Chapter 6: The Element of Surprise

Incessant banging! Cease-less thrashing! That is all I heard my third morning at Hartford Juvenile Hall. I opened my eyes as the bright light from my tiny window streamed in. I wiped the sleep from them having no make-up on whatsoever.

"Get up and eat. You have 20 minutes before recreation time," the prison worker called in to me in my padded cell. I looked at him and groaned as I got up from the rock hard piece of metal they called a bed.

"God I fucking hate this place!"

"Get used to it Lange. You're gonna be here a while."

I narrowed my eyes at him as he walked to the next cell with the cart full of breakfast trays. I grabbed my tray from the slot, glanced down, and immediately was repulsed. The same thing as the last three mornings: runny "eggs," undercooked sausage, and plain Cream of Wheat. I was really starting to miss Easton cafeteria food, and even that was pretty sickening.

I ate about two bites of food and shoved it aside. Instead I picked up the latest issue of In-Style magazine; so generously given to me by Matthew, the security guard, on my floor. I flipped through the pages seeing Lancôme ads, Marc by Marc Jacobs ads, and Ralph Lauren perfume samples. I turned the page after reading an article about the best hair products this season and froze. It was a Calvin Klein ad for the newest bra and underwear set with Kiran Hayes as the model. The caption read: "So Hot People Are Dying For Them." I gulped at first, but then became angered. She was everywhere. Even in freaking prison she still was there taunting and scorning me. I turned the page and there she was again, except this time it was Victoria's Secret. Wow, I thought only whores did VS ads. But then again I didn't really know who Kiran was anymore. My shoulders tensed and stiffened. I slammed the magazine closed and threw it across the cell.

"God I cannot take this shit anymore."

"Cool it Lange. I wouldn't want to take playtime from you," Blake, the guard, said in an condescending way.

"Like I give a crap about "playtime," I shot back using hand quotes for emphasis. I was fucking pissed off.

"Well you could use some REC time hun. I think your ass has grown exponentially since you got here."

"Excuse me Blake, but I'm surprised you even know what the word 'exponentially' means."

"Oh I do love. Unlike you I managed to finish high school and get a perfect 800 on the Reading and Verbal Skills section on the SAT."

"Congratu-freaking-lations. You're actually smarter than you look."

"Watch what you say Lange. I control your living situation here."

"Poor you Blake. And you could be doing something so much better with your life than being a fucking prison security guard."

I saw his face go completely ashen and I knew I had him there. I sighed with satisfaction and sat back down. Somewhere down the hall I heard a representative tell an inmate, "You have another visitor, so let's go." I cringed and held back tears that were almost brimming to my eyes. I fought them back. Who the hell cried in jail? I just wished that that phrase had been said to me. I thought by now Ariana, Dash, or at least my own father would come visit me and get me out of this hell. Anybody actually to give me some stimulation. All I got here was "playtime." And even that wasn't very stimulating. In fact it wasn't. It was just a sorry ass excuse to get the inmates out, so the janitors could clean the freaking building. I sighed and put my head against the freezing stone wall. I saw Blake letting out the other inmates on our floor out of the corner of my eye. I felt like sleeping, not playing. I rubbed my head, which was now aching and throbbing.

"Blake would you please get me some Advil or Alieve?" I asked him politely.

"Sorry Lange I can't administer drugs to you of any kind. You'll have to go through the nurses for that."

"God damn it," I muttered under my breath.

"I heard that sweetie!"

"Ugh don't call me that Blake please?"

"Alright now you coming or staying?"

"I'm staying here. I can't really go out and play if I have a headache."

"Okay Lange your loss then."

I just shut up. His was not the time to have the last word in anything. I squeezed my eyes shut and began to drift back to sleep. I breathed deeply and dozed off. It was about six hours later as I heard a familiar voice call out: "Hey there Noelle killed anyone lately?"

I was awake again faster than the subway system in New York. I almost gave myself whiplash as I jerked my head towards my cell door.

"Ariana?"

"Ahw! She still remembers my name!'

"Ari where the hell have you been?" I blurted out exasperatedly.

