Disclaimer: Hey! I don't own Peter, Sophie, Shelby, Scott etc. I do own Ashley, Sean and anyone else you don't recognize. Cat's in college, David's a regular Cliffhanger, Peter and Sophie are engaged and living together. Scott and Shelby are going out, as are Auggie and Jules. The whole Ezra, Daisy, David thing is going to continue in my story but it will be resolved in the end, DON'T WORRY. I've stopped writing this in TV format, cos it was just getting annoying. Tell me which writing style you like better. On with the story... ( ~ means thoughts )
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THE CLIFFHANGERS RETURN
Chapter 4
Sophie walks out of the AD building and towards the girls dorm
Sophie: OK guys, get up, breakfast in half an hour
Ashley: Oh God, please make her go away.
Shelby: I second that
Jules skips out of the bathroom and plops down on Ashley's bed
Jules: Come on guys, it's a beautiful day
Ashley: Someone take her batteries out
Daisy (just woken up): Your nearest
Ashley: Your right. She sits up in bed and pushes Jules onto an unsuspecting Shelby's bed.
Shelby: Ahhhhhhhh, what the hell, Jules go away. She pushes Jules back onto a once again sleeping Ashley.
Ashley: Ahh, God Jules.
Sophie: Juliet I think it would be safest if you just went ahead to breakfast.
Jules *still perky*: Yeah I think you're right. Bye guys and she
walks out the door.
Ashley turns to Sophie: I thought you said drugs weren't allowed here.
Sophie looks confused: They're not. Why?
Ashley drags herself onto her feet. 'There is no way she is naturally that perky, she's hiding pep pills here somewhere.
Shelby: Yeah, I mean she's worse this year.
Daisy: Hmmm, searching Juliet's stuff for pills could be fun.
Sophie looks at the three who are standing in a line in front of her. 'Don't even think about it. Breakfast is in 20 so get dressed, Now!'
Sophie walks out of the dorm and all three girls turn around and try to walk into the bathroom. They all try to get through the door at the same time and end up in a big pile on the floor.
Shelby, Daisy, Ashley: Owww!
Ashley: Well, my foot's nearest the shower. Guess that means I get first dibs.
Shelby and Daisy groan.
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Later That Day
All the Cliffhangers are gathered around one of the picnic tables. Peter steps out of the lodge and walks towards them.
Peter: Hey guys
'hey' 'hey Peter' hi Peter'
Peter: So Ezra, Sophie said your intake went fine, how was the trip?
Ezra: It was OK, Dad tried to buy my love so yeah, thumbs up!
Peter: That's good. OK, I want all of you in the lodge right after dinner, we have a new cliffhanger coming.
Shelby: Another one, don't you think we have enough? No offense Ash, but come on, David was just a tragedy.
Ashley: Wait if we're getting a newbie, that means I won't be called that anymore. They're stealing my name!
Peter: I thought you hated that name?
Ashley: Well, I do...... but still.
Ezra: Yeah Peter, look they're not even here yet and they're already upsetting Ashley!
Peter: Nice try guys. His name's Sean Miller and he WILL be here after dinner. See you later.
Peter walks off and the Cliffhangers turn back around towards each other.
Jules smirks: It's a guy, maybe this will be a good thing.
Everyone turns to her shocked. Auggie looks hurt
Auggie: Jules...... I
Juliet sees his face and playfully punches him: no for me silly! I have you (she hugs him.) I mean for Ashley, then everyone will have someone, well except for the whole Daisy, Ezra, David thing.
David and Ezra were fighting on the ground over who could tie Daisy's shoe lace. She sighed in frustration, tied her own shoe and walked off so none of the three had heard Juliet's comment.
Ashley: Um...... he's not even her yet and you already have us paired up? I don't think so!
Shelby: Oh come on Ash, he could be really cute!
Scott : Hey! He puts on a hurt face but Shelby just kisses him.
Ashley: Well judging from the guys here already I'm doubting he will be.
Jules: Yeah, me and Shel got the best two.
Shelby: I'll second that. She starts kissing Scott
Ashley: I'll see, if he's not a total jerk than maybe, and I mean maybe, no matchmaking Jules.
Jules: I promise. She turns around and starts kissing Auggie.
Ashley's sitting in-between two kissing couples with Ezra and David still fighting on the ground. Ashley look around
Ashley thinks: ~ Maybe Jules is right, I so need to get away from all this love lorn crap. Maybe we can be friends? God what am I thinking, he'll probably be a jerk like they all are, but I still want a friend. Geez, even David and Ezra have each other ~ She laughs and walks off leaving the two couples and David and Ezra to themselves.
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After Dinner
All the Cliffhangers make their way into the lodge where they sit down and wait for Peter and the newbie. Everyone starts talking and no-one notices when Peter walks in.
Peter: Ahem!
Everyone turns around and gives him their attention. Peter stands to the side, revealing a tall guy behind him. He's wearing jeans, a wife-beater, an open black shirt and he has sandy hair (AKA. a total cutie)
Peter: Guys this is Sean, the newest member of the Cliffhangers.
he just glares at the Cliffhangers
Jules: Hi, welcome to the Cliffhangers.
Sean just looks at her blankly
Peter sees the awkwardness: OK um, Aug why don't you give Sean the tour, show him the dorms and we'll meet you back here at group.
Sean: Group?
Ashley *sarcastically*: it's where we share all our pained pasts and good ole Peter here, along with his soon-to-be-wife, tries to help us heal, and move on.
Sean smiles: Sounds great
Ashley: it is compared to the food.
