快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

were　called　back　for　a　second　audition　for　the　lead　role　in　his　new　feature　film；Breakfast　at　Fred？s　。　
Another　rumor　is　that　he？s　casting　his　younger　sister　in　the　Holly　Golightly　part　and　the　casting　on　
Saturday　was　actually　just　for　extras。　What　a　waste　of　talent。　

　An　arranged　marriage　

We？ve　all　heard　about　how　the　British　royals　have　a　penchant　for　arranged　marriages。　It　saves　a　
lot　of　trouble　and　embarrassment　when　no　one　has　to　sneak　around　or　worry　about　introducing　
their　socially　inept；　badly　dressed　girlfriend　to　their　mom；　who　happens　to　be　the　queen。　Well；　
according　to　my　sources　in　the　U。K。；　a　certain　blue…blooded　English　hunk；　who　recently　graduated　
from　Yale　and　is　currently　residing　at　the　Yale　Club　while　he　finishes　up　some　business？aka　
partying？in　New　York　before　going　home　for　the　summer；　has　been　betrothed　to　an　equally　royal　
English　girl　since　he　was　barely　two　years　old。　I　haven？t　seen　a　picture　of　her；　but　having　
witnessed　how　quickly　he　snapped　up　ourB　；　my　guess　is　she？s　probably　not　much　of　a　looker；　and　
he？s　probably　not　too　thrilled　about　marrying　her。　

Thief　of　stolen　goods　identified　

Not　that　I　want　to　be　the　bearer　of　more　bad　news；　but　my　coach　friend　has　been　e…mailing　me　
regularly？hey；　who　gave　him　this　link？！？and　apparently　the　Viagra　perp　has　been　identified　and　
will　be　punished　accordingly。　Does　that　mean　he/she　won？t　graduate？？

　Your　e…mail　

Q：　Dear　GG；　
I　know　I　shouldn？t　have；　but　I　kind　of　told　on　one　of　my　pals　and　now　I？m　worried　he？s　not　
gonna　graduate　cuz　of　me。　I　just　thought；　better　him　than　me；　you　know？　

　？lamo　


A：　Dear　lamo；　
Yeah；　that　was　kind　of　lamo。　But　you　know　that　already。　
？GG　
Q：　Dear　Gossip　Girl；　
I　wanted　to　personally　invite　you　to　try　out　for　my　new　movie。　You　have　the　attitude　I？m　looking　
for。　Hopefully　you　have　the　look。　When　r　u　available？　
？mogs　

A：　Dear　mogs；　
Nice　try。　

　？GG　

　Sightings　

B；　S；　N；andLord　M　atCipriani　Dolci　across　from　theYale　Club　；　drinking　Bloody　Marys　at　
Sunday　brunch。　They　certainly　know　how　to　prepare　for　finals！V　withA　in　his　redSaab　；　
pretending　not　to　notice　when　they　almost　ran　overD　crossing　Houston　Street　on　their　way　to　a　
movie　at　theAngelika　。D　was　on　his　way　back　from　one　of　those　Chinese　herbalists　on　Canal　
Street；　carrying　a　small　pouch　of　what　was　advertised　as　？Love　Potion　XXX。？　Oh；　the　tangled　web　
we　weave。J　alone　in　the　Gristedes　on　West　Ninety…sixth　Street　buying　a　liter　screw…top　bottle　of　
red　wine　and　a　jumbo…size　can　of　Folgers　instant　crystals。　Her　clothes　and　hands　were　smeared　
with　what　looked　like　gray　eye　shadow；　coffee；　and　wine。　Obviously；　she？s　so　dedicated　to　her　art；　
they　didn？t　dare　card　her。　

One　more　week　to　go　

So　this　is　it；　my　sweetnesses？the　final　stretch。　Aside　from　exams；　which　are　just　trivial　
annoyances　really；　school　is　essentially　over。　Repeat　after　me：　only　one　week　till　graduation。　Only　
one　week　till　graduation。　Only　one　week　till　graduation。　

