gossip girl 12 终结- 第41部分

“Let’s　go　somewhere　to　celebrate；”　Dan　decided。　Vanessa　deserved　it。

Vanessa　smiled　giddily。　For　a　second；　she　imagined　what　Hollis　would　say　if　he　heard　about　the　grant；　but　then　she　pushed　the　thought　out　of　her　mind。　She　didn’t　need　him　anymore。　“Can　we　go　to　that　hummus　place？　I’m　starving！”

“Sure。”　Dan　turned　on　his　heel；　heading　toward　the　hole…in…the…wall　on　the　corner　that　had　a　different　name　every　month。　He　loved　that　Vanessa　considered　hummus　celebratory。　“I’m　hungry　too。　They　just　had　those　teeny…tiny　chicken　skewers　and　pigs　in　a　blanket　at　the　Iowa　thing。”

Vanessa　wrinkled　her　nose。　“Besides　that；　how　was　it？”　She　asked　as　she　fell　into　step　with　Dan。　She’d　forgotten　he　wouldn’t　be　in　New　York　next　year；　either。

“It　was　amazing；”　he　told　her　eagerly。　“A　couple　of　the　professors　were　there；　and　it’s　really　intense。　These　are　all　guys　who’ve　won　Pushcarts　and　been　short…listed　for　the　National　Book　Award。”　He　shrugged　and　opened　the　door。　The　restaurant　was　empty　except　for　one　lone　employee　behind　the　counter。　“I　just　can’t　wait　to　really　work　with　them；　you　know？　Just　immerse　myself　in　writing；”　he　said　as　he　sat　at　one　of　the　rickety　tables　in　the　corner。

“I’ll　order。　I　know　what　you　always　get。”　Vanessa　headed　to　the　counter　and　returned　with　a　tray　laden　with　pita　bread　and　bowls　of　hummus；　and　falafel　balls。　Dan　took　a　bite　of　falafel；　then　passed　the　rest　to　Vanessa。　Vanessa　smiled。　They　always　used　to　share　food。

“Sorry；”　Dan　pulled　his　hand　back；　as　if　he　saw　Vanessa’s　hesitation　as　rejection。

“No；　I　want　it；”　she　said；　accepting　the　half…eaten　falafel。

“So；　are　you　really　ready　to　leave　New　York？”　Dan　asked。　It　was　weird　to　think　about　Vanessa　leaving。　Even　though　he　hadn’t　really　spent　any　time　with　her　in　the　past　year；　it　had　been　forting　to　see　her　camera　on　the　counter；　her　army　green　messenger　bag　by　the　door；　her　boxes　of　Sleepytime　tea　in　the　cabinets。

“I　won’t　know　until　I’m　gone；”　Vanessa　replied。　“How　’bout　you？”

Dan　shrugged　his　reply。　A　fortable　silence　fell　between　them　as　they　ate。　They　were　always　able　to　talk；　or　not　talk。　Sometimes　Serena　would　assume　that　he　was　angry　if　he　didn’t　say　something　all　the　time。

It　was　nice；　just　sitting　at　a　hole…in…the…wall　restaurant　on　Broadway；　splitting　a　late…night　snack。　It　reminded　him　of　a　time　when　everything　was　easy　and　safe。　He　randomly　thought　of　a　Proust　quote　he’d　read　in　one　of　his　lit　classes：　The　true　paradises　are　ones　we　have　lost。

Does　that　mean　there’s　trouble　in　his　current　paradise？

time　to　party…

From：　Tyler@DJTyRo。

To：　jenniferthumphrey@risd。edu

Subject：　party

Hey　Jenny；

It　was　cool　to　meet　you　at　my　mom’s　place　last　night。　Wanted　to　let　you　know　that　I’m　spinning　at　the　Plastic　Party　People　Party　on　Saturday。　It’s　at　Filter；　on　Fourteenth　and　Tenth；　starting　at　midnight。　Bring　friends；　you’re　on　the　list。

—Ty

From：　jenniferthumphrey@risd。edu

To：　Tyler@DJTyRo。

Subject：　Re：　party

Dear　Tyler；

It　was　great　meeting　you　too！　Your　party　sounds　like　a　ton　of　fun；　but　my　boyfriend　already　got　us　tickets　to　see　The　Nutcracker　that　night。　Break　a　leg　or　a　disc　or　whatever　the　DJ　term　for　good　luck　is！

—Jenny

the　best　presents　are　surprises

“Thanks；　Mom；”　Serena　said　as　she　pulled　a　pair　of　strappy　silver　and　blue　Jimmy　Choos　from　out　of　a　brightly　wrapped　box。　It　was　ten　o’clock　on　Christmas　morning；　and　the　family　had　already　had　a　formal　Christmas　breakfast　in　the　dining　room。　She　tried　to　conceal　a　yawn。　She　hadn’t　slept　at　all　last　night。