Sean smiles and leaves with Auggie
Peter: OK, the rest of you can go do your homework.
Shelby *sarcastically: Oh joy!
The guys run off to their dorms after Scott finally breaks away from Shelby and the girls slowly make their way across campus.
Jules: He's really cute!
Shelby: Got a pretty bad attitude though
Daisy: What do you expect from a newbie? Come on, you and Ash had worse attitudes when you got here, and yours lasted nearly a year! Cat told me yours had gotten worse by the time I arrived.
Shelby pushes Daisy and Ashley laughs
Jules: So Ash......(she stops walking and grabs Ashley's arm) what do you think?
Ashley rolls her eyes: You promised me you wouldn't turn into little miss-matchmaker, remember?
Jules: I know, and I'm not going to, but really. What do you think?
Shelby: So...
Ashley: OK, yeah he's really cute but god I'm not that desperate, I don't need to chase after the first cute guy I see.
Shelby: Um, yeah you do, that's how I got Scott
Jules smiles: Yeah but I got him first
Shelby smiles: Yeah, wasn't it great how he realized I was better than you?
Jules' smile fades: Yeah well...... (she smiles) I've got Auggie now!
Jules runs off into the dorm leaving the three outside.
Shelby: I didn't say this but maybe Jules is right. Look we'll get the guys to see if he's cool or not, OK?
Ashley sighs: fine, whatever.
Shelby: oh come on, he is a hottie!
Ashley smiles: Yeah I know
Shelby links arms with Ash: That's the spirit, you gotta get them fast or else you'll end up like Daisy.
Daisy: Hey, I'm not happy about my situation either OK? So Ash, yeah pick him now, it'll save you sooooo much trouble.
They all laugh and walk into the dorm to do their homework
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Boys Dorm
Auggie and Sean walk in
Auggie: And this is the dorm, you can have that bed over there by Ez, and this is your closet space.
Sean: Great.
Auggie: Hey man, it's not so bad here, 'cept the food. .
Sean smiles: yeah that chick said something about the food.
Auggie smiles: yeah, that was Ashley, she's cool... so you into her or what
Sean looks surprised: What? No, I mean, I don't know man, I was just saying.
Auggie: Whatever. Lets go to group
they leave the dorm and meet the girls outside. Jules hugs Auggie the minute she sees him and they walk off ahead of the others.
Daisy: So, Sean... what do you think of Horizon so far?
Sean *sarcastically*: It's great. *serious* I like the view though.
Ashley: Yeah, I love the mountains. She laughs, 'wait till they drag you off on some quest' she points to the woods 'the view in there is awesome'.
Shelby: So you're a woods guy
Sean: Yeah, I guess, I used to go up the mountains all the time at home.
Shelby: Wow, cos Ashley's a woods person too, aren't you Ash.
Ashley glares at Shelby: Yeah, I guess
Shelby smiles: Come on Dais, lets get a good seat for group.
They run off leaving Sean and Ashley alone
Sean: Um, that was weird.
Ashley: Yeah they do weird like they invented the word (*quote* from Attention Deficit #13, Shelby says it about David.)
Sean laughs slightly: So how bad is it here really?
Ashley: Well I haven't been here that long but so far it's better than home. I like it.
Sean: Yeah, so you're a 'newbie' too, huh?
Ashley smiles: Well I was until today, you stole my name.
They laugh and walk into the lodge. Everyone else is sitting in a circle and they all look surprise when they see Ashley and Sean walk in laughing.
Peter whispers to Sophie: Do we have another Scott and Shelby?
Sophie smiles: OK guys, take a seat and we'll get started.
Ashley goes and sits by Shelby and Sean sits by her. Shelby, Daisy and Jules smile seeing that Sean picked the seat next to Ashley instead of one of the other vacant seats in the room.
Peter smiles seeing Sean sit by Ashley: OK, I want you to describe the person to your left in one word...Actually no, lets change that. I want you to pick any person in this room and describe them in a word. If someone has already been picked you can't pick them again, OK? I'll start, Jules (he picks Jules because he knows she'll pick Sean to see if he'll pick Ashley, which he also wants to know) Jules is strong.
Juliet smiles at Peter and says: Sean......Sean is um, interesting.
Sean looks at Juliet strangely: Um, thanks. OK ah...
Peter: You can pick anyone in the circle except Jules.
Sean: OK, um...Ashley.
Shelby and Daisy smile widely and Jules squeals. Everyone turns and looks at her 'sorry'.
Sean: Um...Ashley is...intriguing.
Ash looks at him and smiles: OK, ah David is weird.
The group laughs and everyone goes around the circle describing each other. The last person to be picked is Daisy
Daisy: Wow, I'm last. I'm touched that you all care so much. Well, Sophie's the only person left so......Sophie is...mysterious.
Sophie laughs: Thanks Dais.
Peter: OK guys, back to the dorms. Lights out in half an hour.
The cliffhangers get up and leave. The second they get outside they all break off into their little groups. Scott and Shelby sneak off to the docks, Auggie brings Jules to the art shed to show her his new painting (yeah right) and Daisy walks off to the dorm, David and Ezra following her. Which leaves Ashley and Sean alone, again. They start walking to the dorms in silence, Ash breaks it when they reach the top of the steps. She turns around and looks at him strangely
Ashley: So......I'm intriguing huh?
Sean laughs: Yeah, you are.
Ashley smirks: I'll take that as a compliment then.
Sean: It is
Ashley: Well, thanks
Sean: No problem
Ashley: Before you go in can I ask you something?
