Notice: I don't own any of the characters except for the newbies. They all belong to FFC. I Also don't own the songs.
*~*~*
Shelby sat on her bed as Scott packed his suitcase. They were both eightteen going on nineteen. Shelby was trying not to cry as Scott packed his clothes. Shelby looked at their wedding picture they had been married for almost a year now.
**We were somethin', you and me
Yeah we had'em rollin' in the aisles
We got it right once, didn't we
We had our shot and missed it by a mile
Forget the bitter end
Can you remember when**
Flashback:
Everybody was at their wedding. Auggie was Scott's best man. David, and Ezra were the grooms men and were standing beside Scott. Daisy was Shelby's maid of honor. Juliet, and Jess were both bridesmaids. Sophie was known as the brides mother since Shelby's real mom didn't want to have nothing to do with her. The music for the bride to walk down the aisle come on. Shelby walked out with Peter at her side to give her away. They walked down the asile when they came to the end Peter gave her to Scott. The Preacher started talking but Shelby and Scott were to busy starring at each other to notice.
Preacher: Do you Scott Berringer take the Shelby Merrick to be your wedded wife for better or for worse, in sickness and in health till death do you part.
Scott: I do.
Preacher: Do you Shelby Merrick take the Scott Berringer to be your wedded husband for better or for worse, in sickness and in health till death do you part.
Shelby: I do.
Peacher: The rings please.
**We sang, we laughed
They all watched us dance
They circled around us
And toasted to forever
We played to win
We never gave in
And we threw it all away
Like your rose bouquet**
The ring barrior came and Shelby and Scott each took a ring. Scott began to put the ring on Shelby's finger.
Peacher: With this ring I be wed.
Scott: With this ring I be wed.
Shelby placed the ring on Scott's finger.
Peacher: With this ring I be wed.
Shelby: With this ring I be wed.
They didn't hear the Preacher no more they were to busy starring at each other.
Preacher: You may kiss your bride.
Scott slowly leaned in as he had Shelby shared the most passionate kiss they had ever felt in there entire lives.
Flashback End
**Passion flows like a long white gown
But it ain't easy to keep your love alive
We hoped each other would come around
We'll use the lessons for better luck next time
But how sweet it was back then
Do you remember when**
Scott looked over at Shelby who was sitting on the bed crying. He turned his head so he wouldn't start to cry. He loved her so much and now it was over. He couldn't belive this was happening. But it was, it was over. From now and forever. " Why did I have to hurt her" Scott thought. Scott finished packing his suitcase.
We sang, we laughed
They all watched us dance
They circled around us
And toasted to forever
We played to win
We never gave in
And we threw it all away
Like your rose bouquet
He slowly headed toward the bedroom door. He opened it and started to walk out. He turned around quickly and looked at Shelby one more time. She was crying he could see the hurt in her eyes and it killed him. It killed him because he had hurt the most important person in his life. He turned around and started to walk away with one word on his mind. The word that was happening to him and Shelby..
**We sang, we laughed
They all watched us dance
They circled around us
And toasted to forever
We played to win
We never gave in
And we threw it all away
Like your rose bouquet**
Divorce.
*~*~*
The phone rang in twenty-six Scott Barringer's apartment. He ran from the kitchen and grabbed the phone on its fourth ring.
Scott: Hello?
Voice: Hey kiddo, have you missed me?
Scott: ( confuse) Peter, what do you mean do I miss you we talk to each other almost every day.
Peter: I know but do you miss looking at my handsome face?
Scott: ( joking) Handsome?
Peter: Scott, answer the question?
Scott: Yeah I miss seeing you. Why?
Peter: Well me and Soph. are having a eight year reunion for the cliffhangers in two days.
Scott: Really. But why not wait for two more years and have a ten year reunion?
Peter: Honestly, I see everyone at least every three weeks or talk to them and you all see each other now and then. But I haven't talked to Shelby in almost six years and all the cliffhangers haven't either.
Scott: ( confused) Wait. She hasn't talked to Daisy?
Peter: Nope. Daisy hasn't heard from her since you two got a divorce. Have you heard from her?
Scott: ( getting worried) Same as, Daze not since the divorce.
Peter: Well Soph. talked to her and she said could come for two weeks so me and Soph. want all the cliffhangers there for the next two weeks just like a reunion. Will you please come?
Scott: Yeah.
Peter: ( happy) Thanks, Scott. See you in two days.
*~*~*
All the cliffhangers were outside it was ten the morning. Everybody had showed up for the reunion except for Shelby.
Juliet: You don't think she would bale on us, do you?
Peter: No Jules, she wouldn't do that.
Daisy: Hey, who's that?
Daisy asked as a gold dodge durango pulled into the drive. Everybody walked up near the passenger door. Shelby got out of the car on the drivers side.
Shelby: Peter, Sophie!!
Shelby ran up to Peter and Sophie and hugged them. She hadn't changed at all. Her bangs were longer but that was it. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a suit shirt. Just as she finished hugging Peter the back door to the durango opened and a little blond headed boy about six jumped out and started running around.
Boy: I'm power ranger.
Everybody turned around and looked. After the boy came out a little girl around three slowly climbed out. She was dressed in a pink ballet outfit with a tutu and started following the little boy laughing. The group eyes opened wider when two boys and a girl came out the durango they all around nine or ten and were fussing.
1st boy: No, I'm the better football player.
2nd boy: No I am.
Girl: No you guys. I'm better then both of you. I'm not afraid of being tackeled and I can actually catch a ball.
2nd boy: No your not. You're a girl all you can do is dance.
Shelby: Hey.
2nd: Oh sorry, mom, no offense.
Shelby: None taken. But I told you three to stop fighting. Now all three of you stop or you are all grounded for two weeks.
1st boy: But...
Shelby: ( cutting him off) First I don't like the word but, and second when I say grounded I mean no soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, skating, dancing, and no * football*. Understood.
