第5部分(第2/7 頁)

every　month。　She　couldn’t　wait　to　show　him　some　of　the　films　she’d　made。　She　couldn’t　wait　to　spend　all　day　at　the　International　Film　Center；　making　out　and　watching　movies。

Dan　stood　up。　“Follow　me。”　He　led　the　way　toward　his　bedroom。

“Is　it　a　present？”　Vanessa　asked　as　she　trailed　down　the　hallway　after　him。　She　hoped　not。　They’d　decided　not　to　give　presents　to　each　other　this　holiday　and　instead　put　the　money　toward　an　emergency　plane　ticket　fund　so　Dan　could　e　visit　when　the　distance　was　feeling　unbearable。

“Nope。”　Dan　grabbed　the　acceptance　letter　off　his　desk　and　thrust　it　toward　her；　buzzing　with　anticipation。　He’d　memorized　every　word。

Vanessa　scanned　the　document　while　Dan　watched。　He　noticed　a　sparkly　barrette　sweeping　a　lock　of　hair　behind　her　left　ear。　Vanessa　never　used　to　wear　jewelry。

She　also　never　used　to　have　hair。

Finally；　Vanessa　looked　up；　a　faint　smile　playing　on　her　full　red　lips。　“Does　this　mean　you’re　not　going　back　to　Evergreen？”

Dan　nodded　happily　as　he　closed　up　the　space　between　them　and　pressed　her　back　against　the　doorframe。　“I　hated　Evergreen。　All　I　could　do　was　think　about　you；　and　about　us。　I　couldn’t　write　without　you。　I　need　you；”　he　said。　How　did　long…distance　relationships　ever　work？　He　could　hardly　stand　to　be　in　a　different　room　than　Vanessa。

“I　know；”　Vanessa　murmured。　Dan’s　breath　was　hot　against　her　cheek。　Had　Dan　really　spent　every　waking　moment　at　Evergreen　just　thinking　about　her　and　wanting　to　e　home？　She　knew　he　hated　it　there；　but　hadn’t　he　even　tried　to　like　his　classes？　To　make　friends？

“So；　I　was　thinking　we　could　live　here　until　we　find　a　place。　We　could　get　a　studio　downtown。　It　wouldn’t　be　that　expensive；”　Dan　mused；　running　his　fingers　through　Vanessa’s