第9部分(第3/7 頁)

is　lips。

“What　do　you　want　to　know？”　Vanessa　perched　on　a　rickety　picnic　table　surrounded　by　rusted　lawn　chairs；　the　cold　seeping　through　her　jeans。　No　guy　had　ever　asked　to　film　her　before。　She　used　to　film　Dan　a　lot。　But　she　didn’t　want　to　think　about　Dan　right　now。

Wonder　why？

“Right　now；　you’re　doing　this　little　snarl　thing　with　your　upper　lip；　but　you’re　smiling　the　whole　time。　It’s　cute。　Has　anyone　ever　told　you　you　do　that？”　Hollis　asked。

“No。”　Vanessa　shook　her　head。　She　smiled　while　snarling？　And　Hollis　thought　it　was　cute？

We　all　have　our　special　talents。

Below　them；　people　from　the　bar　across　the　street　were　spilling　onto　the　sidewalk；　blowing　noisemakers。　“It’s　almost　New　Year’s！”　someone　yelled　into　the　night　air。

“Should　we　go　back　downstairs？”　Vanessa　asked　nervously。　Hollis　put　the　camera　down　on　the　bench　and　sat　down　next　to　her。

Just　then；　the　group　clustered　on　the　sidewalk　began　counting　down：　“Five；　four；　three；　two；　one…

“Happy　New　Year！”　The　phrase　rose　like　a　collective　chorus；　from　the　streets　below　and　the　roofs　around　them。

Hollis　brushed　his　hand　against　Vanessa’s　cheek；　then　cupped　her　chin　and　pulled　her　mouth　toward　his。　“In　case　you　thought　you　missed　your　opportunity　for　a　New　Year’s　kiss；”　he　murmured　as　his　lips　brushed　hers。

Vanessa　hesitated　for　a　fraction　of　a　second；　as　an　image　of　Dan’s　sallow　face　flashed　across　her　mind。　Dan；　her　Dan；　who　was　back　and　wanted　to　move　in　together；　go　to　school　together；　start　a　life　together。　But　it　was　this　thought　exactly　that　made　her　kiss　Hollis　right　back。　His　mouth　tasted　clean　and　cinnamony　and　not　at　all　like　Folgers。　She　knew　it　was　wrong　and　that　she’d　have　a　lot　of　thinking　to　do　in　the　morning。　But　up　here；　o