SCHOOL OF LOVE
A/N: I know, I know, I'm bad!!! It's been so long since I've updated this story! Any HG story in fact… But I am back, for a while until I get this one done! I hope at least… Next chapter is already half done so I'll put it quickly…hopefully, I don't know anymore…
Thanks for the reviews!
RATING: T (just to be sure)
CHARACTERS: Shelby, Scott, Wendy, Martin, Susan, Harmony, Teddy, Luke.
SUMMARY: AU. Shelby, Wendy, Scott and the others are all in high school. Walt still exists, but is slightly different in comparison with the show. Elaine happened but is now out of the picture.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the original characters. The others are completely made up, unless my subconscious worked on things I saw on TV or something…
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
"We have to talk Shelby… I don't want you to think I'm only doing it because I'm leaving in two days." Scott blurted out as they pulled away for air. The sultriness of the room was almost unbearable but they couldn't keep their hands off of each other. She already had her dress off until the shoulders and he was bare chest. She took a step back and leaned against the wall, not believing her ears. How could he ruin their moment?
"What the hell are you talking about?" She cried, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "In two days?" She then asked him and he nodded ashamed. He knew she would be angry but had to tell her. It wouldn't have been fair to spend the night without telling her. She deserved so much better than that.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you this sooner. I just didn't want to spoil the moment." He admitted, looking down at his feet, awkwardly.
"You just did." She muttered mad and he swallowed hard. He looked back into her eyes and noticed sorrow into them. She was heartbroken, just as much as he was right now. He didn't want to separate himself from her, but did he have a choice? His father had found him a summer job that was a great opportunity and he definitively couldn't let it pass. He kept saying to himself it was for his future…their future together.
"I'm sorry baby, believe me." He apologized hoarsely and she broke their gaze, running a hand through her hair, not knowing how to react anymore, or what she was supposed to say.
"So, you're leaving like this?" She asked just for the sake of asking. She perfectly knew she hadn't the right to keep him here. He had to live his life, even if it meant they had to take separate ways, which hurt badly. She should have gotten prepared to that eventuality. After all, it was evident they would be apart for a year at least, seeing as they weren't the same age.
"Yes." He murmured, hanging his head down, ashamed of his admittance. "It you knew how I regret things have to be this way…"
"It's unbelievable." She whispered, almost breaking down but keeping a straight face, for both of them. She couldn't cry, she didn't have the right to do so. It would be just worse to let it go.
"I'm sorry." He repeated again and this time, she couldn't help but feel anger through her veins. How dared he say he was sorry? It was too much; the pain in her heart had to stop.
"Why didn't you tell me before? Oh forget to answer; you're too much of a coward." She said dryly as she saw him taking a step closer.
"I just didn't want you to have a bad night because of that." He replied in defense and she let out a small dry laugh, rolling her eyes at him.
"Oh, but it so worked well!" She added with a touch of sarcasm.
"I didn't want to blurt it out this way." He ran a hand through his hair and went to sit next to her on the bed while she looked down at her feet, taping them against the side of the bed, nervously, angrily. He placed his hand on her tight, squeezing it softly, in an attempt of providing her some comfort. "It doesn't mean we can't be together, you know?"
"Right, because you going to the university and me staying here is going to work. That's bullshit and we both know it." She pulled her hand away, and looked him right in the eye.
"No, it's not. I'm not going to leave and never get back here. And you can go visit too."
"Of course." She rolled her eyes sarcastically. She didn't want to ever think it would work. The distance was one thing… but most of all, the fact that they were already fighting while they were in the same school. She could imagine how it would be if they were hundreds miles away.
"Shelby, look at me please." He requested and when she shook her head, refusing, he brought one of his hands to her chin and lifted it up. "I love you and it isn't going to change because I'm going away. Come to think of it, I think it'll only grow stronger." She had to chuckle at this. How could he believe what he was saying? She got the feeling she was in those soap-operas, with the long, passionate lines that couldn't beat reality.
"Scott, face the reality. You're going to live in L.A., alone, without a girlfriend, you're gonna make yourself new friends, a new life…so, really, why should you keep your attaches here? It would be stupid."
"Shelby, that is not gonna happen because I know what's good for me. And it's you." He said gently and she rolled her eyes again, not buying his sweet words.
"Right." She rolled her eyes at his comment and gentle tone, and a tear threatened to fall from her right eye. She sniffed a little and turned her head to the side so he couldn't see how much it was affecting her, even if she knew, that he knew the feeling.
