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第14部分（第1页）

“Here’s　good！”　Serena　announced　to　her　driver　as　the　Lincoln　Town　Car　sailed　past　Nate’s　limestone　town　house　on　Eighty…second。　Normally；　Serena　was　embarrassed　that　her　agent　demanded　she　be　provided　a　town　car　for　transportation　to　and　from　Coffee　at　the　Palace　shoots；　but　today；　she　was　thankful　that　she　could　easily　slip　away　from　the　soundstage。

“Sure　thing；”　the　driver　said　easily。

Serena　slipped　out　of　the　car　and　bounded　up　the　snowy　steps　of　Nate’s　town　house。　As　she　ran；　she　didn’t　notice　the　fresh　set　of　footprints　on　the　snow　leading　up　to　the　door。

She　yanked　off　her　ugly　red　Hermès　goatskin　driving　gloves；　a　gift　from　her　chain…smoking　LA　publicist；　and　stuffed　them　in　the　terra…cotta　planter　sitting　to　the　left　of　the　entrance。　She　pressed　Nate’s　buzzer　with　her　red　polished　fingernails。　It　was　dark　outside；　and　the　freshly　falling　snow　made　Serena　feel　nostalgic。　Always　on　the　first　snowfall　of　the　year；　she；　Blair；　and　Nate　would　meet　for　hot　chocolate；　then　sit　on　the　steps　of　the　Met；　not　caring　how　cold　it　was。　Maybe　she　and　Nate　could　go　there　tonight。

“Hello？”　Nate’s　voice　sounded　sleepy。　Had　she　woken　him　up？

Not　really。

“Natie！”　she　yelled　into　the　inter；　trying　to　calm　herself。　She　didn’t　want　to　just　burst　in　his　room　and　profess　her　love。　“It’s　me　and　it’s　freezing！”

“Serena？”　His　crackly　voice　sounded　incredulous　through　the　inter。

“No；　silly；　it’s　your　mom。　Of　course　it’s　me！”　she　said　impatiently。

“Oh。”　Nate　paused　and　Serena　held　her　breath。　She　didn’t　have　another　script　to　follow。　Nate　had　to　let　her　in。　“e　in；”　he　said　finally；　pressing　the　buzzer　long　and　loud。

Serena　pulled　open　the　door；　ran　up　the　stairs；　and　burst　into　Nate’s　bedroom。　One　of　the　best　things　about　Nate’s　house　was　the　fact　that　the　third　floor　was　entirely　his。　When　they　were　younger；　they　used　to　pretend　his　bedroom；　den；　and　bathroom　were　their　own　private　apartment。

Some　people　still　like　playing　house。

“Hello？”　Serena　called　again；　hearing　her　voice　bounce　off　the　dark　oak　ceiling。

Nate　walked　out　of　the　bathroom；　wearing　a　wrinkled　green　T…shirt　and　green　plaid　boxers。　Serena　looked　gorgeous　and　healthy　and　happy；　all　in　one　spectacular　package。　He　was　suddenly　very　aware　of　the　fact　that　Blair　was　still　showering。　“What　are　you　doing　here？”　Nate　asked。　Blair　had　said　Serena　was　at　rehearsal　all　day。

“I　was　just　in　the　neighborhood！”　Serena　wandered　over　to　his　dresser　and　picked　up　a　model　sailboat。　She　passed　it　gently　from　hand　to　hand　as　if　playing　a　game　of　catch　with　herself。　“So；　what　have　you　been　up　to　today？　It’s　freezing。”

“Not　much；”　Nate　mumbled。　How　long　had　Blair　been　in　the　shower？　Ten　minutes；　fifteen　minutes？　She　usually　took　forever；　but　he　wasn’t　sure　how　much　time　he　had。

To　do　what；　exactly？

Nate　felt　confused。　Just　as　he’d　always　felt　whenever　he　was　with　Serena　and　Blair　at　the　same　time。　Why　did　they　have　to　be　so　confusing？　He　loved　Blair。　He　was　following　Blair　to　school；　for　God’s　sake。　So　then　why　did　Serena；　with　her　deep　blue　eyes　that　reminded　him　of　the　Pacific　Ocean　and　her　long　limbs；　tight　and　taut　like　the　strings　of　a　tennis　racket；　make　him　feel…　well；　make　him　feel　the　way　he　felt　right　now。

Serena　put　down　the　tiny　sailboat　model　and　picked　up　another；　larger　ship　with　three　tiny　canvas　sails。　Ever　since　she　could　remember；　Nate　had　been　obsessed　with　sailboats。　She　knew　she　was　avoiding　what　she　really　wanted　to　say；　but　now　that　she　was　here；　there　were　so　many　emotions　bubbling　inside　her；　she　wasn’t　sure　where　to　begin。

“You　know；　we’re　supposed　to　wrap　Coffee　at　the　Palace　next　week。　After　that；　I　don’t　have　any　projects。　My　parents　were　hoping　I’d　start　at　Yale　in　the　spring；　but　I　think　I　need　an　adventure。”　She　felt　her　heart　hammering　in　her　chest。　“Are　you　going　sailing　again？　Maybe　I　could　e；”　she　offered；　her　face　breaking　into　a　sunny　smile。

“It’s　not　that　much　of　an　adventure。　A　lot　of　knot　tying；”　Nate　said　nonsensically。　He　knew　he　should　explain　that　he　and　Blair　were　together　now；　and　that　he　was　going　to　Yale　with　her；　but　he　couldn’t。　Instead；　he　imagined　what　it　would　be　like　on　the　ocean　with　Serena。

“I　like　tying　knots。　I　showed　you　how　to　tie　your　shoes　when　we　were　kids；　remember？　Take　me　along。　I　can　be　first　mate！　Aye；　aye；　Captain！”　Serena　goofily　did　a　mock　salute；　her　dark　eyes　looking　straight　into　Nate’s　glittering　green　ones。　Please　say　yes；　she　willed。

“Like　that　would　ever　happen。”　Blair　strode　out　of　the　bathroom；　wearing　just　a　towel　wrapped　around　her　body；　her　chestnut　hair　damp　around　her　shoulders。　“Nate　and　I　are　going　to　Yale；　together；”　she　added；　narrowing　her　eyes。　Why　the　fuck　was　Serena　here？　And　had　she　really　just　asked　Nate　what　Blair　thought　she　had？　Was　she　inviting　herself　to　sail　the　world　with　him？

Serena　felt　like　she’d　been　punched　in　the　gut。　Of　course　Blair　had　been　eavesdropping　from　the　bathroom　this　whole　time。　Of　course　she　was　here；　watching　over　Nate’s　every　move；　not　letting　him　out　of　her　sight。　Of　course　they　were　riding　off　into　the　sunset　together。　“How　does　your　boyfriend　feel　about　that？”　she　muttered　under　her　breath。

Blair　narrowed　her　icy　blue　eyes。　“What　did　you　say？”

Serena　crossed　her　arms　over　her　chest　and　glared　at　Blair。　If　Blair　wanted　a　fight；　fine；　she’d　give　it　to　her。　She　wasn’t　going　to　let　Blair　get　away　with　stealing　Nate。

Again。

“I　said；”　Serena　repeated　coolly；　making　sure　to　enunciate　each　word；　“What。　Does。　Your。　Boyfriend。　Think。　About。　That？”