Chapter 29

AN: So I realize its been FOREVER since ive last posted, but well, things happen, so here at long last is chapter 29. Just as a forewarning, Rewind will cut off at the equivalent of Confessions, or if I am really enjoying it and have the time, Rwevelations, because I could never possibly write with where Kate Brian is going with this series.

All of my things had been moved into Noelle's room, my room. I shuddered at the thought. Granted, the moving in wasn't a complete disaster, aside from the fact that I was constantly being mocked because my wardrobe wasn't designer, that was where their opinoins of me seemed to change. It seemed blasphemous to them that a sacred Billings Girl not wear only coture that cost double what my clothes did. Completely unreasonable in my mind, but apparently their oppinions differed from mine.

I was not banished from my room and was in Lily's, unfortunately in this case, it was right next to mine, so I could hear Noelle and some of the others screaming at eachother, seemingly over me. I didn't kno most of their names, but it seemed that their welcome was all an act. I heard something about hazing, but when I asked Lily about it, she mumbled something non-commital, and lapsed back into silence, returning to her laptop. I was guessing this was some sort of secret Billings ritual, and listened closer, intrigued.

"We have to haze her Noelle. It's tradition, what would your grandmother think of this?"

"Leave her out of this, besides, it's for a good reason. Reed would just leave if we hazed her." Noelle replied, seeming to get even more angry, I was surprised any of them had the nerve to take on Noelle like that, she could kick them out, and that would be that, they would, once again, be average Easton students.

Someone else stepped into the conversation, "So? Let her leave, that just means she's not Billings material. What's so special about a scholarship student from nowhere?"

"I can't tell you why, but trust me, Reed is important."

"Yeah? I think you're taking her in becase you're fighting with Ariana, and you knew this was the perfect way to exact your revenge, replace her with a nobody, and she'd be back at your feet begging for forgiveness in no time." Whoever this was, they certainly were gutsy. Were they really going to risk screwing with Noelle, you'd think they'd have more common sense than that.

"You know what Leamme, it was going to be you I got kicked out, and not just out of Billings, out of Easton all together. You're lucky Ariana's been pushing my nerves, or you and your dirty little secret would've been on your way home pretty fast, I woneder how your parents would feel when they find out." Ouch. The girl, Leanne, shut up pretty quickly. That is why you don't mess with Noelle.

Everyone fell silent, it was obvious Noelle had won that argument.

"Good, it's settled, we skip Reed's hazing. Now get out of here, I need to talk to Reed."

Taylor stormed into Lily's room moments after Noelle kicked them all out. She was by far Noelle's nicest lackey, but a fashion snob, and good little puppet none the less. She gave me a sympathetic look and wished me good luck before ushering a reluctant me out of their room. I returned to my room, simply because I had no other choice, it was after curfew, so I couldn't just leave, and I was not going down to the lounge and possibly have to face the other angry Billings Girls.

I opened the door, hoping Noelle wouldn't be in there so that I could climb into bed and pretend to sleep to avoid talking to her. I wasn't that lucky.

"So, Hollis Hugger, you made it. You're among the best of the best here at Easton." Noelle sounded bitter, wasn't she the one who forced me to be here? "Why aren't you happy? Anybody else would be pushing their way in, but not you, you think you're better tham the rest of us. You don't get it do you? You're a nobody if I hadn't made them take you in they would've pushed you out the door before you even got a look at the common room. You would still be spending all your time with Hollis, and his idiot friend Thomas."

"Don't you know better than to speak ill of the dead Noelle? Sure Thomas was a jerk, but he was no better than your friend Gage."

Noelle stepped right into my face then, "Don't go making assumptions about things you haven't the slightest clue about. You just got here, I've known Pearson for years. He is an idiot. I've been waiting for this to happen since the day I met him."

I was shocked. So shocked in fact, that I couldn't staighten my thoughts out enough to come up with a retort before Noelle said "Whatever, I'm going to bed now, don't forget about the post-funeral party tomorrow."

I finally got my voice back, "Are you not going to the funeral tomorrow?" I asked

"You're kidding right? I'll go, say 'I'm sorry for your loss', leave, and get ready for the party,"

I would've responded, but Noelle had already walked into our attatched bathroom and slammed the door behind her.

In the morning, rather than deal with Noelle, I decided it would be better to wake up early, and spend a couple of hours with Josh, before the funeral, definitely a better option. I set my phone to wake me up for 5:30, to ensure Noelle wouldn't wake up and try to stop me from leaving. By 6, I was out of my room and on the long walk to meet with Josh at the Art Cemetary.

Josh and I met up between our two dorms, and walked quickly in the frigid morning air, my nose stung from the cold but I hardly noticed. Josh was unusually quiet, and I wished he felt that he could confide in me, but understood that today was going to be hard for him. We ducked into the warmth of the Art Cemetary, and Josh pulled me into his arms. I didn't say anything as I held him, it was the day of his best friend's funeral, and here I was, thinking about myself and what I wanted. I pushed all of my selfish thoughts away, and silently vowed to be there for Josh today.

If I could do nothing else, I would at least be a shoulder for him to cry on, regardless of how I or anyone else thought or did. He had always been there for me, and now it was my turn to bet there for him. I couldn't believe how selfish I had been, thinking only of me, and my problems, not realizing how much pain Josh was in, I could see it in his eyes, though he did an amazing job of hiding it from me and the rest of the world. Ever since I arrived at easton, I've thought almost only about myself, it was very unlike me, these people were rubbing off on me, changing who I am. They are al self-absorbed, when I arrived, I thought I was different, but now I realize, that I am just like all the other selfish, vain people I was now living with, and the thought scared me.

AN: I know I said this would be Thomas' funeral, but I felt like this had to happen first, so Thomas' funeral is the next chapter.