第37部分(第2/7 頁)

she’d　found　this　morning　when　trying　to　sneak　back　down　to　her　room。

Nate　nodded　slowly。　They　were　only　about　a　mile　from　the　harbor。　They　could　walk。　“Let’s　go。”

They　do　say　that　every　ending　is　a　beginning　of　sorts。

the　end　of　innocence

Blair　threw　herself　facedown　on　her　dad’s　bed　and　let　out　a　wail。

“Bear？”　Harold　emerged　from　the　bathroom；　tying　a　robe　around　his　waist。　He　perched　on　the　side　of　the　bed　and　rubbed　Blair’s　back。　“Giles　and　I　heard　you　while　we　were　in　the　hot　tub。　Are　you　okay？”

“My　whole　fucking　life　sucks；”　Blair　said；　her　voice　muffled　by　the　thick　goose…down　forter。

“Talk　to　me；”　Harold　said；　sinking　down　beside　her　on　the　bed。

Blair　sat　up。　“It’s　Nate；”　she　said　between　choking　sobs。　She　caught　a　glimpse　of　her　reflection　in　the　mirrors　her　dad　had　creepily　installed　all　around　the　bed。　Her　face　was　splotchy　and　her　eyelashes　were　clumped　together；　wet　with　tears。　She　looked　like　a　scared　little　girl。　“Whenever　he　es　into　my　life；　I　do　stupid　things。　Now　Chuck　hates　me；　I　hate　Serena；　and　everything’s　all　fucked　up；”　she　said　as　she　burst　into　a　fresh　sob。

“Bear；”　Harold　said　seriously；　“right　now　there’s　a　man　in　this　house　who　is　still　here；　who　loves　you；　who　gives　you　New　Year’s　Eve　presents。”　Harold　smiled　and　placed　his　hand　on　the　enamel　bracelet　around　Blair’s　wrist。　“It’s　a　great　time　for　a　fresh　start。　Go　tell　him　that　you’re　confused。　Everyone　makes　mistakes；”　he　added　tenderly。

Blair　looked　skeptically　at　her　father。　She’d　never　gotten　love　advice　from　him　before。　But　he　made　a　good　point。　Chuck　knew　better　than　anyone　that　people　changed。　Even　her。　“Thanks；　Daddy；”　Blair　said；　rising。

She　wiped　her　tears　with　the　back　of　her　hand　and　headed　down　to　the　kit