hand　away　again　as　if　she？d　been　burned。　Jenny　licked　her　winter…chapped　lips。　？Since　we？re

supposed　to　talk　about　body　image；　I　guess　I　have　something　to　say；？　she　told　the　group；　her　voice

wavering。　She　looked　up　to　find　Blair　nodding　and　smiling　at　her　encouragingly。

？Yes；　Ginny？？

Jenny　looked　down　at　the　table　again。　Why　was　she　even　telling　them　this？Because　I　need　to　tell

someone；　she　realized。　She　forced　herself　to　keep　talking　despite　the　furious　red…hot　blush　of

embarrassment　burning　her　face。　？This　weekend　I　almost　had　a　consultation　for　a　breast

reduction。？

Mary；　Vicky；　and　Cassie　scooted　forward　in　their　chairs　to　listen。　Not　only　was　peer　group　going

to　bethe　place　to　pick　up　the　latest　fashion　trends　from　the　two　coolest　girls　in　school；　it　was　going

to　be　a　major　resource　for　gossip！

？I　made　the　appointment；？　Jenny　continued；　？but　then　I　didn？t　go。？　She　pushed　her　plate　away

and　took　a　sip　of　water；　trying　to　ignore　the　curious　stares　of　the　other　girls。　The　group　was　riveted；

and　stealing　the　spotlight　from　Blair　and　Serena　was　no　easy　feat。

Elise　picked　up　an　onion　ring；　took　a　tiny　bite；　and　dropped　it　on　the　plate　again。　？What　made

you　change　your　mind？？　she　asked。

？You　don？t　have　to　answer　that；？　Blair　interrupted；　remembering　something　Ms。　Doherty　had

said　in　their　training　session　about　not　pushing　the　members　of　the　group　to　open　up　before　they

were　ready。　She　glanced　at　her　coleader。　Serena　was　busy　examining　her　split　ends　with　a　dreamy；

faraway　look；　as　if　she　hadn？t　heard　a　word　anyone　had　said。　Blair　turned　back　to　Jenny　and　tried

to　think　of　something　reassuring　to　say　so　Jenny　wouldn？t　feel　like　she