Sounds delicious. Nate still hadn't figured out why Chuck seemed to be living at Georgie's house when he had a perfectly good hotel suite at the Christiana, the luxury hotel in town where his parents were staying. The piano player began to play an old Billy Joel song, and the lights dimmed. Happy hour was over. Serena could kind of tell by the look on Nate's face?and Georgie's comment?that he and his girlfriend needed some time alone. She pushed her chair back and pulled her sweater on over her head. ?It sounds tempting, but we actually have to get back. I told Mom we'd meet her and Dad for dinner at the lodge at seven-thirty. We need to take showers and stuff.? Georgie's face fell. ?Oh, come on. Can't you just call your parents and tell them you're busy?? Easy for her to say. She basically didn't have any parents. Serena glanced at Erik, and they did that wordless communication thing that only close siblings can do. ?Sorry,? she said firmly. Nate didn't know how he'd wound up with a senseless girl like Georgie when his former girlfriend and best friend-who-happened-to-be-a-girl seemed like the most sensible girls alive. Georgie got up and then sat down in Nate's lap, letting her head fall back against his shoulder. Her dark silky hair smelled like beer and cloves. ?We'll just have to party without you, then.? Blair smirked. ?Too bad.? Her smirk morphed into a winning smile. ?Should we go then?? she asked Erik. ?I'm starving!? Chuck sat down primly on Georgie's knees, wriggling his bottom back and forth. Then six of the Dutch snowboarders got up and piled into Chuck's lap, squashing Nate completely. All except Jan, who was watching Serena get ready to go with a droopy, abandoned-puppy look on his handsome face. ?Enjoy your dinner,? Chuck called out. ?We'll just have a manwich!? Blair and Erik hastily collected their gloves and sunglasses and headed for the door. Serena tucked her hat under her arm, following close behind. Then she heard Georgie let out a shriek, and she turned around. The entire group had fallen off the chair and collapsed in a giggling heap on the floor. Jan had jumped on top of them, and even Nate seemed to be smiling despite himself. Serena looked on longingly. She had always been right there at the center of all the fun, but now she was stuck with Blair and Erik, who were so entranced by each other, they barely acknowledged her existence. Still, her parents would be waiting. She couldn't exactly blow them off and sabotage the rest of her vacation. She turned for the exit again. There were five more days of vacation left, and she was resolved to have a good time no matter what. Wasn't that what she'd always been known for? Well, yes, among other things. Just when you think you know someone ? Leo dried the last bowl and set it on the dish rack to dry. ?I have to go.? Jenny put down the brownie she'd been munching on. They'd baked twenty, and there were only twelve left. She licked the crumbs off her fingers and gazed up at Leo with her long-lashed brown eyes. She was tired of guessing. She wanted to know the truth. ?Where?? Leo leaned against the cracked yellow linoleum kitchen counter and fiddled with the buttons on the dishwasher. Marx, the Humphreys' fat black cat, was splayed out on the grubby kitchen floor, asleep. Leo cleared his throat, and Marx flapped his tail up and down in annoyance. ?I have errands to do,? he told her vaguely. ?Well, can I come?? He kicked his feet around and blew out of the side of his mouth. ?It's really not very interesting.? Jenny wasn't convinced. ?You're not, like, hiding something from me, are you?? He laughed. ?Like what? I'm really Spider-Man?? Jenny's face turned red. She walked over to the fridge, opened the door, then let it slam shut again. ?I don't know. I just think it's weird, the way you're always busy doing stuff and you never talk about it.? Leo put his hands in his pockets. His light blond hair looked transparent under the glare of the harsh kitchen light. ?If you really want to come, you can come.? Jenny tried to keep her face calm. This was it. She was going to find out all the secrets that lay behind Leo, mystery boy and megazillionaire. ?Okay.? They took the Ninety-sixth Street bus across town and then walked down Park toward the building on Seventieth Street. The avenue felt deserted in the dark, with everyone away on vacation. ?It's just a couple more blocks,? Leo told her. Jenny's whole body tingled with anticipation. When they reached the building with the green awning, the door man tipped his hat to Leo. Then they rode the elevator straight up to the penthouse. ?Whoa,? Jenny gasped, when the elevator doors opened up onto the parlor. The room was done in black and white and gold. A round gilt table stood in the middle of the black-and-white marble floor, with a giant white vase in the shape of a swan on it, filled with black roses. To the left was a sort of gold-painted railing and stairs down to a room so big, it could only be a ballroom. ?I know. It's kind of insane,? Leo agreed. ?Here, Daphne!? he called Immediately Jenny heard the scratch of nails on the floor. The giant white mastiff she'd seen Leo walking before trotted into the parlor, wagging her tail elegantly. She went over and licked Leo's hand. ?Good girl.? Jenny watched in dumb amazement as Leo opened the coat closet door and retrieved Daphne's Burberry coat and matching collar. The dog waited carefully while he buckled them on. Then he knelt and Velcroed those horrible pink leather booties over her paws. ?There. We're all set to go.? Jenny still couldn't figure out why Leo's parents didn't just get one of their maids to walk the dog, but she wasn't about to say anything, especially not when Leo obviously loved Daphne so much. ?We'll just take her for a little spin around the neighborhood. I have to pick up some hairspray for Madame at the drugstore. Maybe you could hold her while I go in?? ?Okay.? Jenny kept her eyes on Daphne's boots. He called his momMadame ? They stopped in front of Zitomer on Madison. Jenny took the plaid canvas leash while Leo went in to get the hairspray. She bent down, and Daphne offered her a pink-booted paw. ?I bet he lets you sleep in his bed,? she said. ?I bet you're allowed on all the furniture.? Leo came out of the store carrying a huge shopping bag full of lots of bottles of the same kind of Redken hairspray. He chuckled. ?Madame uses this stuff a lot.? He took Daphne's leash, and they walked briskly back to the building with the green awning. ?I still have to feed her and water the plants and stuff. It's really not very exciting. Do you want to get a cab home, or can we walk you to your bus stop?? Jenny didn't know what to say. It was almost as though he didn't want her in his house. ?I guess I'll just take a cab,? she answered stiffly. ?Okay. Walter will help,? Leo said, nodding at the doorman. He kissed Jenny's cheek. ?Don't eat any more brownies today or you'll get sick. I'll call you later, okay?? Jenny smiled grimly at him and walked over to the curb to catch a cab. It was a while before Walter could snag one, and as soon as he closed the door behind her and she gave the driver her address, Jenny collapsed in the backseat, sobbing. The cab got stuck waiting for the light at the corner next to Leo's building, and she glared at it miserably through her tears. J............