CHAPTER 99 Mascara


    Cristos


    I was an outsider looking in.


    It was evident Noah was against Liam for whatever reason while Nicole, who was trying to remain loyal


    to Liam, was on the verge of destroying what little a rtionship she had with Noah. Dan, on the other


    hand, was sweating despite the cold from the air conditioning system. He was obviously worried he


    would be implicated in Joy’s rape knowing it would change my perception of him and I would look at


    him in a different light.


    Dan wiped the sweat off his face with his handkerchief, then crossed his arms in front of his chest,


    sitting quietly, afraid a rebuttal would fuel Noah even more. Nicole, on the other hand, yed with her


    table napkin absent-mindedly, but her face could not mask the hurt she felt. Even after ten years, Joy


    had a special ce in Noah’s heart.


    I nodded at Noah and patted him on the back. He blinked rapidly, as if I had awoken him from a stupor,


    realizing he had put his friends in a bind by blurting out a forbidden secret.


    For those who really knew Joy, what Noah spoke was the truth. This was the one reason why I always


    brought her shopping with me; she could never keep a straight face when the pieces of clothing I tried


    on didn’t do me justice.


    Before we all left for New Salem, she took acting lessons with Xavier to help her ease into her role as


    Virtue Sullivan. She learned how to le naturally without the telltale signs she was being dishonest. So


    far, she was doing beautifully. After weeks of mingling with people she grew up with, no one knew she


    was Joy Taylor.


    Noah, noticing the awkward position he had ced his friends in, raised his hands in the air, silently


    apologizing for his behavior.


    “It must have really hurt you when she left. Before I moved to New Salem, most of my friends tried to


    talk me out of it. It really hurt them to see me go,” I said, coaxing Noah to admit his feelings. He leaned


    back on his chair and shrugged his shoulders.


    “It did,” he admitted. “I lost the one person who didn’t care if I stuttered or had an ugly old cor.” He eyed


    Dan and Nicole separately as he enumerated both. “But she’s gone now and life moves on. I just


    hope… wherever she is… she’s happy.” He raised his beer ss and gestured to the waiter for more,


    but Nicole shook her head.


    1/5


    11:34 Fri, Mar 29


    CHAPTER 99 Mascara


    That’s enough, Noah,” she muttered. He scowled angrily at her.


    “Fine. If I can’t drink, I’ll just go to the restroom,” he mumbled, standing up from his seat before Nicole


    could say anything else. He left the private room rather quickly for someone who was drunk.


    After Noah had exited the room, I watched Dan and Nicole both heave huge sighs of relief.


    “Chip, Noah’s drunk. You have to excuse him,” Nicole said, looking sideways at Dan who I figured was


    trying to think of something to clean up this whole mess Noah created. “If you could just allow me to


    exin to clear this whole thing up. Joy’s assault… it happened during the Spring Formal and Joy’s


    date to the event that night was Liam. Anyway, the reason why joy mes Liam for what happened to


    her is because he left her standing alone on the dance floor. You see, Liam and I had just broken up a


    few months before the event, so when he arrived with her, I felt really jealous. While Joy was busy


    talking to Lisa and enjoying some punch, I pulled Liam away and took him outside to convince him to


    get back together with me. By the time Liam and I got back to the dance, she was gone. Our


    schoolmates said she excused herself to go to the restroom, but she didn’te back. We all thought


    maybe she went home or you know… did the nasty with someone else. We didn’t think much of it until


    the next day when we heard she was in the hospital, raped and badly beaten. None of us talked


    because we all didn’t see or hear anything. So you can imagine the shock we felt when we heard that


    Joy was using Liam, Cris, Jack and Dan of rape.” I turned to look at Dan, pretending to be shocked


    to even hear his name.


    “Dan, she used you too? Aren’t you-”


    “G ay? Yes, I am. I’ve always been g ay although I tried to hide my true self when I school, Dan said.


    “So you see, Chip, Joy was obviously lying. I can’t even begin to i myself humping a girl. It’s


    inconceivable… and totally gross.”


    It took all my energy not to stab him with my steak knife. He may not have used his pen but he used


    the end of a mop to rip loy up from the inside.


    I had to hand it to Nicole. It was a clever story. These people would go to great lengths to


    twist the truth and keep the past a secret.


    Dan took his ss of red wine, crossed his legs and tucked an imaginary strand of long hair behind his


    ear. “When Joy left town she was in such bad shape. For all we know, she eventually died from all her


    injuries.” Nicole pped him on the arm for saying that. “What? What did I say wrong? Nicole gave him


    a dirty look instead of answering the question.


