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wood　paneling　in　the　mon　room　gave　off　an　amber　glow；　and　the　oriental　carpet　beneath　
Jenny？s　feet　was　in　perfect　condition。　She　felt　like　she　was　in　the　den　of　some　old　mansion　rather　
than　in　a　school。　

？So；　I　hear　Hanover　can　get　pretty　crazy　sometimes。　At　least；　that？s　what　Serena　told　me；？　Jenny　
babbled　on；　still　standing　in　the　doorway　like　an　idiot。　She　wanted　to　make　it　very　clear　that　she　
didn？t　just　knowof　Serena。　They　were　pals。　

？Shush；？　whispered　a　beautiful　blond　girl　with　legs　so　long　and　so　tan；　they　looked　fake。　？You？re　
going　to　get　us　in　trouble。？　

Hello？Since　when　were　Hanover　girls　worried　about　getting　into　trouble？　

？Sorry；？　Jenny　muttered　meekly。　She　sat　down　in　an　empty　leather　chair；　wincing　at　the　noisy　
farting　sound　it　made　when　her　bare　legs　rubbed　against　it。　She　placed　her　faux　Louis　Vuitton　bag　
primly　on　her　lap；　wishing　she？d　at　least　thought　to　bring　a　book。　Out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye；　she　
caught　the　girl　with　short　black　hair　checking　her　out　once　more。　Jenny　pulled　an　old　receipt　from　
Duane　Reade　out　of　the　side　pocket　of　her　bag　and　then　hunted　for　the　stubby　Hello　Kitty　pencil　
she？d　had　since　fifth　grade。　


What？s　the　deal？　I　thought　Hanover　was　supposed　to　be　totally　WILD；　she　scribbled　on　the　back　
of　the　receipt。　Then　she　folded　up　the　receipt　and　daringly　tossed　it　in　the　short…haired　girl？s　lap。　
Less　than　a　minute　later　the　receipt　came　back　with　blue　pen　all　over　it。Well；　basically；　the　little　
episode　with　your　friend　Serena　（who　used　to　be　my　neighbor　here　in　Riley？when　she　was　actually　
around）　ruined　everything。　After　getting　rid　of　her；　they　instituted　the　disciplinary　code；　which　
basically　says　that　if　you　tell　on　your　friends；　you　get　privileges。　There？s　so　much　incentive　to　tell　
on　your　friends　that　no　one　ever　does　anything　worth　talking　about　anymore。　This　place　is　totally　
dry；　quiet；　and　B。O。R。I。N。G！！！　I？m　a　senior；　though；　so　I？m　outta　here？YAY！　

Jenny　looked　up　from　the　note　and　studied　the　other　girls　in　the　room　more　carefully。　One　of　the　
iPod　listeners　was　muttering　to　herself；　and　Jenny　realized　she　wasn？t　listening　to　the　latest　
downloads　but　rather　memorizing　Spanish　conjugations。　A　petite　Asian　girl　with　thick　pigtails　who　
Jenny　had　thought　was　reading　a　fashion　magazine　was　actually　pletely　engrossed　inScience　
Digest　。　

　Uh…oh。　

I　probably　wouldn？t　get　in　anyway；　Jenny　scribbled　back。　She　tossed　the　note　to　the　girl；　then　
stood　up。　Applications　for　boarding　school　were　supposed　to　have　been　done　in　the　fall；　so　she　
was　pushing　it　timewise　wherever　she　decided　to　go；　never　mind　who　would　have　her。　But　surely　
there　were　other　schools　that　weren？t　quite　as　strict　as　Hanover　clearly　was　now。　

She　went　outside　and　wound　her　way　back　to　the　school　gates；　wishing　that　she　hadn？t　sent　her　
father　away　in　such　a　hurry。　Heading　down　the　path　toward　town　she　came　upon　a　blond　boy　in　a　
red　Ralph　Lauren　baseball　cap；　a　white　V…neck　T…shirt；　and　floppy　aqua…colored　J。Crew　linen　pants；　
smoking　a　Marlboro　as　he　shuffled　slowly　back　toward　campus。　He　was　pletely　adorable。　

