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　introducing　the　newd　

Tuesday　afternoon；　Vanessa　stood　outside　Riverside　Prep；　filming　the　frozen　remains　of　a　dead　
pigeon　carcass　and　thinking　about　sex　while　she　waited　for　Dan　to　appear。　Dan　had　left　a　message　
for　her　at　the　reception　desk　at　Constance　Billard　to　e　and　meet　him　after　school。Urgent。　Meet　
me　here　at　four；　it　said。What　a　freak；　Vanessa　thought　lovingly。　What　could　possibly　be　so　urgent？　
He　was　probably　just　having　an　attack　of　paranoia　because　his　poem　had　e　out　inThe　New　
Yorker　today。　Either　that　or　he　was　feeling　extremely　stimulated　and　couldn？twait　to　do　it　again。　
Before　even　taking　a　shower　that　morning　Vanessa　had　run　downstairs　and　bought　sixNew　Yorker　
s　from　the　newsstand　on　the　corner。　That　way　there　would　always　be　a　spare　copy　to　wave　in　
Dan？s　face　when　he　was　feeling　especially　inadequate。　

When　she　really　thought　about　it；she　was　the　one　who　should　have　been　freaking　out。　The　poem　
was　all　about　a　guy　feeling　insecure　around　women；　particularly　his　dominating　girlfriend。　People　
who　knew　them　were　going　to　think　Vanessa　was　a　real　ball…breaker。　But　the　last　line　was　so　sweet　
and　sexy；　she　couldn？t　really　plain。　

Take　care　of　me。　Take　me。　Take　care。　Take　me。　

Reading　it　made　her　want　to　rip　off　all　her　clothes　and　jump　him。Gently　；　of　course。　

Just　then　Dan　burst　through　the　black　doors　of　Riverside　Prep　practically　in　midsentence。　He　
waved　his　rumpled　copy　ofThe　New　Yorker　at　Vanessa　and　galloped　up　to　her　in　his　worn…out　
white　Pumas　and　navy　blue　cords；　planting　a　sloppy；　wet　kiss　on　her　mouth。　？This　has　been　the　
best　day　of　my　life！？　he　trumpeted。　？I　love　you！？　

？You　don？t　have　to　be　romantic　to　get　in　my　pants　again；？　Vanessa　giggled　and　kissed　him　
again。　？I？m　always　available。　And　by　the　way；　I　love　you；　too。？　

？Cool。？　Dan　smiled　goofily　back　at　her。　

Vanessa　couldn？t　believe　this　was　the　same　old　Dan　she？d　seen　only　yesterday。　He　was　still　pale；　
thin；　and　overcaffeinated；　but　his　brown　eyes　were　shining　and　there　were　traces　of　smiley…face　
dimples　in　his　usually　sallow　cheeks。　Wait　a　minute。　Since　when　could　she　actually　see　his　
eyes？　？Whoa；　you　got　a　haircut；？　she　observed；　standing　back　to　check　it　out。　

Dan　had　asked　the　barber　to　cut　his　hair　short　with　long　sideburns；　figuring　the　sideburns　would　
keep　him　from　looking　like　all　the　preppy　assholes　in　his　class。　He　swept　his　hand　over　his　head　
self…consciously。　It　felt　odd；　but　somehow　cleaner　than　before；　more　。　。　。homogenous　。　And　that　


was　exactly　what　he　wanted？to　be　judged　by　his　work；　not　his　hair。　

Whatever　you　say；　Sideburn　Man。　

Vanessa　put　her　hands　on　the　hips　of　her　black　parka　coat。　Something　about　Dan？s　haircut　was　so　
deliberate；　like　he　was　actually　going　for　a　certain　artsy；　bohemian　look　instead　of　just　stumbling　
upon　one　by　mistake。　？It？s　different；？　she　mused；　already　feeling　a　little　nostalgic　for　the　old　
scruffy…haired　Dan。　？I　guess　I？ll　get　used　to　it。？　

Behind　them　a　group　of　eighth…grade　boys　spilled　out　the　school　doors　singing　？Hello　Dolly？　at　
the　top　of　their　lungs。　They？d　just　been　released　from　music　class　and　were　still　too　young　and　
innocent　to　realize　how　gay　they　sounded。　

