Cheating Destiny

It was Saturday morning, and all of the Billings girls were heading out to the fundraiser party for the politicians. Right now, I was currently sitting in Sawyer's room, ranting about how much I didn't want to go, and ignoring the fact that he was still somewhat asleep.

"Reed, you were the one who" – yawn – "suggested to have a nice big fundraiser." Yawn. "Just go; maybe you'll have fun with those" – yawn again – "old people." Sawyer rubbed his eyes and tried to lift his head from the bed, but it fell back down with a loud thud.

I was still oblivious to the fact he was shirtless and was wearing boxers, not to mention it was nine in the morning and I was being extremely rude. But I was pumped up from the coffee I just had, and I couldn't seem to stop talking.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid. Maybe I can lie, and say I'm not feeling well. And I have a lot of homework to do, so I can get that done," I said. Instantly, another idea came up to me head. "We should study together! We can go to Coffee Carma, and-"

Just then, my phone alerted me of an incoming text. Sighing, I fished out my phone from my pocket. The text was from Noelle:

Where the fuck r u?

I frowned at her language, but realized I needed to start moving. "I should get going." I glanced up, seeing Sawyer standing up, his hair all rumpled up, his chest the finest piece of meat I had ever seen. Gulp. He even rivaled Upton.

"Sure," he said, while he slipped on some jeans. He yawned for the hundredth time already, and put on a pair of glasses. "I'll see you later."

"Hold on – when did you start wearing glasses?" I asked, momentarily distracted. I felt my phone buzz a couple more times, but I ignored it.

Sawyer laughed a real, hearty laugh and said, "A while, but I always wear contacts. I've been wearing them for a really long time, so I'm used to it." His glasses were framed and black, the black accentuating his features, making his jaw look more prominent. For a second, he looked like a Burberry or Ralph Lauren model.

I chuckled at my ideas and said, "Looking sharp. I like it," I added, gesturing to the glasses. He nodded in acknowledgement. My phone buzzed again, and I reluctantly accepted I needed to get moving. "I'll see you later," I said while I went out the door. Sawyer waved back a little sleepy.

Running as fast as I could, I stealthy made my way out of Ketlar. Everybody was asleep, save for a few people. Now in the middle of the quad, I was able to see all the girls impatiently waiting for me to come. Oops.

"And here she comes! Jesus, where were you?" Noelle asked, obviously pissed off at me. She literally pushed me inside the car, everyone else in tow. Before I was being shoved inside, I caught a glimpse of Josh talking with a group of people. He was laughing at something, and I instantly felt a pang of guilt. The conversation between Josh flashed through my brain, me wincing in an attempt to keep it down.

"How dare you. How dare you say all of this, after calling me a whore, treating me the worst possible way, and forgetting about Ivy! I can't do this!" I said, slumping into the chair from sheer exhaustion.

Josh scoffed. "You're joking, right? Because honestly, I don't know why it's so hard for you to go back! Why can't you forgive me?!"

"Because you haven't said sorry! You haven't apologized for being a total dick to me! You haven't apologized for not calling me during break! You haven't apologized for making all these promises and breaking them, when I asked you not to! How can I forget, Josh? After everything you said to me, after everything that's happened . . . I need some room to breathe, and you're not letting me."

It was quiet in the room. "I don't know why you doubt us. But I know I'm right."

Now it was my turn. "Right about what, exactly?"

"It's because of Sawyer. It really is. But you keep on forgetting about me, Reed – me!"

I got up, anger running through my veins. "Oh yeah, I forgot everything was about you! Well, newsflash sweetheart – it's not! And this is not about Sawyer – it's about us. I'm sick and tired, and you're going to let me go," I whispered.

Josh looked at me with those piercing eyes and it took every ounce of me not to look away. "It's not over, Reed."

"What's that supposed to mean, exactly?"

"I'm not giving up on us."

I seriously hoped they had booze at the party.

***

"And what would your views be on healthcare, Miss Lange?" asked some old politician. I was standing next to Noelle, already on my second champagne glass in a very short time. There were a couple of more old guys surrounding us, but apparently, they weren't as important to the person we were talking now.

Noelle flashed a brilliant smile. "Honestly, I do feel it is every person's right to able afford healthcare, but on the other hand, there's only so much you can do. How many more taxes will it take? And will this healthcare bill take into account of the illegal immigrants? If there's one thing I cannot stand, its people taking advantage of us. American is not the land of free purchases. It is the land of equality and justice," finished Noelle. She smiled again, and the Congressman Williamson was a little dumbstruck. His friends around him murmured, and I wasn't sure if it was good thing.

"So I take it you are not happy with our immigration system?" He sniffed and rubbed his nose with the palm of his hand. Ew.

"I never lie, and I won't lie right now, Congressman. For a country that has a strong system of security equipment, I don't understand how hard it is to keep illegal aliens out of this country." She paused, thinking something else smart to say. "Let's face it – the crime rate has gone up tremendously. We have illegal drugs spreading around even more in the States. I'm not happy with the situation, but I think we can handle it," said Noelle. She looked around all happy, beaming.

I stood differently in this matter. Sure, I didn't like having illegal immigrants here, but there was a certain advantage with having them here.

"W-well, don't you think the Mexicans are kind of a great asset to American businesses?" Sensing everyone's eyes on me, I blushed. Timidly, I looked up, seeing Noelle staring down at me and Congressman Williamson staring at me, although not as scary as Noelle.

"And why is that, Miss . . .?"

"Brennen, sir. Reed Brennen." I stopped.

"You were saying, Miss Brennen?" Williamson smiled at me warmly.

