?I e…mailed you a few times;? Henry continued。 ?I never heard back from you。。。。 And when I
tried again; your school account had been closed。?
?I guess I needed to be alone for a little while to sort some things out。 And then I went back to
the city。? She pulled a strand of hair out from behind her ear and played with it distractedly;
smiling sadly。 ?It?s a long story。? One even she didn?t understand; and one she?d never told
anyone。 Is that a fact?
Serena stared over Henry?s shoulder at the crowd of revelers: some of them half…naked and
soaking up the sun; others dancing at speeds not altogether appropriate to the music。 And then
there was Blair; sipping yet another Bloody Mary and smiling up shyly at Nate; who gripped a
beer; grinning stupidly。 Serena glanced back at Henry。 It was like a time warp: Blair and Nate
pletely oblivious to her; and Henry staring devotedly at her from the other side of the table
like nothing had changed。
?This is my birthday party; you know;? she said at last。
?You think I don?t know that?? Henry reached over and grasped her hand with his slightly
callused musician?s fingers。 ?That?s why I came。 It?s our anniversary。? Serena swallowed。
Happy birthday!
behind the scenes
?We?re inside the aviary now。? Vanessa was practically shouting to be heard over the chirps and
cries of the brightly colored birds that were frantically swirling around the glass…enclosed room。
Vanessa held her camera steadily and spun around to get a plete 360…degree look at the
massive; plant…filled room。 Birds of every hue; from egg yolk yellow to Tiffany blue to Bloody
Mary scarlet; fluttered around on clipped wings; drifting from bough to bough in a pathetic
attempt at the flight they?d never again experience。
?I?m told that this is where Bailey Winter does most of his preliminary sketches;? Vanessa
continued。 ?In fact; those who know his work well may recognize the colors from his most recent
couture collection。? She trained the camera on a little bird chirping in the branches of a potted
banana plant。
The shot looked so alive?the colorful birds spinning and flitting all around the high…ceilinged
aviary; the sun spilling down in fat beams of light。 The position was flawless; symmetrical but
still dynamic。 She started mentally planning a whole series of documentaries on the creative
processes of different artists。 Maybe she?d do one on Dan and really capture the writer?s life。 And
one on Ken Mogul; to explore what it was like to be a world…famous filmmaker。
And a weirdo。
The glass…topped rattan table was scattered with sheets of scribbled…on paper; pencils; and
half…drained martini glasses。 Vanessa made her way over to the workstation and focused the shot
on some unfinished sketches。
?A few months from now these pencil sketches will have been transformed into chiffon and silk。?
Vanessa was trying her hardest to remember the names of fabrics she?d heard Blair mention
during their short stint as roommates。 ?Just think of it: right now these ideas are merely doodles;
but soon they may be walking down the red carpet at the Oscars。?
Vanessa adjusted the focus to capture the faint line drawings more clearly。
?And so we see now even more clearly how the designer Bailey Winter?s creative process works。
It begins with some…thing as simple as the color of plumage。 After some pencil sketches and a few
martinis 。 。 。? She trailed off; because really; she had no idea how to describe dresses or fashion or
if chiffon was really the name of a fabric。 Maybe it was a dessert? ?The only thing I cannot show
you is that which exists only inside the designer?s mind。 That?s the true creative process。?Or the
true drunken process。 She turned the camera on the army of not…quite…empty wineglasses。
?Oh。 My。 God。?
Vanessa whirled around; instinctively hiding the camera behind her back as she did。
Oops。
?Whatare you doing in here?? Bailey slammed the glass door behind him to keep any of his
precious birds from escaping into the garden。?Vanessa;Vanessa;?he clucked;sounding exactly like
a chicken。 ?The aviary is strictly off…limits。 This is where I e to think and be inspired! You?ll
disturb the balance of creative energy simply by being in here!?
Of course! The energy balance!
?Please; dear; just back away a little。 Not the drawings。 No one can see them until I?m done with
the preliminary sketches。?
?Sorry。? Vanessa lamely backed away; trying to look repentant。 An aquamarine…speckled
parakeet squawked past her ear violently。 ?I guess I was just making myself at home。 You know;
like you?d suggested。?
?Well; there?s being a good guest and then there?s just plain intruding。? Bailey frowned; hugging
his papers to his chest and shielding them from Vanessa?s view。 ?You may go any…where in the
pound you likeexcept for the aviary。 This is my sacred space; dear。 I?m spiritually naked when
I step past those doors。?
Well; as long as heliterally keeps his clothes on 。 。 。
?I?ll be more careful in the future;? Vanessa promised him; backing away slowly; still keeping
the camera out of sight behind her back。
?Yes; yes; I know you will;? Bailey replied; placing his papers back on the desk; but shielding
them with his chubby; outstretched arms。 ?All is forgiven。?
?Okay; well; I?ll just be going then。? Vanessa turned quickly and started to bolt from the room。
?Eeeeeeek!? Bailey?s screech drove the birds into a frenzy。 Suddenly; hundreds of scared
starlings dashed for safety; darting up toward the ceiling as far as their crippled wings would take
them。
?Yes?? Vanessa asked; still lamely trying to hide the camera with her hands。
?I…I…Is that a 。 。 。camera ??
Brilliant observation。
?Bailey; let me explain。? Vanessa?s felt her face flush。 ?I was just hoping; I mean; I was only
interested in; I needed to; you know; I wanted to document the creative process; like the ideas
behind; and what goes into; I mean; the whole story of??
Bailey leapt out of his seat and stood; trembling; staring at Vanessa。 ?Just tell me。 I need to
know。。。。 Did you? You didn?t。 I mean; you didn?tfilm in here; did you??
?Uh; no??
Nice save。
?These sketches are top secret! Oh my dear。 My good…ness me。 Do you know what would happen
if they got out? Do you know that there are people who would pay 。。。well; I don?t know what; but
they would pay dearly for a glimpse; for just ahint of what I have planned for the ing seasons。
I simply can?t risk the petition。? He looked like he was about to faint。 ?Oh my 。 。 。?
?Bailey; I promise you; I wasn?t going to sell your secrets or anything like that。 I?m just a
filmmaker; you know; and I thought this would be a great subject for a documentary。? Vanessa
smiled at him hopefully。 A lime…colored macaw landed on his shoulder; and he batted it
away。 ?Maybe I should go 。 。 。? Vanessa suggested; suddenly concerned that Bailey would demand
she turn over all the film she?d shot over the past couple of days。
?Yes; off to your room。? Bailey looked like he was on the verge of tears。 ?I need a moment to
collect my tho
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