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第39部分（第2页）

Jenny　caught　her　breath；　trying　to　hold　in　her　excitement。　She　and　Nate　lived　in　a　ramshackle　two…story　house　in　Providence。　He　was　at　Brown；　she　was　at　RISD；　and　everything　almost　seemed　too　good　to　be　true；　beyond　her　wildest　high　school　daydreams。　But　going　to　a　fancy　pre…Christmas　dinner　thrown　by　a　New　York　society　hostess　proved　that　their　relationship　existed　beyond　Providence；　that　they　were　really　and　truly　together。

After　leaving　Newport　last　Christmas；　they’d　sailed　to　Mt。　Desert　Island　and　camped　out　in　Nate’s　family’s　gorgeous　unwinterized　summer　home。　They　toasted　the　New　Year　on　a　blanket　in　front　of　the　fire。　It　was　impossibly　romantic。　Then；　her　last　semester　at　Waverly　they’d　talked　every　night　on　the　phone。　They　spent　the　summer　sailing　and　house　hunting　in　Providence。　So　far；　living　together　had　been　amazing。　She　loved　waking　up　to　Nate。　She　loved　brewing　an　extra…large　pot　of　coffee　and　pouring　a　travel　mug　for　him　so　he　could　drink　it　during　his　9　a。m。　poli…sci　class。　She　loved　texting　him　in　between　portraiture　and　her　Art　in　New　Media　class；　and　she　loved　attempting　to　make　dinner　for　them；　even　though　most　of　the　time　they　wound　up　just　ordering　in　and　eating　in　bed。

The　elevator　glided　up　to　the　top　floor；　and　they　followed　the　merry　voices　and　jazzy　sound　of　Miles　Davis　to　the　door　at　the　end　of　the　hall。　Nate　pushed　it　open　and　Jenny　breathed　in　again。　In　a　New　York　in　History　and　Literature　class　she’d　taken　last　year　at　Waverly；　they’d　discussed　the　importance　of　the　Four　Hundred—the　prominent　New　Yorkers　who　could　fortably　fit　into　Mrs。　Astor’s　grand　ballroom　circa　1880。　Walking　into　the　large　living　room　of　Eleanor　Waldorf’s　Central　Park　West　penthouse　made　her　feel　like　she　was　part　of　the　new　Four　Hundred—the　New　Yorkers　who　really　mattered。

“Nathaniel！”　A　woman　with　gold　highlights　approached　them。　“Blair　will　be　so　thrilled　to　see　you。　Everyone　is　just　getting　seated。　I　put　you　in　between　Blair　and　Serena。”

Mothers。

“Oh。”　A　shadow　of　a　frown　crossed　the　woman’s　face　as　she　noticed　Jenny　standing　by　Nate’s　side。

Jenny　blushed。　Had　she　done　something　wrong？　“Hello；”　she　said。

“I’m　Eleanor　Waldorf；”　Blair’s　mother　replied；　looking　at　Jenny’s　thrust…out　hand　without　shaking　it。　Jenny　let　her　hand　fall　slack　against　her　side。

“Jenny’s　my　girlfriend。　We’re　both　in　Providence　for　school；”　Nate　explained。　Behind　Eleanor’s　shoulder；　he　glimpsed　Blair　and　Serena　making　their　way　to　the　table。　He　could　only　see　their　backs；　but　Serena’s　hair　was　blonder　than　ever　while　Blair’s　chestnut　hair　was　loose　and　long；　hanging　down　to　her　shoulder　blades。

“Lovely。　Well；　I’ll　set　up　another　seat。”　Eleanor　gestured　toward　the　large　dining　room。

“Natie！”　Serena　grinned　when　she　spotted　her　old　friend　making　his　way　toward　them；　Jenny　Humphrey　clinging　to　his　hand。　Nate　looked　the　same　as　ever；　clad　in　a　Brooks　Brothers　jacket；　neat　dress　pants；　and　a　kelly　green　Hermès　tie。　“And　Jenny。”

“Nate；”　Blair　said；　nodding。　She　turned　to　the　beak…nosed　man　seated　next　to　her；　as　if　they　were　engaged　in　a　very　important　conversation　she　just　had　to　continue。

“Hey；”　Nate　mumbled；　unsure　of　whether　or　not　he　should　sit。　There　was　only　one　seat　available；　right　in　between　them。　Of　course；　he’d　known　Blair　and　Serena　would　be　here；　but　it　still　took　his　breath　away　to　see　them。　They　both　looked　so　grown…up。　Blair　wore　a　sexy　black…and…tan　halter　dress；　Serena　a　tight　red　dress　that　hugged　her　body。　Seeing　them；　so　secure　and　confident　and　beautiful；　momentarily　made　him　flustered。　It　would’ve　been　nice　to　have　smoked　a　large　bowl　before　ing　here。　He　rarely　smoked　pot　anymore；　but　he　often　missed　it。　Especially　when　he　was　stressed　out。　And　this　was　the　most　stressed　out　he’d　been　since…

Last　Christmas？

Jenny　tugged　his　arm。　“I’ll　sit　on　your　lap　for　now！”　she　announced；　giggling。　Against　his　better　judgment；　Nate　sat　on　the　chair　and　Jenny　slid　onto　his　knees；　wiggling　back　and　forth　until　she　found　a　fortable　perch。

Serena　rolled　her　eyes　good…naturedly　as　she　took　a　swig　of　her　wine。　“I　would　have　brought　Dan；　but　I　didn’t　know　he　was　invited。”

“Oops；”　Jenny　squeaked　nervously。　Her　curly　dark　hair　was　right　underneath　Nate’s　chin；　and　Nate　could　smell　her　lilac…scented　shampoo。　It　reminded　him　of　taking　showers　together。　But　instead　of　picturing　Jenny　in　the　shower；　an　image　of　Blair　popped　into　his　head。　Nate　squeezed　his　eyes　shut　to　block　out　those　memories；　concentrating　only　on　the　feel　of　Jenny　resting　on　his　lap。

“Wine？”　a　white…shirted　server　asked　behind　Nate’s　shoulder；　proffering　a　bottle　of　vintage　1981　L’Evangeline　Bordeaux。

“Meow　Meow？”　Nate　asked　before　picking　up　Jenny’s　glass。　Jenny　nodded　her　consent。　As　the　waiter　poured；　Nate　nuzzled　Jenny’s　dark　curls　with　his　nose。

Serena　shot　Blair　a　horrified　glance；　surprised　to　find　Blair’s　face　contorted　into　an　equally　horrified　grimace。　Meow　Meow？

Just　then；　Jenny　felt　a　tap　on　her　shoulder。

“Jennifer？”　She　whirled　around　and　found　Eleanor　Waldorf　frowning　at　her　in　annoyance。　For　a　second；　she　felt　like　an　awkward　ninth　grader；　caught　by　Mrs。　McLean　for　gossiping　in　the　hallway　when　she　was　supposed　to　be　in　class。　“If　you　don’t　mind；　I’m　going　to　move　you　over　to　the　other　end　of　the　table。　There’s　a　bit　more　space　for　you　down　there；”　Eleanor　said。　Even　after　three　years　in　LA；　which　had　a　looser　social　code　than　New　York；　it　was　clear　Eleanor　Waldorf　was　unfortable　with　public　displays　of　affection　at　the　table。

Can　you　blame　her？

Jenny　meekly　slid　off　Nate’s　lap　and　followed　Eleanor　to　a　seat　next　to　a　shaggy…haired　guy　abou