PROLOGUE: This story begins right after the MORP. Sophie and Peter are engaged, but have not set a definite date to get married. The Cliff Hanger gang are all still there, with the exception of Katherine, who graduated. (The entire first Season can be seen on ) (Disclaimer: I do not own the concept of the show, or any of the characters that were part of the original show. This is strictly a fan fiction.)
The process of awareness, makes real inside the self, an event that already occurred in reality outside- an adaptation of a quote by Parkes and Weiss
CHAPTER #1
Sophie and Peter had two new kids being admitted to Mount Horizon High School. It was more of a sanctuary for troubled teens, than a regular high school. The new students would be arriving at the same time, so Sophie would admit one and Peter the other. Initially Sophie thought it was two boys, but Peter explained otherwise.
"Chris Marvins is actually Christine. Her school records show she's been a pretty good student and had a part time job, until about six months ago. Then she began skipping, doing drugs and drinking. Her parents kicked her out and she's been living with friends. Her sister is the one bringing her to us today."
"And who's the other one?" Sophie asked her fiancé and the director of Mt. Horizon.
"Mark White. He's an average student and decent athlete. Recently he has been getting into a lot of fights, was found with weed and comes to school drunk. His mother is driving him here." Peter said reading from a file in his hand.
"Since Kat graduated, do you want Christine to be part of the Cliff Hangers?"
"Yes that would work. And Mark can be part of the Ridge Runners."
Daisy knocked on Peter's office door. "The new kids are here."
"Thanks Daisy, we'll be right out," Sophie said. She picked up one of the files, "I'll take Mark I guess."
Peter nodded and followed her outside. "Welcome to Mount Horizon, I'm Peter Scarbrow."
"I'm Veronica and this is Christine."
He looked at the teenager and she avoided his eyes. "Well if you two follow me, we can get Christine checked in."
"If there are any problems contact me. Our parents want nothing to do with her. They've given up. Last week I found her choking on her own vomit, so drunk she could've died. I just don't know what to do any more. I'm a high school teacher and this place was recommended, due to your curriculum and councellors."
"All the kids attend regular classes, have chores to do and we have sports they have to participate in. Between that, we have group and individual counselling sessions," Peter explained.
Veronica looked at her sullen sister, "sounds just like what she needs."
The paper work was signed and completed, then a fellow counsellor took Christine to see the doctor and search her stuff for contraband. Peter shook Veronica's hand and watched her leave. Once done with the doctor, Peter went over the school's rules with Christine. She nodded that she understood, but didn't say a word.
Daisy walked by and Peter asked her to show Christine around. "Okay no problem, that's better than chopping wood."
Peter smiled and added, "since Kat graduated, Christine will have that bunk and be joining the Cliff Hangers."
"Oh joy," Daisy said. Then she lead the new girl away, beginning the tour.
On the way to the dorms they came across David, who of course flirted with them. He walked behind Christine, checking her out and she practically jumped out of her skin.
"Who's the spaz?" David asked, laughing at the new girl.
"This is Christine, she's now part of the Cliff Hangers."
"More like the Cliff Fallers if she's in the group," he chuckled and continued on his way.
"Ignore him, he can be a jerk sometimes." Daisy said as she lead the way inside the dorm.
After the tour was done, Daisy introduced Christine to the rest of the Cliff Hangers by the equipment shed. Peter joined them. "Everyone get changed, we're going to go for a run before diner."
They all rolled their eyes, even Scott. The girls went to their dorm and the guys to theirs. Everyone changed and regrouped by the shed, where Peter stood waiting. He made them do stretches to get limbered up and then they started off down the path. At first it was a slow jog. Peter was in the lead, followed by Scott and then Augusto. Shelby and Juliette ran side by side, followed by Daisy, David and Ezra. Christine came last, so that she didn't have anyone behind her. When they got to a wider path, she sped up, sick of almost stepping on Ezra. She ran beside Scott and Augusto, easily keeping up. Augusto dropped back, but ran behind Scott, so Christine was still comfortable with the formation.
"The last mile, we'll race back to the shed. Winner doesn't have to do their chores tonight," Peter said as he picked up speed.
That caused the boys to kick into overdrive. But that meant David was right behind Christine. She didn't like his hostile vibe, it scared her. Christine bolted, not even Scott could keep up with her. Peter thought she might be running away, but she stayed on the path. He wondered if she just hated chores or if she was really competitive. Her file did say she ran for track and field. When everyone caught back up to her, she was done stretching. She stood with her back to the wall of the shed.
"I can't believe the new girl beat you Scott," Augusto teased, as he bent over to catch his breath.
"What are you, some kind of track athlete?" Scott asked Christine.
She shrugged, still saying nothing. Peter grinned, "she use to do the long distance runs."
Ezra finally arrived to join the rest of them, "so she'll give him a run for his money."
Everyone groaned. Shelby nudged him, "do you really have to be that cheesy?"
"Go on guys, get cleaned up for diner." Peter watched them disperse. He noticed that Christine waited until she was the last to leave. He saw Sophie, "hey wait up!"
