Alright, this is my first one of these, so bare with me.
This story will include all the cliffhangers: Scott, Shelby, Auggie, Juliette, Daisy, Ezra, David, and Kat. Plus another addition named Tristan, who came to Horizon three weeks back because he was caught driving under the influence underage.
The story starts out with one more addition coming to Horizon, a
teenage girl named Orion. Orion is from Brooklyn, NY, and comes from a very poor and dysfunctional family. She is fifteen, and has long blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes. She is extremely pretty, but does not think highly of herself. Orion is half Columbian, so she is fluent in Spanish. Her mother died of cancer a few years back and her father remarried. Her father and step-mother are abusive addicts, but Orion no longer lives with them; she lives in an apartment with her band mates and best friends Jason (Orion's brother), Zach, Pat, and Skylark. They belong to a "sort-of" gang containing a bunch of street kids just trying to make it. They manage to make rent and such by playing gigs and stealing cars, which is why Orion is being sent to Horizon. For stealing a car, and also being in possession of a weapon; a switchblade which she always carried. Now on with the story.
'with bold writing means Orion is thinking.'
'The last few months had been amazing. The band was beginning to get noticed, I was partying with my friends all the time, and I was living in an apartment with my best friends in the world. Who knew all the good times would end? Who knew, that I, Orion Flighter, would get caught stealing a car?'
The last few weeks had been a blur to Orion. She had been arrested while attempting to steal a car. This came as a shock to everyone on the streets, as Orion and her group of friends could drive or steal anything with four wheels. It was obvious she had been set up, and that person had paid dearly for his mistake; he would never walk again. Orion has friends in high places. Her reputation, as well as her brother's and friend's, were highly held in the neighborhood. They were protected. But now, Orion is being taken away from everything she knew, everything she had; as little as she did have, it meant the world to her.
Her father and step-mother had not been present at her hearing. This was not surprising, her parents lived in a totally different world and Orion and Jason had not lived at home for more than six months. The judge, who decided to take it easy on the fifteen year old, told her she would be attending Mount Horizon, a school where she would get straightened out. Orion had looked him square in the eye and asked to be sent to juvi. Because in juvi, Orion would have friends and protectors. In juvi, you could smoke and drink and they could care less. Besides, Orion had never even left New York before.
"You're gunna be fine, kid, I promise." Jason, Orion's brother said, pulling her in for a hug.
"Yeah, don't worry, you'll be back before you know it." Her band mates said, too bad it sounded incredibly unconvincing.
The cop that was escorting Orion to the airport had obviously had enough of the goodbyes, as he grabbed Orion and handcuffed her.
"I don't have all fucking day you know!" He screamed.
'Cops are all such assholes to street kids. And they wonder why they don't get any respect.' Orion thought.
"Whatever, pig, let's go." She replied.
The drive to the airport felt like an eternity, and Orion had always hated handcuffs. Once in the airport, people stared at her like she was the scum of the earth. Under any other circumstances, Orion would have freaked out on them, but today was different. Today was the day everything was going to change.
A middle-aged woman stood waiting at the gate. The cop, rather forcibly, guided Orion over to her.
"Are you Miss James?" The officer questioned.
"Yes," she replied, shaking his hand.
The two conversed for a while, forgetting Orion was even there. From the way she talked to the way she flipped her hair, it was obvious that Miss James was one of those over-excited, hyper people. Finally, as if Orion had not been there the whole time, Miss James turned to her and smiled.
"You must be Orion. You are going to love Horizon…." Orion stopped listening there. This lady was a moron. Before she knew it the cop nudged her and smirked.
"Have a nice four hour plane ride with her, kid." He taunted. He handed Miss James the keys to the handcuffs, advised her not to remove them until they got to the camp, and took off.
"Fuck you." She replied coolly after him.
The plane ride was uneventful. Orion simply listened to music while Miss James kept up a lively chatter, thinking she was listening. They arrived at Horizon at around three in the afternoon.
'Oh great, it's nothing like Brooklyn. It's a forest.' Orion thought.
Orion met a guy named Peter and her counselor named Sophie. She was told she would be in a group called the cliffhangers. Orion just put herself in neutral; nodding at the appropriate times, answering some questions, and being polite. However, she was soon shifted out of neutral when her bags were checked. Inside had been a pack of cigarettes, a flask of vodka, and her switchblade.
