The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 99 Mascara Cristos | 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 relationship 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 | 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, played with her table napkin absent- mindedly, but her face could not mask the hurt she felt. Even after ten years, Joy had a special place in Noah's heart.

| nodded at Noah and patted him on the back. He blinked rapidly, as if | 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 | always brought her shopping with me; she could never keep a straight face when the pieces of clothing I tried on didn’t dojustice.

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 placed his friends in, raised his hands in the air, silently apologizing for his behavior.

“It must have really hurt you when she left. Before | moved to New Salem, most of my friends tried to talkout of it. It really hurt them to seego,” | 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 | 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. | just hope... wherever she is... she’s happy.” He raised his beer glass 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 | 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, | 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 | figured was trying to think of something to clean up this whole mess Noah created. “If you could just allowto explain 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 blames Liam for what happened to her is because he left her standing alone on the dance floor. You see, Liam and | had just broken up a few months before the event, so when he arrived with her, | felt really jealous. While Joy was busy talking to Lisa and enjoying spunch, | pulled Liam away and took him outside to convince him to get back together with me. By the tLiam and | got back to the dance, she was gone. Our schoolmates said she excused herself to go to the restroom, but she didn’t cback. We all thought maybe she went hor 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 accusing Liam, Cris, Jack and Dan of rape.” | turned to look at Dan, pretending to be shocked to even hear his name.

“Dan, she accused you too? Aren't you-" “G ay? Yes, | am. I've always been g ay although | tried to hide my true self when | school, Dan said. “So you see, Chip, Joy was obviously lying. | 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.

| 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 glass 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 slapped him on the arm for saying that. “What? What did | say wrong? Nicole gave him a dirty look instead of answering the question.

“I'm guessing you harbor a grudge from her accusing you of rape | said nonchalantly. 2/5 11:34 Fri, Mar 29 D CHAPTER 99 Mascara “No, | don’t, but | 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 accusations aren't true.” ‘| feel really uncomfortable talking about her this way. Let's just keep it in the past where it should be,” Nicole said, drinking the last 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 | 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 twith her compact before zipping up purse.

her By the way, where are you guys staying?” | 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, | know you're close friends with Virtue, but | hope you won't listen to Noah and try to antiher decision. | heard what he said while we were shopping in Armani and contrary tos bent he said, | believe Liam and Virtue do make sense. They'll make a good-looking complaban said.

“I cocot If Noah hasn't said anything to Virtue and | doubt if Virtue hasn't hea armond drown! Freplied, pointing out the inevitable. “But | do like the idea of m marrying the mayor. | 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. Dan laughed and rai gland.

1 L es drink za sitni Dan said. | raised my glass and clinked mine against his. We both finished the rest bbbott wine, seemingly forgetting what was discussed earlier. He clappe hands excitedry. If Vinee says yes tomorrow, | have a feeling you, Virtue and | will be traveling to Chicago comitira W ang! “That can be easily an The server cin with the black Dan, | took it and handed my y ors assured him. “I just hope we have enough tto 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 | do hope we have more tto prepare, but knowing Liam, he i vant tith conne quick! Anyway, he does have the money to make it B75] 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. | 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 forto carry, rushed towards Nicole, and quickly embraced her, as she continously sobbed. If | didn’t know her, | would've felt sorry for her.

After | had gathered all her things from the sidewalk, | pushed back the pleasure | was feeling from seeing her so distraught and rubbed her back to comfort 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?” | asked. “Did he say why?” She nodded her head. | waited for her to elaborate, but she didn’t say anything. And? Why is he flying back so soon and without you?” | 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 | could stay, but he needed to get back.” “And here | 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 sthing,” | said, chuckling. “You are overreacting, Nicole. Now, let's get you back to your hotel.

Dan placed 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 accepting Liam's proposal.

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

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