第20部分(第6/7 頁)

yfriend　because　all　he　wanted　was　Serena。

Serena　breathed　in　and　out　slowly；　trying　to　even　out　her　breath　so　each　inhale　and　exhale　lasted　exactly　three　seconds。　It　was　a　trick　she’d　learned　from　one　of　her　acting　teachers；　a　way　to　remain　in　control　if　you　felt　like　your　emotions　might　overtake　you　in　a　scene。

Too　late。

Angry　tears　pricked　her　navy　blue　eyes。　Was　he　still　in　love　with　Blair？　Would　she　always　be　his　backup？

“Serena？”　Nate　tentatively　touched　her　shoulder；　as　if　she　were　a　stranger。

“You　know；　I　have　a　lot　of　stuff　to　do　today；”　she　announced；　swinging　her　feet　onto　the　hardwood　floor。　She　yanked　a　rose…colored　sheet　off　the　bed　and　primly　wrapped　it　around　her　body　like　a　bathrobe。　No　way　was　Nate　allowed　to　see　her　naked　now。

“Serena；　wait；”　Nate　said　helplessly。　He　wanted　to　hold　her　and　kiss　her　and　make　it　better。　After　all；　he　loved　her；　too。

Serena　whirled　around。　“What？”

“I　just…”　Nate’s　glittering　green　eyes　clouded　and　he　looked　at　his　hands。

“Happy　New　Year；　Nate；”　she　said；　and　closed　the　bathroom　door　behind　her；　not　wanting　to　let　him　see　her　cry。

（Happy）　New　Year；　indeed。

d　earns　his　poetic　license

From：　colmdoyle@columbia。edu

To：　dhumphrey3@columbia。edu

Subject：　Re：　poetry　submission

Danny　Boy！

I　thought　you　were　going　to　submit　shite；　but　this　is　the　real　thing；　boyo。　Sent　it　to　Jaymi　Matteo　at　The　New　Yorker。　She　wants　it。　They’re　going　to　crash　it　into　their　next　issue；　printing　tonight！　What’s　it　called？

CD

From：　dhumphrey3@columbia。edu

To：　colmdoyle@columbia。edu

Subject：　Re：　re：　poetry　submission

Dear　Professor　Doyle；

Thank　you；　sir。　I’m　honored。　You　can　call　the　poem　Serena。