spent　the　whole　time　chasing　or　being　chased　by　boys　and　girls；　so

they’d　never　really　had　time　to　talk。

Serena　picked　up　the　phone　again　and　pressed　the　speed…dial

button　for　her　brother’s　off…campus　apartment。　The　phone　rang　and

rang　until　finally　the　voicemail　system　picked　up。

“If　you　would　like　to　leave　a　message　for　Dillon；　press　one。　If　you

would　like　to　leave　a　message　for　Tim；　press　two。　If　you　would　like

to　leave　a　message　for　Drew；　press　three。　If　you　would　like　to　leave

a　message　for　Erik；　press　four。”

Serena　pressed　four　and　then　hesitated。　“　。　。　。　Hey　。　。　。　it’s　Serena。

Sorry　I　haven’t　called　in　a　while。　But　you　could　have　called　me　too；

you　big　jerk。　I　was　stuck　up　in　Ridgefield；　bored　out　of　my　mind；

until　this　weekend；　and　now　I’m　back　in　the　city。　I　had　my　first　day

of　school　today。　It　was　kind　of　strange。　Actually　it　sucked。　Everyone

is　。　。　。　everything　is　。　。　。　I　don’t　know　。　。　。　it’s　weird。　。　。　。　Anyway；　call

me。　I　miss　your　hairy　ass。　I’ll　send　you　a　care…package　as　soon　as　I

get　a　chance。　Love　you。　Bye。”

“You’re　so　full　of　shit；　Dan；”　Jenny　Humphrey　told　her　brother。　They

were　sitting　at　the　kitchen　table　in　their　large　and　crumbling　tenth…

floor；　four…bedroom　West　End　Avenue　apartment。　It　was　a　beautiful

old　place　with　twelve…foot　ceilings；　lots　of　sunny　windows；　big　walk…

in　closets；　and　huge　bathtubs　w