imagine playing Ophelia just like Mr。 Parris had； fluttering her eyes and folding up like a flower
when it was time to die。
〃Here I am in 'Kiss Me Kate'。〃 Mr。 Parris pointed to a photograph of the same long…faced beauty
glaring at the camera； her dark eyes flashing； her cleft chin raised disdainfully。
〃What a witch； that Kate。〃
Serena studied the photograph。 Mr。 Parris as Kate reminded her of someone she knew； but just
couldn't place her。
Let's give her a hint。 Her first name starts with B。
She continued to flip through the photographs； her mind racing。 Yale was the only school that
hadn't stalked her with perky e…mails and overzealous fan mail。 Even the Whiffenpoofs … Yale's
all…male capella singing troupe； whom she'd met last mouth； had the decency not to e…mail her
everyday asking her when she was planning to arrive on campus so they could help her with her
bags or take her out for coffee or whatever。 And the y certainly hadn't asked about Damian from
the Raves； whom she'd never even met。
Mr。 Parris tapped Serena on the knee。 〃You have the face of a leading lady；〃 he added。 〃Yale
knows what they're doing。〃
〃You think so？〃 Serena replied enthusiastically。 Suddenly； ditching the Yale party to check out the
Raves concert seemed totally unnecessary。 And out of respect for old Mr。 Parris； she almost
wished she'd worn the entire gray…and…blue outfit her mom had laid out on her bed。 She was going
to be Yale University's greatest leading lady since Stanford Parris III。 New Haven was so close to
New York； she could still model； and with a bit more acting experience under her belt； she might
even get a film deal！ Blair would be totally thrilled if they went to school together… not that she
was going to say anything until Blair found out she was off Yale's wait list。 Blair could be kind of
unreasonable when Serena had something she wanted for herself。
Kind of？！
PARTY CRASHER FINDS KINDRED SPIRIT
〃Brave soul。〃 A tall blond boy wearing an open…collared black oxford…cloth shirt greeted Blair as
she stepped off the elevator alone and into Stanford Parris III's country club of an apartment。
〃Everyone else was dragged here by their parents。 One guy even bagged； so his parents had to
e alone。〃
Wonder who that was？
〃I'm Stanford Paris the Fifth； by the way。〃 The boy extended his hands and flashed her a proud
smile that seemed to say； 〃As if you didn't know that。〃
Blair grinned back。 She loved boys with titles； especially tall blond ones with cute dimples in their
chins； and especially ones who where going to Yale next year。 〃Blair Waldorf；〃 she said shaking
his hand。 She fingered the custom…engraved Cartier pendant at her throat… the very same one she'd
stolen from her baby sister。 It was a simple nameplate； just the word Yale in gold cursive； tied with
a light blue satin ribbon around her neck。 〃So where are your parents？〃 she demanded。
〃In Scotland。 We have a castle there；〃 Stan 5 boasted casually。
Blair giggles。 〃So do we！ My aunt lives there。〃
Aw； isn't that cute？ If they got married and honeymooned in Scotland； they could go
castle…hoping！
〃Anyway； this is Granddad's party。 I'm just here to。。。〃 Stan 5 paused and cleared his throat； as if
he'd momentarily forgotten why he was there。 Or maybe he'd just drunk too much scotch。 〃To get
out class excited for next；〃 he explained finally。
Blair rubbed her well…glossed lips together。 Stanford Parris's grandson。 She'd stumbled upon the
youngest member of one of Yale's mosty influential alumnae families without even trying！ If
anyone could get her off the wait list and into Yale； he could。
Stan 5 pointed to the Yale pendant at her throat。 〃That's unusual；〃 he observed。 〃Guess you're
really excited about next year； huh？〃
That's one way of putting it。
Blair blushed fiercely。 She had prepared herself for this sort of question。 〃My parents had it made
for me when I found out I was in；〃 was what she'd planned on saying。 But she opted for the truth。
She stood on tiptoe and cupped her hand around Stan 5's aristocratic ear。 〃I'm not actually in yet；〃
she whispered。 〃I got wait…listed。〃
〃Well； we'll just have to see what we can do about that；〃 Stan 5 chuckled sympathetically。 He
snatched two flutes of champagne off a passing tray and handed her one。 They clinked glasses and
a little thrill ran up Blair's spine。 She was about to get lucky； she could just tell。
In more ways than one！
Suddenly there was a rustle of tulle and Nate's mother enveloped her in a Chanel No。5… soaked
embrace。 〃Darling； where is Nate？〃 Mrs。 Archibald demanded in her dramatic； Anglo…French
accent。
Blair didn't want to have to explain to Stan 5 who Nate was； and she didn't want Nate's mom to
think she couldn't keep her own boyfriend。 But she also didn't want her to suspect that she was
hiding something。 After all； she was dying to find out where Nate was too… so she could kick the
shit out of him。
〃I've been staying at the Plaza； so I haven't had the chance to check my messages at home；〃 she
responded vaguely。 〃I think maybe his cell phone broke or something because he never answers。〃
〃I know。〃 Mrs。 Archibald pursed her fiery red lipsticked lips。 〃The gardener found his cell phone
on the roof。〃 She raised her eyebrows suspiciously。 〃You sure he's not staying at the Plaza with
you？〃
Blair glanced self…consciously at Stan 5 and then shook her head； refusing to have to admit to your
boyfriend's mom that actually no； you hadn't managed to lock him up in a hotel for days of wild；
passionate sex。 In fact； that plan had totally backfired。
〃Well then。〃 Mrs。 Archibald kissed her on both cheeks and smiled tightly as if to say； 〃I don't
believe a word you're saying； but I'm late for the opera； so c'est la vie。〃
〃If you do see him； darling； tell him his mother and father are quite cross with him； and have gone
to La Bohème。〃
Blair clasped her hands behind her back and nodded dutifully。 Where the fuck was Nate anyway？
She watched Nate's father help Mrs。 Archibald on with her beaded silk Oscar de la Renta capelet
and then escort her to the elevator。 She thought of going over to say hello； but Admiral Archibald
was famous for his bad temper； and if he was angry with Nate； it was probably best to stay out of
his way。
Besides； she had more important things to do。 Like flirt with Mr。 I…Can…Get…You…Into…Yale the
Fifth。
Blair noticed that he was wearing what looked like an antique Yale insignia ring。 〃It's my
Granddads；' Stan 5 explained。 〃He gave it to me when I got in。 Yale is like Granddad's whole life。
I'd introduce you but he disappeared into his study with this beautiful blond girl； and who knows
when they'll e out。 Not that he's a pervert or anything。 He's probably just boring her to death
with his Yale stories。〃
Blair's eyes swept the room。 The 〃beautiful blond girl〃 sounded suspiciously like Serena。 Old Mr。
Parris was an actual trustee of Yale； and far more influential than his grandson。 How typical of
Serena to monopolize the one person in the room who could probably get her into Yale once