so different now？if he
were to write a poem about her； he wasn？t sure where he？d begin。
Vanessa danced over to him and snaked her arms around his neck。 Her pale skin was slick was
sweat and her eyelids were heavy from all the vodka she？d consumed。 ？I do love you； Dan。 I
really do；？ she breathed hotly into his ear before shimmying away again； her whole body aglow。
Dan stared after her； honestly believing that she did love him。 She just didn？t need him with
her？not all the time。 She was too busy shedding her lumpy black cocoon and transforming into a
shimmering； white…winged moth。
But he？d already deferred his admission at Evergreen。 What was he supposed to do now？
Lighting a Camel； he thought about barging into the men？s room to rescue Jenny just for old
times？ sake and because such a noble act might make him feel better； but he was sick of always
being the responsible older brother。 Why couldn？t someone rescuehim for a change？
Okay。
？Son？ Can I talk to you for a moment？？
Dan dropped his cigarette on the burgundy…and…gold oriental carpet； nearly jumping out of his
faded blue Vans sneakers in surprise。 It was his dad； in his favorite purple cotton sweatpants and
black Mets T…shirt； looking ruddy…cheeked from too much red wine。
？I guess；？ Dan responded slowly。 The music in the lounge was absurdly loud。 Dan led Rufus
outside。 Out on Vanderbilt Avenue； the air was steamy and the sidewalks glittered black。 Across
the street； Grand Central Station looked like a giant relic of the city？s past。 A metallic blue ？77
Buick Skylark？another relic from the past？was parked outside the Yale Club； looking pletely
out of place。 Two skinny L？？co