All three: Yes mame.
Shelby: Good.
Shelby turned around to face everybody.
Shelby: Guys I'd like you to meet my kids. ( pointing to boy 1) This is Tommy, ( pointing to the oldest girl) Alex, ( pointing to the other older boy) Lucas, ( pointing to the little girl) that is Abagail Jane
Tommy: I like A.J. better.
Shelby: Her name is Abagail, Tommy. ( pointing to the boy) And that is Hayden.
Hayden: No, I'm the white ranger. ( doing a kick in the air)
Everybody laughed when they heard a baby crying. Shelby turned around and leaned into the car and came back out with a baby who didn't look no older then a three monthes.
Shelby: And this is Joey.
Alex: I like P. Joe better.
Shelby: Do not call him that it sounds like a red neck's name.
Alex: Well it's the first letter in his first name and the first three letters in his middle name.
Juliet: What's his real name.
Alex: Peter Joesph.
Peter: ( honored) Shelb, you named your kid after me?
Shelby: Well I couldn't figure out no other name.
Peter: Well I'm honored.
Shelby just rolled her eyes.
Daisy: Can I hold him?
Shelby: Yeah of course, Daze.
Shelby handed the baby to Daisy.
Shelby: We need to unpack anyway.
Ezra: Here we'll help you.
Ezra, Auggie, David, and Scott walked up. Shelby looked at Scott and could tell that he was confused about her kids but she didn't care.
Shelby: Thanks. You three come on, it's your stuff too.
Alex, Lucas, and Tommy walked up to the car with Scott, David, Ezra, and Auggie. Shelby opened the car and started pulling bags saying what was inside of them.
Shelby: ( pulling out a bag) Here guys, this is your gloves, balls, bats, and helments for baseball.
Shelby handed the bag to Alex.
Shelby: ( pulling out another bag) Lets see what we have here. Soccor ball, football, and basketball.
She handed the back to Tommy.
Shelby: ( pulling out another bag) Street hockey including all of our roller blades.
She gave the bag to Lucas. Shelby handed the rest of the bags to the guys and the guys brought them into the dorms.
*~*~*
Shelby sat outside with all the cliffangers. She hadn't said no more then ten words to Scott. Juliet was holding Joey, Abagail and Hayden were drinking some juice sitting beside Shelby.
Juliet: So how old are all of your kids?
Shelby: Alex, Lucas and Tommy are all ten. Hayden is six, Abagail is two and the Joey is two monthes.
Juliet: ( confused) But if Alex, Lucas and Tommy are ten then how could they be yours?
Shelby: They're not mine.
Scott: But....
Shelby: Right after we got a divorce I got a call from a lawyer. He said that Patty had had triplets when I was sixteen but she had given them to her parents, unfortunatly her parents had died and in the will I was their next legal guardian.
Ezra: So did you ever know that Patty had kids?
Shelby: No. See the first time my mom had found me on the streets when I was sixteen she didn't send me here it was the second time she did. Well before she found me I noticed Patty was getting really big but I didn't think nothing about it. After my mom found me I didn't get to runaway for about three monthes. When I did and I saw Patty again she had gone back to her normal weight. I just thought that she was taken to many drugs. A week after I came back Patty od'd and a week later my mom found me. I never knew that she had had triplets.
David: Oh.
Scott: So who is the other three's father.
Before Shelby could answer Alex ran up to the table.
Alex: Mom, it's ten thirty.
Shelby: ( confused) Okay. And why are you telling my this?
Alex: It's family time. We do it everyday till twelve, (sarcasticly) hello.
Shelby: That's right. Do you guys mind.
All the cliffhangers shook their heads.
Shelby: What game are we gonna play?
Alex: The guys and me wanna play football.
Shelby: Okay I'll go change. ( looking at Abagail) You wanna play football?
Abagail: Yeah.
Shelby: Okay lets go change. Watch your brother, Alex.
Alex shook her head yes and Shelby picked up Abagail and headed toward the cabin with their stuff in it. Alex sat down at the table and to let Hayden finish drinking his juice.
David: So Alex, where do you and your family live.
Alex: We live in New York in a pent house.
Juliet: That's cool. So what's Shelby's husband like.
Alex: ( confused) What do you mean? Mom isn't married.
Auggie: But she has you guys.
Alex: Well me, Luke and Tommy are not really hers. But we say she is our mom.
Daisy: What about the three little ones daddy?
Alex: They all three have diffrent daddy's. Actually none of them know about the kids.
Scott: Why not?
Alex: Well the first one....
Before she could finish Shelby came up with Abagail.
Shelby: You two ready.
Shelby was wearing a pair of daisy duke shorts, and a blue t-shirt. Abagail was wearing a little cheerleader outfit. Scott couldn't help but stare at Shelby.
Juliet: ( squeling) Ohhh. She's so cute.
Shelby: Thanks. She's my little cheerleader. Do you guys mind watching Joey.
Juliet: Of course not. How about we be the audience.
Shelby: Okay.
Everybody got up and walked over to where the old football field use to be. Alex, Lucas, and Tommy were on one team. While Shelby and Hayden were on the other. The game went by fast it was the last play. Alex, Luke and Tommy had the ball the game was tied. Alex threw a wide pass to Lucas. But all of sudden Hayden intecepted it and ran to the touchdown. Everybody jaws dropped when he caught the ball even Shelby's. Hayden made the touchdown and ran up to Shelby who picked him up.
Hayden: ( yelling) We won. We won.
Shelby: We sure did. Where did you learn play like that.
Hayden: I don't know.
Shelby: Well I'm very proud of you.
*~*~*
Lucas sat with the rest of the cliffhangers while Shelby put the little kids to bed. Alex and Tommy had already gone to bed they were very tired.
Juliet: So did Hayden learn how to play football from you.
