第34部分(第2/7 頁)

OUT　OF　A　PARTY　IN　TRIBECA　OR　LOCKED　ON　THE　ROOF　OF　YOUR　OLD　APT　IN　WILLIAMSBURG？

Vanessa　smiled。　Dan　was　alluding　to　the　first　time　they’d　met；　when　they’d　both　found　themselves　locked　out　of　a　party　back　in　high　school。　Vanessa　had　e　out　onto　the　fire　escape　to　get　some　air；　and　Dan　had　e　out　for　a　cigarette；　closing　the　fire　door　behind　him　and　locking　them　both　out。　Together；　they’d　climbed　down　the　side　of　the　massive　brick　building；　and　wound　up　at　a　nearby　bar；　talking　late　into　the　night　and　quickly　being　friends。　That　felt　so　long　ago　now。

Vanessa　pulled　her　legs　underneath　her　and　spread　a　blanket　over　her　legs。　It　was　nice　to　hear　from　Dan；　and　especially　nice　that　he　didn’t　seem　to　hate　her　anymore。　Outside；　she　could　hear　people　from　the　bar　across　the　street　talking　and　laughing。　She　smiled　to　herself；　then　texted　back：　DEPENDS　WHO　I’D　BE　LOCKED　OUT　WITH。

Now　who　says　texting　is　impersonal？

tangled　up　in　s…

Serena　scampered　up　the　snowy　hill；　pulling　a　handmade　toboggan　behind　her。　“Natie；　let’s　race！”　she　called；　her　breath　ing　out　in　small　white　puffs。　The　floodlights　outside　the　house　were　on；　casting　the　property　in　an　eerie　glow。　Chuck　and　Blair　were　already　halfway　down　the　hill。　Jenny　was　still　struggling　up　with　her　toboggan。　It　kept　slipping　from　her　mittened　hands　and　sliding　back　down。

“Okay。”　Nate　ran　after　Serena。　It　struck　him　that　they　were　twenty—actual　adults—and　yet　all　they　wanted　to　do　was　act　like　little　kids。　It　was　like　that　dumb　cliché：　The　more　you　change；　the　more　you　stay　the　same。　Maybe　growing　up　was　just　about　being　closer　to　the　person　you　always　were。

And　he　came　up　with　that　without　any　herbal　aid。　Impressive。

“Hey！”　Nate　easily　caught　up　with　Serena；　wrapping　his　arms