Blair strolled through the extravagant Constance Billard school doors, followed by her loyal minions, Kati Farkass and Isabel Coates. Blair was primped to perfection, as usual- not a single hair out of place. Blair Waldorf was the epitome of perfection; from her grades to her appearance, Blair made sure that nobody was better than her, and she would go to any lengths to ensure that. This was one of the many reasons she and Serena fought so often. Although she loved Serena, she couldn't help but be threatened by her. Serena was the girl every boy wanted to be with and every girl wanted to be. She was perfect in a much more effortless way than Blair was, and this didn't go unnoticed by… the entire world?
The Constance Billard senior class filtered into the grand assembly hall, ready to start the deathly boring Monday morning hymnal reading with the snotty Principal Queller. It seemed as though all the girls were there, prompt for the eight forty-five start- all but one.
Queller began the assembly anyway, "Good morning, young ladies. I hope you've all had a pleasant break, but it's time to get back to business starting from today. This term is a very important one for you all- let's make sure everyone gets into the college of their choice."
Queller droned on but the girls had learned to tune her out. Everyone was muttering amongst themselves about their scandalous breaks, their new tans, new boys and of course, their new wardrobes. One thing that hadn't gone unremarked was the obvious absence of Serena van der Woodsen.
"Where is she?" Laura Salmon whispered to Rain Hoffstetter in the back row.
"I heard she got knocked up by some guy she met on a yacht in Cannes this summer. Maybe she's off having the baby somewhere where nobody will find out." Hazel Williams blabbed to no one in particular. Gossip travelled fast on the Upper East Side and if you were popular, you were talked about. Just about every rumour imaginable had been spread about Serena so Hazel's claims weren't exactly rocking the assembly hall.
Blair sat there, surrounded by girls chattering about Serena. She was quickly reaching boiling point but she tried to hardest to maintain that trademark Waldorf composure. She took deep breaths and straightened out the pleats on her skirt, wishing they'd shut up.
Blair wasn't mad because people were bitching about her friend- she was mad because Serena was once again the centre of attention. She naively thought that because Serena wasn't in school today, maybe people would swoon over her for once, instead of having to spend another day in Serena's shadow.
Oh how wrong she was.
"Oh. My. God." Rain Hoffstetter gawked at the entrance of the hall, triggering similar reactions from the rest of her class.
Everyone in the hall, save for Blair and Headmistress Queller gasped as Serena casually walked through the doors to the assembly as if she were late for Sunday brunch.
Tilly Roberts stared at Serena with her mouth wide open, "what is she wearing?"
Others followed suit, "How does she have the balls to walk into Queller's assembly ten minutes late?"
"What the hell is up with her face? She's not wearing any make up!"
"That jacket is so three seasons ago."
"When was the last time she showered? Her hair looks disgusting." Melanie Parrot offered.
During all the commotion, Blair remained facing forward, pretending she couldn't hear the two-hundred-and-something girls obsessing over her 'best friend'.
What was that about S being effortlessly perfect, B?
Headmistress Queller interjected after a little while, "settle down, girls, settle down… Miss van der Woodsen, how nice of you to join us. Take a seat." She was clearly unimpressed but equally unfazed by Serena's tardiness.
Serena walked to the front to take a seat, finally piping up, "Sorry, Headmistress Queller, I had a family emergency. It won't happen again. Sorry to have interrupted." She offered an apologetic smile and straightened out her skirt before she sat down.
"Ugh, what a brown-nose." Blair mumbled to herself, knowing everyone was too preoccupied with Serena to hear her.
Headmistress Queller returned an understanding smile and nod to Serena before continuing on with the assembly. No matter what Serena looked like, she always had that effect on people. She could have killed Queller's beloved cat right in front of her, pulled out that charming smile and Queller would have been under her spell along with everyone else.
Uh oh, B, looks like it's going to be another day in that five-foot-eleven shadow of your BFF. Don't worry, B, your time will come.
