gossip girl 4 英文- 第6部分

Vanessa　had　been　about　to　offer　her　services　as　a　reader；　but　it　didn？t　sound　like　Dan　wanted　any　
help。　？Okay；？　she　said　coolly。　？Call　me　if　you　need　anything　or　whatever。？　

Dan　flipped　his　collar　up　again　and　lit　another　cigarette；　experimenting　with　his　new　look。　？Oh；　
wait。　I　wanted　to　ask　you　something。　Rusty　Klein　invited　me　to　this　thing　called　Better　Than　
Naked。　？The　Better　Than　Naked　show。？　That？s　what　she　said。　Do　you　know　if　that？s　a　band　or　


something？？　

Better　Than　Naked　was　the　antifashion　fashion　label　that　Vanessa？s　older　sister；　Ruby；　blew　all　
her　gig　money　on。　Most　of　their　clothes　looked　like　old　thrift…store　rags　that　had　been　run　over　by　
a　fleet　of　street…cleaning　machines；　which　was　pletely　intentional。　Very　downtown　？fuck　the　
trends？　fashion。　

？It？s　Fashion　Week　starting　on　Friday；？　Vanessa　explained。　？It　sounds　like　she？s　inviting　you　to　
the　Better　Than　Naked　runway　show；　which　I　only　know　about　because　Ruby　is　totally　crazy　about　
their　clothes　and　always　watches　the　shows　on　the　Metro　Channel。　I　don？t　know　why　Rusty　Klein　
thinksyou　would　want　to　go；　though。　What　do　you　care　about　clothes？　And　it？ll　be　full　of　posers　
and　wanna…bes？you　know；　that　whole　vapid　fashion　scene。？　

Dan　looked　thoughtful　as　he　puffed　on　his　cigarette。　？I　think　I？m　gonna　check　it　out。？　He　
wouldn？t　have　cared　if　Rusty　Klein　had　asked　to　meet　him　at　a　pro　wrestling　match。　This　was　
about　building　his　writing　career。　

Filming　Dan　at　the　Better　Than　Naked　show　would　have　been　perfect　material　for　her　film；　but　
Vanessa　didn？t　want　to　butt　in　if　Dan　was　meeting　someone　as　important　as　Rusty　Klein　at　the　
show。　？Okay；　Mr。　Hot　Shit　Poet。　Don？t　forget　your　old　friends　when　you？re　driving　around　in　a　
limo　drinking　champagne　with　naked　models　and　whatnot。？　She　reached　up　and　mussed　his　neat　
little　haircut。　？Congratulations。？　

Dan　grinned　widely　back　at　her。　？It？s　pretty　amazing；？　he　agreed　happily。　Then；　with　one　last　
sweet　kiss；　he　turned　and　walked　up　Riverside　Drive　toward　home；　the　iridescent　silver　Puma　
logos　flashing　on　his　heels　as　he　went。　

Vanessa　smiled　fondly　at　the　spring　in　his　step。　？See　you　later；　alligator。？　

shas　just　what　they？ve　been　looking　for　

？I？m　looking　for　one　of　those　groovy　new　men？s　golfing　jackets　in　a　funky　Day…Glo　color　like　
bright　green　or　yellow；？　Serena　told　the　salesgirl　in　the　Les　Best　boutique　on　Tuesday　after　school。　
During　French　that　day　Serena　had　remembered　admiring　the　new　Les　Best　men？s　golfing　jacket　
in　the　latest　issue　ofW　magazine　and　decided　it　was　the　perfect　gift　for　Aaron。　She　never　got　tired　
of　giving　Aaron　gifts。　Everything　she　bought　just　looked　so　cute　on　him。　It　was　like　dressing　a　doll；　
her　own　adorable　life…sized；　dreadlocked；　guitar…playing；　Harvard…bound　doll。　

The　boutique　was　on　West　Fourteenth　Street　in　the　meat…packing　district；　where　the　streets　
actually　smelled　like　carcasses　and　manure　from　all　the　old　meat　warehouses。　Leave　it　to　Les　Best；　
creator　of　the　most　beautifully　tailored　leisure　wear　in　the　world；　to　think　that　the　rawness　of　the　


neighborhood　was　so　cool；　he　just　had　to　open　up　shop　there。　The　space　was　huge　and　decorated　
all　in　white　muslin　with　only　one　or　two　brightly　colored　tennis　dresses　or　polo　jackets　hanging　
from　giant　steel　hooks　sticking　out　of　the　walls。　The　idea　was　that　unless　you　really　knew　enough　
about　the　clothes　to　ask　to　see　more；　you　had　no　purpose　shopping　there。　

？We？re　all　out　of　the　golfing　jackets；　I？m　afraid；？　the　bleached…blond　salesgirl　answered　in　an　
English　accent。　She　was　dressed　all　in　white；　too。　Even　her　sneakers　were　made　of　white　pony　
fur。　？My　manager　nicked　the　last　one　for　himself。？　