Lucas: No. He might have gotton his football ability from his dad though I heard he was a good football player.
Auggie: Do who his dad is?
Lucas: Well you do know Hayden, Abagail and Joey are only half-brothers and sister, right.
Daisy: Yeah we know.
Lucas: Well I know who's Abagails father and mom didn't even know who Joey father was so neither do I. With Hayden I don't know his name but I know mom named Hayden after him so his father's name was either Hayden or Hayden's middle name....
Before Lucas could answer Shelby called him to go to bed. Lucas got up and headed for the door. When he got to the door turned around.
Lucas: Oh and Hayden's middle is Scott.
With that Lucas turned around and headed out. Everybody eyes widened and they all looked at Scott.
David: Scott, do you think...
Ezra: ( finishing David's sentence) could it be yours?
Scott: I don't know.
*~*~*
Shelby walked into the lodge. Peter and Sophie were behind her. All the cliffhangers were sitting in lodge and seemed to be in deep thought.
Peter: So what should we do?
Scott: I think we should have group.
Ezra: Me too.
Peter: Okay.
They all gathered in a circle and sat down and waited.
Peter: Okay well lets start easy. What have you been doing the last eight years.
Scott: Well I play professional football.
Daisy: I'm vice president for a internet company and I sing here and there a little and I'm married to Ezra.
Ezra: I'm a writer for a newspaper and I'm working on my first book.
David: I'm a sports agent for baseball players and I'm married to a wife and have two kids who are not here.
Juliet: Well I'm a photographer and Auggie's an artist were married and we travel around so I can take pictures but we don't have children.
Shelby: Should of known you'd go into photographing.
Juliet: Well why don't you tell us what you've been up to.
Scott: Yeah and maybe you could also tell me if Hayden's my son or not.
Shelby looked down at the floor.
Shelby: Yes. Yes he's your son.
Scott: ( getting angry) Why didn't you tell me?
Shelby: ( in a much calmer voice then Scotts) Because I wasn't gonna hurt my son.
Scott: You thought I'd hurt him.
Shelby: I didn't know. All I knew was that I came home from the doctors, I had just found out that I was four monthes pregnet and I found a note written by you saying that you had left. Then the next morning I called your cell phone and I finally got through and a women answered and said that you had gone to get breakfast for them. And finally two weeks later you came home. How was I supposed to know that if I told you about Hayden that one day you wouldn't just leave him too. I wasn't gonna put my son through that. So don't go blaming all this on me. You're the one who didn't stay faithful.
Scott: I was under a lot of stress. My dad and Elaine were getting married again, he said he wouldn't pay for my collage no more and the couch was thinking about taking me off the team saying I wasn't playing well enough. And that was a one night thing. Plus look whose talking you have three kids by totally diffrent fathers and they don't even know about them. So why don't you explain it.
Peter: Okay calm down both of you. Shelby, why don't you start from when Scott and you got a divorced.
Shelby: Fine. I was about seven monthes pregnet when Alex, Lucas and Tommy moved in with me. So I moved out and we moved to Chicago. We moved into a four bedroom house and I got a job as a dance director until I had Hayden and then I was going to become one of the dancers at this company I was working for. Well when Hayden was around three I met Trent. Well I waited a * year* until I had sex with him. Which got me pregnet.
Ezra: What happened to him?
Shelby: Well he wanted to move in with me. But I told him because the kids. He wanted to get married and I told him I wanted to wait for a little longer. One evening Trent was baby-sitting Hayden. And I came in from picking Alex, Lucas and Tommy from football practice. Alex had ripped her shirt at practice and it showed her stomach. When we got home I saw Trent looking at her and he had the same look in his eyes that Walt used to have when he would look at me. I wouldn't gonna chance it, I had to protect Alex so the next night I broke up Trent. A week later I found out I was a month pregnet with Abagail. I moved to New York where Jess was going to collage. I got a job as a dancer and made enough money that we moved into a eight bed-room pent house. Right after I had Abagail I had saved enough money to open up my own dance company. It's pretty famous now it's called USBC or United States Ballet Company. I dance and dancers go there to become professional dancers.
Daisy: But what about Joey?
Shelby: About a year ago Hayden had gotton sick at school so I had to go get him. By the time we were home he was asleep. So I took him to his bedroom and laid him down. I had told my securtary I wasn't coming back to work because I wanted to watch over Hayden. I went into my bedroom and the window was open. When me and Hayden came home someone was robbing our home and he was in my room. He... he raped me. I couldn't scream because I didn't want Hayden to get hurt or see it happening so I just closed eyes and prayed that someone would catch us. No one did. I pressed charges but the next month I found out I was pregnet so I canceled the charges because I didn't want Joey to think he was an accident or mistake. And that's my story. The whole story.
Juliet: So you gave up the one man you could of been able to love besides Scott and you let him go because of a look in his eyes he had when he looked at Alex, even though you weren't sure and she isn't even your kid.
Shelby: She is my child. And I wasn't gonna give a chance for something to happen to her like what happened to me.
Scott: I can't belive you.
Everybody turned and starred at where Scott was standing up.
Scott: I understand that you gave up everything for your kids. But why did you have to give me? Why did you have to give up us?
Shelby: I didn't give us up, you did when you left and had an affair.
Scott: What are you gonna say when Hayden ask who his daddy is?
Shelby: He's already asked that.
Scott: ( practicly screaming) And what did you tell him? That I was a bad man that walked out. What? What did you tell my son.
Shelby: First of all he's my son. Second I'd never say that to him.
Scott: ( in a calmer voice) Well what did you say?
