York。
?。 。 。 anyway; she wants you to write a poem and read it at the ceremony。?Vanessa?s voice broke
into Dan?s thoughts。
?Who? Me?? Dan tied the sleeves of the fuchsia jumpsuit around his shoulders like a cape?that
was the only way it was ever going to fit。
?Yeah。? Vanessa downed the rest of her coffee in one gulp。 ?You。 The one in the cape。? Supergay?
Captain Gaypants?
Dan scratched his head。 Ever since his recent ?revelation;? he hadn?t felt much like writing。 In
fact; he hadn?t written a single word since he?d kissed Greg。 It was as if all his confused feelings
were trapped inside; circulating furiously; and he couldn?t get any of them out and onto the
page。 ?But; what?s it supposed to be about?? he wondered aloud; rubbing his unshaven cheek
against the magenta silk。 The only thing he could possibly write about right now was penis…shaped
cream puffs; and he didn?t think that was going to go over too well at a wedding。 Even a European
one。
?I don?t know。? Vanessa pulled out a chair from the table and sat down beside Dan; her
now…empty coffee cup in front of her。 ?Love; I guess。? She shivered; suddenly cold。
?Okay;? Dan responded。 It occurred to him that the only person he?d ever really loved was sitting
right next to him。 Certainly he could write a poem for Vanessa?s sister; who he actually happened
to like。 ?I can do that。? ?I just hope their friends don?t like; boo you off the altar or whatever;?
Vanessa joked。 ?And that they understand a little English。? Suddenly the weight of what Dan had
agreed to sank into him。 Get totally mushy and; well; pletely 。 。 。gay in front of a whole bunch
of Williamsburg hipsters?
That?s one way to e out。
can n weather this storm?
Creeeeeeeeeeeeeeak。
Nate Archibald opened the glass…and…wrought…iron front door of his Park Avenue town house;
cringing at the moan of the hinges。 With any luck; the Captain would be long asleep; and Nate
could just stumble off to bed?avoiding his father pletely。 He had waited until almost midnight
to e home for just that purpose。 After he?d left Blair?s; he?d headed for the boat pond in
Central Park; smoking joint after joint and watching the clouds of smoke drift over the calm
surface of the water。 It reminded him of sailing; of how peaceful it had been out there on the ocean;
surrounded by nothing but water and more water。
As Nate stood looking out at the boat pond; his brain all fuzzy from the pot; he couldn?t help
remembering the way he and Blair and Serena had spent afternoons at the park when they were
kids sailing miniature boats。 Their nannies would sit talking quietly on glossy; dark green benches;