Chapter 2

As the three male nurses dragged Josh and Upton out, my original nurse tried to calm me to slow my rampaging heart. That was when Noelle came in. "Oh my god reed. You scared the crap outta me." well Noelle was still Noelle. "Yeah you know I definitely thought about how scared everyone would be after I disappeared." I said sarcastically. "So much for sucking up to me." Was Noelle's response. This was, well, true. I had completely forgotten that I was supposed to be sucking up to her so I could room with Constance "Oh my god Noelle I am so sorry." She just rolled her eyes "I was kidding. God Reed. After all this you'll be rooming with Constance." Then in a whisper she added "You always were I just wanted to freak you guys out."

"NOELLE!" I was definitely not happy about this.

"Well I couldn't let Amberly think that I was giving it to you because you're my favourite, which by the way is totally true. She's pissing me off." Again, same old Noelle. "But that's not the reason I came to talk to you, What the Hell happened? Poppy said you jumped but I don't believe her."

"WHAT?! No I was pushed off the boat. It took me at least two hours to swim back to shore." I was going to continue but Noelle cut me off. She whipped out her cell and made a call.

Apparently she was calling Kiran to come with Taylor, and that we had things to discuss.

"We'll finish this conversation when they get her, which should be in about ten minutes. So in the meantime tell me about you and Upton, or should I say Hollis?"

"Um well I broke up with Upton, once I saw Josh I realized that I wasn't really in love with him and I really had always wanted Josh." Noelle didn't seem surprised at all. "What, you knew I would dump Upton?" I knew Noelle knew like everything but I didn't think she was that good!

"Well Duh! I could tell you were upset that Hollis didn't call you; I knew you still loved him. But I still don't get WHY!" Of course she didn't. Josh and Dash were very different but so were Noelle and I.

Then Kiran and Taylor showed up "We can discuss your love life later. What the hell happened?"

"I was hoping you guys could tell me the same thing. All I know is that I smelled this husky scent then someone grabbed your necklace pulling it off then they pushed me over the edge of the boat. Then all I remember is wanting to give up swimming and just drift out to sea. And even that is a little fuzzy." Best not to give them all the details about me becoming suicidal.

"Well we found you on the beach at like 5 in the morning lying on the sand. Everyone kind of freaked when you didn't show up at the house. I called everyone. Upton freaked when he heard because he hadn't seen you since you were winning to Upton game. Good job by the way. I called Poppy last which is why it took me so long to find you. She told me that she had seen you jump off the edge of the boat. Then she said she saw you climb up a ladder so she thought you were just swimming. That was when I knew she was lying so I called everyone and sent out a search party for you. It took hours to find you. Your lungs were nearly filled with water and you had feinted. You were also cut across your neck. It almost hit your jugular. You were so close to dying. Again." This was the first time I had ever seen Noelle cry. Almost as soon as she had started crying she stopped and was the same Noelle I knew. "We'll get to the bottom of this. I made sure only the best are on this case. We will figure out who did this to you. In the meantime don't go up on any roves alone. And if you by chance figure something out like you did with Sabine don't go yourself. I don't want to loose you Glass-Licker you're like a little sister to me." Kiran and Taylor still hadn't said one word. I could see they to had tear streaked faces.

"Aw guys come on it's just me this is my third near-death experience. It's not like this is anything new." I tried to comfort them considering they're here. With me. In the hospital.

"Reed." Kiran spoke up for the first time "you're closer and closer every time. Every time you make a narrow escape. What if this happens again and you don't escape? This is getting really scary."

"Reed even though we never see you I don't think any of us could go on if you died. You're way to important to us." I could tell Taylor was on the verge of tears.

"Now before this becomes a Disney moment lets move onto the next very important topic. Reed's love life" Noelle announced Oh My God No why did Noelle have to bring that up now? Didn't the two of us just discuss it? "Because I for one am confused."

"What's to be confused about?" Kiran asked Oh no. Here it comes

"Yeah I mean Reed's with Upton. What is there to be confused about?" Taylor agreed.

I then had to explain to them what had happened between me and Josh. I tried to skim over the part when Josh and I had kissed but they wouldn't have it. Luckily just as I was about to have to deal with telling them about the fight between Josh and Upton a doctor came in to tell me that I could leave the next day but that I couldn't do much physical activity for a few weeks. At least soccer season was over for now so I wouldn't miss anything. As soon as the doctor left and Noelle, Kiran, and Taylor had discussed how hot the doctor was (I have to admit he was gorgeous but I had Josh so I really didn't care), they insisted I tell them all about the fight between Josh and Upton. The description must have taken twice as long as the actual fight because they kept interrupting and asking for details. I never really got to finish because first the man of perfect timing, Upton, walked in.

