I do not own any of the character on Higher Ground.
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." – Eleanor Roosevelt
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parker woke up the next morning and her heart started pounding. Where am I? The thought raced through her mind.
"C'mon Parker you'll be late for breakfast." Jules voice was a reality check for Parker.
"I'm up, I'm up." Parker rubbed her eyes ferociously. She felt stupid for freaking out.
"You got about 15 minutes before breakfast and you'll want to be there imediatley. The boys get all the food otherwise." Jules frowned at the "f" word. Food was that last thing on her mind.
"I'm not really hungry. I think I'm going to just sleep in." Parker rolled back into bed.
"No can do." Daisy's voice had a fake joy in it. "Here at Horizon we start everyday off with a healthy breakfast. Followed by a life lesson in the deep dark woods, a appetizing lunch, more life lessons, dinner to die for, and a little group sharing time. And that's just during the summer without school."
"Daisy shut up. Its not that bad, really. C'mon Parker. Its my butt if you aren't at breakfast." Jules eyes were pleading.
With a huge sigh, Parker got up and out of bed stumbling toward the bathroom. She realized as she walked across the room that she didn't see Shelby. She didn't really mind though. Parker had a strange feeling that Shelby didn't like her.
Warm tears feel down Shelby's cheeks. She sat by herself in the equipment room. She hated to cry in front of anyone but especially in front of Daisy or Jules because they would ask questions. Right now talking was the last thing she wanted. In fact all she wanted was Scott's embrace but she couldn't get that until she admitted that there was something wrong. And there wasn't.
Shelby sighed heavily. She didn't know what was wrong with her lately. She had never been one to show her emotions to others but suddenly…
Actually she really didn't know what to call her feelings lately. She wanted to help Juliette, like really wanted to. She wanted to tell Scott how much she loved him and how it made her jealous when he was with other girls. She even wanted to just tell Peter and Sophie how much she loved them like her parents. And all these feelings scared her because they weren't her.
Shelby surveyed the room from where she sat. She had come so far in life from where she used to be. But through it all she had her shell. If things hurt her or got personal, she had her little shell to put on and protect herself. But now when she would try and put on her shell it was no longer inpenetratable. Now it was soft, like her. Shelby liked the feeling though. She liked not having to be the pessimist, but she also knew the price. She had once been naïve. And in the process of having all that innocence coming from her, she lost her innocence.
Shelby sat there and realized that she had really never gotten to live out her child hood though. She had a short time in her life where she was a child and let everything be new but that was gone when her stepdad came into the picture. After him she no longer wanted to allow anyone in, afraid of the price it would have on her.
Shelby ran a finger though her hair and wiped away the tears. It was time for her to make an appearance at breakfast before people came looking for her.
Kat brushed her jeans off as she stood from her kneeling position. Peter had sent her out to do grunt work, fixing the rope maze. Today the Ridgerunners would be out here working on it, as a group activity. Kat thought about her group of kids.
The Ridgerunners were very different from the Cliffhangers. There was a group of 5, 3 girls and 2 boys. Their ages ranged from 15 to 17. One boy and two of the girls were users, one boy had attempted to kill himself multiple times, and one girl hadn't spoken a word in over 2 years. Kat had her hands full. The most intriguing to her was obviously, Natalie, since not speaking in such a long time was a big deal. But Kat had attempted to get a connection forming which was the best that she could do.
Kat stepped back and admired the rope maze. It was good work considering that this was Kat's first time setting it up. She turned back towards Horizon and headed off to meet up with her group.
Scott looked around the room for Shelby. He had woken up late and so he figured she should already be at breakfast but she was nowhere to be found. Worry creased his forehead but out of the corner of his eye he caught Jules and Auggie staring at him. He went over to their table.
"You okay man?" Auggie looked Scott over quickly and Scott realized that he was still in his beat up sweats and a grungy t shirt. "Scott, ain't that what you wore to bed?"
"Yeah, I was running a little late. Why didn't you wake me up."
"I was the first one out this morning. I just figured that the last one out would wake you up. Sorry man."
"No problem. Jules, did you see Shelby this morning?"
