okup；　which　was　unfortunate；　because　he　didn’t　want　any　human　contact。　He　wasn’t　very　good　pany　right　now。　Chips　was　dead。　He’d　hurt　Serena。　Blair　had　a　boyfriend。　The　three　people　he　cared　about　most　in　the　world；　and　he　couldn’t　reach　out　to　any　of　them。

The　past　few　days　had　gone　by　in　a　blur。　He　liked　the　way　the　hours　bled　into　each　other　in　front　of　the　television；　especially　after　he　fired　up　his　bong。　Oprah　had　featured　teen　entrepreneurs　the　other　day。　There　was　one　kid　who　made　jellyfish　tanks　instead　of　going　to　college。　Maybe　he　could　drop　out　of　school　and　do　something　like　that。

Nate　inhaled　deeply　from　the　joint。　He　sat　at　the　large　marble　island　in　the　center　of　his　family’s　French　country…style　kitchen；　feeling　contented。　Maybe　this　was　happiness。

And　maybe　someone　needs　to　change　his　pants　and　climb　out　of　his　pot　haze？

Just　then；　the　doorbell　rang　a　pleasant　three…tone　chime。　Fuck。　Nate　ignored　it　and　took　another　hit。　Then　he　felt　his　iPhone　buzzing　in　his　pocket。　He　slipped　it　out　and　glanced　at　the　display。　Chuck。

“Hello？”　Nate　croaked。

“Open　the　door；”　Chuck　said。

“No；”　Nate　said　lamely。　He　didn’t　want　Chuck　to　see　him　in　this　state。　“I’m　in　the　shower；”　he　added　nonsensically。

“No；　you’re　not；”　Chuck　responded　matter…of…factly　as　the　chime　filled　the　house　again。　It　didn’t　sound　pleasant　at　all　anymore。　It　made　Nate　feel　like　his　brain　was　going　to　explode。

He　sulkily　pulled　open　the　large　oak　door　and　crossed　his　arms。　Chuck　pulled　off　his　Gucci　aviators　and　coolly　appraised　Nate。　“You’re　a　mess；”　he　said　finally。

Thank　you；　Mr。　Observant。

Chuck　brushed　past　him　through　the　entryway　and　into　the　kitchen。　Nate　trailed　behind。　It　wasn’t　like　he　had　a　choice。　Chuck　wrinkle