第26部分(第4/7 頁)

er　sides　and　turned　abruptly

away。

As　she　crossed　the　room；　Serena’s　eyes　met　Blair’s。　She　stopped　in

her　tracks　and　reached　into　her　bag；　searching　for　the　twenty…dollar

bill　Blair　had　left　on　the　table　at　the　Tribeca　Star。　She　wanted　to　give

it　back。　As　if；　somehow；　it　would　prove　she　hadn’t　done　anything

wrong。　That　night；　or　ever。　Her　fingers　found　her　cigarettes　instead。

She　pulled　one　out　and　stuck　it　between　her　lips。　The　music　was

getting　louder　and　around　her；　people　were　dancing。　Serena　could

feel　Blair　watching　her；　and　her　hands　trembled　as　she　fumbled

around　in　her　bag　for　a　light。　As　usual；　she　didn’t　have　one。　She

shook　her　head　in　annoyance；　and　glanced　up　at　Blair。　And　then；

instead　of　glaring　at　each　other；　the　two　girls　smiled。

It　was　strange　smile；　and　neither　girl　knew　what　the　other　meant　by

it。

Was　Blair　smiling　because　she　had　won　the　boy　in　the　end　and

stamped　all　over　Serena’s　party　shoes？　Because—as　usual—she

had　gotten　her　way？

Was　Serena　smiling　because　she　felt　unfortable　and　nervous？

Or　was　she　smiling　because　she　hadn’t　stooped　to　Blair’s　petty　level

of　spreading　nasty　rumors　and　playing　with　Nate’s　mind？

Or　was　it　a　sad　smile　because　their　friendship　was　over？

Maybe　they　were　smiling　because　they　both　knew　deep　down　that

no　matter　what　happened　next—no　matter　what　boy　they　fell　in　or

out　of　love　with；　or　what　clothes　they　wore；　or　what　their　SAT　scores

were；　or　which　college　they　got　into—they　both　would　be　all　right。

After　all；　the　world　they　lived　in　took　care　of　its　own。

Serena　pulled　the　cigarette　out　of　her　mouth；　dropped　it　on　the　floor

an