第46部分(第2/7 頁)

g；　as　if　to　pose　himself。

Even　though　it　was　what　she　wanted　to　hear；　tears　sprang　to　her　eyes。　Chuck　knew　that　she　liked　dirty　martinis　with　extra　olive　juice　at　the　Campbell　Apartment　bar　in　Grand　Central；　surprised　her　with　lilacs　on　the　days　she　had　exams；　and　had　redecorated　his　apartment　in　her　favorite　colors。　Maybe　they　could　be　together　at　some　point　in　the　future。　But　not　right　now。

“Thank　you；”　she　whispered。　It　was　funny。　For　once　in　her　life；　the　movie　in　her　mind　wasn’t　playing。　She　had　no　idea　what　her　next　line　was　or　how　she　should　exit。　She　had　no　idea　if　any　man　was　waiting　in　the　wings。

Blair　scraped　her　chair　back　and　stood　up。　She　didn’t　want　to　make　a　scene；　but　she　was　worried　if　she　didn’t　stand　up　and　get　out；　she　never　would。　The　last　thing　she　wanted　was　to　find　herself　in　ten　years　having　the　same　conversation　about　Hamptons　homes　with　Chuck。

She　felt　tears　beginning　to　well　in　her　eyes。　“’Bye；”　she　said　finally；　running　out　before　the　deluge。

notes　from　around　the　world

Serena　sat　on　the　center　of　her　bed　in　her　childhood　bedroom；　hugging　her　knees　to　her　chest。　She　hadn’t　moved　since　ing　home　from　her　coffee　date　turned　breakup　with　Dan。　It　was　too　exhausting　to　figure　out　what　to　do　with　herself。　She　wanted　to　cry；　to　release　all　the　confused　feelings　inside　her；　but　she　couldn’t。

She　glanced　from　the　white　molding　on　the　ceiling　to　the　framed　Breakfast　at　Fred’s　poster　over　her　antique　bureau　to　the　tiny　silver　Tiffany　box　on　her　night　table。　The　box　housed　all　her　baby　teeth。　In　high　school；　Nate　loved　shaking　them　out　onto　her　white　eyelet　pillowcase；　counting　the　teeth；　and　marveling　at　how　tiny　they　were。

Serena　sighed。　Dan　had　noticed　the　tiny　box；　but　only　to　note　that　it　was