Revelation (Private 8)

her and dove into the crowd. Behind me I could hear her blocking Ivy's entrance, telling her she

240

wasn't invited and she had to go. If only Noelle knew what Ivy had done for me just now. If only

she knew how everything had so suddenly and fundamentally changed. But she would find out

soon enough.

"Reed! Hey."

It was Josh. Adorable, innocent, kissable Josh in his suit with its open-collared shirt, looking oh so

perfectly handsome. He stepped up close to me and lowered his lips toward my ear.

"I got your present. Thank you so much. The paintbrushes... the letter... it was amazing," he said.

"Can we maybe go somewhere and talk?"

I barely even registered the words. Felt nothing at his closeness. I could feel nothing but my rage.

And then I saw her. Dancing near the edge of the crowd with Astrid and Constance and Trey and

Gage. My friends. She had no right to be anywhere near my friends.

"Later," I told Josh.

I stormed away from him, shoving aside Billings Girls and Ketlar boys as I went. I walked right past

Astrid and Constance. Sabine noted my approach, and her entire face lit up.

"Reed! There you are! We were wondering when you--"

Shaking from head to toe, I unfolded the eight-by-ten photo and held it up right in front of her

face. Sabine stopped dancing.

"What. The hell. Is this?" I demanded.

Around us, Astrid, Constance, Trey, and Gage slowly stopped moving and looked at one another

warily. They couldn't see the photo, but they obviously sensed the tension. Sabine's smile faltered,

but only for the briefest of moments.

241

"Where did you get that?" Sabine asked, her voice barely audible over the music.

"You know where I got it--from the frame next to your bed," I replied, advancing on her slightly,

still holding the picture up. "What are you doing with Ariana, Sabine? How the hell do you know

her? How could you have kept it from me all this time?"

Sabine glanced around and laughed nervously, as our mutual friends were now gaping at her.

"I don't know what she's talking about," she said, shaking her head.