Chapter 4

Forgot about this... Disclaimer: Sadly Kate Brian owns all the characters and settings. I just write about them.

Josh and I spent 3 days locked up in that hell hole before we were unsuspectedly released. Hauer drove us back to Easton. There was no conversation due to the shocked silence raduiating off of Josh and me. Hauer dropped us off at the front gates, but we ended up sneaking through the hole in the fence usually used for the legacy, the media encampment outside the front gate was just too big to get through, again. Josh and I walked silently back to Billings. Both of us were still worried this wasn't real.

When we were finally at Billings, Josh stopped, giving me a quick kiss before running over to Ketlar. As I entered the common room, I was swarrmed by all the Billings girls. After a ton of "What happened"s and "where were you"s Tiffany finally spoke up over the thunder of voices. "Reed, I really didn't want to but I had to choose someone new and so here is Briana Leigh Covington." Everyone stepped back and I finally saw the new girl standing at the back of the common room. She approached me slowly, looking as if she thought I might bite. She looked at me wearily as I shook her hand and introduced myself. Over her head, Tiffany mouthed "Hazing?" I nodded ever so slightly, but I was sure Tiffany saw because her face lit up with a huge smile.

As everyone dispersed I noticed that Missy was missing "Tiff, Lorna, can I talk to you in my room?"I asked, already on my way up. Know ing they would three of us entered my room. I immediately closed my door and asked "What the hell happened while I was gone?" Tiffany explained everything, Lorna was too upset. So apparently the dean changed the deadline once I was gone and told them that they needed a president so Tiff temporarily took the position. Finally once Tiffany was done Lorna spoke up and said "Reed Missy's... Missy's..."

"Missy's what Lorna?" I asked frantically though I was almost certain I knew the answer "Come on calm down." I continued. Lorna took a deep breath and wailed "Missy's dead Reed!" Then she burst into tears yet again. I felt horrible. Missy and Lorna were like sisters. "So that's why Josh and I were released." I mumbled under my breath. Tiffany just looked at me quizzically.

"Well, see Josh and I were arrested for Amberly's murder and we've spent the last couple of days in jail, but you already knew that. Anyways, all of a sudden Hauer released us, but didn't tell us why." They just looked at me, shocked. Apparently they didn't know where Josh and I had been. I figured that rumour would've spread like wildfire.

I knew I had to do something, I was sure everyone was freaking out right now, but I was in such a state of shock that I couldn't think clearly. So I tried to stop thinking like Reed and start thinking like Noelle. I took a few deep breaths and calmed myself down. What would Noelle do? I thought about it and decided that I needed to hold a house meeting. Hopefully with the help of all the other Billings girls I could figure out what was going on. We needed to figure out who was doing this before they struck again. I had a feeling that they would strike again soon. All of the Billings girls needed to be on red alert, or soon there would be no more Billings. I was scared, not only for myself, but for everyone in Billings.

As I called everyone into the common room, my cell beeped. I had gotten a text. Strange, it was from Taylor. It was only 2 words but those 2 words scared me anymore than anything else could've. The text read "Call Noelle! :'("

Despite how scared I was, I called Noelle. Her phone was off and it went straight to voicemail. I was incapable of leaving a message though. I was too scared. Noelle's strong voice was scared as it came through the phone. Her message was different than usual, meant just for me. "Reed, I'm dying. I'll be dead in soon if you don't come find me. Please Reed. I'm here. At Easton."

