There's An Empty Room: A New Season
By: Nicole Lopez
Prom aka Morp has ended and it's almost time for graduation. It's a new day and a new beginning for Kat and all the others that are leaving Horizon. Leaving for college, as well as her family, provides many obstacles. But, of course, the remaining Cliffhangers aren't left without drama and more obstacles to overcome. They learn to cope with going back home, a new year without Kat, the past, break-ups, make-ups, and a newbie that is suppose to "replace" Katherine, but no one can do that, right? Stay tuned to check out a new "season" so-to-speak, of the harsh realities of life and how the Cliffhangers cope with them.
Part One: I Live My Life by the Moon
Kat is sitting on her bed, packing all of her things, looking at old photo albums, remembering all the good times she had at Horizon. Only a few days left.
"Don't get all teary-eyed. You're not leaving yet." Juliet said to Kat as she moved in from the bathroom onto her bead. "You still have about two weeks left with us."
"I know, but that isn't long enough … I have to prepare for the rest of my life and I want to stay here where I'm protected. I really want to be with you guys." Kat sighed, feeling as if things would only get worse from here. All the optimism she once had about leaving had evaporated from her body.
"Just because you're leaving doesn't mean that it's the end. We'll all be here, waiting for you to visit us during the summer."
"Don't take it for granted." Kat whispered as she threw a red tank top into one of her many suitcases.
"What for granted?" Juliet asked, the 'blonde' in her coming out.
"Horizon. Have you been listening at all?"
"I have. And let me just say that all this sappy 'I'm gonna miss you' crap is really getting old. You're outta here Kat. Be grateful." Shelby interjected, lightening the mood a little.
"That's easy for you to say. You're staying." Kat mumbled, as she stopped packing and dumped the rest of her clothes onto the floor.
"You mean you aren't happy to leave?" Juliet wondered.
"No … I mean I am, but there's so much that I don't think I'm ready for. My dad still hasn't forgiven me and he was even more mad when I mentioned Hank. Everything's a mess." Kat admitted with a sigh.
"Aww. It'll be okay. Kat you're totally the best of us. I mean, I know you can do this." Juliet said encouragingly as she pulled Kat in for a hug.
"Shelly." Juliet whispered as she pulled Shelby into the 'group hug' before she could protest.
"As much as I love group hugs, I think I've had my share for the day. Come on guys we have things to do." Shelby proclaimed as she wriggled her way out of the embrace.
"So we're having another newbie come into the group? Things were just starting to settle down a little bit." Scott declared as many of the other Cliffhangers nodded along with him.
"Well, that's the way it works at Horizon-" Sophie began, but Augie interrupted.
"Why are we getting a newbie at the end of the year?"
"Yeah. That makes no sense." Ezra commented.
"Her parents want her to get adjusted here and start as soon as possible." Peter explained.
"Yeah … we all know how that goes." Shelby uttered bitterly.
"How many days until she's here?" Juliet inquired as she started playing with her hair. Augie looked at her as she gives him a flirtatious grin.
"Three maybe four."
"But you just told us." Scott protested. "Usually we have a week to prepare for stuff like this."
"It was short notice on us." Peter explained.
"Why didn't you just have them wait until next year. Summer's only three and half months long." Augie pressed, giving Sophie and Peter a hard time. His relationship with Juliet was going smoothly and he didn't want anything to mess with that.
"She could've been gone by then."
"So we're just suppose to suck it up and be nice to her?" Ezra asked, not looking for an answer because he already knew what was coming.
"That's the general idea." Daisy said with a sarcastic sneer covering her comment. It was evident that she was another Cliffhanger that wasn't pleased with their current situation.
"Come on guys. I bet she won't be that bad." Kat admitted confidently in an optimistic tone that didn't fit her mood in the least.
"What do you think about this David?" Peter asked after the complaints and negative comments had died down.
"What am I suppose to think? It's another newbie. Big deal. You send us here to get use to change, right?" David challenged, giving a completely unexpected response. Even Daisy had her jaw dropped.
"Yep. That's exactly the attitude that we all need." Sophie explained as every groaned.
"No way you actually expect us to pick up any good habits from him." Shelby criticized with disbelief.
"Why not? Everyone has their good qualities." Peter defended as Shelby shrugged and leaned back onto Scott's shoulder.
The Next Day
"Kat." Sophie whispered in a disturbing tone.
"What's wrong? Did I do something?" Kat inquired as Sophie shook her head. "What then?" Kat further pressed as she walked up to Sophie.
