gossip girl 12 终结- 第10节

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　whooshed　through　the　revolving　door　and　into　the　vaulted…ceilinged；　marble…floored　lobby。　Instead　of　turning　left　toward　the　elevator　bank；　Chuck　perched　on　one　of　the　low…slung　black　leather　couches　in　the　dimly　lit　lobby。　“Sorry。　It　was　fucking　freezing　out　there。　I’m　used　to　California。”　Chuck　smiled。　“But　I’m　not　quite　ready　to　head　back　upstairs。　Want　to　chill　here　for　a　sec？”

Nate　gingerly　sat　on　an　ottoman。　“California？　What　were　you　doing　out　there？”

“Deep　Springs；　my　man。”　Chuck　nodded；　his　eyes　glazed　over　as　if　in　happy　reminiscence。

“Deep　what？”　Nate　parroted。　Was　that　some　sort　of　Playboy　resort？

Or　a　gay　spa？

“Deep　Springs；”　Chuck　repeated。　“The　all…male　college。　It’s　a　two…year　program　on　a　working　alfalfa　farm　in　California。　We　all　run　the　farm　and　the　school　in　between　humanities　classes；”　he　explained　patiently；　settling　back　into　the　couch。　Nate　glanced　down　and　noticed　he　was　no　longer　wearing　the　gold　pinky　ring　he’d　worn　since　sophomore　year；　after　he’d　starred　in　a　European　cologne　campaign。

“Oh。”　Nate　was　still　confused。

“Look；　I　didn’t　get　into　any　schools　and　I　didn’t　know　what　to　do。　My　dad’s　cousin　is　married　to　a　board　member　there　so　they　allowed　me　to　do　a　late　interview。　It　was　either　that　or　go　to　military　school；　and　I　just　couldn’t　leave　Sweetie。”　Chuck　named　his　snow　monkey。　“I　was　fucking　terrified　when　I　got　there。　They　made　me　give　away　my　Armani　sheets　to　use　as　tablecloths　in　the　boardinghouse。　I　had　to　get　rid　of　all　my　clothes　and　find　new　clothes　in　the　bone　pile；　which　is　all　the　clothing　left　from　guys　who　have　moved　on。　I　mean；　I　was　wearing　other　people’s　shit。”　Chuck　shuddered；　as　if　reliving　the　experience。　“But　it　turned　out　to　be　what　I　needed。　I　was　a　mess　in　high　school。　I　mean；　you　saw　me。　I　was　a　dick；　and　I’m　sorry　about　that；”　Chuck　said；　opening　his　hands　as　if　to　ask　for　forgiveness。

“Thanks。”　Nate　shrugged。　He　thought　of　a　playdate　at　Chuck’s　when　they　were　four。　While　Chuck’s　nanny　was　watching　a　soap　opera；　Chuck　had　bit　Nate’s　arm；　laughing　the　whole　time。　He’d　always　been　a　dick。

Just　part　of　his　charm。

“I’m　a　changed　man；　Nathaniel；”　Chuck　continued；　crossing　one　ankle　over　his　knee。　He　wore　a　pair　of　worn…out…looking　cowboy　boots。　“That’s　why　I　needed　to　take　a　breather　before　I　headed　back　upstairs。”

“I　understand。”　Nate　nodded。　He　did　understand。　He　needed　a　breather　and　he　hadn’t　even　gone　up　there　yet。　“So　what　else　happened　at　Deep　Springs？”

“So；　I　get　there；　I’m　wearing　some　guy’s　flannel　shirt　and　jeans；　we’re　on　this　alfalfa　farm　in　the　middle　of　the　desert；　and　I　swear　to　God；　I　was　ready　to　call　my　father；　our　lawyers；　everyone；　but　there　was　no　service。　I　was　in　the　middle　of　the　fucking　desert。　Our　first　night；　Sweetie　got　bit　by　a　rattlesnake。　Poor　girl。”

“Did　she　die？”　Nate　asked。

“Yeah；　but　not　because　of　snakes。　She　sort　of　starved　herself　to　death。　She　just　couldn’t　adapt。”　Chuck　shrugged　sadly