"Chillax Noelle it takes a while to tool with the system."

I walked over to her and pressed myself to the iron bars, the only thing between us.

"What do you mean?"

"I got you out of this fucking place alright so just let the guard open up the door so you can talk to us."

"Us?"

"Yes Noelle, your dad and I."

"Oh okay," I was utterly confused, but I took her every word for it.

Blake came over and unlocked the door for me as I walked out, still in my ugly ass orange jumpsuit. God, they really needed to upgrade to something a little bit more fashionable. Orange is NOT everyone's color. Ariana immediately hugged me as I came out and I couldn't help but feel ten times better.

"Noelle, here take this while we walk to the room," she said and slipped me an Aspirin. God I loved her. I swallowed it down without water and turned the corner to where the conference rooms were.

"Thanks Ari. How'd you know though?"

"I figured. You always said cold places gave you headaches."

I laughed as Blake opened the door to room 209. I stepped in and saw my dad sitting there wih a bright smile on his face. Ariana then whispered harshly to me, "Agree with whatever I saw if you wanna be back at Easton tonight."

I nodded and sat down at one of the many chairs. I looked up into m dad's eyes and saw the sympathy and sorrow in them.

"Dad I…"

"Noelle," he said cutting me off, "I am so sorry I didn't listen to your side of the story. I was just so wrapped up in why my own daughter would do such a thing. I wasn't doing my job by getting all the facts straight."

"And that is why I told him the truth Noelle. He never let you tell him what happened up on the roof. That Reed was threatening you within an inch of your life that is," Ariana put in.

"That's right Miss Osgood told me that it wasn't first degree murder. That is was second, because you were acting out of self defense," he said calmly. I looked back at Ariana then to my dad.

"I should have taken you aside personally to get your side of what happened so I am really sorry honey."

"Dad," I finally said, "It's alright. I know the whole thing was upsetting and you had every reason to arrest me. I'm just glad that Ariana was able to calm you down enough to tell you what really happened."

"I'm just looking out for you Noelle, like any good friend should." I somehow knew she was referring to Kiran and how she was NOT that type of person.

"Speaking of friends what happened with Kiran?"

"I sent her back to Easton and called the administration and everyone there and let them know why you weren't coming back."

"So I'm not enrolled there anymore?"

"Yes, but right after this I am calling Headmaster Cromwell and telling him the truth."

"Alright I just need to get out of here. It's making me physically sick."

"You got it. I'll have Blake take you and Ariana to the restroom and you can change and meet me back in my office downstairs."

"Okay can do. Thanks dad. I owe you big time."

"How about paying off some of the credit card debt you racked up last month at Barneys and Nordstrom?"

I laughed and got up and hugged him, feeling so much better now.

"I'll try with that dad. I really will!"

He smiled and pushed me out the door with Ariana at my side. I pushed my chair in and felt Ariana hook her arms in mine."

"Let's go Lange. I want to throw up seeing you in that," she said brusquely pointing to my "outfit."

"I know! At least the black and white stripes are in. Why orange?"

"I don't know Noelle, but I brought you your phone and clothes to change into."

"God I love you girl!"

"You better hun. I have your True Religion jeans and the new Diane von Furstenberg chiffon top."

"Holy shit. That doesn't release till falls line up."

"Let's just say I have connections and they don't like knives at their throats."

I laughed hard and took the Kate Spade bag from Ariana and ripped off the hideous jumpsuit. I changed slowly as Ariana leaned against the sink.

"So Noelle, the only problem with you coming back is that Kiran has taken over your position."

"What! You mean as president of Billings?"

"Yes that exactly!"

"But Ariana you're next in line. Not her."

"Well since I was busy taking care of this crap she started, she swooped in and took over for you."

I smirked shaking my head as I fixed my hair with the TRESemmé products Ariana brought.

"She's going to regret ever doing that. There ARE rules about the presidency that she doesn't even know about."

"Like?"

"Once the president. Always the president. Until she graduates. And it doesn't matter where the hell she is for that period of time."

"Hmm I learn something new every day. It sucks to be Kiran right now. That's all I gotta say."

