Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters associated with Higher Ground


Life's A Dance21


Quote: Life's a dance you learn as you go




Peter picked Juliete up off the stretcher and began carrying her to the nurses' station, Auggie right beside him. Sophie turned her attention to the other Cliffhanger's. Most of them were concerned about Juiliete, but David seemed to be annoyed about the whole thing.

Sophie: Ok guys, everyone hit the showers. Afterwards we area going to hold group under the gazebo. You have twenty minutes, don't be late.

They all groaned and walked off.

Sophie watched, hoping Laura would stay and talk with her, but she didn't and Sophie wasn't going to push her. She let out a loud sigh and walked to Peter's office. It was her job to call Scott's mom and let her know they were back at the school…

"Sometimes I wonder why I took this job," she sighed.

She knew why though, she wanted to help people, no matter what she had to face.



Scott walked up to Shelby and began walking in step with her.

Scott: So, when do you think she'll be here?

Shelby gave him a confused look

Shelby: Who…?

Scott: My mom

Shelby stopped walking and stood to face Scott. She shrugged her shoulders and looked around

Shelby: I don't know Scott

He rubbed a hand through his hair and looked around

Scott: I don't want to explain it all to her again

Shelby: Explain what Scott? You're confusing me now

Scott: Explain why they should leave me here

Shelby smirked at him

Shelby: Just tell her you are incredibly screwed up

Scott laughed at her and she shrugged her shoulders

Shelby: At least it would be the truth

Scott tried to give her a hurt look, but he couldn't help but smile. This is the Shelby he had missed the past few days, the one that made him smile

She looked up and sighed

Shelby: Just tell her the truth…

Scott looked down at the ground

Shelby: Look, she'll listen, she seems really nice. Maybe she was just having a bad day or something

She nudged Scott on the arm

Shelby: Happens to the best of us you know

He looked up and smiled/laughed at her

Scott: Yeah, I guess it does

Shelby raised her eyebrows at him

Shelby: So you're not gonna back down, right?

He shook his head

Scott: Nah, I'm not gonna back down.

Shelby: Promise?

Scott nodded at her

Shelby: Pinky promise?

Scott rolled his eyes at her and stuck out his pinky. He interlocked it with hers

Scott: Pinky promise

Shelby leaned up on her tipytoes and gave him a kiss

Shelby: Good

She motioned towards the cabins

Shelby: Let's go then

They walked towards their cabins hand in hand



Ezra walked into the boy's dorm. David was lying on his bed and Eric was sitting at his desk. Ezra walked over and sat on his bed.

Ezra: What do you think Peter is calling group again for?

David shrugged his shoulders and smirked at Ezra

David: *sarcastically* Maybe he found out about mine and Daisy's midnight rendezvous

Ezra shot David and annoyed look

Ezra: She wouldn't do anything like that with you

David's look turned to a serious one

David: Why does she keep following me around then, wanting to talk with me?

Ezra shrugged his shoulders

Ezra: Maybe she just wants to talk to someone who isn't of a human life form

David: No that couldn't be it, that is what she has you for

Ezra rolled his eyes at David

Ezra: Could you be any lamer?

David smirked at him

David: Maybe if I really tried I could

Ezra: I'm sure you wouldn't have to even try

Ezra picked up a pair of jeans and headed towards the bathroom. Before he could get to the door though someone knocked him down and he turned around to see David standing over him

David: Come on idiot, get up and fight

Ezra quickly stood up and inched away from David

David: Don't be a scaredy cat, fight like a man.

David put a hand up to his head

David: Forgot, you aren't one, little boy

Ezra shook his head and inched farther away from David

Ezra: Stop David, I was just joking with you

David inched closer Ezra and pulled his fist back and punched Ezra right in the stomach. He was about to throw another punch, but Eric stopped him from behind. David turned to face Eric

David: Did I invite you into this fight

He pushed Eric up against the wall

David: FREAK.

David punched Eric in the stomach, and was about to again but this time Ezra yanked him back. David pinned Ezra up against the wall and was about to hit him but Scott walked in and threw David off of him. Eric stood up and walked over and grabbed David by the arms while Scott got his feet. They took him into the shower and turned on the water, letting it soak him

Scott: Just stay there and cool off man

David gave a disgusted look as they all walked out of the bathroom

Eric changed his shirt while Ezra tried to stop the bleeding from his lip. Scott rubbed a hand through his hair and looked at them

Scott: What in the heck happened in here?

