Chapter 10

Okay? What did Noelle just say? She knew? SHE KNEW! "What...how…why…" I stuttered.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Maybe I should have, and I swear…I was going to…but then you were pushed off the boat, and I just didn't think you would take it well. I'm so sorry." She said. Everyone stared at her dumbfounded. Everyone except Josh. I could just feel his gaze on me.

"What the hell Noelle!" Dash said. "This is pretty huge! You should have clued us in."

"Guys, I know." She said, giving him a pointed look. He shut up from there on out. "Reed, just know...Daddy made sure security is top notch, Easton is totally safe."

I spaced out. I just kept staring at the empty seat in front of me. How could this be happening? I had just dealt with Sabine, why does Arianna have to come back to haunt me, again? Did I really deserve all this? Apparently so.

"Reed...Reed?" I heard Josh say. I couldn't respond though. My eyes felt glazy and my mouth was hanging partly open. "Reed?" He said. Now he was sitting right next to me, with his arm on my shoulder.

My eyes moved a little to get settled into a better vision, while I tried to look at him. He looked really concerned, his eyebrows knit together, and his eyes soft. "yeah?" I asked.

"Are you okay?" He said wearily.

"Yeah."

"You know you'll be safe right?" He asked.

"Yeah." I nodded a little. I couldn't look into his eyes though, then he would know the truth. That this was pushing me too far. I think he knew it though because he put his arm around my shoulder, and rubbed my arm. I laid my head on his shoulder, it was very comfortable. Then he put his chin on top of my head. I thought I felt him kiss my hair, but that couldn't have been it. I was too shocked by this recent news to care though.

"Miss Lange?" A man came from the overhead speaker. "We are landing in five minutes."

"Thank you." Noelle responded. The cabin was really quiet after we turned the TV off. Eventually we landed, and left the plane. Our bags were carried to a car and we got in, to be taken back to school. I was so detached that I barely noticed when we got back to school. But when I got out of the car, Noelle pulled me aside.

"Reed, I'm worried. You have barely reacted to anything in the last hour. Please, don't worry." She says

I look up at her, and realize that I cannot be like this, because then Arianna and Sabine will win, without even trying. I fake a smile, and say, "No, its okay. I was just shocked, is all. I'm fine."

She looks at me skeptically, and says, "Alright then, lets go show you your new room...with me!" she hooks my arm and pulls me off to Billings.

When we get to the front door, all I have to say is 'Home Sweet Home'. I missed this place so much. It was peaceful entering the doorway again, and quiet too, because only a few people were back from vacation. I smile because this was where I was meant to be.

"Let's go upstairs Reed, come on!" She said, as she dragged me upstairs. I hadn't noticed I stopped walking. When we got to her room, she let me open the door. When I did, I saw it was beautiful. The were two full beds, white sidetables, matching desks, comfy chairs and a huge closet.

"I love it! Noelle, its fabulous!" I screamed.

"Yeah, yeah. I know!" I went over to her and hugged her. This was way to much, but I loved it! "I guess we should unpack, and wear in your new closet huh?" she said laughing.

"Yeah definitely!" I responded. That when I heard a squeal from the hallway.

"Reed!!!" I heard Constance say. I saw her for a nanosecond before her arms were around me. She wouldn't let go, but it was nice. I missed her too.

"Hey Constance!" I said.

"Oh my god! How have you been?!!!!" She said, squeezing me tighter.

"Um, okay I guess...Ugh, can't breathe" I said.

"Oh, sorry." She said, finally letting me go. "I had such a great vacation too!"

"That's so great. Hey, do you want to tell me all about it on my way over to Pemberly?" I ask.

"Why are you going there?" She asked confused. "I thought you wanted to come back to Billings?" She suddenly looked very upset.

"I am! Don't worry." I said. "I just want to pick up the last of my stuff, for good."

"Oh, okay sure I'll come."

I said goodbye to Noelle, as there was no way she was going to cart stuff back with me, and we headed out of Billings. All the way to Pemberly, Constance told me about her entire vacation, from start to finish. I could hardly get a peep in. I half listened, thinking about how empty this pale seemed, but by tonight and tomorrow morning, every student would be back. It was peaceful, and serene as everyone hung out in the quad, or were unpacked their stuff. When we finally reached Pemberly, we headed straight to my room.

"This room is so tiny. I couldn't even imagine trying to live here." Constance stated.

"Yeah, well..."

"I know! You were so brave. I'm so happy that your back in Billings though, I missed you so much."

"I feel the same way."

"So what do we need to pack up?" she asked.

