Chapter 14

Saturday had finally rolled around, and I was glad for it. I was excited to see Josh's paintings at the Art Show, but Noelle was making me crazy with all of this party planning. It wasn't even going to be that elaborate. She barely got the Crom to let us have it in the first place. With all of her planning, I had to be by her side twenty four-seven. Josh was getting a little annoyed, but so was I. He knew I tried to get out of it, so he was just mad at Noelle. It was also hectic in Billings for the fact that Graham showed up two days ago. They were all rallying for his attention, which of course he loved. But it put tensions in the house. The motto going around though was "every girl for herself". I personally didn't get it, I mean, yeah he was good looking, but they are going crazy. Sawyer was considered a disappointment compared to him, which is sad because he is a really great guy.

"So Noelle," I said this morning, " Is Dash coming for your party tonight?"

"I wish. But, no, he can't." She said. "But, that just means we'll have more time to hang out Reed."

"Right…" I said disappointed.

"Come on, cheer up. I have other friends. I know you'll want to be with Josh." She said knocking my shoulder.

"Oh, okay. Sorry." I said smiling.

"You know, sometimes it hurts Reed." She said in a serious tone. But then I saw the corner of her lip curl up into a smile, and knew she was kidding around.

"Yes, well, I'd love to stay and endure your antics, but, it's 12 and I've got to meet Josh."

"Okay, fine, we're done anyway. Meet me here at 4 though to start getting ready."

"Four?" I asked. "It starts at seven?"

"Yes, and it takes time to make us as beautiful as we are, so appreciate it."

"Okay, whatever, I'll be here at four." I said and left Billings. Josh told me to meet him today, which I was glad for. It's been a while since we've actually been alone. I walked up to the door of the art cemetery, and lightly knocked on it. I waited for a second, looking at my outfit. I had light washed jeans with small rips in them, and knee high boots, with a light green silk cami, and white cardigan. My jacket over it was zipped up since it was a bit cold out.

When Josh opened the door, I put a hand on my hip and said, "Hi. I was told to meet a Joshua Hollis here, to show me around. I'm new." I joked.

"I'm Joshua Hollis. Please come in." He said with a seductive smile.

I walked in, and said, "This is a great place you've got here."

"Do you want to take your jacket off?" He said.

"Sure." I was about to do it, when he came right up in front of me, and starting unzipping it slowly. When it dropped to the floor, I looked into his eyes. They were so beautiful.

He interrupted the silence by asking, "So, what's your name?"

"I'm Reed Brennan." I put my hand out to shake his. He smiled at it, and grabbed my hand. He pulled me forward to him, and kissed me. He wrapped his arms around my waist.

"Oh my! Joshua Hollis, what are you thinking! I have a boyfriend." I exclaimed.

He looked down at me, and smiled, "I don't think he'll mind." Then he kissed me again. I threw my arms around his neck, and deepened our kiss. I opened his mouth further with my tongue, searching for his. We stood like that, for an immeasurable amount of time, enjoying each other. When I pulled away to get some air, he continued to kiss me, trailing down my neck. Then, I felt a vibration on my leg.

I pulled completely away from him and said, "Josh, I think you're phones ringing."

He pulled it out of his pocket, and sure enough, someone was calling. "Sorry," he said. "I have it on vibrate. I'll turn it off."

"No, answer it. It's okay." I smiled at him, to show it was okay.

"Alright." He said, and picked it up. "Hey Trey, what's up?...Yeah, I'll be back, but I'm with Reed… so, not that soon." He said. He went over to the couch and sat down. "Yeah… uh-huh… Okay….Look, I got to go, just um, I'll knock…Whatever dude….Yeah, bye."

I walked over to him, and sat down on his lap. "What was that about?"

He exhaled, and said, "Nothing, just Trey."

"Okay." I said. I laid my head on his shoulder, and he wrapped his arms around me. "Josh?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." I told him.

"I love you too." He whispered in my ear, before he kissed it.

We stayed there for a awhile longer, but then it was getting close to four, and I had to go. Josh also had to go, because he was helping set up the Art Show. He said a lot of people were entering things, each had a couple pieces. But, they were each completely different in their styles. He walked me back to Billings and we said goodbye. He couldn't pick me up because Noelle was making me go fashionably late to the art show, because she didn't want to be the first people there, but Josh had to be one of the first people there, because it was his artwork. I told him I would find him at his paintings.

When I got inside, no one was around. "Hello?" I shouted. This was weird. Then I saw Shelby. "Hey Shelby, where is everyone?" I asked.

"Getting ready. I think their all upstairs." She said. I thought she sounded a little sad.

"Oh" I said, running my hand through my hair. "Why aren't you?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. I guess I should."

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Nothing." She said. I gave her a look, and she went on. "Well, I like this guy. But, so does, like everyone else."

"Who is it?" asked. I walked over to the couch and sat down with her.

"I can't tell you…"

"Shelby, unless it's Josh, I promise you, I do not like him. You can trust me."

"It's not Josh." She said laughing a little. "Its…its…Sawyer."

"Oh."

"I know." She hid her face in her hands.

"No! that's a good thing! He's a great guy. Ask him out!"

"No way!"

"Shelby, I don't want to be mean, but I don't think all the girls like Sawyer, I think they like Graham."

