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第43部分（第1页）

Or　maybe　not。

Nate　smiled　as　the　giant　tree　grew　out　of　the　slick　black　stage　of　the　New　York　State　Theatre。　That　used　to　be　Blair’s　favorite　scene。　After　that；　she’d　get　antsy　and　they’d　usually　skip　the　second　act　to　drink　cappuccinos　in　the　lobby　and　spy　on　the　couples　walking　around　the　promenade　below。

Nate　closed　his　eyes；　imagining　what　it　would　be　like　if　Blair　was　here。　She’d　looked　terrific　at　her　mom’s　dinner　party。　And　so　had　Serena。　It　had　been　unnerving；　the　way　they’d　kept　giggling　whenever　they　glanced　toward　him　and　Jenny。　And　then　they’d　excused　themselves　to　the　terrace　and　when　they　finally　reentered；　they　smiled　sneakily　at　him。　He　knew　them　too　well　and　was　pretty　sure　they’d　been　talking　about　him。　And　no　matter　how　much　he　loved　Jenny；　he　wanted　to　know　what　they’d　been　saying。

Nate　realized　everyone　around　him　was　clapping。　Was　the　first　act　over　already？　He　clapped　politely。　“Want　a　cappuccino？”　he　asked　Jenny。　Suddenly；　he　didn’t　really　feel　like　being　there。

“Sure。”　Jenny　shrugged；　looking　so　innocent　and　sweet　that　Nate　felt　a　weird　lump　in　his　throat　like　he　was　going　to　cry。

Imagine　if　he　was　stoned…。

“So；　what　did　you　think　of　the　show？”　Jenny　asked　later。　They　were　in　the　library　of　Nate’s　town　house；　sitting　side　by　side　on　the　tan　calfskin　couch；　drinking　merlot　out　of　Riedel　glasses。　A　sailboat　documentary　played　on　the　flat　screen　in　front　of　them。　Nate　had　been　quiet　for　the　rest　of　the　show；　even　during　the　romantic　end　when　Clara　and　the　prince　are　finally　together；　happily　ever　after。

“Nate？”　Jenny　asked　again；　realizing　he　was　sound　asleep；　his　head　flopped　against　his　shoulder。　Jenny　sighed　in　frustration。　This　was　not　how　she’d　expected　the　evening　to　play　out。　She’d　been　hoping　they　would　e　back　and　sit　in　front　of　the　fire；　not　the　flat　screen；　and　that　they’d　be　drinking　wine　and　whispering　sweet　nothings　to　each　other；　not　asking　each　other　questions　like　they　were　strangers。

Jenny　bounced　up　and　down　on　the　couch；　hoping　he’d　wake　up。　It　wasn’t　even　eleven　yet；　and　she　was　still　all　dressed　up。　If　she　wasn’t　going　to　get　undressed　by　her　boyfriend；　she　didn’t　want　the　outfit　to　go　to　waste。　Suddenly　she　realized　that　tonight　was　Tyler’s　party；　the　one　he’d　e…mailed　her　about。　It　would　be　fun　to　just　go　out　and　dance　and　not　feel　like　she　was　part　of　an　old　married　couple。

Jenny　debated　waking　Nate　up；　but　he　looked　so　cute　and　peaceful　lying　there　that　she　felt　it　was　better　to　just　leave　him　be。　She　grabbed　a　tartan　Asprey　throw　from　a　corner　club　chair　and　carefully　tucked　it　around　him；　then　took　her　purse　and　tiptoed　into　the　living　room；　thankful　that　Nate’s　parents　were　on　vacation　and　she　had　the　town　house　to　herself。

She　pulled　out　her　phone　from　her　knockoff　Louis　Vuitton　purse；　perched　on　a　white　love　seat　by　the　window；　and　called　her　old　friend　Elise　Wells。　They’d　kept　in　touch　a　bit　while　Jenny　was　at　Waverly　and　Elise　was　at　Constance；　and　Jenny　knew　she’d　be　home　on　break　from　Stanford。

“Jenny？”　Elise　squealed；　answering　the　phone　on　the　second　ring。　“Are　you　in　New　York？”

“Yes；　I　am！”　Jenny　said　brightly；　then　cut　to　the　chase。　“Want　to　go　to　a　party？”

