Author's Note: My apologies for the long wait - between writer's block and Internet troubles, it was difficult to put out this chapter. Fortunately, I am still continuing with this story, and I am in the process of writing a new chapter. For all of you interested, I have created a website that corresponds with this story. Here, you will also find the newest chapters, and reminders about my story can be found in the section "Author's Note". So, be sure to check out Higher Ground: Better Days at www.geocities.com/AngelSDP Thanks to everyone who has remained patient and who has stuck with me throughout this story. Your replies mean so much. Again, any comments or questions can be sent to me at AngelSDP@aol.com. Thanks again, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I'm in no way associated with Higher Ground...
Better Days
"I have walked too long in darkness/I have walked too long alone/blindly clutching fists of diamonds/that I found were only stones"
-Barbra Streisand, "Higher Ground"
Chapter Eight
"So I guess Peter told you all about it, huh?"
Sophie barely glanced at Shelby as they made their way down the path.
"More or less."
"Great." The girl muttered dryly.
The woman turned her head and said pointedly, "I am your counselor, you know."
"I never asked you to be."
They walked in silence for awhile. Shelby was beginning to think that it was the end of their heart-to-heart, and she was almost grateful for that. But then Sophie spoke up again.
"Life...it can be hard." Shelby raised her eyebrows in agreement as Sophie continued. "That's what we're here for: to help you heal and learn how to handle its obstacles."
Shelby barely blinked. "Well, I guess I'll just have to remain "damaged" since I won't be here for much longer, now will I?"
Sophie looked beside her, her brows furrowed in thought. So it was finally coming out, she realized. For the first time, she had gotten a glimpse of the true Shelby. She was afraid to leave Horizon, afraid to go back out in the real world. Sophie didn't blame her one bit. She was being thrown back out with her shadow still trailing behind her. She was nowhere near ready to face those demons alone. And Sophie didn't have any idea of how to help her.
"You've got an old soul." She finally remarked.
"Groovy." Came Shelby's quick reply.
"And a hard shell too. Don't forget that we're here, Shelby, don't forget everything that you've learned."
"What, you mean how to build tree houses out of Popsicle sticks? Or how to hone our culinary skills?" She gave a short laugh and stopped walking. They had reached the main building. An old station wagon that looked as if it had gone through years of hardship as well was parked nearby. The smirk immediately faded from Shelby's face; her expression immediately hardened. Sophie turned to the girl and sincerely said,
"I mean how to live, how to survive."
"I've been surviving for my entire life, thank you. I didn't need Horizon to learn that." Shelby paused and glanced at the building. "Could we just get this over with?"
Sophie nodded sadly before putting an arm around the girl and leading her up the stairs.
"I appreciate everything that you have done for my daughter, Mr. Scarbrow, but I need her at home. I'm working, Jess is in school, and in the meantime I have no one to look after things."
"I understand your situation, believe me, I do. But I don't think that Shelby is anywhere near ready to go home. She's only just beginning to open up."
"Not ready to go home." The woman nodded in mock understanding. "And is that why you had to call me and tell me that she ran away from here?"
Peter crossed the room towards the window in order to control his frustration. Mrs. Blaine had come to take her daughter home and there was nothing, he knew, that he could say to convince her otherwise. He sighed and turned around, his voice filled with a renewed sense of calm.
"Shelby ran because she felt that she needed an escape - that's what they do. They are desperate, passionate teens who can only think of one thing at a time. And when something threatens them, that thought is usually about finding a way out. At Horizon, we try to provide a safe environment for the kids so that it will be a place where they will run to and not from. Shelby did just that." He held up his hands. "Look, I'm just trying to give you my professional input. On Shelby's behalf, she is nowhere near ready to leave and go back there."
"Back there." The woman repeated. "That is my home, our home. She'll be with her family again."
"But it won't solve anything. Whatever is causing her pain will still be with her. She needs to heal, she needs Horizon."
"She has been here for four months, Mr. Scarbrow. And she is still running away and causing trouble. Nothing is changing."
"She is changing. There are changes in her everyday. She has begun to open up, she has-"
"No, no - I need her at home, that's all there is to it."
