沸腾文学

第7部分（第2页）

“Hey；”　she　said　to　the　group。　She　grabbed　a　bottle　of　Ketel　One　and　liberally　poured　it　into　a　tumbler；　then　added　a　splash　of　tonic。　The　suite　was　pretty　empty。　In　the　corner；　a　group　of　flannel…clad　guys　were　playing　Xbox；　entranced　by　the　flat　screen　against　one　wall。　The　hot　tub；　constructed　in　an　anteroom　between　the　bedroom　and　the　main　suite；　was　filled　with　flat…chested　girls　Blair　vaguely　recognized　as　members　of　the　freshman　peer　group　she’d　led　last　year　at　Constance。　Blair　squinted　to　take　a　closer　look。　Through　the　steam；　she　noticed　two　topless　girls　making　out　with　each　other。　Obviously　slutty　L’école　girls；　trying　to　get　attention。　Blair　wrinkled　her　nose。　Was　this　seriously　how　she　was　spending　her　New　Year’s？　This　party　was　lame　even　by　high　school　standards。

“Where’s　Chuck？”　she　asked　Rain；　trying　not　to　stare　at　the　infected　boil　that　erupted　from　her　nose　piercing。　She’d　heard　Chuck　was　in　military　school　or　monkey　training　school　or　something。

You　know；　either　one。

“I　don’t　know。”　Rain　shrugged。　“More　importantly；　did　you　see　Isabel？”

Blair　shook　her　head　blankly。　Why　the　hell　would　she　care　about　Isabel　Coates？

“Look。”　Laura　Salmon　pointed　a　pearly　manicured　finger　toward　the　two　girls　in　the　hot　tub。　“Isabel’s　dating　a　girl　named　Casey。　Except　she’s　just　doing　that　to　show　off；”　Laura　said　in　disapproval。　Blair　squinted　through　the　fog；　recognizing　Isabel’s　profile。　Interesting。　She　wished　she　could　deconstruct　the　whole　ridiculous　scenario　with　Serena。　Where　the　fuck　was　she？

“Are　you　dating　anyone？”　Rain　asked　nosily　as　she　chugged　her　vodka　soda　from　a　Riedel　glass。

“I’m　dating　a　p　lit　major。　He’s　a　junior　and　I　was　just　with　his　family　for　the　holidays。　He’s　in　Costa　Rica　right　now…　working　on　a…　project；”　Blair　fibbed；　getting　more　and　more　annoyed　by　the　second。　In　the　movie　of　her　life；　tonight　was　supposed　to　play　like　the　scene　in　My　Fair　Lady；　when　Eliza　makes　a　grand　entrance　at　the　ball　and　everyone　wonders　who　that　stunning；　gorgeous　girl　is。　Instead；　she　was　busy　trying　to　impress　the　wannabes　she’d　never　even　cared　about　in　high　school。

How　the　mighty　have　fallen。

“Serena’s　dating　a　movie　star；”　Laura　offered；　taking　a　seat　on　one　of　the　bar　stools　next　to　Blair。　“I　read　about　it　in　the　Post。”

Blair　pretended　she　hadn’t　heard。　She　did　not　want　to　get　into　a　conversation　about　Serena’s　fabulous；　star…studded　life。　Was　she　dating　a　movie　star？　Was　she　with　him　right　now？　And　why　hadn’t　any　of　the　flannel…clad　guys　in　the　corner　even　noticed　her？　Blair　unhappily　drained　the　rest　of　her　drink。　She　pulled　out　her　iPhone　and　frowned　at　it。　WHERE　THE　FUCK　ARE　YOU？　she　texted；　then　quickly　pressed　send　with　a　nude…polished　fingernail。

“I’m　going　out　to　smoke；”　she　announced；　turning　on　her　knee…high　Sigerson　Morrison　boot　and　stomping　toward　the　terrace。

