第29部分(第7/7 頁)

really　have　to　go。　I　just　wanted　to　say　thanks　for　being　so　supportive。？　She　held　up　her　hand　and

waved　stiffly；　even　though　he　was　sitting　right　in　front　of　her。　？I　guess　I？ll　see　you　at　graduation；？

she　added　with　faux　cheerfulness。　Then　she　turned　to　push　her　way　through　the　heavy　curtains

again。

？Wait。？

Her　stomach　filled　with　dread　and　she　shivered　again　in　her　thin　white　baby　tee。　She　could　hear

voices　outside　in　the　hallway。　Someone　would　hear　her　if　she　yelled　loudly　enough。　She　turned

around。　？I　really　do　have　to　go。？

Mr。　Beckham　slipped　off　his　stool　and　walked　toward　her。　？May　I　？？　He　swallowed；　his　Adam？s

apple　bobbing　nervously。　？Would　you　mind　if　I　just　？　gave　you　a　petit；　petit　kiss？？　he　asked

quietly；　pinching　together　his　thumb　and　forefinger　to　demonstrate　just　how　small　the　kiss　would

be。

Serena　hesitated；　reluctant　to　turn　this　into　a　huge　deal　but　eager　to　get　rid　of　him。　She　could　just

say　no　and　leave。　Or　she　could　freak　out　and　run　up　to　Mrs。　M？s　office　and　turn　him　in。　Or　she

could　let　him　give　her　a　little　tiny　kiss　to　remember　her　by　and　then　just　for