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Maybe　he　could　be　a　little　more　conscious　of　the　fact　that　she　was　giving　him　a　second　chance；　
that　sheneeded　to　keep　her　dreams　intact。　


She　shook　the　lap　desk　up　and　down；　trying　to　figure　out　what　was　in　it；　and　then　sat　down　
cross…legged　on　the　floor；　placing　it　on　her　lap　and　mock…writing　on　it。　Nate　couldn？t　help　but　
smile；　watching　her　fake…scribble　so　intently　like　a　little　kid。　

Blair　signed　her　pretend　letter　with　a　flourish　and　then　tossed　the　lap　desk　back　on　a　shelf。　Nate　
had　never　met　anyone　who　knew　so　clearly　what　she　wanted　or　didn？t　want。　Each　object　she　
tossed　into　that　laundry　basket　somehow　fit　perfectly　into　the　life　she　had　mapped　out　for　herself　
years　ago。　But　to　him　the　color…coordinated　pencil　holders；　the　shower　totes；　and　the　dry…erase　
message　boards　looked　like　a　bunch　of　useless　junk；　stuff　he？d　never　use　in　a　place　he　couldn？t　
even　picture。Yale　was　Blair？s　dream；　not　his。　

？Okay；　I　think　we？re　done　here。？　She　pulled　a　list　out　of　her　oversize　brown　leather　Chlo？　bag　
and　examined　it　carefully　to　make　sure　she　hadn？t　forgotten　anything。

　Unlikely。　

She　led　the　way　to　the　register；　where　she　snatched　up　a　little　metal　hook　attached　to　a　suction　
cup。　？For　your　razor；？　she　explained。　Nate　nodded　in　silence；　his　shoulders　slouching　under　the　
weight　of　the　heavy　laundry　basket。　As　crazy　as　Blair　was；　the　fact　that　she　was　trying　to　squeeze　
him　into　her　tiny　dorm　room　made　him　fall　in　love　with　her　all　over　again。　Jesus；　life　was　
confusing。　

If　only　those　people　in　their　neat　blue　aprons　could　help。　

speak　your　mind；　and　the　rest　will　follow　

It　was　a　ridiculously　hot　day　in　Prospect　Park。　Picnickers　found　shade　underneath　leafy　green　
trees；　and　small　children　ran　around　wearing　as　little　clothing　as　possible。　The　lake　in　the　middle　
of　the　park　was　surrounded　by　people　looking　longingly　at　the　water；　wishing　it　were　swimmable；　
and　the　dog　beach　was　filled　with　wet　pooches　splashing　and　slobbering　as　their　owners　tried　to　
keep　up　with　them；　leashes　tangling　into　one　huge　knot。　

Tiny　beads　of　sweat　trickled　down　Vanessa？s　back　as　she　unloaded　food　from　coolers　onto　a　
picnic　table　near　the　lake；　its　white　tablecloth　flapping　in　the　breeze。　She　wiped　a　hand　across　her　
brow；　wishing　the　wind　were　stronger。　At　least　she？d　ditched　that　hot；　itchy　blond　wig。　Her　crazy　
night　of　table　dancing　at　Coyote　Ugly　had　been　a　lot　of　fun；　but　her　wicked　hangover　the　next　
morning；　bined　with　her　reflection　in　the　mirror；　was　positively　sobering。　With　black　mascara　
streaked　all　over　her　face；　red　lipstick　smeared　clownlike　around　her　mouth；　and　the　blond　wig　
hanging　off　her　head　like　a　dead　animal；　Vanessa　hadn？t　felt　sexy　anymore？she？d　just　felt　like　
roadkill。　Today；　she　was　back　to　her　trademark　shorn　scalp　and　black　bat　boots；　though　she　
had　worn　a　sky　blue　Betsey　Johnson　party　dress　for　the　occasion？Blair？s　influence；　of　course。　


