gossip girl 12 终结- 第47部分

Well；　according　to　their　fake　IDs；　they’ve　always　been　…twenty…two。

“Look；　there’s　Kati　and　Isabel！　Hey！”　Serena　called；　standing　up　and　waving。　She　was　oblivious　to　all　the　people　who　turned　to　stare　at　her　sequined　Marni　shift　dress　riding　up　dangerously　high　on　her　thigh。

“Hey！”　Isabel　yelled；　clomping　into　the　bar　in　a　pair　of　five…inch　Miu　Miu　Mary　Janes。　She　wore　an　all…purple　jumpsuit　and　looked　like　a　psychedelic　plumber。　Her　hand　was　intertwined　with　Kati’s：　Kati　wore　a　simple　black　dress　and　a　huge　grin　on　her　heart…shaped　face。

“Hey。”　Blair’s　eyes　flicked　down　to　their　hands。　They　were　both　wearing　matching　silver　rings　on　their　ring　fingers。

“You　guys　are　friends　again！”　Serena　clapped　her　hands　in　glee。

Isabel　shrugged　shyly。　“Yeah。　I　don’t　know　what　took　us　so　long。”

“We’re　just　heading　up。　Are　you　guys　ready？　It’ll　be　just　like　old　times；　right？”　Kati　asked；　still　holding　Isabel’s　hand。

Almost　like　old　times。

In　the　dim　amber　light　of　the　bar；　Blair’s　former　classmates　looked　almost　sweet　together。　“Sure；”　she　said。　She　drained　the　rest　of　her　drink　and　stood　up；　wavering　slightly　in　the　snakeskin　thigh…high　Christian　Louboutin　boots　her　father　had　sent　her　for　Christmas。　It　was　forting　that　no　matter　how　much　things　changed；　Blair　always　had　the　best　shoes　in　the　room。

They　do　say　it’s　the　little　things　that　give　life　meaning。

“Are　you　sure　it’ll　be　okay　for　you　to　see　Chuck？”　Serena　whispered　to　Blair　as　they　followed　Isabel　and　Kati　toward　the　elevator　bank。

“What　if　you　see　Dan？”　Blair　countered。

Serena　paused。　She　hadn’t　thought　about　that。　But　she　doubted　Dan　would　be　there；　everyone　had　been　invited；　but　parties　were　never　his　thing。

As　they　reached　the　elevator；　Serena　spontaneously　threw　her　arms　around　Blair’s　shoulders。　“I　have　you；　who　else　do　I　need？”　she　exclaimed。

“You　guys　are　meant　for　each　other；”　Kati　said；　shaking　her　head　knowingly　at　Isabel。

The　elevator　opened　and　the　four　girls　headed　down　the　plush　gray–carpeted　hall　toward　the　suite。　Inside；　Blair　spotted　her　brother　setting　up　his　DJ　equipment　in　the　corner。　Jenny　Humphrey　was　sitting　on　one　of　Tyler’s　synthesizer　cases；　wearing　a　cleavage…baring　black　tank　top；　her　curls　piled　messily　on　top　of　her　head　and　held　in　place　by　an　oversize　butterfly…shaped　barrette。

Blair　arched　an　eyebrow。　She’d　almost　forgotten　her　matchmaking　plan。　But　it　looked　like　it　had　worked。　Hopefully　she　wouldn’t　regret　it。

“Wait；　do　you　think　that　means　Jenny　and　Nate　are　broken　up？”　Serena　asked；　following　Blair’s　gaze　toward　Jenny　and　Tyler。

“I’ll　find　out；”　Blair　announced；　marching　toward　her　brother。

In　the　corner；　Rain　Hoffstetter　and　Laura　Salmon　were　mixing　elaborate　pastel…colored　shots。　Kati　and　Isabel　clutched　hands　and　looked　fearfully　toward　Blair。

“What　do　you　think　she’s　going　to　do　to　Jenny？”　Kati　asked。

“She　can’t　do　anything。　She　has　this　anger　management　issue　and　she’s　on　probation。　That’s　why　her　mom　moved　back　to　New　York。　She　wanted　to　keep　an　eye　on　her；”　Rain　said；　downing　the　pink　shot　Laura　had　concocted。　She　wore　a　high…necked　purple　wool　dress　that　hid　her　unfortunate　infinity　symbol　tattoo。

“That’s　why　she’s　applying　to　law　school；”　Laura　offered；　slurring　her　words　drunkenly。

Blair　picked　her　way　through　the　crowd　to　Jenny　and　Tyler。　Tyler’s　arm　was　slung　possessively　around　Jenny’s　tiny　shoulders　as　he　worked　the　turntables。　She　tapped　Jenny　on　the　arm。　“e　with　me；”　she　demanded；　turning　on　her　heel　without　waiting　for　an　answer。

She　led　Jenny　to　the　opposite　end　of　the　bar　and　pulled　out　one　of　the　modern　black　stools。　“Sit；”　she　ordered。　Jenny　meekly　perched　on　the　edge　of　the　stool；　her　legs　dangling　like　a　little　kid’s。