Serena　examined　a　gorgeous　red…and…white…striped　silk　tennis　dress　hanging　on　a　hook　
nearby。　？Damn；？　she　said　under　her　breath。　？I　keep　seeing　that　jacket　in　magazines　and　I　thought　it　
would　be　the　perfect　thing。？　Les　Best　was　her　favorite　new　designer；　but　maybe　the　clothes　were　a　
little　too　haute　couture　for　Aaron　anyway。　He　was　more　of　a　skater…boy　kind　of　dresser。　She　
hitched　her　deep　gold　leather　Longchamp　bag　onto　her　shoulder。　？Thanks　for　your　help；？　she　
called；　hoping　to　make　it　over　to　XLarge？a　skate　store　on　Lafayette　Street？before　it　closed。　

？Wait！？　someone　called　out。　

Serena　paused　in　the　doorway　and　turned　around。　Were　they　talking　to　her？　

A　tanned　guy　with　a　bleached…blond　crew　cut　wearing　the　exact　bright　green　golfing　jacket　she？d　
been　hoping　to　buy　for　Aaron　was　holding　open　a　white　door　in　the　back　of　the　store。　He　smiled　as　
he　walked　toward　her。　？I　hope　you　don？t　mind　my　asking。？　He　cocked　his　head　and　gave　Serena　
the　once…over。　？Les　asked　me　to　look　for　a　？real　girl？　for　his　show　in　Bryant　Park　on　Friday。　I　only　
caught　a　glimpse　of　you　as　you　were　leaving；　but　I　justknow　you？d　be　perfect。　I？ve　seen　your　
picture　in　the　society　pages。　You？re　Serena；　right？？　

Serena　nodded；　unfazed。　She　was　used　to　being　recognized　from　photographs　in　gossip　columns。　
She？d　even　had　an　unnamed　body　part　photographed　by　the　famous　Remi　brothers　in　October。　The　
photo　had　been　picked　up　by　a　New　York　Transit　Authority　arts　project　and　had　wound　up　being　
pasted　all　over　the　city。　

？Are　you　interested？？　the　guy　asked；　raising　his　blond…tinted　eyebrows　hopefully。　？You？re　just　
what　we？ve　been　looking　for。？　

Serena　fiddled　with　the　ties　on　her　white　cashmere　earflap　hat。　This　Friday　she　and　Aaron　had　
planned　to　spend　the　whole　night　together；　drinking　at　Soap　on　the　Lower　East　Side；　watching　
late…night　TV　in　her　bedroom；　and　。　。　。　hanging　out。　

　Whateverthat　means。　

Yes；　Iaminterested；　Serena　thought。　She　and　Aaron　could　hang　out　any　time。　They　had　the　rest　of　
their　lives　to　hang　out　together！　Getting　asked　to　be　in　Les　Best？s　show　during　New　York　Fashion　
Week　was　a　once…in…a…lifetime　opportunity。　It　wasn？t　like　she　wanted　to　make　a　career　of　


modeling　or　anything；　but　this　was　her　chance　to　show　Les　Best　how　much　she　truly　appreciated　
his　clothes。　Plus；　it　would　befun　。　Aaron　would　understand　that。　In　fact；　he　was　such　a　wonderful　
boyfriend；　he？d　probablyencourage　her　to　do　it。　

？I？d　love　to；？　Serena　answered　finally。　She　pursed　her　not…too…full；　not…too…thin　lips　and　then　
grinned　at　her　own　ballsiness。　？But　only　if　I　can　have　your　jacket。　I　was　looking　for　that　exact　one　
for　my　boyfriend　and　a　little　bird　told　me　you　took　the　last　one。？　

？Oh　my　God；　totally。？　The　blond　guy　whipped　off　the　bright　green　jacket　and　folded　it　expertly。　
Walking　over　to　the　register；　he　wrapped　the　jacket　in　black　tissue　paper　and　tucked　it　into　a　prized　
white　Les　Best　shopping　bag。　？There　you　are；　darling。？　He　offered　the　bag　to　Serena。　？I？ve　only　
worn　it　for　like；　an　hour。　And　it？s　on　us；　gratis。　So；　we？ll　see　you　in　Les？s　tent　in　Bryant　Park　on　
Friday　at　4P。M。　sharp；　okay？　You？ll　be　on　the　list　and　you　can　invite　four　friends。　Look　for　the　
girls　holding　clipboards　and　wearing　headsets。　They？ll　tell　you　exactly　where　to　go。？　

Serena　took　the　bag。Score！　

？Don？t　I　need　to　be　fitted　for　anything；　or　practice　walking　on　the　runway；　or　whatever？？　she　
asked；　pulling　her　white　cashmere　cap　down　over　her　ears。　

The　guy　rolled　his　eyes　in　a　camp；　don？t…be…silly　way。　？Honey；　you？re　a　natural。　Trust　me；　you？ll　
look　good　no　matterwhat　you　do。？　He　handed　her　his　card。Guy　Reed；　Chief　d？Affairs；　Les　Best　
Couture；　it　read。　？If　you　have　any　questions；　just　call。？　He　gave　her　a　quick　kiss　on　the　
cheek。　？Hey；　whatis　that　scent　you？re　wearing？？　