Shelby: I told him that me and his daddy once loved each other. But * we* made some mistakes and * we* fell out of love. And I told him that sometimes love doesn't last forever and mine and yours didn't. I said that sometimes when two people fall out of love they put their kids in the middle of it. And me and his daddy decided we weren't going to do that to him. And I told him that you didn't want to hurt him and we knew that if one of us didn't leave then we would put him in the middle. I told him that you ( starting to cry) you did the hardest thing in your life by walking away. But you knew it was for the best because if you wouldn't of we would of hurt him. I said that you loved him so much that you didn't want to hurt, and you knew I couldn't live without him, so you gave him up. I told him that one day he would meet you and he would love you just as much as you love him because one day he would understand what it took for you to leave him. And that he should think as a hero because you did what you did, so he could the happiest kid on the world. And almost everyday he ask me if I think that you're thinking about him. And everytime I have to lie to him and say probly this very second. So don't go telling me that I'm a horrible person for not letting you in your son's life because right now he thinks of his daddy as a hero.
Everybody was quiet. When all of a sudden they heard the baby cry.
Shelby: I better go get him.
Shelby walked out of the room.
Daisy: ( looking at Scott, coldly) You cheated on her and left her.
Scott: I was having a hard time, okay.
Daisy: No, it's not okay. She's been through hell and back and it's all because of you. None of what has happened to her would of happened if you would of know how to keep your pants zipped.
Scott: Don't give me that, Daisy. It was a one time thing. Nothing more. My gosh, I haven't even been in a serious relationship since Shelby.
Daisy: Just answer me one funking question. How could you do that to her?
Scott: I was having a very bad time. My dad was getting back with Elaine, my mother was about to marry an asshole, my coach was going to kick me off the team, and my dad had decided not to pay for my collage no more.
Daisy: Who gives a shit. Is it Shelby's fault, no. She's not you dad, or Elaine. She is not you mother and she is not your coach. So why in the hell did you make her pay for it?
Scott: I didn't....
Daisy: ( cutting him off) No, you know what I don't want to hear it.
Peter: Both of you stop this.
Before Peter could say anything else Shelby came in.
Shelby: ( confused) Hey, what was all the yelling about?
Juliet: Nothing.
Shelby: Oh, okay. Well I'm really beat so I'm going to go to bed.
Everybody agreed that they should go to bed. Shelby started to walk out but Scott stoped her and asked her to please meet him at the docks. She agreed and went to where the girls were all sleeping.
*~*~*
**That house on the hill is long gone
Now she's living in a trailer with an Astroturf lawn
Got three little kids and no one to help
Trying to be Momma and Daddy all by herself
It's hard to hold down the fort when you're holdin' down a job
She'd rob Peter to pay Paul but he's already been robbed
She gets the food on the table and the clothes off the lines
She'd break down and cry but she doesn't have time**
Scott walked up to the docks where he saw Shelby standing looking at the water. He walked up to her.
Scott: Hey
Shelby: Hi
Scott: We need to talk, Shel.
Shelby: I know. Listen Scott, even though Hayden is your son I don't expect to pay child support or even be a part of his life. I don't expect that.
Scott: Shel, slow down. I didn't mean about that. But I do want to be a part of Hayden's life. But Shel, what I do want to talk about is what happened six years ago. About why I left and had an affair...
Shelby: ( cutting him off) I know why. I heard Daisy telling you off in the lodge when I went to see about Joey.
Scott: Shel, I'm really sorry for everything that has happened to you.
**She got to be strong, life goes on
Though it's nothin' like she had planned
She's gonna be o.k. gonna find a way
Living in no man's land**
Shelby: Don't be. Because I have six wonderful, and beautiful children. I have a great bussiness, and I'm doing my dream of being a dancer. So don't be sorry, Scott. I'm not.
Scott: Yeah but Shelby, you were raped and you had a kid by a man that would of been there but you wouldn't let because of a look he got in his eyes. You've had it really rough and it wouldn't of happened if I wouldn't of left.
Shelby: That's right, Scott, it wouldn't of. But I also wouldn't have Abagail and Joey. I wouldn't be able to watch Abagail and play with Hayden. And I wouldn't be able to hold Joey. And I wouldn't want to miss that for all the pain in the world.
Scott: You've really changed, Shel.
Scott didn't know what it was but the next thing he knew he was leaning in and kissing Shelby. He was pressing her body against his. She kissed back to his amazement. After ten minutes of kissing Scott started to push Shelby down on the ground but she backed away. He looked at her confused.
**Every now and then late at night
She thinks of how it would feel to hold someone tight
And there's a guy down at work he keeps callin' her up
But she ain't ready for none of that stuff
She's still sifting through the ashes of a love that's been and gone
Looking for a clue, trying to find out what went wrong
It ain't always easy, but she knows she's gotta try
Every time she looks into her babies' eyes**
Shelby: No, Scott, I can't do this.
Scott: Why not? What about us, Shelby?
Shelby: I've to much to risk to get back involved with. I've got kids and I'm not taking a chance of losing them. Good-bye Scott.
Before Scott could say anything else Shelby turned and ranaway. Scott got upset and hit a rake which hit the shed and made a loud noise. Scott sat down on the bench with his head in his hands. A few minutes later he felt someone sit beside him. He looked up to see Auggie.
**She got to be strong, life goes on
Though it's nothin' like she had planned
She's gonna be o.k. gonna find a way
Living in no man's land**
Auggie: Came to see what the noise was? So what happened?
Scott told everything that had just happened with Shelby at the docks.
Auggie: Don't you see it, Meat?
Scott: What? What don't I see?
Auggie: Yo Meat, Shelby living in a no mans land.
**She got to be strong, life goes on
Though it's nothin' like she had planned
She's gonna be o.k. gonna find a way
Living in no man's land**
*~*~*
Hope you liked it so far. But I will need 18 to 20 reviews before I can post chapter 2.
