everyone else out。
？Anyway；？ she continued； ？I just wanted you to know that I crossed myself off the list of
nominees。？ She moved on to her ring finger； which hadn？t been chewed on since breakfast。 ？I？ve
never been that good at making speeches。？
Plus； Blair is the only other person nominated； and she really wants to do it； and I？m afraid if I
get it she might murder me in my sleep。
Mr。 Beckham took off his glasses and began to clean them with the bottom of his black T…shirt；
revealing a bare patch of surprisingly buff stomach。 Serena tried not to stare and wondered
fleetingly if he was gay。 His bare skin seemed totally indecent； like he was flashing her or
something。
？You know why I nominated you；n？est…ce pas ？？ he asked； looking searchingly at her in the red
darkness as he continued to clean his glasses。
Mais oui。 Because you have le hots pour elle？
？Well ？？ Serena began； searching for an excuse to turn and flee。 There was suddenly something
creepy and unsanitary about the fact that Mr。 Beckham had been eating a bagel while developing
film。 She wondered if he was addicted to the chemicals or something。
Mr。 Beckham put his glasses back on and sat back on his metal swivel stool。 ？Serena； I？ve been
watching you since I came here； back when you were only in seventh grade。 And I know it sounds
corny； but you really lit up my darkroom。？ He stopped to clear his throat； clearly too nervous to
think of any words in French。 ？If I weren？t your teacher； I？d ？？
He？d ？ pour fixer all over her and lick it off？ Some advice：Run； girl； run！！！！
Serena was pretty sure she didn？t want to hear anything more。 ？Um； Mr。 Beckham？ Sorry； but I