"But still…me, ask HIM out! Are you crazy?"

"No, but, he's kind of a shy guy…and he's new, and doesn't know a lot of people."

"How do know so much about him?"

"We met in St. Bart's over break."

"Really?! Are you guys friends?" she asked excitedly.

"Kind of. I talked to him once since he got here though. But, I invited him to the party tonight, and he said he might come."

"Oh my god Reed! You have got to tell him about me! Introduce us!"

"Um, okay. No problem."

"Yay! Wait…what else do you know about him?" she asked.

"Well, he likes to read…all the time. He's really sweet, but his sister died recently, and he took it hard, so he's not very social. But don't tell him I told you that."

"No problem. Thank you so much Reed! You're the best! I have to go start getting ready!" She said and hopped up, and ran upstairs. I followed her up the stairs, and went to my room.

Noelle saw me come in. "You're late!"

"I know, I was helping Shelby. Sorry."

"Whatever, sit down. I'll do your hair." She said.

After two and a half hours later, Noelle had finished her hair and my hair, and both of our makeup. She wore her hair straight, but it looked cool since it was layered. She did mine with a few curls, to make t bouncy, but it was mostly straight. I left it down too. Noelle put her outfit together, a white skinny strap dress, cut pretty short, clinging to her body. It was adorable.

"I love your outfit!" I told her.

"I know. Who doesn't." She said. "But, check yours out. its awesome, of course, since I picked it out." She pulled a hanger out of her closet.

I put the dress on, and fell in love with it. It was tight fitting, just like Noelle's, but it had more of a puffy skirt. It was a dark purple, long sleeved, with a heart shaped neck line.

Noelle looked over to me and said, "You look hot." I blushed, and put on my silver flats. We went down to the common room, where everyone else is. It was transformed from when I saw it last. There were tables, and a DJ station, and dimmed lights. It looked pretty awesome. Noelle must have seen my jaw drop, because she said, "I know, I really know how to make a party, don't I?"

"Yeah." I said impressed.

"Some of the girls are staying here to keep the party going before we get back, and the real party starts."

We then headed out, and with Constance, Shelby, Kiki, and Rose. Those staying behind, were Amberly, Missy and Lorna. Ever since we got back from St. Bart's, Amberly started to back off of Noelle. I think she realized that Noelle was only using her as a replacement for me. But now she doesn't need her. Amberly started hanging out with Missy now.

When we got to the Art Show, I thought it looked it looked amazing. It was set up like a path, where you had to walk through to see it all. They all looked good. Noelle didn't stay with me, she went straight to Tiffany's section. By the time I got to it, Noelle said, "Took you long enough."

"Sorry, they're all really interesting." Then I saw Tiffany smiling at me, so I looked over to hers. She had so many smaller pictures, and a few big ones. I leaned forward to get the full look. In the first one, it had a view of the school, from what I thought was her room. There were a few of girls from Billings, and the beach, but then there were some of my friends. One was from a day when I was reading a book outside against a tree, and I looked up right when she took a picture of me. My hair covered part of my face, but I was smiling, and laughing at the same time. This picture was so good. Then there was a picture from the same day, and we were all in the quad. Noelle and I were on each side of Tiffany. She had put the camera on a tripod when she took this one. Then the other big one was from St. Bart's, with Kiran, and Taylor as well as Noelle and me. They were all so mesmerizing; I felt I was reliving those days.

"Tiff, these are like, so amazing!" I said.

"Thanks" she said smiling.

"I can't believe you put that one in here though." I said pointing to the one where I was reading my book.

"Are you kidding! I love that one! It was candid, and it really captures the light from the sun."

I laughed. I told them that I was going to go find Josh. It was already eight. I did look at the other artwork while I looked for him, but I went a little faster than I did before. I stopped when I got to a table with sculptures on it. They were pretty cool. I was looking at one of an angel, when two hands went in front of my eyes. I stiffened before I heard Josh say, "Hey!"

"Hi Josh! I was expecting more of a 'Guess who', to be honest. You just gave it to me."

I heard him laugh, but he didn't move his hands.

"Josh, you know I can't see right?"

"Yes. My table really close to this one, and I want you to have a full impact, so I'm covering your eyes until we get to it." He said excitedly.

"Okay," I said laughing at his mood. "Just don't let me fall."

"Don't worry, I won't." We started to walk, with me in front of him. I could feel his stomach, well, more like abs, on my back, as he led me forward. When we stopped, he said, "Okay, are you ready?"

"Yes." I felt his hands lift from my face, and I slowly opened my eyes. I was amazed by what I saw.

Hi guys! Sorry for taking so long to write this chapter, but i hope you like it. Not too much goes on, but don't worry, the DRAMA is coming! Let me know what you think this drama should be!!

I also wanted to know what you guys think I should do about Reed's stalker? I'm not sure what i want to do next, although i have a few ideas. if you have any, let me know what you want me to do!

I want to thank all of you guys who reviewed this story so far, because it means so much to me!!! i love all of the ideas you guys have! The only one, i don't think i could ever use is the one where Upton comes to Easton because, i think he's in college, in England, so i don't think he would come back to high school, but otherwise, that is an awesome idea!

Please please review!! I promise to update sooner, if u guys keep reviewing!!! so REVIEW!!!

thanks so much to those of you that do!!!

xoxo,

Laila