gossip girl 10 英文- 第4部分

It　was　just　eleven　in　the　morning；　and　the　beach　belonged　to　kids　and　their　caretakers。　Vanessa　
studied　her　peers；　the　army　of　au　pairs；　wondering　if　maybe　she？d　strike　up　a　friendship。　Did　the　
rest　of　these　babysitters　have　bosses　who　undressed　in　front　of　them？　She　imagined　the　Hamptons　
must　be　filled　with　people　like　Ms。　Morgan；　and　she　wouldn？t　mind　having　someone　to　s　
bizarre　employer　stories　with。　But　looking　around；　it　didn？t　seem　too　likely　that　any　of　these　lithe　
creatures；　with　their　perfect　tans；　over…size　sunglasses；　and　manicured　nails；　would　want　to　have　
anything　to　do　with　her。　Or　vice　versa。　Basically；　it　was　like　being　back　at　Constance　Billard；　the　


school　that　had　tormented　her　for　the　last　three　years。　

Vanessa　stared　out　at　the　endless　ocean；　suddenly　fighting　the　urge　to　cry。　She　kicked　her　
sneakers　off　and　crossed　her　legs；　looking　in　the　mess　of　things　around　her　for　some…thing　to　drink。　
She　found　a　tiny　box　of　apple　juice　and　opened　the　cellophane…wrapped　straw；　stabbing　it　into　the　
little　hole　in　the　box　angrily。　

？There　you　are！？　Nils　skipped　toward　her　across　the　sand；　taking　a　shortcut　over　their　neighbors？　
blankets　and　towels。　

？Don？t　do　that；？　she　scolded　him。　？Or　do　and　get　yelled　at。Whatever。Where？s　your　brother？？　

？Don？t　know。？　He　dropped　to　the　ground　and　rummaged　through　the　stuff　that　was　strewn　all　
over　the　blanket。　？Vanessa；　you　got　sand　inside　my　Cheez…Its。？　

？Life？s　rough；　sometimes。？　Vanessa　inspected　her　milk…white　ankles　and　even　paler　feet。　She　
almost　wished　she？d　thought　to　get　a　pedicure。　She　swiveled　them　off　the　blanket　and　buried　them　
in　the　sand。　？Please；　Nils；　tell　me　you　didn？t　kill　your　brother。？　

Nils　grinned　at　her；　leaned　in　closer；　placing　his　sticky；　sand…covered　little　hands　on　her　shoulders；　
and　burped　in　her　face。　

An　overprivileged　psychopath　in　the　making。　

？The　boy　you？resupposed　to　be　watching　is　overthere；　？a　familiar　whiny　voice　piped　up。　

Vanessa　turned　to　meet　the　cool　glare　of　her　old　class…mate；　Kati　Farkas。　Kati　sported　a　
professionally　sprayed？on　tan　and　a　too…small　black　Gucci　bikini。　Beside　her　lay　her　best　friend；　
Isabel　Coates。　Isabel　was　on　her　tummy　with　her　pea　green　string　bikini　top　off。　A　tiny　redheaded　
girl　was　rubbing　her　back　with　Ban　de　Soleil　bronzing　oil。　

？Oh；　hello；？　Vanessa　responded　coldly。　Two　other　long…limbed　mannequin　types　lounged　beside　
Isabel　beneath　a　pink…and…white　striped　umbrella。　？Are　you　a　nanny　for　the　summer　too？？　she　
asked　Kati；　even　though　she　knew　it　couldn？t　possibly　be　true。　Kati　and　Isabelwork？　Never。　

Kati　rolled　her　eyes。　？She？s　my　niece。　I　like　watching　her。　She　gets　us　stuff　and　rubs　on　our　
lotion　and　guys　think　she？s　cute。？　

Vanessa　nodded。　She　really　had　no　response。　Then　she　caught　sight　of　Edgar　across　the　beach；　
walking　to　the　edge　of　the　water　and　then　screaming　excitedly　every　time　a　frothy　wave　crashed　at　
his　feet。　She　was　about　to　stand　and　grab　him；　but　he　saw　her　and　started　to　run　toward　her　instead。　
She　turned　back　to　Kati。　？Thanks　for　the　tip；？　she　said　a　little　sarcastically。　Maybe　if　she　asked　
both　twins　to　rub　her　with　oil；　she？d　be　thronged　by　hot　Hamptons　surfer　boys？　just　her　type。　
Right。　


？Nice　suit；？　Isabel　piped　up　meanly。　

Vanessa　knew　she　looked　ridiculous　in　Jenny？s　girls？　size　12　Hanna　Andersson　
bumble…bee…striped　bathing　suit；　but　she　could　hardly　resist　the　urge　to　kick　sand　in　Isabel？s　eyes。　
Instead　she　finished　her　juice　box　in　one　guttural　slurp。　

