第18部分(第4/7 頁)

　with　his　no…diploma　bullshit。

Maybe　he　could　be　a　little　more　conscious　of　the　fact　that　she　was　giving　him　a　second　chance；

that　sheneeded　to　keep　her　dreams　intact。

She　shook　the　lap　desk　up　and　down；　trying　to　figure　out　what　was　in　it；　and　then　sat　down

cross…legged　on　the　floor；　placing　it　on　her　lap　and　mock…writing　on　it。　Nate　couldn？t　help　but

smile；　watching　her　fake…scribble　so　intently　like　a　little　kid。

Blair　signed　her　pretend　letter　with　a　flourish　and　then　tossed　the　lap　desk　back　on　a　shelf。　Nate

had　never　met　anyone　who　knew　so　clearly　what　she　wanted　or　didn？t　want。　Each　object　she

tossed　into　that　laundry　basket　somehow　fit　perfectly　into　the　life　she　had　mapped　out　for　herself

years　ago。　But　to　him　the　color…coordinated　pencil　holders；　the　shower　totes；　and　the　dry…erase

message　boards　looked　like　a　bunch　of　useless　junk；　stuff　he？d　never　use　in　a　place　he　couldn？t

even　picture。Yale　was　Blair？s　dream；　not　his。

？Okay；　I　think　we？re　done　here。？　She　pulled　a　list　out　of　her　oversize　brown　leather　Chlo？　bag

and　examined　it　carefully　to　make　sure　she　hadn？t　forgotten　anything。

Unlikely。

She　led　the　way　to　the　register；　where　she　snatched　up　a　little　metal　hook　attached　to　a　suction

cup。　？For　your　razor；？　she　explained。　Nate　nodded　in　silence；　his　shoulders　slouching　under　the

weight　of　the　heavy　laundry　basket。　As　crazy　as　Blair　was；　the　fact　that　she　was　trying　to　squeeze

him　into　her　tiny　dorm　room　made　him　fall　in　love　with　her　all　over　again。　Jesus；　life　was

confusing。

If　only　those　people　in　their　neat　blue　aprons　could　help。

speak　your　mind；　and　the　rest　will　follow

It　was　a　ridiculously　hot　day　i