gossip girl 12 终结- 第39部分

your　e…mail

q：　Dear　Gossip　Girl；

I’m　at　my　family’s　boring　vacation　house　in　Newport；　which　is　even　more　boring　than　usual　because　the　power　went　out。　I　was　stargazing　with　my　telescope　and　my　view　landed　on　this　couple　getting　totally　hot　and　heavy　in　the　attic　across　the　bay。　The　shadows　are　ridiculous。　Do　you　know　who　they　are？

—voyeur

a：　Dear　V；

If　it’s　the　couple　I’m　thinking　of；　they　already　have　a　history　of　overexposure　on　the　Internet。　I’ll　spare　them　any　more。　And；　by　the　way；　it’s　more　than　creepy　that　you’re　watching。

—GG

houseguest　hints

As　you’ve　learned　by　now；　home　for　the　holidays　may　be　a　catchy　phrase；　but　it’s　hardly　where　you　want　to　spend　your　entire　break。　You　should　always　have　an　emergency　crash　pad　lined　up；　devoid　of　annoying　relatives　or　whiny　younger　siblings。　What　to　do　when　the　Tribeca　Star；　W　Union　Square；　and　the　Hudson　are　all　full？　Here’s　the　need…to…know　for　holiday　house…crashing。

Give　freely。　They　thought　they　were　done　opening　their　presents；　so　please　your　hosts…to…be　by　bringing　a　bottle　of　wine　and　a　tray　of　Citarella　holiday　cookies。　You’re　practically　guaranteed　the　guest　bedroom。

Show　up　during　the　witching　hour。　You　know　that　time　around　four　o’clock　when　it’s　already　dark；　even　though　it　feels　like　you’ve　only　been　up　for　a　few　hours？　It’s　too　late　to　do　anything　productive；　but　too　early　to　go　out。　Show　up　when　boredom’s　at　its　peak；　and　your　hosts　will　be　thrilled　to　see　you。

Play　the　poor…me　card。　I　don’t　usually　advocate　whining；　but　desperate　times　call　for　desperate　measures。　If　you　truly　have　nowhere　to　go；　let　your　hosts　know　exactly　why。　Honesty　can　go　a　long　way　in　finding　you　a　place　to　stay。

Finally；　once　you’re　settled；　remember　the　three　rules　of　being　a　great　guest：　Don’t　hook　up　on　the　host’s　bed　unless　it’s　with　the　host；　don’t　puke　in　their　planters；　and；　whatever　you　do；　don’t　overstay　your　wele。

You　know　you　love　me；

gossip　girl

the　ghosts　of　christmas　past

Blair　woke　up　with　a　start　and　impatiently　pushed　Chuck’s　arm　off　her。　She　used　to　think　it　was　cute　that　he　threw　his　arms　over　her　in　his　sleep；　as　if　trapping　her　in　a　hug；　but　right　now　it　felt　suffocating。　The　bedside　lamp　was　on；　meaning　the　electricity　must　have　e　back　in　the　middle　of　the　night。　Outside；　the　snow　had　tapered　into　flurries。　That　meant　there　was　nothing　keeping　Serena　and　Nate　here　anymore。

She　rose　from　the　grand　four…poster　bed　and　threw　on　an　old　pair　of　Habitual　jeans　and　a　Cacharel　black　cardigan；　not　bothering　to　shower。　She　pulled　her　hair　back　in　a　ponytail　and　stomped　toward　the　door。　She　needed　coffee　and　carbs；　and　to　make　sure　nothing　looked　amiss　in　Nate’s　attic　bedroom。

“Morning；　gorgeous。”　Chuck　sat　up；　looking　sleepy　and　satisfied。　“Happy　New　Year’s　Eve　Day！”　He　climbed　out　of　bed；　wearing　Calvin　Klein　boxers　that　hung　low　on　his　hips。　“I　have　a　present　for　you；”　he　murmured；　rifling　through　his　Tumi　leather　suitcase。

“But　why？　Christmas　is　over；”　Blair　pointed　out。　Chuck　had　already　given　her　a　pair　of　sapphire　earrings；　and　they’d　made　plans　to　go　skiing　in　Switzerland　in　January。

“I　know；　but　I　wanted　to　give　you　something　else。　More　like　an　anniversary　present。　I　remember　how　sad　you　were　around　this　time　last　year。　This　year；　I　want　you　to　be　happy。”　Chuck　smiled；　and　Blair　couldn’t　help　but　soften。　“Here　you　go。”　He　handed　her　an　orange　box　with　an　Hermès　ribbon　around　it。

