Page 120 of Revelation (Private 8)
This should be interesting.I cleared my throat and began.
"As many of you... well, all of you, know, this has been a rather insane and traumatic semester for
me. For a lot of us," I said. "There has been a lot of grief, a lot of upheaval, a lot of rumors--some
very true, some very false," I said, the words of my preplanned speech coming back to me in a
rush. "But I'm not here to defend myself or clear my name. I think that will come in its own time.
I'm here to say that I would never have gotten through any of it without the friendship of Noelle
Lange."
Noelle shifted in her seat ever so slightly. I was getting through to her. I had to be.
"Noelle is a true friend. She is someone who always has your back. Someone who will do anything
for you if you need her. Someone who is creative and good and kind."
At this point I looked Noelle right in the eye. My palms were sweating so badly I was afraid I was
going to drop my champagne flute, but I pressed on.
"And I'm sorry if I forgot all that for five stupid minutes. I'm sorry to have thrown away something
so precious to me, over something so superficial. A friendship that could have lasted my whole life,
over something so fleeting."
From the corner of my eye, I could see that everyone at the Billings
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table was either gaping at me or at Noelle. But the two of us simply stared at each other.
"So here's to Noelle Lange," I said, raising my glass. "A true asset to Billings, a true asset to Easton,
and the true friend I hope will forgive me someday."
There was a prolonged moment of silence. I think everyone was so stunned they forgot where
they were.
"To Noelle Lange!" Headmaster Cromwell announced finally, raising his glass. Not so much to save
me, I'm sure, but to save his ceremony.
"Noelle Lange!" the room echoed.
We all sipped our drinks and I stood there, waiting for a reaction from Noelle. Waiting for any kind
of sign. She simply sipped her sparkling cider and looked at me as if she was seeing me for the first
time. Then she finally turned back to her table, turning her shoulder to me. That was it. No smile.
No nod. Nothing.
I dropped into my chair, exhausted, and placed my glass back down on the table. I felt numb all
