Chapter 44

Chapter 44

“Serena!”
Becky ran across the airport terminal hallway to where Serena was standing, waiting. Serena turned around at the sound of her name, and smiled.
“Hey!” she said as she reached out to hug her old friend. She squeezed Becky tight, taking in the familiar scent. Vanilla and brown sugar. On anyone else, the fragrance would have been intoxicatingly sweet, but on Becky, it smelled just right.
“How are you? You look fantastic!” Becky pulled away to look her friend over. Serena was exactly how she had expected; the bubbly, gorgeous blonde with the legs to die for that she had always been.
Serena blushed. “You too,” she said, smiling. Becky was exactly like her younger self too, only even more mature, elegant, and beautiful, which was pretty hard to achieve considering how perfect Becky always was.
Thick, golden-brown hair cascaded down Becky’s shoulders onto a tight, powder-blue tank top. She was also adorned in a little denim mini-skirt, which displayed long, tanned legs. A gold Louis Vuitton purse swung from her shoulder, matching her ballet flats.
Becky smiled shyly, and did a little twirl. “What do you think?” she asked. “Too California? Not enough, glamour, and New York, and Audrey Hepburn?” With each word, she stuck her nose up in the air and spoke with a snobby accent. Serena laughed. She had missed Becky and her ability to make fun of their socialite classmates who thought they were all that.
“Blair will love you,” Serena said, still laughing. “And no, you look perfect. No need to worry. Although the weather’s not exactly West Coast beautiful.”
Serena smiled sweetly and handed Becky the suede jacket she had been carrying. Becky smiled back in gratitude.
“Hey, gimme a break. I haven’t been to New York in 3 years.” Becky laughed.
Serena wondered if Becky knew about her own leave.
“Come on, Becks. You’re staying at the Palace, in a suite pretty close to mine.”
“Sweet.” Becky grinned as she picked up one of her huge Louis Vuitton suitcases. Becky was crazy for the huge brands, LV being her favourite.
Serena picked up the other suitcase, and together they headed outside for their taxi.
“I missed you, Becks,” Serena said as she hopped into the cab after her friend.
“I missed you, too, S.”
“And we are going to have a spanking good time here in NYC!”
“Spanking indeed,” Becky said, slapping Serena’s thigh.
S laughed, and wrapped her arm around Becky’s shoulder.
“Wow, I could really use some champagne right now,” Becky said, laughing. “You know, toast to old times.”
“You know what?” Serena said playfully. “That can be arranged.” Smiling devilishly, she pulled a bottle of champagne out of her bag.
“What the hell, Serena?” Becky exclaimed, laughing even harder. “Who carries bottles of alcohol around in their purse?”
“Fabulous people,” Serena replied, beaming.
“But… we have no glasses.” Becky glanced around the taxi. Luckily, there was a glass wall separating them from the driver.
“Honey, we’ll drink it straight from the bottle.”
“Like old times,” Becky said thoughtfully.
Serena winked. “Exactly.”