"It's always sucked to be her. But I'm not letting her get away with this."

"Good. We'll surprise her by showing up at the Ketlar party tonight."

"Perfect. I cannot wait to see the look on her face."

"Neither can I. Oh and she and Gage broke up so be nice about that! You ready to go back?"

"HA! Fuck yes. Ever since I got here, I've been ready."

I looked over, after packing up all my stuff, at Ariana who had that mysterious look on her face. I smiled. She picked up my jumpsuit and threw it into the waste basket.

"I f I ever see that on you again, I will murder you myself."

I think I paled, because she apologized and told me "bad joke!" I walked with her downstairs to where my dad's office was and rand into him as he walked out.

"Ready kiddo? Easton is psyched to have you back!"

"Yep let's go. I'm famished and wanna get back for dinner!"

"Alright hop into the Camero and I'll be right there!"

Ariana then literally shoved me out the door to the parking lot. She smiled sweetly as she opened the front door for me. I saw my dad come barreling through the front door of the building and head towards us throwing his stuff in the trunk and coming to the driver's side. He drove to Easton like he was on the Autobahn in Germany. I looked up and saw the big rod iron gates of Easton lit up by the lights overhead and sighed. I was home finally. My dad kissed me goodbye and took off again.

"Kay Noelle. Kiran just texted me and told me to come over to Ketlar, so you ready?"

"Just need to stop by Billings to grab my favorite MAC lip gloss then I will be."

"Here love, I got it for you," she said as she handed me the tube that was so recognizable. I swiped some on my lips that were really dry from being in jail for almost four days.

I sighed and threw it in my bag as I took out my phone and checked it for messages. I had one voicemail that I listened to on the way to Ketlar.

"Hey Noelle it's me. Ariana told me what happened. I hope that you're okay. I would fucking hate myself if anything ever happened to you. I love you too much. Call me when she gets you out. Alright? Kay love you Noelle. Bye."

I sighed. Dash. I missed him leaving. I wouldn't see him for another week almost. I could handle it. I just got out of jail, took care of the Reed thing, and was about to show people that nothing could stop a Lange.

"You alright Noelle?"

"Yeah I just wish that I could have seen Dash off, but it's ok."

"Alright. Now go say HI to everyone. Especially Miss Hayes."

I laughed and walked up the stairs of Ketlar to the roof area that had been converted into a complete party area.

"NOELLE!" I heard about ten thousand people say. I looked around and saw all the Billings Girls: Taylor, Kiki, Amberly, Rose, Portia, Astrid, Cheyenne, and even Shelby, who never ever did parties. I saw Josh and Constance huddled together as well. I'd talk to Josh later, if I had the patience. They all hugged me and asked me 20 million questions about everything, even the hard one of admitting to the 2nd degree murder of Reed!

"It's okay Noelle. Easton wasn't meant for her anyway."

"If e only knew that she was threatening you Noelle we would have done something to stop her."

"Well at least you are okay. She could have really hurt you."

My insides warmed at all of their lovely comments and welcome back speeches. I smiled and saw they guys get all giddy and rowdy because I was there. I had to laugh. Wasn't there enough estrogen at the place to satisfy them? I smiled as Gage handed me an ice cold Heineken. Damn I hadn't had beer in over a week! I took a sip letting the coolness soothe my dry throat. This was what I was supposed to be eating and drinking. Cosmopolitans and five star restaurant quality foods. Not water and wanna be oatmeal. Trey Prescott and Walt aka Whitaker put their hands around me and sat down on the couch next to me as all the rest of the Billings girls came and sat around me. I was pretty much the center and life of the party. I had forgotten the feeling from being locked up for that long. I saw Ariana grab a Negro Modelo and come and sit on the back of the couch above me talking with all the rest of the guys from Ketlar. People started asking me again how I was and all. I responded he same way I had been since I got there. I then looked around for Kiran and saw her long auburn brown hair whip around the corner of the roof and freeze and she stood a couple feet away from where I was.

"Noelle Lange, what the hell are you doing back? I thought I had you locked up for good!"

I raised my eyebrow at her as people started gasped around me.