Hello；　Dolly！　Well　hel…loo；　Dolly！　

It？s　so　nice　to　have　you　back　where　you　belong！　

Dan　pulled　a　pack　of　unfiltered　Camels　out　of　his　black　messenger　bag；　tipped　one　out；　and　stuck　
it　between　his　lips。　His　fingers　trembled　wildly　as　he　lit　it。　Well；　at　leastthat　hadn？t　changed。　He　
offered　the　pack　to　Vanessa。　？Want　one？？　

Vanessa　stared　at　him　and　chuckled　in　disbelief。　？Since　when　do　I　smoke？？　

Dan　exhaled　into　the　air　above　her　head　and　rolled　his　eyes。　？Sorry。　I　don？t　know　why　I　just　did　
that。？　He　shoved　the　pack　back　into　his　bag　and　grabbed　Vanessa？s　frozen　fingers。　？e　on。　
Let？s　walk　somewhere。　I　have　something　major　to　tell　you。？　

As　they　were　taking　off；　Zeke　Freedman　walked　out　of　school　bouncing　a　neon　blue　basketball。　
Zeke　was　big　and　lumbering；　but　he　was　Riverside　Prep？s　star　basketball　player。　He？d　grown　out　
his　curly　black　hair　so　it　hung　down　to　his　shoulders；　and　he　was　sporting　a　new　slate　gray　
snowboarding　jacket。　Zeke　and　Dan　had　been　best　friends　since　second　grade；　but　they　hadn？t　
really　hung　out　in　the　last　few　months　because　Dan　had　been　preoccupied　with　other　things。　

Namely；　women　and　poetry。　

Dan　realized　he　didn？t　even　know　where　Zeke　had　applied　to　college。　The　distance　between　them　
was　mostly　his　fault；　and　he　felt　bad　about　it。　？Hey　Zeke；？　he　called　over。　

Zeke　stopped　walking；　his　heavy　body　looking　even　more　massive　than　usual　inside　his　new　
parka。　？Hey　Dan；？　he　replied　with　a　careful　smile；　bouncing　the　blue　ball　in　place　on　the　frozen　
sidewalk。　？Hey　Vanessa。？　

？What　do　you　think　of　Dan？s　new　haircut？？　Vanessa　asked　with　a　wry　smile。　？It？s　part　of　his　
new　Mr。　Published　Poet　image。？　


？Oh　yeah？？　Zeke　didn？t　seem　to　know　what　Vanessa　was　talking　about。　He　glanced　down　the　
street；　giving　the　basketball　a　good　hard　bounce　before　holding　up　his　hand。　？See　you　guys。？　

？See　ya；？　Dan　called；　watching　his　old　friend　dribble　the　ball　down　to　the　end　of　the　street。　

？So；　what？s　the　big　news？？　Vanessa　asked　as　they　started　to　walk　west　on　Seventy…eighth　Street。　

Cold　air　blasted　the　clouds　across　the　pale　gray　sky。　Down　the　block；　through　the　leafless　
branches　of　the　trees　in　Riverside　Park；　Dan　caught　a　silvery　glimpse　of　the　Hudson。　？Well；？　he　
began　suspensefully。　？This　morning　this　big…deal　literary　agent　named　Rusty　Klein　called　my　cell　
phone　and　left　me　this　crazy　message。　She　thinks　I？m　the　next　Keats　and　she　said　we　have　to　keep　
the　momentum　going　now　that　we　have　the　public？s　attention。？　

？Wow。　EvenI？ve　heard　of　her！？　Vanessa　responded；　impressed。　？What　does　that　mean；　though？？　

Dan　blew　a　puff　of　smoke　into　the　air。　？I　guess　it　means　she　wants　to　represent　me。？　

Vanessa　stopped　walking。　She　wasn？t　sure　where　they　were　going　anyway。　？But　you　only　wrote　
one　poem。　What？s　she　going　to　do？　I　don？t　mean　to　be　a　downer　Dan；　but　you　have　to　be　careful　
of　people　like　that；　you　know？　She　could　be　trying　to　take　advantage　of　you。？　