Serena　smiled。　She　was　used　to　people　asking　about　her　scent；　too。　？I　mix　it　myself；？　she　told　
him；　fully　aware　that　her　answer　was　just　as　mysterious　as　the　scent。　

Guy　closed　his　eyes　and　inhaled　deeply。　？Mmm。　Dee…lish。？　He　opened　his　eyes　again。　？I？m　
going　to　have　to　tell　Les　about　that；　too。　He？s　been　searching　for　a　signature　scent。？　He　reached　up　
and　gave　Serena？s　hat　strings　a　playful　tug　with　his　tanned　fingers。　？See　you　Friday；　doll。　Stay　
warm。　And　don？t　forget；　the　after…party　is　even　better　than　the　show！？　

Serena　gave　him　a　quick　air　kiss　and　then　headed　out　into　the　cold。　She　couldn？t　wait　to　give　
Aaron　his　present　and　tell　him　the　news。　He　could　wear　the　jacket　to　the　show　and　then　they　could　
drop　by　the　after…party　together　so　she　could　show　him　off。　

Outside；　she　no　sooner　lifted　her　cashmere…mittened　hand　than　four　cabs　on　West　Fourteenth　
Street　screeched　to　a　halt　and　honked　for　her　attention。　

See　how　difficult　it　is　to　be　so　beautiful？　


　vrocks　people？s　worlds　

Ruby　was　on　another　Martha　Stewart　spree；　and　the　tantalizing　scent　of　freshly　baked　brownies　
wafted　into　Vanessa？s　bedroom　as　she　sorted　through　submissions　forRancor　；　the　Constance　
Billard　student…run　arts　magazine　of　which　she　was　editor…in…chief。　Heat　blasted　from　the　steaming　
radiators；　and　the　sounds　of　ambulance　sirens　and　car　horns　wailed　through　the　two　open　windows。　
Vanessa？s　bare　wooden　floor　was　scattered　with　the　usualRancor　submissions：　twenty　
black…and…white　photographs　of　clouds；　feet；　eyes；　or　the　family　dog；　three　short　stories　about　
learning　to　drive　and　feeling　the　tug　of　independence　despite　the　writer？s　appreciation　for　her　
parents　and　all　they？d　done　for　her；　and　seven　poems　discussing　the　meaning　of　friendship。　

　Boring。　

After　the　third　short　story；　Vanessa　retrieved　Ruby？s　sugaring　kit　from　the　bathroom。　Sugaring　
was　an　extremely　messy；　all…natural；　and　？virtually　painless？　way　of　removing　the　hair　on　your　
legs。　You　covered　your　legs　with　sticky　brown　goo；　applied　a　strip　of　white　cloth；　and　then　ripped　
the　strip　of　cloth　away　from　your　leg；　taking　the　hair　with　it。　

　Painless？Yeah；　right。　

Vanessa　kicked　her　black　leggings　onto　the　floor；　laid　a　black　bath　towel　over　her　black…and…gray　
patchwork　bedspread；　and　sat　down　on　top　of　it。　She　basted　her　pale；　stocky　calves　with　the　sugary　
stuff；　feeling　like　a　giant　glazed　donut。　Usually　she　was　extremely　low…maintenance；　but　if　Dan　
was　going　to　be　hanging　out　with　supermodels　and　agents　and　fashion　designers；　she　thought　she　
should　at　least　try　to　make　an　effort　and　do　something　about　the　hair　on　her　legs。　Besides；　spring　
was　just　around　the　corner。　She　might　even　go　crazy　and　try　sporting　a　miniskirt。　

？Fuck！？　she　yelped；　ripping　off　the　first　strip　of　gauze。　Who？d　e　up　with　the　idea　that　women　
were　supposed　to　be　all　smooth　and　hairless　like　babies？　What　the　hell　was　wrong　with　a　little　hair？　
Most　men　were　covered　with　it。　

She　ripped　off　another　strip。　？Christ！？　Okay；　this　was　officially　insane。　Her　skin　was　so　raw　and　
red　she　wouldn？t　have　been　surprised　to　see　blood　gushing　from　the　hair　follicles。　

Her　phone　rang　and　she　snatched　it　up　and　growled　into　it；　？If　this　is　you；　Dan；　I　want　you　to　
know　that　I？m　frigging　ripping　the　hair　off　my　body　with　my　bare　hands　right　now；　and　I？m　doing　
it　all　for　you；　which　is　pretty　fucking　poetic　if　you　ask　me！？　

？Hello？　Vanessa　Abrams？　This　is　Ken　Mogul；　filmmaker。　You　sent　me　your　New　York　film　essay　
a　few　weeks　ago。　We　met　in　the　park　on　New　Year？s　Eve？？　

Vanessa　sat　up　straight　and　adjusted　the　phone　against　her　ear。　Ken　Mogul　was　only；　like；　one　of　
the　most