Blair is thrilled when her mother, Eleanor, chooses her to be the new face of her clothing line; Serena and Dan are reminded once again that they come from two very different worlds; Nate and Chuck indulge in a boys' weekend to blow off steam after Ivy Week.

As 'Gossip Girl' posts news of the annual Cotillion Ball to take place on the approaching weekend, Blair decides not to go with Nate, but she finds herself being featured in The New York Times and is enjoying her secret affair with Chuck. Serena decides not to go either, so her grandmother, CeCe, shows up to change her mind. Meanwhile, Jenny volunteers for the ball and Lily takes her under her wing. But the night of The Cotillion is the night of Alison's first art opening, and Rufus and Alison tell Jenny that she cannot attend the ball. Jenny decides to defy them both by secretly attending the dance anyway. Refreshed by Blair's newly buoyant attitude, Nate asks her to the Cotillion and she accepts, which makes Chuck jealous. CeCe tells Lily and Serena that she is sick with lung cancer and her last dying wish is to see Serena go to the ball, and she wants Serena to go with the wealthy Carter Baizen. The snobbish CeCe takes an instant dislike to Dan and she approaches Rufus with an offer pay him to convince Dan not to go with Serena. Dan learns of this and tells Serena that he does not think very highly of CeCe by telling Serena about how CeCe tried to bribe his father to persuade him not to attend. Surprisingly, the skeptic Serena refuses to believe Dan that her compassionate grandmother is a crafty snob, and she ends up going to the ball with Carter... both her and Dan having fallen right into CeCe's ploy. Also, Chuck manipulates Nate into thinking Carter is having an affair with Blair to provoke a fight with him.

The seniors put on a production of "The Age of Innocence"; Chuck enlists help from an unlikely source -- his nemesis, Carter Baizen.

Devastated by the recent plot twist in her life, Blair turns her back on her predictable existence in favor of a wilder lifestyle.

Gossip Girl livens things up at graduation by sending out a shocking email blast during the ceremony.

Blair and Chuck adjust to their new status as a couple; Serena returns from Europe with many secrets and a complicated relationship with Carter.

Blair begins NYU, determined to keep her Queen Bee status, but Georgina has other ideas; Serena recruits Carter to get even with Chuck.

It's Blair versus Chuck as they both set their sights on a particular item up for bid at Sotheby's; Georgina takes an interest in Dan.

Lily and Rufus move up their wedding, but complications threaten to tear them apart; Chuck discovers a secret Carter has been keeping from Serena; Dan and Vanessa are pulled into one of Georgina's schemes.

Dan invites Olivia to meet Rufus and Lily, which leads to all sorts of problems for the new couple; Serena and Nate team up to help Carter Baizen.

Chuck offers to throw a wedding for a very pregnant Dorota who insists that she and Vanya have a traditional wedding before her parents arrive from Poland and find their daughter pregnant and without a husband. Dorota asks Blair and Chuck to be part of the ceremony and walk her down the aisle. Serena tells Nate she is having breakfast with the Humphreys when in reality she's secretly meeting up with Carter Baizen. Rufus discovers that Lily has been lying to him about her whereabouts.