Hey All!
Here is my NEW Paradise Lost story following the first chapter of the Book owned my Kate Brian.

Summary:
(don't forget to read on www. privatenovels .com the first chapter of paradise lost!)
The Killer has been found, Reed's life slowly starts to form once again. First with Billings and Noelle, then slowly trying to for the once strong relationship with Josh.
The Billings girl are in dire need for some relaxation time, and through winter break take a trip to St. Barts.
But what Reed doesn't know is, just because the killer was found, doesn't mean they can all live happily ever after!

I do not own the Private series; Kate Brian does!

I turned and started down the hall, my footsteps heavy. A few doors down, I paused and looked over my shoulder. He was still standing there, watching me. Watching me walk away from him. "Keep me posted, okay? On how she's doing."

"I promise."

So there it was. Goodbye. I was going to be strong. I was not going to pine and whine and wish. I was going to be good. For me, for Josh, and for Ivy. That was my promise to myself.

I started towards once again to the waiting room. I had to just deal with one problem: Josh and Ivy, now it was onto the next: Easton itself. Noelle and Billings. I was scared, to know I was somewhat alone on this and being in this cold hospital didn't help much either.

Noelle Lange was standing, waiting attentively, watching me approach her. Including the rest of The Billings girls, some Pemberley girls that I remembered and some I didn't. I saw a few Ketlar Boys included.

I didn't know how to start off, I was never the one for introductions or speeches and now wasn't the best time to start. Lucky for me, Noelle being who she is, got to the point. "How is she?"

I took a deep breath and spoke, "She's still unconscious. But from what the doctors told Josh, she should be okay. Apparently she was shot about an inch and a half away from her lung, but the only reason she isn't awake is because she did lose a lot of blood. But should make a full recovery."

I could see the relief wash over the student's faces. Everyone started to speak within themselves. The only one who didn't was Noelle.

She had her eyes on me, the whole time. Worry and grief filled within them. My own eyes locked with hers, not understanding why she would care.

She was the one, who was quick to judge that I would cheat with Dash McCafferty, her current boyfriend, on her. She was the one who kicked me out of her sacred Billings. She was the one, who wouldn't listen to my pleads and sorrows. Yet, she was the one who put her hand on my shoulder throughout the confrontation with Sabine.

She did still care. I knew it. I could feel it. It was the same as Josh. It would be the same with everyone else, but it was a tad different with Noelle.

We had been through so much the past year and a half. Starting with my sophomore year, my first year at Easton.

The year with all of our old friends and some we would like to forget, Taylor Bell, Kiran Hayes, Thomas Pearson, Cheyenne Martin and Arianna Osgood.

Thomas Pearson, my late boyfriend. My dead boyfriend. It still brought a wash of sadness over me. Now looking back I don't know if I was truly ever in love with Thomas, still though I loved him. I missed him. God, did I miss him. Even now, at this moment. Even though I once was happy with Josh.

If only Arianna wouldn't have gone psycho bitch on us. If only we would have known. If only Thomas didn't have to be as good at keeping secrets as he once was, he might have been here. It could have ALL been different.

I shook my head to get the thought away. I couldn't let him slip into my mind again. He was gone. It was over with. Like Cheyenne Martin was gone.

Another experience me and Noelle had gotten through together was Cheyenne's death. Whom I thought killed her was to be Ivy Slade. The girl now laying unconscious in a hospital bed because of me. Yet Sabine DuLac happened to be held for Cheyenne's murder. So many deadly memories happened at this supposed to be 'ideal boarding school'.

But it was time for the present, because in front of me held a very worried Noelle Lange, that was slowly and cautiously walking towards me.

As in a blink of an eye, there she was. Standing right in front of me. The same worried and grief filled in her eyes. But what caught me off guard the most was, before I could even respond, I was in her tight embrace.

Noelle never showed her emotions. She wasn't the one for affection either. Yet she made the first move. It was a chess game. And she made a bold shift. I responded of course, and wrapped my own arms around her. Giving each other the missed time that we both needed.

