Disclaimer: I don't own HG. I do own the other characters.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Sorry I haven't posted sooner school has gotten in the way. But on a bright note I got accepted to college! Anyway please review and tell me what you think!!! I'll try and make it longer next time.
Part Five
A glaring white light woke up Kaitlyn. She could hear voices but couldn't comprehend what they were saying. All she remembered was trying to get away and suddenly everything went black and the world fell away. She knew she must have passed out once again.
"Hey kiddo. How are you feeling?" asked Sophie who had just noticed that Kait was awake.
"Dizzy but other than that okay." She responded. The nurse took her pulse and started to unwrap the bandages on her wrists.
"These are healing fine." The nurse said to Peter and Sophie. "But she looks severely malnourished. I want to get her weight for today."
The nurse took Kaitlyn's weight and shook her head in disappointment. "She's lost 2 lbs. She's now down to 90 lbs. I know she's only 5'2'' but this is very dangerous. She has gain weight soon or she will have to be fed intravenously."
Peter and Sophie both grimaced at the news while Kaitlyn maintained her sullen look. They just don't understand she thought to herself.
After everyone else had went their separate ways Scott and Shelby headed down to their favorite place, the docks. Scott still had a bewildered look on his face and Shelby's face was just a bit curious as they sat down. They sat for a few moments in silence. Finally Scott began to tell Shelby all that he told Peter. She kept quiet and just listened to him speak.
Finally she asked, "Do you remember saying all that stuff?"
Scott placed his head in his hands and responded "Not really. I now remember being really angry with her but I don't remember why. I was high most of the time at that point so I could have said those things. I just feel so…" he trailed off.
"Helpless." Shelby finished for him. He looked at her in surprise and nodded his head in agreement. "That's how I felt when I found out what Walt did to Jess." She continued as she stared out at the lake, "I wasn't there to help her. And I couldn't make what happened go away and I couldn't change how she felt. I was her big sister. I was supposed to protect her…and I didn't. I failed."
"Shel, you didn't fail. You tried so hard to protect her and god what you went through. And in the end you protected her, you got that bastard in prison." Scott stated adamantly. "I just can't help but feel that I abandoned Kaitlyn. I'm supposed to be her big brother."
"Big brother huh?"
"Yeah when we were like 7 I think we saw something in a movie. Ya know how you both cut your fingers and mix the blood together. Well um we did that. Except I kinda got sick afterwards. I don't like blood. I guess I don't handle it well." He said bashfully.
Shelby laughed at the picture in her mind of a 7 year old Scott being squeamish. Imagine the big tough football player afraid of seeing blood.
"I just want to try and help her. And Shel could you try and be her friend?"
"Cowboy you know that I'm not the friendliest person around. Try Jules."
"Shelby you can be nice when you want to be. And Kaitlyn is the sweetest girl either. Actually now that I think of it you guys kind of remind me of each other."
"We'll see what happens." Shelby responded as she kissed him softly. They continued kissing as the stars shone above.
The next morning at breakfast Kait was released from the infirmary. The cliffhangers were informed of her condition. Sophie and Kait sat off by them selves, as Sophie had to make sure Kaitlyn was actually eating her food. Juliette watched them quietly. She wasn't her normal happy self.
"Jules. Hey Jules, wait up!" called out Auggie as he hurried after the brunette who was crossing the campus.
"What do you want Auggie?" she questioned him while not meeting his eyes.
"What's wrong? And don't even try and pretend like something's not. I know you better than that." He said showing his growing concern as he led her over to the picnic table to talk.
"It's just seeing what Kaitlyn's doing to herself. She's being so stupid. She's hurting herself by not eating and throwing up. And I look at her and think how can someone do that to herself? But I know how cause I did. I look at her and see how I use to be. Some days I think I'm past all that but others I'm just not sure. For so long I'd tried to be the perfect Juliette. And now I don't know, it's if I don't follow my old ways I won't be that person anymore. And if I'm not her who am I? The pain that I put myself through at times was the only way I could express my true feelings. You know it was a lot easier to pretend to be happy all the time and take the anger and hurt out on my body and be told I was still perfect looking than to try and sort out who I am and what I truly feel knowing that people can see the flaws. I know it's not healthy and I'm trying but it's so hard."
"Jules," he said as he lifted her chin making her look at him "flaws are what make us human. What make you truly beautiful? Not your weight or hair or face. It's the simple things that shine through like your smile and your optimism, your hope that things will get better. The things inside that make a person truly beautiful not outside. And Juliette Waybourne you are the most beautiful girl I have ever met."
Juliette looked at him with tears streaming down her face. She was too amazed and overcome by his words to respond verbally so she did the only thing she could think of, she kissed him with all the feeling she possessed. She was just so grateful to have someone like him in her life.
Next time: It's quest time for the cliffhangers.
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