第22部分(第1/7 頁)

“Well；　don’t；”　Blair　said　fiercely。

Grrr。

Nate　pushed　open　the　men’s　room　door　at　exactly　the　same　time

that　Serena　pushed　open　the　ladies’。　Together；　they　walked　down

the　hallway　back　to　the　table。

“Nate；”　Serena　said；　smoothing　her　new　brown　suede　skirt　over　her

legs。　“Can　you　please　explain　why　you’re　not　talking　to　me？”

“I’m　not　not　talking　to　you；”　Nate　said。　“See；　I’m　talking　to　you　right

now。”

“Barely；”　Serena　said。　“What　happened？　What’s　wrong？　Did　Blair

say　something　to　you　about　me？”

Instinctively；　Nate　reached　into　his　jacket　pocket　and　fingered　the

flask　of　whiskey　that　was　hidden　there。　He　looked　down　at　the

marble　floor；　avoiding　Serena’s　beautiful　sad　eyes。

“We　should　get　back；”　Nate　said；　speeding　up。

“Fine；”　Serena　answered；　trailing　after　him　slowly。

She　had　that　sour　salty　taste　in　the　back　of　her　throat　again；　the

taste　of　tears。　She’d　been　holding　them　back　for　too　many　days

now；　and　she　could　feel　a　tidal　wave　ing　on。　All　of　a　sudden　she

would　start　sobbing；　and　she　wouldn’t　be　able　to　stop。

When　Nate　and　Serena　took　their　places　at　the　table；　Chuck

smirked　at　them　knowingly。　How　was　it？　his　face　seemed　to　say。

Serena　wanted　to　hit　him。

She　ordered　another　cup　of　coffee　and　dumped　four　teaspoons　of

sugar　in　it　and　stirred　and　stirred；　like　she　was　trying　to　stir　a　hole

through　the　cup；　the　saucer；　the　table；　and　the　floor；　burrowing　her

way　into　some　old　pharaoh’s　tomb　where　she　could　cry　and　cry　and

no　one　would　find　her。

Nate　ordered　a　Bloody　Mary。

“Bottoms　up！”　Chuck　said　cheerfully；　banging　his　glass　against

Nate’s　and　taking　a　big　gu