Sean: Sure, go ahead
Ashley: How am I intriguing?
Sean smiles: I don't know, just from what you've said so far, you're background sounds similar to mine. Scarily like mine. I mean all the guys said they like it here but they'd prefer to be home. That's the last place I wanna be.
Ashley: Yeah, lots of similarities.
Sean: Maybe sometime we can compare notes, you know see whose story is worse, I'll probably win.
Ashley smiles awkwardly: Maybe
Sean: Well, goodnight.
Ashley: Night.
Sean walks into his dorm leaving Ashley with a worried look on her face. Shelby walks up behind her and taps her on the shoulder.
Ashley: Oh, hey Shel.
Shelby smiles: So how'd it go? are you two official yet?
Ashley: No, and I don't think we ever will be.
Shelby looks confused: Why? He totally digs you!
Ashley: It's not him OK
Shelby: OK. So did he tell you why he's here yet?
Ashley: Not exactly.
Shelby: Well let me give you some advice. If he does tell you about his past, he's probably going to want to know about your past. That's what happened with me and Scott. He told me about his life before he told anyone else, even Peter. He told me everything and then of course he wanted to know about me. I wasn't exactly ready to share all the colorful details about my pre-Horizon life so I avoided the subject. Eventually everything came out. We were on a hike and I just exploded, everyone found out about my life. As ashamed as I was, I felt a lot better that someone knew. Letting it out just made me feel... It made me feel free, you know. I'm not saying you should tell him everything, but you will feel better once you tell. If you keep it in it'll just eat you up. I'm here if you wanna talk, you know that right?
Ashley: Yeah, thanks Shel
Shelby: Don't worry about it. Just think about what I said OK.
She walks into the dorm, leaving Ashley alone with her thoughts.
Ashley: ~ I can't tell him, he'll never be able to look at me again. But Shelby's right, it's eating me up. it's getting harder and harder to keep it a secret, Peter almost cracked me that time, and that was the first day! Maybe if I just tell part of my secret I'll feel better, but I can't tell Sean. I have to let some of this out. I can't last much longer ~
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Peter's Office
Sophie: I'll just do a bed-check and meet you at the truck
Peter: OK.
He locks his office and walks towards the truck. Sophie walks up the steps of the ridgerunner girls dorm and looks in 'OK there'. She does the same with the trackers and seems confidant they're all where they should be. She walks around the art shed towards the Cliffhanger girls dorm and sees Ashley sitting on the steps looking at the stars. Sophie walks up the steps but Ashley doesn't see her. She sits down beside her and Ashley jumps.
Ashley: God you scared me
Sophie: Sorry. Any particular reason you're out here?
Ashley: Couldn't sleep
Sophie looks at Ashley and sees the tears in her eyes.
Sophie: why can't you sleep
Ashley sighs: Too much to think about
Sophie: Like what
She looks at Ashley and hopes she doesn't shut her out.
Ashley: um, nothing
Sophie: If it's nothing why are you out here?
Ashley sighs: you really are good at this psychology thing aren't you
Sophie smiles: I try......so are you going to tell me what's wrong
Ashley looks at Sophie and sighs: My um, my records. My mom lied on them.
Sophie: What's missing?
Ashley: it ah, it says that my, um, My dad abused her and me for 12 years.
Sophie: Yeah
Ashley: it's not true, he only abused me
Sophie looks shocked: What?
Ashley looks out at the forest: For 12 years my father beat me up and my mother did nothing to stop him, she actually helped once. He never touched her. It was just me
Sophie: I'm sorry, we had no idea. I thought your mother testified in court that he abused her.
Ashley: um, yeah. He hit her once. For 12 stupid years he beat me, then one day, he hit her. He hit her once and she called the police. (Ashley starts getting mad) she took one beating from him and she rang the police, I took it for 12 years and she did nothing to help me. And you guys said she actually cares about me. Yeah right.
Sophie: Ashley I'm sorry, we never would have said that if we knew...
Ashley (still looking at the forest): I know. I'm not blaming you. You and Peter are the only people who have ever listened to me, how could I blame you?...... it's my fault
Sophie: No, it's not. It is not your fault...Ashley, honey, look at me.
Ashley reluctantly breaks her gaze away from the forest
Sophie: It is not your fault, do you hear me? it's not your fault Ash......Your parents hurt and abused you but it is their fault, not yours.
Ashley nods
Sophie: I'll have to tell Peter about this, but only because we need this information on your records in case your parents try to pull you from here. If they do, we can use this information to petition the courts to keep you here. OK
Ashley: yeah, fine.
Sophie: Ash, I'm sorry. We should have picked up on this sooner.
Ashley: I should have told you
Sophie: Are you gonna be OK?
Ashley: Um, yeah. I feel better now that I've told someone.
Sophie gives her a sympathetic smile: OK night. They get up and Sophie turns to walk down the steps
Ashley: Sophie?
Sophie turns around
Ashley: Thanks.
Sophie: No problem, that's what I'm here for.
She hugs Ashley and sees Peter walking towards the dorm. He stops when he sees her hugging Ashley. Sophie lets her go
Ashley: Night
Sophie: Yeah.
Ashley goes into the dorm and Sophie walks over to Peter.
Peter: What's wrong. Is Ashley OK?
Sophie: No, I don't think she is. We need to go back to the office and add something to her file.
Peter sighs, he always hates when something bad comes out about the kids. It's just another thing he can't protect them from : Is it bad?
Sophie: Yeah, it is.
They walk over to the lodge and go in. Sean comes out of the shadows behind the girls dorm with a shocked look on his face. 'I guess we're more alike than we thought'.