"I'm sorry honey."
"You're sorry … for what?"
"Your mom just called to say that she won't be able to make it to your graduation." Sophie spat out, preparing for a rush of emotions to rush through Kat.
"What do you mean she won't make it? She's knows how important this is for me … and all of us." Kat uttered to herself as she started to shake her head. Her hands started to shake. "Something must be wrong … what happened? Is my dad okay?"
"I think you should talk to your mom about it Kat." Sophie said in a consoling voice. She knew what was going on, but she also knew that it wasn't her place to tell what she knew.
"Why can't you tell me? You know don't you?" Kat asked as Sophie handed Kat a phone. Without giving it a second thought, Kat dialed her parent's number. "Mom?" Kat whispered as soon as the rings stopped.
"Kat." Her mom answered back as Sophie quietly left the room.
"So you're not coming to my graduation … you promised you be there. You said you wouldn't miss it for the world. And now, you're not gonna be there?" Kat remarked as her voice began to rise and quiver.
"I would, we would if we could, but there are complications. There's no way."
"Does dad still hate me? Is that it … I knew he would do something like this. I knew he couldn't let it go." Kat mumbled accusingly.
"It's not his fault-"
"What is it then?" She asked nearly screaming now.
"You're father is in the hospital." Mrs. Cabot admitted as Kat's heart dropped.
"I- in the hospital?" Kat asked in disbelief. "What's wrong? Dad …"
"Kidney failure. He's going to be in there for a while and there's no guarantee that he'll come out there alive." Her mom whispered so softly that if the wind started to blow, her voice would fade away.
"No. No! … Dad's fine. He's fine mom. And I know he'll make it. He'll be here for my graduation and everything, everyone will be happy." Kat muttered while still in denial.
"Kat. We probably won't make it. I'm sorry." Her mother stated finally.
"No. No. You listen to me. You're going to make it." Kat demanded angrily while tears fell from her dark brown eyes. Immediately, her eyes welled up with more. "You and dad are going to be here in two weeks and everything will be peachy keen. I don't care what you have to do to make it, but you better find a way! I have not been here for three years to just graduate without having anyone else care but me and Peter. No Way." Kat proclaimed finally as she dropped the phone and left the room.
"Whatcha thinkin' about?" Scott asked Shelby as she jumped.
"I wonder what next year's gonna be like. We'll be juniors then. After that, only one more year until we're sent back into the cold, cruel world. You know Horizon has sheltered us from all that." Shelby rambled as Scott studied the curves of her face that he had grown to know and love throughout their few months together. Scott wrapped his arms around Shelby's waist. "Are you even listening?"
"Not really." He mumbled as he kissed the side of her face. Shelby giggled. "I wish you were coming home with me during the summer."
"Don't even mention the summer." Shelby began.
"You're step-dad's not there anymore." Scott observed.
"But the memories are. And that's just as bad … I'm just not ready to go back. For once, I actually want to stay at Horizon." She admitted as Scott kissed her again, but on the lips this time.
"Could that be because I'm here?"
"Maybe … just a little." Shelby responded as the anticipation of getting another kiss overwhelmed her. This time, she kissed him.
"Just a little?" Scott asked with a smirk.
"Okay, okay. You're the whole reason why I want to stay. Wherever you are, I wanna be." Shelby admitted. "Happy?"
Kat rushed out of Sophie's office with tears and mascara staining her face. It was obvious that she was a wreck.
"Kat. Are you okay?" Juliet wondered as Kat continued to walk at a brisk pace. "Kat?"
"Do I LOOK okay?" Kat snapped.
"I'm sorry. I just want to help."
"Well, you can't. So get over it and go make-out with Augie or something." Kat mumbled as she pushed past Juliet and kept walking growing closer and closer towards the woods.
"Kat! You have a visitor." Sophie exclaims as she runs after Kat, hoping that her visitor would make everything alright.
"Tell them to go away." Kat remarks, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Oh my goodness Kat. Look at you." Sophie proclaims, giving Kat a hug. "You'll want to see this person. Trust me." She finished, directing Kat towards the front of the school, keeping her close.
"Kat." Hank began as he saw how terrible she looked.
"Hank." Kat answered back as she ran into his arms. "I've missed you so much … they let you in … I thought." She tried to say, but everything was in a jumble.
Hank stroked Kat's dark hair which now fell in curls all over, even though she tried to pull it back. He kissed her forehead. "Tell me what's wrong." Hank said as he directed Kat into a seat beside him.
