Only in Your Dreams (Gossip Girl #9)(56)

“Yeah,” Nate replied, passing the joint back. “She’s cool. I don’t know, though. Maybe I’m off girls right now or something.”

Anthony burst out laughing, choking a little on the joint. “Right, right. I’ve heard that before.”

“Shit, man,” Nate clarified. “She’s just no Blair, you know what I mean?”

“Well, there’s only one Blair,” replied Anthony in his stoner drawl, stubbing out the roach in the car’s built-in ashtray. He ran his hand through his beach-blond shag of hair. “So, you two getting back together?”

Nate shook his head miserably. He was stuck with life as an indentured servant. Blair was busy being a fashion maven. He’d been so stupid, always f*cking everything up with her, always taking her for granted or mistakenly hooking up with her best friend or whatever, that he’d been blind to the reality that without Blair his life was nothing.

Looks like Blair isn’t the only drama queen.





Gossip Girl 09 - Only in Your Dreams

back to the scene of the crime

Serena crept up the creaky metal steps to her trailer quietly— or as quietly as was possible in her clunky metallic silver Michael Kors wedges. She wasn’t even supposed to be there; the actors had all been released from their duties and the only people around were the crew responsible for striking the set. But Serena had decided to tag along with Blair that Wednesday—she wanted to grab the tiny black dress that Bailey Winter had designed for her to wear, as Holly, in the climactic party scene in the movie. It was the perfect thing to wear to her real party the next night.

Stepping into the trailer, Serena switched on the light and closed the flimsy door behind her. The vanity was still littered with makeup and hair supplies, and all of her costumes, lovingly labeled and steamed to perfection by Blair’s stalker/intern, were hung, an inch apart, on a rolling rack.

Gotcha. Serena grabbed the perfect little black dress. It was cut to fit her proportions exactly, and though the thin shoulder straps were covered with a subtle spray of jet-black bead-ing, it was otherwise sleek and simple. This was so much easier than shopping.

Right, shopping is a total drag.

Tearing open the plastic cover that kept the dust at bay, Serena slipped the dress off its hanger and wadded it up into her bag. Technically, she wasn’t supposed to just help herself to the costumes. Stealing it out of the trailer gave her a rush she’d only experienced one other time, when she was ten and stole a Bonne Belle bubblegum Lip Smacker from Boyd’s. A knock on the trailer door made her freeze, petrified.

“Who is it?” she asked shakily, quickly zipping up her orange Hermès canvas tote.

“Thad?” A thin, gorgeously tanned guy poked his head through the trailer door. His spiky brown hair was in artful disarray, and beneath his perfectly arched eyebrows his eyes were huge and green, with long, beautiful lashes. He wore a snug black sleeveless tee and sported intricate tattoos of fish up and down his long, skinny arms.

“No, it’s me,” Serena apologized. “Thad’s trailer is the next one over.”

“Oh my gosh!” The boy blushed deeply. “I’m so sorry. I guess I should know better than to go charging into trailers.”

“No, no, it’s okay.” Serena relaxed when she realized he wasn’t there to bust her for stealing. “I’m Serena.”

“Oh my gosh, hi!” the stranger cried, skipping into the trailer, wallet chain jingling, hands extended, letting the door slam behind him.

So much for stealing clothes in the still of the night.

“Oh my gosh, Serena. It’s so good to meet you finally.” He grabbed her free hand in both of his and held it.

“Um, you too,” she stammered. He had the faintest accent that she couldn’t quite place and she was drawing a total blank. Was she supposed to know this guy?

“Damn, would you look at me? Just barging in here? You’re in the middle of something and I just swoop in like any gushing fan off the street. I’m so sorry. You must think I’m crazy.” The boy released her hand and shook his head, laughing.

“No, no, I’m not busy or anything,” she lied, clutching her tote close to her chest. “I was just picking up something I left behind.”

“So Thad said you guys are all done shooting?” the boy asked. “Do you mind if I sit? I’m gonna sit.” He settled into the chair in front of the vanity and crossed his legs.

Please sit.

“Yeah, we’re done. Thank God!” Serena tried not to look as perplexed as she felt. Who was this guy?

“It’s crazy work, but somebody’s got to do it.” He recrossed his legs and leaned back, studying her from head to toe. “But you look fabulous. Gorgeous. Just like Thad said.”

“Right. Thad,” she repeated, growing suspicious.

“Oh my gosh, I totally didn’t introduce myself. I have a tendency to do that. I just talk and talk, because I get nervous usually, although you’re so sweet and pretty I don’t see how you could make anyone nervous, unless it was some boy who wanted to ask you out....”

Serena blushed. Who was this person?

“And I’m still babbling,” he continued. “Oh my gosh, I’m so stupid sometimes. I’m Serge. It’s so great to meet you finally.”