第24部分(第3/7 頁)

y　also；”　he

stuttered。　He　hadn’t　thought　it　was　possible　to　sound　so　idiotic。

“What　about　my　shirt？”　Vanessa　said　loudly。　“Have　you　ever　seen

me　look　this　hot？”

Dan　stared　at　Vanessa’s　shirt。　It　was　a　red　T…shirt。　Not　very　exciting。

“Is　it　new？”　he　asked；　confused。

“Never　mind；”　Vanessa　sighed；　impatiently　swirling　the　maraschino

cherry　around　in　her　glass。

“Grab　a　chair；”　Serena　said；　moving　over　to　make　room　for　him。

“Ruby’s　band　is　going　to　play　in　a　minute。”

The　rumors　couldn’t　possibly　be　true。　Serena　didn’t　look　like　a　sex…

crazed；　drug…addicted　maniac。　She　looked　delicate　and　perfect　and

exciting；　like　a　wildflower　you　stumble　upon　unexpectedly　in　Central

Park。　Dan　wanted　to　hold　hands　with　her　and　whisper　to　each　other

all　night　long。

He　sat　down　next　to　her。　His　hands　were　shaking　so　badly　he　had　to

sit　on　them　to　keep　them　still。　He　wanted　her　so　badly。

The　band　started　to　play。

Serena　finished　her　vodka。

“Would　you　like　another　one？”　Dan　offered　eagerly。

Serena　shook　her　head。　“I’m　okay；”　she　said；　sitting　back　in　her

chair。　“Let’s　just　listen　to　the　music　for　a　while。”

“Okay；”　Dan　said。　As　long　as　he　was　near　her；　he’d　do　anything。

“Hello；　everyone！”　Jeremy　Scott　Tompkinson　said　loudly；　throwing

open　the　doors　to　the　old　Barneys　building。

As　always；　Nate；　Jeremy；　Anthony；　and　Charlie　had　smoked　a　big

fatty　before　the　party。　Nate　was　silly　high；　and　when　he　walked

through　the　door　and　saw　Blair　pushing　her　way　through　the　crowd

with　her　hand　pressed　over　her　mouth；　he　started　to　giggle。

“What’re　you　laughing　at；　jackass？”　Anthony　said；　shoving　his　elbow