A variable im trying to pull from another script is reseting when it shouldn't?

I have two scripts. The buttons script is trying to pull numberOfProjects variable, from the projectList script, every time the game object its attached to is cloned. Thus making a list of objects i can later turn into buttons. The problem i have having is that numberOfProjects keeps displaying 0 no matter what. And what makes it weird is that when i have it print the number its prints it at one first and then zero immediately afterwards. So here are my two scripts

projectList

 // Project List
 
 #pragma strict
 
 // Inspector Variables
 var numberOfProjects         : int         = 1;                        // Number of projects you have
 var projectSelecterXPos      : float;                                // X postions for all project selecter buttons
 var projectSelecterYStartPos : float;                                // the starting y position that the NewProject function is based on
 var projectSelecterGap         : float;                                // the gap between your project selecter buttons
 var projectNameList          : String      = "Project Name List ";    // name of the box that hold your projects
 var projectSelecterButton      : Transform;                                // needed to make copys of text box
 
 // Private Variables
 private var projectManagerArray            = Array(numberOfProjects); // may be needed later. not used yet
 private var numberOfProjectsHolder        : int         = 0;           // needed to hold a number for NewProject function    
 function Start () 
 {
     transform.position = Vector3(projectSelecterXPos,projectSelecterYStartPos,10);    
 }
 
 function Update () 
 {
     NewProject();
 }
 
 function NewProject()
 {
     if(numberOfProjects>numberOfProjectsHolder)
     { 
         var projectSelecterYPos     = Array(numberOfProjects);
         var x = projectSelecterYPos.length;
         Instantiate(projectSelecterButton,Vector3(projectSelecterXPos,projectSelecterYStartPos - x * projectSelecterGap, 10), Quaternion.identity);
         numberOfProjectsHolder++;
     }
 }

Buttons

 // Project Buttons
 
 #pragma strict
 
 var projectNumber : int;
 private var projectListScript : ProjectList;
      
 function Start ()
 {
 projectListScript = GetComponent(ProjectList);
 projectNumber = projectListScript.numberOfProjects;
      
 }
 
 function Update () 
 {
 print(projectNumber);
 }

This is what the console displays in this order.

1 UnityEngine.MonoBehaviour:print(Object) Project buttons:Update() (at Assets/Project buttons.js:17)

NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object Project buttons.Start () (at Assets/Project buttons.js:11)

0 UnityEngine.MonoBehaviour:print(Object) Project buttons:Update() (at Assets/Project buttons.js:17)