第13部分(第3/7 頁)

gized。　It　must　have　seemed　pretty　weird　when　she’d　run　away　at　the　stroke　of　midnight。

Hollis　gently　brushed　past　her　and　into　the　apartment；　surveying　the　surroundings。　A　large　abstract　charcoal　portrait　Jenny　had　done　of　Dan　and　Rufus　hung　above　the　lumpy；　mustard…yellow　couch。　“So；　this　is　your　place。”　The　way　Hollis　said　it；　she　couldn’t　tell　if　he　was　making　fun　of　her。

“Sort　of；”　Vanessa　said　defensively。　“I　mean；　I　live　with　my　friend’s　family。”

Doesn’t　she　mean　boyfriend’s　family？

“For　some　reason　I　always　thought　you　were　a　Williamsburg　girl。”　Hollis　shrugged　off　his　coat　and　hung　it　over　the　back　of　one　of　the　rickety　wooden　chairs　in　the　kitchen。　He　walked　over　to　the　floor…to…ceiling　bookshelf　in　the　corner　and　squinted　at　the　book　spines。

“Um；　I　used　to　live　in　Brooklyn；”　Vanessa　said　nervously。　What　was　her　problem？　Even　Jenny　at　her　most　awkward　would　have　had　more　poise。　“Anyway；　do　you　want　something　to　eat？”　she　asked　lamely。　She　needed　something　to　do　besides　stare　at　Hollis。

She　opened　the　fridge。　There　was　a　half…eaten　tub　of　hummus　that　had　turned　an　odd　green　color；　a　coagulation　of　some　sort　of　stew；　three　cans　of　a　strange　red　Bavarian　beer　Rufus　liked；　and　a　mysterious　protein　shake。　“Scratch　that！”　Vanessa　hastily　slammed　the　door　shut。　“Do　you　want　to　go　out　and　get　a　drink？　Or　a　snack？　The　diner　on　the　corner　has　really　good　cheese　fries；”　she　babbled。

“I　hope　you　don’t　mind；　but　I　watched　the　footage　on　your　camera；”　Hollis　said；　ignoring　her　nervous　chatter。　“It’s　really　fucking　good；　Abrams。”

Vanessa　blinked　in　confusion。　Hollis　sounded　like　her　TA　again。　Had　the　kiss　even　happened？

“Can　we　watch　it　together？　I’d　love　to　talk　to　you　about　it；”　he　prodded。

“Sure。　Sorry　i