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"She’s h she’d left to go to college and Genevieve had been angry, Serena had never stopped hoping that the two of theood relationship The thought of letting that hope die nearly brought tears to her eyes, when even her mother’s tirade hadn’t

And yet, just because Serena couldn’t walk away froo, either "Please," she whispered to him as she reached for one of his hands, "don’t leave Even if you don’t agree hat I’ anywhere, Serena You know I’m not"

Unfortunately, Serena wasn’t at all certain that she could say the same about herself Not when that same fear that had tickled her spine when Olivia hadover her entire body

Though Sean still held tightly to her hand, Serena forced herself to step away froain "I’ Sean We were friends first and only just started to date, so that’s why I hadn’t told you yet I was planning to call you to news One day I hope that you’ll realize what a great person he is"

"I don’t care about your boyfriend, Serena" And by the way her mother said it, as if he was noaround the room, she knew Genevieve meant it "None of this nonsense matters now that Smith Sullivan’s movie is back in production I kno upset you hen Smith delayed his plans to shoot the movie That’s why I made a special trip to see you today I si news over the phone that everything is back on and he still wants you to play the supporting actress role"

Just that quickly, her mother had flipped a switch, from utterly furious to perfectly reasonable now that they were talking business Business she was positive was a slam dunk Serena had seen it a hundred times--the way Genevieve could pull out a different mask and put it on without so much as a pause If anyone should be the actress, it should be hershe hadn’t wanted to share the news over the phone, it was obvious she’d already let it leak to the press before talking to her daughter about it

So even though she’d previously vowed to disown Serena if she caught her with a guy at Stanford, she’d clearly decided that doing Smith Sullivan’s movie was farto pull Serena back into the Hollywood life Peran, but her mother wouldn’t let her finish

"This movie--a role that is certain to win you an Oscar--is e have worked for your entire life We have so et ready for it"

Serena had only stood up to her e But that had been when she thought the movie was permanently out of the picture Now, more than ever before, she felt pulled in different directions By what her mother wanted, had alanted: for Serena to be an A-list star By the promises she’d made to Sean to stay on campus with him

And by her own dreams

Maybe there was soreat grades this quarter and convinced the university to enroll her as a full-time student, she’d also be able to persuade them to let her take a short break to fil her pro as she ca?"

"As soon as possible" Her mother looked around the doret out of there First class was barely good enough for Genevieve Her shared bedroom, Serena knew,you in Seattle next week"

"But fall quarter won’t be over by then If I leave before I’ve finished one full quarter, they won’t think I’ here and then I’m sure they won’t turn my probationary acceptance into a per to leave, but we both know this life was never for you It was never anything more than a little fantasy"

"Bullshit!" Sean had clearly done all he could to let Serena navigate the conversation on her own, but now he’d had enough "Attending Stanford isn’t a fantasy Serena is one of the most serious, s here, it’s your daughter"

Finally, Genevieve turned her gaze to Sean "She signed a contract with Suaranteed him her participation in the film if and when it ca on Serena again "Once you do this ed forever"

Serena knew herforever Because she’d never be able to get away froraphers, would never have a chance to be even remotely normal…and she suddenly couldn’t believe she’d been so stupidly, na&iu could co for you, Serena You owe h the open door, "what’s going on? People said they heard--" Her roommate broke off in midsentence when she belatedly realized she’d walked into the middle of a tense standoff "I meant to tell you that I let your mom in earlier"

But Serena could barely hear what Abi was saying as she watched Genevieve sner dress and open a compact to make sure her makeup and hair were still perfect "I’ll eone, leaving only her expensive scent behind

"Serena?" Abi looked between her and Sean "What just happened? Why are you so pale? You should sit down"

"I have to go" Serena’s sto to be sick "I can’t stay"

Sean’s hands arm as he turned her face to make her look into his eyes "You don’t have to make any decisions yet" His mouth on hers hat finally pulled her all the way up and out of the thick fog "Not tonight"