Noelle's room was twice the size of mine. I stared in aw while she finished unpacking. She still had three suitcases to go. I was surprised to learn that my Sabine and Ariana nightmares where fading. I think being away from Easton Academy was helping.
"So what are we going to do when you're done packing?" I asked her. I started to look through my missed text messages when Noelle came out. She slapped her palms on her thighs and said,
"What's up with you? You seem so dead." Noelle smirked as she danced gracefully into her long, walk-in closet. I shrugged, what was I supposed to say? Then I suddenly remembered the beach. We where going to the beach.
"Do you want me to go pick out my bathing suit?" I asked her. I got up and looked out her window; the sun was right above our heads practically. I went out on her balcony to look at it. I looked to the left, at my balcony. In addition, there was one after that, there where a lot actually. I wonder if there is anyone else here.
"Hey Noelle," I asked her from the balcony.
"Yeah?" She asked.
"Are your parent's here?" I asked still looking at the beach. The waves crashed over the sand gracefully. It was a beautiful view.
"Yeah, they got the next level below us." Noelle casually answered.
"We get a whole level?!" I asked her, spinning around. People actually live this way? They get a whole level to themselves.
"Yeah," Noelle said slowly as if I was a mental patient. I was still shocked when I slowly turned around. I couldn't wait to get down to the beach. Maybe laying on the sand, getting a small tan would help me. And, maybe the salt water will just be fun.
"Ok, I'm done how about you go back to your room and get your bathing suit on and I'll come to your room." She decided.
"Ok." I said. In addition, with that, I walked back to my room.
I was going through my clothes and found something that stunned me.
Cheyenne's bathing suit.
She let me keep it last year. When she was my friend. And alive. I threw the bathing suit down. How did it get in there? I wouldn't have packed it. Could someone else be stalking me now? I shook my head and threw the bathing suit in the back of the closet. I quickly scanned for another one. I picked out one Noelle bought for me, it was blue and had sequins around the edges on the top. I slipped the bikini on and put my cover up on top of it. I grabbed my Louise Vuitton bag. It contained my towel, a magazine, and my Chanel glasses. Noelle came right through the door, as she always did at Billings.
"Ready?" She asked me.
"Yup!" I put the bag on my shoulder, slid on some flip-flops, and then we left my room. We took an elevator all the way down to the main floor. I followed Noelle over to the back, where the family or living room was. There was a big TV and an even bigger couch. I looked at the room while Noelle unlocked the door.
"Can I get you anything Miss Lange?" George the butler asked.
"Two waters." Noelle said quickly, he was off to get them. Noelle turned towards me. "I can't wait to work on my tan. I look albino." She looked herself over. I happened to disagree. Noelle looked great. He toned legs where a nice shade of light brown, and her arms where a bit lighter. The closest to albino here, was I.
"Are you kidding? You look great!" I complained. "I need a tan."
"We'll fix you up. Moreover, if you cannot get one, there is a tanning booth down the street. I'm sure they'll do something." Noelle laughed.
I didn't laugh but gave her a weak smile. Then I turned to see that George had our waters. Noelle grabbed them and gave me mine while we walked out. I took it and placed it in my bag.
We walked across her long deck; it was all white with flowers sitting occasionally in the fat parts of the gate. Noelle unlocked the gate, and we where on the beach. Once I felt the sand in my toes, I instantly calmed down. The sand took everything that has been running through my head away.
"Ohmigod." I sighed, Noelle started laughing at me, and I carelessly walked over to an open spot. It wasn't really packed. Everyone kept his or her space. It is not like Croton, where everyone gave you that stare thinking you where up to no good.
I gave my towel a little yank, so it would lay straight on the sand. I let out a relieved sound as I lay down on my stomach. Noelle stabbed a huge umbrella in the sand that covered the water bottles.
"Looks like you haven't relaxed in days. And your eyes show it." Noelle pointed out.
I ignored the whole eye remark and said, "I haven't relaxed like this since that day you guys took me to the spa." Confessing anything did not help at all to me.
"The spa! That's what I needed to do." Noelle gasped a little.
"A spa here?" I asked her.
"No, New York. There is this place, and ohmigod you will die when you see it. It's like royalty." Noelle gushed.