　Good　luck！！！！　

You　know　you　love　me。　

　gossip　girl　


D　writes　another　ode　

Dan　finished　his　AP　English　exam　with　twenty　minutes　to　spare　and　began　rewriting　his　
graduation　speech　about　love　in　the　back　of　his　blue　book。　This　time　he　planned　on　quoting　from　
Robert　Frost？s　poem　？The　Road　Not　Taken？：　

Two　roads　diverged　in　a　wood；　and　I？　

I　took　the　one　less　traveled　by；　

And　that　has　made　all　the　difference。　

The　words　sounded　sterile　and　entirely　overused　to　him；　though；　especially　in　the　context　of　
graduation。　Besides；　neither　he　nor　his　classmates　were　actually　taking　the　road　less　traveled。　They　
were　graduating　and　going　straight　to　college。　And　how　boring　was　that？　The　truth　was；　it　had　
never　really　occurred　to　him　to　do　anything　else。　Until　now。　

He？d　been　battling　with　the　notion　for　days　that　e　fall；　Vanessa　would　be　here　in　New　York　
and　he　would　be　there；　in　Olympia；　Washington？on　the　other　side　of　the　country。　The　thought　was　
unbearable　to　him；　even　though　he　was　still　unsure　of　Vanessa？s　true　feelings　for　him；　especially　
after　she？d　so　brusquely　dismissed　him　the　other　night　the　minute　Aaron　had　e　home　and　had　
proceeded　to　not　call　him　all　weekend。　

But　maybe　he　was　the　one　who　hadn？t　been　clear。　He？d　already　told　that　nutty　professor　he？d　
decided　not　to　spend　the　summer　working　in　Olympia。　Why　not　take　it　one　step　further　and　
announce　to　everyone　at　graduation　that　he　wasn？t　going　to　college；　period。　That　would　show　
Vanessa；　and　the　world；　how　far　he　was　willing　to　go？for　love。　He　would　take　the　road　less　
traveled　by。　

Dan　turned　the　page　and　scribbled　the　wordsOde　on　Love　；　modeling　his　new　poem　on　those　of　
his　favorite　poet；　John　Keats。　Keats　wrote　odes　all　the　time：　？Ode　to　Psyche；？　？Ode　on　a　Grecian　
Urn；？　？Ode　to　a　Nightingale；？　？Ode　on　Melancholy；？　but　never　an　？Ode　on　Love。？　So　why　
shouldn？t　Dan　be　the　one　to　do　it？　

？Seventeen　minutes　to　go；？　Ms。　Solomon　called　out。　Dan　glanced　up　at　the　stiff　backs　of　his　
classmates　bent　over　their　desks；　pens　working　frantically　as　the　black　wall　clock　ticked　the　
minutes　by。　He　went　back　to　his　blue　book。　？Ode　on　Love。？　Of　course；　his　love　for　Vanessa　was　
mixed　with　a　heavy　dose　of　undying　lust。　But　how　to　convey　that　without　sounding　pornographic？　
After　all；　the　poem　was　supposed　to　be　part　of　his　graduation　speech。　

Your　milky　white　orbs；　


The　pillows　of　your　stomach；　
Thighs　like　birches。　
Ew；　enough！！　
He　drew　a　heavyX　across　the　words。The　pillows　of　your　stomach？　Yuck。　
Exactly。　
Then　he　remembered　the　lines　from　？Ode　on　a　Grecian　Urn？：　
More　happy　love！　more　happy；　happy　love！　
Forever　warm　and　still　to　be　enjoyed　
Forever　panting；　and　forever　young；　
All　breathing　human　passion　far　above；　
That　leaves　a　heart　high…sorrowful　and　cloyed；　
A　burning　forehead　and　a　parching　tongue。　
Was　there　any　better　way　to　say　it？　
Probably　not。　
Dan　began　to　sketch　a　picture　of　the　water　tower　on　top　of　Vanessa？s　building；　but　he　was　no　


artist　and　his　water　tower　looked　more　like　a　giant　acorn。　If　only　he　were　allowed　to　use　his　phone　
during　exams。　He　could　call　the　Evergreen　admissions　office　and　let　them　know　he　wasn？t　
ing。　