Without speaking we understood. We had once become so close of friends, that she even thought of me as her little sister. And through this moment, we regained our connection to each other.

We pulled away, after a few more needed moments. Staring at each other. Then she broke out into a small, real smile and spoke, "I don't know how to exactly say sorry."

Her voice was soft, and mine was to match, "There is no way, I don't think. We just have to move past this. Together."

We linked our hands together to emphasize the meaning behind the strong statement. "Together," she stated, firmly. "Are you ready for the apologies you deserve?"

I thought about the question for a second. I wasn't ready. I really wasn't emotionally strong enough at the moment for them. But I had to stop feeling sorry for myself. I needed to be strong. I was at least healthy and somewhat safe. "Yeah."

She smiled at me again, then said, "Come on for some much needed attention." She took my hand and I followed her to where the rest of the Billings girls were waiting.

The first to approach was Astrid and Constance. "How are you doing Reed?" Constance asked, worried filled throughout her voice. Her red frizzy hair was dissembled, running all over the place.

"I'm okay. A little in shock, but I think I will live," I said, trying to enforce humor. The three girls surrounding me noticed.

Astrid engulfed me into a hug and cried in her thick British accent, "Oh Reed! I can't believe Sabine would do that to you! We all thought she was so wonderful, I'm so, so sorry."

I tried to force a light chuckle as Astrid pulled away, "Thanks. She did do a good job at fooling us though."

Noelle was the one to speak, "I always knew something was off with that girl. I just wished I would've done a background check on her. This could have been easily avoidable."

I was in no shape to hear Noelle take the blame so I stopped her. "Noelle, it wasn't your fault. She was good. Who would've known."

"You're right," Constance agreed. I smiled at her and she smiled back.

Throughout our gathering Rose, Portia, Kiki, Vienna, London, Missy and Lorna had joined our group.

Rose was the first to speak throughout them, "Reed, I think I can speak for all of us, we're all glad to see you okay."

I wasn't shocked to hear that, it was expected, yet still felt nice at the same time to feel liked by old friends. "Thank you Rose. And I know to everyone else also, thanks."

The obnoxious Missy Thurber herself, who always held some kind of vendetta against me, had to add her own remark, "Even though this seems like a cute pity party for you Reed, and I would love to join it, Ivy Slade is laying unconscious in a hospital bed right now. All because of…"

She wasn't able to finish that sentence, because Noelle jumped all over it, "Missy shut up! Reed has been through a lot the past few months, and it would be nice not just for her, but for all of us, if you could save the smart ass remarks for now."

Missy gave her large nostrils a flair and with a very dramatic "huff" walked to join Amberley Carmichael who was standing near a wall across the waiting room, eyes narrowed at me. I didn't have time to wonder what her problem was because Lorna spoke up, "Sorry about Missy, Reed. I hope your okay."

With a true smile she followed Missy in pursuit like always. Lorna was Missy's own lackey. Her mini-mi. Always doing what was told. It was nice to hear an apology from her, since she never would be against Missy.

"Now that's over with," Noelle started, "We have some business to speak of Reed, and I think for your sake it would be best that we get back to Easton. You can come visit later on."

As much as I wanted to leave this cold, sterile hospital, I couldn't. Knowing Josh was in room 4007, holding Ivy's hand and waiting for her to open her eyes made me jealous.

I wanted Josh back. I wanted him to be the one taking me back to Easton. The one saying everything is going to be okay. I wanted him. That simple.

But I had already made a promise to myself that I wasn't going to think selfish thoughts. Ivy needed Josh. And, as much as it hurts to say, Josh needed Ivy. They needed to be strong for each other. I didn't know how strong Josh' feelings are for Ivy, but I know that they are there. He cares enough to not leave her alone. To be the only someone she truly has.

And standing in front of me, was the only someone I had. Noelle. Who had hope in her eyes, to rekindle our strained relationship. No, she wasn't Josh. But it was a start, back to my old life. I just had to take one step at a time.

"Yeah," I started softly, looking up at Noelle, "Let's get back to Easton."

So what do you think? Please read and review, and I will try to post again!

-Marie