Free Private 06 - Legacy by Kate Brian

masquerade!" Vienna exclaimed. "In Cheyenne's honor," Shelby added. I watched Noelle expectantly. Hopefully. I wanted her approval. Even after all this time. "Really?" Noelle continued with her makeup application. "How very industrious of you, Reed. Look at you, taking all the initiative. I'd say, 'You go, girl,' but it's just so passe."

    I smiled and shook my head. That was about right. That was about as much praise as I was ever going to receive from her. But still, it felt good. "And Reed's our new president!" London said, coming over to fling her arm around me. Noelle snapped the compact closed. My chest instantly tightened with dread. The look on her face was unreadable. Anger? Shock? Both? I felt myself backpedaling like mad. I didn't want to step on her toes. She was Noelle Lange. Who was I to be president of Billings if Noelle Lange was here? "Well, well," Noelle said, crossing her arms over her chest as she eyed me. "Glass-Licker's come a long way." "Well, I mean... now that you're back, things are different," I stammered.
    "Obviously you're the one who should be... I mean, if you'd been here, there's no way I would have been elected." Noelle simply looked at me. Nobody argued my point.

    Thanks for the support, girls.

    So much for them thinking I was the patent choice. Although I couldn't really blame them.
    This was Noelle. Even I knew she should be president. I cleared my throat. If I was going to do this, if I was going to give up the coveted presidency so soon after winning it, I was going to do it with some dignity. Not like a stammering idiot.

    "This place was not the same without you," I said evenly. "It's always felt like your house to me. So if you want the presidency, it's all yours." Everyone looked at Noelle. I tucked my hands into my back pockets and held my breath. Slowly, her lips turned up in a
    smile. "That's sweet of you, Reed, really, but no thanks." I blinked, stunned. Relieved, but stunned. "What?" Portia blurted, voicing the word bubble hanging above all our heads.
    Noelle shrugged and tossed the lip gloss back in the drawer. "Look, technically, I shouldn't even be here. I should have graduated last year, but, well, things happen. I'm only here to prove to the Ivies that I want to do the work. That I don't expect special treatment." The incredulity was obvious on my friends' faces. Noelle didn't expect special treatment? She had never known life without it. Even among the most privileged girls in the country, she was privileged. And she never let anyone forget it.

    "You're the future of this place, Reed," Noelle said, turning to face me. "All I want is to make sure that when I do finally leave here, I leave it in good hands. And I couldn't imagine better hands than yours." Whoa. Everyone looked at me, impressed. Now that was praise. Even though the girls of Billings had voted me in, even though the vote had been unanimous, this was true validation. "Thanks, Noelle," I said warmly. "You're welcome." She smiled, an unreadable--maybe teasing?--glint in her eye. "Madame President."

JOSH'S MANTRA

    The next morning at breakfast, Josh picked up a coffee cup and slammed it onto his tray. He held a bowl under the cereal dispenser and jammed down on the lever. I heard a crack, and was surprised when the plastic handle didn't break off. When the bowl overflowed with
    Apple Jacks, he cursed under his breath, grabbed a handful of cereal, and tossed it toward the garbage can behind the counter. Little orange and green Os rained everywhere. I think only one hit the actual can. All around us, students studiously avoided the topic of Cheyenne and her memorial service, and instead buzzed about alumni weekend, coming up at the end of the week. They chatted about what they would wear, about which illustrious graduates might attend, about how best to sneak alcohol out of the Driscoll Hotel on Saturday night. But it was clear that Josh and I would not be participating in such frivolous banter.

    "My