"She wopke me up leaving, but that was really early. I figured she was going to meet you or something. I guess not." Jules looked at Scott and realized how sad she was making him with her questions. "Oh wait I remember she said that she had something to take care of," Jules lied.
Scott perked up a little and jules felt better. She stood up to go and look fro Shelby. Auggie put a hand on her arm.
"Where you going jules?"
"I'll be back just give me a few minutes okay?" Jules looked into his eyes and realized his concern. "Auggie, I'm not going to the bathroom. Don't worry."
Auggie's face untensed some and he let go of her arm. "Alright Jules, I'm sorry for assuming-"
"Don't be, it was sweet." Jules quickly scanned the room before giving Auggie a quick kiss. 'I'll be right back."
Jules headed out of the dining hall with a brisk walk.
"If I was Shelby where would I go," she murmured to herself. She looked through all the general areas, which were empty since everyone was at breakfast. She headed outside towards the woodshed and then went to the equipment room. She heard a muffled noise as she pushed the door open. Shelby sat in the middle, back facing Jules, hunched over and curled in a ball. Jules started to tip toe over to her but the door let out a loud squeak as it swung shut.
Shelby swung her head around eyes wide and startled. "God, Jules you scared the-"
"There you go again. Calling me Jules! What happened to Queenie and Princess?"
"Do you like those names?!" Shelby stood up hastily.
Jules shook her head no.
"Well then why do you insist on me calling you that?" Shelby had tears in her eyes again and she sat back down on the floor.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset. But you have been acting so nice to me I just wondered…"
"Just wondered whats wrong? Yeah me too." Shelby allowed herself a small smile at the irony of the whole thing.
"Wait a minute. That's why you're upset? Because you're being nice?"
"Whats it to you?" Shelby turned her head away from Jules.
"You're afraid aren't you? It s like Daisy always said about your, your, your mask thingy. Your afraid that its wearing off!" The traces of excitement in Jules voice were from her figuring it out more than Shelby having to admit that she was "human".
"You know what? Forget it. This never happened." Shelby stood up and harshly brushed her clothes. She stormed past Jules.
You just proved me right, Jules thought silently.
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience by which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, "I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along." – Eleanor Roosevelt
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Parker woke up the next morning and her heart started pounding. Where am I? The thought raced through her mind.
"C'mon Parker you'll be late for breakfast." Jules voice was a reality check for Parker.
"I'm up, I'm up." Parker rubbed her eyes ferociously. She felt stupid for freaking out.
"You got about 15 minutes before breakfast and you'll want to be there imediatley. The boys get all the food otherwise." Jules frowned at the "f" word. Food was that last thing on her mind.
"I'm not really hungry. I think I'm going to just sleep in." Parker rolled back into bed.
"No can do." Daisy's voice had a fake joy in it. "Here at Horizon we start everyday off with a healthy breakfast. Followed by a life lesson in the deep dark woods, a appetizing lunch, more life lessons, dinner to die for, and a little group sharing time. And that's just during the summer without school."
"Daisy shut up. Its not that bad, really. C'mon Parker. Its my butt if you aren't at breakfast." Jules eyes were pleading.
With a huge sigh, Parker got up and out of bed stumbling toward the bathroom. She realized as she walked across the room that she didn't see Shelby. She didn't really mind though. Parker had a strange feeling that Shelby didn't like her.
Warm tears feel down Shelby's cheeks. She sat by herself in the equipment room. She hated to cry in front of anyone but especially in front of Daisy or Jules because they would ask questions. Right now talking was the last thing she wanted. In fact all she wanted was Scott's embrace but she couldn't get that until she admitted that there was something wrong. And there wasn't.
Shelby sighed heavily. She didn't know what was wrong with her lately. She had never been one to show her emotions to others but suddenly…
Actually she really didn't know what to call her feelings lately. She wanted to help Juliette, like really wanted to. She wanted to tell Scott how much she loved him and how it made her jealous when he was with other girls. She even wanted to just tell Peter and Sophie how much she loved them like her parents. And all these feelings scared her because they weren't her.
