gossip girl 4 英文- 第24部分

Mystery　downed　the　dregs　of　Rusty？s　martini　and　gazed　exhaustedly　at　Dan　with　droopy　gray　
eyes。　？Every　time　Rusty　mentions　your　name　I　feel　the　heat　creep　up　my　thighs；？　she　confessed　
throatily。　？I？ve　been　drowning　in　desire　all　week；　but　I　managed　to　channel　that　animal　energy　
into　my　book。？　She　giggled。　Her　teeth　looked　like　they？d　been　colored　in　with　a　yellow　
crayon。　？Parts　of　it　are　totally　X…rated。？　

Pauper　turns　prince。　To　coin　a　phrase；　I？m　crowning。　

Dan　reached　for　a　cucumber　sandwich　and　shoved　it　in　his　mouth；　chewing　it　violently　without　
even　tasting　it。　He　was　supposed　to　go　home　and　write　his　memoir。　He　was　supposed　to　have　a　
girlfriend。　He　was　supposed　to　be　freaked　out　by　this　decidedly　insane；　yellow…toothed；　horny　


chick。　But　the　truth　was；　he　was　horny；　too。　He？d　lost　his　virginity　twice　already；　and　he　couldn？t　
wait　to　lose　it　again　and　again。　

？e　on；？　Mystery　beckoned；　holding　out　her　yellow…nailed　hand。　？We　can　get　a　room　and　put　
it　on　Rusty？s　tab。？　

Dan　picked　up　his　observation　book　and　followed　her　to　the　front　desk。　Poetry　be　damned。　He　
couldn？t　resist　following　this　story　line　to　the　next　chapter。　

lis　for　love　

Jenny　couldn？t　be　sure　that　the　L　who？d　sent　her　a　note　on　Valentine？s　Day　was　actually　the　boy　
from　Bendel？s。　He　could？ve　been　a　total　nerd　or　even　a　gross；　perverted　old　man；　but　secretly　she　
was　already　in　love　with　him。　She　felt　like　a　girl　in　a　fairy　tale　in　love　with　a　man　in　a　mask；　and　
she　was　determined　to　ride　the　Seventy…ninth　Street　crosstown　bus　until　she　met　him　face…to…face。　
Monday　and　Tuesday　she　rode　the　bus　alone　until　7P。M。　with　no　luck。　On　Wednesday　after　school　
Elise　came　with　her。　

？I　don？t　get　it。　Why　are　we　doing　this　again？？　Elise　asked。　She？d　already　finished　all　her　
homework　and　was　staring　out　the　window　over　Jenny？s　shoulder；　bored　nearly　to　tears。　

？I　told　you。　I　left　my　favorite　hat　on　the　bus　this　morning　and　if　I　ride　enough　buses；　I？m　sure　I？ll　
see　it；？　Jenny　lied。　

？Someone　probably　took　it；？　Elise　argued。　？Your　cute　fuzzy　red　hat？　I？m　sure　someone　took　it。？　

A　swollen…ankled　middle…aged　woman　wearing　a　dowdy　trench　coat　and　reading　theWall　Street　
Journal　glared　at　them　the　way　people　are　always　glaring　at　teenagers　when　they？re　talking　in　
public。　Like；　could　you　please　just　press　the　mute　button？　Well；excuse　me。　

？Just　this　last　bus　and　then　we　can　go　home；？　Jenny　promised；　even　though　she？d　promised　that　
two　buses　ago。　

Elise　put　her　hand　on　Jenny？s　black…stockinged　knee　and　left　it　there。　？I　don？t　really　mind。　It？s　
not　like　I　have　anything　better　to　do。？　

Jenny　waited　for　Elise　to　remove　her　hand。　？What　are　you　doing？？　she　whispered　loudly。

　？With　what？？　

？With　yourhand　。？　


？The　book　says　to　express　your　affection　with　gentle　caresses；？　Elise　declared。　

？But　I　don？t　want　you　to。　Besides；　we？re　on　abus　；？　Jenny　hissed；　pushing　Elise？s　hand　away。　
The　last　thing　she　wanted　was　for　L　to　see　her　and　Elisecaressing　each　other。God。　How　
embarrassing。　

？What？s　wrong　with　it？？　Elise　cried；　shoving　Jenny　in　the　leg　just　as　the　bus　lurched　over　a　
bump。　Jenny　slipped　off　the　seat　and　onto　the　floor；　her　butt　landing　hard　on　her　neighbor？s　shoes。　

Jenny　closed　her　eyes；　too　mortified　to　open　them。　If　her　secret　admirer　were　watching　now；　he　
wouldn？t　be　writing　her　any　more　love　notes。　The　bus　lurched　over　another　bump　as　it　roared　
across　the　park　and　Jenny？s　boobs　bounced　mercilessly；　as　if　she　hadn？t　been　through　enough。　

？Here。？　A　hand　gripped　her　arm。　

？Fuck　off；？　Jenny　mumbled　in　total　humiliation。　She　batted　the　hand　away　and　struggled　to　her　
feet。　A　blond　head　loomed　above　her。　Tall。　Nice　nose。　Hazel　eyes　with　blond…tipped　lashes。　It　
washim　？the　Bendel？s　boy！　

