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after　the　day？s　over；　and　even　though　you　just　saw　them　a　few　hours　ago；　you　can？t　wait　to　see　
them　again　that　night。？　Dan　nodded　mutely；　still　dizzily　watching　the　crowd　on　the　sidewalk　as　if　


it　held　all　of　life？s　answers。　

？Well；　I？d　better　get　back　to　work；？　Greg　said；　pushing　his　glasses　up　on　his　nose。　？I？m　not　even　
on　break　yet？I　just　snuck　out　to　talk　to　you。？　Dan　remembered　himself　and　stood　up；　slinging　his　
messenger　bag　over　one　shoulder。　He　grabbed　Greg？s　arm　before　he　walked　away。　

？Hey；？　he　said；　moving　closer。　？Thanks　。　。　。　for　everything。？　Greg　smiled。　He　wrapped　his　arms　
around　Dan？s　back　and　squeezed　tight；　clapping　him　on　the　shoulders　before　they　both　pulled　
back。　

As　Dan　watched　him　walk　away；　he　couldn？t　help　feeling　a　little　sad。　Not　about　Greg；　but　about　
love　in　general。　He　wanted　what　Greg　had　described：　someone　to　sit　around　and　drink　coffee　with　
in　the　morning。　Someone　he　could　do　all　those　dopey；　ridiculously　romantic　New　York　things　with　
before　he　left　for　Evergreen？like　watch　every　Woody　Allen　movie　filmed　in　Manhattan；　or　take　a　
carriage　ride　through　Central　Park　under　a　full　moon。　Someone　to　wake　up　with　every　morning；　
the　light　covering　their　bare　skin　like　a　golden　blanket　。　。　。　

Pale　fury。Why　did　you　leave　me？　

He　pulled　out　his　notebook　and　scribbled　furiously；　unsure　of　what　he　was　writing。　

Eyes　closed；　our　bones　ache。　

This　isn？t　chemistry　or　geography。　

It？s　physics。　Pure　physics。　

Dan　still　wasn？t　sure　what　he　was　trying　to　say；　but　it　was　something　to　do　with　friction；　and　
friction　caused　heat；　and　when　he　thought　about　heat　he　couldn？t　help　but　think　about　a　certain　
prickly…headed　girl　lying　next　to　him　in　bed。　His　hands　began　to　sweat　as　he　continued　to　write。　

Not　feeling　so　gay　anymore；　eh？　

maybe　a　leopard　can　change　her　spots　

？Watch　where　you？re　going；　man！？　

A　yellow　cab　swerved　on　the　shimmering　black　asphalt；　almost　grazing　Vanessa？s　arm　as　she　
crossed　Broadway；　squinting　into　the　annihilating　afternoon　sunlight。　The　cabbie？s　rude；　grating　
voice　lingered　in　her　ears。　Did　he　sayman　？　Vanessa　smiled　smugly　to　herself。Well　；　she　thought；　
picking　up　the　pace；that？s　what　you　get　for　having　such　a　sleek；　aerodynamic　hairstyle。　


Doesn？t　she　mean　androgynous？　

She？d　gone　downtown　around　noon　to　film　some　of　Ruby？s　East　Village　hangouts　in　the　daylight；　
but　now；　faced　with　the　sweltering　heat　of　the　day；　she　was　ready　for　a　break。　She　rubbed　her　
stubbly　head　with　one　hand　as　she　waited　for　the　light　to　change。　

The　Strand　bookstore　was　half　a　block　away；　its　carts　of　moldy　discount　books　parked　out　front。　
Vanessa　wondered　if　Dan　was　working？she？d　been　avoiding　him　the　last　few　days　after　the　whole　
romantic…gay…poetry　incident；　but　maybe　she？d　just　stop　by　and　say　hi。　She　watched　the　little　red　
hand　warning　her　to　stay　put。　

