NEXT ACT

I quickly grabbed the green apple and placed it on my tray as we inched forward in the breakfast line, and blinked to keep my eyes awake. I had not gone to sleep until two in the morning; my thoughts kept rushing through my head, making it remotely possible to fall asleep. I hadn't even finished my conversation with Josh last night, let alone let out a complete response. I completely regretted it, but then I realized it wasn't entirely my fault. I mean, I had just found out something very shocking after Josh had finished his first couple sentences. Why would Ivy steal my ID? I thought this whole, druggie, pshyconess was over.

Maybe not entirely over. After Ivy had helped me find out who our stalker was, I had realized learned I could trust her, only with a certain amount of precaution. I was the one who blamed her for Cheyenne's death and my stalkerazzi. She did have that death glare that made me super intimidated. And those threats about bringing Billings down?

Maybe Ivy Slade was capable of things beyond our minds.

And maybe...this was why people liked public school so much better. God, the drama. It was worse than the story line from Melrose Place.

"Reed?" I heard Ivy's voice ask from behind.

I flicked my head up and slowly turned around, trying to look as calm as possible. Yep, with the wide eyes and forced smile. "Yes?" I asked, making my face as normal as possible. What did she want this time? My bank account?

"Move forward," she urged, lifting her chin to show the giant gap between Diana and I.

I stepped behind Diana. "Oh."

"Are you going to tell me about that car accident last night?" she asked excitedly, grinning.

I looked down at her stomach. Where the fuck was that baby bump? Damn. We'd all have to wait at least three months until she gained a little weight on her skinny torso. I looked back up.

"No. I mean, yeah. Later," I blurted, nodding.

"Are you alright?" Ivy bleated a laugh. She looked at me as if I were high or something. I let the lunch lady load my bowl with cereal and grabbed a bottled water from the refridgerator. She walked with me as I walked to my usual table.

"I'm fine," I replied. I suddenly noticed she was eating small portions. Just a tiny croissant with a cup of coffee. Coffee? And wasn't she supposed to be pigging out like she was having a pity party?

"Ivy!" I said, taking the coffee from her hands and placing it elsewhere.

"Reed, what are you-" she protested.

"You can't have coffee when you're pregnant," I explained.

Come on. Duhhhh. I even knew this, and I didn't know anybody in my lifetime who was pregnant.

Ivy pouted. So juvenile. "Right. I totally forgot. Thanks!" she trilled, her face lighting up.

She sauntered off, and joined her friends at their table, laughing as somebody shared a joke. I examined her as I walked to my table. The real question was: Was she really pregnant? I mean, I've never heard her rush to the bathroom in Pemberly to vomit or whatever. I would know, I spent most my usual sleeping hours in the bathroom, looking at my breakouts. I joined Noelle and the others over at our table. Then, I realized Josh was sitting at his table with the Ketlar boys, biting into his powered donut as if he were tired. I picked up my tray and sat down next to him.

"Hi," I greeted, smiling.

He looked up. "Hey."

I noticed Sawyer slap hands with Hunter as he sat down across from him. I ignored him. "Sorry about last night. Something came up, and I was just completely thrown off."

"What happened?"

The thing about Josh...he could never be so damn angry with somebody? Always so concerned. It was impossible for him to be the ex-boyfriend you were pissed at.

"Uh...I trust you. You are not to repeat any words I will say," I whispered.

"Reed!" Sawyer said, waving with a smile.

I waved quickly.

"Alright. Shoot," Josh said.

"Okay, so I was hanging out with Ivy when everyone was at the party. Then Noelle called because of everything that happened...so I had to bail her. Obviously, I would have to show my ID. I couldn't find out, Susan was there, so everything was good. Anyway, I was looking for it. When you were talking to me last night, Ivy was coming out. I noticed something drop from her wallet. It was my ID."

There was a long pause before Josh's response. "Really?" he blurted.

I nodded. "I don't understand. Also, I'm starting to get this feeling she's not really pregnant..."

"Me too," Josh added. "She's obviously not getting the basics of pregnancy. I'm a guy and even I know it. She's not heading to the bathroom like, every three minutes. She's eating small portions of food. She did drugs. I don't know what to believe anymore."

"Wow," I breathed. "Hey, I'm really sorry about everything."

"Don't worry about it."

"I want to make it official, but...Sawyer kind of likes me," I whispered, making sure Sawyer wasn't eavesdropping or whatever. Not that he would. He was actually looking like he was fitting in. Hunter fist bumping him and all that.

Thought the kid was too conceited to remember Sawyer's name. Huh.

"Oh," Josh said, shuffling his feet.

"Just give me some time? I mean, honestly? I want to be with you. I just need to tell him the right words," I said. "We can keep up this sneaking around for-"

My eyes slide past Josh. Noelle looked angry. She waved me over urgently.

"Reed!" Get over here!" she mouthed.

I tilted my head.

Josh turned around. "Just go."

"Josh, we can wait. I can't-"

"Go," he said, smiling genuinely. "We'll talk later."

"Okay..." I said slowly. I stood up and walked over to the table.

"Reed! Do you think you can tell me how exactly you planned that fundraiser? I need all the deets!" Constance said. "This article is going to be amazing. The Dean will have no idea what's coming to him."

"Not now," I said firmly.

Constance looked taken aback, but kept quiet.

"What?" I demanded to Noelle.

"Remember the guy whose ass I planned to sue last night?" Noelle whisper-shouted.

"No," I said sarcastically.

"He's over there, and he's enrolling at Easton," Noelle said through her teeth.

"Where?" I asked, scanning the cafeteria. What was he, sitting with a random table?

"Don't look!" Noelle whispered. "He's right by the entrance."

I turned around and looked anyway. There he was, dressed in gray slacks and a white blouse, leaning against the door. Clearly different from last night's outfit. And he was smirking.

Right. At. Us.

I flung back to face Noelle. "The fuck is he doing here?" I snapped. I was pretty certain I was more scared than ever.

"For once, I don't know, but he looks like a shady character. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to ask what's on that boy's mind," Noelle explained, throwing her napkin down.

"I'm coming," I whispered.

"Your prerogrative," Noelle shrugged, walking over. She suddenly stopped in her tracks, making me bump right into her. I followed Noelle's gaze. Ivy was walking over towards him, and whispered.

"I said I'd get you the money," she whispered.

Both mine and Noelle's jaws dropped. Ivy looked around to see if anyone was curiously looking. Nobody was.

Except for me and Noelle. We had both just witnessed Ivy's next act.