第7部分(第6/7 頁)

’d　wandered　aimlessly　downtown　for　about　an　hour；　until　he　remembered　that　Chuck　always　threw　a　New　Year’s　Eve　party　at　the　Tribeca　Star。　As　if　his　feet　had　a　mind　of　their　own；　he　found　himself　headed　there。

Nate　glanced　left　and　right　across　East　Houston　and　crossed　the　street　toward　the　ultramodern　Philippe　Starck–designed　hotel　that　loomed　above　lower　Manhattan。　He　paused　at　the　corner；　gazing　up　like　a　tourist。　His　neatly　ironed　clothes　felt　scratchy　after　months　of　wearing　frayed　cargo　shorts　and　T…shirts。　What　the　fuck　was　he　doing？　Maybe　it　was　a　dumb　idea。　Maybe　Chuck　wasn’t　even　having　a　party　this　year。　Or　maybe　he　was；　and　by　some　crazy　coincidence；　Serena　and　Blair　would　be　there。

But　Blair　didn’t　even　have　a　home　in　the　city　anymore。　She　was　probably　out　in　LA　for　the　holidays；　meeting　smooth…talking　California　surfer　dudes　who’d　take　her　on　moonlit　walks　on　the　beach。　Serena　was　probably　off　filming　a　movie　somewhere；　guys　falling　at　her　feet。　Neither　of　them　would　give　a　second　thought　to　the　kid　who　almost　didn’t　get　his　diploma　and　fucked　up　everything　with　both　of　them。

“Nathaniel？”

Nate　whirled　around　and　found　himself　facing　a　dark…haired　guy　in　jeans　and　a　blue　sweater；　his　arms　laden　down　with　two　large　bags　of　ice。

“Chuck？”　Nate　asked　incredulously。　It　was　definitely　Chuck　Bass；　but　he　looked…　different。　His　features　hadn’t　changed：　same　sleek　dark　hair；　same　espresso…brown　eyes。　But　the　mischievous　twinkle　seemed　gone　from　Chuck’s　eyes；　and　he　wasn’t　carrying　the　bad…tempered；　snow　white　monkey　he　used　to　bring　everywhere　senior　year。　Gone　was　his　trademark　navy　blue　cashmere　monogrammed　scarf；　his　jeans　looked　like　they’d　seen　better　days。　It　was　like　those　spot…the…difference　puzzles　Nate’s　kindergarten　tutor