？Are　you　all　right？？　he　asked。　？There？s　an　empty　seat　back　here。　Why　don？t　you　sit　down？？　He　
took　her　hand　and　pushed　backward　through　the　crowd。　

Jenny　slid　into　the　hard；　narrow　seat　and　looked　up　at　the　boy；　her　heart　pounding。　He　looked　to　
be　about　sixteen　and　he　was　perfect；　just　perfect。　？Are　you　L？？　she　asked　breathlessly。　

He　smiled　shyly。　One　of　his　front　teeth　was　chipped　a　little。　It　was　extremely　cute。　？Yes。　It？s　Leo；？　
he　answered。　

Leo。　Ofcourse　。　

？I？m　Jennifer！？　Jenny　practically　screamed；　she　was　so　excited。　

？Jennifer；？　Leo　repeated；　as　if　it　were　the　most　uniquely　beautiful　name　he？d　ever　heard。　

Elise　poked　her　head　through　the　rush…hour　crowd　and　narrowed　her　blue　eyes　at　Jenny。　？Hey；　
I？m　sorry　I　pushed　you。　Are　you　okay？？　

Leo　smiled　his　adorable　chip…toothed　smile　at　her　as　if　to　say　that　any　friend　of　Jenny？s　was　a　
friend　of　his。　Jenny？s　first　instinct　was　to　snarl　at　Elise　to　buzz　off　so　she　and　Leo　could　get　
acquainted　in　peace。　But　she　didn？t　want　Leo　to　think　she　was　a　total　bitch。　The　man　seated　next　
to　her　stood　up　and　Jenny　patted　the　seat。　？Sit　down。？　

Elise　let　go　of　the　handrail　and　plunked　herself　down　in　the　seat。　？Hey；？　she　said；　looking　up　at　


Leo。　She　clacked　her　knee　against　Jenny？s　leg　when　she　recognized　him。　？Hey。？　

？Elise；　this　is　Leo。　Leo；　this　is　Elise；？　Jenny　introduced　them　sweetly。　The　bus　halted　abruptly　
and　Leo　reached　for　her　shoulder　to　steady　himself。Oh；　God。　He　touched　me！　He　touched　me！　

Jenny　could　feel　Elise　studying　them　as　she　tried　to　figure　out　what　was　going　on。　

？Do　you　go　to　Constance　Billard；　too？？　Leo　asked　Elise。　

Elise　nodded；　looking　totally　confused。　All　of　a　sudden；　Jenny　felt　bad　for　her。　She　put　her　arm　
around　her　friend　and　smiled　up　at　Leo。　？We？re　best　friends。？　

Elise　giggled　and　let　her　head　fall　on　Jenny？s　shoulder。　？I　guess　you　found　your　hat；？　she　
whispered　quietly。　

？Yup；？　Jenny　giggled　back；　relieved　that　Elise　was　cool　enough　not　to　ask　too　many　questions。　
When　they　were　alone；　she　would　explain　everything；　just　like　best　friends　were　supposed　to。　She　
gazed　up　at　Leo？s　perfectly　structured；　perfectly　paintable　face；　swooning　as　he　flashed　his　shy；　
chipped…tooth　smile　again。　？I　knew　your　name　couldn？t　be　Lance。？　

vturns　down　chance　to　film　deposing　fish　bodies！　

？Glad　you　could　make　it；？　Ken　Mogul　said　on　Wednesday　afternoon　when　Vanessa　joined　him　at　
a　booth　in　Chippies；　the　new　Williamsburg　coffee　shop　down　the　street　from　where　she　lived。　He　
pushed　a　steaming　mug　of　cappuccino　toward　her。　？I　ordered　for　both　of　us。　Hope　that？s　cool　by　
you。？　

Vanessa　sat　down　with　her　black　down　parka　on　and　clasped　the　mug　with　both　hands；　pursing　
her　lips　as　she　blew　on　the　hot；　milky　froth。　？Thanks　for　hooking　me　up　with　that　whole　fashion　
show　gig；？　she　said。　？It　was　such　a　gas。？　She　winced；　hating　the　way　she　sounded　when　she　talked　
to　Ken　Mogul。　Like　some　brainless　poser　fool。　

Ken　pushed　his　tortoise…shell　Persol　sunglasses　up　on　top　of　his　jauntily　cut　red　hair　and　leaned　
across　the　table；　ready　to　get　down　to　business。　？I？d　like　you　to　join　me　at　Cannes　this　spring。　I？ll　
introduce　you　to　some　other　brilliant　independent　filmmakers。　We　can　trade　energy；　brainstorm　
together。　Then　I　want　you　to　hold　off　on　college　for　a　year　or　two　to　make　some　films　with　me。　
It？s　going　to　be　magical；　I　can　feel　it。？　

Enya　was　playing　over　the　sound　system。　Vanessa　unzipped　her　coat　and　then　zipped　it　up　again。　
She　hated　Enya。　