"I think there are a few things in my closet, and my desk has some things in it. But that's about it." I told her. We began to take everything out of the closet and put them in the cardboard boxes we brought with us. I moved on to the desk, and when we were all done we had two boxes filled. One for each of us to carry. Constance was organizing what was in her box, when I heard a thud from Ivy's room. I hadn't even thought she would be back, but then again it was probably her roommate. When we left, I passed her door, and heard, "Reed!"

It was Ivy. I took a deep breath and called, " Yeah?"

She stepped out of the door. Her black hair looked perfect, as always, and her shoulder was in a sling. I looked right at it, and it pained me to think about it. When she smiled at me, I was surprised, but I smiled back.

"Hey Ivy. How's your arm?" I asked.

"Oh, it's fine. Nothing a trip to the hospital won't fix. It hurts a little bit though, no lie."

"That's, well....um...I'm so sorry about it." I said nervously. She didn't seem mad, but maybe she was.

"So, you're moving back to Billings?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, I guess I'll miss ya. But I think I would want to leave that crap-hole of a single too." She laughed. I smiled back, glad we could be friends.

"Yeah, I definitely am." I said. Then I looked at Constance, who had put her box down, and started texting. "Well, I should go..."

"Oh, actually I wanted to talk to you..." She then looked at Constance, "alone."

"Um..."

"Reed, I'll go hang out in the common room then, until you're done." Constance said, and she picked up both of our boxes and walked down the hall.

"Okay then..." I said nervously. What else did she want to talk about, privately.

"Come on..." She said, motioning me into her dorm. It looked exactly the same. "You can sit on my bed." I did as I was told, and sat down.

"So, what's up?" I asked.

"How was your vacation?" She asked.

"Um, okay."

"Good. Mine was horrible, but whatever." She said.

I looked down at my feet. I had no idea what to say next.

"So, I just wanted to talk to you to let you know something," She said. Here it comes, I thought. She's gonna blow up. I guess I deserved it, after all, if it wasn't for Sabine trying to kill me, she never would have gotten shot. "I do not blame you for what Josh did." I looked up at her, utterly confused. What did Josh do?

"Huh?" I asked stupidly.

"I mean, I guess I saw it coming. But, I just wanted you to know, it's okay." She went on.

"Ivy, um...what are you talking about?" I asked.

"Reed, don't act dumb. I said it was okay."

"I really, truly do not have any clue to what you are talking about." I told her honestly.

She looked at me close, and said, "So...wait. Josh didn't tell you what happened between us?" Now she looked confused.

"No. He said you guys were still going out. That you...were okay."

"Well, I am. But I can't believe he told you we were still going out! What a liar."

"Oh my god..." I whispered.

"What?"

"He never said that. I said that. But why wouldn't he tell me? I must have seemed like the biggest idiot." I said.

"Yeah, especially since he broke up with me to be with you." She said.

Okay what! "No he didn't. He said he wanted to be my friend. That's all."

"Did he say that, or did you?" She asked.

"I did." I whispered again. "But, its not like anything happened. We we're....are, just friends now. That's all." I told her.

"Reed, when a guy leaves the country, to go to a tropical, remote, island, for like...a day, just to make sure a girl is okay, doesn't equal just wanting to be friends with her."

"No!" I said abruptly. "If Josh wanted to be with me, he would have told me."

"Yeah, I thought so too. I'm so sorry. I guess I was wrong." She said.

"Yeah. Um...I have to go." I said. I got up and headed straight to the door. I heard her say goodbye, and I ran down the hallway. I saw Constance, grabbed a box and left Pemberly. I had to get straight back, I couldn't take this anymore. I thanked Constance for helping me with the boxes, and we walked silently back to Billings.

When I got to my room, I threw the boxes on the ground and laid on my bed. I started to cry. If Josh broke up with Ivy, and didn't tell me, he obviously wasn't still in love with me. He couldn't be, or else he would have told me....something. That was what I couldn't handle. Josh being without someone else, and still not wanting me. It was too much for me too take. I could handle the Ariana stuff hopefully, i could try, but this, this simply could not. I cried myself to sleep.

Hey Guys!

Sorry I took so long to update! I had a crazy busy weekend. But, my spring break is starting on thurday, and i'll have 12 days off...so don't worry, more chapters will be up since i'm not going anywhere. i just have school projects to do.

Anyways, what did you guys think of chapter 10?? Did you like it? i hope so. What do you think Reed will do now? What should happen with Arianna? What about Josh! How do you think the rest of the school will handle finally getting back to Easton and having face what desctruction Sabine left behind? Let me know!!! Thank you so much if you do!!!

And as always, Please, please, please Review!!!!!

xoxo,

Laila