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第40部分（第2页）

“Meow　meow；”　Blair　responded；　choking　on　her　wine。

Serena　spat　her　wine　onto　her　plate。　It　was　exactly　like　those　times　when　they　used　to　ride　the　Madison　Avenue　bus；　speaking　to　each　other　in　fake　foreign　languages　and　annoying　everyone　on　the　bus。

“We　have　to　be　excused；”　she　gasped　between　snorts；　dragging　Blair　out　onto　the　terrace。

“Oh　my　God；　I　haven’t　had　this　much　fun　in　months！”　Serena　yelled。　She　tried　to　remember　why　she’d　been　so　angry　at　Blair　last　year。　Why　had　Nate　been　so　important　to　both　of　them？　Why　had　they　dropped　the　most　important　relationship　of　their　lives：　them？

“To　us！”　Blair　said；　holding　out　her　wine　glass；　as　if　reading　Serena’s　mind。　The　two　girls　clinked　glasses　in　the　crisp　night　air。

We’ll　see　how　long　this　peace　treaty　lasts…。

good　things　e　in　small　packages

Vanessa　pulled　on　her　leather　bomber　jacket；　bracing　herself　to　leave　the　house。　The　idea　of　staying　in　was　incredibly　tempting；　especially　since　she　had　the　Humphreys’　apartment　all　to　herself：　Dan　was　at　some　fancy　Wele　to　Iowa　reception　at　the　Metropolitan　Club；　Jenny　was　out　with　her　boyfriend；　and　Rufus　was　celebrating　an　early　Christmas　with　his　anarchist　group　at　the　KGB　Bar　downtown。

Although　she’d　been　living　in　the　Humphrey　apartment　for　almost　a　year；　she　rarely　spent　the　night；　especially　on　the　weekends　when　Dan　and　Serena　were　cozied　up　in　his　bedroom。　Instead；　she’d　crash　with　film　school　friends　in　their　overcrowded　Crown　Heights　or　Greenpoint　apartments；　or　offer　babysitting　for　Moxie　in　exchange　for　couch　space　at　Ruby　and　Piotr’s　apartment　in　Prospect　Heights。

Vanessa　grabbed　her　purse　from　the　couch　and　headed　for　the　door。　She　was　going　to　see　Hollis’s　film；　Rowing　to　Reykjavík。　She　and　Hollis　hadn’t　really　talked　since　last　year；　although　they’d　seen　each　other　at　parties　and　always　said　hello。　She　felt　like　she　owed　it　to　him—and　to　herself—to　at　least　see　the　movie。　She　was　curious　to　see　how　the　story；　which　had　started　out　as　her　life　story　and　quickly　became　the　furthest　thing　from　it；　would　end。

She　flung　open　the　apartment　door　and　came　face…to…face　with　a　man　wearing　a　brown　uniform；　an　envelope　in　his　hand。　“Looking　for　a　Vanessa　Abrams？　You’re　my　last　delivery。　Glad　you’re　here；”　he　said。　Vanessa　nodded　in　confusion。

“Here　you　go。”　He　thrust　a　thin　envelope　at　her。　Vanessa　took　it　with　trembling　hands。　Suddenly；　she　realized　exactly　what　she　was　holding。　Back　in　November；　she’d　applied　for　a　two…year　film　fellowship　in　Indonesia。　She　hadn’t　realized　they’d　be　mailing　decisions　so　soon。

“Thanks。”　She　wasn’t　sure　if　she　should　open　it　right　away　or　wait。　But　what　was　she　waiting　for？　And　would　they　really　UPS　a　rejection？

“Can　you　sign？”　the　deliveryman　asked　impatiently；　oblivious　to　Vanessa’s　internal　turmoil。

