"You guys aren't going to believe what I just heard," Juliet said pushing her tray of food as far away from her as possible.
"What?" Daisy asked.
"I know why Shelby wasn't in group and I know what Peter wanted to talk to her about."
"Well, Jules. Don't keep us all in suspense. Are you going to tell us or not?"
"It's just that," she started to say before being interrupted by a booming voice behind her.
"OK Cliffhangers, listen up. Since it looks like you are all done with dinner, I want all of you to come with me to the lodge. I have a few things I need to discuss with you guys," He said as he began to look around the room noticing that one person was noticeably absent. "Anyone know where Shelby is?"
"She said she wasn't hungry so she stayed back in the dorms," Juliet said upset that she had been unable to share her news.
Peter then turned towards Sophie who was standing behind him and asked if she would mind going to get Shelby and meet them in the lodge. With just a simple nod of the head Sophie was gone and Peter was left to corral this group and get them moving to the lodge. There was no way he was going to share this announcement in front of the entire school in the cafeteria. It was by far a delicate matter and needed to be handled that way. He saw how Shelby took the news and there was no telling how the others would take it as well.
"Why aren't we up and moving towards the door?" Peter asked the Cliffhangers. Before they had an opportunity to bemoan the idea of group after dinner Peter shot them all a look that was quickly interpreted that if they did not get out that door 30 seconds ago then they would all be chopping wood indefinitely. They all got up and walked out the door leaving behind the chatter of the cafeteria who were by now talking about how all the Cliffhangers must be in big trouble if Peter wanted to see them at this hour. Not long after they left, the noise of the cafeteria had become a distant memory as well as the news that Juliet was going to share with them.
Shelby was in the dorm lying on her bed when Sophie came in. She quickly wiped the tears from her face and hoped that Sophie would not be able to tell that she had been crying.
"Shelby, get up. Peter needs to talk to you."
"We talked earlier and I believe I heard everything he had to say and more,' she said still lying on her bed with her back to Sophie.
"He has called a meeting of the Cliffhangers and your attendance is mandatory, so come on and get up. And loose the tude unless you want to be on kitchens for a month."
"Fine," she said. "Can I go to the bathroom first?" She said with a slight tone of sarcasm.
"Yeah, but make it quick. Everyone's waiting on you."
Shelby got up and headed to the bathroom without making eye contact with Sophie. When she looked at herself in the mirror she was glad she had been able to avoid eye contact because her cheeks were tear stained and her make-up had run horribly. She turned on the faucet and quickly washed her face as well as washing away any evidence that she had been crying. Drying her hands and her face, Shelby then went out to meet Sophie who was waiting just outside the door and the two headed out towards the main lodge. Sophie tried numerous times to engage Shelby in conversation, but it was made quite clear that she wasn't up for talking.
"Hey Peter, what's the meaning of this meeting. After dinner is supposed to be our free time." Ezra asked after getting frustrated that he had been called away after dinner and then forced to sit here and wait for Shelby before Peter would start the meeting.
"We'll start when," he began to say before looking up in the doorway and seeing the last member of the group had finally shown up. "Nevermind, she's here. Come in Shelby and join the group."
I don't see why I have to be here. I already know everything you have to say and don't care to hear it again thank you every much," she muttered under her breath.
"Is there something you would like to share with the rest of the group?" Peter asked even though he had heard every word she just said. Knowing that she had had a tough day, he cut her some slack and allowed her to vent for just a minute.
"No," she said sharply before walking off to the corner away from everyone, yet still close enough that Peter would not single her out and make her move closer to the group.
"Well, not that we are all here, I have a very important announcement to make. I received a phone call this morning, and well, and uh," he stumbled a few times.
"Just cut to the chase Peter. What's the big news?"
Peter decided that after the way Shelby took the news, the best idea was to be quick about it, almost like ripping off a Band-Aid. The faster you do it the less painful it is. "Scott's coming back."
This stirred up commotion among everyone except Shelby who continued to sit in the corner not talking to anyone and not reacting when Peter made his big announcement.
"When? Why?" they all seemed to ask in unison.
"I'm not going to get into the specifics of it all with you right now. If Scott wants to share that with you he will, but I will let you know that he should arrive some time tomorrow. What I really want to discuss with you which is the reason I am telling you guys is that I want to put him back in the Cliffhangers with you. I think that is the best place for him, but I won't do it if any of you have any reservations about it. This is a unique situation, but because I think you guys know so much about what has gone on with him it might be best for him not to have to open up and learn to trust other people with his past and I would never expect any of you to do unless you felt really comfortable with the idea."
When no one said anything, Peter said "OK, as long as no one has a problem with this you are all free to go, but I want you to know that Sophie and I are hear in case any of you need to talk about this."
Back in the dorms there was the constant commotion of trying to get ready to be on top of the excitement that Scott was coming back that nobody noticed that Shelby still had not come inside. When she said that she wanted to be alone for a few minutes no one thought anything of it and didn't push the issue, but in the hour since they left the lodge and she still had not come back in, Daisy started to worry. Just when she was about to go out and check on her and make sure she was indeed still out there, the door opened and Shelby walked in. Without a word to anyone she went over to her closet and pulled out a change of clothes and headed into the bathroom.
"Shouldn't someone go in and make sure she is OK?" Juliet asked.
"Nah," Daisy said. "She'll be out soon enough." Just as Daisy was finishing her sentence out walked Shelby. In an effort to change the subject away from Scott, Daisy turned towards Shelby and asked, "So, what is your topic for the essay going to be?"
"What essay," she asked half-heartedly.
"That's right. You weren't at group today. Sophie assigned another one of her 'get in touch with your inner self' essays on your greatest fear in life." Daisy explained.
"Great. Just what I need." She said before pulling down the covers on her bed and climbing in. Juliet and Daisy took this as a hint that she didn't feel like talking anymore, so they turned the lights off and went to sleep. Tomorrow was most certainly going to be an emotional day for everyone so going to bed early didn't seem to bother anyone.