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第41部分（第2页）

“Who　could　say　no　to　that？”　Erik　had　teased；　kissing　her。

That　was　all　the　reassurance　Serena　needed。　If　Dan　was　going　to　Iowa；　then　so　would　she。　She’d　even　found　a　place　for　them。　The　house　was　a　fantastic　two…bedroom　bungalow　designed　by　Frank　Lloyd　Wright；　next　to　a　river　and　surrounded　by　trees。　The　grainy　picture　on　the　website　made　it　almost　look　like　a　sailboat　with　all　these　wonderful　built…in　cabinets　and　furniture。　It　was　forty…five　minutes　away　from　Iowa　City；　but　that　wasn’t　too　bad。　Besides；　they’d　both　have　cars；　and　after　living　in　the　middle　of　the　biggest　city　in　the　world　for　their　whole　lives；　Serena　couldn’t　think　of　anything　more　romantic　than　settling　down　with　her　boyfriend　so　far　away　from　the　rest　of　humanity。　After　all；　all　they　needed　was　each　other。

No　Barneys；　no　Elizabeth　Arden；　no　City　Bakery　cookies…　Is　she　crazy？

According　to　the　Web　site；　the　house　was　available　for　rent；　but　Serena　wanted　to　work　out　all　the　details　before　she　told　Dan。　She　was　fine　waiting　a　day　to　tell　him　in　person；　even　if　it　did　feel　like　torture　right　now。

“This　is　from　me；”　Fiona　said；　smiling　as　she　held　a　thin；　silver…wrapped　present　toward　Serena。　Serena　slid　her　finger　under　the　tape　and　eagerly　ripped　off　the　wrapping　paper。　Inside　was　a　photo　album。　On　the　inside　cover　was　inscribed：

To　Serena—

“The　world　is　a　book　and　those　who　do　not　travel　read　only　one　page。”—St。　Augustine。

Enjoy！

Love；　Fiona

“Oh　my　God；　so　cool！”　Serena　grinned　as　she　flipped　through　the　pages。　Fiona　had　traveled　the　world　for　two　years　before　she　started　college；　a　fact　that　always　made　Serena　envious。　Serena　had　always　wanted　to　do　that；　but　the　closest　she’d　e　was　a　few　weeks　in　the　south　of　France　when　she　was　a　senior　in　high　school。　Inside　were　pages　of　photographs；　hand…drawn　maps；　contact　lists；　and　need…to…know　information　about　different　countries　and　cities　around　the　world。　“Did　you　really　make　this？”　Serena　asked。

“I　know　you　like　adventure；　but　you’d　be　well　off　to　avoid　making　my　travel　mistakes。”　Fiona　winked。

“Not　like　you’ll　have　too　much　time　to　travel。　Once　you　find　a　job；　you’ll　really　need　to　buckle　down　for　those　first　few　years；”　Mr。　van　der　Woodsen　remarked　as　he　peered　over　Serena’s　shoulder。

Serena　smiled　tightly。　She’d　tell　her　parents　about　the　Iowa　plan　after　she　told　Dan。

“This　is　great；　Fiona；”　she　said；　continuing　to　flip　through　the　pages。　As　she　came　across　a　photo　of　Carnivale　in　Spain；　it　dawned　on　her　that　a　life　spent　with　Dan　in　Iowa　wouldn’t　leave　her　much　opportunity　to　travel。　They　wouldn’t　have　any　money；　and　he’d　be　too　busy　writing　all　the　time。　Serena　felt　unexpected　tears　spring　to　her　eyes。

She　rubbed　her　eye　with　her　index　finger；　as　if　she　were　just　readjusting　a　contact　lens。

Fiona　winked　at　her。　“Now　what　do　you　say　we　set　up　a　Bloody　Mary　bar　in　the　kitchen？”

