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！


“So；　why　did　you　go　to　Deep　Springs？”　Jenny　pressed。

“I　just　needed　to　get　away　from　everything。　But　the　program　only　lasts　two　years；　and　then　you　transfer。　Next　year；　I’m　thinking　Brown。”　Nate　nodded　definitively。　The　tour　guide　had　been　annoying；　but　the　campus　was　pretty　and　Yale　was　out　of　the　question　now　that　both　Blair　and　Serena　were　there。　Or　so　he’d　heard。

Jenny　scanned　the　parked　cars　for　Dan’s　beat…up　Buick　Skylark　when　they　reached　Thayer　Street。　The　redbrick　sidewalk　was　confettied　with　coarse　salt。　“I’m　seriously　considering　RISD…。”　She　trailed　off；　hoping　Nate　would　make　the　connection。

Nate　smiled。　Jennifer　looked　really　cute　in　her　red　coat；　with　her　hair　pulled　back　from　her　round；　cherubic　face。　“Well；　if　you’re　at　RISD　and　I’m　here；　I　guess　we　may　be　seeing　each　other　a　lot　next　year。”

Jenny　smiled　right　back。　She’d　make　sure　of　it！

Just　the　sort　of　determination　every　college　admissions　officer　wants　in　a　college　candidate。

watching　him　watching　her　watching　him

It　was　a　Saturday　night　and　Vanessa　was　curled　up　on　the　black　leather　couch；　eating　takeout　straight　from　the　carton　and　watching　Flesh；　the　1968　Paul　Morrissey　movie　about　a　hustler　in　New　York　who　has　a　whole　lot　of　sex。　When　she’d　first　watched　it　in　high　school；　she’d　thought　she’d　missed　something。　Now；　she　realized　that　there　really　wasn’t　much　else　going　on　in　the　film。　It　was　practically　a　porno。

In　a　way；　everything—the　movie；　the　takeout；　the　fact　that　it　wasn’t　even　ten　o’clock　on　a　Saturday　night　and　she　was　curled　up　on　the　couch　wearing　an　oversize　purple　NYU　sweatshirt　and　a　pair　of　Hollis’s　boxer　shorts—was　the　same　as　her　life　had　been　five　years　ago；　when　she　was　fifteen　and　friendless。

Except　she　wasn’t　fifteen　anymore；　and　she　was　far　from　friendless—she　was　dating　Hollis　Lyons；　even　if　he　had　been　away　in　Iceland　for　the　last　ten　months。　She　was　living　in　a　spacious　loft　with　its　own　elevator　and　a　gorgeous　view　of　the　Williamsburg　Bridge。　She　was　a　junior　at　the　Tisch　School　of　the　Arts。　She　had　a　so…ugly…it’s…cute　reddish…brown　choodle；　currently　snoring　gently　on　the　floor。　She　had　everything　she　wanted。　So　why　did　she　feel　so　lame？

The　inter　buzzed；　which　was　odd；　since　she　wasn’t　expecting　anyone。　She　didn’t　hang　out　with　her　friends　much　anymore；　preferring　to　be　home　in　case　Hollis　called　from　Reykjavík。　The　movie　shoot　had　raged　on　for　months　and　months　longer　than　originally　planned；　and　now　he　was　still　there；　editing　on　location　until　the　end　of　January。　She’d　visited　once；　during　her　spring　break　in　April。　It　had　been　amazing　to　see　him；　but　devastating　to　leave　after　only　five　days。　They　e…mailed　as　much　as　they　could；　but　between　the　time　difference　and　his　insane　work　schedule；　they’d　barely　even　spoken　save　for　a　crackly　ten…minute　call　on　Christmas。　It　had　been　so　long　since　they’d　seen　each　other　that　Vanessa　sometimes　wondered　if　Hollis　had　been　a　figment　of　her　imagination。

Filmmakers　are　creative　people。

Vanessa　quickly　threw　the　empty　aluminum　container　into　the　plastic　takeout　bag　and　skidded　on　her　stockinged　feet　over　to　the　door；　pressing　the　video　inter　buzzer。　A　grainy　image　of　Ruby　and　her　baby；　Moxie；　sprang　onto　the　screen。