"Hi Peter, just get back from a jog?"
"Yup, what about you? How's Mark adjusting?"
"He seems to be doing okay. He's made friends with the group already, well the girls anyway." Sophie explained. "But no contact with the other guys."
"Some take longer than others to adjust, we all know that. Any idea what's for diner?"
"Sheppard's Pie I think."
The kids were lining up to get their food, sliding their trays along the line. Once Chris had her tray filled with all the required food groups, she sat down. She was in the middle of eating, when David came by. He put his hand on the back of her neck.
"So what's for diner babe?"
Chris jumped out of her chair and spun around to face him, "don't touch me. DON'T EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN!" She shouted.
"Chill out Spaz!" David said. He reached for her arm.
"Leave me ALONE!" Chris said and bolted.
Shelby rolled her eyes, "why'd you go and freak out the new girl? If she runs, we all have to do toilets."
David became hostile, "I didn't do anything. I was just being friendly. I didn't know she was nuts."
Daisy, Shelby, Scott, Ezra, Augusto and Juliette all went to find the girl. David sat down and ate his food. They spread out, not sure if she ran into the woods or was hiding in one of the buildings. Ezra, Augusto and Juliette went to check the ground by the tree line. The other three went to check the dorms and buildings. She wasn't in the shed, or by the wood pile, so they went to search the dorms.
"Shelby, tell Scott that she's in here," Daisy called out from their dorm.
The girls walked into their dorm, while Scott waited outside until they said it was ok for him to come in. The new girl was crammed between the wall and a bed. She had her head on her knees and she was hugging them to her chest.
"Scott move the bed a bit, so we can get closer," Shelby suggested.
He did as asked. "What's wrong with her?"
"None of us know, she won't talk. What she said to David was the most we've heard out of her."
Daisy added, "she's broken like the rest of us."
Shelby sighed, "I'll go tell the others to stop looking for her."
Daisy moved towards the girl, "hey remember what I said, David is an ass. Just ignore him."
Scott crawled across the bed to get closer. Chris saw him coming and started screaming. She didn't know she was screaming, in her mind all she was doing was saying "no".
Both Scott and Daisy jumped back. "Scott go get Peter, fast."
Scott ran out the door, almost taking out Shelby and the others in process. "She's freaking out, help me find Peter."
Everyone split up to find either Peter or Sophie. Scott and Augusto found Peter at the same time. Augusto filled Peter in on what happened with David and Scott explained what was happening in the dorm. They jogged back to the dorm.
"Okay the rest of you go back to diner. Thanks for coming to get me," Peter said to the Cliff Hangers, as they had all returned. Then he went inside.
Daisy saw Peter and explained. "As soon as we backed off, she stopped screaming."
"Thanks for trying to help her. I've got it from here, you can go finish diner now."
Peter cautiously approached the distressed girl, like she was a wild animal backed into a corner. "Christine you're safe here. You can talk to me." When she didn't respond, he just talked in a calm voice. He described activities they did at the school and up coming athletic competitions. When he noticed she had stopped rocking, he asked her directly, "Christine would you like to finish diner?"
She responded almost at a whisper. "My name is Chris. Christine died when my soul did."
"Chris let's go to diner," Peter repeated using the requested name. He stood up and held out his hand.
Without accepting his hand, she stood up. He lead her outside and she followed. They walked across the courtyard and into the dining hall. Almost everyone had already finished and cleaned up. Her plate was where she left it. She sat down and returned to eating.
Peter found the other Cliff Hangers by the fire place, hanging out on the couches. "Once Chris is done eating, we are having a group meeting to discuss respecting personal space." He left them alone for the time being.
On the way to group they finally all heard Chris talk. "Don't touch me and we'll all get along just fine."
David under his breath said, "whatever you say Spaz."
Chris heard and before anyone could respond she stopped right in front of him. She drew an invisible circle around her, "this is my space and unless you're invited, stay out of it. Because next time I won't run and you'll regret it."
"Is that a threat?" David challenged.
"No that's a fact." Chris turned her back on him and continued walking again, trying to appear tough.
Everyone except Daisy clapped. Shelby grinned, "she just bitch slapped you, without touching you. I like her."
They all sat down in the circle of chairs, but once again Chris remained mute. She observed the others interact with each other and Peter. From what was said she determined that the blond named Shelby had been sexually abused. Juliette the brunette had issues with her mom that cause an eating disorder. The tall blond guy, Scott, had been raped by his step mom. Augusto, also known as Auggie came from a gang and had dyslexia. Daisy was just plain morbid and her parents were drunks. Ezra had a crush on Daisy, but he also had parental issues and tried to kill himself using drugs. David was an antagonistic jerk, which had to do with his dad being a military General and bully. They were all damaged some how. They'd been at the high school a while. Shelby and Scott were a couple, Auggie and Juliette were an item too, Daisy liked David, for some unknown reason. Chris was the outsider and that's the way she intended to stay. Friendships meant you had to feel something. She needed to stay numb. Otherwise she'd mentally break and she couldn't handle that, not here.
