and at that time

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interesting.
she?d woken up this morning to the sound of blair?s giggles, but when she?d asked what was funny, blair had sighed and said, ?just natie.?natie? then, in the car, she kept glancing back at them in the rearview mirror, but every time blair was just staring placidly out the window, and nate was resting his eyes. nothing amiss. so why did she feel so ...weird?

she raised her glass and swallowed a small sip of the tart cocktail , finally recognizing someone in the crowd: a broad-chested, curly-brown-haired guy was seated at the edge of the pool, legs dangling in the water. his brown eyes had a familiar sparkle as he took in the scene around him, drumming his long, tapered fingers on the neck of his beer bottle. the tiniest suggestion of a grin played on his full lips, and serena knew that behind those lips were two rows of brilliant white teeth. she could picture his smile, she could practically hear the tremulous sound of his voice as he whispered the words she?d run away from. that was the last time she?d seen him, exactly one year ago.

henry was the bassist in hanover?s jazz band. he was tall and cute with dark curls that fell into his eyes, and a mischievous smile. serena?s dorm room had been right under his, and late at night she?d throw her textbooks at the ceiling, waiting for him to drop something loud and heavy on the floor in response. sometimes?actually, a lot?they?d hang out on the roof and drink whiskey and smoke cigars. they?d been good friends, and then the year had ended and they?d wound up in ridgefield together?his family lived there year round, and she summered there. the night before her seventeenth birthday she and henry had stayed up late, drinking and talking, and had wound up on their backs on the tennis court, waiting for shooting stars, and eventually kissing. then, henry said it: ?i love you.? instead of saying it back, serena fled into the house, booked a plane to paris to join her brother, erik, in his travels, and never spoke to henry again. it wasn?t that she didn?t like him. honestly, she did. but love was unmistakable, and at that time, there was only one boy she could ever truly love.then, and maybe now, too . . .
serena tipped her glass back and gulped its contents, her hands shaking.leave it to me to have a nervous breakdown the night before my eighteenth birthday, she thought.
?hey. remember me??
henry?s voice gave her a little start. ?i was wondering when you were going to come over and say hello.? she pulled her knees up to her chest and smiled at him.
?i could say the same thing.? the chair?s legs scraped noisily on the concrete as he pulled it out and took a seat. ?you look great.?
?thank you.? she smiled shyly, taking a sip of her drink. she fumbled nervously for her cigarettes, which were lying on the table near the trunk of the big umbrella.
henry lit her shaking gauloise and then helped himself to one from her stash. serena exhaled a long plume of smoke, which danced away in the breeze.
?what happened to you, anyway?? henry smiled thought-fully, studying serena?s face. ?i mean ...you justleft. ?