“It’s　your　sister　and　your　favorite　niece！”　Ruby　trilled；　unaware　that　Vanessa　could　see　them。　“And　it’s　fucking　freezing　down　here；”　she　added。

“e　on　up！”　Vanessa　yelled　happily。　Ruby　and　Piotr　had　moved　to　a　two…bedroom　apartment　in　Prospect　Heights　right　after　they’d　had　Moxie。　It　was　two　subway　rides　away；　and　Vanessa　missed　having　them　right　around　the　corner。　She　hurriedly　picked　up　a　pair　of　jeans　from　the　floor　and　pulled　them　on　over　the　boxers。

The　elevator　door　slid　open。　Ruby　was　bundled　up　in　a　black　Brooklyn　Industries　puffer　coat　and　a　red　hat；　and　eight…month…old　Moxie　wore　a　white　fur　hood。　She　looked　like　the　monkey　Chuck　Bass　used　to　tote　around　in　high　school。

Vanessa　immediately　plucked　the　baby　from　her　sister’s　hands。

“Don’t　say　hi　to　me。　I’m　just　the　mom；”　Ruby　joked　as　she　walked　into　the　large　loft。　“So；　Piotr’s　family　is　here　through　New　Year’s　and　I　seriously　need　a　break。”　She　pulled　out　a　bottle　of　wine　from　her　voluminous　bag　and　set　it　on　the　counter。　She　paused　and　glanced　around　the　room　suspiciously。　“God；　it’s　always　so　neat　in　here。”

“I　like　it　this　way；”　Vanessa　explained。　She　naturally　had　sloblike　tendencies；　but　in　the　last　year　that　had　all　changed。　She　liked　scrubbing　the　tiles　in　the　shower　and　Swiffering　under　the　Sub…Zero。　It　gave　her　something　to　do　besides　miss　Hollis。

If　it　makes　you　happy…

Vanessa　pulled　Moxie’s　hood　off　her　tiny　head。　“Still　no　hair；”　she　observed；　checking　the　baby’s　bald　head。

“You　didn’t　have　any　hair　for　four　years；”　Ruby　observed　blithely；　settling　in　on　the　leather　couch。　Now；　Vanessa’s　silky　jet…black　hair　fell　inches　past　her　shoulders。　“Hand　her　over；　she　needs　to　feed。”　Ruby　pulled　the　neck　of　her　gray　Hanes　T…shirt　down　to　expose　her　boob；　and　cradled　Moxie　in　the　crook　of　her　arm。　Vanessa　looked　away　politely。

Ruby’s　head　fell　back　against　the　couch。　“You　know；　you　should　really　throw　a　New　Year’s　party。　I　mean；　with　an　apartment　like　this；　it’s　practically　your　duty。　Do　you　ever　have　people　over？”

“Sometimes；”　Vanessa　said　evasively。　In　truth；　she’d　never　invited　anyone　except　Ruby　up　to　the　loft。　She　felt　it　would　somehow　be　disloyal　to　Hollis；　having　people　over　in　his　apartment　while　he　slaved　away　in　Iceland。　She　checked　the　fridge　to　see　if　there　was　anything　she　could　offer　her　sister。　A　forgotten　carton　of　lo　mein　from　last　week；　a　container　of　orange　juice；　and　a　plastic　tub　of　almonds　sat　on　the　center　shelf。　“Nuts？”　Vanessa　pulled　out　the　container　and　threw　a　couple　in　her　mouth。

“Thanks。”　Ruby　took　a　couple；　crunched　them　loudly；　and　threw　one　over　to　Norma。　It　bounced　off　the　dog’s　nose　and　onto　the　floor。　She　just　stared　at　it。　“Seriously；　Vanessa；　you’ve　bee　weird。”

“I　have？　Look　at　your　shoes；”　Vanessa　shot　back。　Ruby　wore　a　pair　of　burnt　sienna–colored　Dansko　clogs；　cutoff　sweatpants；　and　the　same　red　woolly　cardigan　that　she’d　worn　on　Christmas。

