Ambition (Private 7)

me now. Listen. Understand. "Constance, thank God," I said, walking over to them. "I can't believe this is happening."

When she looked up at me, her face was pale. "I can't believe you did this," she said, her voice weak, her eyes betrayed. "You and

Noelle are supposed to be friends. And you and Josh were still together that night, weren't you? How could you do this to him? To

them? What kind of person are you? " "Wh-what?" I gasped. "Reed, I think you should go," Marc told me firmly. "But, Marc, I-" "Se-

riously, before this gets any uglier than it already has," he said, a look of disgust in his normally kind eyes. They weren't going to for-

give me. Two of the kindest people I knew had no interest in hearing my side. That was when I knew for sure that I had no one. It real-

ly was over. Just like that. From this moment on I would once again be on the outside, looking in.

* * *

Outside, the air was frigid. My tears froze to my face and my skin tightened. My head pounded as if someone was using a sledge-

hammer to find their way through my skull to my brain. I caught the disturbed glances of a few passersby and tried to breathe. I had to

focus. Had to figure out my next move. But I couldn't even remember what street I was on. All my things were back in Noelle's room.

Where was I going to stay tonight? How would I get back to Easton? A yellow cab pulled up at the curb and out stepped Dash McCaf-

ferty. I stared at him like he was some kind of mirage as he paid the driver and turned around. He wore a black coat over his tux, mak-

ing him appear even broader than usual, and his hands were ensconced in black leather gloves. It took a moment for him to see me, but

when he did, he hustled right over.

"Reed, what are you doing out here?" he asked, glancing past me at the door. "I'm so sorry I'm late. There was this whole thing

with my sister and her husband and..." He finally looked at my face. "Crap. Is Noelle really pissed?" , Um, there was the understate-

ment of the millennium. "Dash, she knows," I said shakily. A shadow crossed his face, and I was certain he understood me complete-

ly. Yet he asked, "Knows what?"

"About us. About the Legacy," I said, my voice growing louder and shriller with each word. "They all know." I threw my hand out

toward the door. "Someone videotaped it and just sent it to the entire student body." "What?" He looked at the door again, his face

growing ashen. He started to compulsively grip his hands together. He was contemplating whether or not to go inside. I could tell. Did

he want to face Noelle and her wrath, or would she be even more furious if he never showed? I almost felt sorry for him, having to

face such a dilemma. "I can't believe this is happening," I heard myself say. "Come on." He turned and took my upper arm in his hand,

his grip firm and steadying. "I'm going to get you home." The words were like music to my ears. Someone was on my side. Someone

was willing to help me. But it was the wrong someone. The only someone whose help I could not accept. It took every ounce of

willpower left in my wrecked body to pull away from his comforting warmth.

"No. You can't. I can't be seen with you. Especially not now," I said. "You'd better just go. If anyone sees us out here talking like

this, it'll just make things worse." Dash's jaw clenched. He so wanted to do the chivalrous thing, I knew. That was who he was. "Reed,

I'm so sorry," he said quickly, quietly. "Did you get my e-mail? You never responded." His e-mail. Right. For the first time in days I