Jenny　smiled　shyly　at　him　as　he　approached；　mustering　up　the　courage　to　ask　him　if　Hanover　was　
really　as　bad　as　that　short…haired　girl　back　in　Riley　had　made　it　out　to　be。　

？You？re　not　going　to　tell　on　me；　are　you？？　the　boy　demanded；　glaring　at　her　with　more　hostility　
than　anyone　deserves。　

？N…no；？　Jenny　stammered。　Was　everyone　at　Hanover　totally　paranoid？　

？Right；？　he　sneered　back；　still　glaring　as　he　shuffled　away。　

When　she　arrived　at　the　coffee　shop；　her　dad　was　behind　the　counter　whipping　up　a　soy　milk　chai　
latte；　even　though　he　and　Dan　had　spent　an　hour　one　day　lecturing　Jenny　on　how　chai　was　just　
some　made…up　Starbucks　bullshit　and　how　the　only　real　hot　drink　on　the　planet　was　Folgers　instant　
coffee。　？The　air　is　so　fine；　I　was　thinking　I　might　move　up　here。　They　even　offered　me　a　job　here　
in　the　caf？；？　he　crowed；　beaming　at　her。　？Dan？s　off　to　Evergreen　in　the　fall　anyway。　We？ll　sublet　
our　place？make　a　fortune！？　


？Sorry；　Dad；　but　I　don？t　think　so；？　Jenny　sighed。　？I　mean；　I　don？t　think　I　want　to　go　here。？　

Rufus　carried　the　paper　cup　of　frothy　hot　liquid　around　the　counter　and　handed　it　to　Jenny。　？You　
mean　you　want　to　stay　home　with　me？？　he　asked；　his　bushy　salt…and…pepper　eye…brows　arched　
hopefully。　

Jenny　smelled　the　drink；　made　a　face；　and　then　handed　it　back。　？No。　I　just　have　to　keep　looking。　
Croton？s　on　the　way　home　anyway。？　

Rufus　winked　at　the　big…hipped；　hemp…dress…wearing；　frizzy…haired　woman　ing　out　of　the　
kitchen　with　a　tray　of　buckwheat　scones　in　her　hands。　He　sighed。　？You　sure？？　

From　what　Jenny　could　remember；　the　prep　school　guidebook　she？d　read　from　cover　to　cover　in　
the　corner　by　the　window　upstairs　at　the　Broadway　Barnes　&　Noble　had　listed　Croton　Academy　in　
Croton　Falls　second　on　the　list　of　party　schools；　right　after　Hanover。　Croton　was　supposed　to　be　
full　of　kids　who？d　been　kicked　out　of　their　New　York　City　private　schools　for　bad　behavior。　
Obviously　the　book　hadn？t　been　updated　recently　if　it　still　listed　Hanover　as　the　number　one　party　
school；　but　maybe　what　it　said　about　Croton　was　still　true。　

？e　on；　let？sgo　。？　Jenny　tugged　on　the　pocket　of　her　father？s　Carhartt　shorts；　all　excited　about　

Croton　now。　

It　sounded　way　cooler　than　Hanover。　And　hopefully　it　had　no　disciplinary　code。　

Professor　Pierre　Papadametriou　

English　Dept。；　The　Evergreen　State　College　

2700　Evergreen　Parkway　NW　

　Olympia；　WA　98505　

　Daniel　Humphrey　

815　West　End　Avenue；　Apt。　8D　

New　York；　NY　10024　

Dear　Mr。　Daniel　Humphrey；　

I　saw　your　query　in　Seeking　Paid　Summer　Internship　on　college　employment　site。　I　am　poetry　
and　biology　professor　at　college　and　I　seek　summer　intern。　You　live　in　my　house。　I　have　two　dogs　
and　a　son。　My　wife　left　for　Greece。　Son　is　fisherman。　Dogs　live　outside。　You　work　on　my　very　


interesting　book　with　me。　I　feed　you　good　Greek　food！　Tell　me　when　you　e　and　I　will　fix　
hammock　in　attic。　Must　go　feed　dogs。　They　love　my　moussaka！　