"Why won't you believe me? I've loved you for years and I've always been faithful to you. It's not gonna change, I promise." He continued and she just shook her head bitterly. The long distance thing could easily be the end of a relationship; she knew it would be hard on both of them… Especially for him being in a new city, with new people, a new life…
"But can you promise you'll still be in love with me in a year?"
"I don't want to fight Shel. And you know I don't know what's the future holds, but I know that I love you now and probably always will."
"Because you think it's what I want? To fight with you? The night could have been perfect, but no, you had to spoil everything, again, just like the first time I tried to offer myself to you." She cried and his gaze hardened at her statement.
"C'mon, you knew I would leave one day! What did you think? That I would wait for you a whole year so we would have gone to college together?" He said exasperated, but still trying to keep his voice the lower possible.
"No, I just didn't think it would have been this fast. And why leaving so soon?"
"Because I found a job in LA for the summer."
"Great for you." She said dryly, a little obfuscated that he hadn't told her before, like she didn't have a part in the decision.
"Shel, we weren't together anymore but you know that if we had been, I would have told you about it. We would have discussed it and I would have asked you if you were okay with it. We could have even found a way to spend the whole summer in LA with both having a job there."
"Of course, if you hadn't broken up with me over nothing, things would have been different." She muttered bitterly; she hated the fact he was trying to turn things like it was her fault.
"Shel…I thought we were okay with what happened?"
"You thought wrong. I'm far from being okay with what happened! I just had got out of the hospital, I was shocked, hurt and all I needed was your support, which of course you couldn't provide because of your stupid pride!"
"I'm sorry things got that way…if I could change the past, believe me, I would have already erased some nasty things." He retorted and she scowled at him. He couldn't say a thing without turning himself as a victim.
"It's always about you, uh? You can't apologize without putting yourself as the victim, right? You're so self-centered that it scares me sometimes!"
"I am selfish now? Can I ask you something, then? How can you be in love with a guy like me? I have all the vices of the earth!" He shouted childishly and she just shook her head, choking back her tears.
"You're not being fair Scott; you know that I love you." She said weakly, avoiding his eyes.
"Well, you have a strange way of showing it." He said and closed the door quietly, not even looking at her in the eye. "Goodbye Shelby." He whispered and closed his eyes for a moment, letting the tears falling from his eyes. How could someone be able to give you so much love, make you so happy, and hurt you so bad?
Two Days Later
Scott Barringer hugged his tearful sisters, then his proud father and finally his mother. Today was the big day… the day of his independence, the day he would fly away from his family, and become an adult. "So you sure you've got everything packed?" Susan asked her son and he nodded, again. He looked like ready to explode, and annoyed also.
"For the billionth time, yes mom." He said with a sigh and Susan ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it a little. Scott pulled away, slightly embarrassed by her gesture while Wendy just laughed at them.
"You sure you didn't forget anything?" Harmony asked though, knowing it would exceed him. But she perfectly knew what was missing…or rather who.
"Yeah, I am." Harmony and Wendy shared a meaningful look and Wendy nodded at her.
"Isn't Shelby going to come saying goodbye?" She asked carefully and Scott looked down at his feet or at anything but his family members. He was ashamed of the way he had dealt with her and the way he had left her alone two nights ago. He didn't even let give the chance or the time to let her follow him.
"I don't think so Di, we kinda…broke up the night of the dance." He admitted to them and Wendy couldn't believe it. They seemed so fine that evening after the dance; they looked like they were going to devour each other, even. So what could be so bad that they had to break up, all over again?
"Why that?" Susan asked concerned but he just shook his head, refusing to give them an answer. Wendy, Susan and Harmony shared a look and Wendy shrugged as she saw her brother looking quite defeated.
"Long story." He responded shrugging, notifying her he didn't want to talk about her anymore.
"C'mon, you love her and she loves you too, you can't leave without a goodbye." Wendy insisted and Scott shot her a dirty look.
"We said our goodbyes last night, end of the story." He almost shouted and went back into the house to take his driving license among other important papers.
"I'm calling Shelby." Wendy said as soon as her brother was out of view. Susan shook her head slightly disapproving but let her do what she thought was good for her brother. Martin shook his head at this but figured he shouldn't intervene. He and Wendy weren't really on talkative terms so things were kind of hard home. Not to mention diners, they were awful, with the heavy silences and conversations of no importance.
"Shelby? It's Wendy, Scott's ready to leave, where the hell are you?" She asked as soon as she heard her friend's voice answering. She heard her sighing and rolled her eyes. "Well?" She asked after a moment of silence and Shelby let out another breath.
"Did he tell you about what happened the other night after the prom?" Shelby replied with another sigh and Wendy nodded, though Shelby couldn't see it.