Instead；　he　tried　to　rework　the　opening　segment　of　his　graduation　speech　in　the　last　few　pages　of　
his　blue　book。　

Ladies　and　gentlemen；　thank　you　for　attending　this　year？s　mencement　exercises　for　the　
Riverside　Preparatory　School　for　Boys。　You　must　be　very　proud　of　your　sons？so　proud　that　you　
are　giving　them　exactly　what　they　wanted　for　graduation；　right？（Pause　for　laughter。）　

Anyway；　I？m　honored　to　be　the　graduation　speaker　this　year。　I？d　like　to　start　out　by　reading　from　
a　Robert　Frost　poem。　
Two　roads　diverged　in　a　wood；　and　I？　


I　took　the　one　less　traveled　by；　

And　that　has　made　all　the　difference。　

This　is　a　popular　quote　for　graduation　speeches。　I　know；　because　I　Googled　it。　（Pause　for　
laughter。）It？s　ironic；　though；　because　how　many　of　us　are　actually　taking　the　road　less　traveled？　
（Pause　for　awkward　silence。）Well；　I　am。　And　here？s　how　I？m　going　to　do　it：　I？m　going　to　follow　
my　heart？　

The　little　white　egg…shaped　egg　timer　on　Ms。　Solomon？s　desk　went　off。　？Put　down　your　pencils；　
please；？　she　announced。　

Dan　looked　up　with　a　dazed　expression。　As　usual；　he？d　gotten　carried　away。　

？Didn？t　finish　the　exam；　huh？？　Chuck　Bass　snickered　to　his　left。　Seniors　were　allowed　to　break　
dress　code　for　exams；　and　Chuck　had　chosen　to　wear　a　bright　yellow　cut…up　Dolce　&　Gabbana　
sleeveless　shirt　that　was　somehow　more　revealing　than　if　he　hadn？t　worn　a　shirt　at　all。　

Dan　glared　at　him。　Was　it　possible　to　be　killed　in　the　line　of　duty　while　you　were　still　only　in　
military　school？　He　certainly　hoped　so。　

Ms。　Solomon　walked　over　to　collect　their　blue　books。　？Is　there　a　problem；　Mr。　Humphrey？？　she　
demanded；　sticking　her　bony　chest　out　at　him　through　her　weirdly　ugly　black…and…orange　striped　
halter　dress。　

Dan　frowned。　？Would　it　be　all　right　if　I　ripped　out　the　last　couple　pages　in　my　blue　book？？　he　
asked；　without　much　hope　that　she？d　let　him。　

The　teacher　shrugged　her　inappropriately　bare　shoulders。　？Go　ahead。？　

Dan　ripped　the　pages　out　before　she　could　change　her　mind；　surprised　at　her　total　lack　of　
bitchiness。　Maybe　Ms。　Solomon　had　finally　gotten　herself　a　boyfriend　and　was　too　busy　
daydreaming　about　the　approaching　hot　and　sexy　summer　of　late　mornings　and　steamy　sex　to　
bother　being　nasty　to　Dan。　

Oh；　like　hewasn？t　daydreaming　about　late　mornings　and　steamy　sex？　In　fact；　who　isn？t？！　

Who　can　resist　an　artistic　page　six　girl？　

Biology　was　Jenny？s　last　exam　and　she？d　stayed　up　all　night　studying　for　it。　Nuclei；　protozoa；　


osmosis？she　knew　it　all。　She　answered　the　questions　automatically；　filling　in　the　blanks　without　
pause　and　making　her　classmates　seriously　jealous。　Osmosis　was　the　process　in　which　organisms　
took　on　each　other？s　qualities　just　by　hanging　out　together。　Well；　if　it　worked　for　tiny　little　
organisms；　why　didn？t　it　work　for　them？　They？d　been　hanging　out　with　Jenny　all　year；　and　yet　
they　still　weren？t　any　smarter。　