Please　write　back　soon。

　Pierre　

D　and　v　have　d？j？　vu　？　all　over　again　

？Wow。　Your　place　looks　really　？lavender　；？　Dan　remarked　when　Vanessa　let　him　in。　When　he？d　
lived　there　the　walls　of　the　small；　nondescript　apartment　had　been　plain；　peeling；　and　white；　and　
there？d　been　black　Halloween　sheets　hanging　in　the　windows　in　place　of　curtains。　Now　the　walls　
were　painted　a　delicate　light　lavender　with　celery　green　trim；　and　black…and…white　chintz　curtains　
hung　from　real　curtain　rods　in　the　windows。　There　were　a　nice　Danish　modern　wooden　table　and　
chairs　in　the　living　room　and　a　cool；　modern　gray　sofa。　The　place　looked　like　it　had　been　
decorated　by　a　real　decorator。　

Vanessa　blushed；　which　was　weird　for　her。　Since　when　did　she　blush？　？Blair　kind　of　spruced　it　
up　a　little。　You　like？？　

Dan　was　sweaty　from　the　subway　ride；　and　because　he？d　run　all　the　way　from　the　L　stop；　thirteen　
blocks　away。　He　traced　a　sticky　finger　over　the　freshly　painted　wall；　his　heart　beating　fast。　？It？s　
different；　I　guess；？　he　responded　nervously。　Vanessa　was　checking　him　out　in　that　unabashed；　
direct　way　of　hers；　making　him　sweat　even　harder。　

When　Vanessa　had　gotten　home　from　school；　there？d　been　a　little　white　box　waiting　for　her　on　
the　kitchen　counter。　She？d　opened　it　to　find　a　silver　ring　in　the　shape　of　two　hands　holding　hearts　
that　were　welded　together。　Inside　the　ring　was　the　inscription　FOREVER　ANDALWAYS。　LOVE；　

A。　Except　for　a　brief　dalliance　with　a　lip　ring；　Vanessa　rarely　wore　jewelry；　and　this　type　of　
friendship/love　ring　was　so　corny　it　made　her　laugh。　She？d　certainly　never　have　considered　
wearing　it；　no　matter　who　had　given　it　to　her。　She？d　dropped　the　ring　back　inside　the　box　and　
tucked　it　into　the　silverware　drawer。　It　was　possible　Aaron　had　given　her　the　ring　as　a　joke；　but　
then　why　would　he　have　bothered　to　have　it　inscribed？　Even　when　they　were　going　out；　Dan　
would　never　have　given　her　such　a　sappy　gift。　e　to　think　of　it；　he？d　never　asked　her　to　camp　
out　under　the　stars　with　him；　either。　Vanessa　was　a　running…water…and…flushing…toilets　sort　of　girl。　
She　hated　the　sun；　and　the　outdoors；　with　its　spiders；　ants；　bees；　and　mosquitoes；　creeped　her　out。　
Of　course；　Aaron　meant　well。　It　was　the　thought　that　counted　and　all　that。　But　she　and　he　would　
have　to　talk？something　they　hadn？t　really　done　much　of　since　they？d　hooked　up。　Despite　Aaron　
pouring　on　the　love　notes；　giving　her　gifts；　and　sleeping　over　all　the　time；　their　relationship　had　
been　purely　physical　thus　far。　

Not　that　she　minded。　There　was　something　about　the　stress　of　finals　and　graduation　and　turning　a　
new　page　in　life　that　was　secretly　freaking　Vanessa　out。　She　simply　wasn？t　herself。　Or　maybe　
living　in　an　apartment　with　lavender　walls　with　a　girl　who　owned　one　hundred　seventeen　pairs　of　
shoes；　including　thirty…four　pairs　of　Manolo　Blahniks；　had　turned　her　into　someone　else。　Formerly　
a　loner；　Vanessa　could　no　longer　bear　to　be　alone；　and　she？d　found　that　the　best　way　to　keep　her　
mind　off　the　future　was　to　drink　a　little　vodka　and　then　fool　around。　