If　you　can’t　make　a　grand　entrance；　make　a　grand　exit。

fancy　meeting　you　here

Nate　shivered　and　stuffed　his　hands　deep　into　the　pockets　of　his　blue　toggle　coat。　He　and　Chips　had　docked　in　Palm　Beach　in　the　morning；　and　Nate　had　hopped　an　afternoon　flight　back　to　New　York；　arriving　at　his　Upper　East　Side　town　house　in　the　early　evening。　He’d　taken　a　long　shower；　then　spent　hours　seated　on　the　floor　of　his　room；　unsure　what　to　do。　Aboard　the　Belinda　he　always　had　tasks。　But　back　in　the　city；　he　had　nothing　to　do　and　nowhere　to　go。　No　one　even　knew　he　was　here。　His　parents　were　in　St。　Barts　for　New　Year’s；　like　always；　and　Regina；　the　Archibalds’　housekeeper；　had　the　week　off。　It　would　be　cool　to　have　the　house　to　himself；　if　he　didn’t　feel　so　lonely。　Everything　in　his　room；　from　the　lacrosse　sticks　propped　in　the　closet　to　the　framed　photos　on　his　desk；　reminded　him　of　his　old　life。

Eventually；　Nate　had　gotten　dressed　in　a　dark　blue　Ralph　Lauren　sweater　and　a　pair　of　Diesel　jeans　and　left　the　house。　He’d　wandered　aimlessly　downtown　for　about　an　hour；　until　he　remembered　that　Chuck　always　threw　a　New　Year’s　Eve　party　at　the　Tribeca　Star。　As　if　his　feet　had　a　mind　of　their　own；　he　found　himself　headed　there。

Nate　glanced　left　and　right　across　East　Houston　and　crossed　the　street　toward　the　ultramodern　Philippe　Starck–designed　hotel　that　loomed　above　lower　Manhattan。　He　paused　at　the　corner；　gazing　up　like　a　tourist。　His　neatly　ironed　clothes　felt　scratchy　after　months　of　wearing　frayed　cargo　shorts　and　T…shirts。　What　the　fuck　was　he　doing？　Maybe　it　was　a　dumb　idea。　Maybe　Chuck　wasn’t　even　having　a　party　this　year。　Or　maybe　he　was；　and　by　some　crazy　coincidence；　Serena　and　Blair　would　be　there。

But　Blair　didn’t　even　have　a　home　in　the　city　anymore。　She　was　probably　out　in　LA　for　the　holidays；　meeting　smooth…talking　California　surfer　dudes　who’d　take　her　on　moonlit　walks　on　the　beach。　Serena　was　probably　off　filming　a　movie　somewhere；　guys　falling　at　her　feet。　Neither　of　them　would　give　a　second　thought　to　the　kid　who　almost　didn’t　get　his　diploma　and　fucked　up　everything　with　both　of　them。

“Nathaniel？”

Nate　whirled　around　and　found　himself　facing　a　dark…haired　guy　in　jeans　and　a　blue　sweater；　his　arms　laden　down　with　two　large　bags　of　ice。

“Chuck？”　Nate　asked　incredulously。　It　was　definitely　Chuck　Bass；　but　he　looked…　different。　His　features　hadn’t　changed：　same　sleek　dark　hair；　same　espresso…brown　eyes。　But　the　mischievous　twinkle　seemed　gone　from　Chuck’s　eyes；　and　he　wasn’t　carrying　the　bad…tempered；　snow　white　monkey　he　used　to　bring　everywhere　senior　year。　Gone　was　his　trademark　navy　blue　cashmere　monogrammed　scarf；　his　jeans　looked　like　they’d　seen　better　days。　It　was　like　those　spot…the…difference　puzzles　Nate’s　kindergarten　tutor　had　given　him　as　a　kid。

“Good　to　see　you；　buddy！”　Chuck　placed　one　of　the　bags　of　ice　on　the　ground　and　enthusiastically　pumped　Nate’s　hand。　Chuck’s　fingers　felt　callused；　as　if　he’d　spent　the　past　couple　of　months　doing　manual　labor。

“Should　I　send　your　packages　up；　sir？”　The　black　overcoat…–clad　doorman　immediately　bent　down　to　pick　up　the　bag。

“Nah；　that’s　cool；”　Chuck　waved　him　away。　“I’ll　bring　it　up　myself。”

Nate　blinked。　Chuck　Bass　never　did　anything　for　himself。

“Glad　you　made　it。　Let’s　head　inside；”　Chuck　suggested；　gesturing　toward　the　door。　Nate　nodded　dumbly　as　they　who