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mellow。？　

？What　are　your　friends　like？？　Nate　asked；　sucking　hard　on　the　joint。　Pot　seemed　to　taste　and　feel　
better　now　that　he？d　gone　without　it　for　a　while。　

？I　don？t　have　any　friends　anymore；？　Georgie　answered。　？They　all　kind　of　gave　up　on　me　because　
I？m　so　nuts。？　

Nate　put　his　hand　on　her　head　and　began　stroking　her　hair。　She　had　incredibly　soft；　luxurious　
hair。　？I　hang　out　a　lot　with　these　three　guys　in　my　class　at　school；？　he　said；　referring　to　Jeremy；　
Anthony；　and　Charlie。　？But　I　went　for　a　few　days　without　getting　high　and　I　didn？t　really　want　to　
hang　out　with　them；　you　know？？　

？That？s　what　Jackie　calls　a　？negative　friendship。？　A　？positive　friendship？　is　when　you　do　fun；　
constructive　things　with　your　friends　like　baking　cookies；　making　collages；　and　climbing　
mountains。？　

？I？m　your　friend；？　Nate　offered　quietly。　

Georgie　rubbed　the　back　of　her　head　against　his　leg。　？I　know。？　She　laughed；　her　not…too…small　
chest　jiggling　up　and　down　inside　her　tight　white　T…shirt。　？Want　to　bake　some　cookies？？　

Nate　bed　a　lock　of　her　hair　up　into　the　air　with　his　fingers　and　then　let　it　fall；　strand　by　strand；　
back　into　his　lap。　Blair　had　long　hair；　too；　but　it　wasn？t　as　straight　or　as　silky　as　Georgie？s。　It　was　
funny　how　girls　could　all　be　so　different。　？Can　I　kiss　you？？　he　asked；　not　really　having　intended　to　
sound　so　formal。　

？Okay；？　Georgie　whispered。　

Nate　bent　over　and　brushed　his　lips　against　the　bridge　of　her　nose；　her　chin；　and　finally　her　lips。　
She　kissed　him　back　hungrily　and　then　pulled　away　and　sat　up　on　her　elbows。　？This　is　what　Jackie　
calls　？feeding　your　craving。？　You？re　doing　something　that　feels　good　temporarily　instead　
of　？healing　the　wounds。？　

Nate　shrugged。　？Why　is　it　temporary？？　He　pointed　up　at　the　skylight；　which　was　pletely　
smothered　in　snow。　？I？m　not　going　anywhere。？　

Georgie　scooched　her　feet　up　under　her　and　stood　up。　She　disappeared　into　the　bathroom　and　
Nate　could　hear　a　cabinet　door　open　and　the　sounds　of　pill　bottles　rattling　and　water　running。　Then　
she　came　out；　brushing　her　teeth；　her　light　brown　eyes　all　lit　up　like　she？d　just　had　an　epiphany；　or　
at　the　very　least　a　good　idea。　？There？s　an　old　carriage　up　in　the　attic。　We　can　go　up　and　sit　in　it；？　
she　announced　with　her　mouth　full　of　toothpaste。　She　went　back　into　the　bathroom　to　spit　and　then　
came　out　again；　holding　a　pale　hand　out　to　Nate。　？Are　you　ing？？　


Nate　stood　up　and　took　her　hand。　His　body　was　humming　from　the　pot　and　the　intense　
smoothness　of　Georgie？s　skin。　All　he　really　wanted　to　do　was　to　kiss　her　some　more。　？Can　I　？feed　
my　craving？　when　we　get　up　there？？　he　asked；　feeling　very　stoned　indeed。　

Georgie　cocked　a　thin　dark　eyebrow　at　him　and　licked　her　dark　red　lips。　？I　might　even　let　
you　？heal　my　wounds。？？　

Nate　grinned　his　lopsided　stoner　grin。　Who？d　known　rehab　psychobabble　could　be　such　a　
turn…on！　

　our　bodies；　ourselves　

？My　hand　is　getting　tired；？　Jenny　plained　to　Elise　after　she？d　painted　Elise？s　head　and　
neck。　？I？ll　do　the　rest　tomorrow。？　