Blair　pulled　the　ribbon　open。　Inside　were　two　enamel　bangle　bracelets；　each　one　printed　with　hieroglyphic　designs。

“It’s　to　remind　you　of　our　first　real　date；”　Chuck　said　softly。　He’d　taken　her　to　London；　to　the　British　Museum；　where　they’d　wandered　through　the　Egyptian　Wing；　then　headed　out　to　a　cute　little　wine　bar；　where　they’d　talked　for　hours。　After　missing　the　last　bus　back　to　Oxford；　they’d　checked　into　a　Bloomsbury　boutique　hotel。　Chuck　had　given　her　the　bed；　insisting　it　was　better　if　he　slept　on　the　floor。

“Thanks。”　Blair　shoved　the　bracelets　onto　her　wrist　and　gave　Chuck　a　peck　on　the　cheek。　But　how　could　she　be　happy　this　New　Year’s　when　everyone　she’d　been　trying　to　get　away　from　had　decided　to　follow　her　here？　She　glanced　out　the　window；　where　snowflakes　were　picking　up　in　speed　and　intensity。　Fan…fucking…tastic。

“What’s　wrong？”　Chuck　gently　rested　his　hand　on　her　arm。

“Nothing！”　Blair　snapped。　“I　need　some　coffee。”

And　a　personality　makeover？

Serena　bed　her　long　blond　hair　back　and　pulled　on　a　black　Marc　Jacobs　sweater　that　had　been　Blair’s　in　high　school。　She　gently　closed　the　door　to　the　guest　room；　where　Dan　was　still　sleeping；　and　headed　toward　the　stairs。　She’d　tossed　and　turned　all　night；　sure　she　could　hear　giggles　ing　from　Nate’s　bedroom。

“Giles　and　I　slept　right　through　the　storm！　We　didn’t　realize　the　power　had　gone　out　until　we　woke　up　to　find　all　the　lights　in　the　house　on。　I　hope　you　slept　okay。　You　look　a　little　tired；　Bear。”　Serena　stiffened　when　she　heard　Harold　Waldorf’s　pleasant；　lawyerly　voice　drift　up　the　stairs。

“I　didn’t　sleep　very　well；”　Blair　grumbled。

“I　can　always　change　room　arrangements　when　your　friends　leave；　so　you　can　get　your　beauty　sleep；”　Harold　offered。

“They’re　not　my　friends；”　Blair　muttered。　“I　don’t　know　why　they’re　here。　I　thought　it　would　be　a　relaxing　holiday　with　just　the　family；　and　I　have　to　read　Ulysses；　and　I　can’t　do　anything　when　I’m　so　stressed　out。　Look；　Daddy；　do　you　think　I’m　breaking　out？”

“Morning！”　Serena　said　loudly　as　she　clattered　down　the　stairs。

“Serena；”　Harold　boomed　jovially。　“Coffee？”

“Yes　please。”　A　bowl　of　fresh　pumpkin　spelt　scones；　courtesy　of　Giles；　sat　on　the　counter。　Serena　took　one；　plunging　her　thumb　into　the　flaky　pastry。

“Hi；”　Blair　said　icily。

“Hi；”　Serena　responded；　taking　a　buttery　bite。　“I　like　your　bracelets。”

“Thanks。　My　boyfriend　gave　them　to　me；”　Blair　said　pointedly。　“Speaking　of；　where’s　yours？”　And　when　are　you　all　leaving？　she　wanted　to　add。

“He’s　still　sleeping。”　An　awkward　silence　fell　over　the　kitchen　as　Serena　tried　to　search　for　clues　about　whether　or　not　Blair　and　Nate　had　been　together　last　night。　It　was　hard　to　tell。　Blair　seemed　edgy　and　bad…tempered；　but　that　didn’t　mean　anything。　She　was　often　edgy　and　bad…tempered。

“How　are　your　parents？”　Harold　asked　politely；　breaking　the　silence　as　he　settled　on　a　chair　opposite　Serena。

“They’re　great。　Right　now；　they’re　in　St。　Barts　for　New　Year’s。　My　brother；　Erik；　is　getting　married　next　year；　so　they’ve　been　really　busy　with　plans。”　Serena　nodded　happily。　Erik　had　met　his　fiancée　when　he　went　to　Australia　for　his　junior　year　abroad；　and　they’d　been　inseparable　since。　The　only　downside　to　the　wedding　was　the　floor…length　lilac　taffeta　dress　she’d　be　obligated　to　wear　as　a　bridesmaid。