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The Next Morning
Ashley barely slept at all so she went to breakfast early. She didn't expect anyone to be there but to her surprise she saw Sean sitting at the Cliffhanger table picking at his food. She picks up a tray and walks over.
Sean sees her and looks surprised. He stutters: Hey, you're, um, I mean your up, ah, early.
Ashley: Yeah. Are you OK?
Sean looks back at his food: I'm fine
Ashley: OK. SO what are you doing up so early? I'm doubting your an early riser.
Sean smiles awkwardly: No, I'm not. I, um. I didn't really sleep last night.
Ashley sighs: Yeah, I can relate.
Sean pushes his tray away from him: You know I'm not really hungry. You ah, you wanna go take a walk or something.
Ashley: Yeah, sure.
They put their trays in the trash and walk out of the empty lodge. Ashley starts walking towards the docks and Sean follows her.
Sean: Where are we going?
Ashley: The docks, they're really pretty this time of day.
They walk down the dock and sit n the edge.
Sean: Your right, it's really beautiful out here.
Ashley: Yeah
They sit in silence for a few minutes just enjoying the view. Finally Sean plucks up the courage to say what had caused him to lose so much sleep the night before.
Sean: I have to tell you something.
Ashley: OK. What is it
Sean takes a deep breath: I um, I overheard you and Sophie last night. He looks over at her. She looks shocked.
Ashley looks at the water: You did
Sean: Yeah...and I just wanted to say that I know how you feel and that if you ever want to talk, I'm here.
Ashley looks at him: how do know how I feel
Sean sighs and looks away: You guys have probably been wondering why I'm here.
Ashley: A bit, I guess
Sean sighs: 2 years ago, my brother died... my twin brother. Justin got hit by a car and he died in hospital. We were, ah really close and I took his...death really bad. I acted out, fighting, drinking, stealing, you know anything to make me forget, except drugs. I never did drugs and I never will. Justin was totally against drugs, doing them would make me feel like I was betraying him. It got so bad I was nearly kicked out of school. My parents decided that maybe if I got away from all the memories of Justin I would settle down, so they sent me to live with my uncle in Florida. At first it was OK, you know I think getting away from that town was good for me, it helped me to see was I was doing to myself. My behavior got under control and my grades started going back up, I was never an A student, but I wasn't flunking all my classes anymore so they were happy. Everything was going OK, until my uncle started drinking. He worked for this big corporate company and was supposedly under a lot of pressure. He hit the bottle and he hit it hard. He would come home every night drunk out of his mind... and beat the crap outta me. He was a big guy, so he could do some serious damage. One night he nearly killed me, and I just flipped. I was sick of him always in my face so I called the police. They came and found my uncle completely wasted and me looking like crap, and took him away. He was sent to rehab, he's still there. My parents were really shuck up by what happened and I think they blamed themselves. They knew that if they brought me back to that house, I would freak like I did before, so they sent me here.
Ashley listened in silence throughout Sean's whole story, just being a comforting ear. She knew he had to get it all out so she stayed quiet. Once she was sure he was finished, she contemplated on what to say.
Ashley: Sean, I'm sorry you had to go through all that.
Sean: Peter and them know all this already. It's all in my file, there's no missing pieces or anything. The thing with my uncle was bad but that's not why I'm here, well not really. The point of me being here is to get over Justin' death, I got over the uncle thing already. In a way I'm glad it happened, I'm not saying I enjoyed it, but I never would have come here if it hadn't of happened and I'm glad I'm here. Being in that house would just bring everything back you know, and I'm not ready for that...not yet.
Ashley: I know what you mean. Home is the place most people feel safest in, then there's that little majority that we're in. The group of people that find home the place that can do the most damage to them.
Sean: Yeah.
Ashley: Thanks for telling me your story, I know it must have been hard.
Sean: I needed to get it out. For some reason I couldn't say it to Peter or even my parents, that's the first time I've ever really told anyone... thanks for listening.
Ashley: that's what friends are for right.
Sean: Yeah it is. So when you have to get your story out, I'll be here. But I'm not going to push you, tell me when your ready.
Ashley: Thanks Sean, that means a lot.
He smiles and puts his arm around her shoulder, letting the reality of what had just happened sink into both of their minds. Little did they know that they were both secretly hoping that not only would they become good friends but much more.
Shelby and Scott walk out of the dorms and start to make their way down to the docks. They stop when they see Sean and Ashley sitting there.
Scott: I guess they hit it off
Shelby: I don't know. I think they're just going to be friends for a while. You know what they say, a good friend is hard to come by. I don't think either of them are ready to risk losing that by complicating everything with that love stuff.
Scott: oh come on, you love the love stuff.
Shelby smiles: Really?
Scott smirks: Um hum, and I can prove it.
Shelby: How?
Scott swiftly leans over and kisses her. Shelby breaks away first
Shelby smiles: How does that prove anything?
Scott smiles slyly: I don't know, but it's more fun.
Shelby playfully pushes him and takes one more look at the soon-to-be-couple, who will have many hard times ahead of them, before they reach HIGHER GROUND.
*~~~$INEAD~~~*
I am soooooooo sorry that I haven't updated in so long, I was busy with exams, and once school ended I started spending WAY too much time with my friends LOL. I actually wrote out this whole chapter but then accidentally deleted it, then I was just too pissed off to write it again. But I have finally re-written it and I am back on the fan-fiction wagon (sorry, terrible phrase.)
