第29部分(第6/7 頁)

bly　corner　and　hopped　up　on　the

counter；　kicking　the　cupboards　below　with　her　size…eight…and…a…half　feet。　Pop…Tarts　at　Nate？s。

She？d　been　having　them　there　since　she　was　five　years　old。　And　now　。。。　and　now　。。。

Serena　sighed　heavily。　？Mom　and　Dad　want　me　to　go　to　boarding　school　next　year；？　she

announced；　her　enormous；　almost　navy　blue　eyes　growing　huge　and　glassy　as　they　welled　up　with

unexpected　tears。　Go　away　to　boarding　school　and　leave　Nate？　It　hurt　too　much　to　even　think

about。

Nate　flinched　as　if　he？d　been　slapped　in　the　face　by　an　invisible　hand。　He　grabbed　the　other

Pop…Tart　from　out　of　the　packet　and　hopped　up　on　the　counter　next　to　Serena。　？No　way；？　he

responded　decisively。　She　couldn？t　leave。　He　wouldn？t　allow　it。

？They　want　to　travel　more；？　Serena　explained。　The　pink；　perfect　curve　of　her　lower　lip　trembled

dangerously。　？If　I？m　home；　they　feel　like　they　need　to　be　home　more。　Like　I　want　them　around？

Anyway；　they？ve　arranged　for　me　to　meet　some　of　the　deans　of　admissions　and　stuff。　It？s　like　I

have　no　choice。？

Nate　scooted　over　a　few　inches　and　put　his　arm　around　her。　？The　city　is　going　to　suck　if　you？re

not　here；？　he　told　her　earnestly。　？You　can？t　go。？

Serena　took　a　deep　shuddering　breath　and　rested　her　pale　blond　head　on　his　shoulder。　？I　love　you；？

she　murmured；　closing　her　delicate　eyelids。　Their　bodies　were　so　close　the　entire　Nate…side　of　her

hummed。　If　she　turned　her　head　and　tilted　her　chin　just　so；　she　could　have　easily　kissed　his　warm；

lovely　neck。　And　she　wanted　to。　She　was　actually　dying　to；　because　she　really　did　love　him；　with

all　her　heart。

She　did？　Hello？　Since　when？！

Maybe　since　ballroom…danc