第16部分(第4/7 頁)

rrounding　the　granite　kitchen　island　and　furrowed　her　brow。　“The　Raves　were　obsessed　with　Serena　van　der　Woodsen。　And　Dan　was　writing　their　lyrics　and　serving　as　front　man。　Or　he　was；　until　he　threw　up　all　over　himself　onstage。”　Vanessa　giggled　at　the　memory。　It　had　gone　down　in　history　as　an　anecdote　she　or　Jenny　would　always　bring　up　to　annoy　Dan。

“Wait；　the　Raves　were　at　your　party　to　hook　up　with　that　actress　from　Coffee　at　the　Palace？”　Hollis　asked；　ignoring　Vanessa’s　reference　to　her　ex。

Hollis　sat　down　across　from　her　at　the　counter　and　ran　a　hand　through　his　jet…black　hair。　His　gray　eyes　were　smiling。　“You；　Ms。　Abrams；　are　full　of　surprises。　You　told　me　you　were　the　girl　with　a　shaved　head　and　no　friends　in　high　school。　Now；　I　hear　you　were　partying　with　Serena　van　der　Woodsen；　getting　the　Raves　to　perform　at　your　birthday…　and　you　say　I’m　the　one　who　sold　out　by　working　with　a　distribution　pany？”　He　laughed。

“No。”　Vanessa　shook　her　head　and　polished　off　the　rest　of　her　champagne。　The　tiny　bubbles　tickled　her　throat。　Saying　it　out　loud　made　everything　sound　so　fun　and　carefree；　but　it　had　never　really　been　like　that。　She’d　been　pletely　out　of　place　at　school；　all　the　prim　and　proper　Constance　Billard　girls　had　made　fun　of　her　Doc　Martens　and　shaved　head。　Now；　her　straight；　shiny　black　hair　fell　in　a　curtain　to　her　shoulders；　she　occasionally　wore　black　mascara　and　a　smudge　of　lip　gloss；　and　she　had　a　wardrobe　of　skinny　jeans；　form…fitting　sweaters；　and　colorful　tops　to　offset　her　black　skirts；　pants；　and　hoodies。　She　would’ve　had　a　much　easier　time　of　it　at　Constance　if　she　looked　then　the　way　she　did　now。　But　even　if　she　could　go　back　in　time　and　change　things；　she　wouldn’t。　Her　experience　as　an　outsider　had　made　her　who　she　was。　It　had　giv