沸腾文学

第32部分（第1页）

er　mom’s　clothes　until　well　into　high　school。　She’d　even　worn　this　very　dress　and　imagined　walking　down　the　aisle　at　St。　Patrick’s；　with　Nate　waiting　for　her　at　the　altar。

“You　would　look　beautiful　in　it；”　Nate　mused。　In　the　picture　in　his　mind；　he　substituted　Jenny’s　sloping　curves　for　Blair’s　sharp　collarbones。

Blair　smiled　despite　herself。　“I　always　thought　I’d　marry　you　wearing　this；”　she　said　honestly。　“We’d　get　married　in　St。　Patrick’s…。”

“And　honeymoon　in　Capri；”　Nate　finished。

Blair　laughed。　It　was　genuine；　and　the　sound　surprised　her。　“We　were　so　young。”

“I’m　glad　you　and　Chuck　are　happy；”　Nate　said　softly。　He　remembered　the　awful；　wild　look　in　Blair’s　eyes　last　year　at　that　hotel　room；　when　he’d　accidentally　ruined　her　relationship　with　her　Yale　boyfriend。　She　deserved　to　be　with　a　good　guy。

“I　hope　you’re　happy　too；”　she　offered。　She　knew　Deep　Springs　had　done　a　lot　for　both　Nate　and　Chuck；　but　something　in　Nate’s　green　eyes　still　looked　lost。　It　made　her　want　to　smooth　his　hair　and　hold　his　hand　and　climb　back　under　the　sheets　on　the　sleigh　bed　and—

“I　should　go　find　Chuck；　actually；”　Blair　said；　standing　up　abruptly。

“Good；”　Nate　said　quickly。　“I　mean；　I　have　to　take　a　shower。”

Blair　padded　downstairs；　wondering　why　her　brain　had　to　be　such　a　dangerous　place。　What　was　she　doing　fantasizing　about　Nate　when　she　had　Chuck—Chuck；　who　made　her　feel　like　a　princess；　and　never；　ever　fucked　with　her—just　down　the　hall？　It　was　infuriating。

Blair　paused　at　the　top　of　the　stairs　as　she　heard　Serena’s　voice　mingling　with　the　twins’　high…pitched；　French…accented　lisps。　What　the　fuck？　She　descended　into　the　kitchen。　Serena　sat　with　the　twins　at　the　large　round　wooden　kitchen　table。　A　jar　of　peanut　butter；　a　jar　of　jelly；　and　a　red　box　of　graham　crackers　sat　in　front　of　them。

“Blair！”　Serena　called　joyfully。

“Bear！”　Both　twins　yelled；　their　faces　sticky　with　peanut　butter。

“Hi；”　Blair　said　stiffly。

“Did　you　sleep　well？”　Serena　asked　hopefully。　She　hadn’t　slept　well　herself；　and　had　spent　most　of　the　night　listening　to　Dan’s　even　breath　and　feeling　guilty　about　intruding　on　Blair。　Finally；　she’d　gotten　up　early　and　had　been　playing　with　the　twins　for　hours。

Blair　stalked　over　to　the　coffeemaker　on　the　counter；　ignoring　Serena’s　inane　question。　The　stainless　steel　carafe　was　empty　and　cold。　“No　coffee？”

“The　twins　wanted　tea　this　morning。”　Serena　shrugged　playfully。

“Ha；”　Blair　replied　sarcastically；　and　pulled　a　bag　of　espresso　beans　from　the　freezer。　She　poured　the　bag　into　a　coffee　grinder　and　noisily　ground　the　coffee；　not　caring　if　anyone　was　still　asleep。　It　was　time　to　wake　up　and　get　the　fuck　out。

Good　morning；　sunshine！

Blair　finished　grinding　the　coffee　and　the　electronic　whir　gave　way　to　Serena’s　patient　voice。

“Okay；　Pauline；　now　crumble　the　graham　crackers　really　hard；”　Serena　told　the　little　girl。　Pauline’s　face　was　scrunched　in　concentration　as　she　squeezed　a　Ziploc　bag　filled　with　graham　cracker　squares。

“What　can　I　do？”　Pierre　piped　up；　his　expression　full　of　naked　adoration。

Blair　turned；　softening。　She　knew　exactly　what　had　to　be　done　next。　She　and　Serena　had　invented　peanut　butter　pie—peanut　butter　and　jelly　mixed　together　on　top　of　crushed　graham　crackers—when　they　were　in　first　grade。　Sometimes；　they’d　add　marshmallows；　which　their　nannies　hated　because　it　made　their　hands　impossibly　sticky。

“You　can　take　the　peanut　butter　and　jelly　and　mix　them；”　Blair　said；　searching　the　cabinets　for　a　mixing　bowl　and　setting　it　in　front　of　Pierre。　“I　can’t　believe　we　used　to　eat　this；”　she　said　to　Serena；　shaking　her　head。

“Do　you　have　marshmallows？”　Serena　asked　hopefully；　reading　her　mind。

“Probably。”　Blair　rummaged　through　the　cupboards；　finally　finding　a　bag。　She　tossed　it　over　to　Serena　and　leaned　against　the　counter；　appraising　her。　Serena’s　golden　blond　hair　had　grown　even　longer　in　the　last　year；　and　was　badly　in　need　of　a　cut；　but　somehow　managed　to　still　look　glamorous。　Her　navy　blue　eyes　had　slight　laugh　lines　around　the　edges。　She　looked　just　a　little　bit　older　than　she　had　a　year　ago；　or　maybe　just　more　grown…up。　“So；　you’re　dating　Dan　Humphrey；”　Blair　said　finally。

Serena　nodded。　“Pretty　weird；　right？”

“Yeah；”　Blair　laughed。　It　was　sort　of　weird。　But　Serena　had　always　been　unpredictable。　It　was　one　of　the　things　about　her　that　Blair　loved　most。　It　was　also　one　of　the　things　that　had　driven　her　crazy。

“You’re　dating　Chuck；”　Serena　countered。

“I　know！”　Blair　laughed。　The　blue　teapot　on　the　stove　whistled　and　Blair　poured　the　steamy　water　into　a　French　press。　“Do　you　want　any　coffee？”　she　asked。　It　was　the　Blair　Waldorf　version　of　a　peace　offering。

“Is　it　ready？”　Pierre　and　Pauline　interrupted；　slapping　their　sticky　hands　against　the　counter。

“Sure。”　Serena　gazed　dubiously　at　the　gooey　mess　in　the　pie　pan。　“I　don’t　know　how　they　should　eat　this。”

“Spoons？”　Blair　shrugged。　“As　long　as　they　stay　in　the　kitchen；　my　dad　won’t　care。”