gossip girl 10 英文- 第15部分

？I　e…mailed　you　a　few　times；？　Henry　continued。　？I　never　heard　back　from　you。。。。　And　when　I　
tried　again；　your　school　account　had　been　closed。？　

？I　guess　I　needed　to　be　alone　for　a　little　while　to　sort　some　things　out。　And　then　I　went　back　to　
the　city。？　She　pulled　a　strand　of　hair　out　from　behind　her　ear　and　played　with　it　distractedly；　
smiling　sadly。　？It？s　a　long　story。？　One　even　she　didn？t　understand；　and　one　she？d　never　told　
anyone。　Is　that　a　fact？　

Serena　stared　over　Henry？s　shoulder　at　the　crowd　of　revelers：　some　of　them　half…naked　and　
soaking　up　the　sun；　others　dancing　at　speeds　not　altogether　appropriate　to　the　music。　And　then　
there　was　Blair；　sipping　yet　another　Bloody　Mary　and　smiling　up　shyly　at　Nate；　who　gripped　a　
beer；　grinning　stupidly。　Serena　glanced　back　at　Henry。　It　was　like　a　time　warp：　Blair　and　Nate　
pletely　oblivious　to　her；　and　Henry　staring　devotedly　at　her　from　the　other　side　of　the　table　
like　nothing　had　changed。　

？This　is　my　birthday　party；　you　know；？　she　said　at　last。　

？You　think　I　don？t　know　that？？　Henry　reached　over　and　grasped　her　hand　with　his　slightly　
callused　musician？s　fingers。　？That？s　why　I　came。　It？s　our　anniversary。？　Serena　swallowed。　


　Happy　birthday！　

　behind　the　scenes　

？We？re　inside　the　aviary　now。？　Vanessa　was　practically　shouting　to　be　heard　over　the　chirps　and　
cries　of　the　brightly　colored　birds　that　were　frantically　swirling　around　the　glass…enclosed　room。　
Vanessa　held　her　camera　steadily　and　spun　around　to　get　a　plete　360…degree　look　at　the　
massive；　plant…filled　room。　Birds　of　every　hue；　from　egg　yolk　yellow　to　Tiffany　blue　to　Bloody　
Mary　scarlet；　fluttered　around　on　clipped　wings；　drifting　from　bough　to　bough　in　a　pathetic　
attempt　at　the　flight　they？d　never　again　experience。　

？I？m　told　that　this　is　where　Bailey　Winter　does　most　of　his　preliminary　sketches；？　Vanessa　
continued。　？In　fact；　those　who　know　his　work　well　may　recognize　the　colors　from　his　most　recent　
couture　collection。？　She　trained　the　camera　on　a　little　bird　chirping　in　the　branches　of　a　potted　
banana　plant。　

The　shot　looked　so　alive？the　colorful　birds　spinning　and　flitting　all　around　the　high…ceilinged　
aviary；　the　sun　spilling　down　in　fat　beams　of　light。　The　position　was　flawless；　symmetrical　but　
still　dynamic。　She　started　mentally　planning　a　whole　series　of　documentaries　on　the　creative　
processes　of　different　artists。　Maybe　she？d　do　one　on　Dan　and　really　capture　the　writer？s　life。　And　
one　on　Ken　Mogul；　to　explore　what　it　was　like　to　be　a　world…famous　filmmaker。　

And　a　weirdo。　

The　glass…topped　rattan　table　was　scattered　with　sheets　of　scribbled…on　paper；　pencils；　and　
half…drained　martini　glasses。　Vanessa　made　her　way　over　to　the　workstation　and　focused　the　shot　
on　some　unfinished　sketches。　

？A　few　months　from　now　these　pencil　sketches　will　have　been　transformed　into　chiffon　and　silk。？　
Vanessa　was　trying　her　hardest　to　remember　the　names　of　fabrics　she？d　heard　Blair　mention　
during　their　short　stint　as　roommates。　？Just　think　of　it：　right　now　these　ideas　are　merely　doodles；　
but　soon　they　may　be　walking　down　the　red　carpet　at　the　Oscars。？　

Vanessa　adjusted　the　focus　to　capture　the　faint　line　drawings　more　clearly。　

？And　so　we　see　now　even　more　clearly　how　the　designer　Bailey　Winter？s　creative　process　works。　
It　begins　with　some…thing　as　simple　as　the　color　of　plumage。　After　some　pencil　sketches　and　a　few　
martinis　。　。　。？　She　trailed　off；　because　really；　she　had　no　idea　how　to　describe　dresses　or　fashion　or　
if　chiffon　was　really　the　name　of　a　fabric。　Maybe　it　was　a　dessert？　？The　only　thing　I　cannot　show　
you　is　that　which　exists　only　inside　the　designer？s　mind。　That？s　the　true　creative　process。？Or　the　
true　drunken　process。　She　turned　the　camera　on　the　army　of　not…quite…empty　wineglasses。　