　Of　course。　

She　pulled　a　tray　covered　in　tinfoil　from　the　last　cooler　and　peeked　inside。　Her　sister？s　famous　
soy…tempeh　lasagna。　Of　course　the　wedding　food　was　gross？other　than　Vanessa；　the　entire　Abrams　
family　was　vegetarian。　It　would　be　the　first　time　she？d　seen　her　parents　since　their　visit　in　March；　
when　their　？found　art？　exhibit　was　on　display　at　a　gallery　in　the　city。　The　exhibit　had　rather　
memorably　included　a　chain　of　metal　cheese　graters　tacked　to　a　wall　and　a　live　horse；　eating　
Caesar　salad　from　a　wooden　bowl　and　pooping　freely　on　the　floor。　During　her　parents？　short　stay；　
her　father　had　even　worn　his　full…length　hemp　skirt　to　a　fancy　party　on　Fifth　Avenue。　

So　that？s　what　started　the　men…in…skirts　trend。　

？Eggplant！？　Vanessa？s　mother？s　voice　rang　out；　calling　her　by　her　childhood　nickname。　Gabriela　
Abrams　wore　a　brown…and…yellow　African　tribal　robe　despite　the　heat；　and　white　ribbons　tied　at　
the　ends　of　her　long　braided　gray　pigtails。　She　looked　like　a　cross　between　Gandhi　and　Little　Bo　
Peep。　

？Hey　Mom；？　Vanessa　mumbled　as　her　mother　threw　her　arms　around　her。　The　robe　was　stiff　and　
scratched　Vanessa？s　bare　arms。　

Arlo　Abrams　appeared　from　behind　Gabriela　and　joined　in　on　the　hug。　？This　place　has　good　chi；？　
he　noted　approvingly；　pecking　Vanessa　quickly　on　the　cheek。　His　long　gray　hair　was　braided　down　
his　back　with　another　white　ribbon　tied　in　a　bow　at　the　bottom；　and　his　body　was　cloaked　in　what　
appeared　to　be　a　white　linen　bathrobe。　It　was　no　surprise　that　Vanessa？s　parents　had　similar　
clothes　and　hair…styles。　If　Gabriela　didn？t　dress　Arlo；　he？d　simply　walk　around　naked。　

Let？s　hope　nothing　ever　happens　to　her。　

Vanessa　fidgeted；　smothered　by　her　parents？　embrace。　Vanessa　looked　over　her　dad？s　shoulder　
and　spotted　Dan　approaching　from　a　distance；　wearing　a　stiff　blue　button…down　shirt　and　tie。　She　
didn？t　even　know　heowned　a　tie。　Her　stomach　flip…flopped　when　she　saw　him；　and　she　suddenly　
wished　she？d　eaten　breakfast　that　morning　instead　of　drinking　the　Humphreys？　gross　instant　
coffee。　

Don？t　worry？there？s　plenty　of　tempeh　lasagna　to　go　around。　

？Mom；　Dad；　why　don？t　you　sit　over　here？？　She　ushered　her　parents　toward　one　of　the　picnic　
tables　arranged　alongside　the　grass　aisle；　wiping　the　sweat　off　her　brow。　？I　have　to　talk　to　Ruby　
and　Piotr。？　She　glanced　at　the　two　lovebirds　who　were　standing　at　the　makeshift　altar/oak　tree；　
trying　to　keep　their　hands　off　each　other　and　not　doing　a　very　good　job。　In　their　usual　
unconventional　manner；　her　parents　chose　to　perch　on　top　of　the　picnic　table　rather　than　sit　on　the　
bench。　


？Our　little　girl？s　a　maid　of　honor！？　her　mother　cried；　pulling　a　woven　burlap　handkerchief　out　
from　between　her　breasts。　

Her　father　put　his　hand　on　his　wife？s　knee　and　squeezed　it。　？Now；　Gabriela；　save　your　juices　for　
the　wedding！？　Vanessa　made　her　way　down　the　aisle；　wondering　if　that？s　what　happened　to　you　
when　you　stayed　in　the　woods　of　Vermont　for　too　long。　

Dan　wove　his　way　around　picnic　tables　decorated　with　white　balloons；　hoping　he？d　have　time　to　
stick　napkins　in　his　armpits　to　sop　up　the　sweat　trickling　down　his　sides　and　staining　his　light　blue　
oxford　shirt　before　reading　his　poem。　