And　their　boobs　aren？t　much　bigger；　either。　

I　like　your　hair；　Kim　Swanson　scribbled　on　the　edge　of　Jessica　Soames？s　gray　plastic　desktop　
with　her　number　two　pencil。Can　you　see　fenny？s　answer　to　#21？　

Kim　Swanson　was　the　most　perfectly　groomed　girl　in　the　ninth　grade。　She？d　been　getting　her　
naturally　light　brown　hair　highlighted　blond　since　she　was　nine　and　preferred　perfectly　ironed　
Agn？s　B。　white　button…down　shirts　with　her　gray　pleated　uniform。　It　was　rumored　that　even　her　
underwear　was　ironed；　and　she　never　left　the　house　without　full　makeup；　a　gold…and…silver　Cartier　
chain　bracelet　on　each　wrist；　and　her　not…so…tiny　Cartier　diamond　studs　in　her　ears。　She　spent　so　
much　time　grooming　herself　that　she　hardly　had　time　to　study。　

Hold　on；　Jessica　Soames　scribbled　back。　Jessica　had　been　the　class　slut　starting　in　fourth　grade；　
when　she？d　gotten　her　period；　and　culminating　in　sixth　grade；　when　she　lost　her　virginity。　She？d　
had　the　biggest　chest　in　the　class；　too？until　Jenny　had　blossomed　in　seventh　grade；　surpassing　her　
by　three　whole　cup　sizes。　Jessica　stole　a　subtle　glance　at　the　desk　to　her　right；　trying　to　read　the　
answers　on　Jenny？s　exam。　But　Jenny　was　already　finished　and　was　now　doodling　in　calligraphy　
on　an　empty　page　in　her　blue　book。　

Loser；　she？d　written　in　elegant；　loopy　black　bubble　letters；　and　Jessica　tried　not　to　take　it　
personally。　

The　truth　was；　Jenny　had　written　the　word　to　describe　herself。　First　thing　Monday　morning；　
she？d　FedExed　Waverly　Prep　her　trio　of　brilliant　new　portraits；　all　matted　and　framed；　but　now　it　
was　Thursday　and　she　still　hadn？t　heard　from　the　admissions　office。　It　was　the　first　week　in　June。　
September　was　only　three　short　months　away；　and　she　had　nowhere　to　go　to　school。　She　was　
quietly　approaching　desperation。　

Before　they？d　sat　down　for　their　exam；　Elise　had　reminded　her　that　Waverly　was　winding　up　the　
school　year　too　and　probably　wouldn？t　get　to　the　package　she？d　sent　them　until　after　their　seniors　
graduated。　But　Jenny　was　having　none　of　that。　She？d　obviously　missed　her　chance　to　go　to　
boarding　school。　Her　only　other　option　besides　public　school　was　to　ace　her　exams　and　then　beg　
Mrs。　M　to　let　her　stay　at　Constance。　She　could　repeat　ninth　grade；　cultivate　her　reputation　as　a　
total　geek；　wear　thick　tortoiseshell　glasses；　and　lengthen　her　uniforms　to　her　ankles。　No　more　
appearances　on　Page　Six。　No　more　racy　fashion　spreads。　No　dating　rock　bands。　No　online　nudity。　

Aw。　But　isn？t　that　what　makes　Jenny　so　special？　


The　problem　was；　she　was　already　a　straight…A　student。　How　could　she　do　better　than　she　was　
already　doing？　

It　occurred　to　Jenny　that　maybe　her　grades　and　her　new　artwork　weren？t　enough。　Why　not　send　
Waverly　a　copy　of　theW　magazine　spread　she？d　modeled　for　with　Serena　van　der　Woodsen　and　
the　Page　Six　piece　featuring　a　photograph　of　her　kissing　Damian；　the　lead　guitarist　from　the　Raves；　
outside　the　Plaza　Hotel？　

And　while　she？s　at　it；　why　not　send　them　a　lock　of　her　hair？　Or　one　of　her　massive　Bali　support　
bras？　

Kim　Swanson　snickered　discreetly　as　she　scrawled