CHAPTER 10:

Peter had let Jane get sober before sending her off into the night without so much as a goodbye to me. I've been holding it against the counselor for these past three days and he'll be lucky if he can get a word out of me for quite a while. Sophie has been acting as a mediator between the two of us, but I've been standing strong and refusing to talk to him. At our face-to-face meeting I'd simply stared at him for an hour before he gave up and told me to go.

"Did Peter enlighten you with his brilliant insights on life?" Daisy asked when I joined the Cliffhangers for lunch.

I grinned at the girl before eating a mouthful of my meatloaf. Kat remarked that I was going to have to talk to him sometime and I eyed her dangerously. In my mind, I thought of all the biting things I could say to the girl, about her parents or her sister, but I decided against it. Kat's always been helpful and nice to me and I wasn't about to burn that bridge. Scott placed his tray down next to mine and we all greeted him.

"Rocco just got dish detail for two weeks," Scott said laughingly.

I didn't hear Scott tell his story. Instead, I noticed him caress my leg lightly before digging into his lunch. Shelby noticed too and nudged Auggie and the two shared knowing smiles. After lunch, my job included digging holes for the new saplings and washing the sides of the barn. Sweaty and exhausted, I sat down at a picnic table and gingerly sipped at the bottle of water that Frank had brought out for me. The old man had watched me for awhile, probably to see if I was working hard or not. He'd obviously been satisfied because he hadn't stayed for long. The weather was in the low-sixties and I sat and enjoyed the slight breeze that had erupted. I feel at peace at Horizon, but I know it's the same feeling I get when waiting for the perfect set or lounging on the beaches back in Venice.

"They sure are getting a ton of labor out of you, Zane," Ezra commented as he sat with me.

After talking for a few minutes, I went back to work to finish the last two holes for the trees. Dirt was all over my arms and clothing and I didn't mind too much. I wish I was allowed to listen to music while I worked, but I wasn't allowed to have a CD player here. Instead, I was left with the chatter from the other students, who were done with class and relaxing. Sophie and Peter walked by together and commented on the good job I was doing and I let my face fall into the blank expression I've been wearing around Peter lately. They watched me finish and I did so with finesse and speed. Peter had assigned me this job in order for me to ask him for help, but I'd made sure I'd completed without him.

"Go shower up and meet us at group, okay?" Sophie said.

Nodding, I picked up my equipment and sped off to the barn to get away from Peter. On my way back to the dorm, I ran into Scott, who smirked and wiped some dirt off of my face.

"I was just going to take a shower," I remarked with amusement.

We've been flirting a lot lately, and as much as I've tried to deny it, I am developing feelings for Scott. I don't care about the rules they have here about boyfriends and girlfriends; I'm more concerned with something else. Scott and I are from different worlds. His family is pretty well-off and he's a hero at his school because of football, while I'm known as the cool stoner in a rock band who lives on the rough side of town.

"What're you thinking about?" Scott asked me suddenly.

I said my mind was just wandering and while Scott didn't believe me, he smiled sweetly and said he'd save a seat next to him in group. Realizing I was running seriously low on time, I dashed into the shower and threw my hair up in a wet bun before running to the pavilion where Sophie and the Cliffhangers were sitting. Breathlessly, I sat next to the seat Scott had saved and looked at Sophie expectantly. Today's discussion was about college and I realized I had nothing to contribute.

"Many of you have given up on yourselves and don't think there's a chance that you'll make it to college. The truth is, Horizon offers many scholarships and has a good reputation. It's a good idea for you all to think that you can get there," Sophie explained.

I sat quietly while the rest of the Cliffhangers talked about their plans for the future. Sometimes it bothers me that I'd gotten my GED and given up on the whole school thing because being a musician is such an unsure profession. Still, when I think of the desks, textbooks, and teachers, I know I made the right choice.

"College isn't always right for everyone though," Daisy added and Sophie agreed.

"That's true, Daisy," Sophie said, "Zane has proven that other career opportunities are available and can work."

