第9部分(第1/7 頁)

“You　came！”　A　slow　smile　spread　across　Hollis　Lyons’s　face；　reaching　his　slate　gray；　thickly　lashed　eyes。　He　was　tall　and　lean；　and　wore　jeans　and　a　purple…and…black…striped　vest　over　a　white　button…down。　A　black　newsboy　cap　sat　jauntily　on　his　head；　his　messy　black　hair　sticking　out　from　underneath。　On　anyone　else；　the　outfit　would’ve　looked　ridiculous；　but　on　Hollis；　it　somehow　worked。　Vanessa　randomly　thought　of　a　young　Christian　Bale　in　Newsies；　a　movie　Jenny　loved　for　no　apparent　reason。

Hollis　draped　his　arm　over　Vanessa’s　shoulder　and　led　her　into　the　kitchen。

“As　you　can　see；　we’re　extremely　well　stocked。”　He　gestured　to　the　makeshift　bar　like　a　game　show　host。　The　cracked　laminate　counter　was　littered　with　empty　bottles　and　cans。　“What　can　I　get　you？”

“Whatever　you’re　having。”

“PBR？”　Hollis　opened　the　refrigerator　and　held　out　a　can　toward　her。　“Seems　to　be　all　that’s　left。　I　thought　we’d　just　have　a　couple　of　people；　but　we’re　at　capacity。”　He　passed　the　beer　to　Vanessa。　“Just　so　you　know；　I　don’t　make　a　habit　of　drinking　with　my　students。”

“I’m　not　your　student　anymore！”　Vanessa　had　to　yell　above　the　music。　Le　Tigre　was　pounding　so　hard　through　the　stereo　that　the　hardwood　floor　seemed　to　be　shaking。

“I　know！”　Hollis　grinned　and　clinked　his　glass　against　hers。　“Let’s　go　upstairs！”

He　opened　the　door　of　the　apartment　and　Vanessa　followed。　He　swung　his　leg　onto　a　rickety　fire　escape　ladder　installed　four　feet　above　the　floor；　holding　his　beer　precariously　with　one　hand　the　whole　time。　Vanessa　clambered　after　him；　her　hands　gripping　the　freezing　fire　escape；　and　stepped　onto　a　narrow　landing。　They　faced　a　large　black　metal　door　with　a　note　tacked　on：　DO　NOT　OPEN；　ALARM　WILL　SOUND。

Hollis　pushed　open　the