第9部分(第3/7 頁)

aughed　and　peeled　back

the　top　of　her　yogurt。　The　cuffs　of　her　brother’s　old　shirt　were

frayed；　and　stray　threads　dangled　in　the　yogurt’s　watery　whey。

“Hello；　Serena；”　Kati　and　Isabel　said　in　unison。

Blair　looked　up　at　Serena　and　turned　the　corners　of　her　glossy　lips

upwards。　It　was　almost　a　smile。

Serena　stirred　the　yogurt　up　and　nodded　at　Blair’s　tray；　where　the

remains　of　her　bagel　with　cream　cheese　and　cucumber　were

strewn。　“I　guess　you　outgrew　the　diet　plate；”　she　observed。

“I　guess；”　Blair　said。　She　smashed　a　lump　of　cream　cheese　into　her

paper　napkin　with　her　thumb；　staring　at　Serena’s　sloppy　cuffs　in

bewilderment。　It　was　fine　to　wear　your　brother’s　old　clothes　in　ninth

and　tenth　grade。　Then；　it　was　cool。　But　now？　It　just　seemed　。　。　。

dirty。

“So　my　schedule　totally　sucks；”　Serena　said；　licking　her　spoon。　“I

don’t　have　a　single　class　with　you　guys。”

“Um；　that’s　because　you’re　not　taking　any　APs；”　Kati　observed。

“You’re　lucky；”　Isabel　sighed。　“I　have　so　much　work　to　do　I　don’t

even　have　time　to　sleep。”

“Well；　at　least　I’ll　have　more　time　to　party；”　Serena　said。　She

nudged　Blair’s　elbow。　“What’s　going　on　this　month；　anyway？　I　feel

so　pletely　out　of　it。”

Blair　sat　up　straight　and　picked　up　her　plastic　cup；　only　to　find　there

was　no　water　left　in　it　to　drink。　She　knew　she　should　tell　Serena　all

about　the　Kiss　on　the　Lips　party　and　how　Serena　could　help　with　the

preparations　and　how　fun　it　was　all　going　to　be。　But　somehow　she

couldn’t　bring　herself　to　do　it。　Serena　was　out　of　it；　all　right。　And

Blair　wanted　her　to　stay　that　way。

“It’s　been　pretty　lame。　There　really　isn’t　much