All Monday morning Blair had been dreading peer group. Not that she minded talking about hooking up with boys, or peer pressure, or whatever else the freshmen wanted to talk about. After all, today was Valentine?s Day, soeveryone at Constance was talking about hooking up with boys. What she dreaded were all the questions the ninth graders in the group were going to ask Serena about walking the runway in the Les Best show, what it had been like to hang out with all those famous models, and blah, blah, blah. They?d probably ask about her stupid I LOVEAARONT-shirt and what was going on with her and Aaron, becausethey?d heard blah, blah, blah. As if it was all so very interesting.
 Not. Why was it that the world was so full of followers when there were so many choices in life? Blair slipped an extra slice of chocolate cake onto her tray just to make sure she?d have something to do while the girls in peer group were boring her to death. ?Hello,? she practically yawned when she sat down at the crowded table a few minutes after the group had begun. ?Sorry I?m late.? ?That?s okay,? Serena replied gaily. She?d gotten a complimentary trim and highlight job before the fashion show, and her long blond hair was even shinier and more perfect than it had been before. ?We were just talking about Elise?s parental problems. She thinks her dad might be having an affair.? Elise?s thick, straw-colored bangs were pulled back and clipped to the sides of her head with tiny pink heart barrettes. There were dark circles under her bright blue eyes, like she?d been up all night worrying. ?That sucks,? Blair said sympathetically. ?Believe me, Iknow .? She decided to leave it at that. Peer group might have been a place for sharing, but she wasn?t about to go into the details of her father?s affairs with other men while he was still married to her mother. Serena nodded vigorously. ?I was just telling them how all families are totally fucked up. Actually, Blair, your family is a perfect example,? she added cheerfully. Blair bristled. ?Thanks a lot,? she shot back. ?But I don?t think everyone needs to hear about my problems right now.? Jenny bit a cuticle and banged her foot nervously against the leg of her chair. She?d been fretting all morning that as soon as peer group started, Elise was going to dive right in and start talking about same-sex kissing. Thank God Elise had other things on her mind. ?Anyway, we don?t have to talk about our messed-up families if it?s going bother you,? Blair told Elise, trying to be supportive. Elise nodded unhappily. ?Actually therewas something else I wanted to talk about.?
 Jenny winced.  Oops. Blair nodded encouragingly, ?Yes? What is it?? Vicky Reinerson waved her hand in the air. She was wearing a red wool cape similar to the one Serena had modeled in the Les Best show, except hers was a little used looking, like she?d borrowed it from her grandmother or something. Guess she didn?t get the message that capes are back in style thisfall , not this spring. ?Oh, but after she?s done will youplease tell us all about the Les Best show, Serena?? Vicky pleaded. ?Youpromised .? Serena giggled as if she hadtons of crazy stories to tell. Blair wanted to smack her. ?The craziest thing was that I had a snowball fight with Les Best himself and I didn?t even know it was him!? Seren............