I gonna try and update this as much as I can in the next week because I'm going to France with my family on June 16th and I'll be gone for two weeks. I CAN'T WAIT! But don't worry I don't have writers block or anything. I've known exactly how this is going to end since before I 1st posted. I'll have as many chapters out as I can.
Thanks and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!
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THE CLIFFHANGERS RETURN
Chapter 4
Sophie walks out of the AD building and towards the girls dorm
Sophie: OK guys, get up, breakfast in half an hour
Ashley: Oh God, please make her go away.
Shelby: I second that
Jules skips out of the bathroom and plops down on Ashley's bed
Jules: Come on guys, it's a beautiful day
Ashley: Someone take her batteries out
Daisy (just woken up): Your nearest
Ashley: Your right. She sits up in bed and pushes Jules onto an unsuspecting Shelby's bed.
Shelby: Ahhhhhhhh, what the hell, Jules go away. She pushes Jules back onto a once again sleeping Ashley.
Ashley: Ahh, God Jules.
Sophie: Juliet I think it would be safest if you just went ahead to breakfast.
Jules *still perky*: Yeah I think you're right. Bye guys and she
walks out the door.
Ashley turns to Sophie: I thought you said drugs weren't allowed here.
Sophie looks confused: They're not. Why?
Ashley drags herself onto her feet. 'There is no way she is naturally that perky, she's hiding pep pills here somewhere.
Shelby: Yeah, I mean she's worse this year.
Daisy: Hmmm, searching Juliet's stuff for pills could be fun.
Sophie looks at the three who are standing in a line in front of her. 'Don't even think about it. Breakfast is in 20 so get dressed, Now!'
Sophie walks out of the dorm and all three girls turn around and try to walk into the bathroom. They all try to get through the door at the same time and end up in a big pile on the floor.
Shelby, Daisy, Ashley: Owww!
Ashley: Well, my foot's nearest the shower. Guess that means I get first dibs.
Shelby and Daisy groan.
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Later That Day
All the Cliffhangers are gathered around one of the picnic tables. Peter steps out of the lodge and walks towards them.
Peter: Hey guys
'hey' 'hey Peter' hi Peter'
Peter: So Ezra, Sophie said your intake went fine, how was the trip?
Ezra: It was OK, Dad tried to buy my love so yeah, thumbs up!
Peter: That's good. OK, I want all of you in the lodge right after dinner, we have a new cliffhanger coming.
Shelby: Another one, don't you think we have enough? No offense Ash, but come on, David was just a tragedy.
Ashley: Wait if we're getting a newbie, that means I won't be called that anymore. They're stealing my name!
Peter: I thought you hated that name?
Ashley: Well, I do...... but still.
Ezra: Yeah Peter, look they're not even here yet and they're already upsetting Ashley!
Peter: Nice try guys. His name's Sean Miller and he WILL be here after dinner. See you later.
Peter walks off and the Cliffhangers turn back around towards each other.
Jules smirks: It's a guy, maybe this will be a good thing.
Everyone turns to her shocked. Auggie looks hurt
Auggie: Jules...... I
Juliet sees his face and playfully punches him: no for me silly! I have you (she hugs him.) I mean for Ashley, then everyone will have someone, well except for the whole Daisy, Ezra, David thing.
David and Ezra were fighting on the ground over who could tie Daisy's shoe lace. She sighed in frustration, tied her own shoe and walked off so none of the three had heard Juliet's comment.
Ashley: Um...... he's not even her yet and you already have us paired up? I don't think so!
Shelby: Oh come on Ash, he could be really cute!
Scott : Hey! He puts on a hurt face but Shelby just kisses him.
Ashley: Well judging from the guys here already I'm doubting he will be.
Jules: Yeah, me and Shel got the best two.
Shelby: I'll second that. She starts kissing Scott
Ashley: I'll see, if he's not a total jerk than maybe, and I mean maybe, no matchmaking Jules.
Jules: I promise. She turns around and starts kissing Auggie.
Ashley's sitting in-between two kissing couples with Ezra and David still fighting on the ground. Ashley look around
Ashley thinks: ~ Maybe Jules is right, I so need to get away from all this love lorn crap. Maybe we can be friends? God what am I thinking, he'll probably be a jerk like they all are, but I still want a friend. Geez, even David and Ezra have each other ~ She laughs and walks off leaving the two couples and David and Ezra to themselves.
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After Dinner
All the Cliffhangers make their way into the lodge where they sit down and wait for Peter and the newbie. Everyone starts talking and no-one notices when Peter walks in.
Peter: Ahem!
Everyone turns around and gives him their attention. Peter stands to the side, revealing a tall guy behind him. He's wearing jeans, a wife-beater, an open black shirt and he has sandy hair (AKA. a total cutie)
Peter: Guys this is Sean, the newest member of the Cliffhangers.
he just glares at the Cliffhangers
Jules: Hi, welcome to the Cliffhangers.
Sean just looks at her blankly
Peter sees the awkwardness: OK um, Aug why don't you give Sean the tour, show him the dorms and we'll meet you back here at group.
Sean: Group?
Ashley *sarcastically*: it's where we share all our pained pasts and good ole Peter here, along with his soon-to-be-wife, tries to help us heal, and move on.
Sean smiles: Sounds great
Ashley: it is compared to the food.
Sean smiles and leaves with Auggie
Peter: OK, the rest of you can go do your homework.
Shelby *sarcastically: Oh joy!
The guys run off to their dorms after Scott finally breaks away from Shelby and the girls slowly make their way across campus.
Jules: He's really cute!
