第11部分(第3/7 頁)

e　really　loved　her；　he　probably　would’ve　saved　the　e…

mail；　or　at　least　answered　it；　right？

It　was　a　sunny　October　day　in　Central　Park。　Out　in　Sheep　Meadow

lots　of　kids　were　cutting　school；　just　lying　in　the　grass；　smoking；　or

playing　Frisbee。　The　trees　surrounding　the　meadow　were　a　blaze　of

yellows；　oranges；　and　reds；　and　beyond　the　trees　loomed　the

beautiful　old　apartment　buildings　on　Central　Park　West。　A　guy　was

selling　weed；　and　Anthony　Avuldsen　bought　some　to　add　to　what

Nate　had　picked　up　at　the　pizza　place　yesterday　at　lunch。　Nate；

Jeremy；　Anthony；　and　Charlie　Dern　passed　an　enormous　joint

between　them　as　they　dribbled　a　soccer　ball　around　on　the　grass。

Charlie　puffed　on　the　joint　and　passed　it　to　Jeremy。　Nate　shot　him

the　ball　and　Charlie　tripped　over　it。　He　was　six　feet　tall；　and　his

head　was　too　big　for　his　body。　People　called　him　Frankenstein。　Ever

the　blond　athletic　one；　even　when　he　was　stoned；　Anthony　dove　for

the　ball；　kicked　it　up　in　the　air　and　headed　it　at　Jeremy。　It　hit　Jeremy

in　his　puny　chest　and　he　let　it　roll　to　the　ground；　dribbling　it

between　his　feet。

“Shit；　this　stuff　is　strong；”　Jeremy　said；　hitching　up　his　pants。　They

were　always　sliding　down　below　his　skinny　hips；　no　matter　how

tightly　he　buckled　his　belt。

“Yeah；　it　is；”　Nate　agreed。　“I’m　all　fucked　up。”　His　feet　were　itchy。　It

felt　like　the　grass　was　growing　through　the　rubber　soles　of　his

sneakers。

Jeremy　stopped　dribbling　the　ball。　“Hey；　Nate。　Have　you　seen

Serena　van　der　Woodsen　yet？”　he　asked。　“I　heard　she’s　back。”

Nate　looked　at　the　ball　longingly；　wishing　he　had　it　so　he　could

dribble　it　away　acros