“They’re　not　weird；　they’re　fortable。　You’re　the　one　wasting　your　youth。　I　already　had　mine。”　She　sniffed；　tucked　her　boob　back　inside　her　shirt；　and　passed　the　baby　to　Vanessa。

“Hi；　Bunny！”　Vanessa　cooed；　inhaling　the　sweet　scent　of　Johnson’s　baby　shampoo；　which　Ruby　used　despite　the　fact　that　Moxie　had　approximately　three　strands　of　hair。　Moxie　felt　reassuringly　heavy　in　Vanessa’s　lap。

“Listen；　you’re　acting　like　you’re　in　mourning　or　something。　Live　a　little！　I’ve　been　given　the　night　off　from　Piotr’s　family　and　I　intend　to　use　it　for　good。”　Ruby　grinned。　“Let’s　buy　some　slice　and　bake　cookies　and　listen　to　Christmas　music。　I’m　not　ready　for　the　holidays　to　be　over　yet。　What　do　you　say？”

“I’m　in！”　Vanessa　smiled　and　then　headed　up　the　winding　staircase　to　the　sleeping　loft。　Their　California　king…size　bed　was　immaculately　made；　with　a　white　duvet　cover　contrasting　with　the　black　bed　frame。　Vanessa　wasn’t　sure　when　she’d　slept　there　last。　It　felt　too　big　by　herself；　so　she　often　curled　up　with　Norma　on　the　couch。　She　pulled　a　scarf　from　her　closet　and　wrapped　it　around　her　neck。　Her　sister　was　right。　Maybe　she　had　gone　a　little　bit　overboard　with　the　reclusive…widow　thing；　acting　like　Hollis　was　a　ship　captain　lost　at　sea　instead　of　a　film　director　caught　up　with　editing。　It　would　be　good　to　get　out　for　a　little　bit。

“Ready！”　Vanessa　yelled　down　the　stairs　as　she　ran　her　fingers　through　her　long　hair。　Her　index　finger　caught　on　a　large　snarl。　“And　FYI；　I　didn’t　take　a　shower　today　so　sorry　if　I　smell；”　she　called　as　she　ran　down　the　steps。　She　reached　the　bottom　and　gasped。

There；　standing　by　the　elevator；　his　hands　in　his　pockets　and　a　smirk　on　his　face；　was　Hollis。

“Okay；　we’ve　already　got　our　first　date　planned。　Shower；　here　we　e！”　Hollis　grinned。　He　had　slight　bags　under　his　gray　eyes；　as　if　he　hadn’t　slept　in　months。　He　wore　a　black　leather　jacket　and　his　trademark　fedora　over　his　thick　dark　hair。　He　stood　there　casually；　like　he’d　only　been　gone　a　matter　of　minutes—not　months。

Vanessa　didn’t　say　anything。　She　felt　like　she　was　going　to　cry。　Even　though　it　was　practically　a　scene　from　a　terrible　chick　movie；　she　couldn’t　resist　running　to　him　and　wrapping　her　arms　around　him　tightly。　She　lifted　her　face　up　until　her　mouth　met　his。

“Remember；　there’s　a　kid　watching！”　Ruby　called　from　the　couch。　Moxie　gazed；　entranced；　at　Hollis。

“Hi；”　Vanessa　said　dumbly；　staring　up　at　him　as　if　he　were　a　vision。

Courtesy　of　too　many　Scrubbing　Bubbles　fumes？

“I　couldn’t　wait　a　month。　I　don’t　want　to　be　in　Iceland。　I　want　to　be　with　you；”　Hollis　said　simply。

“You’re　back？”　Vanessa　asked。　“For　good？”

Hollis　nodded。　“Unless　you’re　hiding　a　boyfriend　somewhere。”

“Just　Paul　Morrissey。”　She　gestured　to　the　DVD　case　on　the　coffee　table。

“We’ll　leave　you　alone；”　Ruby　said；　bundling　Moxie　back　into　her　snowsuit。　“Maybe　there’s　a　movie　about　talking　penguins　we　can　see。”