Shelby: Got a pretty bad attitude though
Daisy: What do you expect from a newbie? Come on, you and Ash had worse attitudes when you got here, and yours lasted nearly a year! Cat told me yours had gotten worse by the time I arrived.
Shelby pushes Daisy and Ashley laughs
Jules: So Ash......(she stops walking and grabs Ashley's arm) what do you think?
Ashley rolls her eyes: You promised me you wouldn't turn into little miss-matchmaker, remember?
Jules: I know, and I'm not going to, but really. What do you think?
Shelby: So...
Ashley: OK, yeah he's really cute but god I'm not that desperate, I don't need to chase after the first cute guy I see.
Shelby: Um, yeah you do, that's how I got Scott
Jules smiles: Yeah but I got him first
Shelby smiles: Yeah, wasn't it great how he realized I was better than you?
Jules' smile fades: Yeah well...... (she smiles) I've got Auggie now!
Jules runs off into the dorm leaving the three outside.
Shelby: I didn't say this but maybe Jules is right. Look we'll get the guys to see if he's cool or not, OK?
Ashley sighs: fine, whatever.
Shelby: oh come on, he is a hottie!
Ashley smiles: Yeah I know
Shelby links arms with Ash: That's the spirit, you gotta get them fast or else you'll end up like Daisy.
Daisy: Hey, I'm not happy about my situation either OK? So Ash, yeah pick him now, it'll save you sooooo much trouble.
They all laugh and walk into the dorm to do their homework
**********************************************************
Boys Dorm
Auggie and Sean walk in
Auggie: And this is the dorm, you can have that bed over there by Ez, and this is your closet space.
Sean: Great.
Auggie: Hey man, it's not so bad here, 'cept the food. .
Sean smiles: yeah that chick said something about the food.
Auggie smiles: yeah, that was Ashley, she's cool... so you into her or what
Sean looks surprised: What? No, I mean, I don't know man, I was just saying.
Auggie: Whatever. Lets go to group
they leave the dorm and meet the girls outside. Jules hugs Auggie the minute she sees him and they walk off ahead of the others.
Daisy: So, Sean... what do you think of Horizon so far?
Sean *sarcastically*: It's great. *serious* I like the view though.
Ashley: Yeah, I love the mountains. She laughs, 'wait till they drag you off on some quest' she points to the woods 'the view in there is awesome'.
Shelby: So you're a woods guy
Sean: Yeah, I guess, I used to go up the mountains all the time at home.
Shelby: Wow, cos Ashley's a woods person too, aren't you Ash.
Ashley glares at Shelby: Yeah, I guess
Shelby smiles: Come on Dais, lets get a good seat for group.
They run off leaving Sean and Ashley alone
Sean: Um, that was weird.
Ashley: Yeah they do weird like they invented the word (*quote* from Attention Deficit #13, Shelby says it about David.)
Sean laughs slightly: So how bad is it here really?
Ashley: Well I haven't been here that long but so far it's better than home. I like it.
Sean: Yeah, so you're a 'newbie' too, huh?
Ashley smiles: Well I was until today, you stole my name.
They laugh and walk into the lodge. Everyone else is sitting in a circle and they all look surprise when they see Ashley and Sean walk in laughing.
Peter whispers to Sophie: Do we have another Scott and Shelby?
Sophie smiles: OK guys, take a seat and we'll get started.
Ashley goes and sits by Shelby and Sean sits by her. Shelby, Daisy and Jules smile seeing that Sean picked the seat next to Ashley instead of one of the other vacant seats in the room.
Peter smiles seeing Sean sit by Ashley: OK, I want you to describe the person to your left in one word...Actually no, lets change that. I want you to pick any person in this room and describe them in a word. If someone has already been picked you can't pick them again, OK? I'll start, Jules (he picks Jules because he knows she'll pick Sean to see if he'll pick Ashley, which he also wants to know) Jules is strong.
Juliet smiles at Peter and says: Sean......Sean is um, interesting.
Sean looks at Juliet strangely: Um, thanks. OK ah...
Peter: You can pick anyone in the circle except Jules.
Sean: OK, um...Ashley.
Shelby and Daisy smile widely and Jules squeals. Everyone turns and looks at her 'sorry'.
Sean: Um...Ashley is...intriguing.
Ash looks at him and smiles: OK, ah David is weird.
The group laughs and everyone goes around the circle describing each other. The last person to be picked is Daisy
Daisy: Wow, I'm last. I'm touched that you all care so much. Well, Sophie's the only person left so......Sophie is...mysterious.
Sophie laughs: Thanks Dais.
Peter: OK guys, back to the dorms. Lights out in half an hour.
The cliffhangers get up and leave. The second they get outside they all break off into their little groups. Scott and Shelby sneak off to the docks, Auggie brings Jules to the art shed to show her his new painting (yeah right) and Daisy walks off to the dorm, David and Ezra following her. Which leaves Ashley and Sean alone, again. They start walking to the dorms in silence, Ash breaks it when they reach the top of the steps. She turns around and looks at him strangely
Ashley: So......I'm intriguing huh?
Sean laughs: Yeah, you are.
Ashley smirks: I'll take that as a compliment then.
Sean: It is
Ashley: Well, thanks
Sean: No problem
Ashley: Before you go in can I ask you something?
Sean: Sure, go ahead
Ashley: How am I intriguing?
Sean smiles: I don't know, just from what you've said so far, you're background sounds similar to mine. Scarily like mine. I mean all the guys said they like it here but they'd prefer to be home. That's the last place I wanna be.
Ashley: Yeah, lots of similarities.
