gossip girl 7 英文-第5部分

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homeless　guy　was　shouting　at　empty　parked　cars。　A　little　boy　with　green　spiked　hair　and　no　shirt　
on　sped　down　the　sidewalk　on　a　mountain　bike　that　was　way　too　big　for　him。　The　crumbling　
cement　block　that　served　as　Vanessa's　front　stoop　was　empty。　The　Prospective　roommate　was　
already　on　her　way　up。　

〃Please　be　normal；〃　Vanessa　murmured；　not　that　she　actually　like　normal　girls。　Normal　girls；　；　like　
the　girls　in　her　class　at　Constance；　wore　pink　lip　gloss　and　different　versions　of　the　exact　same　pair　
of　shoes　and　were　religious　about　things　like　highlights　and　pedicures。　In　her　e…mail　application　
this　girl　Beverly　had　said　she　was　an　art　student　at　Pratt；　so　she　was　older；　for　one　thing；　and　was　
probably　kind　of　alternative。　Hopefully　she'd　be　as　cool　as　she　sounded。　

Vanessa　opened　the　door　to　the　apartment　just　as　Beverly　mounted　the　top　of　the　stairs。　And　to　
Vanessa's　plete　surprise；　Beverly　wasn't　a　she；　she　was　a　he。　

Vanessa　had　sort　of　forgotten　to　specify　that　she　was　looking　for　a　girl　roommate　in　her　web　
posting。　

A　deliberate　mistake？　

〃Bet　you　thought　I　was　female；　right？〃　Beverly　asked；　extending　his　hand　for　Vanessa　to　shake。　
〃The　name　is　totally　old…fashioned　and　totally　misleading。　Don't　worry　I'm　used　to　it。〃　

Vanessa　tried　not　to　look　surprised；　which　wasn't　hard　for　her。　She'd　mastered　the　unexpressive　
stare　long　ago　while　eating　alone　day　after　day　in　the　Constance　Billard　School　cafeteria；　turning　
out　the　senseless　babble　of　her　beautiful；　bitchy　classmates。　She　tucked　her　fingers　into　the　back　
pockets　of　her　jeans　and　nonchalantly　led　the　way　into　the　apartment　〃I　was　just　IMing　with　this　
weirdo　chick　who　dances　with　snakes。　You　don't　have　any　snakes；　do　you？〃　

〃Nope。〃　Beverly　pressed　his　palms　together　in　praying　position　and　surveyed　the　starkly　decorated　
apartment。　The　walls　were　white　and　the　wood　floors　were　bare。　The　kitchen　was　tiny　and　opened　
onto　the　living　room/　second　bedroom；　which　was　furnished　with　a　futon　and　a　TV。　The　only　
decorations　were　framed　stills　from　the　dark；　morose　films　that　Vanessa　notoriously　made　in　her　
spare　time。　

〃Whose　work？〃　Beverly　asked；　gesturing　at　a　black…and…white　photograph　of　a　pigeon　pecking　at　
a　used　condom　in　Madison　Square　Park。　

Vanessa　discovered　she　was　staring　at　Beverly's　firm；　round　buttocks　and　quickly　averted　her　eyes。　
〃Mine；〃　she　replied　Horsley。　〃It's　from　a　film　I　made　earlier　this　year。〃　

Beverly　nodded　his　head；　keeping　his　palms　pressed　together　as　he　examined　the　other　
photographs。　Vanessa　loved　that　he　didn't　start　babbling　about　how　offbeat　or　depressing　the　were；　


the　way　people　usually　did。　Just　the　way　he　said；　〃whose　work？〃　made　her　feel　like　a　real　artist。　

〃Would　you　like　a　beer？〃　she　asked。　Her　fridge　was　uncharacteristically　full　of　beer　from　her　
eighteenth…birthday　party　two　weekends　ago；　and　she'd　take　any　opportunity　to　get　rid　of　it。　〃Sorry；　
I　don't　have　much　else　except　water。〃　

〃Water　would　be　fine；〃　Beverly　replied　and　Vanessa　found　herself　liking　him　even　more。　Ask　any　
high…school　boy　if　he　wanted　a　beer　and　he'd　down　a　whole　six…pack　in　three　seconds　flat。　All　
Beverly　needed　was　a　little　water　to　whet　his　palate；　and　a　place　to　live…　for　instance；　with　her。　

Whoa。。。。。。　Slow　down；　Nellie！　What　about　the　interview？　

Vanessa　went　into　the　tiny　open　kitchen　and　got　out　a　vintage　Scooby…Doo　glass　and　some　ice　and　
a　pitcher　of　filtered　water　from　the　refrigerator。　She　filled　the　glass　slowly；　surreptitiously　studying　
Beverly　as　she　did　so。　His　small；　intense　eyes　were　pale　blue；　and　his　short；　tousled　hair　was　
nearly　black。　The　palms　of　his　hands　and　his　fingernails　were　stained　black　with　some　sort　of　ink　
he　must　have　been　using　in　his　artwork；　and　his　drab　green　t…shirt　was　flecked　with　what　looked　
like　sawdust。　His　black　pants　were　just　the　sort　of　loose　black　cotton　poplin　slacks　she　would　have　
worn　everyday　if　she　were　a　guy；　and　on　his　feet　were　a　pair　of　those　thin　orange　rubber　flip…flops　
you　can　buy　at　the　drugstore　for　ninety…nine　cents。　He　was　so　not　like　the　people　she　went　to　
school　with；　Vanessa　couldn't　help　but　feel　kind　of　excited。　

