The dress was prettier than anything she?d ever owned; with a plunging V in the satin bodice; an
asymmetrical hemline; and a sort of flapper…style low waist that she?d had no idea would look as
flattering on her as it did。 She went back to the closet to retrieve the shoes。 She and Blair had the
same size feet; and Blair had left her a pair of white Michael Kors wedge…heeled sandals to go
with the dress。 She?d even found Vanessa a pair of cool white fishnet gloves from some
consignment shop on the Upper East Side; because it was a Constance Billard tradition for the
girls to wear white gloves during the ceremony。
The thing was; Vanessa wasn?t going to be at the ceremony。 Aaron was arriving at ten the next
morning to pick her up; his red vintage Saab 900S loaded up with herbal cigarettes; soy crisps;
dried edamame; and peach…flavored Snapple iced tea for their cross…country sexcapade。 Her
parents were in Santa Fe; New Mexico; participating in some sort of hippie artist happening; and
her older sister; Ruby; was still in Finland or Poland or Lapland; developing a freaky foreign fan
base for her band; SugarDaddy。 It wasn?t like anyone in her family cared if she missed graduation。
She?d get her diploma in the mail; and Blair could return the dress。 It wasn?t a big deal。
Right。 We believe you。
There was a scratching sound at the front door。 Vanessa left her room and flicked on the living
room light as someone shoved a piece of paper underneath the door。 She recognized Dan?s boyish
scrawl before she even knelt down to pick it up。
Can?t make it through graduation tomorrow without seeing you one more time。 I?m upstairs。
?D
Not again!
Vanessa left the dress on and clomped upstairs to the roof in her Michael Kors wedgies。 It was a
mild June evening; almost nine; but not quite dark。 Traffic snaked on and off of the Williamsburg
Bridge; and a chorus of fire alarms sounded down on Broadway。 A hurricane lantern swung from
the steel frame supporting the water tower。 Beneath it; Dan was sitting in the lotus position; naked;
with a thick paperback book open in his lap。
?What are you doing?? Vanessa demanded。
Dan looked up; his love…struck face illuminated by the lamp。 He was all shimmery with it?the
light and his plete adoration of her。 ?Wow;? he murmured softly。 ?You look so pretty。 It?s
almost like how?? He stopped with an embarrassed smile。
?What?? Vanessa folded her arms across her chest。 If she and Dan hadn?t already been best
friends for so long; she might have been more upset by his freaky naked stalking appearances。 But
Dan was Dan?she could only muster mild irritation。
?You look like how I imagine you?d look at our wedding;? Dan blurted haltingly。
Whoa。
Vanessa decided that the only appropriate response was to pletely ignore what he?d said。 ?Is
that something to do with the speech you?re giving tomorrow?? She pointed at the book。