Dan sat up; blinking。
“Thanks so much for letting me try out;” Serena said sweetly;
turning to go。
“See you later;” Dan said; sounding drugged。
“Bye;” Marjorie said; waving at him; and then rushing after Serena。
“Let’s practice your monologue; Dan;” Vanessa said sharply。 “I want
to shoot that first。”
“Which subway are you taking?” Marjorie asked Serena; as they
walked out of the park。
“Um;” Serena said。 She never took the subway; but it wouldn’t kill
her to ride with Marjorie。 “The 6; I guess;” she said。
“Hey; me too;” Marjorie said happily。 “We can ride together。”
It was rush hour; and the subway was packed。 Serena found herself
jammed between a woman with a huge Daffy’s bag and a fat little
boy with nothing to hold onto but Serena’s coat; which he kept
grabbing every time the train lurched forward。 Marjorie was holding
onto the rail above their heads; but only her fingertips could reach
it; and she kept staggering backwards; stepping on people’s feet。
“Don’t you think Dan is majorly cute?” Marjorie asked Serena。 “I
can’t wait until we start filming。 I’ll get to hang out with him every
day!”
Serena smiled。 Obviously Marjorie thought she’d gotten the part;
which was a little sad; because Serena was absolutely sure that she
had the part。 She had totally nailed it。
Serena imagined getting to know Dan。 She wondered which school
he went to。 He had dark; haunting eyes; and he said his lines like he
meant them。 She liked that。 They’d have to practice quite a bit
together after school。 She wondered if he liked to go out; and what
he liked to drink。
The train came to a sudden stop at Fifty…ninth Street and Lexington
—Bloomingdale’s。 Serena fell forward onto the little boy。
“Ouch;” he said; glaring up at her。
“This is my stop;” Marjorie said; pushing her way to the door。 “Sorry
if you didn’t get the part。 I’ll see you at school tomorrow。”
“Good luck!” Serena called。 The subway car emptied out and she
slid into a seat; her mind still on Dan。
She imagined drinking Irish coffees with him in dark cafés and
discussing Russian literature。 Dan looked like he read a lot。 He could
give her books to read and help her with her acting。 Maybe they’d
even bee friends。 She could use some new ones。