It was hard to imagine what royalty was to Noelle. To me, she was royalty. "Speaking of Royalty, are you going to that party here. To celebrate your living existence or something like that." I said, half out of it. The sun was soaking in on my back and I was lying on my stomach, and my air was in some weak, short breaths.
"Oh that, I'm going to New York. I'll just try to make it next year." She sighed, as she lay down on her back. She placed her Gucci sunglasses from her head to her eyes.
"Next year?" I asked sitting myself up a little bit with my arms.
"Yeah, next year. We get some kid of party thrown for us." Noelle said nonchalantly.
"Ok." I said cautiously.
We must have been there for at least 3 hours, because the sun started to get lower in the clear blue sky. I sighed.
"Do I look anymore tan?" I asked.
"A little, but you look good." She sighed. I looked over at her. The last time I saw her, she was a lot lighter.
"Whoa!" I gushed out.
"What? Is my make-up smearing?" She asked, pulling out her make-up bag.
"No! Noelle, you're really tan!" I told her.
"I am?" She asked. She looked herself over. She had a glowing tan. It seemed to light up the setting sun.
"Yeah." I told her again. She smiled, pleased with herself and got out her phone. I looked at my legs. They where a little bit tanner, it was good enough for me. I looked down at the crashing waves.
"Let's go in!" I smiled; I bit my bottom lip waiting for her response.
"Reed, you really want to go in that cold water?" She asked.
"It's calling our names." I smiled motioning to the water.
"I'll only go if you go." She sighed and looked back at her magazine.
I got up and ran for the shoreline. I stood on the wet sand, and waited. Soon cold waves came crashing on my feet. I smelt the salty seawater. It went through my senses and calmed me even more. This was even better than a Spa. I looked out to the Caribbean ocean. The tip of the sun was just touching the water. Wind blew in my hair so I could see everything, side to side. I looked to my left, there was a guy getting out of the water with his surfboard. I smiled at him and turned my head to the right. There was a couple walking down the beach, hand in hand. The guy picked the girl up by the waist. She was giggling and screaming for him to let her down. He was only smiling as he brought her into the water with him. A huge wave came crashing over them. They where instantly sopping wet, laughing. He grabbed her face and kissed her. I felt a pang of jealousy and a strong pain of missing something in my heart. The relief was gone, and all I wanted right now was to do one thing.
I walked back up, slowly, to Noelle. She got off the phone and put her magazine down.
"Cold?" She asked smirking.
"Let's go back." I said sounding miserable.
"Why?" Noelle snapped.
"I just am tired of the beach now, we can go tomorrow. First thing in the morning. I promise." I told her, collecting my things and placing them in my bag.
"Why so sudden?" Noelle asked me.
"I'm just tired. You can stay; I think I can find my way back to my room." I told her. I picked my bag and stood up over her.
"Ok, I'll come with you." She sighed. She got everything together, and I followed her inside. I shut the sliding door behind us, and we walked to the elevator. She pressed the third button with a big 3 on it.
"So," I said.
"Oh, Dash is coming in two days, so you'll only see him for what, four days?" She shrugged. "But we're staying behind for a while, while you're in New York."
"How long are you staying here after I leave?" I asked her.
"About a week, because then the next week is Christmas." She pointed out.
"Yup." I said with nothing else to say.
The elevator binged and then the doors slowly opened. I stepped out behind Noelle, and walked to my room.
"Good nigh Noelle." I said before I shut my door.
"G'night Reed!" She said before she shut her door at the same time I did.
Before I called Josh, I took a shower, washing off all the proof of sand or the salty seawater from touching me. When I got out, I put on my towel and looked at the clock on my table, 6:17, very to early to call. I quickly dried my hair and took off the remains of my make-up. Then I took a while to brush my teeth. I put on a pair of shorts and a tank top. I looked in the mirror, not giving a crap about what I look like, and walked over to my bag. I looked at the clock again; it was now 6:52. Therefore, that meant it was 7:52 in New York. It was still too early to call.
Therefore, I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels, got the weather in St. Bart's for the next few weeks, and did nothing. Then I called Constance.
"Hello?" She asked.
"Hey!" I spoke into my iPhone.
"Oh! Hi Reed!" Constance replied in her regular cheerful voice.
"How's that private island huh?" I asked her, flipping the pages of a Seventeen Magazine.
"Ohmigod, it's amazing! Whit has taken my everywhere! It's so romantic." She seemed happy, I was glad.