？Let？s　see；？　Elise　said；　sitting　up。　Her　chest　was　so　small　Jenny　couldn？t　help　but　stare　at　it。　Her　
breasts　were　like　the　little　new　potatoes　her　dad　had　grown　when　they？d　rented　a　house　in　
Pennsylvania　one　summer。　Small；　hard；　and　beigey　pink。　？It　looks　good；？　Elise　said；　squinting　at　
the　canvas。　？But　how　e　you　made　my　face　green？？　

Jenny　hated　when　people　asked　her　questions　about　her　art。　She　didn？t　know　why　she　did　what　
she　did；　she　just　did　it。　And　her　dad　always　said；　？The　artist　doesn？t　have　to　answer　to　anyone　but　
himself。？　Orher　self；　in　her　case。　？Because　I　was　in　a　green　mood；？　she　answered；　annoyed。　

？Well；　green　is　my　favorite　color；？　Elise　responded　happily。　She　pulled　on　her　turtleneck　and　
underwear　but　left　her　jeans　and　bra　on　the　floor。　？Oh　my　God。　I　have　that　book；　too！？　she　
squealed；　pointing　at　a　thick；　heavy　paperback　on　the　bookshelf　behind　the　TV。　She　walked　over　to　
the　shelf　and　pulled　the　book　out。　？But　yours　is　so　new。　Don？t　you　ever　read　it？？　

Jenny　bit　off　the　top　of　an　Oreo　and　read　the　title　on　the　spine　of　book。The　New　This　Is　My　Body　
for　Women。　？My　dad　bought　me　that　last　year。　I　think　he　probably　thought　that　if　I　read　it；　he　
wouldn？t　have　to　explain　anything　to　me　about　sex？I　could　just　look　up　the　embarrassing　stuff。？　

？But　have　you　ever　actually　looked　at　it？　Some　of　it　is　reallygraphic　。？　

Jenny　had　no　idea。　She？d　immediately　shelved　the　book　behind　the　TV　along　with　the　other　
random　books　her　father　had　given　her　that　she　never　intended　to　read；　likeBreathing　Room：　A　
Buddhist？s　Guide　to　Living　Creatively；　Mao？s　Secret　Seven：　The　Women　Behind　Chairman　Mao；　
andFinding　the　Dragon　Within：What　Is　Your　Art？　


？Like；　graphic　in　what　way？？　Jenny　asked；　intrigued。　

Elise　carried　the　book　over　to　the　worn　leather　sofa　and　sat　down；　crossing　her　long　bare　legs　
dramatically。　？I？ll　show　you。？　She　opened　the　book　and　Jenny　sat　down　next　to　her　and　leaned　in　
close　to　see。　

The　first　thing　Elise　turned　to　was　a　detailed　diagram　of　a　woman　on　her　hands　and　knees　bent　
over　a　man　lying　on　his　back。　The　book　had　been　written　in　the　nineteen…seventies　and　the　text　had　
since　been　updated；　but　the　diagrams　hadn？t。　The　man　had　hair　down　to　his　shoulders；　a　full　beard；　
and　was　wearing　beads。　His　penis　was　sticking　straight　up　and　it　appeared　to　be　in　the　woman？s　
mouth。　The　two　girls　erupted　into　giggles。

　Ew！　

？I　told　you；？　said　Elise；　pleased　with　herself　for　opening　right　up　to　such　a　gem。　

？I　can？t　believe　I　never　saw　any　of　this；？　Jenny　exclaimed。　She　grabbed　the　book　away　from　
Elise　and　rifled　through　the　pages。　？Oh　my　God！？　she　gasped　when　she　saw　a　diagram　of　the　same　
couple　in　another　position。　The　woman　still　had　the　long…haired　guy？s　penis　in　her　mouth；　except　
this　time　she　was　lying　alongside　him　with　her　feet　up　around　his　head　and　her　legs　splayed　so　that　
he　could　do　the　same　thing　toher　。　Jenny　didn？t　even　know　the　name　forthat　。　？I　thought　this　was　
just　a　boring　book　about　getting　your　period　and　all　that　stuff。　But　this　is；　like；　a　realsex　book　
forwomen　。？　