"Obviously you didn't do such a good job. My dad finally got the truth from Ariana after you lied your fat ass off to him about things that weren't even relevant."

"Well you still killed Reed no matter what."

"Yes but it was self defense. I had every right to."

"Fine but I'm still going to make your life hell for doing what you did!"

"Oh are you? Starting with taking my position as president of Billings?"

"You know about that?"

I laughed and so did Ariana. I handed my almost done beer bottle to Trey as I stood up and went over to Kiran.

"I know about everything. You should know that by now. Even if I'm miles away from this place I still know what goes on here."

"Really Lange? Tell me something that happened while you were locked away."

"Hmm let me see: Dash left for a visit to Yale and you my "friend" broke up with your precious boyfriend."

"Are you fucking kidding me Noelle? Who told you that I broke up with Gage?"

"So it is true! And Ariana did alright, and I suggest you pop a Prozac or something before people think you have issues."

"GOD. You're such a fucking bitch Noelle."

"I know. But that's why people love me."

"Damn you to hell. I'm not giving you your presidency back that's for sure."

"Actually you are. There's a thing that once the president always the president."

"That is not a rule."

"It is and if you were smart enough, you would read the book of rules and prerequisites, and know that I'm still the president no matter what."

I saw Kiran's face turn bright OPI nail polish red.

"Noelle we're taking a vote here. All Billings girls stand if you want me to continue on."

I looked up and saw Amberly stand up along with Portia and the Twin Cities. I pursed my lips. I had to win London Simmons and Vienna Clark back somehow. Make them on my side at least, but I'd do that later.

"Alright and all for me Noelle Lange to do what I was doing before Kiran made up shit and sent me away."

I saw the rest of the Billings girls stand up along with all of the guys there, including Gage. I saw him wink at me as I smiled and looked to Ariana who was still sitting down.

Kiran saw this as well and questioned her with superiority in her tone: "So Ariana whose it gonna be for you?"

"Kiran you'd have to be fucking stupid and senseless to ask me that. Who do you think?"

I heard everyone crack up and Ariana and Gage come to my side. Gage then spoke up for the first time that night.

"Kiran I know we weren't meant to be together, but Noelle is the only one here tonight that is capable of running Billings. It would crumble if you were in her place. I'm sorry, I just can't let that happen while I am here. I mean Noelle dealt with the Thomas thing beautifully, helped us secure off campus passes again, used her connections to give us the best parties and alcohol, and the Legacy is not the Legacy without Noelle as president leading us in."

I felt him squeeze my shoulder. I looked back to the other people who were all standing up together now!

Ariana then stepped up to Kiran an inch from her face and muttered, "That's who I'm voting for dumb ass!"

I laughed and turned around as Kiran shoved Ariana to the side and grabbed my wrist. I turned slowly to face her as Ariana looked like she wanted to kill. I eyed her and then glanced back to Kiran.

"What is it Kiran?"

"I'm not done with you Noelle, so you better watch your back 24/7 from here on out."

"I always do hun and by the way threatening me won't get you anywhere!"

"Fuck you Noelle; I just wanted to warn you."

"Ahw how cute! Well thanks love but I think I can manage myself."

"God what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Nothing. Maybe just a bit tired from being in prison for a while, but other than that I'm fine."

"Urgh!"

"Kiran just go back to Billings. Don't make me have security do it for you!"

"You're kidding me right?"

I composed myself and ran my manicured hand through my hair.

"Does it look like I'm kidding? Now take a mental picture of this Kiran. Because you are going to live to regret it."

I heard a chorus of ohh's and ahh's behind me as people high fived me and congratulated me. I looked over my shoulders at Kiran as she limped her way out of the party tears streaming down her face. She'd get over it. I felt Ariana come up beside me and whisper, "Whoa, Lange way to make a comeback."

I smiled at her as she handed me a Budweiser. I heard off in the distance Gage and Trey yell at us saying, "Lange. Osgood. Come get pissed with us at the bar."

We both laughed and rolled our eyes and made our way over to the bar across the roof.

"I try Ari. I really do!"