Sean: Maybe sometime we can compare notes, you know see whose story is worse, I'll probably win.
Ashley smiles awkwardly: Maybe
Sean: Well, goodnight.
Ashley: Night.
Sean walks into his dorm leaving Ashley with a worried look on her face. Shelby walks up behind her and taps her on the shoulder.
Ashley: Oh, hey Shel.
Shelby smiles: So how'd it go? are you two official yet?
Ashley: No, and I don't think we ever will be.
Shelby looks confused: Why? He totally digs you!
Ashley: It's not him OK
Shelby: OK. So did he tell you why he's here yet?
Ashley: Not exactly.
Shelby: Well let me give you some advice. If he does tell you about his past, he's probably going to want to know about your past. That's what happened with me and Scott. He told me about his life before he told anyone else, even Peter. He told me everything and then of course he wanted to know about me. I wasn't exactly ready to share all the colorful details about my pre-Horizon life so I avoided the subject. Eventually everything came out. We were on a hike and I just exploded, everyone found out about my life. As ashamed as I was, I felt a lot better that someone knew. Letting it out just made me feel... It made me feel free, you know. I'm not saying you should tell him everything, but you will feel better once you tell. If you keep it in it'll just eat you up. I'm here if you wanna talk, you know that right?
Ashley: Yeah, thanks Shel
Shelby: Don't worry about it. Just think about what I said OK.
She walks into the dorm, leaving Ashley alone with her thoughts.
Ashley: ~ I can't tell him, he'll never be able to look at me again. But Shelby's right, it's eating me up. it's getting harder and harder to keep it a secret, Peter almost cracked me that time, and that was the first day! Maybe if I just tell part of my secret I'll feel better, but I can't tell Sean. I have to let some of this out. I can't last much longer ~
**********************************************************
Peter's Office
Sophie: I'll just do a bed-check and meet you at the truck
Peter: OK.
He locks his office and walks towards the truck. Sophie walks up the steps of the ridgerunner girls dorm and looks in 'OK there'. She does the same with the trackers and seems confidant they're all where they should be. She walks around the art shed towards the Cliffhanger girls dorm and sees Ashley sitting on the steps looking at the stars. Sophie walks up the steps but Ashley doesn't see her. She sits down beside her and Ashley jumps.
Ashley: God you scared me
Sophie: Sorry. Any particular reason you're out here?
Ashley: Couldn't sleep
Sophie looks at Ashley and sees the tears in her eyes.
Sophie: why can't you sleep
Ashley sighs: Too much to think about
Sophie: Like what
She looks at Ashley and hopes she doesn't shut her out.
Ashley: um, nothing
Sophie: If it's nothing why are you out here?
Ashley sighs: you really are good at this psychology thing aren't you
Sophie smiles: I try......so are you going to tell me what's wrong
Ashley looks at Sophie and sighs: My um, my records. My mom lied on them.
Sophie: What's missing?
Ashley: it ah, it says that my, um, My dad abused her and me for 12 years.
Sophie: Yeah
Ashley: it's not true, he only abused me
Sophie looks shocked: What?
Ashley looks out at the forest: For 12 years my father beat me up and my mother did nothing to stop him, she actually helped once. He never touched her. It was just me
Sophie: I'm sorry, we had no idea. I thought your mother testified in court that he abused her.
Ashley: um, yeah. He hit her once. For 12 stupid years he beat me, then one day, he hit her. He hit her once and she called the police. (Ashley starts getting mad) she took one beating from him and she rang the police, I took it for 12 years and she did nothing to help me. And you guys said she actually cares about me. Yeah right.
Sophie: Ashley I'm sorry, we never would have said that if we knew...
Ashley (still looking at the forest): I know. I'm not blaming you. You and Peter are the only people who have ever listened to me, how could I blame you?...... it's my fault
Sophie: No, it's not. It is not your fault...Ashley, honey, look at me.
Ashley reluctantly breaks her gaze away from the forest
Sophie: It is not your fault, do you hear me? it's not your fault Ash......Your parents hurt and abused you but it is their fault, not yours.
Ashley nods
Sophie: I'll have to tell Peter about this, but only because we need this information on your records in case your parents try to pull you from here. If they do, we can use this information to petition the courts to keep you here. OK
Ashley: yeah, fine.
Sophie: Ash, I'm sorry. We should have picked up on this sooner.
Ashley: I should have told you
Sophie: Are you gonna be OK?
Ashley: Um, yeah. I feel better now that I've told someone.
Sophie gives her a sympathetic smile: OK night. They get up and Sophie turns to walk down the steps
Ashley: Sophie?
Sophie turns around
Ashley: Thanks.
Sophie: No problem, that's what I'm here for.
She hugs Ashley and sees Peter walking towards the dorm. He stops when he sees her hugging Ashley. Sophie lets her go
Ashley: Night
Sophie: Yeah.
Ashley goes into the dorm and Sophie walks over to Peter.
Peter: What's wrong. Is Ashley OK?
Sophie: No, I don't think she is. We need to go back to the office and add something to her file.
Peter sighs, he always hates when something bad comes out about the kids. It's just another thing he can't protect them from : Is it bad?
Sophie: Yeah, it is.
They walk over to the lodge and go in. Sean comes out of the shadows behind the girls dorm with a shocked look on his face. 'I guess we're more alike than we thought'.
**********************************************************
The Next Morning
Ashley barely slept at all so she went to breakfast early. She didn't expect anyone to be there but to her surprise she saw Sean sitting at the Cliffhanger table picking at his food. She picks up a tray and walks over.