I smiled at my counselor because whenever someone hears about what I do they immediately take it like I wasn't smart enough for school. Group ended on a good note, with Ezra jokingly asking what the best party schools were. Scott and I were walking together to dinner when Peter walked over to us. I looked intently at the ground, expecting Peter to say something to me.

"Scott, your father is on the phone," Peter said solemnly.

Scott tensed and I grabbed his hand lightly. His father hasn't called since their last visit because Scott refused to "admit" that he was lying about Elaine. It's sad to see what their relationship has turned into. This phone call couldn't be good and we all knew it.

"Can you two wait for me?" Scott asked and I know he hated how weak he sounded.

Scott admires and looks up to Peter and I know the two of them have a close relationship. They both enjoy the physical activities that Horizon offers and Scott told me that Peter and I are the only ones in the world who believe him about Elaine. It didn't surprise me that he would want Peter around if this was bad news.

"Sure buddy," Peter replied, "We'll be right here."

We sat down in Peter's office to wait for Scott to finish this phone call. It was awkward and I guess Peter's given up on trying to get me to talk. Hating the silence, I finally spoke up.

"I wish you would have let me say goodbye," I stated.

My counselor then told me why he hadn't let me and my mouth dropped open in shock.

"Jane didn't want to say goodbye," Peter said softly, "She knew she made a mistake when she drove you while drinking and felt she couldn't face you yet. I told her she could come visit you again if she agreed to a breathalyzer before."

After stumbling over my words for a few minutes, I apologized to Peter and sat in my shock.

"When I said that Jane couldn't visit any more, I was acting out of anger," Peter explained, "If you would have talked to me, I would have told you I was wrong for saying that, especially in front of everyone. You have to understand that I'm here to protect you, Zane, and I was not in the right state after seeing your head slam into the windshield."

All I could do was nod. Luckily, that was all I had to do because Scott came out with a sad and angry expression on his face. He explained that his father was begging him for the truth, to admit that Scott was only doing this all for attention.

"I've been lying to him for the past year," Scott said sadly, "I thought he might believe the truth."

Peter said that it is hard to gain back somebody's trust after lying to them for so long and that Mr. Barringer would have to realize in his own time what the truth was. Scott nodded solemnly and glumly asked me if I wanted to go to dinner. We walked slowly to the cafeteria and I held onto Scott's pinky finger gingerly; I noticed for the first time his hands were a lot bigger than mine. Out of nowhere, Scott told me how much he missed being close with his father. All I could do was listen, since I never had any real bond with my parents. For years I've racked my brain trying to think of a time when we were all truly happy and sadly I can't think of one.

"He told me I could come home if I admitted it. That we could work it out as a family," Scott stated.

I froze a bit. It would be so easy for Scott to lie once again and get his father to send for him. If I was given the opportunity, I might do it. Getting out of Horizon was what we all wanted. Or so we thought.

"I thought that if the day ever came where my dad told me I could go home, I would do anything for it, but when I was on the phone with him, all I could think about was leaving you," Scott told me honestly, "That scares me a little bit."

"Go if it's what you want," I replied.

"That's what I'm talking about, Zane. I never know what you're thinking. You're so hot and cold. Did you hear what I just said? You're always on my mind."

Dinner was the farthest thing from our minds right now. Scott was asking me if he should get his father back on the phone and head home. He was leaving his decision up to me and I had no idea what to say.

"Scott, don't make this up to me. You obviously need this place if you're trying to manipulate me into making your decision for you."

This shit was all too heavy for me. I walked away from Scott, probably when he needed me most, and left our friendship, or whatever you could call it, in the dust. The whole time I wondered what the hell I was thinking, but I couldn't turn myself around. It's been a week and I don't think Scott and I have even shared a glance. So far, he hasn't made the phone call and isn't going home, but who knows if he'll change his mind? I need the sound of the crashing waves of the beach to calm me. I'm on edge and whenever Zane Flighter is on edge, everybody better watch out.

"Why don't you two just make up already?" Shelby asked me at lunch, "You both look miserable."

'Because I don't think Scott will ever talk to me again.'

END OF CHAPTER.

So we have some non-Zane drama here. What will happen between Scott and Zane? Reviewssss.