Body
Chapter 9
Colleen sat silently glaring at Peter, her hands folded and her body stiff, "I don't think you can help, Peter." She'd repeated this to herself numerous times.
"Maybe not," he said, "but I'm here to try, and you're here to progress......so it wouldn't hurt for you to try too."
Colleen closed her eyes and shook her head, "All I have to worry about right now, is that somewhere out there I have a crazed ex-boyfriend on a rampage to kill me!" her voice rose higher, "and each day ALL I can worry about is enduring the fear of him finding me! I don't have time to sit around and worry about myself or my 'progress.' I don't have time to sit around and discuss my embarrassing and pain-filled past that I would only like to forget."
Peter's face softened, "Talking about it, is a step to helping endure your pain and fear Colleen. They'll find Adam and they'll lock him up. Then you'll be left with a better future and people who care about you."
Colleen calmed down, "Well that is when I'll talk about him."
Peter nodded, "Ok then, tomorrow's quest will give you lots of time to think."
Colleen stood and walked outside. She scanned the grounds; a sudden habit she'd developed since her mother's call. Suddenly Scott jogged up to her.
"Hey there, how'd it go?" he asked.
"Fine, are you next?"
Scott shook his head, "Not yet. You know, I was thinking......I know why you try to act as hard as rock. Shelby does it, I do it and we can both tell you that it's useless even though we both do it still. Don't feel like your alone, we're here for you."
For the first time since she'd met Scott, she didn't feel like snapping at him, "Why are you here Scott?"
He gazed away for a moment, then spoke, "Your different Colleen, I feel that I can trust you I feel somewhat close to you. My junior year of high school I got heavily involved in drugs and just became a pretty messed up kid, but......," he stopped and looked away for a moment, "what started it all was.....well, I was taken advantage of."
Colleen shrugged, "We're all taken advantage of, why was it so hard for you?"
"No, not like that," Scott paused for a long time, "I was taken advantage of......sexually." He seemed to choke out the word as if he had trouble saying it.
Colleen raised her eyebrows in surprise, "I'm sorry."
"Yeah well, most people are," he replied rather bitterly then turned to her, "Tell me about Adam."
Colleen shrugged, "Not much to tell, he's a deranged psychopath that's all."
"Oh come on Colleen, you and I both know it's more than that."
Scott as much as I'd like to trust you the way you trust me, this isn't the time or place to discuss my past. There are people everywhere and I just don't think that I have the energy to keep my cool in front of them all. I appreciate you confiding in me, and I won't say anything. However I don't thinking talking will help me much."
Scott looked hurt, "I was just trying to Colleen, and as special as you think your story is, just remember that everyone here has gone through similar, if not worse, situations than you! Your a spoiled brat with an overactive imagination. Ooh Adam's hiding in the woods with a gun, and he's gonna come shoot me!" Scott mocked her in a girlie voice. The he stopped, grabbed her, and kissed her right on the mouth. She let him stay like that for a second before she shoved him away then wound up and punched him. It sent him reeling.
"What is your problem? Despite the horrible things he did to me, at least Adam taught me something useful.........how to defend myself against jackasses like you!" she spat and raised her fist again.
Sophie came running and pulled Colleen away roughly, "What's going on?"
Scott glared at Colleen, "That bitch is psycho, she needs to go join her boyfriend in an institution and not here at Horizon!"
Sophie sighed, "Go to Peter's office to work this out, both of you!"
Colleen looked around at all the spectators, "What the hell are y'all staring at? Get a life unless you wanna piece of this!" She held up her fists and people dispersed chuckling.
Sophie yelled, "Peter's office, NOW!"
