It　was　already　after　eleven；　and　the　suite　was　filled　with　guys　in　khakis　and　wrinkled　button…downs　and　girls　in　tight　dresses　or　bikinis。　Everyone　looked　like　they　were　trying　to　look　fifteen　years　old。

You　never　can　go　back。

“How　are　you？”　Serena　exclaimed　eagerly　as　she　plopped　on　the　couch　next　to　Isabel。　“How’s　Casey？”　she　asked；　remembering　the　name　of　Isabel’s　lesbian　lover　from　last　year。

“Oh。”　Isabel　turned　bright　red。　“I　have　no　idea。　I’m　actually　dating　this　guy　named　Chad；”　she　announced　as　she　pretended　not　to　stare　jealously　at　Serena’s　legs。　Serena　was　wearing　a　denim　miniskirt　she’d　fashioned　out　of　a　pair　of　ancient　Sevens　and　an　extra…large　Marc　by　Marc　Jacobs　sweater。　On　anyone　else；　the　outfit　would　have　looked　sloppy。　On　Serena；　it　looked　stunning。

Of　course。

“How　are　you？”　Laura　cooed；　as　if　she　hadn’t　been　gossiping　about　her　just　moments　before。　She　grabbed　Serena’s　long　blond　hair　and　bed　her　manicured　fingernails　through　it　enviously。　“Are　these　extensions？”

“No。　Love　your　hair　though。　It’s　such　a　pretty　shade　of　red；”　Serena　lied。　Laura’s　normally　brown　hair　had　been　dyed　an　unnatural　Hawaiian　Punch　color。　“I　haven’t　been　to　a　salon　in　forever。”

“Are　you　working　on　a　movie？”　Rain　asked；　wrinkling　her　ski…jump　nose；　which　now　had　a　small　scar　from　where　her　nose　piercing　had　been。

“No。　I’m　not　sure　I　really　want　to　do　movies　anymore。”　Serena　shrugged。　She　hadn’t　acted　since　Coffee　at　the　Palace；　and　had　decided　to　take　a　break　for　the　foreseeable　future。　The　only　problem　was；　she　wasn’t　sure　what　she　wanted　to　do　now。　Part　of　her　was　thinking　about　going　back　to　school—she　had　only　deferred　from　Yale　and　could　still　go　if　she　wanted　to—but　the　idea　of　sitting　in　a　classroom　seemed　so　c