gossip girl 11 英文-第18部分

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aware　of　howalone　they　were？and　remembered　what　had　happened　the　last　time　they？d　been　alone　
together。　

At　lease　she？s　wearing　soft　rubber　flip…flops。　

Blair　seemed　calm　now；　but　maybe　she？d　just　been　waiting　for　Aaron　and　Tyler　to　leave。　If　that　
mixer　was　plugged　in；　it　could　really　do　some　damage　to　his　face。　But；　then；　to　his　utter　relief；　she　
smiled。　

？Hey；　yourself；？　she　responded；　her　blue　eyes　shining。　

？Natie；　I？m　glad　you　came。　I　just　wanted　to　tell　you　that　I？m　sorry　about　the　other　day。　I　got　。　。　。　
carried　away。　And　I？ve　been　thinking　about　it。　We　can　totally　make　this　work。？　She　gave　his　hand　
a　squeeze　and　then　dropped　the　mixer　back　on　the　shelf　with　a　loud　thump。　？You　never　know　what　
surprises　the　future　may　bring。？　Nate　felt　his　body　sag　with　relief。　He　hadn？t　even　realized　how　
tense　he？d　been。　

？Let？s　go　to　Bedroom。？　Blair　suggested。　Then　she　giggled。　？I　said　to　bedroom；　not　to　bed。　Don？t　
get　your　hopes　up；　horndog。？　She　turned　on　her　heel　and　started　walking　down　the　gleaming　white　
aisle；　an　extra　flirtatious　swish　in　her　step。　

Nate　bent　down　and　picked　up　the　massive　laundry　bin　stuffed　with　carefully　selected　
items。　？Seriously；　Blair；　why　do　you　need　all　this　stuff？　Where　are　you　going　to　put　it？？　he　asked　
when　he？d　caught　up　with　her；　his　arms　sagging　under　the　bin？s　weight。　Suddenly　he　remembered　
the　description　of　hell　in　Dante？sInferno　from　eleventh…grade　English　class。　There　were　different　
circles　of　hell；　and　everyone　suffered　according　to　their　crimes。　Was　carrying　the　leaden　bin　his　
penance　for　sleeping　with　Serena？　Was　he　doomed　to　carry　that　guilt　for　all　eternity？　

The　Curse　of　the　Container　Store？ing　to　a　Blockbuster　near　you。　

？I　admit；　fitting　everything　into　a　tiny　dorm　room　is　going　to　be　a　challenge。？　Blair　paused　at　a　
shelf　filled　with　clear　plastic　boxes　and　bins　of　every　shape　and　color。　She　ran　her　hands　over　a　
huge　set　of　colorful；　stackable　drawers；　opening　each　drawer　one　by　one。　？But　I　had　the　Yale　
housing　office　fax　me　a　floor　plan　this　morning。　If　we　loft　my　roommate？s　bed　way　up　close　to　the　
ceiling；　we　should　have　just　enough　space　for　a　double　bed　and　a　dresser　and　maybe　even　a　small　
love　seat。？　We？　


？And　it？ll　only　be　for　a　few　weeks；　anyway？before　we　find　a　cute　little　colonial　house　with　ivy　
and　one　of　those　claw…footed　bathtubs　and　a　woodstove。　That？s　what　the　kitchen　stuff　is　for。？　？But　
you　don？t　cook；？　Nate　pointed　out。　Suddenly　the　rest　of　what　she？d　said　hit　him　in　a　rush。　？And　
wait？we？　But　I？m　going　to　be　here　in　the　city。　。　。　。？　Blair　tossed　the　set　of　drawers　on　top　of　the　
stack　in　the　overflowing　laundry　bin。　？Well；　you　could　just　take　the　train　into　the　city　in　the　
morning　and　e　back　to　New　Haven　at　night。You　get　out　of　school　at；　like；　three　anyway。？　She　
moved　down　the　aisle　and　held　up　a　yellow…and…white…striped　pillow　with　attached　lap　desk；　
contemplating　its　usefulness。　

Right；　because　she　only　buys　useful　things。　Like　wine　racks。　

After　talking　to　her　father　and　realizing　there　was　a　distinct　possibility　he　mightnot　be　able　to　get　
Nate　back　into　Yale？apparently　colleges　took　those　diploma　things　pretty　seriously？Blair　had　gone　
into　full　contingency…plan　mode。　Nate　would　take　the　train　into　Manhattan　in　the　morning　and　
e　home　to　her　at　night。　They　would　be　like　one　of　those　suburban　families；　where　the　dad　
mutes　to　the　city　every　day　and　then　es　back　to　his　cozy　home？not　to　mention　his　horny　
wife？at　night。　He　would　walk　in　the　door；　loosening　his　tie　as　he　made　his　way　toward　the　kitchen；　
and　she？d　be　waiting　for　him　in　nothing　but　a　red…and…white　polka…dot　apron　and　bright　red　toenail　
polish。　Then　they？d　stay　blissfully　in　each　other？s　arms　all　night；　kissing　nonstop　until　dawn　broke　
in　the　morning　and　Nate　had　to　leave　again？already　pining　for　her　as　he　waited　for　the　morning　
train。　

Okay；　so　it　wouldn？t　be　the　most　glamorous　thing　in　the　world　to　tell　her　new　Yale　friends　that　
her　boyfriend　was　still　in　high　school；　but　she　could　easily　tell　them　he　had　a　great　banking　job　
and　was　going　to　work　for　a　year　before　starting　college。　Or　maybe　he　was　just　so　smart　he　didn？t　
need　a　college　degree　at　all；　he　was　one　of　those　stock　market　prodigies　she？d　seen　in　the　news。　

The　Prodigal　Stoner？　

Nate　frowned。　？Take　the　train　every　day？　But　doesn？t　it　take　like　an　hour　and　a　half　each　way？　
Why　don？t　I　just　stay　here　in　the　city　during　the　week　and　visit　you　on　weekends？？　？And　leave　
you　here　all　by　yourself；　with　those　slutty　L？？cole　girls？　I　don？t　think　so；？　Blair　responded　tersely。　

Nate　shifted　his　eyes　to　the　floor　beneath　her　icy　blue　stare。　？You　can　trust　me；？　he　mumbled。　
Besides；　he　wouldn？t　be　with　any　L？？cole　girls。　He？d　be　with　Serena。　Not　that　he　could　actually　
say　that　out　loud。　

？You　can　do　yourhomework　on　the　train；？　she　added　decisively。　Seriously；　he　was　lucky　she　was　
even　talking　to　him。　Yale　had　been　her　dream　her　whole　life；　and　for　years　now　Nate　had　been　a　
part　of　that　dream；　too。　He？d　pretty　much　shat　all　over　her　plans　with　his　no…diploma　bullshit。　
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　b