第5部分(第6/7 頁)

or　the　holidays。

“Me　too；”　Blair　replied　honestly。　The　cabbie　removed　her　bags　from　the　trunk　and　set　them　on　the　sidewalk。　Instantly；　Roland；　Serena’s　ancient　doorman；　took　the　bags　and　brought　them　inside。

Once　they　were　alone；　Serena　stared　dumbly　at　her　friend。　She　couldn’t　believe　Blair　was　right　in　front　of　her。　She　looked　older；　somehow。　Her　hair　was　longer　than　it　had　been　last　summer；　her　small　face　more　angular。　But　she　was　grinning　widely　in　a　way　that　reminded　Serena　of　how　she’d　looked　as　a　little　kid。

“I　bought　you　coffee。”　Serena　proffered　a　white　Dean　&　Deluca　cup。

Blair　took　a　sip　and　smiled　as　the　skim　latte　with　two　Splendas　slid　down　her　throat。　That　was　the　great　thing　about　old　friends。　They　knew　you；　right　down　to　how　you　took　your　coffee。

“Can　we　sit　on　the　steps　for　a　little　bit？”　Blair　asked　almost　shyly；　gazing　at　the　Corinthian　columns　of　the　Met　across　the　street。　Back　in　high　school；　they　spent　hours　on　the　steps；　gossiping　and　pouring　their　hearts　out　to　one　another。　The　steps　were　the　center　of　their　universe。　Blair　had　even　had　her　going…away　party　inside　the　famous　museum。　It　felt　right　that　they　begin　their　reunion　there；　instead　of　in　Serena’s　apartment。

“I　was　hoping　you’d　say　that。”　Serena　grinned；　already　crossing　the　street。

They　settled　midway　down　the　steps。　It　was　surprisingly　warm　for　December；　and　the　museum　entrance　was　crowded　with　people。　Blair　spotted　two　girls　huddled　over　coffee　a　few　steps　below　them；　and　for　a　moment；　thought　it　might　be　Kati　and　Isabel。　But　when　the　blonde　turned；　Blair　realized　she　was　only　about　fourteen。　She　reminded　herself　that　everyone　had　changed　in　the　past　few　months。

Some　more　than　others。

Serena　rummaged　through　her　oversize　Se