"Mrs. Blaine, if you'll only-"
The door opened, cutting the debate off. Two pairs of eyes turned as Shelby stepped into the doorway. She barely lifted her eyes in greeting; her voice was low and steady.
"Hi Mom."
"So what are we waiting for? I thought we had group now."
"First kitchens and now this. I don't know if I can endure much more excitement."
"Well get ready, because you'll have plenty of it tomorrow, Ms. Lipenowski." Sophie walked into view and surveyed the group before her. After twenty minutes of patient waiting, they had congregated from the hard wooden chairs and were now lounging on the plush sofas. "But for now," she continued, "you can get back to class."
"You mean that's it? No group?" Ezra asked.
They all looked at their counselor in surprise, but it was Katherine who asked their question, "Where's Peter?"
"He has some business that he needs to tend to."
"You mean Shelby?"
Juliette watched as Scott lifted his head at Auggie's question, waiting with interest for an answer.
Sophie nodded grimly, knowing that her group had some vague understanding of what was happening. "Yes, Shelby." She answered truthfully. "Now go - all of you...Get to class."
The group reluctantly stood and began to disperse. As Sophie prepared to leave, she noticed Ezra approaching and raised her eyebrow in question.
"I don't suppose that we could be excused from our quest tomorrow as well?" He asked hopefully.
The counselor fought off an amused smile. "Nope. But it never hurts to ask."
Ezra frowned in disappointment. "We'll see." He muttered before joining the others.
Seated on the sofa, Juliette watched her group members begin to exit before gathering her books and trailing after them. She half-listened to their theories about Shelby as they all stepped out into the late afternoon sunlight.
"Yo Twig, what's on your mind?"
Her thoughts interrupted, she glanced up to see Auggie falling in step beside her.
"I was thinking about Shelby." Auggie looked at her in surprise, but let her continue. "Do you ever...I don't know." She paused and began again, her tone serious. "Do you ever think about getting out?"
Auggie turned to her as they continued up the path to the classrooms. "You mean like running?" He shook his head. "No, trust me Jules, I've been there. It's rough and it's different out there, ya know?" His voice softened as he stopped walking and turned to face her. His eyes watched her, trying to read her. "Don't do it, Jules, don't think about it. I mean, you see what's going on with Shelby."
Juliette nodded with her eyes on him and a set jaw. There was no smile on her usually glowing face. "Yeah, it's perfectly clear." She replied. "She's going home."
Disclaimer: I'm in no way associated with Higher Ground...
Better Days
"I have walked too long in darkness/I have walked too long alone/blindly clutching fists of diamonds/that I found were only stones"
-Barbra Streisand, "Higher Ground"
Chapter Eight
"So I guess Peter told you all about it, huh?"
Sophie barely glanced at Shelby as they made their way down the path.
"More or less."
"Great." The girl muttered dryly.
The woman turned her head and said pointedly, "I am your counselor, you know."
"I never asked you to be."
They walked in silence for awhile. Shelby was beginning to think that it was the end of their heart-to-heart, and she was almost grateful for that. But then Sophie spoke up again.
"Life...it can be hard." Shelby raised her eyebrows in agreement as Sophie continued. "That's what we're here for: to help you heal and learn how to handle its obstacles."
Shelby barely blinked. "Well, I guess I'll just have to remain "damaged" since I won't be here for much longer, now will I?"
Sophie looked beside her, her brows furrowed in thought. So it was finally coming out, she realized. For the first time, she had gotten a glimpse of the true Shelby. She was afraid to leave Horizon, afraid to go back out in the real world. Sophie didn't blame her one bit. She was being thrown back out with her shadow still trailing behind her. She was nowhere near ready to face those demons alone. And Sophie didn't have any idea of how to help her.
"You've got an old soul." She finally remarked.
"Groovy." Came Shelby's quick reply.
"And a hard shell too. Don't forget that we're here, Shelby, don't forget everything that you've learned."
"What, you mean how to build tree houses out of Popsicle sticks? Or how to hone our culinary skills?" She gave a short laugh and stopped walking. They had reached the main building. An old station wagon that looked as if it had gone through years of hardship as well was parked nearby. The smirk immediately faded from Shelby's face; her expression immediately hardened. Sophie turned to the girl and sincerely said,
"I mean how to live, how to survive."
