Thanks for all the reviews! You guys are too kind! Sorry for taking so long to update! I'm working on getting faster! Thanks for reading! Happy Thursday!
Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.
-Maria Robinson
"Well, Soph, it looks like we found the party." Peter said, smiling as he and his fiance entered the Cliffhanger girl's cabin, seeing everyone already there. He kept a smile plastered on his face even though he could feel tension in the room and could see it on the kid's faces.
"Welcome back everyone!" Peter said excitedly. "I was going to move us into the lodge, but since-"
"Where's David?" Daisy asked, not even caring that she interrupted Peter.
Peter sighed, knowing Daisy would probably be the most affected by David's non-existent return. Sophie decided to step in and answered for Peter. "David's father thought it was best that David take a shot at military life. General Ruxton feels it's in David's best interest."
Daisy rolled her eyes. "Since when do parent's know what their child's best interest is?'
Peter smiled and shook his head. "That is something Daisy that we have all year to discuss in group, which brings me to my next point. Group! Roger is currently in the boy's cabin doing luggage checks and I was going to have us meet in the lodge and do a quick group, but since we're already all in here, we can do it now."
Auggie let out an audible groan as Shelby slumped on her bed. "We haven't even been here ten minutes, can you hold off on the sharing our feelings and picking our brains for a bit?" Shelby asked, rolling her eyes.
"No." Peter said, studying Shelby, hoping she would magically open up and tell him what happened this summer. "So everyone, find a seat and get comfortable."
Daisy fell onto the bed next to Shelby, giving her a small smile. Juliette bounced happily onto her bed, while Scott took a seat on the floor in front of her next to Ezra. Auggie leaned up against the wall, throwing a distasteful glance in Juliette's direction.
"Now," Sophie said, "let's go around the room and some up the summer in one word. Ezra?"
Ezra sighed, why did he always have to go first? "Um, hectic. Auggie?"
"Eye-opening." Auggie smirked. "I guess that was kind of two words, huh? Meat?"
"Lonely." Scott said, staring directly at Shelby. He considered calling on her next, but he didn't want her to feel like he was attacking her all at once. She seemed kind of on edge. "Juliette?"
"Rewarding!" She replied, feeling skinny and beautiful. "Daisy?"
"Dreadful." Daisy said, remembering the scarf and blanket she knitted. "Shelby?"
"Fine."
Sophie was about to ask for a more elaborative word, but Peter cut her off. He didn't want to push too hard too soon. "Alright, well it seems you guys remember how to group just fine. You're lucky I'm taking it easy on you. You have two hours before dinner. I want you guys to take that time to get settled in and catch up. After dinner, we will have another group and give out your school schedules. Saturday and Sunday we will be on quest, and Monday school starts. Any questions?"
A few people mumbled a no or a smart ass remark, but other than that all seemed to be normal in the Cliffhanger cabin.
"Alright! See you guys at dinner! And for the record, it's great to have you all back!" Peter said, beaming at the group. "Also, Shelby, Juliette, can you two come here a second?"
"Whatever that skeleton said, I haven't done anything. Yet." Shelby said, slowly making her way over to Peter and Sophie with Juliette on her heels.
Juliette rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Shelby. Obviously, your attitude didn't change over the summer."
"Enough." Sophie said, frustrated with the fact the girls were already bickering. Peter just shook his head. "Look, I'm going to need you both to be down at the infirmary in fifteen minutes."
"Why?" Shelby asked defensively, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Because," Peter said, staring at her, "if for any reason I feel a student has been harmed, is hurt, or sick, by law I have to have that student checked out. Which means, both of you down to the infirmary in fifteen minutes."
The rest of the Cliffhangers looked on, wondering what the little powwow was about. The hushed, muffled tones made them even more curious.
"But I'm not hurt! I haven't been cutting, I swear!" Juliette said, feeling hurt Peter would even assume such a thing.
"I'm not saying you did, and honestly, that thought didn't even cross my mind. I just want your blood sugar level checked and things. I just want to make sure you are healthy is all." Peter said, giving her a comforting shoulder squeeze.
Shelby rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well I don't look like a set of bones so why do I have to go?"
Sophie gave Shelby a pointed glare. "I think you know the answer to that, Shelby."
"As a matter of fact, I don't, why don't you share?" Shelby challenged, staring down Sophie and Peter.
Peter sighed in frustration. Was it really possible she was going to be harder to deal with that last year? He didn't think she could come back anymore angry and bitter than she was when he first met her. "Shelby, there are noticeable bruising on your body. I want you to have a once over just to make sure there aren't any problems internally or anywhere else. Okay?"
"No." Shelby said loudly and defiantly, not caring that she was throwing a tantrum or causing a scene.
"You don't have a choice, there wasn't a question there." Peter said, scolding at the rest of the Cliffhangers who watched on with curiosity.
"Story of my life." Shelby said, shaking her head at Peter. "Nobody gives me a choice. Nobody ever asks what I want. You're just like every man I know." She said, stalking past them and pushing the door open to make her way down to the nurses station.
Peter watched her walk away, feeling hurt. Had she just indirectly compared him to her step father? The pain was evident on his face, and Sophie slipped her hand into his.
"We'll, I guess I'll be going now." Juliette said, feeling awkward. Peter nodded at her and him and Sophie followed Juliette out the door.
"Don't worry about it, Mountain Man." Sophie said. "She will come around. Give her time."
Ezra peeked out the window to make sure the counselors were gone. "Well, that was intense." He said, shaking his head. "Man, I feel like I need to get high after that."
"Shut up, EZ." Auggie said, giving him a friendly slap on the back.
Scott looked over to Daisy, hoping she had answers for all the questions running through his head. "What's wrong with Shelby?"
Daisy shrugged. "You're guess is as good as mine. I didn't hear from her all summer."
"Me either," Scott said, sighing. "Is she mad at me or something?"
Daisy rolled her eyes. "You never change do you, Jocko? It's not always about you. I'm can only assume Shelby had a really shitty summer, probably one that would make my knitting experience seem like a blast."
"Maybe she got a new boyfriend?" Ezra said, shrugging.
Scott glared at Ezra. "Shut it EZ, before I shut it for you."
"Chill, Meat." Auggie said, looking out the window at Juliette walking across the courtyard. "Maybe she is just readjusting? It's not like Shelby has ever been the nicest or friendliest girl. She seemed pretty normal to me."
"Maybe." Scott said, his conscience still not at ease.
"When she is ready to talk she will." Daisy said, pulling out a purple velvet pouch out of her bag. "Besides, we have more pressing matters to discuss."
Daisy laid her tarot cards on the bed. "Who's first?" She said, with a grin.