Well until the next story. Also you guys I totally need your help with my story To Begin Again. I can't figure out where to go with it now. So if you have any ideas PLEASE email them at lovewriter_13@hotmail.com
Bye
Sam
*~*~*
Shelby sat on her bed as Scott packed his suitcase. They were both eightteen going on nineteen. Shelby was trying not to cry as Scott packed his clothes. Shelby looked at their wedding picture they had been married for almost a year now.
**We were somethin', you and me
Yeah we had'em rollin' in the aisles
We got it right once, didn't we
We had our shot and missed it by a mile
Forget the bitter end
Can you remember when**
Flashback:
Everybody was at their wedding. Auggie was Scott's best man. David, and Ezra were the grooms men and were standing beside Scott. Daisy was Shelby's maid of honor. Juliet, and Jess were both bridesmaids. Sophie was known as the brides mother since Shelby's real mom didn't want to have nothing to do with her. The music for the bride to walk down the aisle come on. Shelby walked out with Peter at her side to give her away. They walked down the asile when they came to the end Peter gave her to Scott. The Preacher started talking but Shelby and Scott were to busy starring at each other to notice.
Preacher: Do you Scott Berringer take the Shelby Merrick to be your wedded wife for better or for worse, in sickness and in health till death do you part.
Scott: I do.
Preacher: Do you Shelby Merrick take the Scott Berringer to be your wedded husband for better or for worse, in sickness and in health till death do you part.
Shelby: I do.
Peacher: The rings please.
**We sang, we laughed
They all watched us dance
They circled around us
And toasted to forever
We played to win
We never gave in
And we threw it all away
Like your rose bouquet**
The ring barrior came and Shelby and Scott each took a ring. Scott began to put the ring on Shelby's finger.
Peacher: With this ring I be wed.
Scott: With this ring I be wed.
Shelby placed the ring on Scott's finger.
Peacher: With this ring I be wed.
Shelby: With this ring I be wed.
They didn't hear the Preacher no more they were to busy starring at each other.
Preacher: You may kiss your bride.
Scott slowly leaned in as he had Shelby shared the most passionate kiss they had ever felt in there entire lives.
Flashback End
**Passion flows like a long white gown
But it ain't easy to keep your love alive
We hoped each other would come around
We'll use the lessons for better luck next time
But how sweet it was back then
Do you remember when**
Scott looked over at Shelby who was sitting on the bed crying. He turned his head so he wouldn't start to cry. He loved her so much and now it was over. He couldn't belive this was happening. But it was, it was over. From now and forever. " Why did I have to hurt her" Scott thought. Scott finished packing his suitcase.
We sang, we laughed
They all watched us dance
They circled around us
And toasted to forever
We played to win
We never gave in
And we threw it all away
Like your rose bouquet
He slowly headed toward the bedroom door. He opened it and started to walk out. He turned around quickly and looked at Shelby one more time. She was crying he could see the hurt in her eyes and it killed him. It killed him because he had hurt the most important person in his life. He turned around and started to walk away with one word on his mind. The word that was happening to him and Shelby..
**We sang, we laughed
They all watched us dance
They circled around us
And toasted to forever
We played to win
We never gave in
And we threw it all away
Like your rose bouquet**
Divorce.
*~*~*
The phone rang in twenty-six Scott Barringer's apartment. He ran from the kitchen and grabbed the phone on its fourth ring.
Scott: Hello?
Voice: Hey kiddo, have you missed me?
Scott: ( confuse) Peter, what do you mean do I miss you we talk to each other almost every day.
Peter: I know but do you miss looking at my handsome face?
Scott: ( joking) Handsome?
Peter: Scott, answer the question?
Scott: Yeah I miss seeing you. Why?
Peter: Well me and Soph. are having a eight year reunion for the cliffhangers in two days.
Scott: Really. But why not wait for two more years and have a ten year reunion?
Peter: Honestly, I see everyone at least every three weeks or talk to them and you all see each other now and then. But I haven't talked to Shelby in almost six years and all the cliffhangers haven't either.
Scott: ( confused) Wait. She hasn't talked to Daisy?
Peter: Nope. Daisy hasn't heard from her since you two got a divorce. Have you heard from her?
Scott: ( getting worried) Same as, Daze not since the divorce.
Peter: Well Soph. talked to her and she said could come for two weeks so me and Soph. want all the cliffhangers there for the next two weeks just like a reunion. Will you please come?
Scott: Yeah.
Peter: ( happy) Thanks, Scott. See you in two days.
*~*~*
All the cliffhangers were outside it was ten the morning. Everybody had showed up for the reunion except for Shelby.
Juliet: You don't think she would bale on us, do you?
Peter: No Jules, she wouldn't do that.
Daisy: Hey, who's that?
Daisy asked as a gold dodge durango pulled into the drive. Everybody walked up near the passenger door. Shelby got out of the car on the drivers side.
Shelby: Peter, Sophie!!
Shelby ran up to Peter and Sophie and hugged them. She hadn't changed at all. Her bangs were longer but that was it. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a suit shirt. Just as she finished hugging Peter the back door to the durango opened and a little blond headed boy about six jumped out and started running around.
Boy: I'm power ranger.
Everybody turned around and looked. After the boy came out a little girl around three slowly climbed out. She was dressed in a pink ballet outfit with a tutu and started following the little boy laughing. The group eyes opened wider when two boys and a girl came out the durango they all around nine or ten and were fussing.
1st boy: No, I'm the better football player.
2nd boy: No I am.
Girl: No you guys. I'm better then both of you. I'm not afraid of being tackeled and I can actually catch a ball.
2nd boy: No your not. You're a girl all you can do is dance.
Shelby: Hey.
2nd: Oh sorry, mom, no offense.
Shelby: None taken. But I told you three to stop fighting. Now all three of you stop or you are all grounded for two weeks.
1st boy: But...
Shelby: ( cutting him off) First I don't like the word but, and second when I say grounded I mean no soccer, baseball, basketball, hockey, skating, dancing, and no * football*. Understood.