I blushed again, suddenly feeling very stupid. I didn't know anything about politics, aside from the tidbits I had read from articles and newspapers. "Well, I mean, think about all the farmers in California and other places; like factories or small businesses. They can, like, pay the people less and nobody will care. It's not like they can file a law suit for not being paid the same because they're not even American!"

As I looked around at all the faces around me, I immediately realized the stupidity and the utter rudeness of what I had said. I tried to form words of apology when I was cut off by Congressman Williamson.

"You know, I try not to say anything to the press, but that's what exactly what I was thinking! Sure, we can stop trying to keep them from coming (we have a lot of them so far, and we don't need more), but they've been a great help in my small business area. It's amazing how much they'll work for a dollar . . ."

I was shocked. Really, I was. I thought Congressman Williamson was a Democrat. I shook my head, actually interested in what he was saying.

"Oh, Reed, I never knew you knew so much about our country's problems. Weren't you just saying we were a bunch of – and pardon my frankness – pricks for buying all our oil from those towel heads?" Noelle smirked, but her eyes were dead cold.

How could she. How could she do that? I was having a great time with Mr. Williamson, and she just ruined it. And not only that, I had never said that. I was crushed and unbelievably hurt. Who was she?

"Noelle," I admonished, but in a small voice. I felt lingering tears in my eyes.

"Well, it was a pleasure to meet all of you; truly. Until next time, gentlemen," she said, patting my shoulder. Slowly, I turned my head back around to meet with Williamson's eyes. I could tell he was shocked as I was.

It took me a couple of tires to get me sentence started. "I-I never said . . . I'm sorry, but I have to go. Please, I -" I looked back to the direction Noelle left. "Sorry!" I called out before I turned around and ran off to look for Noelle. Not caring about the important people all around me, I pushed against people and not bothering to apologize. I rounded a corner, and was thrust into a hallway. There, I saw Noelle putting on her coat, acting as if nothing was wrong.

"What. The. Hell. Was. That?!" I shouted. I came near her, feeling intense anger roll off of me. What she just did was inexcusable. Just because she was Noelle Lange did not mean she was able to do whatever she wanted.

Noelle tossed her hair to the side casually, revealing her Harry Winston diamonds she proudly showed off this morning. She let out a long sigh as if she had a long day. "Reed, Reed, Reed," she sang. Noelle gave a tight smile, but I could see pure ice in her eyes. "Do you know who those men are? My father has known them his entire life. They're my key to be successful in life." Noelle stopped and came a little closer. She looked off into the distance as if she was contemplating something. "You can't just come up with a lame, red neck answer and expect to get into Ivy."

What?

"So, I'd suggest you try not to say anything that will ruin you," she finished. Noelle fluidly put on her Dolce&Gabbana coat on as if she didn't have a care in the world.

"Hold on – where is this coming from? What did I do?" I snorted, fully realizing the absurdity of this situation. "And I can't believe you would make up something like that?! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Noelle's face went dead, and I instantly cringed. "You think, since you went through all this trouble, that you can do whatever the hell you want to? Who do you think you are, taking over my project and my future?"

The only thing I could do was shake my head. Where was she getting this from?

"I'm not taking anything away from you Noelle," I said as calmly as I could.

"Oh really? How about taking over my fundraiser I've poured so much into, whilst you've done nothing! How about acting like the sweet little girl my father adores, but instead, you're a cheating whore! Does Upton ring a bell?" Noelle's face was beet red, and her nostrils flared. How did she know about Upton?

"And what about that dumb blonde you pulled off not too long ago? Who do you think you are by storming your way through after I was the one who made you legend?! I did! It was all me! And here you are, fucking your way through with everyone!" Noelle stopped, and for once, I saw how unstable she looked. One thing was sure – this new revelation was making me a hell of a lot unstable.

"Noelle . . ." I started off, weakly. I didn't know where to begin.

"Whatever. Try not to bother me," was all she said before she literally ran off. Well, she walked with her head up high and her heels clacking, but for some odd reason, Noelle seemed really defeated.

Slowly, I sank down the wall, resting my head on the wall. I tried to register what Noelle had just said. So basically, I was taking everything from her, in some way or another. She now disliked me very much. I didn't know what I did wrong, but one thing was for sure – it was going to take a long time for Noelle to forgive me.

All of a sudden, my phone rang. I took it out of my clutch, and instantly shuddered at the name that appeared on my phone. I just stared and stared, letting it ring, so desperately stuck. Finally, it stopped ringing. A couple of seconds later, another tone indicated me that they left a message.

One, two, three times I banged my head on the wall.

Fuck this. It was just a stupid voicemail, right?

"Reed, I know things have been incredibly messed up between us. But – I . . . I can't do this anymore. If there's one thing I regret the most, it's losing you. And I've damaged everything so much. I know you want some time and space." Pause. Exhale. "But there's only so much time and space I can give you, and only so much time and space I can have myself. I don't want this – us – to be late. I don't want to forget us.

I don't want to forget you."


Hey, dearies - thanks for reviewing! Well, now you know what happened during the conversation between Josh and Reed. There will obviously be a lot more drama and Josh/Reed interaction soon enough.

Scandal time: what did you guys think of it? It was pretty good, but the ending was just too... obvious and boring. If you happen to think otherwise, tell me what you think!

I have a new fic called "Just Once." It's a oneshot between Ivy and Sawyer, because those two went through some heartache in Scandal and I decided to mess around with them. Check it out! Also, my other fic - Love Will Tear Us Apart: Josh POV - will be coming back alive. It's just I'm trying to get all my other stories done, and I have a lot on my plate. So hang in there, folks! You're favorite blonde boy will be coming back :)

And review :)