第24部分(第1/7 頁)

girl　in　it。　She　played　bass。

“And　don’t　forget　my　cherry！”　Vanessa　yelled　after　her　as　Ruby　left

to　get　the　drinks。

“Your　sister’s　awesome；”　Serena　said。

Vanessa　shrugged。　“Yeah；”　she　said。　“It’s　a　pain　in　my　ass；　though。　I

mean；　everyone’s　always　like；　‘Ruby’s　so　cool’　and　I’m　like；

‘Hello？’　”

Serena　laughed。　“I　know　what　you　mean。　My　older　brother—he　goes

to　Brown；　and　everybody　loves　him。　My　parents　are　always　so　into

everything　he　does；　and　now　that　I’m　back　from　boarding　school　it’s

like；　‘Oh；　we　have　a　daughter？’　”

“Totally；”　Vanessa　agreed。　She　couldn’t　believe　she　was　having　such

a　ridiculously　normal　conversation　with　Serena　van　der　Woodsen。

Ruby　brought　them　their　drinks。　“Sorry　guys；　I　gotta　go　set　up；”　she

said。

“Good　luck；”　Serena　told　her。

“Thanks；　sweetie；”　Ruby　said。　She　picked　up　her　guitar　case　and

went　to　find　her　bandmates。

Vanessa　couldn’t　believe　it。　Ruby　never　called　anyone　sweetie

except　for　Tofu；　her　parakeet。　Serena　certainly　had　a　way　of　melting

people’s　hearts。　Vanessa　was　even　starting　to　like　her　a　little

herself。　She　picked　up　her　drink　and　clinked　glasses　with　Serena。　“To

cool…ass　chicks；”　she　said；　knowing　it　sounded　seriously　gay；　but　not

really　giving　a　shit。

Serena　laughed　and　tossed　back　her　shot　of　Stoli。　She　wiped　her

eyes　and　blinked　a　few　times。　A　scruffy…looking　guy　wearing　an

oversized　tuxedo　was　walking　into　the　bar。　He　stopped　in　the

doorway　and　stared　at　Serena　as　if　he’d　seen　a　ghost。

“Hey；　isn’t　that　your　friend　Dan？”　Serena　asked　Vanessa；　pointing　at

him。

Dan　was　wearing　a　tuxedo　for　the　first　time　in　his　life。