Disclaimer: The characters of Higher Ground belong to Fox Family and are not my own.

Comment: Sorry it has been so long. Had a family crisis.


Pura Vida (part 8)


************************ end of group, and evaluations ************


Sophie: Okay guys, group is finally over.

Everyone: Yeah! Finally!

Auggie: Hey Jules never came back...I'm going to see what's up.

Sophie (looks agitated): Hey Auggie, everyone should go back to their dorms for awhile and recuperate, okay? I will see about Juliette.

(Sophie and Auggie leave.)

Kat: Everyone before you go, I talked with Peter and well, we can't do our surprise party for Auggie and Juliette.

Ezra: Why not? I can't believe that Peter wouldn't cooperate.

Kat: It's not that we couldn't, but well, Peter said that it was okay for me to tell you, but Juliette is going home for the summer...she leaves on Friday.

(Everyone is silent for a moment.)

Scott: Going home? But I thought her mom didn't want her around or something.

Kat: I don't know the exact situation, and I really shouldn't discuss it with you guys, but lets just say that Jules has to spend some time with her new family.

Daisy: Stepdad number five, wasn't it? The movie director...

David: Well, I think its good...no more planning stupid parties!! And no more perky Juliette!!

Scott: (moves closer to David in a threatening manner) the only reason you aren't bleeding is that the next fight means kitchens for the entire summer, and I do not want to be stuck cleaning with you...

Ezra: And you better be glad Auggie didn't or doesn't hear you.... Boy, is this going to be a bad summer. I'm guessing Auggie doesn't know yet?

(David makes a face at everybody, then leaves).

Kat: Not unless Peter told him.

Daisy: Great, just great. He is going to be like an exploding cannon when he finds out.
Hey Shelby, you're awful quiet. What's up? Are you actually going to miss Queenie?

Shelby: NO, but I do know what it's like to go home before your ready. And if I know one thing, when it comes to Jule's mom, she goes down in less than 10 seconds from a complete knockout.
Come on, Scott, walk me to the dorm, okay?

Scott: Sure

(They leave. And eventually so does everyone else except... Daisy and Ezra stay for a little while but soon their silence becomes uncomfortable, and Ezra leaves first sighing along the way.

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Peter (sees Sophie as she is about to walk into his office): Hey Soph! I have been looking for you. Think you could go by and check on Juliette?

Sophie: Already did, but she was asleep. I plan to go back in about 30 minutes.

Peter: Good, I'm very worried.

Sophie: Me too.

Peter: But Hey..I called her mom back and she said it was okay if you went with her on Friday, so how about it?

Sophie: That's great! Maybe it will be easier with me there; and she won't be alone on the long drive. We can talk about using her tools against her mother (Sophie says this bitterly).

Peter: Against? Such harsh mentality Soph, (puts his hands on her shoulders and turns her to face him directly) Are you ever going to tell me about your mother, and why you are so bitter?

Sophie: Maybe, but not right this minute. (Changes the subject). How is Kat's party plan going?

Peter: Your trying to change the subject, but I will let it slide, FOR NOW. Operation Kat's party is running smoothly. I will tell her to meet us in the office at six. I think I will go and do that now....(sees something off in the distance) not to mention separating a certain blond couple over there.

Sophie (looks where he is looking and sees Shelby and Scott in a lip-locked embrace): Ahhh, young love....go easy on them Peter....

Peter: I guess, but it seems my talk went through one ear and out the other, but what can I expect from teenagers, right?

Sophie (laughs): right...so get going. I will check again on Juliette.

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Sophie (walks into the dorm): Juliette! You awake yet?

Juliette (turns over from her fetal position on the bed): Now I am.
Sophie (Sits down on the bed): I know that you do not want to go home, but...

Juliette: But what? It's going to be miserable. And I have to leave Auggie.

Sophie: I know, honey. Sometimes life throws us curves, and sometimes we begin at the curves. But don't worry we will talk about it a lot more on the drive Friday. (Juliette looks at her questionably) Yes, I am going with you, (see Juliette's confused face), and Yes your mother agreed.

Juliette: She did? That's strange. It must somehow be convenient for her, because I bet she hasn't told this Hal where I am and why.

