I Will Always Love You (35 page)

“So, do you have any New Year’s resolutions?” Serena asked, slipping down in the hot tub and letting her long blond hair fan
out behind her. She’d seen Dan at one point, smoking Camels on the balcony like the angsty poet he was. She’d say hi to him
later. For now, she just wanted to have fun.

“Fuck no,” Blair murmured, taking a drag of her Merit Ultra Light and letting the ashes fall into the steaming water of the
hot tub. Fuck resolutions. All she really wanted to do was have fun. For so long, her resolutions had been more like an endless
list of to-dos: date Nate Archibald, get into Yale, get into law school. For once, she just wanted to go with the wind, do
what she felt like.

Sounds like someone else we know…

Out of the corner of her eye, Blair spotted Chuck wearing a dark red smoking jacket. She was about to get out of the hot tub
to say hi, but then she saw Rain Hoffstetter sidle up to him. Blair sighed and eased back into the water.

Just then, Serena’s phone buzzed, skittering across the marble edge of the hot tub. She grabbed it with her wet hand.

WAITING OUTSIDE. YOU HERE?—NATE

Serena grinned as she pulled her hair up into a high wet ponytail at the nape of her neck. She searched around the edge of
the hot tub for her dress. It seemed like fate. After all, why travel the world alone when she could ask Nate to come with
her?

“Who was that?” Blair asked, glancing up at Serena.

“I have to go,” Serena said, sliding one slippery foot into a strappy Christian Louboutin sandal. “I’ll be right back,” she
fibbed, climbing out of the hot tub, slipping on her dress, and disappearing into the crowd.

Blair stared at her friend’s retreating back. Her phone buzzed.

WAITING OUTSIDE. YOU HERE?—NATE

Blair blinked at the message. What the fuck? Had Serena gotten the exact same message? She pulled herself out of the hot tub,
threw on her dress, even though it was silk and would stain, and raced out of the party.

And who says all the drama happens at midnight?

Nate glanced up at the towering Tribeca Star Hotel, his hands jammed in his pockets, unsure whether or not to go in. Part
of him wanted to find Anthony or Charlie or any of the old St. Jude’s guys, fire up a gigantic bong, and flirt with as many
hot girls as he could, just to prove that he still had it in him. The other part of him wanted to go back to his parents’
town house and sit in the living room and eat Jell-O pudding cups. How was it that he’d sailed the world, learned how to milk
cows, debated the arguments of all the Greek philosophers, and majored in American studies at an Ivy League university—but
was still as confused as ever?

He’d texted Serena and Blair, but neither of them had responded. Maybe he’d missed his chance with them. He glanced up at
the sky. There were no stars, at least none that could be seen through the New York smog. He just wished he had something
to follow, some kind of sign.

Just then, one of the gold revolving doors whooshed open, and Serena burst out. Her long blond hair was wet and pulled into
a ponytail that stuck to the back of her leather coat. She still looked gorgeous.

“Serena!” Nate exclaimed. Was that his sign?

She smiled broadly. “I got your text.” She threw her arms around him and pulled back. Her teeth were chattering.

“Are you okay?” Nate asked.

“Just cold,” Serena said, and Nate pulled her closer toward him. Maybe Serena was whom he was looking for the whole time, and he was just too much of an idiot to realize it.

“So, I was thinking…” Serena gazed into Nate’s glittering green eyes and took a deep breath. “I wanted to ask you…” She pictured
setting sail, seeing ancient temples and forgotten ruins and eating food she had never tasted before. But when she pictured
the person across from her, it wasn’t Nate. “I wanted to ask you to come inside,” she finished.

Serena felt a rough tap on her shoulder. She whirled around and saw Blair, hands on her hips, not wearing a coat, her silk
dress clinging to her bikini-clad body. Serena pulled away from Nate.

“Blair!” Nate glanced between the two girls.

“What are you doing?” Blair asked them coldly. She glanced from Serena to Nate. Serena looked amused, while Nate looked incredibly
confused, his mouth hanging open slightly and his eyes flicking between the two of them as if he were watching a tennis match.

“I was thinking we need to go on an adventure,” Serena began. “We could take one of those sleeper trains that you’ve always
wanted to go on. We could start with Europe,” she said, coming up with a trip itinerary on the spot. She and Blair had the
biggest fights, sure, but they also had the best times together.

Blair narrowed her eyes in anger. She couldn’t believe Serena was planning a romantic adventure with Nate. “Have a great time,” she spat, turning on her heel.

Serena burst into laughter.

“What the hell?” Blair whirled around, ready to launch into an angry tirade. “You run out, and then—”

“Would you just shut up for one second?” Serena cut her off, still giggling. “I meant an adventure with you, Blair. I want to travel with you. You’re my best friend.”

Blair started laughing too. Was Serena serious? “I knew that,” she lied. “I’m starting at the firm this summer….” Blair trailed
off. There really wasn’t anything to think about. “I’m in!”

“This summer?” Nate asked. Way back in sophomore year of high school, they’d had a plan to go to Europe, the three of them,
together. Now, six years later, it was finally coming true. Maybe he needed a summer with both of them to finally make a decision.
“I can come,” he decided.

“Sorry,” Serena replied softly, chewing her bottom lip. “The invitation was for Blair.”

“No boys!” Blair shrugged. “You ready, Serena?” Not waiting for an answer, she opened the door to one of the yellow cabs idling
in front of the hotel. “Good luck, Nate,” she said as she slid in.

“We love you,” Serena called before hopping in after her.

“Wait!” Nate called. “When will I see you again?”

Serena pulled the door shut and rolled down the window. “Same time, next year!” she yelled, giggling as the cab pulled away.

Nate stared, slack-jawed, as the cab merged with the traffic and became impossible to spot. That was it.

They chose each other.

Just then, the dark sky lit up with fireworks. A cab sailing up the street honked in celebration. In the night air, Nate thought
he could hear Serena and Blair’s laughter, though of course he knew that was impossible; they were too far away by now.

But as we know, in this city, anything is possible.

No matter what may happen, some things always stay constant. New Year’s Day wouldn’t be the same without a no-foam cappuccino,
an extra-large bottle of water, a chocolate-chip scone with extra butter (everyone knows resolutions don’t really kick in until the second), and a whole list of curious and curiouser questions.

Where will S and B end up—both geographically and in their love-hate relationship? Is C really as reformed as he seems? Will N ever find the right girl for him, or is he a tragic hero who’s looking for love in all the wrong places? Will J revert to her boy-crazy ways now that she’s single and, after a semester of playing house, more than ready to mingle? Will
V become an international filmmaking sensation, and will D become the next poet laureate? Will the stars ever align for them to be the creative power couple they once were? Will K and I move to Massachusetts and get married? Who am I and will I ever reveal myself? That’s a question I could answer—but I’m not
going to. As for all the others, the answers will reveal themselves in due time.

Even if college didn’t leave much time for book learning, one knowledge-by-experience lesson should have stuck: We’re more
alike than we think. We’ve all had to deal with broken hearts, crazy roommates, messed-up parents, disappointing grades, and
all those other less-than-ideal details that make life complicated, infuriating, and, admit it, interesting. So, in the spirit
of growing up, hug that girl who made your high school career a living hell. Forgive that boy who dumped you without warning,
only to date your best friend. Not only will you keep your enemies close, you may even make a new friend. Let’s all make nice
for now, and who knows what tomorrow will bring? One thing’s for sure: I’ll be there when it happens. Here’s to a wild and
wicked future.

You know you love me,

gossip girl