第29部分(第6/7 頁)

　everyone　else　out。

？Anyway；？　she　continued；　？I　just　wanted　you　to　know　that　I　crossed　myself　off　the　list　of

nominees。？　She　moved　on　to　her　ring　finger；　which　hadn？t　been　chewed　on　since　breakfast。　？I？ve

never　been　that　good　at　making　speeches。？

Plus；　Blair　is　the　only　other　person　nominated；　and　she　really　wants　to　do　it；　and　I？m　afraid　if　I

get　it　she　might　murder　me　in　my　sleep。

Mr。　Beckham　took　off　his　glasses　and　began　to　clean　them　with　the　bottom　of　his　black　T…shirt；

revealing　a　bare　patch　of　surprisingly　buff　stomach。　Serena　tried　not　to　stare　and　wondered

fleetingly　if　he　was　gay。　His　bare　skin　seemed　totally　indecent；　like　he　was　flashing　her　or

something。

？You　know　why　I　nominated　you；n？est…ce　pas　？？　he　asked；　looking　searchingly　at　her　in　the　red

darkness　as　he　continued　to　clean　his　glasses。

Mais　oui。　Because　you　have　le　hots　pour　elle？

？Well　？？　Serena　began；　searching　for　an　excuse　to　turn　and　flee。　There　was　suddenly　something

creepy　and　unsanitary　about　the　fact　that　Mr。　Beckham　had　been　eating　a　bagel　while　developing

film。　She　wondered　if　he　was　addicted　to　the　chemicals　or　something。

Mr。　Beckham　put　his　glasses　back　on　and　sat　back　on　his　metal　swivel　stool。　？Serena；　I？ve　been

watching　you　since　I　came　here；　back　when　you　were　only　in　seventh　grade。　And　I　know　it　sounds

corny；　but　you　really　lit　up　my　darkroom。？　He　stopped　to　clear　his　throat；　clearly　too　nervous　to

think　of　any　words　in　French。　？If　I　weren？t　your　teacher；　I？d　？？

He？d　？　pour　fixer　all　over　her　and　lick　it　off？　Some　advice：Run；　girl；　run！！！！

Serena　was　pretty　sure　she　didn？t　want　to　hear　anything　more。　？Um；　Mr。　Beckham？　Sorry；　but　I