She　heard　the　skinny　girls　lying　next　to　Isabel　snicker。　Assholes。　She　was　about　to　offer　them　an　
icy　death…glare　when　she　suddenly　realized　she　knew　them！　Except　。　。　。not。　At　first　the　girls　looked　
exactly　like　Blair　and　Serena；　but　then　the　longer　she　stared　at　them；　the　more　deformed　they　
appeared。　The　brunette　had　a　shaggy　face…framing　haircut　and　brilliant　blue　eyes；　and　two　
enormous　teeth　protruding　from　between　her　lips。　The　blonde；　who　was　frighteningly　skinny；　was　
almost　beautiful　except　for　the　visible　pulsating　purple…blue　vein　in　her　forehead　and　the　fact　that　
one　of　her　nearly　navy…colored　eyes　was　slightly　lopsided。　Plus；　a　truly　beautiful　girl　like　Serena　
wouldn？t　be　caught　dead　in　a　purple　cutout　bathing　suit　like　the　one　this　girl　had　on。　There　was　
even　a　ridiculous　cutout　hole　on　her　belly　button。　

Still；　for　that　split　second；　a　wave　of　relief　had　washed　over　her。　Friends！　She　could　have　real；　
human　friends　out　here！　It　made　her　realize：　even　if　these　low…rent　versions　weren？t　the　real　thing；　
Blair　and　Serenamust　be　kicking　around　some…where；　right？　Where　else　would　those　two　go　for　
the　summer？　

？Do　you　haff　a　problem？？　The　weird　impostor　Blair　glared　at　Vanessa。　？Maybe　is　something　I　
can　help　you　with？？　

？Oh；　sorry；？　Vanessa　stammered；　embarrassed　that　she？d　been　caught　staring。　？It？s　just　that？？　

？Yes？？　the　girl　demanded　bitchily。　

？It？s　just　that　you　reminded　me　of　someone　I　know。？　Was　this　girl　Russian　or　just　retarded？　

？Mmmm。？　Bizarro　Blair　studied　Vanessa　closely。　Then　skankbomb　blond　version　of　Serena　
sitting　to　her　right　leaned　over　and　whispered　something　into　Bizarro　Blair？s　ear；　dramatically。　

　How　friendly。　

？You　know　vhat？？　Bizarro　Blair　smiled　at　Vanessa　and　ran　her　fingers　through　her　thick；　
shoulder…length　chestnut　hair。　？You　give　me　very　good　ideas。？　

？Vhatever。？　Vanessa　turned　away　from　the　blanket　full　of　bitches　and　focused　her　attention　on　
the　twins；　who　were　now　taking　turns　spitting　chunks　of　chewed…up　orange　cracker　at　one　another。　

？Very　good　idea；？　the　Blair　clone　repeated　behind　her。　


Oh？　And　what　couldthat　be？　

d？s　big　fat　geek　experiment　

　？You？re　here！？　

Dan　peered　nervously　into　the　foyer　of　Greg？s　sprawling　Harlem　apartment；　where　they　were　
holding　their　very　first　meeting　of　the　Song　of　Myself　literary　salon。　

？I？m　here。？　Dan　stepped　inside；　hesitating　in　the　dark　foyer；　pretending　to　study　a　massive　oil　
painting　as　he　anxiously　practiced　his　opening　ments　in　his　head。Wele　everyone；　to　our　
first　meeting。　I？d　like　to　begin　by　quoting　the　poet　Wallace　Stevens；　who　of　course　had　much　to　
say　on　the　subject　of　the　centrality　of　literature　to　the　human　condition。　。　。　。　？Let　be　be　finale　of　
seem。The　only　emperor　is　the　emperor　of　ice　cream。？

　？Everything　okay？？　

The　weight　of　Greg？s　hand　on　his　shoulder　startled　Dan。　？Hey；　sorry。？

　Greg　laughed。　？Nervous？？　

？No；　no；？　Dan　lied。　？Just　looking　at　this　painting。？　He　gestured　at　the　huge　canvas　hanging　over　
the　mantel　in　Greg？s　parents？　apartment。　They　were　older　than　Rufus　and　spend　most　of　their　time　
in　Phoenix。　A　swirl　of　glossy　grays　and　flesh　tones　glinted　in　the　afternoon　sunlight　streaming　
through　dusty　living　room　windows。　

？You　like　it？？　Greg　wondered。　？It？s　one　of　mine。？　

？Really？？　Dan　turned　to　study　the　painting；　actually　looking　at　it　this　time。　When　he　took　a　step　
back　into　the　foyer；　and　then　another；　he　realized　that　he　had　been　staring　at　a　life…size　self…portrait　
of　Greg；　sitting　on　top　of　a　tiny　stepladder；　pletely　naked。　？Oh；　right。？　He　tittered　
nervously。　？Of　course。Yeah。　It？s　you。？　

？In　all　my　glory。？　Greg　noticed　the　rectangular…shaped　bottle　that　Dan　was　gripping　as　though　his　
life　depended　on　it。　？You　brought　something！？　

？Yeah；　some　absinthe。？　It　was　the　most　literary　thing　he　could　find。The　kind　of　thing　Rimbaud　or　
Shelley　might　have　drunk。　Plus；　it　was　the　only　unopened　bottle　in　the　musty　cracked…glass　
dentist？s　cabinet　his　dad　stored　liquor　in。　

