side. Maybe even get myself back into Billings. Damn my temper. Why did I have to go and crack
the thing in half without thinking ahead to--
And then, just like that, an intense wave of heat overcame me. Just like that, epiphany. I could
have made a copy of the disc. I hadn't, of course, but I could have. All I had to do was make Noelle
believe that I still had the information and the upper hand was mine. For the first time since she
had booted me from Billings, I felt an exhilarating thrill of possibility. For the first time I could taste
my comeback.
140
* * *
I knew I would have to put my Noelle plan into action ASAP, before I lost my nerve. The only
problem was, the girl never went anywhere alone. If I had any shot of getting her to listen to me,
she was going to have to be solo, because when other people were around she wouldn't be able
to give me an inch. That would be perceived as a weakness, and she couldn't have that.
So that night I called Sabine and asked her to keep an eye on Noelle for me. If the girl did happen
to leave Billings on her own for any reason, Sabine was to call me. Much to my surprise, Sabine
didn't even ask me why I needed this info. She probably just assumed I was going to try to beg my
way back into Billings. Right end game, wrong method.
The call came in the next morning. Early. My heart was in my throat as I fumbled to answer my
phone, unaccustomed to sudden blasts of music at such an ungodly hour.
141
"Hello?" I said, breathless, trying to shake the sleep from my head.
"Noelle and Amberly just left for Coffee Carma. They're meeting up with their party planner to
visualize decorations for the pre-Kiran thing before Coffee Carma gets crowded," Sabine
whispered to me. "I know she's not alone, but it's close. It might be your only chance."
"Thanks, Sabine," I said, tossing the covers aside.
"Good luck," she replied just before I turned off the phone.
I dressed quickly, throwing on a black turtleneck sweater and pulling my hair back into a ponytail.
In the bathroom I threw some cold water on my face and looked at my reflection. I looked tired
and pasty, but I was just going to have to make the best of it. I grabbed my Chloe bag and my
books and raced from the dorm.