On　the　other　end　of　the　line；　Jenny　could　sense　Elise　hesitating。　“Is　your　boyfriend　ing？”　she　asked　finally。

“Nope；　just　me。　Sorry　it’s　short　notice。　Remember　Blair　Waldorf？　Her　brother；　Tyler；　invited　me　to　a　club　where　he’s　DJ’ing　tonight。　It’s　somewhere　downtown；”　Jenny　said；　trying　to　remember　the　name　of　the　club。　Something　that　reminded　her　of　coffee。　“At　Filter？”　That　sounded　right。

“Wait；　Tyler　Rose；　as　in　the　DJ　TyRo？”　Elise　sounded　excited。

“Yeah！”　Jenny　said　in　surprise。　Elise　had　heard　of　him？

“Pick　me　up　in　ten　minutes；”　Elise　manded。

Outside；　Jenny　looked　at　the　rows　of　green…awninged　buildings　on　Fifth　Avenue。　Most　of　the　lights　in　the　windows　were　out；　and　she　felt　a　shiver　of　excitement　course　through　her　body。　She　hadn’t　had　a　wild　and　crazy　night　in　forever。　She　hadn’t　realized　until　now　how　much　she　missed　the　feeling　of　an　anything…can…happen　adventure。　She　hailed　a　cab　and　directed　it　to　Elise’s　building　several　blocks　away。

A　figure　brushed　out　of　a　door。　It　was　Elise；　looking　taller；　blonder；　and　skinnier　than　Jenny　remembered。　She　wore　a　cleavage…baring　Alice＋Olivia　purple　tank　top　and　a　tight　black　Marc　by　Marc　Jacobs　skirt　without　a　coat。

“Hey！”　Elise　exclaimed；　bursting　into　the　cab　and　hugging　Jenny。

“Hi！”　Jenny　grinned　excitedly。　She’d　missed　her　old　friend。　“Um；　we’re　going　to　Filter？　On　Fourteenth　and　Tenth；”　Jenny　told　the　cabbie　through　the　Plexiglas　partition。

“I　brought　some　stuff　to　get　the　party　started。”　Elise　grinned　mischievously　as　she　passed　her　a　bottle　of　Diet　Coke。　Jenny　took　a　swig；　coughing　when　she　realized　it　was　saturated　with　vodka。

“Thanks！”　she　grinned；　taking　another；　more　careful；　sip。

Some　things　never　change。

The　cab　pulled　up　to　a　one…story　black　building。　A　red　velvet　rope　held　back　a　line　that　snaked　its　way　down　the　block；　and　a　beefy　bouncer　stood　with　his　arms　crossed；　blocking　the　ominous…looking　steel　door　entrance。

Jenny　boldly　marched　up　to　the　bouncer；　ready　to　tell　him　she　was　on　the　list。　But　she　didn’t　have　to。　He　just　grinned；　showing　his　gold…capped　teeth；　and　waved　them　in；　clearly　finding　the　two　overeager　girls　to　be　a　wele　change　from　the　bored…looking　hipsters　who　made　up　the　rest　of　the　line。

“Nice；　Humphrey！”　Elise　said；　clearly　impressed。　She　made　her　way　to　the　bar　while　Jenny　picked　through　the　crowded　club。　It　was　dark　and　dingy；　and　girls　with　asymmetrical　haircuts　and　short　mod　dresses　were　dancing　with　guys　wearing　skinny　ties　and　vests。　Tyler—it　was　hard　to　think　of　him　as　TyRo—was　playing　a　weird　but　cool　mix　of　Ladytron　and　the　Cure　and　the　Clash。　It　was　the　type　of　music　her　friend　Brett　loved；　but　Jenny　never　really　understood。　She　always　preferred　cheesy　Top　40　music。　Still；　there　was　something　decidedly　cool　about　the　scene。

Elise　tapped　her　on　the　shoulder。　“I　got　you　a　drink。”　She　held　a　vodka　soda　out　to　Jenny。　“I　should　tell　you；　I　have　a　boyfriend　back　at　Stanford；　so　I　have　to　behave　tonight。”

“How　good　is　good？”　Jenny　arched　an　eyebrow。