"C'mon, what can't be so bad? I know it was your first time and all, but I know for sure Scott is a good screw…" Wendy said in a throaty laugh and Shelby cleared her throat, embarrassed by her bestfriend's words.
"He's leaving Wendy, that's what's so bad." Shelby's voice broke into the phone. Wendy bit the inside of her cheek, thinking of an argument to convince her friend.
"You'll see him again soon. It's not like he's dead or something…"
"Yeah, say the girl who will have her boyfriend with her next year…" Shelby retorted with a small sarcastic tone and Wendy couldn't help but suppress a sigh.
"Shel, I know it won't be easy, but you love him and he needs to know that. It will work out, I know it deep inside, and I'm sure you do too."
"You really think that? That it will work even with the distance?"
"Of course, only if you bring your butt here before he's gone." Wendy said with honesty, impatiently taping her foot on the ground.
"How much time do I have?"
"Let's say…15 minutes, I'll find a way to keep him home until you're here."
"Thanks, I'm coming as soon as I find a way to leave Mark alone."
"Babysitting period?" Wendy said with a slight chuckle. "I hope your parents give you lots of spending money…"
"Yeah, of course." Shelby said sarcastically and looked through the window to see if her old neighbour was there. "I'll see if Marta is there. Try to keep Scott here the longer you can."
"Marta?" Who was Marta, the girl had no idea, and it wasn't like she cared anyway.
"Wendy, you know the neighbour Marta, Dave's wife." Shelby knew Wendy had had a crush on Dave years ago so she sure remembered him, if not his wife.
"Oh okay… please, make it quick!"
"I'll try."
Wendy hung up and turned around, to meet her sister's apprehensive glance. "She's coming right now."
"Great." Harmony let out a small squeal and hugged her big sister happily.
Scott got into the car and looked into the driving mirror to regulate it. That's when he saw her running down the street; she seemed like crying from what he could tell. He couldn't leave without having her in his arms once last time. He got out of the car and met Wendy's delighted face. She winked at him and he nodded, thanking her silently. "Shel." He whispered and she smiled at him through her tear strained face. "I love you so much." He said, taking her face in his hands and kissing her passionately on the lips while the whole Barringer bunch was looking at them in awe. Even Martin seemed affected; he was a sucker for love, deep inside (lol).
"I love you too…I'm so sorry about the other night." She said softly as he wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, bringing her closer to his body.
"Forget it. We're fine now." He gazed into her eyes and pulled a strand out of her flustered face.
"I don't want you to go, but I know you have to. I'm not mad." She declared with a small laugh through her tears and he smiled sadly at her, before giving her another quick kiss.
"Thanks. I'll write to you, and I'll call you, and maybe you'll come too?" He hopefully asked her and she looked at him with a roll of eyes, as if it was evident she would.
"Maybe." She teased him, rubbing her nose against him. She sniffled then gave out a small giggle when she saw everyone was looking in their way. Scott turned to see what was making her laughing and suppressed a chuckle too, winking at Wendy. She turned back to him and pressed her hands against his sides. "God, I'm so gonna miss you."
"I'll miss you too, baby." He kissed her lips again and wrapped her in his arms. She moaned into his mouth at the feeling she was having and he knew he had to pull back before things got heated. He didn't want to get carried away right here in front of every member of his family. He already had a hard way of controlling himself and his need to be even closer.
"You better go." She said determined to let him go.
"I don't want to leave you." He whined a little and wrapped her even closer in his arms.
"You have to." She said comprehensively and he nodded, now pouting, which made her realize he looked really sexy and cute today, even more than any usual day.
"Okay, don't forget that I love you, and only you, whatever happen." He said sweetly and Shelby saw Wendy rolling her eyes at them, when she heard her brother doing corny talking.
"I won't. Go now." She said pulling away slightly but he brought her closer before she could do it completely.
"See ya." He replied with reluctance and she bit her lip from keeping the tears from falling.
"You too."
"I'll call you when I'll be there, okay?"
"Of course." One last kiss and that was it, he was leaving, for good. Memories, good or bad, or even eventless came back floating through his head. The first time he played football in the garden with his dad, his 10th birthday with everybody he knew, his first kiss, the day his mother left, the one he saw Elaine for the first time…
The Day After
Scott woke up in a strange and empty room, in a bed that didn't smell like his mom's powder and it bothered him, a lot. What was even worse is that he had just dreamed of Shelby…a wonderful dream that would maybe become reality one day, but not before long. He hated the fact that he was away from his home, away from his loved ones, and that he had to become an adult… And he missed her, more than he thought he would. He missed her voice, he missed her touch, and he craved for her lips on his and knew that once he would see her again, he wouldn't be able to control himself.