College　was　just　around　the　corner；　and　soon　Dan？along　with　just　about　everyone　else？would　be　
gone。　Well；　Ruby　would　be　around；　but　it　wasn？t　exactly　the　same　between　them　anymore？now　
that　she　spent　every　waking　second　with　Piotr。　Vanessa　couldn？t　help　feeling　kind　of　。　。　。　obsolete。　
Maybe　it　had　been　a　mistake　to　stay　in　the　city；　but　she？d　wanted　to　study　film　at　NYU　for　as　long　
as　she　could　remember；　and　now　she　finally　had　her　chance。　Plus；　she　loved　New　York。　The　
trouble　was；　it　was　going　to　be　a　whole　different　city　without　Dan。　

The　light　was　taking　forever　to　change；　and　she　could　feel　the　sweat　running　down　the　insides　of　
her　legs　and　into　the　black　patent…leather　platform　Mary　Janes　on　her　feet。　As　she　shaded　her　eyes　
from　the　glare；　she　suddenly　noticed　Dan　across　the　street；　standing　near　the　carts　of　used　books；　
with　Greg。　

They　were　talking；　and　then　Dan　opened　his　arms　and　Greg　stepped　into　them；　squeezing　tightly。　
Even　from　where　she　was　standing　Vanessa　could　see　that　Dan？s　eyes　were　closed　as　he　hugged　
Greg；　his　body　totally　relaxed　in　a　way　she　hadn？t　seen　him　in　ages。　She？d　seen　them　talking　at　
his　ing…out　party；　but　Dan　had　looked　so　unfortable　it　had　been　hard　to　believe　they　were　
actually　together。　Now　it　was　more　than　obvious　that　they　were　a　happy　couple；　totally　in　love。　

Vanessa　turned　around　and　began　walking　quickly　back　down　Broadway；　pulling　a　pair　of　
vintage　white　sunglasses　from　her　battered　army　bag　to　cover　her　eyes？which　were　rapidly　filling　
with　tears。　The　poem　had　been　one　thing？after　all；　Dan？s　poems　were　always　a　little　strange？but　to　
actually　see　him　embrace　another　guy　was　something　else？it　wasreal　。　Had　he　always　been　gay？　
How　had　she　never　known？　

She　wiped　the　tears　from　under　the　dark　lenses　and　ran　her　hands　over　her　head　the　way　she　
always　did　when　she　was　upset。　As　her　fingers　touched　her　prickly　scalp；　she　stopped　dead　in　her　
tracks。　The　most　disastrous　thought　of　all　bubbled　up　in　her　brain；　and　before　she　could　stop　it；　it　
spilled　out。　Did　Dan　only　go　out　with　her　in　the　first　place　because　of　her　shaved　head？　Was　it　
possible　that　he　only　liked　her　hair　because　it　made　her　look　。　。　。manly？　

Vanessa　suddenly　felt　like　she　was　going　to　be　sick　all　over　the　corner　of　Eleventh　and　Broadway。　
Almost　before　she　knew　what　she　was　doing；　she　grabbed　her　cell　and　began　punching　keys　in　


total　panic。　She　needed　to　feel　feminine　and　sexy　immediately；　and　there　was　only　one　person　who　
could　really　help　her。　

？Helllllooo？？　Blair？s　voice　sounded　like　it　was　trapped　in　a　wind　tunnel　or　something。　

？Hey　Blair？it？s　Vanessa。？　There　was　a　pause　in　which　Vanessa　could　hear　the　sound　of　giggling　
in　the　background；　and　then　a　loud　whooshing　noise。　？I　need　。　。　。　help。？　Vanessa　took　a　deep　breath；　
wondering　why　the　next　words　were　so　hard　for　her　to　say。　？I　need　。　。　。　a　makeover；？　she　blurted　
out；　putting　her　index　finger　in　her　mouth　and　gnawing　violently　on　her　nail。　

？Actually；　you？ve　got　perfect　timing。　I？m　at　Warren　

Trii　getting　extensions　right　this　very　minute？　Blair　responded　enthusiastically。　Vanessa　
realized　that　the　wind　was　the　sound　of　hair…dryers　in　the　background。　？e　on　over　
immediamente。？　Twenty　minutes　later　Vanessa　sat　in　a　stylist？s　chair　next　to　Blair；　watching　as　a　
thin　Frenchman　named　Louis　with　a　pointy　nose　and　sleek　chin…length　black　hair　threaded　strands　
of　golden　brown　hair　into　Blair？s　already　thick　mane。　

