Free Private 06 - Legacy by Kate Brian Page A

woman's intuition is telling me something's bothering you," I joked, trying to lighten his mood. He looked at me like I was the enemy. "I can't believe she's back. How the hell could they let her back in?" I took a deep breath. Noelle. Of course. What else could possibly be bothering him? But I had to remind myself that he had good reason to hate her.
    She had been all too ready to pin Thomas's murder on him last year, even though she had suspected all along that it had been Ariana. And even if Josh had never been arrested, he would have been totally justified in hating her simply for the role she'd played in his best friend's death. She, Kiran, Taylor, and Ariana had kidnapped Thomas from his room and brought him out to the woods, where they had tied him up and basically left him scared and alone. All to teach him a lesson. All to make him feel as helpless and humiliated as he'd made me feel the evening before at a party in the woods. What they had done was awful, but it had been Ariana who had gone back and murdered him. The others hadn't known of her sadistic jaunt. In my opinion, Noelle and the others had messed up big-time, but they hadn't intended for Thomas to die. They had simply thought they were playing a prank. That was the way I justified it. The only logic that helped me sleep at night.

    "Well, apparently her parents threatened to sue and that was that," I said calmly, adding a bagel to my tray. I pushed up the sleeves of the black V-neck cashmere sweater Noelle had given me--one of many gifts, which included Miu Miu boots, a Tiffany monogrammed lock necklace, and an iPhone--hoping he wouldn't ask me where it had come from. She'd said she was making up for the fact that she'd missed my birthday last year. And Christmas. And something about Flag Day. "Shocker. Gotta love America. They should rename the country Litigation Nation," he grumbled. He took a deep breath and blew it out through his nose, placing his hands on his hips. "You have to get out of Billings now. With her back, it's going to be just like it was last year."

    "No. It's not," I replied. "Really? How do you figure?" he asked. "Well, for one, I'm in charge," I told him. "They elected me president, remember? Which, by the way, you haven't even congratulated me on." Josh exhaled audibly and gave me a sheepish look. "You're right. I'm sorry. Congratulations. At least they got something right over there." "Thank you," I said with a nod. It was the highest praise my Billings sisters were going to get from him. "So Noelle is not going to be running things this year. I am." "Yeah, right," Josh said, picking up his tray and turning toward the cafeteria. My face stung. Did he not realize how insulting that was? "Thanks a lot," I said, following after him. Josh looked at me and his expression softened. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it that way. "He shrugged, gripping his full tray with both hands. "It's just... I know that girl. She's not happy unless she's surrounded by drama and scandal. Come on. Just transfer to Pemberly or something. It's not that big of a deal. And at least it'll get you away from her." "Not that big a deal? I can't just transfer after they elected me!" My skin burned. "And do I have to remind you that Noelle saved my life last year?"

    "No. But it wouldn't have even been in jeopardy if it hadn't been for her and her morally suspect Billings friends," Josh replied. "Why can't you see what a cancer that place is?"
    "God, Josh. Enough already with the 'death to Billings' riff," I snapped. "That's like your new mantra." He pulled his head back, surprised, and his brow furrowed. "I'm only thinking of you." "Yeah, well, I can handle myself, thanks." I turned and stormed away, taking a seat at the opposite end of the table from where we usually sat. He followed after me slowly and, taking my cue, grabbed a seat with Trey at a separate table. As I rather violently shook up my bottle of orange juice, a couple of girls from the freshman