Part Two: The Moon Sees the One I Want to See
By: Nicole Lopez
Prom aka Morp has ended and it's almost time for graduation. It's a new day and a new beginning for Kat and all the others that are leaving Horizon. Leaving for college, as well as her family, provides many obstacles. But, of course, the remaining Cliffhangers aren't left without drama and more obstacles to overcome. They learn to cope with going back home, a new year without Kat, the past, break-ups, make-ups, and a newbie that is suppose to "replace" Katherine, but no one can do that, right? Stay tuned to check out a new "season" so-to-speak, of the harsh realities of life and how the Cliffhangers cope with them.
Part One: I Live My Life by the Moon
Kat is sitting on her bed, packing all of her things, looking at old photo albums, remembering all the good times she had at Horizon. Only a few days left.
"Don't get all teary-eyed. You're not leaving yet." Juliet said to Kat as she moved in from the bathroom onto her bead. "You still have about two weeks left with us."
"I know, but that isn't long enough … I have to prepare for the rest of my life and I want to stay here where I'm protected. I really want to be with you guys." Kat sighed, feeling as if things would only get worse from here. All the optimism she once had about leaving had evaporated from her body.
"Just because you're leaving doesn't mean that it's the end. We'll all be here, waiting for you to visit us during the summer."
"Don't take it for granted." Kat whispered as she threw a red tank top into one of her many suitcases.
"What for granted?" Juliet asked, the 'blonde' in her coming out.
"Horizon. Have you been listening at all?"
"I have. And let me just say that all this sappy 'I'm gonna miss you' crap is really getting old. You're outta here Kat. Be grateful." Shelby interjected, lightening the mood a little.
"That's easy for you to say. You're staying." Kat mumbled, as she stopped packing and dumped the rest of her clothes onto the floor.
"You mean you aren't happy to leave?" Juliet wondered.
"No … I mean I am, but there's so much that I don't think I'm ready for. My dad still hasn't forgiven me and he was even more mad when I mentioned Hank. Everything's a mess." Kat admitted with a sigh.
"Aww. It'll be okay. Kat you're totally the best of us. I mean, I know you can do this." Juliet said encouragingly as she pulled Kat in for a hug.
"Shelly." Juliet whispered as she pulled Shelby into the 'group hug' before she could protest.
"As much as I love group hugs, I think I've had my share for the day. Come on guys we have things to do." Shelby proclaimed as she wriggled her way out of the embrace.
"So we're having another newbie come into the group? Things were just starting to settle down a little bit." Scott declared as many of the other Cliffhangers nodded along with him.
"Well, that's the way it works at Horizon-" Sophie began, but Augie interrupted.
"Why are we getting a newbie at the end of the year?"
"Yeah. That makes no sense." Ezra commented.
"Her parents want her to get adjusted here and start as soon as possible." Peter explained.
"Yeah … we all know how that goes." Shelby uttered bitterly.
"How many days until she's here?" Juliet inquired as she started playing with her hair. Augie looked at her as she gives him a flirtatious grin.
"Three maybe four."
"But you just told us." Scott protested. "Usually we have a week to prepare for stuff like this."
"It was short notice on us." Peter explained.
"Why didn't you just have them wait until next year. Summer's only three and half months long." Augie pressed, giving Sophie and Peter a hard time. His relationship with Juliet was going smoothly and he didn't want anything to mess with that.
"She could've been gone by then."
"So we're just suppose to suck it up and be nice to her?" Ezra asked, not looking for an answer because he already knew what was coming.
"That's the general idea." Daisy said with a sarcastic sneer covering her comment. It was evident that she was another Cliffhanger that wasn't pleased with their current situation.
"Come on guys. I bet she won't be that bad." Kat admitted confidently in an optimistic tone that didn't fit her mood in the least.
"What do you think about this David?" Peter asked after the complaints and negative comments had died down.
"What am I suppose to think? It's another newbie. Big deal. You send us here to get use to change, right?" David challenged, giving a completely unexpected response. Even Daisy had her jaw dropped.
"Yep. That's exactly the attitude that we all need." Sophie explained as every groaned.
"No way you actually expect us to pick up any good habits from him." Shelby criticized with disbelief.
"Why not? Everyone has their good qualities." Peter defended as Shelby shrugged and leaned back onto Scott's shoulder.
The Next Day
"Kat." Sophie whispered in a disturbing tone.
"What's wrong? Did I do something?" Kat inquired as Sophie shook her head. "What then?" Kat further pressed as she walked up to Sophie.
"I'm sorry honey."