？I？ve　started　working　on　a　new　project　down　in　South　

America；？　Ken　Mogul　continued。　？It　opens　with　sea　gulls　feeding　their　young　the　flesh　from　
deposing　fish　bodies　and　then　moves　to　gorillas　in　the　rainforest　abandoning　their　young。　
Then　I？m　going　to　cut　to　the　streets　of　Rio；　where　kids　are　prostituting　themselves　for　drugs。　I　
haven？t　begun　filming　yet；　but　I　was　thinking　you　could　get　in　there　and　meet　some　of　the　
kids；befriend　them；　get　theirstories　。　You　don？t　happen　to　know　Portuguese；　do　you？？　

Vanessa　shook　her　head。　Who　was　he　kidding？

　？Spanish？？　

She　shook　her　head　again。　

？It　doesn？t　matter。　We？ll　get　a　translator；　or　find　some　kids　who　speak　English。　All　your　expenses　
will　be　paid　for　by　Duke　Productions。　You　remember　Duke　from　the　Better　Than　Naked　party？？　

Vanessa　nodded　with　an　amused　smile。　How　could　she　forget　Duke；　the　dumbest　guy　on　the　
planet？　

？You？d　have　your　own　car；　your　own　apartment；　free　equipment；　and　whatever　else　you　need；？　
Ken　added。　？Are　you　with　me？？　

Vanessa　noticed　for　the　first　time　that　Ken　Mogul　had　very　little　definition　in　the　chin　area。　In　
fact；　he　was　practically　chinless。　？I？ve　always　wanted　to　go　to　Cannes；？　she　replied；　thoughtfully　
slurping　her　cappuccino。　？And　your　new　project　sounds　really　。　。　。　awesome。　But　I　got　accepted　
early　to　NYU。　I？ve　wanted　to　go　there　since　I　was　eleven　years　old。　There？s　no　way　I？m　
deferring。？　

？But　what　about　my　film？　Child　prostitution！　Animals　abandoning　their　young！　This　is　
groundbreaking　stuff！？　Ken　Mogul　spluttered；　spitting　all　over　the　counter。　Vanessa　thought　that　if　
he？d　had　more　of　a　chin；　the　spit　might　not　have　gone　so　far。　

Over　Ken？s　shoulder　Vanessa　noticed　a　light　blue　flyer　pinned　to　a　bulletin　board。　

Rivington　Rover　Poetry　Club　Open　Mike　
featuring　readings　by　
Daniel　Humphrey　and　Mystery　Craze　
Thursday；　8P。M。　

No　wonder　Dan　had　been　blowing　her　off　all　week。　He　was　busy　being　famous。　

？Vanessa？　Are　you　still　with　me？？　Ken　demanded。　？First　lesson　you　learn　in　this　business　is　the　
clock　never　stops　ticking。？　


Vanessa　smiled　her　half…amused；　half…pissed…off　Mona　Lisa　smile。　As　flattered　as　she　was　that　
Ken　had　asked　her　to　work　with　him；　she　had　no　intention　of　being　a　mini…Mogul。　She　wanted　
to　develop　herown　voice　and　herown　career；　not　put　all　her　energy　into　someone　else？s　work；　
however　brilliant。　She　shook　her　closely　shaved　dark　head。　？I？m　sorry。？　

Ken　Mogul？s　barely　there　chin　disappeared　altogether　as　he　lost　his　cool　pletely。　？I？ve　never　
offered　to　partner　with　anyone；？　he　said　grimly。　？This　is　the　opportunity　of　a　lifetime。　I？m　giving　
you　the　chance　to　make　a　feature　film　before　you　turn　twenty。　It？s　unheard　of！？　

That　old　guy　at　the　Culture　of　Humanity　show　had　advised　her　not　to　take　her　talent　too　seriously。　
Ken　obviously　took　his　way；way　too　seriously。　She　stood　up　and　yanked　the　light　blue　flyer　off　the　
bulletin　board　behind　Ken？s　head。　She　and　Dan　were　supposed　to　be　working　on　a　filmtogether　；　
but　if　she　could　slip　into　the　club　and　film　him　reading　without　him　even　knowing　she　was　there；　
that　would　be　even　better。　Dan　was　always　better　when　he　didn？t　know　she　was　watching。　

？Thank　you；？　she　told　Ken。　？I？m　honored；　I　really　am。　

But　I？m　working　on　something　new；　of　my　own。　I　think　I？d　like　to　finish　it。？　

Ken　Mogul　pushed　his　sunglasses　down　on　his　nose　and　glared　out　the　window。　？It？s　your　loss。？　

？Thanks　for　the　coffee；？　Vanessa　said；　even　though　he　was　no　longer　looking　at　her。　She　folded　
up　the　blue　flyer　and　tucked　it　into　her　pocket。　？Good　luck　at　Cannes。？　

Ken　Mogul　zipped　up　his　fur…trimmed　Prada　parka　and　pulled　the　hood　up　over　his　head　as　if　to　
block　her　out　pletely。　？？Bye。？　

Vanessa　headed　home　to　sort　through　her　camera　gear　and　figure　out　what　she　needed　to　bring　to　
the　reading　at　the　Rivington　Rover　Poetry　Club　tomorrow　night。　When　Dan　was　finished　reading