"Well Reed, I can see you'll be busy. We'll be back later" Of course Noelle HAD to leave me alone with Upton. She then dragged the unwilling Kiran and Taylor from the room.

"Reed I'm terribly sorry for the way I behaved before with Josh. I just…"

"No Upton I understand." I said cutting him off. "I really do care about you. It's just that Josh and I have something special together. Something I've never had before. The closest I've ever been to that was with you, but it's just not the same. I'm so sorry Upton." I wanted to say more but I could feel myself falling asleep again. I guess Upton could tell because, he told me "Okay Reed, I understand and I forgive you. I'll leave you now so you can sleep. Goodbye Reed."

"Thanks Upton. 'Bye." As I was slipping into unconsciousness, I saw him silently slip out and close the door.

I must have fallen into a deep sleep because when I awoke, it was dark, but I could still see Josh sitting by my bed, gently holding my left hand in his. "Josh, what are you doing here? You should be back at Easton." I croaked.

"Reed, are you kidding? I can't leave you. Not again, especially when you're like this" Josh said looking scared. I hated to be the one doing this to him.

"Josh I'm fine. My parents are here" (even though I had barely seen them) "and I'm going back to Easton tomorrow. Besides don't you have classes to be in?" I asked him hoping he hadn't missed any assignments this was, after all, his senior year.

"Don't worry Reed I'll borrow someone's notes when I get back. They've let us both off the hook for now." Josh explained "I just need to be with you. This is the second time I've nearly lost you"

"Actually" I corrected him "It's the third."

"WHAT?"

"Ariana almost knocked me off of the Billings Roof, just before she was arrested." I tried to sound strong and brave while I told him this but my voice was a barley audible whisper.

"That's it Reed. I'm definitely staying here. I can't risk losing you." Josh was furious. I wondered if he had taken his meds today but I was too afraid to ask.

Lucky for me my dad and my brother Scott walked in. Josh knew better than to tell them about my first not so commonly known near death experience. All that would do is get me pulled from Easton.

"Damn Reed who were those three hot girls who were in here? Right now I was wishing I was back at high school. My dad and I both reached out and slapped Scott.

After rubbing his arms where we slapped him for a few seconds he continued "No seriously. Who were they?"

"They're Noelle, Kiran and Taylor. Kiran and Taylor went to Easton last year but they've graduated and Noelle is a senior at Easton." I paused unsure of whether or not to continue I decided to give it a shot. "Noelle has actually saved my life twice now. And Josh, the one who just left," I just noticed Josh was no longer in the room "saved me the other time. I owe my life to these people." I knew my dad would want me away from Easton. I couldn't let that happen.

"Reed I understand that you don't want to leave Easton." My dad told me. I could see he really wanted me to leave Easton. "But I've made a deal with your friends. You can go back to Easton but you are going to have bodyguards until whoever did this to you is caught, and you will never be alone or with one person, even after this person is caught. That or you can always come back to Croton."

Croton? No way, I just got out of there. At least my dad was willing to compromise.

"I'm sorry dad. I'm going back to Easton." I tried to say it firmly but of course my voice failed and it came out as a squeak.

"So you'll agree to my restrictions?" My dad being who he is had to ask. I nodded.

"Okay. Try to be safe Reed. I don't want to lose you."

Then Scott being Scott had to ruin a moment. "Yo, Reed, will you introduce me to those friends of yours?" I just laughed. And my dad responded for me "Scott, you're not in high school anymore, remember?"

"Yeah and neither are they!" Same old Scott.

As usual dad just rolled his eyes and told me to stay out of trouble and to get better soon. He slipped out giving Scott and me a chance to talk.

"Seriously Reed I want to meet those girls, they bribed dad into letting you stay, and we both know that's not easy to do" Scott informed me. I had guessed as much. Noelle could bribe just about anyone into just about anything, and dad doesn't like to negotiate anything. Only Noelle, Kiran and Taylor could convince him to let me go back to Easton.

"Will you PLEASE introduce me? I want to know how they did that." Scott was practically begging me. Something he would usually never be caught dead doing

"Well even if they'll tell you, it will involve paying him off which you'll never be able to do." I told him truthfully. Knowing my father and Noelle, the amount Noelle had paid him would deal with all their bills for a good few months, but that was Noelle.

"Yes Scott. Stay here and when they come back I'll introduce you." I told him simply to get him to leave me alone. Then, speak of the devil, the three of them walked in.