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Here is the 14th chapter of My Own Version of Suspicion!

"So, Hollis, why were you walking at the street like a defeated old man?" I heard Noelle say after a long moment of uncomfortable silence in her

limo. Noelle invited him to ride with us since we're headed at the same destination. Why do I feel like this is not the only reason Noelle invited him? ,

I though to myself.

Josh unwillingly accepted since he can't think of an excuse to not accept the offer.

"Um, --what? I wasn't walking like a defeated old man." Josh stammered in reply to Noelle's query.

"Whatever. Why are you still here anyways? You left hours ago. Moping about something, are you?" Noelle told Josh suggestively.

I felt myself turn red because of her remark. I suddenly remembered the damp handkerchief I found that was probably Josh's. I haven't told

Noelle about that. But is it really possible that he was…….?

"Oh, yeah, R-right. I wasn't moping, of course. I was just--um-- I mean, I saw a friend outside the restaurant and we talked for a while." Josh

hastily replied.

He was still uncomfortable. His curls were dancing around his face that I resisted the urge to touch them like I did when we were still together. I

can never do that again.

He raised his head that was bent ever since he entered the limo. Once again, his brilliant blue eyes met mine. He didn't look away and neither did

I. I found myself being eaten by the depth of his stare. It seems like there was a question in his eyes that I can't figure out. He looked at me like

he never had before. His eyes were full of something I am even afraid to put a name into. His eyes were full of emotions that I barely heard what

Noelle said next.

"Hollis, I saw that you and Reed were talking intensely before Upton, Sawyer and I came. Since it was obvious that you weren't able to finish

properly whatever it was and also because it was sort of my fault, why don't you and Reed have lunch together some other time?" Noelle said in

a different tone.

Both Josh and I shifted our gaze to Noelle. I gave her an exasperated look which I hope gave her the impression that I don't like her idea so

much. What is Noelle doing, again? I thought to myself.

Josh seemed to have recovered first from Noelle's words from which he said, "Um, yeah were talking about something. And it was, um, important.

Is it okay with you if go to lunch sometime again, Reed?" Josh said.

Since I have been very close to Josh, I know from his tone that he just said this to be polite. He, like me, doesn't like the idea of sitting so close to

each other once again and to talk about our disastrous past. But I, like him, should also be polite. We were both trapped by Noelle in this

situation. And this isn't the first time that this happened. She is Noelle, after all.

"Um, maybe we can go next Sunday?" Josh continued.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Noelle smile. What's up with her? I threw her another look but before I could reply to Josh, Noelle already did for

me.

"Oh! You reminded me of one more reason you two should have lunch together! Josh, Reed can't go next Sunday. She's leaving on Saturday after

the dance. For good. Since you two have been really close to each other, you should really have this lunch, um, or dinner, since it might be the last

time you will have it or may even be the last time you would both see each other." Noelle said as a matter-of-factly. With Noelle's words, I figured

what she was trying to do after all. She wanted to know what Josh would think of me leaving and she also wanted me to realize that I would

never see Josh again. I threw her another scathing look, but this time, she looked back.

"You're leaving?!" Josh perked up. "Why?" Josh added in a whisper.

"Oh. Reed would be glad to tell you the very good reason why she's leaving." Noelle said with the same tone of sarcasm present in her voice.

As usual, Noelle can read through me. Even if I didn't tell her that Josh was the main reason I was leaving, she knew right away. But I would

never tell Josh that.

Thankfully, at the same moment, the limo stopped and the three of us stepped out of it.

We barely walked a few steps when we noticed that there was a huge crowd gathered in front of Ketlar. They were all trying to see what's inside

but they were all being ushered by the teachers who were standing by the door.

"What's going on?!" I heard Josh say beside me. The three of us ran to Ketlar to know what was happening.

"Amberly, what the hell is happening in there?" I heard Noelle ask Amberly when we reached the crowd.

But before Amberly could answer the front doors of Ketlar opened and two people walked out carrying a boy in a stretcher. The boy was covered

with blood. His arms were angled in a distorted way and his jeans were torn apart.

"Oh my God!" I let out a shout because at the same moment I recognized the boy who's now passing in front of us. The whole crowd inclined

their heads to get a better view on the greatly injured boy. What happened to him? I felt my heart constrict in my chest. I cannot believe that all of

this is happening. It's too much already.

"Trey!" Both Josh and Astrid, who was at the far end of the crowd shouted at the same time.

The sound seemed to have gotten Trey's attention. Despite being unconscious a few moments ago, he whispered something incoherent to the

people carrying him and they stopped abruptly right in front of Josh. Everyone was suddenly dead silent. We were all eager to hear why Trey

stopped.

"Trey? Are you alright? What happened to you?" Josh said with concern present in his voice.

Trey slowly reached for Josh's hand and slipped something in it. He mouthed the words "He told me to give this to you". I let out a gasp. He? Who

is he? Is it possible…. that it's my stalker?!

Nobody seemed to have heard my gasp because they were all throwing confused looked and whispering to one another. Nobody, it seems, have

seen the silent exchanged that happened except for Josh, Noelle, and me. Trey was then put into the back of an ambulance and everyone was

ushered by the teachers to the chapel for an emergency meeting.

Neither Josh, Noelle nor I moved. Even Noelle who was always calm was in shock. Everyone already left for the chapel but the three of us

remained still.

"Open it." Noelle said urgently after a short moment.

"What?" Josh said instantly.

"That!" Noelle said as she pointed at Josh's hand.

I almost forgot about the thing that Trey gave Josh because my thoughts were racing once again with the possibility that it might be my stalker.

"Oh." Josh said. He, like me, seems to have forgotten about it also.

He opened his hand and the three of us saw a tiny piece of paper folded into two.

What can possibly be written on a—?

My thoughts were interrupted when Josh unfolded the paper and I saw the thing that is probably the most frightening I ever saw in my whole

disastrous life:

Bring Reed Brennan to me or you'll be next.

Wait for me to inform you where and when.

-ry-

"Oh. My. God." I heard Noelle say. And for the first time ever since I knew her, I saw her look scared.

Why? Why Josh?

There it is!! I hope you liked it! Please review!!! I would really like to know what you think about this chapter!! Please tell me who you

think is "ry". Review!!

~ftlouie24hollis~