Could　that　have　anything　to　do　with　the　fact　that　he's　a　guy？　

She　walked　around　the　counter　and　handed　Beverly　the　water；　already　envisioning　what　it　would　
be　like　to　stay　up　late　and　watch　movies　together。　She　could　bring　him　water　and　he　would　nod　his　
head　at　her　in　that　thoughtful；　sexy　way　of　his。　And　then　they　would　dissect　Stanley　Kubrick's　
work；　film　by　film。。。。　Naked。　

Vanessa　took　a　seat　on　the　futon　sofa　and　Beverly　sat　down　beside　her。　

〃So；　I'm　kind　of　between　places　right　now；〃　he　explained。　〃I　was　in　a　dorm　and　now　I'm　in　this　
group　work…live　arrangement　with　a　bunch　of　artists　in　this　warehouse　space　down　by　the　
Brooklyn　Navy　Yard。　It　can　get　pretty　crazy　there　sometimes；　though。〃　He　chuckled。　〃I　just　need　a　
place　to　crash　where　I　don't　have　to　worry　about　my　fingers　getting　hacked　off　while　I'm　sleeping…
you　know；　for　someone's　〃body　parts〃　sculpture　or　something？〃　

Vanessa　nodded　happily。　She　knew　exactly　how　he　felt。　

Really？　

Of　course；　she'd　never　expected　to　share　an　apartment　with　a　guy…　other　than　Dan…　but　she　was　
eighteen　now；　an　adult；　able　to　make　her　own　decisions　and　mature　enough　to　have　a　guy　
roommate　and　no　intention　of　jumping　his　bones。　


Right。　

〃The　thing　is；〃　Beverly　continued；　〃it　would　be　kind　of　weird　living　with　someone　I'd　never　even　
breathed　the　same　air　with　before；　you　know？〃　

Vanessa's　big　brown　eyes　widened。　So　he　didn't　want　to　live　with　her？　〃I　guess　so；〃　she　replied　
glumly。　

〃I　wondered　if　we　could　hang　out　for　a　few　weeks　first。　Do　stuff。　Get　to　know　each　other。　See　if　it　
could　work　out；〃　he　added。　

Vanessa　sat　on　her　hands　feeling　embarrassingly　like　one　of　those　so…called　normal　girls　she　hated　
after　some　hottie　had　asked　them　to　a　prom　or　whatever　they　called　those　ridiculous　dress…up　
parties　they　were　always　going　to　because　it　gave　them　the　opportunity　to　buy　a　new　dress。　
Beverly　did　want　to　live　with　her。　He　just　wanted　to　get　to　know　her　first。　How　refreshing　and　
exciting　to　finally　meet　someone　so　intelligent；　creative；　cool…　and　hot！　

〃Well；　I　am　interviewing　other　people；〃　she　responded；　not　wanted　to　appear　too　eager。　〃But　that　
sounds　like　a　good　idea。　I　mean；　you're　right。　It's　important　to　know　who　you're　about　to　move　in　
with。〃　

〃Exactly。〃　Beverly　polished　off　the　water；　stood　up　and　carried　the　glass　to　the　sink。　

Wow；　he　even　cleans　up　after　himself。　

He　flip…flopped　back　into　the　living　room。　〃We　could　do　something　this　weekend　or……〃　

Suddenly　Vanessa　had　an　idea。　What　better　way　to　show　Dan　that　she'd　moved　on　and　had　a　life　of　
her　own　beyond　him　and　his　selfish　self　than　to　bring　a　guy　to　his　first　gig？　〃Actually　an　old　friend　
of　mine　is　singing　with　the　Raves　tomorrow　night。　Want　to　go？〃　

Thankfully　Beverly　was　mature　enough　not　to　jump　up　and　down　and　freak　out　about　the　fact　that　
she　knew　someone　who　sang　with　the　Raves。　He　pressed　his　palms　together　and　nodded　his　head　
in　that　sexy；　monklike　way　of　his。　〃Sure。　I'll　call　you　tomorrow　to　make　a　plan。〃　

Vanessa　walked　him　to　the　door　and　then　rushed　to　the　window；　following　his　nice　ass　with　her　
eyes　as　he　flip…flopped　his　way　down　South　Sixth　Street　and　then　disappeared　into　the　maze　of　old　
factory　warehouses　that　made　up　Williamsburg's　landscape。　Saturday　mornings　she　and　Beverly　
would　sit　by　that　window；　making　use　of　its　southern　exposure　to　make　their　art。　He　would　work　
silently　at　his　canvas；　smearing　black　ink　all　over　it　with　his　hands　while　she　filmed　him。　And　both　
of　them　would　be。。。。　Naked。　