She？s　only　just　discovered　this？　

？You　look　pale；？　Vanessa　told　Dan。　Then　she　took　a　step　toward　him；　wrapped　her　arms　around　
his　neck；　and　kissed　him　on　the　cheek。　She　squeezed　her　eyes　shut　and　inhaled　his　cute；　musty　
Dan　scent。　？Pale；　but　really　good。？　

Vanessa　was　wearing　a　black　ribbed　tank　top　and　no　bra。　Her　head　was　freshly　shaved；　but　she？d　
allowed　the　dark　hair　around　her　face　to　grow　half　an　inch　or　so；　softening　her　broad　white　
forehead　and　big　brown　eyes。　And　she？d　given　up　on　her　lip　ring。　

Which　was　a　good　thing。　

She　was　also　wearing　a　flippy　black　miniskirt　that　she　never　would　have　considered　before　Blair　
Waldorf　moved　in。　But　she？d　paired　the　miniskirt　with　black…and…white　argyle　kneesocks　and　her　
ever…present　Doc　Martens；　making　it　very　clear　that；　despite　her　roommate？s　influence；　she　wasn？t　
about　to　buy　a　pair　of　snakeskin　Manolo　Blahnik　stilettos　anytime　soon；　even　if　they　came　in　
black。　

The　smooth　slope　of　her　pale　upper　arms；　the　mocking　curve　of　her　red　lips；　and　the　defiant　glow　
in　her　big　brown　eyes　made　Dan　wonder　how　he？d　ever　functioned　without　her。　He　resisted　the　
urge　to　whip　out　his　leather…bound　notebook　and　scribble　down　a　poem。　Instead　he　pulled　a　Camel　
out　of　the　pack　and　stuck　it　between　his　lips　without　lighting　it。　？So；　you　want　to　take　a　walk？　Get　
some　coffee　or　something？？　he　ventured；　trying　to　sound　vaguely　normal。　

Vanessa　shrugged　her　shoulders　without　moving　away　from　him。　？I？m　having　a　major　d？j？　vu；？　
she　confessed　with　a　bemused　smile。　Wasn？t　this　how　they？d　gotten　together　again　the　last　time？　
He？d　e　over　and　then　they？d　basically　ripped　each　other？s　clothes　off。　

？Me　too；？　he　admitted；　secretly　hoping　that　history　would　repeat　itself。　

？Blair　and　I　just　discovered　a　door　to　the　roof　of　the　building。　All　this　time　I　thought　it　was　
padlocked；　but　the　lock　is　totally　broken。　It？s　pretty　cool　up　there？want　to　check　it　out？？　

So　was　Vanessa　into　sunbathing　now　too？　？Sure；？　Dan　agreed。　

To　his　surprise；　she　collected　a　quart　of　Absolut　and　a　bottle　of　tonic　water　from　the　fridge；　
tucking　them　into　a　paper　bag　with　two　plastic　Scooby…Doo　glasses；　which　she　filled　with　


ice。　？I？ve　kind　of　developed　a　taste　for　this　stuff；？　she　admitted　with　a　wicked　grin。　

Dan　stared　at　her　in　amazement；　his　whole　body　trembling　with　anticipation。　Vanessa　never　could　
hold　her　liquor；　neither　could　he。　

He　followed　her　out　of　the　apartment；　down　the　dirty；　cement…floored　hall；　and　up　the　building？s　
cruddy　stairs；　which　were　painted　black　and　smelled　of　turpentine。　Two　flights　up；　Vanessa　pushed　
open　a　black　metal　door　marked　DONOTENTERand　stepped　out　into　the　bright　hot　light　of　the　
rooftop。　Suddenly　the　city　was　all　around　them；　and　the　Williamsburg　Bridge　seemed　close　
enough　to　touch。　Off　to　the　right；　the　East　River　looked　glassy　and　cool　as　a　sailing　yacht　glided　
past　a　barge　pulling　a　load　of　Porta　Johns；　its　white　sails　luffing　in　the　thick　afternoon　air。　To　their　
left　was　the　sugar　factory；　billowing　smoke　out　of　gr