Serena　nodded　and　trailed　behind　Fiona　toward　the　kitchen；　feeling　deflated。　Fiona　saw　her　as　an　adventurous；　gutsy　girl　who　needed　practical　travel　tips　for　Belize　and　Thailand。　Instead；　her　grand　adventure　was　booking　a　one…way　ticket　to　a　flat　state　few　New　Yorkers　could　point　to　on　a　map。

Well；　maybe　if　she　moves　there；　people　will　start　to　visit。

“Essa！”　Moxie　blurted　happily　from　Ruby’s　hip　as　Ruby　opened　the　paint…caked　door　to　her　Prospect　Heights　walk…up　on　Christmas　Day。　Moxie　was　dressed　in　a　T…shirt　with　a　pigeon　wearing　oversize　headphones　and　black　leggings；　her　thin　brown　hair　tied　in　two　sloppy　braids。　She　looked　like　a　very　short　Williamsburg　hipster。

“Merry　Christmas；　little　sis！”　Ruby　hugged　Vanessa　warmly。　Ruby　wore　a　pair　of　gray　pajama　pants　and　a　black　SugarDaddy　tank　top　with　no　bra。　Behind　her；　Piotr　had　on　red　Santa…print　flannel　pants　and　a　felt　Santa　hat。　As　children；　Ruby　and　Vanessa　had　never　celebrated　Christmas。　Their　dad　was　Jewish　and　their　mom　thought　the　holiday　was　too　mercial。　Ruby　was　obviously　determined　to　let　Moxie　have　her　fun　with　Santa。

“Merry　Christmas；　guys！”　Vanessa　exclaimed；　breezing　into　their　cheerful　one…bedroom　apartment。　It　looked　so　domestic；　with　a　silver　garland　wrapped　along　the　molding　of　the　ceiling；　a　pile　of　presents　in　the　corner；　and　a　small　tree　in　the　center　of　the　room。　The　only　relic　from　their　artistic　past　was　the　large　painting　of　a　nude　figure　astride　a　bull　mastiff　dog　wedged　behind　the　couch。

“Watch　this。”　Ruby　grinned　as　she　picked　up　Moxie　and　put　her　next　to　the　pile　of　presents。　Moxie　curiously　pulled　on　a　silver　bow　and　then　tossed　the　present　back　under　the　tree。

“She　doesn’t　really　get　it　yet。”　Ruby　shrugged。　Vanessa　grinned　absently；　her　mind　a　million　miles　away。　What　would　Christmas　be　like　in　Indonesia？　What　if　she　didn’t　make　any　friends　and　her　movie　sucked？　What　if　while　she　was　gone；　Dan　and　Serena　got　engaged？

Which　apocalyptic　scenario　does　not　belong　with　the　others？

“Hello？”　Ruby　snapped　her　fingers　in　front　of　Vanessa’s　face；　breaking　her　out　of　her　reverie。

“I　got　that　Filmmakers　for　Change　grant　to　go　to　Indonesia　for　two　years。　Everything　paid　for。”　Vanessa　grinned　shyly。　Saying　it　made　her　feel　better；　more　sure　of　herself。　The　grant　was　an　honor　most　young　filmmakers　only　dreamed　of。

“Oh　my　God！”　Ruby　squealed；　hugging　her。

“God！”　Moxie　yelled　happily　from　the　floor；　the　silver　bow　clutched　in　her　chubby　hands。　Ruby　rolled　her　eyes。　“Piotr；　Vanessa’s　going　to　Indonesia！”

“Well；　I　mean；　I　got　it；　but—”

“But　you　are　going；”　Piotr　said　in　his　slow；　careful　English　from　the　couch。

“There　goes　our　free　babysitting；”　Ruby　said　mournfully。　“Just　kidding；”　she　added　quickly。

Vanessa　smiled　wanly。　Could　she　really　do　this？　The　fellowship　was　for　two　years；　and　while　theoretically　she　could　visit　home；　she　couldn’t　imagine　a　trip　back　to　the　U。S。　would　be　cheap。　And　two　years　was　sort　of　a　long　time。　Mo