COMFORT
DISCLAIMER
All Higher Ground characters belong to Fox Family. I got the idea while watching "Because I Love You". Takes place right after the Morp.
"So, you want to talk?" Shelby Merrick asked.
"What do you mean?" Scott Barringer questioned.
"There's something wrong. I can tell," Shelby insisted. Scott sighed.
"I had a fight with my father," he answered.
"What about?" she wondered.
"The skank. Who else?" he responded.
"I---I don't understand. Was---was she still there?" she questioned.
"No," he replied. He drew in a labored breath.
"What happened?" she asked. Do I tell her? No! She wouldn't understand! he thought frantically.
"Scott?" Shelby prompted.
"He---he---" Scott trailed off, seeming to struggle with himself.
"What?" Shelby pressed.
"He blamed me! Said it was my fault because 'Not once did I have the guts to say 'no' '," Scott bitterly quoted.
"Oh, Scott," Shelby breathed. She drew the boy into a hug. "Scott, it wasn't your fault. You know that, right?" she queried.
"Yeah, I do. It was her fault, not mine," Scott said. "She was the one---the one coming into my room, lying, playing mind games, making threats---" Shelby watched as the different emotions playing across his face. "Dang it, Shelb! How'd she take my father from me!? How'd she manage that!? What did he think that I---I invited her to come into my room around midnight and stuff? I didn't!"
"Scott, it's okay. It's okay. I'm here. I'll stick by you," Shelby assured.
"I just...I just want him to understand. I mean, Mom did," Scott said earnestly. Shelby stared at him. Oh, Scott. Oh, Cowboy. I'm so sorry, she thought silently.
"Scott, I---I don't know why your father's being such a bullheaded creep," Shelby said. Then, "Oh, Scott. I'm sorry. I---" Scott waved his hand.
"No, it's okay. He is a bullheaded creep," he agreed. He drew in a labored breath.
"Shelby...thank you," he finally said.
"No problem, Cowboy," she responded. Then, she slowly brought her hand up and let it rest on his cheek.
THE END
AUTHOR'S NOTE
I'm only writing a few more stories after this, then I'm retiring. As of right now, I'm working on a Goonies story, a Power Rangers story, and another Higher Ground story. After the next Higher Ground installment, I'm through, finis. Yay you. You don't have to read amateur work anymore. I'll still send in reviews though.