Dan　stopped　walking；　too。　He　flipped　up　the　collar　of　his　black　wool　army…navy　coat　and　then　
flipped　it　down　again。　Why　was　Vanessa　being　so　negative？　All　of　this　was　totally　unexpected；　but　
it　was　also　extremely　fucking　cool。　And　it　wasn？t　like　he　was　going　to　sell　out　and　start　writing　
clich？d　

Gap　ads　just　because　he　had　an　agent；　if　that　was　what　she　was　worried　about。　？I　don？t　know。　I　
think　she　can　help　me　with　my　career。　Maybe　I　can　put　a　book　together　and　she　can　try　to　get　it　
published　or　something。？　

Vanessa　blew　on　her　hands　and　then　rubbed　her　cold；　bare　ears。　？Can　we　go　over　to　your　house？　
I？m　freezing　my　ass　off。　We？d　better　work　on　the　film；　too。？　

Dan　threw　his　cigarette　on　the　ground。　？Um；　actually；　I　was　thinking　I　might　go　back　and　read　
through　all　my　note…books。　You　know；　see　if　there？s　a　thematic　link　to　some　of　the　poems。　
Something　I　could　work　into　a　book。？　

Vanessa　had　been　about　to　offer　her　services　as　a　reader；　but　it　didn？t　sound　like　Dan　wanted　any　
help。　？Okay；？　she　said　coolly。　？Call　me　if　you　need　anything　or　whatever。？　

Dan　flipped　his　collar　up　again　and　lit　another　cigarette；　experimenting　with　his　new　look。　？Oh；　
wait。　I　wanted　to　ask　you　something。　Rusty　Klein　invited　me　to　this　thing　called　Better　Than　
Naked。　？The　Better　Than　Naked　show。？　That？s　what　she　said。　Do　you　know　if　that？s　a　band　or　


something？？　

Better　Than　Naked　was　the　antifashion　fashion　label　that　Vanessa？s　older　sister；　Ruby；　blew　all　
her　gig　money　on。　Most　of　their　clothes　looked　like　old　thrift…store　rags　that　had　been　run　over　by　
a　fleet　of　street…cleaning　machines；　which　was　pletely　intentional。　Very　downtown　？fuck　the　
trends？　fashion。　

？It？s　Fashion　Week　starting　on　Friday；？　Vanessa　explained。　？It　sounds　like　she？s　inviting　you　to　
the　Better　Than　Naked　runway　show；　which　I　only　know　about　because　Ruby　is　totally　crazy　about　
their　clothes　and　always　watches　the　shows　on　the　Metro　Channel。　I　don？t　know　why　Rusty　Klein　
thinksyou　would　want　to　go；　though。　What　do　you　care　about　clothes？　And　it？ll　be　full　of　posers　
and　wanna…bes？you　know；　that　whole　vapid　fashion　scene。？　

Dan　looked　thoughtful　as　he　puffed　on　his　cigarette。　？I　think　I？m　gonna　check　it　out。？　He　
wouldn？t　have　cared　if　Rusty　Klein　had　asked　to　meet　him　at　a　pro　wrestling　match。　This　was　
about　building　his　writing　career。　

Filming　Dan　at　the　Better　Than　Naked　show　would　have　been　perfect　material　for　her　film；　but　
Vanessa　didn？t　want　to　butt　in　if　Dan　was　meeting　someone　as　important　as　Rusty　Klein　at　the　
show。　？Okay；　Mr。　Hot　Shit　Poet。　Don？t　forget　your　old　friends　when　you？re　driving　around　in　a　
limo　drinking　champagne　with　naked　models　and　whatnot。？　She　reached　up　and　mussed　his　neat　
little　haircut。　？Congratulations。？　

Dan　grinned　widely　back　at　her。　？It？s　pretty　amazing；？　he　agreed　happily。　Then；　with　one　last　
sweet　kiss；　he　turned　and　walked　up　Riverside　Drive　toward　home；　the　iridescent　silver　Puma　
logos　flashing　on　his　heels　as　he　went。　