？I　think　there？s　a　teen　one；　too；　that？s　totally　boring；　but　my　mom　got　me　this　one　by　mistake。　I　
couldn？t　believe　it　when　I　started　reading　it！？　

The　two　girls　pored　over　the　pages　until　they　stumbled　upon　a　section　called　Same…Sex　
Relationships。　

？Like　Ms。　Crumb；？　Jenny　observed；　reading。　The　introduction　was　long　and　started　with　the　
line；　？Your　feelings　are　genuine　and　not　to　be　ignored。　。　。　。？　Outside　she　could　hear　the　grating　
sound　of　a　snowplow　driving　by。　She　looked　up　to　watch　the　snow　falling　steadily　through　the　
grimy　living　room　window。　

？Hey。　You　want　to　try　it？？　Elise　asked。　

Jenny　turned　back　to　the　book。　？What？？　

？Kissing；？　Elise　answered　in　barely　a　whisper。　

Your　feelings　are　genuine　and　not　to　be　ignored。　

Yes；　but　Jenny　didn？t　really　have　any　feelings　for　Elise。　She　liked　her　and　everything　but　she　


wasn？tattracted　to　her。　Still；　kissing　a　girl　sounded　exciting。　It　was　something　she？d　never　done　
before；　and　if　it　felt　unfortable；　she　could　always　pretend　to　be　kissing　that　tall　blond　boy　
she？d　spotted　in　Bendel？s。　

She　closed　the　book　and　folded　her　hands　in　her　lap。　Her　face　was　only　inches　away　from　
Elise？s。　？Okay；　let？s　do　it。？　It　was　just　an　experiment；　something　new　to　try　on　a　boring；　snowy　
night。　

Elise　leaned　forward　and　put　her　hand　on　Jenny？s　arm。　Then　she　closed　her　eyes　and　Jenny　
closed　hers；　too。　Elise　pressed　her　lips　against　Jenny？s　tightly　clenched　mouth。　It　wasn？t　a　kiss　
exactly？it　was　toodry　。　It　felt　more　like　a　nudge　or　something。　

Elise　pulled　her　head　back　and　both　girls　opened　their　eyes。　？It　says　in　the　book　to　relax　and　
enjoy　yourself；　especially　when　it？s　your　first　time。？　

What；　had　she；　like；　memorized　the　book？　

Jenny　pulled　her　curly　brown　hair　up　on　top　of　her　head　and　blew　a　big　breath　out　through　her　
nose。　She　didn？t　know　what　she　was　so　nervous　about；　but　she　would　have　preferred　it　if　Elise　had　
still　been　wearing　her　pants。　？Do　you　mind　putting　your　jeans　back　on？？　she　asked。　？I　think　I　
could；　you　know；　relax　more　if　you　were　like；　dressed。？　

Elise　hopped　up　and　scooted　into　her　jeans。　？There；　is　that　better？？　she　asked；　leaving　them　
unbuttoned　as　she　sat　down　on　the　sofa　again。　

？Okay。　Let？s　try　it　again；？　Jenny　replied；　revving　herself　up。　She　closed　her　eyes　and　slid　her　
hands　under　Elise？s　hair　and　around　her　neck；　trying　to　be　less　of　a　prude　about　the　whole　thing。　

After　all；　she　was　an　artist；　and　artists　did　all　sorts　of　crazy　things。　

the　next　keats　meets　his　next　muse　

After　the　Better　Than　Naked　fashion　show；　the　candles　lining　the　runway　were　removed　and　red　
and　blue　strobe　lights　began　to　zoom　against　the　black　velvet　walls。　DJ　Sassy　broke　out　the　phat　
French　house　beats；　and　the　Harrison　Street　Club　was　transformed　into　a　seventies　European　disco　
full　of　half…naked　ninety…pound　models　drinking　Cristal　champagne　straight　out　of　the　bottle。　

Dan　stood　alone　by　the　bar；　sipping　his　Red　Bull？and…who…knew…what…else　cocktail。　It　tasted　
exactly　like　baby　aspirin　and　he　was　only　drinking　it　because　the　bartender　had　promised　him　it　
was　loaded　with　caffeine　and　something　called　taurine；　which　was　guaranteed　to　keep　him　
hyperawake　all　night。　


