第15部分(第1/7 頁)

whispered。

At　last。

wait　till　the　midnight　hour

？I　love　you。？

The　voice　was　unmistakably　Nate？s　and　the　words　were　clear　as　day　to　her　even　over　the　cries　of

a　gyrating　hippie　townie　chick　flailing　her　arms　to　？Hey　Ya？　as　she　smacked　Serena　in　the　face

with　her　long；　essential…oil…scented　dreadlocks。

He　loved　Blair。

Serena　never　would　have　guessed　Nate　Archibald　was　so　in　touch　with　his　emotions；　but　she

knew　it　was　true？he　did　love　Blair。　She？d　seen　the　meaningful　looks　Nate　and　Blair　had　been

trading　ever　since　their　daring　breakout　from　Bailey　Winter？s　pound。　And　then　yesterday；　the

way　Blair　had　wedged　her　way　in　between　them　when　they　went　to　bed　had　been　soobvious。

Serena　felt　a　sinking　feeling　in　her　stomach；　like　when　the　road　falls　out　from　underneath　the　car

more　quickly　than　you？re　prepared　for：　it　washer　birthday？almost；　anyway？and　it　washer　party？

technically；　anyway。　She　was　the　one　who　deserved　a　little　love　and　affection；　wasn？t　she？

She　hesitated。　Perched　between　the　delicately　wall…papered　wall　and　a　massive　grandfather　clock；

she　had　the　perfect　cover　to　do　a　little　observing。

Like；　spying？

She　peered　out　around　the　clock　and　up　at　Nate　and　Blair　on　the　stairs；　making　wordless　and

intense　eye　contact。　Then　Blair　twined　her　fingers　through　Nate？s　and　the　two　of　them　disappeared

up　the　stairs；　taking　a　left　at　the　landing。　They　were　heading　to　her　parents？　master　suite。　Serena

closed　her　eyes；　fighting　her　way　through　the　crowd　to　the　bar。　There　was　always　whiskey；　and

Henry；　and　cigars。　Not　necessarily　in　that　order。

？There　you　are。？　Serena　stumbled　a　little　but　kept　a　tight　grip　on　the　cry