Vanessa　didn’t　even　notice　her　adorable　niece　and　sister　as　they　made　their　way　into　the　elevator。　She　was　too　busy　kissing　her　boyfriend。

Beats　mopping　the　floor。

survivor

“Do　you　think　Jenny　will　choose　RISD　or　Pratt？”　Serena　asked；　taking　a　thoughtful　sip　of　her　organic　chai。　She　and　Dan　were　seated　at　a　small　table　in　Blue　State　Coffee；　one　of　the　cute　coffee　shops　on　Thayer　Street　in　downtown　Providence。

“Pratt；”　Dan　said　confidently。　His　hair　was　sort　of　shaggy—Serena　hadn’t　been　able　to　drag　him　to　John　Barrett’s—and　he　wore　a　rumpled　blue　cotton　oxford　shirt　and　jeans。　He　looked　slightly　homeless；　but　to　her；　he　was　absolutely　adorable。　“Jenny’s　wanted　to　go　there　since　she　learned　how　to　draw；”　he　said　proudly。

“I　didn’t　have　a　clue　when　I　was　her　age。”　Serena　wrinkled　her　nose。　“But　I　guess　it　just　depends　on　the　person。　Blair　always　knew　she　wanted　to　go　to　Yale…。”　She　trailed　off。

“Have　you　spoken　to　her？　Is　she　in　New　York　for　the　holidays？”　Dan　asked　before　emptying　the　last　of　his　double　espresso　from　his　mini　porcelain　cup。　It　made　him　feel　like　a　character　in　Alice　in　Wonderland。　The　espresso　was　his　second；　and　they’d　been　in　the　shop　for　less　than　an　hour；　hanging　out　while　Jenny　took　her　RISD　tour。　She　was　due　back　any　minute。

“I　don’t　know。”　Serena　shrugged；　thinking　of　her　and　Blair’s　huge　fight　last　winter。　A　blowup　between　them　wasn’t　anything　new—they’d　been　fighting　since　before　they　could　properly　form　sentences。　But　their　arguments　usually　blew　over　quickly。　This　one　hadn’t。　Blair　had　gone　to　study　abroad　at　Oxford　while　Serena　had　gone　to　Yale；　and　they　hadn’t　spoken　since　last　January。　“It　doesn’t　matter。　I　just　hope　she’s　had　as　good　a　year　as　I　have；”　Serena　added；　smiling　at　Dan。

She　and　Dan　had　gotten　together　the　previous　winter　break；　and　the　relationship　had　quickly　turned　serious。　By　April；　Serena　was　spending　most　of　her　weekends　at　Dan’s　Upper　West　Side　apartment。　They’d　sit　at　the　tiny　kitchen　table；　studying　together；　or　go　to　the　coffee　shop　on　his　corner　and　read。　Dan　was　a　junior　at　Columbia　and　Serena　wasn’t　quite　sure　what　she　was　at　Yale。　She’d　just　started　in　September；　but　she’d　carried　over　a　few　credits　from　courses　she’d　taken　at　the　New　School　earlier　that　year。

Being　at　Yale　was　more　plicated　than　she’d　thought　it　would　be。　It　was　strange　living　in　a　dorm　when　she　was　used　to　having　her　own　apartment。　She　felt　years　older　than　her　fellow　freshmen；　and　it　wasn’t　easy　to　get　back　into　studying　mode；　especially　since　she’d　only　taken　fun　classes　at　the　New　School；　like　screenwriting　and　New　York　in　Literature。　She　liked　reading　books；　but　she’d　never　been　one　for　taking　tests　and　writing　papers。　And　even　if　she　did　go　back　to　the　city　every　weekend；　it　was　hard　to　be　separated　from　Dan　from　Monday　to　Thursday。

She　did　miss　acting；　but　she　didn’t　miss　having　an　agent　and　a　publicist　and　getting　followed　around　and　pointed　at　everywhere　she　went。　Her　first　few　weeks　on　campus；　she’d　get　the　occasional　second　look　or　st