"What have you been doing?" Constance asked me.
"Me, and Noelle went to the beach, and that's pretty much it." I forced a laugh.
"That's nice, is it really hot there?" She asked.
"Ya, it's really nice though." I smiled.
"Well I'm going to go, Whit's back and he says hi! But I'll talk to you later ok?" She asked.
"Ok, bye!" I smiled and hung up. I looked at the clock, 7:09. I think I will call. I pressed Josh's contact number, and listen to the ring.
"Reed! Hey," Josh greeted me. The sound of his voice made my whole body relax. I smiled and fell back onto my bed; my head hit the soft pillows.
"Hey Josh," I said. "How's New York?"
"It's snowing! I swear it is so beautiful up here Reed. And all of the lights are up… it's great." He added.
"That's good to hear, I hope it stays like that when I get up there." I smiled.
"Me too, so how's St. Bart's?" He asked me.
"It's hot, and warm. Does not feel like the holiday feeling at all. I need snow." I whined playfully.
"God, I can't wait for you to come up here. It is going to be great. Everyone can't wait to see you again." Josh sounded like he was sporting a huge grin.
"Really?" I asked.
"Well mainly because I've been bragging about you all summer and now all vacation. They think you're the most amazing girl ever!" Josh told me. I went blank.
"Why did you tell them that?" I asked him a little mad.
"Because you are the most amazing girl ever." Josh chuckled.
"No I'm not." I protested.
"Reed, why can't you realize that you may not think that—which you should, because it's true— but I do. I think you're the best thing on this world." Josh told me truthfully.
"Great." I said sarcastically.
"What?" Josh asked a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Now you're gunna make me cry!" I told him sniffling.
Josh started to laugh a little. "I miss you," he told me.
"I miss you so much Josh. I can't wait to see you again." I said. I was looking out the window; the sun was setting into the sea. It was so romantic, and beautiful. It was times like these when I wanted Josh there.
"Ohmigod." I gasped.
"What?" He asked worried.
"This sunset is beautiful." I said in an almost whisper.
"Send me a picture." Josh said.
"Ok, let me take the picture." I hung up and got the camera. I walked outside and took a picture. It was truly breathtaking. I smiled and sent it to Josh. I sat in the luxury lawn chair and watched the sun get lower and lower.
The vibration of my phone startled me, I saw that picture of me kissing Josh and I pressed Answer.
"What do you think?" I asked a little excited.
"Ohmigod, it's so beautiful. I'm painting a picture of it when we get off the phone." He laughed a little I joined him.
"Ok, well then I'll let you go paint that picture." I told him. I would be able to see it and maybe even more of his paintings when I go to his townhouse.
"No! No, it is ok. Let's stay on the phone." He told me, as if he was hushing a bad thought out of my mind.
"Ok." I walked back inside, and shut the door behind me. I made sure it was locked before I turned around to my king sized bed.
"So what are you doing right now?" Josh asked me.
"I'm laying in my amazing king sized bed. And talking to my even more amazing boyfriend." I told him giggling. I was bubbly, all inside. I felt like a soda can someone shook up, to make it fizzy. "What about you?"
"I'm going to lie on my queen bed and I'm talking to my extraordinary beautiful girlfriend." Josh chuckled.
"Extraordinary huh?" I laughed.
"Extraordinary." Josh repeated.
"And Queen huh?" I laughed again. "Psh, I bet my king sized bed makes your queen look like a twin!"
"Hey, don't make fun of my queen. When you get here, you're sleeping in a queen." Josh teased me.
"Do I get to sleep in your queen?" I asked him laughing a little.
"If you're too scared to sleep alone, then yes. You can sleep in my queen also." He chuckled.
I looked at the clock, it was now 8:39 and I was getting tired. I yawned and fell back in the comfy pillows.
"Tired?" Josh asked.
"Yeah, just a little." I told him as I got under the gold comforter.
"Do you want to get off the phone?" Josh asked.
"No," I insisted.
"You're going to fall asleep with your phone on the hook all night?" Josh asked me with a smile in his voice.
"As long as you're on the other line." I told him smiling.
"You know it." Josh ensured me. "I'll stay on until you go to sleep."
"Are you sure?" I asked him, turning off the lamp on my nightstand.
"I'm positive." He said.
"Good." I smiled and my eyelids covered my eyes.