Ezra looked up with that 'profound' look on his face

Ezra: I'm no genius Scott, but I think there was a fight

Scott: No joke genius

Eric sat down on his bed

Eric: They were dissing each other and David just took a cheap shot at Ezra

Scott looked at Eric and noticed his ripped shirt laying on the bed

Scott: And how did you get into it

Ezra held up his finger

Ezra: I can answer that one. He pulled Eric off of me

Scott nodded his head and sat down on the bed

Scott: Yeah, well thanks for tryin' to help EZ. He's a little less than strong

Eric nodded his head

Eric: I could tell

Ezra furrowed his brow and looked at them

Ezra: HELLO! I'm right here… I can hear what you guys are saying

Scott: You know it's true EZ, so there's really no shock

Ezra gave it a little thought and smiled embarrassed at them

Ezra: I guess you're right

Scott: You know we are

Scott stood up and began to change his shirt

Scott: Group in ten minutes

He quickly pulled the shirt over his head and began to walk out of the room

Scott: Don't forget. I don't feel like doin' dishes just because one of you guys forgot

Ezra smiled as Scott walked out of the room

Ezra: *sarcastically* How thoughtful of him, always thinking of others

Eric laughed and then looked at Ezra

Eric: We're not gone get kicked out because of this fight are we?

Ezra gave him a curios look, but shook his head

Ezra: No, there is a lot of fights here, it's no big deal. David will probably get kitchen or something, and I will too probably

Eric nodded his head

Eric: but we won't get thrown out?

Ezra shook his head 'no'

Eric nodded his head and walked out of the room

A curios look crept across Ezra's face

Ezra: That was weird



Auggie sat in a chair outside the nurses' station. He was waiting for Peter to give him the 'ok' to go in, and every minute felt like an hour to him. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked around, trying to keep his mind off the whole situation for as long as possible.

Auggie: This is trash man, why don't they just let me see her.

He rubbed the back of his neck faster and harder, not knowing what else to do.

Auggie: It's just the flu or something, nothin' bad.

He closed his eyes, trying to convince himself everything would be ok

Auggie: I'm just worryin' for nothin'

He took in a deep breath and quickly jumped out of his chair when he saw Peter walk into the room

Auggie: How is she, is she ok? Can I see her now? When can she get out?

Peter grinned at him and shook his head

Peter: Slow down there man, I can't answer all of those at one time.

Auggie gave him a shy smile and then shrugged his shoulders

Auggie: SO how is she?

Peter: She has a touch of the flu Auggie.

Auggie looked at him with excitement

Auggie: That's all?

Peter nodded his head

Peter: You have five minutes to see her. She is resting, so don't be anymore than five, ok?

Auggie nodded his head and walked into the nurses' station quickly

"All that you need to know," Peter thought to himself.



Auggie quietly looked around the nurses' station and noticed Juliete lying on a bed towards the back corner. He quietly walked over to her and sat in a chair that was by her bed. He took a hold of her hand in his

Auggie: Hey Jules, I'm here for ya.

She slowly turned her face so she was facing him, and gave him a weak smile

Juliete: Hey Auggie

He smiled at her, happy to see she was awake

Auggie: You feelin' any better?

Juliete weakly nodded her head

Juliete: A little

Auggie: That's good, Jules. You're gonna be ok, the doc says you just got the flu.

Juliete smiled at him

Juliete: Then why do you look so nervous?

Auggie gave a shy smile

Auggie: 'Cause I was worried about you Twig, and I still am

Juliete closed her eyes and smiled

Juliete: Thank you Augusto

They sat there in awkward silence for a few minutes until the nurse walked in and signaled to Auggie his time was up

He leaned into Juliete and whispered something into her ear

Auggie: If you need somethin' Jules, I'm not far away. They won't take you to the hospital or nothin', so be happy for that. Keep smilin and I'll talk to you soon.

Auggie smiled as Juliete squeezed his hand. He gave her a light kiss on the cheek and walked out of the room smiling to himself.

"She's gonna be ok," he thought happily.


Juliete laid in her bed and smiled to herself as Auggie shut the door behind him

Juliete: I love you Auggie.



Peter walked outside the nurses' station to see Sophie waiting for him. She quickly jogged up to him with a concerned look on her face

Sophie: So…what is it?

