Scott couldn't seem to pay attention in class, not with her sitting next to him. She was blushing and she knew it, she could see him staring at her from the corner of her eye. She smiled and finally looked at him, he had a huge grin on his face and he motioned toward the window, which viewed the docks, Shelby nodded knowing what that meant. For the past two weeks they had been meeting after lights out and having there late night talks, but lately Scott had noticed Shelby becoming a little distant. The bell rang and all the students quickly filed out of the classroom. Scott found Shelby looking at a bulletin board with pictures up of all the students.
" Looks like your girlfriend is getting her hands dirty," Shelby said. She pulled a picture off the board and tossed it at him as she began to walk away. Scott looked at the picture, Slut was printed in capital letters in black permanent marker over her face. Scott sighed as he heard a familiar scream down the hallway. He pushed the crowd out of the way and found Juliet and Shelby in the center of all the noise.
" I have had enough Princess" Shelby spat angrily. " You have something to say just say it!"
" I don't have a clue what your talking about" Juliet said sweetly. At that, Shelby slammed her against the wall and held her there.
" I have never taken shit from people like you and don't think that just because Peter will give me shuns that I will think twice about dealing with you any differently!" Shelby said.
" Well you do have something that belongs to me and I'm not giving it up without a fight" Juliet spoke.
" Well then I guess you're in for a long year, because as long as your in my way, I'll make your life a living hell" Shelby said letting go of her and walking away.
Scott ran after her down the hall way and out the door. He finally caught up with her in the girl's dorms. When he walked in she was sitting on her bed crying. He ran to her side and put his arms around her.
" God I'm sorry I feel so stupid, I cant believe I'm letting Juliet make me cry" Shelby laughed " this is pathetic"
" No it's not," Scott said soothing her.
" People have been calling me names for a long time you would think I would be used to it" Shelby said looking up at him.
" Look I know that our relationship is kind of confusing and I know that the lines are a little blurry" Scott began
" You mean because we make out?" Shelby asked. They both started laughing.
" Ya" Scott smiled. " But I hope you know that as a friend, I'm here whenever, wherever, ok?" Scott asked. Shelby just smiled and climbed onto his lap. He smiled evilly and she began to kiss him.
" Ok its time for group" Shelby said happily and jumped off his lap.
" NO!" Scott said and pulled her back onto his lap. " That's not fair" Scott whispered. As if on cue Sophie appeared in the doorway and cleared her throat to get there attention.
" Sorry Sophie" Scott said standing up. Shelby stood up next to him and smiled.
" Shelby Peter needs to speak with you in his office" Sophie said, " and Scott group… NOW!" She said. Scott gave Shelby a small kiss on the cheek when they got to the lodge and she ran up to Peter's office.
She went in and sat in the chair across from his desk. He looked up at her and smiled, so she wouldn't think she was in trouble and she seemed to relax a little.
" Shelby your mom just called a few minutes ago" Peter informed her. " She is coming up for a visit tomorrow."
" She is! That's great Peter!" Shelby said excited.
" Yea she and your step-father should be here at around noon tomorrow" Peter smiled, he watched as the smile on Shelby's face turned to that of sheer terror. " What is it Shelby?"
" I don't want to see them Peter" Shelby said getting scared.
" Shelby she is your mother I cant stop her from visiting you" Peter explained.
Shelby shook her head got up and ran out of his office. Group was being held and the rest of the cliffhangers watched her fly by and out the door toward the woods. Scott immediately got up and followed her. He found her curled up in a ball against a tree shaking.
" Shell?" Scot asked, " Baby what happened?"
Shelby looked up at him tears streaming down her cheeks violently, all she could do was shake her head.
" What baby what is it?" He asked worried.
" My stepfather, he's coming tomorrow." Shelby managed to get out in between sobs, " Scott I'm so scared, I cant I just cant"
" I know baby" Scott said comforting her, but even if he wouldn't admit it to her he was scared himself… if anything happened to her, he would kill him.
The next day Shelby got up early, she hadn't slept at all and figured she might as well get the shower first while she had the chance. All she had to do was ignore him, that's all, she would be polite to make her mother happy, maybe go to dinner with them but that was it, this visit would be a short one. She got out and got dressed just minutes before Scott arrived tapping on the screen door. Shelby slipped on her sneakers and out the door without waking any one up.
" Hey" Scott smiled.
" Hi" She said trying her best to show him she would be ok. She watched her mom's car slowly turn the corner and come up the rocky driveway. She ran behind the dorm where nobody could see her, Scott followed her. " I'm fine, I'm fine"
" Shelby everything is going to be ok I promise you" Scott said hoping that was true. Shelby looked up at him and gave him a small kiss.
" Thank you" She smiled interrupted by the car door closing. Shelby came out from behind the dorms and walked to Peter's office where they must have gone. She ran up the stairs and entered Peter's office. There was her mother talking with Peter about her progress. " Hi mom" She said meekly. Her mother whirled around in her chair and leaped up to hug her.
" Oh baby you look great" Mrs. Merrick smiled almost in tears. " Thank god"
" Thank Peter" Shelby laughed. Peter smiled at her knowing how hard this must be for her, she hadn't seen her mother since she brought her up to Horizon about a year ago. " Its about time you came for a visit, I missed you" Shelby sighed in the arms of her mother. But when she let go she heard an all too familiar voice from behind her.
" Your mother is right you look wonderful Shelby" Walt said grinning away. He stepped toward her as if he were going to hug her, but to avoid him Shelby sat down next to her mother infront of Peter.
" Peter has been telling us all about how well you have been doing this year he says your grades are up" Shelby's mother said proudly. " We are very proud of you"
" Well I have had a little help" Shelby smiled at Peter.
" And a little inspiration" Peter winked at her. Her mother began to squeal.
" Shelby! Did you meet a boy?" Her mother said excited.
" Mom" Shelby began to blush.
" Oh sorry sweetheart, why don't we go out to dinner and you can tell me all about how things are going then ok?" Mrs. Merrick asked sweetly.
" Yes why don't we Shelby" Walt said becoming interested in just how well Shelby was doing at this place.