Previously in Scandal Like Never Before:
Emergency Billings meeting in the Quad, under the huge oak tree.
Be there,
Noelle
"Oh, well how about I come with you? Count it as part of the tour" He grinned again, and I couldn't say no so I nodded a yes, and was off to face fresh drama with my new best friend. We walked with locked elbows, gaining some smirks and stares from a few people.
I smiled inwardly, this year really was going to be interesting.
I didn't have to wonder about what the meeting Noelle called was about. Billings. We were all immensely upset about it, especially Noelle, who, last time I saw her, was furiously yelling into her phone. Yet, me, the person who strived for nothing but Billings, the same Reed who was once president, and the same Reed who broke up with her boyfriend because of it, completely and utterly forgot about the crisis at hand. I was so caught up in my own twisted love life, that Billings being torn down was a dusty aspect of my mind. But I knew it was time to snap back to reality, and fast. The future of Billings depended on it.
"Oh Reed, so nice of you to show up" Noelle said with an edge to her voice. Okay, ouch. But I guess I deserved it, me and Sawyer got caught up in the snow again, and got there a couple of minutes late.
"Sorry Noelle, accident"
"Yeah whatever. Sawyer." She nodded her head in acknowledgment of Sawyer. I was surprised she wasn't pissed at him being there, since it was a Billings-only meeting. I was grateful. The less temper from Noelle, the better.
"Noelle." He did the same. Tension much?
Noelle looked around at all of us, to check whether everyone was here, Missy, Lorna, Kiki, Astrid, Constance, Rose, London, Amberly and everybody else and smiled slightly. Then she started walking away from the tree and from the quad to the building known at Hell Hall. I wondered why we were going there, since no privacy would welcome us there anyway, but I still followed just as all the other Billings girls did in silence. Sawyer seemed confused as ever, but followed me since he couldn't do much else.
"Where exactly are we going Reed?" He whispered to me, afraid that raising his voice would disrupt our solemnity.
"Honestly? No idea," I laughed, at least that was the truth, "but the building we're heading towards is Hull Hall, also nicknamed Hell Hall. Relax, just walk with me"
He let out a breath "Exactly what I've been doing." I smiled at Sawyer; he seemed so lost at Easton. Oh well, nothing like a few days with me won't fix.
Noelle entered the decrepit building in which we were instantly greeted with comforting warmth and walked down a dimly lit hallway. She made a few turns, with us on her heels, and finally stopped at a door I didn't even know existed. There was no room number or name, and I wondered what it was doing here, and why I had never noticed it. She took out a ruby shaped key out of her coat pocket, and put it in the lock. Everything was done in silence, and I couldn't help but think that i was the only one who didn't know what was going on. Then when I looked around me, I saw confused faces reflecting mine and instantly felt better. At least I wasn't totally clueless.
She looked from side to side, and I was grateful that the hallway was deserted; no need for anyones suspicion's to rise. She opened the door, and we all piled into the room, trying to get the first look of the area. To our surprise, it wasn't a classroom or an office; it looked like a personal library, one set back in the 1900s. It was complete with a wall to wall bookshelf, a red armchair with wooden legs next to a brown oak coffee table with a lamp radiating with the dimmest light. Then I looked to the other side of the room, and there stood a three-seater couch holstered with fabric that was decorated with roses. Around the couch were two loveseats of the same design and in the middle of the coaches was an immense burgundy table. The set of furniture looked out of place in the close-to antique room and it was obvious that it was put there by Noelle to accompany all of our seating needs. Since ten girls were not going to fit onto one armchair.
All of the girls looked in awe with their mouths hanging open until somebody, Noelle, cleared her throat.
"I've brought you here since Billings has been torn down and we had no meeting place to assemble in. This room is privately secured solely for the Billings Girls, and I hold the only key. It is free for our use any time of the day, any day of the week." She took an authoritative tone, and we knew this meant business so we all just nodded and sat down on the various love seats and couches. I sat down with Sawyer on the love seat, and only when he cleared his throat, and sat down on the arm of the chair instead that I noticed him. I had been so awestruck of the power and influence Noelle had, although it should have been of no surprise, that I was unaware of my surroundings, including Sawyer.
