Gossip Girl has cooled it with the Dan-Serena drama for a bit, allowing the characters played by Penn Badgley and Blake Lively to be just friends.

Even some Derena fans agree this is a good change of pace, at least short-term.

In real life, though, the romance between Lively and Badgley is still going strong. Here they are maneuvering past paparazzi as they leave the Topshop launch party at the Box in New York City, following a long night of partying ...

LEADING MAN: Penn escorts Blake out of the party. [Photo: Splash News]

Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.