Looking In The Eyes Of Love
A "Higher Ground" Fan Fic
By MissKate

A/N...Short again, and I am sorry! I know how I want the story to end, I just don't know how to get to that point, so I am going through a bit of a writer's block. Also, I like each "scene" to be a new chapter, although I am trying to stray from that theme. I hope you like the story so far, and this chapter! I just finished watching "Exposed" and "Innocence"...Great episodes, I must say! Well, I am going to write the next chapter now, so you can expect it tomorrow or sooner!! PLEASE R&R!!!

Chapter 9: Wild Gentleness

As the girls stepped out into the springtime air, they saw that the sky had cleared up considerably, diminishing their drowsiness, bit by bit. They slowly walked into the cafeteria, ready to show Riley the way things worked at Horizon. Juliette was becoming perkier by the second, causing the others to grow more and more irritated.

"Come on, Riley! Let's sit over here!" she exclaimed after they had all grabbed their breakfast. The group walked to the table where the other Cliffhangers were sitting, quietly gabbing away.

As Daisy sat down, David looked up and smiled at her, to which she gave a weak grin in return. She was still feeling uneasy about everything, as much as she tried to deny it. However, she tried to make her feelings as least noticeable as possible, and continued to smile throughout the meal while talking with her friends.

Soon, everyone dispersed, returning to their usual activities. The girls headed back to their cabin, but got a small surprise on their trudge back. Two deer, one large one and a smaller one, were grazing near the stairs. None of them had ever seen one in the wild before, and were quite stunned.

"I didn't know that deer came up this close," said Riley casually. They all stood and stared, as the deer looked into their eyes as well.

Daisy watched as the two deer gazed up at them, and how calm yet alert they seemed. Always ready to leap away at the slightest movement, yet serene enough to continue to nibble at the weeds growing on the ground.

Shelby watched as her friend stared intently at the tranquil animals before them, before whispering into her ear. "Seem a bit familiar?"

Confused, Daisy stood silently, waiting for the deer to flee. As soon as they had, the four walked up to their room. Daisy went over to her bed, and Shelby sat on the one across from her. "So, what did you mean by that out there?" Daisy asked quietly.

"Listen, what I think is wrong between you and David is that you don't want to be hurt, or to hurt him. Now, at this jump between 'just friends' and 'more than just friends', you're ready to scamper away, just like those deer."

Staring at the floor, Daisy contemplated over what Shelby had just told her, realizing that every word was true. "Now what do I do, though? I mean, I really don't want to get hurt. I've seen you and Scott, and I don't want to have to go through that so often."

"I think, that if you don't want to get hurt, you have to find out how much he really cares for you. And I see those deer we saw earlier as a good sign. I mean, have we ever seen anything like that here? I'm sure everything will work out, though," she told her comfortingly.

Daisy nodded and sunk back onto her bed. She liked David, and everyone knew that, but she wanted to know exactly how serious his feelings were. How that was going to happen, she did not know, but she knew it had to.