Disclaimer: I don't own Private…Kate Brian does!

I was lying in the hospital. I wasn't hurt, physically at least, but I was there for just precaution. I kept getting asked what was wrong, as I wouldn't speak more than one syllable at a time to anyone but my friends.

Well, what did they expect? Would they be acting right if their best friend decided to try to kill them?

I didn't think so.

As for Josh and Noelle, they were fine. Josh was okay, and, like me, was in the hospital for precaution. We were in rooms next door to each other. Noelle, in the hour since the shooting, had already been here, and was currently going to get coffee at Starbucks. I knew she'd find a way to get past the doctors. I got up, and realized that I was perfectly fine. The bullet had missed the both of us, and gone into a wall.

Thank god.

I walked slowly next door to Josh's room. He had his legs bent, with a sketchbook against them.

"Hey." I said quietly. He looked up, and to my surprise, smiled.

"Hey Reed. I was just about to come over and see you." He said. "We have to talk, don't we?" He set his lips in a line.

"Yeah. We do." I said. "Josh, I-"

"Reed, please. Not now. When Noelle, and Trey, and whoever else decides to show up pays the doctors to let us out, we can talk. I promise. Just us." He said.

My heart went wild when he said just us. There was a lot that could happen when it was just us.

"Alright." I whispered. "I'm so sorry about all of this."

"It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault. You should get some sleep…we've had a tough night. See you later?" He asked.

"Of course." I choked out, and retreated to my room.

Josh didn't blame me. Maybe he didn't hate me…maybe…

No. Josh never was going to love me again.

I slumped on my bed, and looked at the walls.

"You awake?" Noelle asked as she opened the door, arms full of coffee.

"Yeah." I said.

"Scary, huh?" She said, and grimaced. "Sabine. Innocent, sweet Sabine. She was her sister."

"I know." I whispered, as Noelle crawled next to me.

"Reed, I'm so, so sorry about how I treated you. I never really believed that you could ever do that to me, and…" She wrapped her arms around me.

"It's okay…seriously Noelle." I said, tears coming to my eyes. "I'm sorry." She still cared about me. We were okay.

"I think I should tell you…Sabine is on her way to the same place she's in. She's never, ever coming back. Everything will be okay from now on. No more losing people, no more sabotaging, just…it'll be normal." Noelle said, looking at me through glassy eyes.

"Now!" Noelle said, back to business. "About getting you back into Billings. I think we need you back there. It's not the same without you."

"It's okay…you don't have to." I said, though I wished she would let me back in.

"No. I want you there. Seriously, Reed, you're forgiven. By everyone." She said.

My stomach did back flips, and I felt warm, complete and happy inside. I was forgiven.

"I will move back into Billings only if I don't have to be in the room I used to share with her. Please." I begged.

"Well…what if you roomed with me?" Noelle asked. "I mean, I suppose we could get them to put another bed in my room…it'd be tight but, hey, I mean, that would be cool."

"You'd let me room with you?" I asked her.

"Well why not? We're okay, aren't we?" She asked.

"Oh, Noelle!" I said, ecstatic. "We're better than okay!"

Two hours later, I was still at the hospital. Noelle had left, gone to get the rest of the Billings girls. Josh, in his hospital gown, walked into my room.

"Can I come in?" He asked as he tapped the door.

"Sure." I said, and moved my legs so that he could sit down.

"Well, I was just bored, and wanted to know if you'd heard anything."

"Yeah, I did. Sabine's off to go be with Ar…Ariana. And everyone else is okay." I said.

"How about you and Noelle?" He asked.

"We're okay. I'm moving back to Billings." I said.

"That's great!" He said, seeming actually excited. "I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks Josh." I said, and wrapped my arms around his shoulders.

"No problem. I'm glad you're doing okay." He smiled, and positioned his arms around my waist. It felt so unbelievably good to be back in his arms.

I broke apart when I remembered one thing. One. Very. Important. Thing.

"Ivy." I whispered.

Josh heaved a sigh. "Complicated, isn't it?" He asked.

"Yeah." I grimaced. "It is."

"I'm sorry, Reed. For all that I've done to you."

"You didn't do anything. It was all her fault. She's why we aren't still together." I said spitefully.

He nodded. "You forgave me after what Sabine did to Cheyenne and I…it's only right that I forgive you for that. It wasn't your fault after all." He said, the corners of his mouth pulling up into a smile.

"I miss you so much, Josh." I blabbered. "I miss you so much. I didn't feel complete when I wasn't with you, and I wish we could have another chance." I said, and immediately covered my mouth. I couldn't control what was coming out of my mouth.

Josh grinned. "What if I told you that I felt the exact same way? It wouldn't be a lie."

"Really?" I asked, aghast. I was forgiven. By the boy I loved and my best friend.

"Really really. I couldn't swallow that you would do that to me. You did love me, after all." He said, and got closer to me.

"I still do love you Josh. You probably don't love me, but…"

"Ah, Reed. Don't say that just yet." Josh said, and kissed my cheek. "I'll talk to you later."

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So…..

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