Read Online I Will Always Love You by Cecily von Ziegesar - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cecily von Ziegesar
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upper lip, but you’re smiling the whole time. It’s cute. Has anyone
ever told you you do that?” Hollis asked.
“No.” Vanessa shook her head. She smiled while snarling? And Hollis thought it was cute?
We all have our special talents.
Below them, people from the bar across the street were spilling onto the sidewalk, blowing noisemakers. “It’s almost New Year’s!”
someone yelled into the night air.
“Should we go back downstairs?” Vanessa asked nervously. Hollis put the camera down on the bench and sat down next to her.
Just then, the group clustered on the sidewalk began counting down: “Five, four, three, two, one…
“Happy New Year!” The phrase rose like a collective chorus, from the streets below and the roofs around them.
Hollis brushed his hand against Vanessa’s cheek, then cupped her chin and pulled her mouth toward his. “In case you thought
you missed your opportunity for a New Year’s kiss,” he murmured as his lips brushed hers.
Vanessa hesitated for a fraction of a second, as an image of Dan’s sallow face flashed across her mind. Dan, her Dan, who
was back and wanted to move in together, go to school together, start a life together. But it was this thought exactly that
made her kiss Hollis right back. His mouth tasted clean and cinnamony and not at all like Folgers. She knew it was wrong and
that she’d have a lot of thinking to do in the morning. But up here, on the roof, so close to the winter stars, it felt so
right.
In film-speak, this is called a central conflict.
missed connections
From:
[email protected]
To:
[email protected]
Time: Friday, December 31, 11:58 p.m.
Subject: Re: Here!
… with 2 mins to go before New Year’s! A million sorries and a thousand ridiculous reasons why I’m late but I’ll make it up
to you, I promise! Just let me know where you are because this party needs fun and you and I are the only ones who can supply
it. Xoxoxoxoxoxox Serena
From:
[email protected]
To:
[email protected]
Time: Saturday, January 1, 12:18 a.m.
Subject: Re: re: Here!
Left party early and found another place to stay. Will call you tomorrow. Happy New Year.
Xo,
Blair
the honest truth and other rewards
All of the lights in Nate’s Eighty-second Street town house were off. Nate didn’t bother to turn them on as he led Blair up
the stairs to his room. They hadn’t talked at all in the cab uptown. Talking—even if only the cabdriver could hear them—felt
unnecessary. Besides, it was impossible for either of them to know where to begin. Instead, they’d both stared out at the
city as it passed, their hands intertwined.
Blair followed Nate up the familiar creaky stairs toward the three rooms that made up his private third-floor space. Nate
paused in the doorway.
“Blair,” he said urgently. He planted his lips on hers. She tasted familiar, like peppermint gum and vanilla lip gloss. He’d
never, ever leave Blair again. He was so thankful she’d given him another chance. He wouldn’t fuck it up this time.
We’ve heard that one before.
Blair pulled away, her hands resting lightly on Nate’s strong back. The moon cast a wide shaft of light on his Italian cotton
duvet and part of her was eager to lie down and have Nate ravish her. But part of her—the grown-up part—needed to know that
what had happened four months ago wouldn’t happen again; that Nate really was hers forever. She sat on the bed, knitting her perfectly manicured fingers together in her lap.
“You really hurt me this summer,” she said quietly.
It was funny. In the past, when Blair was pissed, she’d scream or throw a Manolo. Her hesitant manner was almost worse. “I
know I did. I feel so guilty about that.” Nate hoped his words conveyed how sorry he was. He’d never meant to hurt her. She
needed to know that. “I just had to figure out some stuff. But I know what I want, now. You,” he said huskily. He
ever told you you do that?” Hollis asked.
“No.” Vanessa shook her head. She smiled while snarling? And Hollis thought it was cute?
We all have our special talents.
Below them, people from the bar across the street were spilling onto the sidewalk, blowing noisemakers. “It’s almost New Year’s!”
someone yelled into the night air.
“Should we go back downstairs?” Vanessa asked nervously. Hollis put the camera down on the bench and sat down next to her.
Just then, the group clustered on the sidewalk began counting down: “Five, four, three, two, one…
“Happy New Year!” The phrase rose like a collective chorus, from the streets below and the roofs around them.
Hollis brushed his hand against Vanessa’s cheek, then cupped her chin and pulled her mouth toward his. “In case you thought
you missed your opportunity for a New Year’s kiss,” he murmured as his lips brushed hers.
Vanessa hesitated for a fraction of a second, as an image of Dan’s sallow face flashed across her mind. Dan, her Dan, who
was back and wanted to move in together, go to school together, start a life together. But it was this thought exactly that
made her kiss Hollis right back. His mouth tasted clean and cinnamony and not at all like Folgers. She knew it was wrong and
that she’d have a lot of thinking to do in the morning. But up here, on the roof, so close to the winter stars, it felt so
right.
In film-speak, this is called a central conflict.
missed connections
From:
[email protected]
To:
[email protected]
Time: Friday, December 31, 11:58 p.m.
Subject: Re: Here!
… with 2 mins to go before New Year’s! A million sorries and a thousand ridiculous reasons why I’m late but I’ll make it up
to you, I promise! Just let me know where you are because this party needs fun and you and I are the only ones who can supply
it. Xoxoxoxoxoxox Serena
From:
[email protected]
To:
[email protected]
Time: Saturday, January 1, 12:18 a.m.
Subject: Re: re: Here!
Left party early and found another place to stay. Will call you tomorrow. Happy New Year.
Xo,
Blair
the honest truth and other rewards
All of the lights in Nate’s Eighty-second Street town house were off. Nate didn’t bother to turn them on as he led Blair up
the stairs to his room. They hadn’t talked at all in the cab uptown. Talking—even if only the cabdriver could hear them—felt
unnecessary. Besides, it was impossible for either of them to know where to begin. Instead, they’d both stared out at the
city as it passed, their hands intertwined.
Blair followed Nate up the familiar creaky stairs toward the three rooms that made up his private third-floor space. Nate
paused in the doorway.
“Blair,” he said urgently. He planted his lips on hers. She tasted familiar, like peppermint gum and vanilla lip gloss. He’d
never, ever leave Blair again. He was so thankful she’d given him another chance. He wouldn’t fuck it up this time.
We’ve heard that one before.
Blair pulled away, her hands resting lightly on Nate’s strong back. The moon cast a wide shaft of light on his Italian cotton
duvet and part of her was eager to lie down and have Nate ravish her. But part of her—the grown-up part—needed to know that
what had happened four months ago wouldn’t happen again; that Nate really was hers forever. She sat on the bed, knitting her perfectly manicured fingers together in her lap.
“You really hurt me this summer,” she said quietly.
It was funny. In the past, when Blair was pissed, she’d scream or throw a Manolo. Her hesitant manner was almost worse. “I
know I did. I feel so guilty about that.” Nate hoped his words conveyed how sorry he was. He’d never meant to hurt her. She
needed to know that. “I just had to figure out some stuff. But I know what I want, now. You,” he said huskily. He
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