York　was　like　pulling　a　gigantic　Band…Aid　off　her　whole　fucking　life；　exposing　the　raw；　oozing　parts　of　her　past　that　hadn’t　healed。

Pete　kept　his　gaze　on　Blair。　“Help　me　understand；”　he　said　slowly。

Blair　looked　from　the　flat…screen　television　mounted　against　the　wall　to　the　black　and　granite　wet　bar　in　the　next　room。　She　usually　loved　hotels；　but　now　everything　seemed　too　sterile；　too　anonymous。　She　wished　they　were　back　in　their　cluttered　New　Haven　rental。

Blair　kicked　off　one　Sigerson　Morrison　pump；　then　the　other；　and　folded　her　legs　under　her　on　the　bed。　She　had　to　tell　him。　He’d　met　her　weird　mom　and　her　gross；　fat　stepfather。　He’d　spent　hours　taking　pictures　of　Blair　and　her　toddler　sister；　Yale；　playing　in　the　pool　in　the　backyard　of　her　family’s　Pacific　Palisades　home。　He　knew　her。

Blair　took　a　deep　breath。　“I　saw　my　ex。　Making　out　with　my　best　friend。　And　we’re　not　together　anymore；　obviously。”　Blair　mustered　a　weak　laugh　that　came　out　like　a　bark。　“But　it　was　still　weird…　hard；　I　guess；”　she　added。

A　cloud　had　passed　over　Pete’s　usually　open　face。

“Do　I　know　who　this　ex　is？”　Pete　asked；　taking　his　hand　off　hers。

“It’s　Nate。　It　was　Nate　and　Serena。”　Blair　said　simply。　She’d　talked　about　Nate　only　in　vague　terms；　usually　in　reference　to　a　story　from　when　they　were　kids。　Before　things　got　so　plicated。

“Nate；”　Pete　repeated。　“The　one　you　used　to　go　to　the　zoo　with。”

Blair　nodded；　trying　to　figure　out　what　she　should　say　next；　but　all　she　could　do　was　think　about　meandering　lazily　through　the　Central　Park　Zoo　with　Nate。　He’d　liked　the　penguins；　she’d　liked　the　polar　bears。　That　is；　until　Serena　decided　she　liked　the　polar　bears　more。　Serena　used　to　stand　in　front　of　the　habitat　talking　to　them；　as