Peter scratched his head

Peter: She has the flu, and her calorie count is getting real low again.

He fooled around with a sheet of paper that was in his hand, and then looked up at Sophie

Peter: The doctor says that she is at least seven pounds underweight, Soph.

A hurt look crossed Sophie's face

Sophie: She has been eating Peter, how did she get underweight again?

Peter looked up at the sky and then back at Sophie. He shrugged his shoulders

Peter: Maybe at home. I don't know, Soph. Her mother expects her to be of a certain weight, maybe Juliete wasn't so she stopped feeding her.

Sophie caught on to what Peter was getting at… A shock looked cross her face

Sophie: And that is why she is so hungry now. She never ate unless we made her, no she is going back for seconds.

Peter shrugged his shoulders and 'clicked' his tongue

Peter: That's the only thing I could think of. We just have to build her immune system back up once she gets over the flu.

Sophie nodded her head understandingly

Sophie: Ok, we can do that.

They stood there in silence for a moment thinking to themselves.

Sophie: Oh, I talked to Scott's mom. She will be here in a hour or so

Peter let out a sigh and nodded his head

Peter: He'll be able to participate in group that way

Sophie nodded her head and looked at her watch

Sophie: Speaking of which…I gotta run.

Peter smiled as she began jogging towards the gazebo

Peter: Good bye to you too, Sophie.

He laughed to himself and began walking to his office…



Jacky sat in the bathroom with the door locked. She was sitting up against the wall with her legs straight on in front of her. She looked like she was in shock…

*FLASHBACK*

Jacky: Leave me alone Aaron

Aaron: Shut the hell up Jacky and don't move

She closed her eyes as tight as possible as Aaron brought his belt down over her arm. She shrieked in pain, but he did it again.

Aaron: That will teach you to mess with my stuff you little…

He yanked her up off the bed and threw her into the closet.

She listened as he locked the door and breathed a sigh of relief as she heard him leave the room. She snuggled back underneath all her clothes and opened her eyes. Her body was shaking and she was trying her hardest not to cry. She listened as the closet door opened again and watched as Tommy walked in.

Tommy: Aaron get first cracks at you today?

He yanked her up by her hair and tied her arms behind her back. He then proceeded to tie her to her closet rail.

Tommy: Now you just 'hang' there for a while

He sneered at her as a single tear fell from her eye

Jacky: Just leave me alone

He rolled his eyes as we tied her feet together with a chain

Tommy: I'll leave you alone…for a LONG time.

Tommy punched her in the stomach and then left, laughing to himself.

Jacky closed her eyes and tried to ignore the pain that was shooting through her ankles and her shoulders.

*END FLASHBACK*

Jacky quickly opened her eyes and tried to control her now rapid breathing. She stood up and walked over to the sink. She rinsed her face with cold water and hit her fist up against the sink. She looked into the mirror…

Jacky: Those screwed up stepbrothers of mine. Having fun at my expense…

She kicked at the wall and slumped down against it again

Jacky: Beat me up everyday and lock me in the closet for days…

She clinched her fists together and tried to make the memories go away

Jacky: I'm gonna get back at them, just wait, I'll let 'em have it. They ruined me…

She jumped up off the ground and stormed out of the bathroom. She walked over and sat on her bed, fighting back the tears…

Jacky: I wouldn't be here if they hadn't done that to me. I wouldn't have ended up getting high everyday, and I wouldn't have got kicked out of school.

She threw her pillow across the room and turned so her face was buried in her bed

Jacky: I just want to get out of this hell I'm living…

She closed her eyes and prayed the flashbacks wouldn't come back…



David pulled on his socks and then his shoes. He began lacing them up and muttering to himself…

David: They think they know me. They always think they know me and that I am some crazy nut. They don't know me, they don't want to know me.

He stood up and walked over to get his jacket. He pulled it on and stared up at the ceiling taking in a deep breath

David: and if they knew me, they would leave me.

He began to walk out of the dorm…

David: Time to go to group and hide my feelings

He rolled his eyes and walked out of the room disgusted

David: *dryly* This should be fun

************************************************************************************


Next: Group is held… it gets emotional

Scott's mom shows up…

A lot more happens…


Ok, thanks for the great reviews and suggestions. If you have any ideas or good critical comments, feel free to e-mail me at zrbz99@aol.com. I will do my best to post within the next day or so…


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