"Hey man, I can come in?" Teddy, his roommate asked him and Scott rolled over in the bed before putting his head under his pillow.
"Sure." He answered in a muffled sound and the red-haired guy entered, with books under his arm. He put some of the books on the desk and let out a groan, realizing Scott was still in bed.
"I bought some books of law and some stationery too, for our classes." Teddy said as he showed him the things he had inside his bags. Scott watched uninterested and sat up in the bed.
"Great." Scott said with a forced smile and a tired face. He rubbed his eyes and yawned, before stretching his arms.
"You have to pay half of the price though."
"Look into my schoolbag, my wallet's inside the small pocket, I think." He said rubbing his curly hair to relax. He realized he felt very tired and finally laid back down, pulling the covers over his head.
"Thanks. Are you gonna get out of that bed sometime?" The red heard boy asked as he went to the chair where his roommate's bag was hanging on. He sought through it and smiled when he found it. He opened it and turned to look at Scott who rolled over and mumbled in a yawn…
"Sure, when I'll be awake."
"It's already noon man, you need to go out. It's your first day of freedom, you have to celebrate!" Teddy exclaimed a little louder and Scott turned around in his bed to look at him, slightly unconvinced.
"Celebrate?" He asked kind of sceptical and Teddy nodded grinning, and went to sit on his unmade bed.
"Yeah, we could go on the campus, meet some hot chicks and bring them home?" He suggested and Scott groaned in answer.
"I already have someone in my life."
"She wouldn't know if you were cheating. I have a girl at home too. But that doesn't mean I can't have some fun here. You wouldn't believe how the girls are easy here. Must be coming from the nice weather, they're wearing lighter clothes…"
"You asshole, how can you talk about girls this way?"
"What? C'mon, it's not like it would hurt her, since she wouldn't even know it!"
"You should feel bad for doing that to your girlfriend. Don't you have any remorse? I could never do that to Shel, I couldn't forgive myself if I did." Scott replied with a sigh, then finally got up from the bed and headed towards the small bathroom.
"You in love, aren't you?" Teddy asked and he turned around, a small dreamy look plastered on his face.
"Oh yeah, she's just…my perfect." Teddy had to keep himself from laughing at his roommate's answer and then furrowed his brows, thinking it was slightly suspicious.
"Hey man, are you sure you not gay or something?" The red-haired boy asked with a frown. "It's not that I'm like against it or something, I mean, it's cool if you are, just…" He rambled nervously looking down at his feet, being careful of not meeting Scott's eyes just in case…
"I'm not gay man!" Scott furrowed an eyebrow a little offended that his roommate thought of him as a gay. And why did he think that? Did he look like someone gay? What that his appearance, or something else?
"Phew, I'm kinda glad you aren't. I don't think I would have survived it if you were, because you're too cute, I'd be damned." He chuckled softly with a smirk…
"Real funny." Scott rolled his eyes and finally opened the door of the bathroom.
"So why won't she call you if she's just so great? Did you break up with her or something?"
"I don't know where we're at actually, she kinda told me to leave her alone the night of the prom and since, I didn't have any news except the day I left home. She came, we kissed and she told me she loved me, but didn't promise anything." He explained, re-closing the door and sitting on the edge of the desk. He ran a hand through his hair, waiting for his new friend point of view.
"That's kinda strange. Maybe you should call her then? Maybe she's waiting for you to call. You know girls? They won't ever make the first step, even when they really should."
"Yeah, you're probably right. I'll try calling her later."
"You should do it now."
"I'm taking a shower first, I smell."
"That you do. You should think of doing fewer wet dreams, so that you wouldn't sweat too much." Teddy teased him and Scott let out a sarcastic laugh.
"Ah, ah, very classy." Scott muttered before closing the bathroom door behind him.
"Wendy, you here?" An excited voice said through the bedroom door. Wendy broke off the kiss the shared with Luke and sighed loudly.
"Oh god, can't she come at any good time?" She muttered against Luke's chest and this one laughed a little, rolling over so they wouldn't be in an awkward position. "Of course, where else would I be?" She yelled at her bestfriend who entered the room instantly, a little knowing smile playing on her lips.
"I knew you were, I just didn't want to enter and see you two going at it or something." She said with a small teasing voice and Wendy playfully glared at her bestfriend a little.
"It's still early; we don't go for sex in the afternoon, we're taking naps." Wendy answered with a small laugh and Shelby shrugged a little at her comment. She perfectly knew they were making out and close to do even more.