All three: Yes mame.
Shelby: Good.
Shelby turned around to face everybody.
Shelby: Guys I'd like you to meet my kids. ( pointing to boy 1) This is Tommy, ( pointing to the oldest girl) Alex, ( pointing to the other older boy) Lucas, ( pointing to the little girl) that is Abagail Jane
Tommy: I like A.J. better.
Shelby: Her name is Abagail, Tommy. ( pointing to the boy) And that is Hayden.
Hayden: No, I'm the white ranger. ( doing a kick in the air)
Everybody laughed when they heard a baby crying. Shelby turned around and leaned into the car and came back out with a baby who didn't look no older then a three monthes.
Shelby: And this is Joey.
Alex: I like P. Joe better.
Shelby: Do not call him that it sounds like a red neck's name.
Alex: Well it's the first letter in his first name and the first three letters in his middle name.
Juliet: What's his real name.
Alex: Peter Joesph.
Peter: ( honored) Shelb, you named your kid after me?
Shelby: Well I couldn't figure out no other name.
Peter: Well I'm honored.
Shelby just rolled her eyes.
Daisy: Can I hold him?
Shelby: Yeah of course, Daze.
Shelby handed the baby to Daisy.
Shelby: We need to unpack anyway.
Ezra: Here we'll help you.
Ezra, Auggie, David, and Scott walked up. Shelby looked at Scott and could tell that he was confused about her kids but she didn't care.
Shelby: Thanks. You three come on, it's your stuff too.
Alex, Lucas, and Tommy walked up to the car with Scott, David, Ezra, and Auggie. Shelby opened the car and started pulling bags saying what was inside of them.
Shelby: ( pulling out a bag) Here guys, this is your gloves, balls, bats, and helments for baseball.
Shelby handed the bag to Alex.
Shelby: ( pulling out another bag) Lets see what we have here. Soccor ball, football, and basketball.
She handed the back to Tommy.
Shelby: ( pulling out another bag) Street hockey including all of our roller blades.
She gave the bag to Lucas. Shelby handed the rest of the bags to the guys and the guys brought them into the dorms.
*~*~*
Shelby sat outside with all the cliffangers. She hadn't said no more then ten words to Scott. Juliet was holding Joey, Abagail and Hayden were drinking some juice sitting beside Shelby.
Juliet: So how old are all of your kids?
Shelby: Alex, Lucas and Tommy are all ten. Hayden is six, Abagail is two and the Joey is two monthes.
Juliet: ( confused) But if Alex, Lucas and Tommy are ten then how could they be yours?
Shelby: They're not mine.
Scott: But....
Shelby: Right after we got a divorce I got a call from a lawyer. He said that Patty had had triplets when I was sixteen but she had given them to her parents, unfortunatly her parents had died and in the will I was their next legal guardian.
Ezra: So did you ever know that Patty had kids?
Shelby: No. See the first time my mom had found me on the streets when I was sixteen she didn't send me here it was the second time she did. Well before she found me I noticed Patty was getting really big but I didn't think nothing about it. After my mom found me I didn't get to runaway for about three monthes. When I did and I saw Patty again she had gone back to her normal weight. I just thought that she was taken to many drugs. A week after I came back Patty od'd and a week later my mom found me. I never knew that she had had triplets.
David: Oh.
Scott: So who is the other three's father.
Before Shelby could answer Alex ran up to the table.
Alex: Mom, it's ten thirty.
Shelby: ( confused) Okay. And why are you telling my this?
Alex: It's family time. We do it everyday till twelve, (sarcasticly) hello.
Shelby: That's right. Do you guys mind.
All the cliffhangers shook their heads.
Shelby: What game are we gonna play?
Alex: The guys and me wanna play football.
Shelby: Okay I'll go change. ( looking at Abagail) You wanna play football?
Abagail: Yeah.
Shelby: Okay lets go change. Watch your brother, Alex.
Alex shook her head yes and Shelby picked up Abagail and headed toward the cabin with their stuff in it. Alex sat down at the table and to let Hayden finish drinking his juice.
David: So Alex, where do you and your family live.
Alex: We live in New York in a pent house.
Juliet: That's cool. So what's Shelby's husband like.
Alex: ( confused) What do you mean? Mom isn't married.
Auggie: But she has you guys.
Alex: Well me, Luke and Tommy are not really hers. But we say she is our mom.
Daisy: What about the three little ones daddy?
Alex: They all three have diffrent daddy's. Actually none of them know about the kids.
Scott: Why not?
Alex: Well the first one....
Before she could finish Shelby came up with Abagail.
Shelby: You two ready.
Shelby was wearing a pair of daisy duke shorts, and a blue t-shirt. Abagail was wearing a little cheerleader outfit. Scott couldn't help but stare at Shelby.
Juliet: ( squeling) Ohhh. She's so cute.
Shelby: Thanks. She's my little cheerleader. Do you guys mind watching Joey.
Juliet: Of course not. How about we be the audience.
Shelby: Okay.
Everybody got up and walked over to where the old football field use to be. Alex, Lucas, and Tommy were on one team. While Shelby and Hayden were on the other. The game went by fast it was the last play. Alex, Luke and Tommy had the ball the game was tied. Alex threw a wide pass to Lucas. But all of sudden Hayden intecepted it and ran to the touchdown. Everybody jaws dropped when he caught the ball even Shelby's. Hayden made the touchdown and ran up to Shelby who picked him up.
Hayden: ( yelling) We won. We won.
Shelby: We sure did. Where did you learn play like that.
Hayden: I don't know.
Shelby: Well I'm very proud of you.
*~*~*
Lucas sat with the rest of the cliffhangers while Shelby put the little kids to bed. Alex and Tommy had already gone to bed they were very tired.
Juliet: So did Hayden learn how to play football from you.