"Sorry" I blushed and moved over on the love seat so that my butt wasn't occupying the whole expanse of it.
"Its fine" he whispered, and once again took a seat next to me. I felt a slight tingle when his arm brushed my shoulder, and we were sitting thigh to thigh, but chose to ignore it. I had more important things to attend to at the moment.
"So Noelle, what exactly is this meeting about? I know Billings was torn down, and we're all upset about it, but is there really any way we can reverse what's already been done?" I saw that I voiced what everyone was thinking.
"You underestimate me Reed," she smirked knowingly," there is always something we can do. I am after all, Noelle Lange, and you guys are the Billings Girls, are you not?" Something about her tone made us all nod.
"Okay so, what do you have in mind? Sabotage? Fundraiser? We've tried all that before." I said in an exasperated tone. I hoped that I didn't sound like I didn't care. Because I did, I was just having a bi-polar day. Apparently.
"Actually, I was wondering what your ideas were. You did already save Billings once, who says you can't do it again?" Noelle seemed hopeful, I was somewhat shocked that she let me take the lead and wondered whether that was because for once, she had no answer. All eyes turned to me as she said that. Oh god, I felt heavy under the pressure. Not again. Sawyer sensed my worry and gently stroked my arm. I smiled at him, and mouthed a "Thanks". I was so glad he was here.
Then as everyone was waiting quietly and somewhat patiently for me to answer, an idea dawned on me. What if a fund raiser really would work again? This school, after all is all about money. What if we raised enough money to rebuild Billings? It would take a lot of effort but with the amount of power the Billings girls have among the alumni, I don't think it would be a huge obstacle. Money is never an obstacle for these girls.
"Girls, what would you ever do without me? I have an idea. Since the fund raiser worked once already, why don't we try it again? Except this time, it'll be to rebuild back Billings. We could get the alumni involved; I don't think they're exactly ecstatic about Billings falling apart." In that moment, I felt like the girls looked up to me. Even Noelle broke out in a smile, showing me her approval.
And of course, Missy had to barge into the moment. "And what exactly would we be doing for this...fund raiser?" Her nasal voice and superior tone made me want to slap that girl. I could see it in everyone else's eyes too. Unfortunately she was right for questioning my idea, since I had no idea how to continue. So I decided to improvise.
"A Masquerade Ball." I opened my mouth to speak, but all I saw were Sawyer's lips moving and his not-so timid voice being projected. I gaped at him and he just winked at me and looked at the girls' faces intently.
"Yeah...what Sawyer said" I laughed but quickly stopped when I caught some curious glances. People need to relax.
Noelle looked thoughtful for a minute, and I held my breath, looking at her expectantly."Interesting. I like it. Masquerade Ball it is."
I heard sighs erupt throughout the room, and then we all started cheering. London found a champagne bottle on the antique coffee table and some glasses along with it and in no time, people were toasting. Of course. I looked at Sawyer, the genius behind the celebration and he looked back at me with intensity in his eyes. He raised his champagne glass winking at me for what felt like the fifth time and mouthed a "You're welcome" to my silent thank you. I felt an instant urge to hug him, since he did save me from an embarrassing moment just waiting to happen. So I did. I opened my arms and wrapped them around him, apparently surprising him since he stumbled as he was knocked off balance. We toppled onto the love seat together laughing and I instantly felt comforted by his presence.
"Just can't keep from falling, can you?"He said, still chuckling at my clumsiness I never knew I had.
"Around you, apparently not." Whenever Sawyer was around, I couldn't help but embarrass myself every time.
We were all still chatting away in our private conversations, drinking Champagne like it was water when Noelle cleared her throat. Loudly, in fact.
"So we decided on an idea, but have you guys thought of anything else? Before we take our plan into action, we need to know what caused the new headmaster to topple the most intimidating building in Easton. It couldn't have been for no reason. So Sawyer, you're in charge of that. Seeing as you're already involved, why don't you be useful? You are, after all, the headmaster's son." She smirked, and stifled a laugh. Noelle definitely knew how to get what she wants. Sawyer groaned loud enough for us to hear, but when he saw all our heads turned in his direction, he blushed and lightly nodded.