“Oh；　sure。”　Vanessa　hastily　scrawled　a　signature　and　yanked　the　envelope　open。

“Happy　holidays；”　the　delivery　guy　said　as　he　turned　away。　But　Vanessa　wasn’t　listening。　She　pulled　a　packet　of　papers　from　the　envelope。　A　single　sheet　fell　out　and　fluttered　to　the　hardwood　floor。　Vanessa　grabbed　it；　noting　the　purple　Filmmakers　for　Change　crest　at　the　top　of　the　page　and　read　the　first　sentence：　Dear　Ms。　Abrams；　We　are　pleased　to　offer　you　a　Filmmaker　for　Change　grant　for　your　proposed　project　in　Indonesia。…

The　rest　of　the　sentences　swam　together　on　the　page　as　Vanessa　shrieked　in　excitement。　A　Filmmaker　for　Change　grant　was　notoriously　hard　to　get；　which　was　why　she’d　practically　forgotten　about　sending　in　the　application。　She　hadn’t　wanted　to　get　her　hopes　up。　But　now；　her　future　spread　out　before　her　like　a　promising　sunrise。　Instead　of　drifting　from　one　production　assistant　job　to　another；　she　was　going　to　be　working　on　her　own　project　in　the　place　where　film　originated。　Which　was　way　better　than　Iceland。

“Yes！”　she　yelled；　her　voice　echoing　down　the　stairwell。　She　was　so　busy　jumping　up　and　down　on　the　landing　in　glee；　she　didn’t　even　notice　the　sound　of　footsteps　on　the　stairs。

“Are　you　working　out　or　something？”　Dan　asked　nervously　as　he　reached　the　landing。　Although　he　and　Vanessa　were　perfectly　cordial　toward　each　other；　being　roommates　had　its　awkward　moments；　like　the　one　time　last　spring　Vanessa　had　burst　into　Dan’s　bedroom　to　look　for　her　old　camera　equipment；　only　to　find　Serena　and　Dan　entwined　on　his　bed。

Vanessa　spontaneously　threw　her　arms　around　Dan’s　skinny　waist。　“I　got　the　fellowship！　I’m　going　to　Indonesia！　I’m　a　fucking　filmmaker　for　change！”　she　screamed　into　his　ear；　her　voice　echoing　in　the　stairwell。　She　felt　Dan’s　body　stiffen　and　she　immediately　let　go。　“Sorry；”　she　said　sheepishly。

“No；　congratulations！”　Dan　said；　a　smile　crawling　across　his　face。　“I’ve　never　seen　you　jump　up　and　down　like　this。　What　is　it　for？”

“Oh　my　God；　I’m　freaking　out！”　Vanessa　exhaled　and　tried　to　pose　herself。　She　gripped　the　iron　railing　for　support。　In　her　excitement；　she’d　forgotten　that　Dan　would　have　no　clue　what　she　was　talking　about。　She　hadn’t　told　anyone　she’d　applied。　And　she　and　Dan　hadn’t　really　talked　much　in　the　last　year。

“I　need　some　fresh　air！　e　outside　with　me？”　Vanessa　asked；　practically　running　down　the　winding　staircase。　She　threw　open　the　front　door　and　took　big　gulps　of　cold　air。　“Woo…hoo！”　she　yelled　into　the　night　sky。

“Wait；　so　you’re　going　to　Indonesia？”　Dan　asked；　slightly　out　of　breath　from　running　after　her。

“Yeah！　I　applied　for　a　grant　to　make　my　own　film　in　Indonesia。　It’s　where　film　was　born。”

“Wow；”　Dan　said；　impressed。　“That’s　fucking　huge！　Congrats。”

“Thanks。”　Vanessa　smiled　shyly。　“I　can’t　believe　I’m　going　to　be　moving　to　Indonesia　in　less　than　six　months。”

Dan　believed　it　though。　Vanessa　was　so　smart　and　motivated。　It　was　really　nice　to　see　her　get　something　she　obviously　wanted　so　badly。

“Let’s　go　somewhere　to　celebrate；”　Dan　decided。　Vanessa　deserved　it。

Vanessa　smiled　giddily。　For