？Isn？t　this　romantic？？　Jenny？s　voice　broke　through　his　thoughts。　She　gazed　up　at　the　trees　as　she　
walked；　a　dreamy　expression　on　her　round；　freckled　face。　She　was　wearing　a　pink；　gauzy　sundress　
that　looked　a　heck　of　a　lot　more　fortable　than　the　long…sleeve　button…down　shirt　and　tie　Dan　
had　worn　for　the　occasion。　？Easy　for　you　to　say；　little　Miss　Barely　There　Sundress。？　He　grunted　
and　tried　to　unstick　his　shirt　from　his　sweaty　back。　

？Oh；　eon　；　Dan；？　Jenny　scoffed。　？Don？t　you　just　think　weddings　are　the　most　amazing　
things？？　Actually；　he　did。　There　was　something　really　romantic　about　watching　two　people　stand　
up　in　front　of　their　friends　and　family　and　promise　to　stay　together　forever。　It　was　almost　。　。　。　noble。　
What　would　it　be　like　to　have　someone　who　loved　him　enough　to　want　to　be　with　him　
forever？　？Yeah；　I　guess　so；？　Dan　mumbled；　weaving　around　a　suspicious…looking　clod　of　dirt。　

They　approached　a　large　oak　tree　with　rose　petals　sprinkled　at　its　roots。　Piotr　stood　beneath　the　
tree；　wearing　a　canary…yellow　tuxedo　and　holding　onto　Ruby？s　hand。　She　wore　an　antique…looking　
ivory…colored　dress　with　a　hot…pink　sash　around　the　middle。　And　next　to　her　was　Vanessa；　looking　
beautiful　in　a　slinky　blue　slip　dress。　Dan　looked　down　at　her　feet？　she　was　wearing　her　trademark　
bat　boots。　At　least　some　things　never　changed。　Dan　dropped　Jenny？s　arm　and　moved　closer；　
taking　in　the　curve　of　Vanessa？s　hips　swaying　under　the　thin　material　of　the　dress。　He　felt　his　
pulse　start　to　race。　

？Hey。？　Vanessa？s　throaty　voice　broke　into　his　thoughts；　and　he　realized　his　feet　had　brought　him　
directly　in　front　of　her。　Ruby　stood　behind　her；　madly　kissing　Piotr　even　though　there　had　been　
no　？You　may　kiss　the　bride？　yet。　The　ceremony　hadn？t　even　begun。　

？Hey。？　Dan　smiled　shyly。　？You　look　。　。　。　uh；　nice。？　Damn。　He　was　a　poet；　and　he　couldn？t　e　
up　with　anything　better　than　？nice？？　

Roses　are　red；　violets　are　blue；　your　lips　are　real　nice；　and　so　are　you！　

She　smiled　back　shyly。　？Um　。　。　。　just　trying　something　new　for　the　wedding。？　？He　means　
gorgeous。？　Jenny　threw　her　arms　around　Vanessa。　？I　love　your　dress！？　？You　guys　can　sit　here　if　
you　want。？　Vanessa　pointed　at　an　empty　bench；　and　Dan　and　Jenny　sat　down。　？I　have　to　go　cue　up　
the　music　and　get　my　camera　ready。　You？re　up　after　Piotr？s　friends；　okay？？　she　told　Dan　and　then　


quickly　made　her　way　to　a　picnic　table　farther　down　the　aisle；　where　one　of　Piotr？s　friends；　
wearing　a　white　T…shirt　with　a　black　skull　and　crossbones　printed　on　it；　was　fiddling　with　an　
iBook。　

Dan　inspected　the　other　partygoers；　who　were　mostly　dressed　in　casual　clothes？except　for　Piotr？s　
friends；　who　were　wearing　black…；　white…；　and　red…striped　suits。　They　resembled　a　pack　of　hipster　
clowns　just　released　from　some　bizarre　Czech　prison。　

Just　then　a　Czech　ballad　struck　up；　and　Ruby　and　Piotr　began　skipping　backwards　hand　in　hand　
around　the　giant　oak　tree。　Some　guy　in　one　of　those　weird　striped　suits　whom　Dan　could　only　
assume　was　Piotr？s　best　man　joined　in　the　skipping　and　the　crowd　cheered。　

