RECAP OF FIRST CHAPTER OF SCANDAL
"Noelle, you have a plan, right?" London asked, biting her bottom lip.
Thirteen pairs of desperate eyes turned to Noelle. She removed
her sunglasses slowly, folded them, and placed them on the table in
front of her. She laid both hands flat over the frames for a moment as
she took a breath. When she lifted her eyes, she looked around the two
tables. A tingle of excitement raced down my spine. Whatever Noelle
had in mind, it was going to be good. I could feel it.
"Ladies," she said. "It's time to move on."
"What?" I blurted, voicing the sentiments of every shocked person
in earshot.
Noelle looked me dead in the eye, her brown bangs swept sideways
like a curtain drawn over her face. "This is it. Billings, as we know it,
is gone. We're going to have to accept it."
I felt as if my chair was shaking beneath me. Then I realized it was
me. I was trembling in my seat.
"Don't say that," I replied. "It can't be over. There has to be something
we can do."
"Like what?" Noelle said, arching one perfect eyebrow. "What're
you going to do, little piggy? Build a new house out of straw?"
I clutched the edge of the table. What was wrong with her? London was
right. Noelle was always in charge. She always, always had a plan. And Billings
House meant more to her than anyone else at these two tables. Of that
I was certain. How could she possibly be giving up so easily?
"She's right, Reed," Tiffany said, leaning back in her chair. "The
house is gone. I think this is going to be a tough one to overcome, even
for you."
My heart started to sink, but I yanked it up again. A tough one even
for me? The girl whose boyfriend had been murdered by one of her
best friends? The girl who'd almost been shot less than a month ago?
The girl who'd been stranded on a deserted island for a week and left
for dead?
If I could handle all that, how could I not handle this?
"No," I said. "This is not over."
"Reed," Noelle said in a condescending voice, "there's this little
thing called knowing when to quit. A smart person can see a lost cause
by daylight."
"Well, then call me an idiot, because I'm not giving up," I replied,
crossing my arms over my chest. "Billings is my home. Our home. I'm
not letting it go that easily."
Come on, Noelle. Say you're with me on this. You have to be.
But Noelle scoffed and shoved back from the table. "I'm getting a
bagel," she said as she stood. "Anyone else want to join me over here
in Realityville?"
Ever so slowly, they started to follow. Portia, Shelby, Vienna, London,
Amberly. They shot me sad, sorry looks as they trailed after her.
Fine. Let them follow her—for now. I was going to prove her wrong.
Somehow, I was going to convince them. I looked around at the rest
of my friends, most of whom were now eyeing me with nervous hope.
Somehow, I was going to bring us all back together.
And for maybe the second time in her life, Noelle Lange was going
to have to admit that she was wrong.