"Good. Now, we have to decide who's going to be in charge of what. I may be the president of Billings, and this may have been Reed's idea, but you're all involved, whether you like it or not." She glared at Missy while saying that, and Missy shrunk into her seat.
After a few volunteers as well as some duties forced upon some of the girls, it was finally decided and I was so glad to be over with this. This was way too much to deal with. London and Vienna were in charge of invites to all the Easton students and the alumni. Missy and Lorna were in charge of providing the buffet and various drinks for the masquerade. I hoped nothing was going to be poisonous, considering Missy's acidity. Kiki and Astrid were in charge of decorations, and I couldn't think of better people for the job. Rose, Constance, and Amberly were going to deal with all the money related issues, like fees and donations and checks. I was so glad I wasn't in charge of that. Reed Brennan and money were never meant to be. Noelle, apparently, decided that we were not obliged to do much work for this event, and so we were left in charge of organization and deciding something not related to the fund raiser...the issue of where we were going to live. Since the Billings Girls were currently homeless.
Once everything was decided, the only thing I wanted to do was get out of there. I suddenly felt claustrophobic and needed some fresh air. So I started winding my way through the room and had to answer some unnecessary questions about where I was going until I made it to the door. It was already getting dark outside and I knew the girls would be coming out soon since Noelle already made hotel arrangements for the school week and we were all staying at the Marriot Hotel. It was getting colder, if that was even possible so I sat down on a bench in front of the building and wrapped my coast tightly around my body. Thinking back on today, I suddenly remembered the text Upton sent me, the one I never answered. So I thought this would be the perfect time to read it.
Reed,
How is your first day back? I miss you already, love.
Call me later when you get this text, I need to talk to you.
Love you,
Upton
Two guys wanting to talk to me in one day? I was way in over my head, like always. I sighed, Hurricane Reed really did suit me. All these thoughts that I have never experienced and the doubts I was feeling were running through my head as I read that text. Like the fact that I forgot all about my long distance relationship with Upton, and honestly, the fact that I forgot all about him. I wasn't sure whether I felt the same way about him as I did on St. Barths. Maybe it was just a fling. The thing that surprised me the most was that it hasn't even been a day, and I was already having doubts. I wanted to text him back everything I experienced this day. Billings being torn down, the talk Josh and I had, and how today was just not my day. Except the whole Sawyer thing. That was a separate issue in itself. But I didn't. I didn't text him everything I wanted to say. I didn't text him what I was feeling. In fact, I didn't text him back at all. Instead I touched the delete button on my I-Phone and leaned back into the bench. Upton can wait. My feelings were not clear enough to become known. So for now, I just chose to deal with it in the most immature way possible.
I saw Sawyer walk out and of the brick building, wrapping his arms around himself and immediately felt bad that I left him among all those girls. He smiled once he saw my sitting figure and strode over to where I was sitting on the bench and I shuffled to the right to make space for him. We didn't need to say anything to each other, it was a comfortable silence. He smiled a crookedly at me and got up. I looked at him quizzically, and he answered my unsaid question.
"Want to take a walk?"His response was more of a question, but it suited me just fine since that was exactly what I was thinking. I held out my hands in front of me, regretting the loss of warmth, and he took them in his own and pulled me up.
"Sure," I said, snuggling up to his side and he put a hand over my shoulder, warming it instantly. It wasn't awkward in any way. Sawyer and I just clicked. I needed somebody to vent to anyways. And that person just happened to be him. I was glad that it was.
SUPER DUPER LONG CHAPTER. Almost 3,000 words, I'm proud. If only I could write that much for school :/
3 Chapters in 3 days, you guys a lucky bunch of readers =) lol
So I wanted to thank everyone who reviewed, you guys made my day! I felt the urge to keep writing this quickly so I did, I'm such a loser =P.
Okay I have a couple of questions I want you guys to answer:
1. Should there be more Josh/Reed encounters?
2. Would you guys like a chapter on the organization on the masquerade ball, or should I just have a chapter that's at the ball?
3. Should there be some Noelle/Reed bonding time?
So have the urge to answer them in your reviews, pleasums and thanks! Oh and not that I don't already have a head full of unorganized ideas, if you guys want to pitch in some, go ahead =]
-Maks