Of　course。　


How　exciting　to　live　with　an　artist。　Of　course；　Dan　was　a　poet；　but　that　was　different。　All　he　did　
was　scribble　in　notebooks　all　day；　drinking　bad　coffee　and　getting　shakier　and　more　neurotic　by　
the　hour。　

Of　course　she　would　continue　to　interview　other　people…　at　least　Instant　Messenger…　until　
everything　was　worked　out。　But　she　was　already　pretty　sure　she'd　found　what　she　was　looking　for；　
the　perfect　mate。　

Wait。　Doesn't　she　mean　roommate？　

B　CAN'T　STOP　RUNNING　AWAY　FROM　HOME　

〃Excuse　me。　What　are　you　guys　doing？〃　Blair　demanded。　Eleanor　Waldorf　and　Blair's　stepbrother；　
Aaron　Rose；　were　standing　on　the　bed　in　Blair's　makeshift　bedroom；　thumb　tacking　some　sort　of　
large　map　on　the　wall。　Blair　stood　in　the　doorway　with　her　arms　folded；　awaiting　an　explanation。　

〃Don't　tell；〃　her　mom　whispered　excitedly　to　Aaron。　Eleanor　was　wearing　a　bizarre　Versace　outfit　
that　had　bad　sample…sale　purchase　written　all　over　it。　The　outfit　consisted　of　an　orange…and…black　
vertically　striped　halter　top　attached　to　green…and…black　horizontally　striped　pedal…pushers　by　way　
of　a　mess　of　gold　chains　and　buttons。　The　petal…pushers　even　sported　gold　fringe。　

Why　is　it　that　the　mom　population　is　always　drawn　to　designer's　biggest　mistakes？　

Not　only　was　Eleanor's　outfit　ugly；　but　in　another　fit　of　postpartum　depression　she'd　dome　
something　dreadful　to　her　hair。　That　morning　it　had　been　shoulder…length　and　blonde。　Now　it's　
dyed　dark　red　and　cropped　close　to　her　head；　like　Sharon　Osbourne's。　Needless　to　say；　it　was　sort　
of　hard　for　Blair　to　look　at　her。　

Aaron　pushed　the　last　tack　into　the　corner　of　the　map　and　hopped　down　from　the　bed；　his　wannabe　
Rastafarian　mini　dreadlocks　banging　merrily　against　his　hollow　vegan　cheeks。　〃I　hate　to　break　it　to　


you；　Ma；　but　this　is　going　to　require　a　wee　bit　of　clarification。〃　He　shot　Blair　and　apologetic　look。　
〃Sorry；　sis；　we　wanted　to　surprise　you。〃　

Blair　liked　her　stepbrother　Aaron　okay…much　more　than　she　liked　his　fat　loser　of　a　father；　Cyrus　
Rose…　but　totally　infuriated　her　when　he　called　Eleanor　Ma　or　her　sis。　After　all　his　father　and　her　
mother　had　only　been　married　since　thanksgiving；　so　Eleanor　was　definitely　not　his　mom　and　she　
was　very　definitely　not　his　sister。　Despite　the　existence　of　her　little　brother　Tyler；　who　was　a　boy；　
and　Yale；　who　was　only　a　baby；　Blair　had　always　identified　herself　as　an　only　child；　except　for　
those　rare　occasions　when　she　and　Serena　were　getting　along　so　well　it　felt　like　they　were　sisters。　

Eleanor　scooted　off　the　bed；　grabbed　Blair's　hand；　and　dragged　her　over　to　the　sage…colored　wall　to　
look　at　the　map。　It　was　a　detail　of　Australia　and　the　Pacific　Ocean；　and　there　were　four　red　circles　
drawn　around　four　pinpricks　in　the　sea　between　Vanuatu　and　Fiji。　Underneath　the　circles；　written　
in　black　ink　in　Eleanor's　loopy　cursive；　were　the　names　Yale；　Tyler；　Aaron；　and　Blair。　

Padonnez…moi？　

Blair　twisted　her　ruby　ring　around　and　around　on　her　finger。　〃What　the　fuck；　mom？〃　she　
demanded　impatiently。　

Eleanor　was　still　holding　Blair's　hand　and　she　squeezed　her　daughter's　fingers　tightly　with　manic　
delight。　〃I　bought　you　an　island；　sweetie；　and　named　it　after　you。　Each　of　my　four　little　darlings　
has　their　own　Pacific　Island！　And　next　year；　when　they　print　the　new　maps；　your　names　will　
appear　right　there　nest　to　Fiji！　Isn't　that　fantastic？〃　

Blair　stared　at　the　map。　Fiji　had　always　sounded　sort　of　exotic　to　her；　but