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第5部分（第2页）

“I　understand；”　Vanessa　said；　pleased　that　she　could　go　to　Hollis’s　party　without　worrying　about　Dan。　“I　don’t　want　you　to　disappoint　your　dad。　Besides；　we　have　plenty　of　time　now。”

Dan　melted　all　over　again。　It　was　so　cute　that　Vanessa　was　concerned　about　his　dad。　He　took　her　hand　and　interlaced　his　fingers　with　hers。

“You’re　right；”　he　murmured；　drawing　her　close。　“I’ll　be　back　in　a　few　days。”　It　would　mean　a　lot　to　his　dad　to　spend　some　father…son　time　together。　Especially　since　he　and　Vanessa　would　be　moving　in　together　soon。　He　couldn’t　wait。

Because　nothing　says　forever　like　a　cramped　studio　apartment。

wele　back

Blair　heaved　a　sigh　of　relief　as　she　hauled　her　Louis　Vuitton　duffel　to　the　curb　outside　La　Guardia　on　New　Year’s　Eve　day。　Just　a　few　hours　ago；　she’d　said　goodbye　to　Pete　at　Logan　Airport　before　hopping　a　muter　plane　to　New　York。

“Where　to？”　The　cab　driver　gazed　at　her　through　the　Plexiglas　partition。

“Nine　ninety…four　Fifth　Avenue。”　Blair　rattled　off　Serena’s　address　as　if　it　were　her　own　and　leaned　back　against　the　cab’s　black　pleather　seats。　The　past　few　days　at　the　Carlsons’　had　been　torture。　After　the　“no　ring；　no　bring”　announcement；　the　cozy　atmosphere　had　felt　decidedly　claustrophobic。　Now　she　was　actually　looking　forward　to　spending　New　Year’s　in　the　city　and　seeing　Serena　again。　She　rummaged　through　her　thyme　green　Lanvin　weekender　bag　for　her　iPhone。

“I’m　ing　over！”　Blair　announced　as　soon　as　Serena　picked　up。　The　cab　hit　a　traffic　snarl　right　before　the　Queensboro　Bridge。　Instantly；　the　cars　around　them　started　honking。

“You’re　in　New　York？”　Serena　squealed。　“Oh　my　God；　I　can’t　wait　to　see　you！”　Her　excited；　crackly　voice　filled　the　cab。

“See　you　soon！”　Blair　clicked　off。　The　familiar　skyline　came　into　her　vision；　and　a　smile　curled　across　Blair’s　lips。　She　was　back。

The　cab　navigated　its　way　into　Manhattan　and　weaved　across　the　east　side。　On　Fifth　Avenue；　it　stopped　in　front　of　a　familiar；　green…awninged　building　across　from　the　Met。　A　familiar　blond　figure　stood　outside；　two　coffees　in　hand。

Blair　rolled　down　the　window　of　the　cab　and　sucked　in　her　breath。　Of　course；　she’d　seen　photos　of　Serena　in　all　the　weekly　gossip　magazines　she　pretended　not　to　read；　but　Serena　in　person　took　her　breath　away。　She　wore　a　tattered　pair　of　J　Brand　boyfriend　jeans　and　a　fuzzy　white　cashmere　sweater。　Her　thick　blond　hair　was　loose　around　her　shoulders　and　her　makeup…free　face　was　flawless。

Serena　yanked　the　cab　door　open　and　tackled　Blair　in　a　bear　hug。　“I’ve　missed　you！”　She　hugged　her　tightly。　Serena　had　gotten　a　Cartier　watch　from　her　parents　for　Christmas　and　a　Burberry　ski　parka　from　Erik；　but　this　was　all　she　really　wanted：　her　best　friend　home　for　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　See　by　Chloé　bag　and　pulled　out　a　pack　of　Gauloises。　She　handed　one　to　Blair。

“So　tell　me　everything；”　Serena　began；　lighting　both　their　cigarettes。　“Starting　with　how　and　why　you’re　here。”

“So…”　Blair　heaved　a　deep　breath。　After　the　horrendous　few　days　she’d　had；　grinning　stupidly　as　she　played　board　games　with　Pete’s　family　and　pretending　everything　was　okay；　she　couldn’t　wait　to　finally　unload　the　truth。　“I　was　at　my　boyfriend；　Pete’s；　house　in　Vermont　for　Christmas。”　Blair　nervously　twirled　her　ruby　ring　around　her　finger。　“We　were　staying　there　just　for　the　holiday；　before　taking　off　for　Cos