"You're sorry … for what?"
"Your mom just called to say that she won't be able to make it to your graduation." Sophie spat out, preparing for a rush of emotions to rush through Kat.
"What do you mean she won't make it? She's knows how important this is for me … and all of us." Kat uttered to herself as she started to shake her head. Her hands started to shake. "Something must be wrong … what happened? Is my dad okay?"
"I think you should talk to your mom about it Kat." Sophie said in a consoling voice. She knew what was going on, but she also knew that it wasn't her place to tell what she knew.
"Why can't you tell me? You know don't you?" Kat asked as Sophie handed Kat a phone. Without giving it a second thought, Kat dialed her parent's number. "Mom?" Kat whispered as soon as the rings stopped.
"Kat." Her mom answered back as Sophie quietly left the room.
"So you're not coming to my graduation … you promised you be there. You said you wouldn't miss it for the world. And now, you're not gonna be there?" Kat remarked as her voice began to rise and quiver.
"I would, we would if we could, but there are complications. There's no way."
"Does dad still hate me? Is that it … I knew he would do something like this. I knew he couldn't let it go." Kat mumbled accusingly.
"It's not his fault-"
"What is it then?" She asked nearly screaming now.
"You're father is in the hospital." Mrs. Cabot admitted as Kat's heart dropped.
"I- in the hospital?" Kat asked in disbelief. "What's wrong? Dad …"
"Kidney failure. He's going to be in there for a while and there's no guarantee that he'll come out there alive." Her mom whispered so softly that if the wind started to blow, her voice would fade away.
"No. No! … Dad's fine. He's fine mom. And I know he'll make it. He'll be here for my graduation and everything, everyone will be happy." Kat muttered while still in denial.
"Kat. We probably won't make it. I'm sorry." Her mother stated finally.
"No. No. You listen to me. You're going to make it." Kat demanded angrily while tears fell from her dark brown eyes. Immediately, her eyes welled up with more. "You and dad are going to be here in two weeks and everything will be peachy keen. I don't care what you have to do to make it, but you better find a way! I have not been here for three years to just graduate without having anyone else care but me and Peter. No Way." Kat proclaimed finally as she dropped the phone and left the room.
"Whatcha thinkin' about?" Scott asked Shelby as she jumped.
"I wonder what next year's gonna be like. We'll be juniors then. After that, only one more year until we're sent back into the cold, cruel world. You know Horizon has sheltered us from all that." Shelby rambled as Scott studied the curves of her face that he had grown to know and love throughout their few months together. Scott wrapped his arms around Shelby's waist. "Are you even listening?"
"Not really." He mumbled as he kissed the side of her face. Shelby giggled. "I wish you were coming home with me during the summer."
"Don't even mention the summer." Shelby began.
"You're step-dad's not there anymore." Scott observed.
"But the memories are. And that's just as bad … I'm just not ready to go back. For once, I actually want to stay at Horizon." She admitted as Scott kissed her again, but on the lips this time.
"Could that be because I'm here?"
"Maybe … just a little." Shelby responded as the anticipation of getting another kiss overwhelmed her. This time, she kissed him.
"Just a little?" Scott asked with a smirk.
"Okay, okay. You're the whole reason why I want to stay. Wherever you are, I wanna be." Shelby admitted. "Happy?"
Kat rushed out of Sophie's office with tears and mascara staining her face. It was obvious that she was a wreck.
"Kat. Are you okay?" Juliet wondered as Kat continued to walk at a brisk pace. "Kat?"
"Do I LOOK okay?" Kat snapped.
"I'm sorry. I just want to help."
"Well, you can't. So get over it and go make-out with Augie or something." Kat mumbled as she pushed past Juliet and kept walking growing closer and closer towards the woods.
"Kat! You have a visitor." Sophie exclaims as she runs after Kat, hoping that her visitor would make everything alright.
"Tell them to go away." Kat remarks, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Oh my goodness Kat. Look at you." Sophie proclaims, giving Kat a hug. "You'll want to see this person. Trust me." She finished, directing Kat towards the front of the school, keeping her close.
"Kat." Hank began as he saw how terrible she looked.
"Hank." Kat answered back as she ran into his arms. "I've missed you so much … they let you in … I thought." She tried to say, but everything was in a jumble.
Hank stroked Kat's dark hair which now fell in curls all over, even though she tried to pull it back. He kissed her forehead. "Tell me what's wrong." Hank said as he directed Kat into a seat beside him.
Part Two: The Moon Sees the One I Want to See