I was scared out of my mind. I was totally and completely FREAKED! Wouldn't anyone be? Your best friend and 2 housemates dead or almost dead, right after you're pushed off a boat. I didn't know what to do. But I knew to think like Noelle. It was the only way I would ever find her. Only first I had to stop shaking and tell everyone what happened. I definitely wasn't looking forward to telling everyone that Noelle was…was… I couldn't even bring myself to even THINK the word dead, much less murdered. But I was the president of Billings; I had to suck it up. They needed to know what was going on, no matter how much it hurt me. Plus I'd need their help finding Noelle or her body. No I refused to think like that. I WILL find Noelle ALIVE. I don't think I could deal with Noelle being dead. I ran downstairs where the other Billings girls awaited my arrival. I trudged down the last few stairs, suddenly anxious. The remaining Billings girls heard me coming and turned around, all curious as to why they HAD to be here right now. But I started having second thoughts; I was in no state to explain what happened, at least not yet. I had to talk to someone first. I knew exactly who. My rock. He would calm me down enough to explain. Josh. Only on problem, it was after curfew. I decided to go anyway. Noelle's life was on the line. I slipped through the common room. Not telling anyone where I was going. I sprinted to over to Ketlar, barley feeling the chilly air blowing against my face. I raced up the stairs and into Ketlar, hoping Josh didn't stay at the Art Cemetery late tonight. I didn't have time for that. I gently rapped on his door. I waited, and waited, but he didn't answer. I slowly opened the door silently begging that he wasn't still at the Art Cemetery. The light was out and I assumed that he was still at the Art Cemetery but I was too exhausted to run all the way over there. So I figured I would just sit down on his bed and wait for him to get back. I slowly made my way over to his bed being careful to not run into anything. I silently noted that Trey wasn't there either, strange. I sat at the edge of Josh's bed, as I sat down I was so engulfed in my own thoughts I just flopped down on his bed, and lay down, hoping I wouldn't fall asleep before Josh came back. I lay there for what seemed like ages. Then I heard it.

I nearly screamed, but I noticed those floppy curls I love so much. "Josh?" I asked, jumping off the bed. He shot straight up into a sitting position and groggily replied "Reed? What are you doing here?"

"Josh... Noelle... Noelle's probably..." I couldn't force myself to say the word dead. I just broke down crying. I leaned into Josh as he tried to calm me down. His attempts however were futile. I couldn't relax until Noelle was safe, and this murderer was caught. I swear we must've been there for at least an hour before I managed to stop the tears from flowing freely. I turned to Josh and noticed the bags under his eyes. He was exhausted. Despite what I earlier had thought, this was a bad idea. I was depriving Josh of his sleep. I stood up and Josh looked at me quizzically. "Reed what's wrong? What're you doing?" He asked me.

"Josh, I shouldn't have come so late. I'll leave now so you can sleep." I said heading for the door. As I grabbed the handle Josh grabbed my other hand and pulled me to face him. I tried to tell him that I really had to leave but he pulled me into him, deeply kissing me. The kiss lasted only seconds but it was deep and passionate. He pulled away from me and asked "So where were you going?" My mind was still blank and I couldn't formulate a response. "That's what I thought. Come on Reed, do really think I'll be able to go back to sleep? I'll be too worried about you." Okay now I felt really bad.

"I should've never come. I'm so sorry Josh. I should've just dealt with it myself." I started to walk towards the door again but once again Josh stopped me. This time he stepped between me and the door.

"Reed, no." He murmured simply. He kissed me again but this time he didn't stop.


I woke up in Josh's room. I didn't remember much of what happened the night before. I rolled over and noticed Josh was already awake. "Josh, what time is it?" I asked frantically. The two of us simultaneously turned to look at the clock. 5:30! Everyone would be getting up soon. I had to get back to Billings ASAP or I would get caught. I couldn't save Noelle If I was expelled. Besides the Billings girls would want to know why I called that emergency house meeting. They would know soon. I just hoped we weren't too late. I was holding Noelle's life in my hands, I think. I shot up out of Josh's bed. I had to get back to Billings, now! If I didn't Noellewould surely be dead. I flew to the door and bolted down the hallway carelessly. Not caring if I got caught, Noelle was my first priority.I waited for the elevator Contemplating wheter or not to take the stairs. By this time Josh had caught up with me. "where are you going so early? Did I do something wrong? Come on Reed what did I do?" Josh asked frantcally.

"No Josh it isn't you. Last night I was trying to tell you..." I stopped taking a deep breath.