through　the　fashionable　bisexual　phase　of　college　she’d　heard　about。

Isabel　sighed　and　shook　her　head。　“She　has　this；　like；　football　player　boyfriend　and　is　pledging　a　sorority　that　wears　pink　sweat　suits　to　class。　It’s　awful。　Casey　and　I　pretty　much　do　our　own　thing。　But　what　about　you？　I　saw　the　movie。　You　were　pretty　good；”　Isabel　allowed。

“Thanks。”　Serena　blushed。　She　hoped　Isabel　really