All　of　a　sudden　he　noticed　a　violently　tall　woman　wearing　a　flaming　red　bouffant　wig？ithad　to　be　
a　wig？neon　pink　lipstick；　andhuge　tortoise…shell　sunglasses　standing　in　the　middle　of　the　packed　
room　with　her　hands　cupped　around　her　mouth。　？Daniel　Humphrey？　Calling　Daniel　Humphrey！？　
she　shrieked。　

It　was　Rusty　Klein。　

Dan　tilted　his　head　back　and　downed　his　drink；　blinking　his　eyes　as　the　caffeine　and　whatever　
else　was　in　his　drink　rushed　to　his　brain　all　at　once。　He　stumbled　over　to　the　woman；　his　heart　
thumping　even　faster　than　the　music。　？I？m　Dan；？　he　croaked。　

？Lookatyou　！　Our　newpoet　！　You？readorable　！Perfect　！？　Rusty　Klein　pushed　her　enormous　
sunglasses　up　on　top　of　her　head　and　jangled　the　enormous　gold　bracelets　covering　her　long　bony　
wrists　as　she　grabbed　Dan　and　kissed　each　of　his　cheeks。　Her　perfume　smelled　oily　and　acidic；　like　
tuna　fish。　？I　love　you；　honey；？　she　purred；　squeezing　Dan　tight。　

Dan　shrank　away；　unused　to　being　manhandled　by　someone　he？d　only　just　met。　He　hadn？t　
expected　Rusty　Klein　to　be　soscary　。　Her　eyebrows　had　been　dyed　to　match　her　wig　and　she　was　
dressed　like　a　sword　fighter；　in　a　form…fitting　black　velvet　Better　Than　Naked　puffy…sleeved　jacket　
and　matching　black　velvet　bullfighting　pants。　A　rope　of　black　pearls　clung　to　her　pale；　bony　
cleavage。　

？I？ve　been　trying　to　write　more　poems；？　Dan　stammered。　？You　know；　for　my　book？？　

？Wonderful！？　Rusty　Klein　shouted；　thrusting　her　lips　at　him　again　and　probably　smearing　bright　
pink　lipstick　all　over　his　face。　？Let？s　make　a　lunch　date　sometime　next　week。？　

？Um；　I？ve　got　school　all　day　every　day　next　week；　but　I　get　out　at　three…thirty。？　

？School！？Rusty　screamed。　？You？re　socute　！　We　can　do　tea　then。　Call　my　office　and　have　Buckley；　
my　assistant；　set　it　up。　Oh；　fuck　me！？　She　clasped　Dan？s　arm　with　a　clawlike　hand。　Her　fingernails　
were　at　least　three　inches　long　and　painted　orangey　pink。　？There？s　someone　here　you　
absolutelymust　meet。？　

Rusty　let　go　of　Dan　and　held　out　her　arms　to　receive　a　frail…looking　girl　with　a　long；　sad　face　and　
dirty　blond　hair。　The　girl　was　wearing　only　a　see…through　light　pink　slip　over　her　gaunt　frame　and　
her　lank；　waist…length　hair　was　unbed；　as　if　she？d　just　gotten　out　of　bed。　？Mystery　Craze；　this　
is　Daniel　Humphrey。　Daniel；　this　is　Mystery；？　Rusty　purred　loudly。　？Mystery；　honey；　you　
remember　that　poem　I　gave　you　to　read？　The　one　you　said　。　。　。　Oh；　fuck　me。　I？ll　letyou　tell　him　
what　you　said。　Now　if　you？ll　excuse　me；　I？m　going　to　go　lick　my　favorite　designer？s　ass　so　he？ll　
give　me　some　new　free　clothes。　Love　you　both。　Ciao！？　she　added；　before　striding　away　in　her　
five…inch　black　stilettos。　


Mystery　blinked　her　huge；　tired　gray　eyes。　She　looked　like　she？d　been　up　all　night　cleaning　
floors；　like　Cinderella。　？Your　poem　saved　my　life；？　she　confided　to　Dan　in　a　low；　husky　voice