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 was the only one in the
group with breast…size issues。
?I always wanted bigger breasts。 I?ve seriously considered getting implants。? It wasn?t a total lie。
She was only a B cup and had always aspired to a C。
Who hasn?t?
?Really?? Serena demanded; drifting back to earth。 ?Since when??
Blair took another angry bite of cake。 Was Serena purposely trying to sabotage her leadership
skills? ?You don?t know everything about me;? she snapped。
Cassie; Vicky; and Mary kicked each other under the table。 This was so exciting! Serena van der
Woodsen and Blair Waldorf were having a fight; and they were witnessing every word of it!
Elise bed her chewed…on fingernails through her thick blond bob。 ?I think it was really; um;
amazing of you to tell us about that; Jenny。? She smiled shyly at Jenny。 ?And I think it was brave
of you not to do it。?
Blair scowled。 Why hadn?tshe said something about how brave Jenny was instead of making that
outrageous statement about wanting implants? Who knew what these stupid freshmen were going
to say about her once the group broke up? Then she remembered something else Ms。 Doherty had
gone over in their training session。
?Oops。 I think we were supposed to say something about confidentiality before we started。 You
know; like; nothing we say here will be repeated outside the group; or whatever??