"We do not allow any of these items here," Peter said. Obviously, Orion had not been listening to his explanation of the rules earlier. Orion had simply shrugged and asked for one last cigarette. Peter shook his head no, and then re-explained the rules, hoping this time she was listening.
All of a sudden, Orion noticed she was still handcuffed.
"Can we get these off already?" She asked impatiently.
Miss James fumbled with the key for a few minutes, until Orion ripped them out of her hand and did it herself.
"Goddamn could you take any longer?" She questioned Miss James.
Miss James took this as a cue to leave, and left with a hurt look on her face.
Peter cocked and eyebrow at Sophie, who simple shrugged.
"Try listening to her ramble on for four hours," Orion told them.
Before any of them could respond, a breathless African-American girl walked in.
"Sorry I'm late Peter" the girl stated.
"It's okay Kat." He answered.
Peter introduced the two girls and Kat led Orion on a tour of camp. Orion did not like it her. She loved the bright lights of the city. She loved staying out all night, drinking on the tops of buildings, and playing shows. Her reminiscing was cut short by a bell ringing.
"Dinner, you get to meet all the other cliffhangers now." Kat told her.
Orion nodded, 'Maybe someone here will be like me.'
As Kat and Orion walked over to the cliffhanger table, they all looked up, surprised to see another member being added to their group.
"Everyone this is Orion. Orion this is Shelby, Scott, Juliette, Daisy, Tristan, Ezra, Auggie, and David."
A chorus of 'heys' and 'what's ups' greeted Orion. She returned them with a smile and a nod and then sat down to the left of Kat and next to David. He immediately started questioning her.
"What happened to your lip? Why are you here? How old are you? Do you
have a boyfriend?"
Orion simply looked at the boy. She had never met anyone who could talk as fast as David.
"Don't mind him, David is ADD." Shelby teased.
"It's cool." Orion replied, before digging into her food.
"If you didn't realize already, the food is horrible here." Auggie stated.
Orion shrugged," Where I come from, if there's food in front of you, you eat it."
"Well aren't you just a tough little street punk?" Said a voice.
All of them looked up and Shelby smirked," If it isn't Tina, rolling out the welcome wagon."
"Just shut it Tina, this has nothing to do with you," Daisy said.
Tina ignored her and walked over to Orion.
"So, you're the new girl. Stand up, let's get a look at you."
Orion ignored the girl and simply turned back to her food.
"Don't look away from me." Tina said coldly.
'Who the hell does this girl think she is,' Orion thought,' I hope she knows I have no problems kicking her ass if she disrespects me.'
"Alright, we get it, Tina, go away." Scott said.
Tina, however, wanted the new girl to be afraid of her. She needed
the satisfaction of knowing that she could control her. So, she grabbed
Orion by the shoulders and forced her to look at her.
Orion looked coolly at the girl before stating," Get your fucking hands off of me."
Tina laughed and pulled Orion up from her seat and spat," I know your mother died of cancer. What would she think of you if she saw where you ended up? She would probably fall right back into her grave."
All the cliffhangers sat frozen. Tina had always been a bitch, but she had never crossed the line like that before.
Orion felt her face get hot. She pushed Tina roughly and furiously stated," Don't you ever talk about my mother like that."
Tina glared at her and icily said," Your mother was nothing more than a crack whore."
It was then that Orion grew too furious for simply words. She lunged at Tina, and with all that she had learned on the streets, began beating this girl into a bloody pulp. Suddenly, Orion felt herself being lifted up, off of Tina, who was screaming and crying hysterically.
"She hit me!" Tina wailed.
Peter was grasping Orion in his strong arms. The girl was screaming a swarm of curse words and kept trying to escape his grasp in order to go after Tina again.
"Jeff!" Peter called to one of the counselors," Get Tina out of here."
Jeff obliged and took the frantic girl to the infirmary. It was then when Orion regained her composure. She felt everyone staring at her.
"What? I did what I had to do." Orion stated icily.
"That, is not how we deal with things at Horizon." Peter panted.
"Yeah, well that's how we deal with things in Brooklyn."
"Orion, my office, now." Peter said sternly.
Orion sighed.
'Great, it's my first day and I'm already in trouble. Whatever.'
Orion took off and all the cliffhangers just stared at each other.
"I think you just lost your title for Horizon bad girl, Shelby." Ezra commented.
"EZ, come on man," Auggie said.
"What?" Shelby questioned, "He's right, the girl can fight."
Tristan smirked. He was happy. There was another street kid at Horizon, just like him.