？Iz　like　a　buuuuutiffffful　mermaaaaid；？　Louis　told　Blair；　who　looked　back　at　him　in　the　
gold…framed　salon　mirror　approvingly。　？Et　pour　ton　ami？？Louis　pointed　at　Vanessa　with　a　long；　
skinny　finger？？vee　vill　make　mageek！　I　vill　return！？　Vanessa　looked　around。　The　spa　looked　like　a　
European　palace；　its　dark　oak　floors　covered　with　Persian　carpets　and　walls　with　filigreed　gold　
mirrors。　The　chair　she　sat　in　was　plush　burgundy　velvet。　She　crossed　her　legs　unfortably；　
placing　her　hands　on　her　calves　to　hide　their　prickliness。　Light　streamed　in　through　the　giant　
plate…glass　windows　at　the　front；　and　a　row　of　copper　sinks　and　shampoo　chairs　lined　the　far　wall。　
The　salon　was　filled　with　tanned；　manicured；　designer…clad　ladies…who…lunch　types；　readingVogue　
or　leaning　back　with　their　eyes　closed　as　stylists　pampered　them　with　head　massages。　Places　like　
this　always　made　Vanessa　feel　like　she　had　three　heads？all　of　them　begging　for　a　makeover。　Blair；　
of　course；　looked　right　at　home　as　she　sat　there；　a　stack　of　magazines　on　her　lap；　her　tanned　legs　
crossed　high　on　her　thigh；　barking　orders　to　the　assistants　flitting　around　her。　

？So　whathappened　？？　she　turned　to　Vanessa　as　soon　as　Louis　walked　away。　

？I　just　need　to　look　more　like　a　girl。？　Vanessa　mumbled；　slouching　in　her　chair。　

？Well；　obviously。？　Blair　wrinkled　her　perfect　little　nose　and　gestured　at　Vanessa？s　slumped　form　
with　her　perfectly　pink　fingernails。　？Finally　you　realize　youare　a　girl。？　Vanessa　looked　in　the　
mirror　at　her　sweaty　bald　head　and　dusty　black　boots。　Then　she　looked　over　at　Blair？s　pletely　
feminine　form：　her　pink　toes　peeped　out　of　a　pair　of　light　aqua　espadrilles　and　gold　bracelets　
tinkled　on　her　slender；　graceful　arm。　Vanessa　sighed　heavily；　slumping　down　even　further　in　her　
chair。　She　was　absolutely　hopeless。　

？Iknow　I？m　a　girl；？　she　finally　answered。　？But　I　need　to　be　a　girl　that？s　more　like　。　。　。？　She　
gestured　at　Blair？s　body。　？More　likeyou　。？　？Done　and　done。？　Blair　smiled。　She　was　starting　to　feel　


more　like　herself　again。　After　Nate？s　little　announcement；　she　had　e　to　the　one　place　she　knew　
would　make　her　feel　better？the　salon。　And　it　had　worked；　of　course。　The　only　thing　that　had　kept　
her　from　losing　her　mind　was　Louis？s　soothing　murmur　as　he　threaded　new　long　locks　into　her　
roots　and　told　her　how　lucky　she　was　to　have　such　healthy；　strong　hair。　There　was　just　something　
totally　calming　about　sitting　in　a　stylist？s　chair。　It　was　like　Audrey　Hepburn　said　about　
Tiffany？nothing　very　bad　could　ever　happen　to　you　there。　

Now　that　she　had　calmed　down；　Blair　wanted　to　talk　to　Nate　and　make　sure　he　didn？t　do　
anything　stupid；　like　think　they　were　broken　up　and　throw　himself　off　the　Brooklyn　Bridge　or　take　
some　poison　to　end　his　suffering？although　to　be　honest；　Nate　had　never　been　much　of　a　Romeo。　