Blair　perched　on　a　stool　next　to　her。　“Are　you　cheating　on　Nate？”　she　asked；　getting　straight　to　the　point。

Jenny　shook　her　head；　her　curls　grazing　her　milky　white　shoulders。　“No。　We　broke　up。　It　was　just　moving　so　fast；　and　I　still　have　all　of　college　ahead　of　me；　and　I…”　Jenny　babbled；　glancing　up　at　Blair’s　foxlike　face。　Blair’s　features　suddenly　relaxed　and　flashed　the　briefest　of　smiles；　so　small　it　could　easily　have　been　Jenny’s　imagination。　She’d　been　expecting　Blair　to　scream　at　her；　to　blame　her；　to　tell　her　it　was　ridiculous　that　she　be　the　one　to　break　up　with　Nate。　But　instead；　Blair　shrugged；　as　if　to　say；　Do　whatever　you　want。

Blair　arched　an　eyebrow　at　the　younger　girl。　Well；　wasn’t　Jenny　full　of　surprises？　She　slid　off　the　stool。　“Don’t　break　my　brother’s　heart；”　she　called　over　her　shoulder。　The　fact　that　Meow　Meow　was　over　meant　Nate　was　single。　And　probably　heartbroken。　Interesting…

“Thanks；”　Jenny　said；　mystified。　She　smiled　slowly　at　Tyler。　She　didn’t　think　anything　would　happen　with　them　tonight—but　it　was　nice　to　get　Blair’s　blessing。

Well；　not　quite；　but　that’s　as　close　as　she’s　going　to　get。

Vanessa　walked　into　the　swanky　lobby　of　the　Tribeca　Star；　still　trying　to　get　used　to　the　loud　clicking　noise　her　black　pumps　made　with　every　step　across　the　marble　lobby。　She　wore　a　dark　blue　dress　from　one　of　her　favorite　Williamsburg　boutiques；　her　hair　pulled　into　a　messy　bun　at　the　back　of　her　head。　By　the　check…in　desk；　a　guy　in　khakis　and　a　button…down　nodded　appreciatively　at　her。　Vanessa　smiled。　She　knew　she　looked　good。　She　didn’t　have　to　prove　to　the　world　she　was　an　artsy　independent　filmmaker　by　wearing　all　black　and　a　surly　expression。　Maybe　it　was　because　she’d　been　single　for　a　year　and　had　finally　really　gotten　to　know　herself。　Maybe　it　was　because　she　finally　realized　how　much　people　liked　her　for　her。

And　maybe　it　was　because　she　sort　of　wanted　to　impress　a　certain　boy？

Vanessa　rode　the　elevator　upstairs。　She’d　never　been　to　one　of　Chuck’s　parties　before；　but　now　that　she　knew　she　was　leaving　New　York；　there　seemed　no　reason　to　avoid　it。　Besides；　she　needed　to　talk　to　Dan；　and　she　had　a　feeling　he’d　be　here　with　Serena。　After　spending　the　night　together；　Vanessa　had　felt　horribly　guilty。　She’d　been　camped　out　at　Ruby　and　Piotr’s　since；　but　she　couldn’t　stay　there　forever。　She　wanted　to　apologize　for　what　had　happened　and　tell　Dan　that　while　she’d　always　love　him；　it　was　for　the　best　that　he　and　Serena　were　together。　She　hadn’t　meant　to　e　between　them。

The　elevator　doors　slid　open；　and　several　teenage　girls　tumbled　out　a　door　down　the　hall。

“Let’s　find　boys　to　make　out　with！”　one　of　them　squealed；　racing　to　the　elevator。　Vanessa　walked　through　the　open　door；　shaking　her　head　with　bemusement。　There　was　so　much　material　in　the　world；　so　much　fodder　for　film。

Especially　when　it　es　to　subjects　wearing　far　too　little　material…

The　suite　was　crowded；　and　Vanessa　elbowed　her　way　through　packs　of　people　toward　the　open　terrace；　where　a　lone　figure　was　facing　uptown　toward　the　Empire　State　Building；　smoking　a　cigarette。　Dan。　Without　Serena。　Vanessa　shivered　in　the　night　air　and　pulled　her　leather　bomber　jacket　closer　around　her　body。

She　tapped　him　on　the　shoulder。　“Don’t　you　know　those　things　will　kill　you？”

Dan　whirled　around。　Vanessa　looked　beautiful。　Her　hair　was　pulled　back　to　expose　her　collarbones　and　she　was　wearing　a　sexy；　formfitting　dress　underneath　a　leather　jacket。　She　looked　nothing　like　his　Doc　Marten　muse。　And　yet…

She　looked　even　better。

“Where’s　Serena？”　Vanessa　asked；　hoping　she　sounded　more　curious　than　confrontational。

