第24部分(第6/7 頁)

d　and　swollen；　as　if　from　too　much

kissing。　She　paused　and　held　out　her　hand；　as　if　to　a　child。　Then　Nate　appeared；　looking　happily

disoriented。　Jenny　put　her　arm　around　his　waist；　and　he　turned　and　kissed　her　eagerly　on　the

mouth；　as　if　her　lips　were　made　of　chocolate　or　something。

？Oh！？　Serena　exclaimed；　as　if　she？d　been　pinched。　She　blinked　her　dark　blue　eyes；　trying　to

ascertain　whether　she　was　truly　hurt　or　just　surprised。　It　had　never　felt　right；　her　and　Nate　being

together。　And　it　would　be　better　to　be　single　this　summer　so　she　could　focus　on　the　film。　At　least

now　she　wouldn？t　have　to　bother　breaking　up　with　him。　Not　that　they？d　ever　really　been　together。

No；　not　really。

？Typical；？　Blair　scoffed。　She　shook　a　Merit　Ultra　Light　out　of　her　pack　and　handed　it　to

Serena。　？Don？t　be　mad。　He　can？t　help　himself。？

Serena　took　the　cigarette　and　propped　it　between　her　lips；　waiting　for　Blair　to　light　it　for

her。　？I？m　not　mad；？　she　sighed；　feeling　relieved。　For　once；　she　and　Blair　were　bonding　over　Nate

instead　of　fighting　over　him。　It　was　a　wele　change。　？So；　will　you　loan　me　that　for　the　movie？？

She　pointed　at　Blair？s　cigarette　holder。　？Although　I？ll　probably　set　my　ass　on　fire　if　I　try　to　use　it。

I？m　such　a　klutz。？

Blair　loved　it　when　Serena　put　herself　down。　It　gave　her　hope。　？Of　course　I　will。？

Instinctively　the　two　girls　turned　as　someone　careened　toward　them　from　across　the　room。　Nate？s

face　was　slack；　his　green　eyes　were　huge；　and　his　body　seemed　more　loose…limbed　than　usual。　He

came　at　them　with　his　arms　open；　grabbed　Serena；　and　pulled　her　into　an　even　gooier　kiss　than

he？d　just　given　Jenny。　Serena　giggled　and　pushed　him　away。