She　began　punching　the　keys　on　her　cell。　She？d　been　calling　his　phone　every　five　minutes　but　
had　gotten　voice　mail　every　time。　She　tried　Serena？s；　too；　hoping　for　someone　to　miserate　
with；　but　she　wasn？t　there　either。　Where　were　they；　anyway？　

Shereally　doesn？t　want　to　know。　。　。　。　

Blair　surveyed　Vanessa？s　dusty　black　shorts　and　grit…streaked　army　green　tank　top。　She　could　
definitely　benefit　from　some　quality　time　in　the　stylist？s　chair。　Blair　was　happy　to　help？she？d　
always　liked　a　challenge；　and　God　knew　she　could　use　the　distraction。　

Vanessa　was　beginning　to　wonder　who　Blair　thought　it　was　so　important　to　call　every　five　
seconds　when　a　cell　phone　started　to　blast　Madonna？s　？Like　a　Virgin。？　Vanessa　turned　around　and　
spotted　Isabel　Coates　and　Kati　Farkas　seated　next　to　each　other　under　the　dryers；　their　heads　
sporting　matching　strips　of　aluminum　foil。　Kati　talked　loudly　on　her　cell；　holding　her　palm　against　
her　other　ear　to　block　out　the　roar　of　wind。　She　was　wearing　some　kind　of　frilly　pink　sundress　that　
hung　from　her　body　like　a　sack；　and　Isabel　wore　the　exact　same　thing？but　in　a　bilious　shade　of　
green。　Isabel　looked　up　and　spotted　Vanessa　sitting　in　a　stylist？s　chair。　She　elbowed　Kati；　who　
burst　into　a　fit　of　laughter。　

？Getting　a　new　look？？　Kati　yelled　out；　holding　the　phone　away　from　her　head。　

？Obviously；？　Vanessa　mumbled；　before　turning　back　around　and　facing　the　dreaded　mirror。　Blair　
was　leaving　yet　another　message。　

？。　。　。　so　I？mstill　here　at　the　spa；　and　you　need　to　call　me　when　you　get　this。　Just　don？t　do　anything　
stupid；　okay？？　She　crankily　snapped　her　cell　shut　and　sighed。　

？Where？s　Nate？？　Vanessa　asked　as　a　perky　blond　assistant　dressed　entirely　in　white　spandex　
placed　a　glass　of　ice　water　with　lemon　slices　on　the　countertop　in　front　of　her。　Vanessa　grabbed　the　
glass；　swallowing　the　cold　water　greedily。　

？Fuck　if　I　know。？　Blair　sighed。　？And　it？s　not　like　I　don？t　need　help；　getting　ready　for　Yale　and　
everything。？　？I　know　what　you　mean；？　Vanessa　said　sympathetically；　placing　the　empty　glass　back　


on　the　countertop。　？It？s　not　like　I？m　spending　a　lot　of　time　with　Ruby　now　that　she？s　getting　
married。　Or　Dan；？　she　added。　？He？s　so　busy　with　his　job　and　his　new　boyfriend　that　I　might　as　
well　not　even　exist。？　Blair　turned　to　her　in　surprise；　a　smile　moving　across　her　lips。　？I？m　going　to　
ignore　the　Dan…being…gay　info　in　favor　of　the　much　more　interesting　news　here？your　sister？s　
gettingmarried　？？　she　asked；　her　eyes　lighting　up。　？When；　when；when　？？　Shit。　Vanessa　should　
have　known　better　than　to　mention　the　M…word　in　front　of　a　girl　like　Blair。　？Um；　the　bachelorette　
party　is　tonight　and　the　wedding？s　on　Saturday　afternoon。？　？Okay；　this　is　more　serious　than　I　
thought。？　Blair　sat　up　in　her　chair　as　if　energized　with　the　mission；　her　posture　
stick…straight。　？Youhave　to　look　amazing　for　the　wedding。？　Blair　pointed　at　Vanessa？s　bald　
head。　？Louis！　Louis！　Give　her　something　really　dramatic。　Blond　to　her　waist！？　She　turned　to　
Vanessa　again。　？Oh；