Blair　resisted　the　urge　to　roll　her　eyes。　Who　cared？　And　why　was　Serena　up　so　early？　Had　she　sneaked　back　into　Nate’s　room？

“What　time　are　you　leaving？”　Blair　asked　rudely。

Serena　felt　like　she’d　been　slapped。　Apparently；　their　truce　had　ended。

And　the　cold　war　is　back　on。

“Blair！”　Harold　chided。　“The　snow　is　still　ing　down。　It’s　New　Year’s　Eve　Day。　You　kids　are　free　to　stay　as　long　as　you　like；”　he　said；　glancing　out　the　window。

Serena　followed　his　gaze。　The　flurries　from　earlier　this　morning　were　now　large；　swirling　flakes。　She　and　Dan　were　supposed　to　be　back　in　New　York　this　evening　for　Rufus’s　infamous　New　Year’s　Eve　flambé　party；　but　now　it　looked　like　they　would　be　forced　to　stay　another　night。　She　was　as　trapped　as　the　animals　at　the　Central　Park　Zoo。

And　about　to　fall　prey　to　a　lioness。

heartbreak　hotel

Vanessa　woke　up　with　a　start　on　New　Year’s　Eve　Day。　She　turned　over　and　stretched；　realizing　that　she　was　alone　in　bed。　Since　he’d　gotten　back；　her　and　Hollis’s　sleep　schedules　had　been　so　off；　it　felt　as　though　they　were　roommates　rather　than　a　couple　sharing　a　bed。

She　got　out　of　bed　and　sleepily　padded　down　the　winding　staircase　into　the　living　room。　She　sniffed　the　air；　surprised　not　to　smell　any　muffins　baking　or　eggs　frying。　Hollis　loved　cooking　breakfast；　and　Vanessa　had　gotten　used　to　waking　up　to　a　feast。　She　smiled　happily　at　Hollis；　sitting　shirtless　at　the　counter　in　a　pair　of　flannel　pajama　pants　and　the　same　type　of　thick；　woolly　socks　he’d　given　to　Vanessa。

“Happy　New　Year！　Glidilegt　Nytt　Ar。　Isn’t　that　how　you　say　it　in　Icelandic？”　She’d　looked　up　the　pronunciation　on　the　Internet；　sure　that　the　phone　was　the　only　way　they’d　municate　on　the　holiday。　She　skipped　down　the　stairs　and　plunked　down　on　the　chair　opposite　him。　But　Hollis　was　busy　squinting　down　at　his　iPhone。

Finally；　he　looked　up；　his　gaze　icy。　“How’s　Dan？”

A　shiver　of　fear　ran　up　her　spine。　Hollis　was　reading　the　texts　on　her　phone。　“Dan　and　I　were　texting　last　night。　While　you　were　out；”　she　said　coldly。　She　wasn’t　going　to　be　made　to　feel　guilty　when　she　hadn’t　done　anything。

“Just　texting？　‘Depends　who　I’m　meeting　on　the　roof？’”　he　said　in　a　mocking　tone。　“No　wonder　you　didn’t　e　out　with　my　friends。　You　wanted　to　go　meet　up　with　Dan。”

“What？　No！”　Vanessa　screeched；　her　voice　echoing　in　her　ears。　This　was　ridiculous。　Nothing　could　be　further　from　the　truth。　Last　night　she’d　eaten　half　a　tub　of　Ciao　Bella　on　the　couch　with　her　feet　under　Norma。　Which　was　pretty　much　how　she　spent　all　her　time　these　days。　For　the　last　year；　she’d　been　stupidly　devoted　to　Hollis。　She’d　put　her　whole　life　on　hold　for　him。

“What　else　am　I　supposed　to　think？”　Hollis　asked　in　exasperation。　Norma　emitted　a　low…pitched　whine　from　the　floor；　as　if　to　say　she　didn’t　want　any　part　of　this。　“You　didn’t　want　to　go　out　last　night；　you　didn’t　even　try　to　be　friendly　with　the　Streetscape　people—it’s　like　you　don’t　even　care…。”　Hollis　shook　his　head　ruefully。　“Long　distance　sucks；　I　know　that。　But　it　wasn’t　like　I　was　in　Iceland　for　fun。　I　was　working。　You　of　all　people　should　appreciate　that。”

Vanessa　blinked　back　angry　tears。　Outside；　the　city　was　blanketed　in　snow；　quiet　and　cold。　“You’ve　been　with　the　film　people　all　the　time；　then　you　just　e　home　and　expect　me　to　be　your　personal