Sophie: What makes you say that?

Juliette (looks off in space again): nothing. I'm tired of talking.

Sophie: okay...I guess that is enough for now. (hesitates) except, Jules can you let me see your arms please?

Juliette: I'm guessing you aren't going to trust me?

Sophie: Not after today's physical. Let me see them, Juliette. (Juliette rolls up her sleeves, no cuts are visible). Okay, now let me see your stomach. (Juliette lifts her shirt to uncover her scarred stomach). Well, okay. Good. But listen, if you feel like you're about to cut, please come get me or Peter. We just want to help you...okay? (Sophie is choked up as she says this due to the overwhelming stress of the situation as compared to her own, and the relief that Juliette was cut-free)

Juliette: okay.

Sophie leaves the cabin. Juliette goes into the bathroom, slides down the wall, thinking "How am I going to tell Auggie?"

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Shelby and Scott, after being broken up politely by Peter, decided to really go back to their dorms. Shelby sees Sophie leave the cabin, and decides that it is okay to enter.

Shelby: Hey Queenie, you in here? Oh Princess? Twig? (Notices the bathroom door closed and walks to it and knocks) Hey in there...is that you Queenie? No answer. Hey are you barfing or cutting in there?

All of the sudden, the door opens quite quickly and violently. Juliette stands in the center of the doorway, and Shelby is shocked by what she sees in her eyes...a flash of rage, an extreme anger, which increased the tension exponentially between them. Shelby, on instinct, moved out of the way as Juliette walked past her to the bed.

Shelby (who had never seen Juliette so bold or angry, was very flustered): Hey, what was that? Repressed anger surfacing or something?

Juliette sits down on her bed, and picks up a pen, but does not reply.

Shelby: Hey Queenie, I am talking to you. Don't you have anything to say?

Juliette remains silent.

Shelby: Fine, don't talk. That is what I have always dreamed of.

Daisy walks in, and she can feel the tension pulsing in the room.

Daisy: Hey guys, what is going on? There are some major emotional charges in this room.

Shelby: Well, I don't know, but Queenie here has stopped talking. My guess is Princess is upset about returning to the Palace.

Juliette looks at Shelby confused.

Daisy: Shelby! What are you doing?

Shelby: Being honest as you yourself would say. (turns to Juliette) Well, you will have to talk sometime, because Auggie doesn't know. You see Kat was planning a surprise party for you both next week, but as you know, you won't be here. So, someone still has to tell Auggie.

Juliette at first looks as if she is going to cry, but something akin to a steely mask overcomes her face, and she storms out.

Daisy: Great Shelby. Just Great. Now we will probably have to have group again.

Shelby (looks really concerned): Don't tell the princess, but I was worried, I guess. I mean, she wouldn't come out of the bathroom when I first got here and when she did...Daisy, you would not believe the expression on her face. I thought she was going to deck me! I can't believe this is coming from me, but she needs to talk and especially to Auggie or they will make the same mistakes Scott and I did. (she starts laughing) I really don't know why I care. It's not like we're friends or anything.

Daisy: Maybe it's sympathy. I mean, I sure wouldn't want to be going home. What do you know about her mother?

Shelby: Not a lot except that she is demanding. And a classier form of a slut with all her marriages for money. And whenever she's around, Queenie is on a path of self-destruction. But I think the scariest part of Jules is when she gets in that dreamy, or empty closed off space-look of hers.

Daisy: I agree. It freaks me out, too. It's like the lights are on, buddy, but Jules is not home. Hey wait, did you just call Queenie, "Jules?"

Shelby: I couldn't think of a name for her. Listen, I know what your thinking, but I will not miss her at all. Think no more perkiness, no more stupid ideas, no more...

Daisy: Juliette. How long do you think she will last?

Shelby: Not long. (repeats sadly) not long.

Daisy: Well, aren't we in the mood to party tonight.

Shelby: The party! We have to go set up now.


Daisy and Shelby leave. The rest of the Cliffhangers (besides Kat) help decorate the lodge. Even Juliette, who appears as her normal perky self, talking about how surprised Kat will be.

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Next time: Auggie finds out. Sophie and Peter's surprise for the Cliffhangers.