"I love you Reed." Josh told me, softly.
"I love you too Josh Hollis." I smiled.
"So we're going all last names here huh?" Josh asked. I instantly started cracking up.
"I guess we are." I told him, closing my eyes again.
"Last name or not, I still love you." Josh told me.
"That's sounds so good." I replied.
"What about me?" Josh asked.
"I will never stop loving you Josh." I promised him.
"God, this week is going to be such a blur. I'm going to do everything I can to make you have the best Christmas. You haven't seen Christmas until you've seen Christmas in New York." Josh told me. I just smiled in response he was perfect.
"Are you sleeping yet?" Josh asked me.
"Pretty much." I gave him a weak giggle.
"Go to sleep Reed." He spoke softly, like a voice of an angel. I instantly drifted to sleep to the sound of his voice.
"I love you." I said once again.
"I love you too." He told me. "Now go to sleep!" He hissed quietly.
"Ok. Good night." I said snuggling close to the pillows.
"Good night." Then he hung up the phone along with me. I placed my phone on the nightstand and fell asleep with Josh all over my mind.
The next morning I woke up in an awkward position. I was completely hugging the pillow next to me. I laughed at myself and rolled over on my back. Startled by the light trying to fight it's way past my long blinds on the French doors, I looked at the clock. It was only 11:43. I was tired, and this mattress was really soft. What a perfect match.
I decided to get up about 10 minutes later. Once I threw on some shorts and a t-shirt, I walked over to Noelle's room. I knocked on the door when there was no answer I slowly opened the door. No one was in the room, I frowned and even checked her closet. I circled it 2 times before I declared to myself, that she was not here.
I ran back to my room and looked out at the balcony, I instantly remembered Josh from last night. I smiled and looked at the waves crashing over the sand. He had to see this. I walked over to my nightstand to grab my phone, but then I remembered my new camera Noelle bought me for the occasion. I got it from the dresser and walked back out to the balcony. I snapped a shot of the water, and uploaded it on my laptop before I e-mailed it to him.
My door swung open and I jumped a little. I turned around to find Noelle running into my room.
"What's wrong?!" I asked her, my brain finally waking up.
"Everyone is gone!" Noelle cried out.
"What? Everybody can't be gone." I told her shaking my head, I got on my feet and started to walk over to her.
"Yes they can! The maids, the gardeners, the chauffeur, the chiefs, the butlers, George, my parents! All of them! Gone!" She shouted.
"Is this some kind of joke, Noelle? Is it something you're just putting the through to torture me?" I asked her annoyed. This hazing process was supposed to be over sometime in sophomore year.
"Reed! I swear on my life! It's not a joke!" She wailed.
Ohmigod. Was that? It can't be, was Noelle crying? I actually believed her now. I grabbed my phone and walked past her downstairs, no one. We continued our search still finding no one. I was so scared, there wasn't any words to describe it.
"Oh. Mi. God." I said slowly. Then I turned around to find Noelle behind me, crying.
"It's not I joke! I told you!" She was crying her dear eyes out. I just looked at her with fright in my eyes, I was in no mood to try to comfort her when I needed comforting myself.
The door slammed shut, I looked at her, and she looked at me. We raced up the stairs and to the main hall with the front door. No one was there waiting. I gasped. Noelle started screaming. Who ever was doing this was playing a sick joke on us. It was disgusting. Disgusting. Only one name came to mind when that word hit my head. No, two.
Ariana and Sabine.
I think it's been a while since I left you guys with a cliff hanger right? Well all good stories have some! I hope you guys liked this 6 page chapter! I just wrote and wrote and wrote all day on Sunday and finished it up tonight! And *ALERT FOR ALL JOSH LOVERS!*-- ha! you probably just skipped ahead of the whole authors note! :) that's ok!--He's going to be in the New york chapters, and there's probably going to be 4 short, or 2 really long chapters of St. Bart's mystery and one left for the trips end for Reed. I want Reed to get her butt to New York just as much as you do! Please review and I don't mind the negative comments as long as you dont yell! But I would like to point out that I already know that
1) the grammer SUCKS!
2) the spelling is off sometimes
3) some parts are a little on the corny side! srry I read twilight that night and Edward just kinda jumped into Josh's mind for a while! ha and I'm nawt calling him corny!
I should probably stop babbling now and let you guys review!!!!
peace out,
Lauren