"Right." Shelby rolled her eyes at her and looked around the room. "Anyway, you should really close the door when you're planning on stripping your clothes. What if your parents enter the room or something?" Shelby replied and received a small shrug from the brunette. She made room on the bed for Shelby, but the blonde decided she preferred to sit on the chair since she didn't want to take part of her friends' display of love.
"Did you hear from my brother?" Wendy asked after a small pause and Shelby nodded, with a very cute pout.
"Yeah, he called a little earlier, he's fine but 'misses us like crazy!'" She said quoting her boyfriend's words with a funny high pitched voice. "And he told me to say hello to you and the rest of the family because he can't call tonight." She smiled a little at the thought of her phone conversation with her boyfriend. She still couldn't believe he was gone and she hoped he would be fine all alone in a city he didn't know very well.
"Oh, why that?"
"He told me something about getting drunk to celebrate his independence and a big hangover, I didn't understand everything but I'm glad he tries to have fun."
"Yeah, like you should be jealous of a bottle of beer…" Luke commented with a laugh and Wendy nodded at his answer, though she knew alcohol and Scott Barringer weren't a good mix.
"Ah, ah, you would never know what you can do with a bottle Luke." Wendy said mischievously. The discussion was taking an interesting way, not that it bothered them. After all, they were all young and horny…
"You tried something with a bottle? Really? I didn't even think that was even possible…" Luke muttered and shook his head, thinking his girlfriend was totally crazy… Wendy shrugged her shoulders.
"Okay, why don't we drop it…It's not I'm a prude or something but I'd rather not hear you talk about something so…I don't know? Disgusting?" Shelby said making a face and Luke nodded thinking it was a bit too private to be talked about…
"She's right but still…you such a nasty girl…" He grinned at her and licked his lips before pecking her lips before she could react.
"Jerk!" She yelled with a pout and he smiled sweetly at her, before going on.
"You know, it's always better than having you in my bed…because it doesn't complain when you're too heavier, or I don't have to take care of giving it pleasure." Wendy shoved him again, a little harder this time and he laughed at her while Shelby sat on the edge of the bed. "You know you're the best."
"Maybe you're not satisfied because he's not motivated… after all, he didn't try having it with me." Shelby winked at him and Wendy scolded at her, thinking it was not a funny treat.
"Who would want you except my moronic brother?" She retorted satisfied and Shelby rolled her eyes at her, now feeling a little sad.
"Very nice Wendy." Luke whispered noticing Shelby sullen sway of moods.
"So, when are you going to go to L.A to see him? Soon, I hope." The brunette asked her bestfriend who pouted and shook her head 'no'. There was no way she would see her boyfriend until classes start again…which totally sucked by the way. She hoped her holidays would still be kinda fun because she already was regretting her subscription to that stupid camp…
"Not during the summer. I kinda subscribed to a summer camp where they're doing sports and cool things. I'm going with Daisy and Ezra."
"Oh, that's…great." Wendy said with a smirk. She would never do a thing like that. Being alone in the woods, trying to get closer to the nature and connect with the animals wasn't something she would call fun and exciting. God, Shelby would be super bored…the poor girl…stuck with that nerd of Ezra and that scary Goth girl…
"And you, what have you planned for this summer?" She asked her bestfriend who gave her a sad expression.
"I'm staying home, unfortunately, and I didn't even get a choice in that decision."
"Why that?"
"Because daddy dearest thinks of it as a punishment for my bad, bad girl behaviour."
"Wow, that's kinda harsh and useless if you want my opinion." Shelby commented and Wendy agreed, nodding along. Of course, her father was stupid to think it would change her… It will only make her bitter. "And you Luke, what you're doing this summer?"
"I'm gonna go to my grandparents, just like every year. So I get to be with my half brother, which is kinda cool."
"I didn't know you had a brother?" She asked with surprise and he nodded with a small twinkle in his eyes.
"He's a year younger, and I saw him on pictures, he's even cuter than this one." Wendy answered before Luke could place a world, and smiled apologetically at him when she said what she said. "Sorry babe, but he's really, really handsome. You too, but you have a different charm." She tried and bit her lip as he nodded, pouting. She leaned over to give him a short kiss, which he quickly deepened.
"Well, I think I should leave. I'll call you later Wendy. See you two." Shelby said but she could tell they weren't really listening to her so she just shrugged and smiled at the sight of the two. They were really cute together and she couldn't help but feel jealousy towards them. I wasn't fair that they had the chance to spend their time together and not her with Scott. She really was going to miss her lover…
Well again, I'm sorry if this chapter sucks or something… I promised myself I would finish this story and not let it like that… So even if I don't go up until where I had planned, I will give you a proper end…
Lots of Love to my faithful readers...
Linkie.
