Chapter 27
AN: I really appreciate the reviews I got for the last chapter, especially sparklefantastic, HappyKitty95 and TARYNLA. All of these reviews give great criticisms, and I appreciate them. Sorry no song for this chapter.
Two weeks had passed since the disaster Noelle likes to call a party. And yet she hasn't spilled my secret. Quite frankly, I'm shocked. I was beginning to think Noelle was bluffing and didn't have a secret to tell. That would be nice.
Constance and I were heading back to Bradwell after a night of 'studying' in the library with Josh. We were chatting happily and pointlessly, until we reached our room. Every last one of the things I owned was gone from our room. The only thing left on my side was an empty bed and a note.
Hey Hollis Hugger!
Don't worry your things are perfectly safe.
In Billings. Come and get 'em.
Noelle and the ,
Billings's girls
I groaned. Really Noelle? Are you that desperate? I was beginning to wonder if this was all some stupid ploy. Otherwise, what's the point? What the goal of this stupid ploy was I have no idea, maybe she's still set on breaking up me and Josh. If not, I'm drawing a complete blank. Noelle has to receive something from this, or she wouldn't bother. For her to go to this length, it must be something major.
I have two choices; I can either join Billings, or find some way to buy all of my stuff back. I couldn't afford the latter, so it looked like I was about to become a Billings girl. Lucky me.
I turned to Constance, "I'm sorry, but it looks like I'm going to Billings."
Constance sighed, "Is that what all of this is about? You better be sure this isn't just a joke. Noelle doesn't do all this to get someone to join Billings. Then again, I think there's only one other person, who's ever turned down Billings."
"Well I wasn't given a lot of options. I'm about to find out how much of this is just Noelle and her crap."
"But isn't Thomas' funeral, like, now?"
"Crap, I had forgotten the funeral was tonight. Josh would be here to get me in less than an hour. CRAP. Josh. He was definitely not going to be happy about this. But I had to trust that he would understand and not overreact. I whipped out my phone. Josh, I need to talk to you. Meet me outside Bradwell? I texted Josh.
Sure is something wrong? Josh's response was almost instantaneous.
I didn't know what to say. Yes…No… I'll explain later.
Again the response was instantaneous. 'Kay, see you in a few.
I knew that if I wasn't about to meet him, he never would've let it go.
"I'll see you at the funeral Constance, if they don't kill me first." I said, completely serious.
I left our room, to meet josh, and eventually, Noelle, and my new housemates. I shuddered to myself at the thought. I was going to be one of them, exactly what I had aimed to avoid.
Josh was almost at Bradwell by the time I made it out of the building. I walked over to meet Josh.
"Reed, what's wrong?" Josh asked me frantically.
"I'm fine Josh. It's just that Noelle is insistent that I join Billings, and this time, I'm not being given much of a choice.
"What's she holding against you Reed? You don't have to do this I'll deal with Noelle."
"She's not really holding anything against me, more like from me. She's got everything. Everything I own. Besides, I don't think Noelle is the best enemy to have."
"I guess you're right about the last part. Just remember, they can't control you. And I'll still love you, no matter what."
I hoped what he said was true. I didn't know what I'd do without Josh.
"Okay, time to deal with them." Josh almost snarled the last word. I could only hope that living there wouldn't be complete hell.
"Hey, you never know, this might be fun." I said.
Josh and I both burst out laughing. That was so crazy, it wasn't even funny anymore. I'd heard stories of what they did to the new girls, and I was notlooking forward to it. Billings isn't worth hell, so if it gets too bad, I'll be out of there and back in with Constance before they know what hits them.
Maybe I'll get lucky and get a single, and then it wouldn't be too bad. I could act like it had never happened. Yes. That was my solution. I refused to think of what would happen if I didn't get a single. I would think about that when the time comes. I really didn't want to have to be in a room with one of them, or worse two of them. I internally shuddered at the thought.
Josh and I had reached the Billings entrance. Josh laced his fingers through mine and asked me softly "Are you sure you want to do this? There's no turning back after we walk in there.
"I guess so, I don't really have a choice do I?"
"Of course you have a choice, you always have a choice."
"Let's just get this over with. Hopefully it won't be too bad."
Josh nodded and released one of my hands, but still held me close to him.
I took a deep breath, and prepared myself for the worst. But what I saw I never could've predicted.