第14部分(第2/7 頁)

bout　Nate’s　house　was　the　fact　that　the　third　floor　was　entirely　his。　When　they　were　younger；　they　used　to　pretend　his　bedroom；　den；　and　bathroom　were　their　own　private　apartment。

Some　people　still　like　playing　house。

“Hello？”　Serena　called　again；　hearing　her　voice　bounce　off　the　dark　oak　ceiling。

Nate　walked　out　of　the　bathroom；　wearing　a　wrinkled　green　T…shirt　and　green　plaid　boxers。　Serena　looked　gorgeous　and　healthy　and　happy；　all　in　one　spectacular　package。　He　was　suddenly　very　aware　of　the　fact　that　Blair　was　still　showering。　“What　are　you　doing　here？”　Nate　asked。　Blair　had　said　Serena　was　at　rehearsal　all　day。

“I　was　just　in　the　neighborhood！”　Serena　wandered　over　to　his　dresser　and　picked　up　a　model　sailboat。　She　passed　it　gently　from　hand　to　hand　as　if　playing　a　game　of　catch　with　herself。　“So；　what　have　you　been　up　to　today？　It’s　freezing。”

“Not　much；”　Nate　mumbled。　How　long　had　Blair　been　in　the　shower？　Ten　minutes；　fifteen　minutes？　She　usually　took　forever；　but　he　wasn’t　sure　how　much　time　he　had。

To　do　what；　exactly？

Nate　felt　confused。　Just　as　he’d　always　felt　whenever　he　was　with　Serena　and　Blair　at　the　same　time。　Why　did　they　have　to　be　so　confusing？　He　loved　Blair。　He　was　following　Blair　to　school；　for　God’s　sake。　So　then　why　did　Serena；　with　her　deep　blue　eyes　that　reminded　him　of　the　Pacific　Ocean　and　her　long　limbs；　tight　and　taut　like　the　strings　of　a　tennis　racket；　make　him　feel…　well；　make　him　feel　the　way　he　felt　right　now。

Serena　put　down　the　tiny　sailboat　model　and　picked　up　another；　larger　ship　with　three　tiny　canvas　sails。　Ever　since　she　could　remember；　Nate　had　been　obsessed　with　sailboats。　She　knew　she　was　avoiding　what　she　really　wanted　to　say；　but　now　that　she　was　here；　there　were　so