Sean sees her and looks surprised. He stutters: Hey, you're, um, I mean your up, ah, early.
Ashley: Yeah. Are you OK?
Sean looks back at his food: I'm fine
Ashley: OK. SO what are you doing up so early? I'm doubting your an early riser.
Sean smiles awkwardly: No, I'm not. I, um. I didn't really sleep last night.
Ashley sighs: Yeah, I can relate.
Sean pushes his tray away from him: You know I'm not really hungry. You ah, you wanna go take a walk or something.
Ashley: Yeah, sure.
They put their trays in the trash and walk out of the empty lodge. Ashley starts walking towards the docks and Sean follows her.
Sean: Where are we going?
Ashley: The docks, they're really pretty this time of day.
They walk down the dock and sit n the edge.
Sean: Your right, it's really beautiful out here.
Ashley: Yeah
They sit in silence for a few minutes just enjoying the view. Finally Sean plucks up the courage to say what had caused him to lose so much sleep the night before.
Sean: I have to tell you something.
Ashley: OK. What is it
Sean takes a deep breath: I um, I overheard you and Sophie last night. He looks over at her. She looks shocked.
Ashley looks at the water: You did
Sean: Yeah...and I just wanted to say that I know how you feel and that if you ever want to talk, I'm here.
Ashley looks at him: how do know how I feel
Sean sighs and looks away: You guys have probably been wondering why I'm here.
Ashley: A bit, I guess
Sean sighs: 2 years ago, my brother died... my twin brother. Justin got hit by a car and he died in hospital. We were, ah really close and I took his...death really bad. I acted out, fighting, drinking, stealing, you know anything to make me forget, except drugs. I never did drugs and I never will. Justin was totally against drugs, doing them would make me feel like I was betraying him. It got so bad I was nearly kicked out of school. My parents decided that maybe if I got away from all the memories of Justin I would settle down, so they sent me to live with my uncle in Florida. At first it was OK, you know I think getting away from that town was good for me, it helped me to see was I was doing to myself. My behavior got under control and my grades started going back up, I was never an A student, but I wasn't flunking all my classes anymore so they were happy. Everything was going OK, until my uncle started drinking. He worked for this big corporate company and was supposedly under a lot of pressure. He hit the bottle and he hit it hard. He would come home every night drunk out of his mind... and beat the crap outta me. He was a big guy, so he could do some serious damage. One night he nearly killed me, and I just flipped. I was sick of him always in my face so I called the police. They came and found my uncle completely wasted and me looking like crap, and took him away. He was sent to rehab, he's still there. My parents were really shuck up by what happened and I think they blamed themselves. They knew that if they brought me back to that house, I would freak like I did before, so they sent me here.
Ashley listened in silence throughout Sean's whole story, just being a comforting ear. She knew he had to get it all out so she stayed quiet. Once she was sure he was finished, she contemplated on what to say.
Ashley: Sean, I'm sorry you had to go through all that.
Sean: Peter and them know all this already. It's all in my file, there's no missing pieces or anything. The thing with my uncle was bad but that's not why I'm here, well not really. The point of me being here is to get over Justin' death, I got over the uncle thing already. In a way I'm glad it happened, I'm not saying I enjoyed it, but I never would have come here if it hadn't of happened and I'm glad I'm here. Being in that house would just bring everything back you know, and I'm not ready for that...not yet.
Ashley: I know what you mean. Home is the place most people feel safest in, then there's that little majority that we're in. The group of people that find home the place that can do the most damage to them.
Sean: Yeah.
Ashley: Thanks for telling me your story, I know it must have been hard.
Sean: I needed to get it out. For some reason I couldn't say it to Peter or even my parents, that's the first time I've ever really told anyone... thanks for listening.
Ashley: that's what friends are for right.
Sean: Yeah it is. So when you have to get your story out, I'll be here. But I'm not going to push you, tell me when your ready.
Ashley: Thanks Sean, that means a lot.
He smiles and puts his arm around her shoulder, letting the reality of what had just happened sink into both of their minds. Little did they know that they were both secretly hoping that not only would they become good friends but much more.
Shelby and Scott walk out of the dorms and start to make their way down to the docks. They stop when they see Sean and Ashley sitting there.
Scott: I guess they hit it off
Shelby: I don't know. I think they're just going to be friends for a while. You know what they say, a good friend is hard to come by. I don't think either of them are ready to risk losing that by complicating everything with that love stuff.
Scott: oh come on, you love the love stuff.
Shelby smiles: Really?
Scott smirks: Um hum, and I can prove it.
Shelby: How?
Scott swiftly leans over and kisses her. Shelby breaks away first
Shelby smiles: How does that prove anything?
Scott smiles slyly: I don't know, but it's more fun.
Shelby playfully pushes him and takes one more look at the soon-to-be-couple, who will have many hard times ahead of them, before they reach HIGHER GROUND.
*~~~$INEAD~~~*
I am soooooooo sorry that I haven't updated in so long, I was busy with exams, and once school ended I started spending WAY too much time with my friends LOL. I actually wrote out this whole chapter but then accidentally deleted it, then I was just too pissed off to write it again. But I have finally re-written it and I am back on the fan-fiction wagon (sorry, terrible phrase.)
I gonna try and update this as much as I can in the next week because I'm going to France with my family on June 16th and I'll be gone for two weeks. I CAN'T WAIT! But don't worry I don't have writers block or anything. I've known exactly how this is going to end since before I 1st posted. I'll have as many chapters out as I can.
Thanks and PLEASE REVIEW!!!!