第18部分

請關閉瀏覽器的閱讀/暢讀/小說模式並且關閉廣告遮蔽過濾功能，避免出現內容無法顯示或者段落錯亂。

　Nate　felt　very　far　away。

Time　to　rethink　that　hypothesis。

Besides；　why　did　it　matter？　She　was　happy。　Sure；　she　didn’t　go　out　all　night　and　dance　until　dawn；　but　there　was　something　to　be　said　for　the　simple　life：　arguing　with　Pete　about　what　movies　to　put　on　their　Netflix　queue　or　whether　to　order　Chinese　or　sushi　on　a　Friday　night。　It　all　seemed　so…　normal。

If　you’re　into　that　sort　of　thing。

They　exited　the　restaurant　and　walked　out　to　the　curb。　Pete　tentatively　held　up　his　hand　to　hail　a　cab。

“Not　like　that；　like　this！”　Blair　stepped　forcefully　out　onto　the　street　and　threw　her　hand　in　the　air。　“You　have　to　be　aggressive。　Rule　number　one　of　living　in　New　York！”　Blair　smiled　happily。　She　looked　uptown　and　saw　the　Empire　State　Building；　still　decorated　in　red；　green；　and　white　lights　for　Christmas。　Around　them；　pedestrians　were　traveling　in　merry　packs；　wearing　Happy　New　Year　headbands　and　blowing　those　totally　annoying　noisemakers；　even　though　there　was　still　an　hour　to　go　until　the　ball　dropped。　“Happy　New　Year！”　She　squeezed　Pete　impulsively　as　a　taxi　roared　to　the　curb。

The　cab　easily　navigated　the　short　distance　from　the　tangled　streets　of　the　West　Village　to　the　wide　streets　of　Tribeca　and　dropped　them　off　in　front　of　the　purple　awning　of　the　Tribeca　Star　hotel；　where　they　had　checked　in　earlier　in　the　day。

Blair　confidently　led　Pete　to　the　elevator　bank；　where　two　girls　were　also　waiting；　looking　miserable　and　cold　in　matching　backless　dresses　and　five…inch　heels。　Blair　smiled　benevolently　at　the　younger　girls；　feeling　infinitely　superior　and　happy　that　she　was　so　beyond　the　stage　of　dressing　for　shock　value　at　parties。　It　had　never　been　her　thing—Serena　had　always　been　the　one　to　goad　her　into　dressing　scandalous