“I　thought　that　color　would　look　great　with　your　eyes。　And　I’m　sure　you’ll　have　so　many　events　to　go　to　next　year。”　Lily　van　der　Woodsen　looked　fondly　at　her　daughter　from　a　club　chair　in　the　corner　of　the　living　room。　Now　that　Serena　and　Erik　were　grown　up；　they　no　longer　opened　presents　at　dawn　beside　the　towering　tree　in　the　living　room。　Instead；　they　opened　a　few　small　expensive　trinkets；　after　breakfast。

Serena　took　a　swig　of　coffee。　In　truth；　she　probably　wouldn’t　have　any　events　to　go　to　next　year　in　Iowa。　Except　maybe　poetry　readings。

Last　night；　after　her　parents　had　gone　to　bed；　she；　Erik；　and　his　fiancée；　Fiona；　had　had　a　long　conversation　about　long…distance　love　while　drinking　homemade　cocktails　from　her　parents’　extensive　liquor　cabinet。　Fiona　was　a　six…foot…tall　blond　Australian　surfer　whom　Erik　met　on　a　beach　in　Melbourne　during　his　junior　year　abroad。　She　was　clearly　head　over　heels　for　Erik；　she　was　funny　as　hell；　and　Serena　was　glad　they　were　going　to　be　sisters　so　soon。　After　a　few　drinks；　Serena　had　worked　up　the　courage　to　ask　them　if　they　thought　long…distance　could　ever　really　work。　Ever　since　Dan　had　found　out　he　was　going　to　Iowa；　she’d　been　nervous　about　how　they’d　deal　with　the　separation。　Of　course；　that　was　when　she　still　thought　she　had　a　few　years　of　college　left。　But　now　that　she　was　graduating；　she　could　do　anything　she　wanted。　And　all　she　could　think　to　do　was　follow　Dan；　even　though　they’d　never　officially　talked　about　it。

What　Fiona　had　said　when　it　came　to　her　and　Erik’s　relationship　sealed　the　decision　for　Serena。　“I　told　him　I’d　follow　him　wherever　he　went；”　Fiona　had　said　proudly；　without　apology。　“And　if　he　was　with　another　girl　when　he　got　there；　I’d　cut　his　balls　off。”

“Who　could　say　no　to　that？”　Erik　had　teased；　kissing　her。

That　was　all　the　reassurance　Serena　needed。　If　Dan　was　going　to　Iowa；　then　so　would　she。　She’d　even　found　a　place　for　them。　The　house　was　a　fantastic　two…bedroom　bungalow　designed　by　Frank　Lloyd　Wright；　next　to　a　river　and　surrounded　by　trees。　The　grainy　picture　on　the　website　made　it　almost　look　like　a　sailboat　with　all　these　wonderful　built…in　cabinets　and　furniture。　It　was　forty…five　minutes　away　from　Iowa　City；　but　that　wasn’t　too　bad。　Besides；　they’d　both　have　cars；　and　after　living　in　the　middle　of　the　biggest　city　in　the　world　for　their　whole　lives；　Serena　couldn’t　think　of　anything　more　romantic　than　settling　down　with　her　boyfriend　so　far　away　from　the　rest　of　humanity。　After　all；　all　they　needed　was　each　other。

No　Barneys；　no　Elizabeth　Arden；　no　City　Bakery　cookies…　Is　she　crazy？

According　to　the　Web　site；　the　house　was　available　for　rent；　but　Serena　wanted　to　work　out　all　the　details　before　she　told　Dan。　She　was　fine　waiting　a　day　to　tell　him　in　person；　even　if　it　did　feel　like　torture　right　now。

“This　is　from　me；”　Fiona　said；　smiling　as　she　held　a　thin；　silver…wrapped　present　toward　Serena。　Serena　slid　her　finger　under　the　tape　and　eagerly　ripped　off　the　wrapping　paper。　Inside　was　a　photo　album。　On　the　inside　cover　was　inscribed：

To　Serena—

“The　world　is　a　book　and　those　who　do　not　travel　read　only　one　page。”—St。　Augustine。

Enjoy！

Love；　Fiona

“Oh　my　God；　so　cool！”　Serena　grinned　as　she　flipped　through　the　pages。　Fiona　had　traveled　the　world　for　two　years　before　she　started　college；　a　fact　that　always　made　Serena　envious。　Serena　had　always　wanted　to　do　that；　but　the　closest　she’d　e　was　a　few　weeks　in　the　south　of　France　when　she　was　a　senior　in　high　school。　Inside　were　pages　of　photographs；　hand…drawn　maps；　contact　lists；　and　need…to…know　information　about　different　countries　and　cities　around　the　world。　“Did　you　really　make　this？”　Serena　asked。

“I　know　you　like　adventure；　but　you’d　be　well　off　to　avoid　making　my　travel　mistakes。”　Fiona　winked。

“Not　like　you’ll　have　too　much　time　to　travel。　Once　you　find　a　job；　you’ll　really　need　to　buckle　down　for　those　first　few　years；”　Mr。　van　der　Woodsen　remarked　as　he　peered　over　Serena’s　shoulder。