Whatever　happened　to　？Here　es　the　Bride？？　

They　stopped　skipping　and　stood　off　to　the　side　as　the　Czech　ballad　quieted　and　a　group　of　four　
striped…suited　guys　made　their　way　over　to　the　tree。　One　guy　stuck　out　his　tongue　and　wagged　it　
obscenely。　

？I　am　animal！？　he　yelled。　？Filled　with　lust　of　carnivore！？　？I　am　love；？　the　group　behind　him　
began　to　chant；　crouching　down　on　the　ground。　？I　am　love；　I　am　love；　I　am　love。　。　。　。？　Ruby　and　
Piotr　held　hands；　entranced　by　their　friends？　display。　Behind　them；　a　yellow　Lab　chased　a　squirrel　
up　a　tree；　barking　loudly。　

？。　。　。　love；　love；　love；　love　。　。　。？　

Jenny？s　brow　was　wrinkled　in　thought；　as　if　she　were　trying　to　decode　the　symbolism。　Dan　could　
barely　contain　his　giggles？and　there　was　only　one　other　person　who　probably　felt　the　same　way。　
He　glanced　at　Vanessa；　who　was　standing　off　to　the　side；　her　camera　trained　on　the　altar　as　she　
desperately　tried　to　keep　a　straight　face。　He　caught　her　eye　and　grinned；　then　he　stuck　out　his　
tongue　and　wiggled　it；　imitating　Piotr？s　crazy　friends。　

The　striped…suited　guys　finally　stopped　screaming　and　bowed　to　a　confused　smattering　of　polite　
applause。　Jenny　elbowed　Dan　in　the　ribs。　？You？re　up。？　He　smiled　nervously。　He　didn？t　even　know　
if　this　poem　was　any　good；　and　now　he　was　going　to　have　to　test…drive　it　in　front　of　Ruby？s　entire　
wedding　party？not　to　mention　his　ex…girlfriend。　

　No　pressure。　

Dan　walked　to　the　front　of　the　crowd　and　opened　his　notebook。　He　cleared　his　throat　and　began　
to　read；　his　voice　wavering。　

Open　the　fridge　and　put　

My　heart　on　a　plate。　


I？m　just　as　you　left　me；　and　I　taste　even　better　leftover。　

He　kept　his　eyes　on　the　page。　It　took　all　his　effort　to　decipher　his　own　scrawl。　As　he　focused　on　
the　white　paper；　he　couldn？t　help　feeling　moved　by　what　he？d　written。　He　looked　up　and　locked　

eyes　with　Vanessa。　

Pale　fury；　why　did　you　leave　me？　

You？re　prickly　in　the　morning。　So　prickly。　

This　isn？t　a　cooking　show。　

This　isn？t　chemistry　or　geography。　

It？s　physics。　Pure　physics；　

I？m　falling　fast　and　faster　still。　

So　fall　with　me。　Fall　down　with　me。　

　And　stay。　

Vanessa　blushed　deeply；　her　cheeks　turning　bright　pink；　and　Dan　found　it　hard　to　tear　his　gaze　
away　from　her。　She　looked　so　beautiful　in　her　light　blue　dress；　her　skin　glowing　white　against　the　
sky　blue　fabric。　。　。　。　

The　sound　of　clapping　woke　him　from　his　reverie。　？Um；　thank　you；？　he　mumbled　as　he　headed　
back　to　his　seat　in　a　daze。　He　sat　back　down；　and　Jenny　grabbed　his　arm。　？That　was　really　great。　
But　we？vegot　to　talk　about　something　later；？　she　whispered　loudly　in　his　ear。　

？Um；　okay；？　Dan　whispered　back。　He　patted　his　damp　forehead　with　a　paper　napkin；　just　as　
Ruby？s　bandmates　began　cartwheeling　down　the　rose…petaled　aisle。　

Guess　someone　didn？t　hire　a　wedding　planner。　

chips　ahoy！　

Nate　leaned　out　over　the　bow　of　the　boat　and　dipped　his　hand　in　the　white　froth　of　the　waves。　
Chips　stood　in　t