Vanessa　smiled　fondly　at　the　spring　in　his　step。　？See　you　later；　alligator。？　

shas　just　what　they？ve　been　looking　for　

？I？m　looking　for　one　of　those　groovy　new　men？s　golfing　jackets　in　a　funky　Day…Glo　color　like　
bright　green　or　yellow；？　Serena　told　the　salesgirl　in　the　Les　Best　boutique　on　Tuesday　after　school。　
During　French　that　day　Serena　had　remembered　admiring　the　new　Les　Best　men？s　golfing　jacket　
in　the　latest　issue　ofW　magazine　and　decided　it　was　the　perfect　gift　for　Aaron。　She　never　got　tired　
of　giving　Aaron　gifts。　Everything　she　bought　just　looked　so　cute　on　him。　It　was　like　dressing　a　doll；　
her　own　adorable　life…sized；　dreadlocked；　guitar…playing；　Harvard…bound　doll。　

The　boutique　was　on　West　Fourteenth　Street　in　the　meat…packing　district；　where　the　streets　
actually　smelled　like　carcasses　and　manure　from　all　the　old　meat　warehouses。　Leave　it　to　Les　Best；　
creator　of　the　most　beautifully　tailored　leisure　wear　in　the　world；　to　think　that　the　rawness　of　the　


neighborhood　was　so　cool；　he　just　had　to　open　up　shop　there。　The　space　was　huge　and　decorated　
all　in　white　muslin　with　only　one　or　two　brightly　colored　tennis　dresses　or　polo　jackets　hanging　
from　giant　steel　hooks　sticking　out　of　the　walls。　The　idea　was　that　unless　you　really　knew　enough　
about　the　clothes　to　ask　to　see　more；　you　had　no　purpose　shopping　there。　

？We？re　all　out　of　the　golfing　jackets；　I？m　afraid；？　the　bleached…blond　salesgirl　answered　in　an　
English　accent。　She　was　dressed　all　in　white；　too。　Even　her　sneakers　were　made　of　white　pony　
fur。　？My　manager　nicked　the　last　one　for　himself。？　

Serena　examined　a　gorgeous　red…and…white…striped　silk　tennis　dress　hanging　on　a　hook　
nearby。　？Damn；？　she　said　under　her　breath。　？I　keep　seeing　that　jacket　in　magazines　and　I　thought　it　
would　be　the　perfect　thing。？　Les　Best　was　her　favorite　new　designer；　but　maybe　the　clothes　were　a　
little　too　haute　couture　for　Aaron　anyway。　He　was　more　of　a　skater…boy　kind　of　dresser。　She　
hitched　her　deep　gold　leather　Longchamp　bag　onto　her　shoulder。　？Thanks　for　your　help；？　she　
called；　hoping　to　make　it　over　to　XLarge？a　skate　store　on　Lafayette　Street？before　it　closed。　

？Wait！？　someone　called　out。　

Serena　paused　in　the　doorway　and　turned　around。　Were　they　talking　to　her？　

A　tanned　guy　with　a　bleached…blond　crew　cut　wearing　the　exact　bright　green　golfing　jacket　she？d　
been　hoping　to　buy　for　Aaron　was　holding　open　a　white　door　in　the　back　of　the　store。　He　smiled　as　
he　walked　toward　her。　？I　hope　you　don？t　mind　my　asking。？　He　cocked　his　head　and　gave　Serena　
the　once…over。　？Les　asked　me　to　look　for　a　？real　girl？　for　his　show　in　Bryant　Park　on　Friday。　I　only　
caught　a　glimpse　of　you　as　you　were　leaving；　but　I　justknow　you？d　be　perfect。　I？ve　seen　your　
picture　in　the　society　pages。　You？re　Serena；　right？？　

Serena　nodded；　unfazed。　She　was　used　to　being　recognized　from　photographs　in　gossip　columns。　
She？d　even　had　an　unnamed　body　part　photographed　by　the　famous　Remi　brothers　in　October。　The　
photo　had　been　picked　up　by　a　New　York　Transit　Au