Lucas: No. He might have gotton his football ability from his dad though I heard he was a good football player.
Auggie: Do who his dad is?
Lucas: Well you do know Hayden, Abagail and Joey are only half-brothers and sister, right.
Daisy: Yeah we know.
Lucas: Well I know who's Abagails father and mom didn't even know who Joey father was so neither do I. With Hayden I don't know his name but I know mom named Hayden after him so his father's name was either Hayden or Hayden's middle name....
Before Lucas could answer Shelby called him to go to bed. Lucas got up and headed for the door. When he got to the door turned around.
Lucas: Oh and Hayden's middle is Scott.
With that Lucas turned around and headed out. Everybody eyes widened and they all looked at Scott.
David: Scott, do you think...
Ezra: ( finishing David's sentence) could it be yours?
Scott: I don't know.
*~*~*
Shelby walked into the lodge. Peter and Sophie were behind her. All the cliffhangers were sitting in lodge and seemed to be in deep thought.
Peter: So what should we do?
Scott: I think we should have group.
Ezra: Me too.
Peter: Okay.
They all gathered in a circle and sat down and waited.
Peter: Okay well lets start easy. What have you been doing the last eight years.
Scott: Well I play professional football.
Daisy: I'm vice president for a internet company and I sing here and there a little and I'm married to Ezra.
Ezra: I'm a writer for a newspaper and I'm working on my first book.
David: I'm a sports agent for baseball players and I'm married to a wife and have two kids who are not here.
Juliet: Well I'm a photographer and Auggie's an artist were married and we travel around so I can take pictures but we don't have children.
Shelby: Should of known you'd go into photographing.
Juliet: Well why don't you tell us what you've been up to.
Scott: Yeah and maybe you could also tell me if Hayden's my son or not.
Shelby looked down at the floor.
Shelby: Yes. Yes he's your son.
Scott: ( getting angry) Why didn't you tell me?
Shelby: ( in a much calmer voice then Scotts) Because I wasn't gonna hurt my son.
Scott: You thought I'd hurt him.
Shelby: I didn't know. All I knew was that I came home from the doctors, I had just found out that I was four monthes pregnet and I found a note written by you saying that you had left. Then the next morning I called your cell phone and I finally got through and a women answered and said that you had gone to get breakfast for them. And finally two weeks later you came home. How was I supposed to know that if I told you about Hayden that one day you wouldn't just leave him too. I wasn't gonna put my son through that. So don't go blaming all this on me. You're the one who didn't stay faithful.
Scott: I was under a lot of stress. My dad and Elaine were getting married again, he said he wouldn't pay for my collage no more and the couch was thinking about taking me off the team saying I wasn't playing well enough. And that was a one night thing. Plus look whose talking you have three kids by totally diffrent fathers and they don't even know about them. So why don't you explain it.
Peter: Okay calm down both of you. Shelby, why don't you start from when Scott and you got a divorced.
Shelby: Fine. I was about seven monthes pregnet when Alex, Lucas and Tommy moved in with me. So I moved out and we moved to Chicago. We moved into a four bedroom house and I got a job as a dance director until I had Hayden and then I was going to become one of the dancers at this company I was working for. Well when Hayden was around three I met Trent. Well I waited a * year* until I had sex with him. Which got me pregnet.
Ezra: What happened to him?
Shelby: Well he wanted to move in with me. But I told him because the kids. He wanted to get married and I told him I wanted to wait for a little longer. One evening Trent was baby-sitting Hayden. And I came in from picking Alex, Lucas and Tommy from football practice. Alex had ripped her shirt at practice and it showed her stomach. When we got home I saw Trent looking at her and he had the same look in his eyes that Walt used to have when he would look at me. I wouldn't gonna chance it, I had to protect Alex so the next night I broke up Trent. A week later I found out I was a month pregnet with Abagail. I moved to New York where Jess was going to collage. I got a job as a dancer and made enough money that we moved into a eight bed-room pent house. Right after I had Abagail I had saved enough money to open up my own dance company. It's pretty famous now it's called USBC or United States Ballet Company. I dance and dancers go there to become professional dancers.
Daisy: But what about Joey?
Shelby: About a year ago Hayden had gotton sick at school so I had to go get him. By the time we were home he was asleep. So I took him to his bedroom and laid him down. I had told my securtary I wasn't coming back to work because I wanted to watch over Hayden. I went into my bedroom and the window was open. When me and Hayden came home someone was robbing our home and he was in my room. He... he raped me. I couldn't scream because I didn't want Hayden to get hurt or see it happening so I just closed eyes and prayed that someone would catch us. No one did. I pressed charges but the next month I found out I was pregnet so I canceled the charges because I didn't want Joey to think he was an accident or mistake. And that's my story. The whole story.
Juliet: So you gave up the one man you could of been able to love besides Scott and you let him go because of a look in his eyes he had when he looked at Alex, even though you weren't sure and she isn't even your kid.
Shelby: She is my child. And I wasn't gonna give a chance for something to happen to her like what happened to me.
Scott: I can't belive you.
Everybody turned and starred at where Scott was standing up.
Scott: I understand that you gave up everything for your kids. But why did you have to give me? Why did you have to give up us?
Shelby: I didn't give us up, you did when you left and had an affair.
Scott: What are you gonna say when Hayden ask who his daddy is?
Shelby: He's already asked that.
Scott: ( practicly screaming) And what did you tell him? That I was a bad man that walked out. What? What did you tell my son.
Shelby: First of all he's my son. Second I'd never say that to him.
Scott: ( in a calmer voice) Well what did you say?
