“I’m　actually　deferred　from　Yale　right　now。”　Serena　sighed。　Instantly；　her　blue　eyes　seemed　clouded　by　sadness。　“It’s　sort　of　a　long　story。”

“You　should　go；”　Dan　said　seriously。　Instantly；　he　felt　like　an　idiot。　Why　was　he　telling　his　dream　girl　to　move　hours　way？

“Really？”　Serena　stared　into　her　cup　of　watery　beer。　She　had　been　thinking　a　lot　about　going　back　to　school；　recently…。　And　besides；　it　wasn’t　like　Blair　was　in　charge　of　Yale。　If　Serena　wanted　to　go　to　Yale；　she　should　go　to　Yale。　“Are　you　trying　to　get　rid　of　me？”　she　asked；　raising　a　playful　eyebrow　at　Dan；　who　instantly　reddened。

“No！”　Dan　protested。　“But　there’s　more　to　college　than　beer　pong　and　a　T…shirt。　I　think　you　might　like　it。”　Why　had　he　been　so　nervous　about　meeting　Serena？　Sure；　she　was　beautiful；　but　she　was　also　goofy　and　fun　and　smart　and　sweet。

Serena　smiled　across　the　table。　She　couldn’t　remember　the　last　time　someone　had　listened　to　her—really　listened。　“Well；　if　I　do　go　to　Yale；　I’ll　still　e　back　and　visit。　New　Haven’s　not　far　from　the　city；　you　know。”

“No；　it’s　not　far　at　all。”　Dan　smiled　back；　sloshing　his　beer　so　a　tiny　dribble　fell　onto　his　blue　Gap　sweater。　But　he　didn’t　care。　Serena　was　still　beaming　at　him；　and　in　her　deep　blue　eyes　was　the　promise　of　the　future。　“I’d　like　that；”　he　said　finally。

See　what　I　mean　about　history　ing　back　to　haunt　you？

if　you　don’t　know　who　you’re　sleeping　with；　who　does？

“Shut　up！”　Blair　screamed；　hitting　the　wall　by　her　headboard　on　her　way　from　the　minibar　toward　her　bed。　She　was　on　her　fourth　vodka　soda　refill　and　the　couple　in　the　room　next　door　seemed　to　be　on　their　fourth　round　of　noisy；　athletic　sex。　Blair　had　had　enough。　Even　if　they　were　on　their　honeymoon；　didn’t　they　get　tired？　And