　？Oh。　My。　God。？　
Vanessa　whirled　around；　instinctively　hiding　the　camera　behind　her　back　as　she　did。　
Oops。　
？Whatare　you　doing　in　here？？　Bailey　slammed　the　glass　door　behind　him　to　keep　any　of　his　


precious　birds　from　escaping　into　the　garden。？Vanessa；Vanessa；？he　clucked；sounding　exactly　like　
a　chicken。　？The　aviary　is　strictly　off…limits。　This　is　where　I　e　to　think　and　be　inspired！　You？ll　
disturb　the　balance　of　creative　energy　simply　by　being　in　here！？　

Of　course！　The　energy　balance！　

？Please；　dear；　just　back　away　a　little。　Not　the　drawings。　No　one　can　see　them　until　I？m　done　with　
the　preliminary　sketches。？　

？Sorry。？　Vanessa　lamely　backed　away；　trying　to　look　repentant。　An　aquamarine…speckled　
parakeet　squawked　past　her　ear　violently。　？I　guess　I　was　just　making　myself　at　home。　You　know；　
like　you？d　suggested。？　

？Well；　there？s　being　a　good　guest　and　then　there？s　just　plain　intruding。？　Bailey　frowned；　hugging　
his　papers　to　his　chest　and　shielding　them　from　Vanessa？s　view。　？You　may　go　any…where　in　the　
pound　you　likeexcept　for　the　aviary。　This　is　my　sacred　space；　dear。　I？m　spiritually　naked　when　

I　step　past　those　doors。？　

Well；　as　long　as　heliterally　keeps　his　clothes　on　。　。　。　

？I？ll　be　more　careful　in　the　future；？　Vanessa　promised　him；　backing　away　slowly；　still　keeping　

the　camera　out　of　sight　behind　her　back。　
？Yes；　yes；　I　know　you　will；？　Bailey　replied；　placing　his　papers　back　on　the　desk；　but　shielding　

them　with　his　chubby；　outstretched　arms。　？All　is　forgiven。？　

？Okay；　well；　I？ll　just　be　going　then。？　Vanessa　turned　quickly　and　started　to　bolt　from　the　room。　

？Eeeeeeek！？　Bailey？s　screech　drove　the　birds　into　a　frenzy。　Suddenly；　hundreds　of　scared　

starlings　dashed　for　safety；　darting　up　toward　the　ceiling　as　far　as　their　crippled　wings　would　take　
them。　

？Yes？？　Vanessa　asked；　still　lamely　trying　to　hide　the　camera　with　her　hands。　

？I…I…Is　that　a　。　。　。camera　？？　


　Brilliant　observation。　

？Bailey；　let　me　explain。？　Vanessa？s　felt　her　face　flush。　？I　was　just　hoping；　I　mean；　I　was　only　
interested　in；　I　needed　to；　you　know；　I　wanted　to　document　the　creative　process；　like　the　ideas　
behind；　and　what　goes　into；　I　mean；　the　whole　story　of？？　

Bailey　leapt　out　of　his　seat　and　stood；　trembling；　staring　at　Vanessa。　？Just　tell　me。　I　need　to　
know。。。。　Did　you？　You　didn？t。　I　mean；　you　didn？tfilm　in　here；　did　you？？

　？Uh；　no？？　

　Nice　save。　

？These　sketches　are　top　secret！　Oh　my　dear。　My　good…ness　me。　Do　you　know　what　would　happen　
if　they　got　out？　Do　you　know　that　there　are　people　who　would　pay　。。。well；　I　don？t　know　what；　but　
they　would　pay　dearly　for　a　glimpse；　for　just　ahint　of　what　I　have　planned　for　the　ing　seasons。　
I　simply　can？t　risk　the　petition。？　He　looked　like　he　was　about　to　faint。　？Oh　my　。　。　。？　

？Bailey；　I　promise　you；　I　wasn？t　going　to　sell　your　secrets　or　anything　like　that。　I？m　just　a　
filmmaker；　you　know；　and　I　thought　this　would　be　a　great　subject　for　a　documentary。？　Vanessa　
smiled　at　him　hopefully。　A　lime…colored　macaw　landed　on　his　shoulder；　and　he　batted　it　
away。　？Maybe　I　should　go　。　。　。？　Vanessa　suggested；　suddenly　concerned　that　Bailey　would　demand　
she　turn　over　all　the　film　she？d　shot　over　the　past　couple　of　days。　