Shelby: I told him that me and his daddy once loved each other. But * we* made some mistakes and * we* fell out of love. And I told him that sometimes love doesn't last forever and mine and yours didn't. I said that sometimes when two people fall out of love they put their kids in the middle of it. And me and his daddy decided we weren't going to do that to him. And I told him that you didn't want to hurt him and we knew that if one of us didn't leave then we would put him in the middle. I told him that you ( starting to cry) you did the hardest thing in your life by walking away. But you knew it was for the best because if you wouldn't of we would of hurt him. I said that you loved him so much that you didn't want to hurt, and you knew I couldn't live without him, so you gave him up. I told him that one day he would meet you and he would love you just as much as you love him because one day he would understand what it took for you to leave him. And that he should think as a hero because you did what you did, so he could the happiest kid on the world. And almost everyday he ask me if I think that you're thinking about him. And everytime I have to lie to him and say probly this very second. So don't go telling me that I'm a horrible person for not letting you in your son's life because right now he thinks of his daddy as a hero.
Everybody was quiet. When all of a sudden they heard the baby cry.
Shelby: I better go get him.
Shelby walked out of the room.
Daisy: ( looking at Scott, coldly) You cheated on her and left her.
Scott: I was having a hard time, okay.
Daisy: No, it's not okay. She's been through hell and back and it's all because of you. None of what has happened to her would of happened if you would of know how to keep your pants zipped.
Scott: Don't give me that, Daisy. It was a one time thing. Nothing more. My gosh, I haven't even been in a serious relationship since Shelby.
Daisy: Just answer me one funking question. How could you do that to her?
Scott: I was having a very bad time. My dad was getting back with Elaine, my mother was about to marry an asshole, my coach was going to kick me off the team, and my dad had decided not to pay for my collage no more.
Daisy: Who gives a shit. Is it Shelby's fault, no. She's not you dad, or Elaine. She is not you mother and she is not your coach. So why in the hell did you make her pay for it?
Scott: I didn't....
Daisy: ( cutting him off) No, you know what I don't want to hear it.
Peter: Both of you stop this.
Before Peter could say anything else Shelby came in.
Shelby: ( confused) Hey, what was all the yelling about?
Juliet: Nothing.
Shelby: Oh, okay. Well I'm really beat so I'm going to go to bed.
Everybody agreed that they should go to bed. Shelby started to walk out but Scott stoped her and asked her to please meet him at the docks. She agreed and went to where the girls were all sleeping.
*~*~*
**That house on the hill is long gone
Now she's living in a trailer with an Astroturf lawn
Got three little kids and no one to help
Trying to be Momma and Daddy all by herself
It's hard to hold down the fort when you're holdin' down a job
She'd rob Peter to pay Paul but he's already been robbed
She gets the food on the table and the clothes off the lines
She'd break down and cry but she doesn't have time**
Scott walked up to the docks where he saw Shelby standing looking at the water. He walked up to her.
Scott: Hey
Shelby: Hi
Scott: We need to talk, Shel.
Shelby: I know. Listen Scott, even though Hayden is your son I don't expect to pay child support or even be a part of his life. I don't expect that.
Scott: Shel, slow down. I didn't mean about that. But I do want to be a part of Hayden's life. But Shel, what I do want to talk about is what happened six years ago. About why I left and had an affair...
Shelby: ( cutting him off) I know why. I heard Daisy telling you off in the lodge when I went to see about Joey.
Scott: Shel, I'm really sorry for everything that has happened to you.
**She got to be strong, life goes on
Though it's nothin' like she had planned
She's gonna be o.k. gonna find a way
Living in no man's land**
Shelby: Don't be. Because I have six wonderful, and beautiful children. I have a great bussiness, and I'm doing my dream of being a dancer. So don't be sorry, Scott. I'm not.
Scott: Yeah but Shelby, you were raped and you had a kid by a man that would of been there but you wouldn't let because of a look he got in his eyes. You've had it really rough and it wouldn't of happened if I wouldn't of left.
Shelby: That's right, Scott, it wouldn't of. But I also wouldn't have Abagail and Joey. I wouldn't be able to watch Abagail and play with Hayden. And I wouldn't be able to hold Joey. And I wouldn't want to miss that for all the pain in the world.
Scott: You've really changed, Shel.
Scott didn't know what it was but the next thing he knew he was leaning in and kissing Shelby. He was pressing her body against his. She kissed back to his amazement. After ten minutes of kissing Scott started to push Shelby down on the ground but she backed away. He looked at her confused.
**Every now and then late at night
She thinks of how it would feel to hold someone tight
And there's a guy down at work he keeps callin' her up
But she ain't ready for none of that stuff
She's still sifting through the ashes of a love that's been and gone
Looking for a clue, trying to find out what went wrong
It ain't always easy, but she knows she's gotta try
Every time she looks into her babies' eyes**
Shelby: No, Scott, I can't do this.
Scott: Why not? What about us, Shelby?
Shelby: I've to much to risk to get back involved with. I've got kids and I'm not taking a chance of losing them. Good-bye Scott.
Before Scott could say anything else Shelby turned and ranaway. Scott got upset and hit a rake which hit the shed and made a loud noise. Scott sat down on the bench with his head in his hands. A few minutes later he felt someone sit beside him. He looked up to see Auggie.
**She got to be strong, life goes on
Though it's nothin' like she had planned
She's gonna be o.k. gonna find a way
Living in no man's land**
Auggie: Came to see what the noise was? So what happened?
Scott told everything that had just happened with Shelby at the docks.
Auggie: Don't you see it, Meat?
Scott: What? What don't I see?
Auggie: Yo Meat, Shelby living in a no mans land.
**She got to be strong, life goes on
Though it's nothin' like she had planned
She's gonna be o.k. gonna find a way
Living in no man's land**
*~*~*
Hope you liked it so far. But I will need 18 to 20 reviews before I can post chapter 2.
Well until the next story. Also you guys I totally need your help with my story To Begin Again. I can't figure out where to go with it now. So if you have any ideas PLEASE email them at lovewriter_13@hotmail.com
Bye
Sam