    “I’m guessing you harbor a grudge from her using you of rape I said nonchntly. 2/5


    11:34 Fri, Mar 29 D


    CHAPTER 99 Mascara


    “No, I don’t, but I would rather think of her as non-existent, Dan said gruffly. “As for Noah, although he


    believes in certain things, he never did say anything to Sheriff Combs. Deep inside, he knows the


    usations aren’t true.”


    ‘I feel really ufortable talking about her this way. Let’s just keep it in the past where it should be,”


    Nicole said, drinking thest of her wine and ending the discussion. “I better go and check on Noah.


    She opened her purse and quickly did her make-up.


    “You do that and we’ll take care of the bill,” Dan said. “Chip and I will be leaving early in the morning.


    When do you fly back to Bismarck?”


    “Tomorrow around ten in the morning,” Nicole said, after applying lip gloss. She checked herself one


    last time with herpact before zipping up purse.


    her


    By the way, where are you guys staying?” I asked.


    At the Waldorf, Nicole answered, standing up. I’ll see you guys downstairs.” She grabbed


    er things and hurriedly left while Dan gestured to our server for the bill.


    CLipp, I know you’re close friends with Virtue, but I hope you won’t listen to Noah and try to antisme


    her decision. I heard what he said while we were shopping in Armani and contrary tos bent he said, I


    believe Liam and Virtue do make sense. They’ll make a good-lookingban said.


    “I cocot If Noah hasn’t said anything to Virtue and I doubt if Virtue hasn’t hea armond drown! Freplied,


    pointing out the inevitable. “But I do like the idea of m marrying the mayor. I feel it would be in her best


    interests to marry Liam and a who is clore and her it would be in my best interests as well. Danughed


    and rai


    nd.


    1


    L es drink za sitni Dan said. I raised my ss and clinked mine against his. We both finished the rest


    bbbott wine, seemingly forgetting what was discussed earlier. He ppe hands excitedry. If Vinee says


    yes tomorrow, I have a feeling you, Virtue and I will be


    traveling to Chicagoitira W ang!


    “That can be easily an


    The server came in with the ck Dan, I took it and handed my y


    ors


    assured him. “I just hope we have enough time to prepare.”


    she presenter in his hands, but before he could give it to


    Dinner it on me.”


    “Why, thank you, Chip, Dan said gratefulty Ye I do hope we have more time to prepare, but knowing


    Liam, he i vant tith conne quick! Anyway, he does have the money to make it


    375


    Fri, Mar


    CHAPTER 99 Mascara


    We quickly gathered our bags and left the private room, happily talking about bridal gowns as if we


    were the ones getting married. I wanted a more conservative gown while Dan wanted a more trendier


    look. We were loudly debating among ourselves as we exited RPM Steak when we found Nicole crying


    outside, her bags sc at tered on the sidewalk.


    Dan handed his bags over for me to carry, rushed towards Nicole, and quickly embraced her, as she


    continously sobbed. If I didn’t know her, I would’ve felt sorry for her.


    After I had gathered all her things from the sidewalk, I pushed back the pleasure I was feeling from


    seeing her so distraught and rubbed her back tofort her. She raised her face from Dan’s chest, her


    mascara and eyeshadow smeared all over her face.


    “He left me,” Nicole sobbed. “Noah left me. He said he’s going straight to the airport to fly back to New


    Salem tonight.


    “What?” I asked. “Did he say why?” She nodded her head. I waited for her to borate, but she didn’t


    say anything. And? Why is he flying back so soon and without you?” I asked, urging her to tell us.


    “He said something’s happened that needs his immediate attention,” she said. “Since I didn’t want to fly


    back until tomorrow, he said I could stay, but he needed to get back.”


    “And here I thought he broke up with you, Dan said, grabbing her by the arms and shaking her gently.


    “He probably just has an emergency, Nicole… his mother is sickly. Dry your tears. You’re probably


    crying for nothing.


    “I thought the same thing,” I said, chuckling. “You are overreacting, Nicole. Now, let’s get you back to


    your hotel.


    Dan ced his arm around Nicole and led her to the taxi stand while I quickly group messaged the


    others to tell them Noah was flying back to stop Joy from epting Liam’s proposal.


    So much drama… and it wasn’t even midnight yet.


    4/5This is from N?velDrama.Org.