第17部分(第2/7 頁)

onfining。　She’d　taken　a　couple　of　acting　classes　at　a　downtown　studio　that　Thad　had　raved　about；　but　they’d　mostly　consisted　of　pantomiming　dreams　from　the　night　before。　No；　thank　you。

Especially　not　when　most　of　her　dreams　involve　a　certain　someone。

“Is　it　because　of　the　reviews？”　Laura　took　a　swig　of　her　cranberry　vodka。

Serena　stiffened　and　suddenly　wished　she’d　made　herself　a　drink　before　she　sat　down　with　her　old　friends。　The　reviews　for　Coffee　at　the　Palace　had　been　less　than　stellar；　though　the　New　York　Times　had　called　Serena　a　breath　of　fresh　air。　But　it　was　conversations　like　this　that　made　Serena　hate　acting。　She　loved　being　in　front　of　the　camera；　but　she　hated　all　the　drama　that　went　on　when　the　cameras　weren’t　rolling。　She　never　set　foot　in　anywhere　trendy；　because　she　hated　getting　followed　by　paparazzi　and　having　her　picture　taken　with　camera　phones。　It　was　so　silly　to　get　that　kind　of　attention　when　she　wasn’t　doing　anything。

“I’ve　been　reading　a　lot　of　Thomas　Mann　lately；”　Serena　said；　changing　the　subject。　“I　just　finished　The　Magic　Mountain。　With　everyone　else　in　school；　I　don’t　want　to　fall　behind；”　she　added。　She　was　greeted　by　silence。

“Well；　what　classes　do　you　guys　take？”　Serena　prodded。　It　had　never　been　hard　for　her　to　make　conversation；　but　now；　among　the　girls　she’d　known　since　kindergarten；　she　had　no　idea　what　to　say。　She　awkwardly　crossed　one　leg　over　the　other。

“I　don’t　even　know；”　Isabel　giggled。　“I　spend　all　my　time　with　my　boyfriend。　I　do　his　Influential　Movies　of　the　’80s　homework　sometimes。　His　football　schedule　is　really　demanding；”　she　explained；　brushing　her　long　dark　hair　off　her　shoulder　self…importantly。

“Oh。”　Serena　didn’t　know　what　else　to　say。　Since　when　did　Isabel　do　someone