第30部分(第2/7 頁)

lways　turned

everything　into　a　romantic　black…and…white　movie　from　the　fifties；　trying　to　make　her　life　even

more　glamorous　than　it　already　was。　As　they　turned　down　Fifth；　Mookie　scampered　ahead　of　them；

tugging　on　the　leash　looped　loosely　around　Aaron？s　wrist。　？Hey；　chill　out；　Mook。？

Serena　tucked　her　free　hand　into　Aaron？s　black　North　Face　parka　pocket。　？Blair　was　acting　really

weird　during　peer　group；　that　new　thing　we？re　doing　with　the　freshmen　at　lunchtime。　After　that

she　just　disappeared。　She　didn？t　even　show　up　for　gym。？

Aaron　shrugged　and　sipped　his　drink。　？Maybe　she　had　cramps　or　something。？

Serena　shook　her　pretty　head。　？I？m　worried　she？s　a　little　jealous。　You　know；　ofus　。？

Aaron　didn？t　say　anything。　Over　Christmas　he？d　developed　a　huge　crush　on　Blair；　even　though

she　was　his　stepsister。　Being　with　Serena　had　made　him　forget　all　about　it；　but　it　was　still　odd　to

think　that　Blair　might　actually　jealous　ofthem　；　when　he？d　been　pining　overher　all　those　weeks。

？So；　are　we　going　to　the　Empire　State　Building？？　Serena　asked；　stopping　at　the　next　corner　and

turning　to　peer　back　up　Fifth　Avenue。　A　fleet　of　buses　roared　by。　？If　we　are；　we　should　grab　a　cab。？

Aaron　looked　at　his　watch。　It　was　ten　after　four。　？I　was　kind　of　thinking　I？d　like　to　stop　by　my

house　to　check　the　mail。？　He　grinned　bashfully；　embarrassed　by　how　nerdy　he　sounded。　？Early

acceptance　letters　were　mailed　this　week。？

Serena？s　long…lashed　dark　blue　eyes　opened　wide。　？Why　didn？t　you　say　so？？　She　tossed　her

paper　cup　in　a　nearby　trash　can　and　took　off　at　a　run。　？e　on；　Mook！？　she　shouted　as　the　boxer

bounded　happily　after　her。　？Let？s　go　home　and　see　if　your　smarty…pants　dadd