Daniel bolted upright; forgetting his injuries and his line。 The crack
pipe rolled to the ground。
“Wait; we’re not done;” Marjorie said。 She prodded Dan in the arm。
“You’re supposed to kiss my hand。”
Dan stared at her blankly。
“Sure;” Vanessa told Serena。 “Marjorie; do you mind giving Serena
your script?”
Serena and Marjorie traded places。 Dan had his eyes open now。 He
didn’t dare blink。
They began to read。
“I have been looking at you for a long time;” Dan said; meaning
every word。
Serena knelt down beside him and took his hand。 Dan felt faint; and
he was grateful he was lying down。
Whoa。 Easy boy。
He had been in lots of plays; but he had never felt that thing called
“chemistry” before with anyone。 And to be feeling it with Serena
van der Woodsen was like dying an exquisite death。 It felt like he
and Serena were sharing the same breath。 He was inhale and she
was exhale。 He was quiet and still; while she exploded around him
like fireworks。
Serena was enjoying herself too。 The script was beautiful and
passionate; and this scruffy Dan guy was a really good actor。
I could get into this; she thought with a little thrill。 She had never
really thought about what she wanted to do with her life; but maybe
acting was her thing。
They kept reading beyond the given stopping point。 It was as
though they’d forgotten they were acting。 Vanessa frowned。 Serena
was great—they were great together—but Dan was swooning。 It was
totally nauseating。
Boys are so predictable; Vanessa thought and cleared her throat
noisily。 “Thanks; Serena。 Thanks; Dan。” She pretended to scribble
ments in her notebook。 “I’ll let you know tomorrow; okay?” she
told Serena。 In your dreams; she wrote。
“That was fun!” Serena said; smiling at Dan。
Dan gazed up at her dreamily from the bench; still hungover from
the moment。
“Marjorie; I’ll let you know tomorrow; too。 Okay?” Vanessa told the
redhead。
“ ’Kay;” Marjorie said。 “Thanks。”