？Awesome！？　Greg　took　the　bottle。　？Should　I　fix　us　a　drink　before　everyone　gets　here？？　


？Sure。？　Dan　followed　his　host　down　the　bookshelf…lined　hallway　toward　the　living　room。　？I　
could　use　a　little　some…thing　to　loosen　me　up。？　

Just　a　little　though；　right？　That　stuff　is　so　strong　it？s　like　。　。　。　illegal。　

？There？s　shlomeone；　I　mean；　someone；　there？s　。　。　。？　Dan　slurred。　His　tongue　felt　like　it　was　the　
size　of　an　eggplant。　？Doorbell；　dude。　They？re　here。　It？s　time！？　he　added；　attempting　to　sit　up。　

？It？s　time！？　Greg　leapt　up　off　the　low　brown　leather　couch　that　he　and　Dan　had　been　sinking　
further　and　further　into　the　more　shots　of　absinthe　they　drank。　They？d　allotted　an　hour　for　
planning　their　opening　remarks；　but　they？d　spent　most　of　the　time　pouring　absinthe　over　lumps　of　
sugar；　then　swallowing　the　sticky；　sweet　mix　in　one　gulp。　Dan　picked　up　the　sterling　absinthe　
spoon　they？d　been　sharing　and　popped　it　into　his　mouth。　

Taste　of　metal　on　my　tongue。　Poison　the　color　of　envy？I？m　delirious；　you？re　delicious；　I？m　
deluded　and　delusional。I？m　lost　without　you。　I　need　you。　

Dan　grinned。　It　was　true？absinthedid　inspire。　He　teetered　a　little　as　he　crossed　the　living　room？s　
shiny　wood　floors　to　retrieve　his　backpack；　where　his　notebook　waited　for　him。　He　had　to　get　that　
fragment　down　on　paper　before　he　forgot　it。　

？Look　who？s　here；？　Greg　called。　Dan　dropped　the　bag？　poetic　fragment　already　forgotten？and　
tried　to　focus　on　the　faces　of　the　people　who　were　streaming　into　the　room；　which　suddenly　
seemed　to　be　spinning。　Because　they？d　sent　their　pictures　he　felt　like　he？d　met　them　already。　
There　was　the　cute　Charlotte　Bront？　girl。　And　the　insane　vampire…lover。　

？Everyone　grab　a　drink。？　Greg　pointed：　？Bar？s　over　there。　Plenty　more　ice　in　the　fridge。　Then　I　
guess　we　can　all　just　sit　in　a　circle　and　introduce　ourselves。　Sound　good　to　you；　Dan？？　

Dan　nodded；　suddenly　unable　to　form　a　single　word。Sit。　Yes；　that　sounded　like　a　good　idea。　He　
lurched　through　the　surprisingly　thick　crowd？just　how　many　people　had　been　at　the　door？　Or　had　
the　doorbell　rung　more　than　once？　How　long　had　he　been　digging　around　in　his　bag　for　that　
note…book；　anyway？　He　collapsed　back　onto　the　leather　couch。　

？How　about　another？？　Greg　pointed　at　the　silver　tray　set　with　a　tiny　bottle　of　pale　green　liquid　
and　a　bowl　of　sugar　cubes。　Then　he　took　off　his　glasses；　and　Dan　noticed　for　the　first　time　that　
Greg　had　millions　of　tiny　freckles　all　over　his　face。　

？But　。。。my　speech；？　Dan　murmured。　？I　need　to？？　

？You　need　to　calm　down。？　Greg　gently　pried　the　sterling　spoon　from　Dan？s　hand　and　balanced　it　
on　the　rim　of　the　glass。　He　deposited　a　sugar　cube　on　the　spoon　and　poured　a　thin　stream　of　the　
potent　green　liquor　over　it。　


？That　was　in　my　mouth；？　Dan　protested。　

？Doesn？t　bother　me。？　Greg　grinned；　and　then　used　the　spoon　to　give　the　liquor　a　quick　stir　before　
popping　it　between　his　lips。　He　pulled　the　spoon　out　of　his　mouth　and　slipped　it　back　into　Dan？s。　

Ew；　thanks　for　the　germs！　

Greg　slipped　off　his　beaten　black　leather　Doc　Martens；　then　stepped　up　onto　the　couch；　almost　
stepping　on　Dan？s　thigh　as　he　did　so。　He　shook　the　ice　in　his　glass　to　get　the　attention　of　the　
assembled　pany。　？Okay；　everyone；　grab　your　drinks　and　settle　in。We？ve　got　a　lot　to　cover　
tonight。？　

The　room　was　filled　with　voices；　but　Dan　was　having　trouble　focusing　his　hearing。　He　was　
grateful　Greg　seemed　to　have　everything　under　control。　

？I？ll　hand　the　reins　over　to　our　other　fearless　leader　now。？　Placing　one　hand　on　Dan？s　shoulder　to　
steady　himself；　Greg　hopped　off　the　couch　and　took　a　seat　on　the　battered　wooden　floor　at　Dan？s　
fe