Shelby surveyed the room from where she sat. She had come so far in life from where she used to be. But through it all she had her shell. If things hurt her or got personal, she had her little shell to put on and protect herself. But now when she would try and put on her shell it was no longer inpenetratable. Now it was soft, like her. Shelby liked the feeling though. She liked not having to be the pessimist, but she also knew the price. She had once been naïve. And in the process of having all that innocence coming from her, she lost her innocence.
Shelby sat there and realized that she had really never gotten to live out her child hood though. She had a short time in her life where she was a child and let everything be new but that was gone when her stepdad came into the picture. After him she no longer wanted to allow anyone in, afraid of the price it would have on her.
Shelby ran a finger though her hair and wiped away the tears. It was time for her to make an appearance at breakfast before people came looking for her.
Kat brushed her jeans off as she stood from her kneeling position. Peter had sent her out to do grunt work, fixing the rope maze. Today the Ridgerunners would be out here working on it, as a group activity. Kat thought about her group of kids.
The Ridgerunners were very different from the Cliffhangers. There was a group of 5, 3 girls and 2 boys. Their ages ranged from 15 to 17. One boy and two of the girls were users, one boy had attempted to kill himself multiple times, and one girl hadn't spoken a word in over 2 years. Kat had her hands full. The most intriguing to her was obviously, Natalie, since not speaking in such a long time was a big deal. But Kat had attempted to get a connection forming which was the best that she could do.
Kat stepped back and admired the rope maze. It was good work considering that this was Kat's first time setting it up. She turned back towards Horizon and headed off to meet up with her group.
Scott looked around the room for Shelby. He had woken up late and so he figured she should already be at breakfast but she was nowhere to be found. Worry creased his forehead but out of the corner of his eye he caught Jules and Auggie staring at him. He went over to their table.
"You okay man?" Auggie looked Scott over quickly and Scott realized that he was still in his beat up sweats and a grungy t shirt. "Scott, ain't that what you wore to bed?"
"Yeah, I was running a little late. Why didn't you wake me up."
"I was the first one out this morning. I just figured that the last one out would wake you up. Sorry man."
"No problem. Jules, did you see Shelby this morning?"
"She wopke me up leaving, but that was really early. I figured she was going to meet you or something. I guess not." Jules looked at Scott and realized how sad she was making him with her questions. "Oh wait I remember she said that she had something to take care of," Jules lied.
Scott perked up a little and jules felt better. She stood up to go and look fro Shelby. Auggie put a hand on her arm.
"Where you going jules?"
"I'll be back just give me a few minutes okay?" Jules looked into his eyes and realized his concern. "Auggie, I'm not going to the bathroom. Don't worry."
Auggie's face untensed some and he let go of her arm. "Alright Jules, I'm sorry for assuming-"
"Don't be, it was sweet." Jules quickly scanned the room before giving Auggie a quick kiss. 'I'll be right back."
Jules headed out of the dining hall with a brisk walk.
"If I was Shelby where would I go," she murmured to herself. She looked through all the general areas, which were empty since everyone was at breakfast. She headed outside towards the woodshed and then went to the equipment room. She heard a muffled noise as she pushed the door open. Shelby sat in the middle, back facing Jules, hunched over and curled in a ball. Jules started to tip toe over to her but the door let out a loud squeak as it swung shut.
Shelby swung her head around eyes wide and startled. "God, Jules you scared the-"
"There you go again. Calling me Jules! What happened to Queenie and Princess?"
"Do you like those names?!" Shelby stood up hastily.
Jules shook her head no.
"Well then why do you insist on me calling you that?" Shelby had tears in her eyes again and she sat back down on the floor.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset. But you have been acting so nice to me I just wondered…"
"Just wondered whats wrong? Yeah me too." Shelby allowed herself a small smile at the irony of the whole thing.
"Wait a minute. That's why you're upset? Because you're being nice?"
"Whats it to you?" Shelby turned her head away from Jules.
"You're afraid aren't you? It s like Daisy always said about your, your, your mask thingy. Your afraid that its wearing off!" The traces of excitement in Jules voice were from her figuring it out more than Shelby having to admit that she was "human".
"You know what? Forget it. This never happened." Shelby stood up and harshly brushed her clothes. She stormed past Jules.
You just proved me right, Jules thought silently.