Disclaimer: I don't own Higher Ground. I own the other characters.
A/N: Thanks to everyone for the reviews. And note to Ashlyn, please continue w/ your story!! Sorry this wasn't out sooner, stupid school got in the way. Please review and tell me what you think. J.
Part Fourteen
"What the hell were you thinking?" yelled Daisy suddenly. "Look I know what happened to you. And that's horrible but it doesn't give you the right to just end it all."
Everyone was shocked at this sudden outburst. Ezra placed his hand on Daisy's shoulder, only to have her knock if off during her rant. Her dark eyes were flashing with rage.
"Just leave me alone! Who are you to tell me what to do with my life?" Kait shouted back.
"I thought we were your friends." Stated Jules quietly.
"Yeah," interjected Auggie, "here we're family. And we don't give up on each other."
"Don't you guys get it? I'm not worth this. I'm nothing. I don't deserve friends like you. Why do you want to fight for me, when I don't even want to fight for myself?"
"Because at one time or another we were all where you are. Lost, scared, and tired of dealing with life. But someone was there for us. And we want to be here for you." Ezra said with compassion glowing in his bright blue eyes.
"But you can't make these feelings I have go away. I just want to stop feeling like this. Stop reliving it." Kait said.
"So you're just going to let him win?" Shelby asked.
"What are you talking about?"
"Kyle. He's going to get away with it. You take the blame and the guilt and the pain. It kills you and he gets away. By doing this your giving him power. And it will never be over until you have a chance to fight back. Trust me, I know."
By this time tears Kaitlyn had spilled down her cheeks. Scott walked over to where she stood. Tears stood in his own blue eyes, shimmering. He brushed the tears from her face.
"Kaitlyn Heather Maitland, you are my best friend. My sister, who is at times a pain in the butt, always drives me crazy. The girl who wanted to fly to never never land with her Tinker Bell wings, the girl who believed in fairy tales and happily ever after. And yeah I was a complete jackass before. But I want you to know nothing you do, or have done, or have had done to you could make me stop loving you. And I won't let you leave me. And if you kill yourself so help me God I will chase you into the afterlife and drag your sorry ass back and then I'll have to kill you for putting me through that."
"I don't think I'm strong enough." Whispered Kaitlyn.
"Just try, please." Pleaded Scott.
All the things that had been said ran through Kait's mind, and she took a deep breath and nodded in consent. And everyone in the room heaved a sigh in collective relief.
After group Kaitlyn was taken to the dorms to get some much needed rest. Sophie was there to watch over the sleeping girl. Peter had to make some phone calls about Kaitlyn's case. In light of what happened the cliffhangers got a free day.
"Hey Dais….hello Daisy." Ezra called trying to get her attention.
She looked up startled, "What?"
Ezra laughed but sobered quickly, "Are you okay? And before you blow me off remember that it's just me that you're talking to. Good ole Ezra."
Daisy gave a soft chuckle and rested her head against his shoulder, "It's just not fair. I look at everyone here and see what we all had to go through. We're just kids, and we have to deal with all this shit. People like our parents, Elaine, Walt, Kyle, awful people screw us up and we pay for their actions. Look at the extent Kaitlyn went to. It's scary. And I can't help but think about that time you almost died." She confessed.
Ezra looked surprised at the mention of that incident but then relented, "Yeah it's been on my mind too. I still say I wasn't trying to kill myself, but I had thought of it before. Lots of times, actually. But luckily I have people like you to get me through." He said as he planted a soft kiss on Daisy's forehead.
Auggie found Juliette in the art room just staring aimlessly into space. He walked up and wrapped his arms around the dark beauty. She didn't even seem surprised, she knew it was him. It was always him. So she nestled back into the embrace.
"What's on your mind?" he asked as he toyed with her dark hair.
"You." Jules giggled.
Auggie smiled but asked again, "No really, what's going on in that head of yours?"
Jules sighed, she should have known she couldn't fool Auggie. "I just keep thinking about Kaitlyn. And I keep thinking about when I use to cut. I wasn't trying to do what she did but…."
"Sometimes you wanted to." He finished her though for her.
"Yeah. And you know the reason I didn't. I knew the embarrassment it would cause my mother. God, even in death I was worrying about her opinion of me. How silly is that?"
"Do you think about that anymore?"
"Killing myself? No. I have so much to live for. And I'm learning to deal with everything that had me so messed up in the first place. It's just you think of people who try to commit suicide as a certain type. But that's not true. It could be anyone."
Meanwhile Scott and Shelby were at the gazebo. They just held each other. At this point words weren't necessary. They knew what the other one was thinking, no words needed to be spoken. The presence of the other person was enough. They gained strength from one another.
Kaitlyn had fallen into a deep sleep, and with sleep came dreams. But it wasn't the usual nightmares that plagued her. This was different.
She was standing in a place filled with light. And someone was coming out of the light towards her. As Kaitlyn recognized the figure the tears began to fall and a smile graced her face. It was her mother.
"Mom." Kaitlyn choked out. The sight in front of her overwhelmed her.
"Hi baby." Her mother responded as she gathered Kait into a hug. She wiped the tears from her face and kissed her cheeks.
"Mommy I miss you. I need you. I want to be with you."
"My little one. I know. I've seen what's happened. But as much as I love and miss you, you can't be with me yet. You have a life to live."
"I don't want to live it!" she yelled.
"Sweetie, if I could take all the pain and the hurt away I would in an instant. But I can't. But I know that you blame yourself for the accident. Don't! It wasn't your fault. It was fate, and it sucks. I know. But you can't take the blame. You have to go n with you life. Look for the courage to overcome everything. To overcome the pain, the hurt, the anger, the guilt. You have people who truly care for you down there. Don't leave them. They need you and you need them."
"I love you mom." She said holding her mother tightly.
"I love you too baby."
And with that Kaitlyn woke up. Sophie looked worried as Kaitlyn had started crying in her sleep. But Kaitlyn just gave her a sad smile.
"I had a dream about my mom. I miss her." She said softly tears still flowing down her face.
"Oh honey." Said Sophie with sympathy. And she held Kaitlyn as she cried .