up at the Yale Loves New York party tonight；〃 Aaron informed her。
Huh？
Blair frowned down at the slip dress in her hands。 It was a lovely shade of deep Yale blue； but not
quite as e…hither as she would have liked。 Unless she wore an outrageously sexy pair of
strappy high…heeled sandals with it… of which she had many。
〃I thought that party was only for people who were definitely going to Yale in the fall；〃 Aaron
persisted nosily。 〃You didn't get in already； did you？〃
Ignoring him； Blair pulled one of those mini poncho things she didn't even remember buying from
out of her closet。 It was a sort of stripy blue…gray； one of Missoni's latest weaves。 She held it
against the dress to see if it would go； and it did； but it wasn't exactly the alluring
you…know…you…want…me look she needed to get those Yalies hearts aflutter。
She threw Aaron an icy get…the…fuck…out…of…here…I'm…trying…to…get…dressed glance。 〃For your
information； no I didn't find out… yet。 However； I am confident that eventually I will get in； so I
really don't see why I shouldn't attend this party。〃 She walked over to the door； and gripped the
doorknob； preparing to slam it in Aaron's face。 He'd gotten into Harvard early admission。 What the
fuck did he care？
Aaron backed away； holding up his hands to show that he meant no harm。 〃No need to be so
hostile。〃
Nothing makes a girl feel more hostile than being accused of being hostile。
Blair slammed the door。 A few minutes later； she opened it again； wearing the royal blue slip dress
and a pair of silver metallic three…and…a…half…inch Manolo sandals。 She teetered down the hall to
her old room。 Baby Yale had the perfect notice…me accessory for her outfit。 If Blair could just
sneak into the nursery without anyone seeing。。。
Yale's room was decorated in shades of pale yellow and peach and was filled with pluch toys and
miniature wooden furniture。 The crib was draped with thick white mosquito netting imported from
India； so that it was impossible to see if Yale was sleeping inside it or not； but there was a hush
about the room that suggested she was。 It also suggested that the baby was still in quarantine。
Oops。
Blair tiptoed up to the buttery yellow antique armoire； slid open the top drawer； and removed a
small white velvet jewelry box。 Then closed the door and tiptoed over to the crib。
〃I'll bring it back； I promise；〃 she whispered to the blanketed bundle lying peacefully inside。 She
lifted up the mosquito netting and planted a kiss on Yale's soft pink cheek； too focused on her
prize to notice that the baby was wearing little mittens on her hands to keep her from scratching
her rosy； rash…ridden body。
Usually it's the younger sister who steals stuff from her older sister's room； but； as baby Yale will
eventually find out； Blair isn't exactly your average older sister。
SPEAKING OF LITTLE SISTERS。。。。
The Lower East Side was one of those lucky New York neighborhood that had been cool forever
but was just out of the way had dirty enough to remain free of tourists and Starbucks； and to resist
being the trendy neighborhood of the moment like the Meatpacking District had bee。 A
line of girls in halter tops and pleated miniskirts and guys in jeans and polo shirts with the collars
turned up had formed outside Funktion； the Orchard Street club where the Raves were performing。
Jenny gripped Elise's elbow； gloating inwardly at how cool it was not to have to wait in line with
the others； worrying about whether or not the bouncer would let them in。 she gave them her name；
the velvet rope parted； and in they went。
Ta…da！ Instant coolness。
Inside； Funktion was smaller than Jenny had envisioned； and even though it was new； it felt old。
The club's floor was painted black and the walls were made of cement blocks painted red。 It was
crowded； and instead of sitting at the black…and…white checkerboard tables； people crowded near
the stage； standing up with beers in hand。 The coolest and corniest thing about the club was the
fireman's pole left over from when it had been a firehouse。 The pole descended centre stage from
the ceiling； providing a dramatic entrance for whatever was performing。
Jenny wondered if they should brave the bar and order drinks； or if they would have more luck if
they just sat down； looking bored and sophisticated until a cocktail waitress came and took their
order。 Maybe they didn't need to drink at all。 Every girl over the age of nine and under the age of
twenty…nine was in love with the Raves。 Just being in the same room with them； live； would be
intoxicating enough。
She tugged on the strap of Elise's black sequined Banana Republic purse and led the way to the
back of the club so they could sit down and focus on looking drunkenly bored； like the fashion
models always looked in those candid pictures in the front pages of the New York magazine。
The Rave's drummer and bassist were already onstage； fiddling with their instruments and testing
mikes。
〃A； B； C； D； E； F； G；〃 the drummer sang into his mike； his eyes closed and his face earnest； like he
was singing the most heart…wrenching song ever written。 〃Tell me what you think of meeeee。〃
〃He's cute！〃 Jenny whispered in Elise's ear。
〃Who？〃 Elise demanded； peering at the stage。 〃The drummer？ But he's； like； twenty…five years
old！〃
So？
〃So？〃 Jenny retorted。 〃Aren't they all twenty…five？〃
〃But he's wearing overalls。〃 Elise wrinkled her freckled nose in disgust。 〃The guitarist；
whatshisname。。。 Damon。。。 no； Damian。。。 the one Serena's dating？ He's the cute one；〃 she insisted。
〃He has freckles like me； and that accent！〃 she gushed。 〃And don't forget about your brother。 He's
not twenty…five。〃
Jenny rolled her eyes。 Okay； so the drummer was wearing white painter's overalls； with a
pink…and…Kelly…green…stripped polo shirt and new white Treton tennis shoes。 It was a bizarrely
innocent and preppy outfit for someone famous for breaking his drumsticks against his forehead
during concerts。 But that was part of his appeal； part of the whole band's appeal。 The Raves were a
perfect mixture of psychotic serial killer and loveable goofball mama's boys； like Marilyn Manson
crossed with the scarecrow from 'Wizard of Oz'。
〃I like him；〃 Jenny insisted。 She adjusted her chair so she was looking directly at the drummer。 He
winked in her general direction and she giggled； blushing furiously。
〃A lotta pretty girls here tonight；〃 the drummer drawled into his mike and then grinned right at
Jenny。 He had straight white teeth and a wide mouth； like Cheshire Cat； and his dark hair was
short and neatly bed； like he'd just e from that old barber shop on Eighty…third and
Lexington where all the Upper East Side boys go with their dads for their first haircuts。
〃He reminds me of the fat guy from that movie；〃 Elise observed； as if anyone would understand
who she was talking about。
〃he's not fat；〃 Jenny shot back。
Elise pulled an unopened pack of Malboro Lights out f her sparkly purse and threw on the table。
〃You can't really tell if someone's fat until you see them naked。〃