toward　him。　Maybe　Serena　was　whom　he　was　looking　for　the　whole　time；　and　he　was　just　too　much　of　an　idiot　to　realize　it。

“So；　I　was　thinking…”　Serena　gazed　into　Nate’s　glittering　green　eyes　and　took　a　deep　breath。　“I　wanted　to　ask　you…”　She　pictured　setting　sail；　seeing　ancient　temples　and　forgotten　ruins　and　eating　food　she　had　never　tasted　before。　But　when　she　pictured　the　person　across　from　her；　it　wasn’t　Nate。　“I　wanted　to　ask　you　to　e　inside；”　she　finished。

Serena　felt　a　rough　tap　on　her　shoulder。　She　whirled　around　and　saw　Blair；　hands　on　her　hips；　not　wearing　a　coat；　her　silk　dress　clinging　to　her　bikini…clad　body。　Serena　pulled　away　from　Nate。

“Blair！”　Nate　glanced　between　the　two　girls。

“What　are　you　doing？”　Blair　asked　them　coldly。　She　glanced　from　Serena　to　Nate。　Serena　looked　amused；　while　Nate　looked　incredibly　confused；　his　mouth　hanging　open　slightly　and　his　eyes　flicking　between　the　two　of　them　as　if　he　were　watching　a　tennis　match。

“I　was　thinking　we　need　to　go　on　an　adventure；”　Serena　began。　“We　could　take　one　of　those　sleeper　trains　that　you’ve　always　wanted　to　go　on。　We　could　start　with　Europe；”　she　said；　ing　up　with　a　trip　itinerary　on　the　spot。　She　and　Blair　had　the　biggest　fights；　sure；　but　they　also　had　the　best　times　together。

Blair　narrowed　her　eyes　in　anger。　She　couldn’t　believe　Serena　was　planning　a　romantic　adventure　with　Nate。　“Have　a　great　time；”　she　spat；　turning　on　her　heel。

Serena　burst　into　laughter。

“What　the　hell？”　Blair　whirled　around；　ready　to　launch　into　an　angry　tirade。　“You　run　out；　and　then—”

“Would　you　just　shut　up　for　one　second？”　Serena　cut　her　off；　still　giggling。　“I　meant　an　adventure　with　you；　Blair。　I　want　to　travel　with　you。　You’re　my　best　friend。”

Bl