Serena　smiled　tightly。　She’d　tell　her　parents　about　the　Iowa　plan　after　she　told　Dan。

“This　is　great；　Fiona；”　she　said；　continuing　to　flip　through　the　pages。　As　she　came　across　a　photo　of　Carnivale　in　Spain；　it　dawned　on　her　that　a　life　spent　with　Dan　in　Iowa　wouldn’t　leave　her　much　opportunity　to　travel。　They　wouldn’t　have　any　money；　and　he’d　be　too　busy　writing　all　the　time。　Serena　felt　unexpected　tears　spring　to　her　eyes。

She　rubbed　her　eye　with　her　index　finger；　as　if　she　were　just　readjusting　a　contact　lens。

Fiona　winked　at　her。　“Now　what　do　you　say　we　set　up　a　Bloody　Mary　bar　in　the　kitchen？”

Serena　nodded　and　trailed　behind　Fiona　toward　the　kitchen；　feeling　deflated。　Fiona　saw　her　as　an　adventurous；　gutsy　girl　who　needed　practical　travel　tips　for　Belize　and　Thailand。　Instead；　her　grand　adventure　was　booking　a　one…way　ticket　to　a　flat　state　few　New　Yorkers　could　point　to　on　a　map。

Well；　maybe　if　she　moves　there；　people　will　start　to　visit。

“Essa！”　Moxie　blurted　happily　from　Ruby’s　hip　as　Ruby　opened　the　paint…caked　door　to　her　Prospect　Heights　walk…up　on　Christmas　Day。　Moxie　was　dressed　in　a　T…shirt　with　a　pigeon　wearing　oversize　headphones　and　black　leggings；　her　thin　brown　hair　tied　in　two　sloppy　braids。　She　looked　like　a　very　short　Williamsburg　hipster。

“Merry　Christmas；　little　sis！”　Ruby　hugged　Vanessa　warmly。　Ruby　wore　a　pair　of　gray　pajama　pants　and　a　black　SugarDaddy　tank　top　with　no　bra。　Behind　her；　Piotr　had　on　red　Santa…print　flannel　pants　and　a　felt　Santa　hat。　As　children；　Ruby　and　Vanessa　had　never　celebrated　Christmas。　Their　dad　was　Jewish　and　their　mom　thought　the　holiday　was　too　mercial。　Ruby　was　obviously　determined　to　let　Moxie　have　her　fun　with　Santa。

“Merry　Christmas；　guys！”　Vanessa　exclaimed；　breezing　into　their　cheerful　one…bedroom　apartment。　It　looked　so　domestic；　with　a　silver　garland　wrapped　along　the　molding　of　the　ceiling；　a　pile　of　presents　in　the　corner；　and　a　small　tree　in　the　center　of　the　room。　The　only　relic　from　their　artistic　past　was　the　large　painting　of　a　nude　figure　astride　a　bull　mastiff　dog　wedged　behind　the　couch。

“Watch　this。”　Ruby　grinned　as　she　picked　up　Moxie　and　put　her　next　to　the　pile　of　presents。　Moxie　curiously　pulled　on　a　silver　bow　and　then　tossed　the　present　back　under　the　tree。

“She　doesn’t　really　get　it　yet。”　Ruby　shrugged。　Vanessa　grinned　absently；　her　mind　a　million　miles　away。　What　would　Christmas　be　like　in　Indonesia？　What　if　she　didn’t　make　any　friends　and　her　movie　sucked？　What　if　while　she　was　gone；　Dan　and　Serena　got　engaged？

Which　apocalyptic　scenario　does　not　belong　with　the　others？

“Hello？”　Ruby　snapped　her　fingers　in　front　of　Vanessa’s　face；　breaking　her　out　of　her　reverie。

“I　got　that　Filmmakers　for　Change　grant　to　go　to　Indonesia　for　two　years。　Everything　paid　for。”　Vanessa　grinned　shyly。　Saying　it　made　her　feel　better；　more　sure　of　herself。　The　grant　was　an　honor　most　young　filmmakers　only　dreamed　of。

“Oh　my　God！”　Ruby　squealed；　hugging　her。

“God！”　Moxie　yelled　happily　from　the　floor；　the　silver　bow　clutched　in　her　chubby　hands。　Ruby　rolled　her　eyes。　“Piotr；　Vanessa’s　going　to　Indonesia！”

“Well；　I　mean；　I　got　it；　but—”

“But　you　are　going；”　Piotr　said　in　his　slow；　careful　English　from　the　couch。

“There　goes　our　free　babysitting；”　Ruby　said　mournfully。　“Just　kidding；”　she　added　quickly。

Vanessa　smiled　wanly。　Could　she　really　do　this？　The　fellowship　was　for　two　years；　and　while　theoretically　she　could　visit　home；　she　couldn’t　imagine　a　trip　back　to　the　U。S。　would　be　cheap。　And　two　years　was　sort　of　a　long　time。　Mo