the icing onb ?s cake
All Monday morning Blair had been dreading peer group。 Not that she minded talking about
hooking up with boys; or peer pressure; or whatever else the freshmen wanted to talk about。 After
all; today was Valentine?s Day; soeveryone at Constance was talking about hooking up with boys。
What she dreaded were all the questions the ninth graders in the group were going to ask Serena
about walking the runway in the Les Best show; what it had been like to hang out with all those
famous models; and blah; blah; blah。 They?d probably ask about her stupid I
LOVEAARONT…shirt and what was going on with her and Aaron; becausethey?d heard blah; blah;
blah。 As if it was all so very interesting。
Not。
Why was it that the world was so full of followers when there were so many choices in life?
Blair slipped an extra slice of chocolate cake onto her tray just to make sure she?d have something
to do while the girls in peer group were boring her to death。
?Hello;? she practically yawned when she sat down at the crowded table a few minutes after the
group had begun。 ?Sorry I?m late。?
?That?s okay;? Serena replied gaily。 She?d gotten a plimentary trim and highlight job before
the fashion show; and her long blond hair was even shinier and more perfect than it had been
before。 ?We were just talking about Elise?s parental problems。 She thinks her dad might be having
an affair。?
Elise?s thick; straw…colored bangs were pulled back and clipped to the sides of her head with tiny
pink heart barrettes。 There were dark circles under her bright blue eyes; like she?d been up all
night worrying。 ?That sucks;? Blair said sympathetically。 ?Believe me; Iknow 。? She decided to
leave it at that。 Peer group might have been a place for sharing; but she wasn?t about to go into the
details of her father?s affairs with other men while he was still married to her mother。
Serena nodded vigorously。 ?I was just telling them how all families are totally fucked up。
Actually; Blair; your family is a perfect example;? she added cheerfully。
Blair bristled。 ?Thanks a lot;? she shot back。 ?But I don?t think everyone needs to hear about my
problems right now。?
Jenny bit a cuticle and banged her foot nervously against the leg of her chair。 She?d been fretting
all morning that as soon as peer group started; Elise was going to dive right in and start talking
about same…sex kissing。 Thank God Elise had other things on her mind。
?Anyway; we don?t have to talk about our messed…up families if it?s going bother you;? Blair
told Elise; trying to be supportive。
Elise nodded unhappily。 ?Actually therewas something else I wanted to talk about。?
Jenny winced。
Oops。
Blair nodded encouragingly; ?Yes? What is it?? Vicky Reinerson waved her hand in the air。 She
was wearing a red wool cape similar to the one Serena had modeled in the Les Best show; except