"I've been surviving for my entire life, thank you. I didn't need Horizon to learn that." Shelby paused and glanced at the building. "Could we just get this over with?"
Sophie nodded sadly before putting an arm around the girl and leading her up the stairs.
"I appreciate everything that you have done for my daughter, Mr. Scarbrow, but I need her at home. I'm working, Jess is in school, and in the meantime I have no one to look after things."
"I understand your situation, believe me, I do. But I don't think that Shelby is anywhere near ready to go home. She's only just beginning to open up."
"Not ready to go home." The woman nodded in mock understanding. "And is that why you had to call me and tell me that she ran away from here?"
Peter crossed the room towards the window in order to control his frustration. Mrs. Blaine had come to take her daughter home and there was nothing, he knew, that he could say to convince her otherwise. He sighed and turned around, his voice filled with a renewed sense of calm.
"Shelby ran because she felt that she needed an escape - that's what they do. They are desperate, passionate teens who can only think of one thing at a time. And when something threatens them, that thought is usually about finding a way out. At Horizon, we try to provide a safe environment for the kids so that it will be a place where they will run to and not from. Shelby did just that." He held up his hands. "Look, I'm just trying to give you my professional input. On Shelby's behalf, she is nowhere near ready to leave and go back there."
"Back there." The woman repeated. "That is my home, our home. She'll be with her family again."
"But it won't solve anything. Whatever is causing her pain will still be with her. She needs to heal, she needs Horizon."
"She has been here for four months, Mr. Scarbrow. And she is still running away and causing trouble. Nothing is changing."
"She is changing. There are changes in her everyday. She has begun to open up, she has-"
"No, no - I need her at home, that's all there is to it."
"Mrs. Blaine, if you'll only-"
The door opened, cutting the debate off. Two pairs of eyes turned as Shelby stepped into the doorway. She barely lifted her eyes in greeting; her voice was low and steady.
"Hi Mom."
"So what are we waiting for? I thought we had group now."
"First kitchens and now this. I don't know if I can endure much more excitement."
"Well get ready, because you'll have plenty of it tomorrow, Ms. Lipenowski." Sophie walked into view and surveyed the group before her. After twenty minutes of patient waiting, they had congregated from the hard wooden chairs and were now lounging on the plush sofas. "But for now," she continued, "you can get back to class."
"You mean that's it? No group?" Ezra asked.
They all looked at their counselor in surprise, but it was Katherine who asked their question, "Where's Peter?"
"He has some business that he needs to tend to."
"You mean Shelby?"
Juliette watched as Scott lifted his head at Auggie's question, waiting with interest for an answer.
Sophie nodded grimly, knowing that her group had some vague understanding of what was happening. "Yes, Shelby." She answered truthfully. "Now go - all of you...Get to class."
The group reluctantly stood and began to disperse. As Sophie prepared to leave, she noticed Ezra approaching and raised her eyebrow in question.
"I don't suppose that we could be excused from our quest tomorrow as well?" He asked hopefully.
The counselor fought off an amused smile. "Nope. But it never hurts to ask."
Ezra frowned in disappointment. "We'll see." He muttered before joining the others.
Seated on the sofa, Juliette watched her group members begin to exit before gathering her books and trailing after them. She half-listened to their theories about Shelby as they all stepped out into the late afternoon sunlight.
"Yo Twig, what's on your mind?"
Her thoughts interrupted, she glanced up to see Auggie falling in step beside her.
"I was thinking about Shelby." Auggie looked at her in surprise, but let her continue. "Do you ever...I don't know." She paused and began again, her tone serious. "Do you ever think about getting out?"
Auggie turned to her as they continued up the path to the classrooms. "You mean like running?" He shook his head. "No, trust me Jules, I've been there. It's rough and it's different out there, ya know?" His voice softened as he stopped walking and turned to face her. His eyes watched her, trying to read her. "Don't do it, Jules, don't think about it. I mean, you see what's going on with Shelby."
Juliette nodded with her eyes on him and a set jaw. There was no smile on her usually glowing face. "Yeah, it's perfectly clear." She replied. "She's going home."