“Serena　and　I　broke　up…。　I’m　going　to　Iowa　by　myself；”　he　finished。　He　wasn’t　sure　what　he　wanted　Vanessa　to　say；　but　she　needed　to　know。

Vanessa　sucked　in　her　breath。　Dan　was　single。　Now；　when　it　was　no　use。　“I’m　going　to　Indonesia　for　two　years。”

“I’m　glad；”　Dan　said　earnestly。　Vanessa’s　face　immediately　fell。　“I　mean；　I’m　glad　you’re　doing　it。　But　I’ll　miss　you；”　he　said。　He　missed　her　already；　and　she　was　standing　just　inches　from　his　touch。

“I　will　too；”　Vanessa　said　shyly。　“Iowa’s　two　years；　right？”　She　rested　her　elbows　on　the　concrete　balcony　ledge　and　looked　down　at　the　street　below；　which　was　surprisingly　quiet　for　New　Year’s　Eve。　Besides　one　town　car　idling　outside　the　Star；　there　was　no　other　traffic。　The　boulevard　stretched　wide　and　free　in　the　inky　night。

“Yeah；”　Dan　said。

Vanessa　nodded。　The　more　she　thought　about　it；　two　years　didn’t　seem　very　long　at　all。　After　all；　she　and　Dan　had　spent　two　years　of　college　practically　ignoring　each　other。

When　you　put　it　that　way…

“Well…　if　you　need　a　roommate　in　two　years；　I’m　really　good　at　making　your　gross　coffee。”

“And　I’m　good　at　helping　you　eat　your　heart…attack…special　pizza；”　Dan　countered。　It　was　crazy　how　they’d　lived　in　the　same　orbit　for　so　long；　had　dated　and　broken　up　and　hooked　up　for　years；　how　they’d　shared　an　apartment　when　they　were　both　together　and　apart。　How　she　could　still　make　him　smile　more　than　anyone　else　in　the　world。

“Deal！”　Vanessa　said。

She’d　meant　to　just　shake　his　hand；　but　she　found　herself　leaning　in。　Her　lips　connected　to　his；　slowly　at　first；　then　more　insistently。

As　the　shouts　and　music　blared　from　inside　the　party；　the　icy　wind　slicing　through　her　dress；　Vanessa　was　suddenly　reminded　of　another　party　she’d　missed；　another　night　spent　out　in　the　cold　night　air—the　night　she　and　Dan　met。　She　couldn’t　have　scripted　it　better　herself。

Parting　is　such　sweet　sorrow…。

breaking　the　cycle…　finally

“So；　do　you　have　any　New　Year’s　resolutions？”　Serena　asked；　slipping　down　in　the　hot　tub　and　letting　her　long　blond　hair　fan　out　behind　her。　She’d　seen　Dan　at　one　point；　smoking　Camels　on　the　balcony　like　the　angsty　poet　he　was。　She’d　say　hi　to　him　later。　For　now；　she　just　wanted　to　have　fun。

“Fuck　no；”　Blair　murmured；　taking　a　drag　of　her　Merit　Ultra　Light　and　letting　the　ashes　fall　into　the　steaming　water　of　the　hot　tub。　Fuck　resolutions。　All　she　really　wanted　to　do　was　have　fun。　For　so　long；　her　resolutions　had　been　more　like　an　endless　list　of　to…dos：　date　Nate　Archibald；　get　into　Yale；　get　into　law　school。　For　once；　she　just　wanted　to　go　with　the　wind；　do　what　she　felt　like。

Sounds　like　someone　else　we　know…

Out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye；　Blair　spotted　Chuck　wearing　a　dark　red　smoking　jacket。　She　was　about　to　get　out　of　the　hot　tub　to　say　hi；　but　then　she　saw　Rain　Hoffstetter　sidle　up　to　him。　Blair　sighed　and　eased　back　into　the　water。

Just　then；　Serena’s　phone　buzzed；　skittering　across　the　marble　edge　of　the　hot　tub。　She　grabbed　it　with　her　wet　hand。

WAITING　OUTSIDE。　YOU　HERE？—NATE

Serena　grinned　as　she　pulled　her　hair　up　into　a　high　wet　ponytail　at　the　nape　of　her　neck。　She　searched　around　the　edge　of　the　hot　tub　for　her　dress。　It　seemed　like　fate。　After　all；　why　travel　the　world　alone　when　she　could　ask　Nate　to　e　with　her？

“Who　was　that？”　Blair　asked；　glancing　up　at　Serena。

“I　have　to　go；”　Serena　said；　sliding　one　slippery　foot　into　a　strappy　Christian　Louboutin　sandal。　“I’ll　be　right　back；”　she　fibbed；　climbing　out　of　the　hot　tub；　slipping　on　her　dress；　and　disappearing　into　the　crowd。

Blair　stared　at　her　friend’s　retreating　back。　Her　phone　buzzed。

WAITING　OUTSIDE。　YOU　HERE？—NATE

Blair　blinked　at　the　message。　What　the　fuck？　H