？Yes；　off　to　your　room。？　Bailey　looked　like　he　was　on　the　verge　of　tears。　？I　need　a　moment　to　
collect　my　thoughts。We？ll　discuss　what？s　to　be　done　about　your　misbehavior　at　dinner。？　

？Right。？　Vanessa　frowned。　Was　hereally　sending　her　to　her　room？　That　hadn？t　happened　to　
her　。　。　。　well；　ever。　No　one　had　ever　sent　Vanessa　Abrams　to　her　room！　She？d　go　to　her　room　all　
right；　she？d　go　to　her　room　and　pack。　Documentary　or　no；　she？d　had　about　enough　of　the　
Hamptons　and　Bailey？s　absurdities　to　last　her　a　lifetime。　As　for　dinner；　well；　if　all　went　well；　by　
that　time　she？d　be　safely　on　a　train　headed　back　to　the　city　and　the　only　place　she　really　felt　at　
home　anymore：　Dan　Humphrey？s　apartment。　

Home　is　where　the　heart　is！　

those　three　little　words　

？How　about　a　refill？？　

Blair　shook　her　head　and　pointed　at　her　ears　to　indicate　that　she　couldn？t　really　hear　Nate　over　


the　roar　of　the　party；　which　had　gotten　considerably　livelier　as　the　day　wound　down。　The　afternoon　
sun　was　still　high　overhead；　but　the　revelers　were　hot　and　hungry　and　drunk。　Erik　had　
thought…fully　ignited　the　enormous　gas　grill　and　dispatched　those　guests　still　sober　enough　to　drive　
to　the　grocery　store。　That　distinctly　summertime　smell　of　barbecue　wafted　through　the　air；　giving　
Blair　a　head　rush。　

Or　maybe　it　was　the　four　Bloody　Marys。　

Nate　leaned　down　and　whispered　in　her　ear。　？I　said；　I？m　going　in　for　a　refill。You　want　
something？？　

His　hot　breath　tickled　her　neck；　and　she　closed　her　eyes　to　keep　the　room　steady。　？I？ll　take　a　
glass　of　water。？　

？Easy。？　Nate　took　her　arm；　led　her　into　the　library；　and　sat　her　down　on　the　worn　brown　suede　
sofa　before　heading　into　the　kitchen　for　a　drink。　

Blair　yawned。　Long　car　rides　always　made　her　sleepy；　and　last　night　hadn？t　exactly　been　restful；　
even　if　they　had　basically　slept　for　twenty…four　hours。　How　could　she　sleep　with　Nate　breathing　
right　next　to　her　all　night？　Every　time　she？d　wanted　to　turn　over　or　rearrange　her　pillows；　she　just　
couldn？t；　not　if　it　meant　letting　go　of　Nate？s　hand。　She　closed　her　eyes　thinking　about　it。　

？Hey　there；　sleeping　beauty。？　Blair　felt　a　pair　of　soft　lips　graze　her　forehead。　She　smiled；　keeping　
her　eyes　shut　tight。　It　felt　like　forever　since　she？d　felt　those　lips　on　her　face。　But　when　she　finally　
let　her　heavy　lids　flutter　open　she　gasped。　The　lips　belonged　not　to　Nate；　but　to　Erik　van　der　
Woodsen。　His　grinning　face　loomed　over　her。　A　handsome　prince；　but　not　theright　handsome　
prince。　

Too　many　princes；　too　little　time。。。。　

？Hey　Erik。？　Blair　grabbed　a　nearby　throw　cushion　and　hugged　it　to　her　chest。　He　looked　just　like　
Serena；　except　a　boy。　From　his　blond　hair　to　his　casual；　all…is…right…with…the…world　stride；　to　the　
way　he　held　his　broad；　tennis…toned　shoulders；　to　the　funny　little　wrinkle　that　formed　at　the　corners　
of　his　almost？navy　blue　eyes　when　he　smiled。　It　seemed　like　a　million　years　ago　when　they？d　sort　
of　had　a　thing。　

Been　there；　done　that。　

？Scoot　over。？　Erik　plopped　down　next　to　her；　draping　his　arm　along　the　back　of　the　couch。　He　
sighed　deeply。　？This　party　is　so　out　of　hand　I　haven？t　e