第19部分(第3/7 頁)

en　she　sat　down　at　the　crowded　table　a　few　minutes　after　the

group　had　begun。　？Sorry　I？m　late。？

？That？s　okay；？　Serena　replied　gaily。　She？d　gotten　a　plimentary　trim　and　highlight　job　before

the　fashion　show；　and　her　long　blond　hair　was　even　shinier　and　more　perfect　than　it　had　been

before。　？We　were　just　talking　about　Elise？s　parental　problems。　She　thinks　her　dad　might　be　having

an　affair。？

Elise？s　thick；　straw…colored　bangs　were　pulled　back　and　clipped　to　the　sides　of　her　head　with　tiny

pink　heart　barrettes。　There　were　dark　circles　under　her　bright　blue　eyes；　like　she？d　been　up　all

night　worrying。　？That　sucks；？　Blair　said　sympathetically。　？Believe　me；　Iknow　。？　She　decided　to

leave　it　at　that。　Peer　group　might　have　been　a　place　for　sharing；　but　she　wasn？t　about　to　go　into　the

details　of　her　father？s　affairs　with　other　men　while　he　was　still　married　to　her　mother。

Serena　nodded　vigorously。　？I　was　just　telling　them　how　all　families　are　totally　fucked　up。

Actually；　Blair；　your　family　is　a　perfect　example；？　she　added　cheerfully。

Blair　bristled。　？Thanks　a　lot；？　she　shot　back。　？But　I　don？t　think　everyone　needs　to　hear　about　my

problems　right　now。？

Jenny　bit　a　cuticle　and　banged　her　foot　nervously　against　the　leg　of　her　chair。　She？d　been　fretting

all　morning　that　as　soon　as　peer　group　started；　Elise　was　going　to　dive　right　in　and　start　talking

about　same…sex　kissing。　Thank　God　Elise　had　other　things　on　her　mind。

？Anyway；　we　don？t　have　to　talk　about　our　messed…up　families　if　it？s　going　bother　you；？　Blair

told　Elise；　trying　to　be　supportive。

Elise　nodded　unhappily。　？Actually　therewas　something　else　I　wanted　to　talk　about。？

Jenny　winced。