Chapter Three: Crazy
When you feel all alone And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street With the monsters in your head
~Savage Garden
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story.
Juliette locked eyes with a man with the same raven hair as her. He smiled and tightened his tie. He wore a familiar suit and shoes so shiny he could see himself in them.
"Hi honey." She became sober and ran to hug him.
"They said you wouldn't come. I knew you would!!"
"Of course I would. I would never lie to you Juliette. Your the most important thing in the world to me." Juliette grinned and her eyes lit up.
"I missed you so much Daddy. I'm so happy to see you. I can't wait for you to meet everybody. They're all going to love you..." Juliette carried on. Her father took her by the shoulders and stopped her.
"Juliette...you must promise me that no one will ever find out that I'm here. If they do I'll have to leave. You don't want that, do you?" Jules' face dropped and her eyes filled with tears at the thought.
"Of course not. But why?"
"Lets just call it our special secret ok? A special father daughter secret that absolutely no one can know about. Not even Peter and Sophie."
"But how did you..." Juliette began when she seen the bathroom door open. In came Daisy.
"Who are you talking to?" She wondered as she entered one of the stalls. Juliette glanced to her side and realized that her father wasn't there anymore.
"Uh..."
"Don't bother making up excuses...I already know." There was a toilet flush and Daisy stepped out again.
"You know?" Juliette asked.
"One of Peter's confidence boasting exorcises right? I hate those." Daisy wet her fingers and moved them through her red hair.
"Yea...me too." She nervously glanced around the room, searching for him.
"So did you hear anything about Auggie yet?"
"Auggie....no."
"Oh. Well, uh, maybe you should come out of the bathroom sometime this year. Peters gonna get suspicious." Daisy turned and left. "Just to warn you." Then she was gone. Juliette paced the room. What do I do? What's happening? Daddy! He never reappeared. Juliette went back to the cafeteria feeling frightened and worried.
Girls Dorm
Juliette looked at the note she had stuffed into her notebook. She had to meet Scott. She just had to. She had to tell him that she still loved him. Auggie didn't matter. Auggie was going to leave her and go home. She didn't ever want to be left alone again.
"Is Shelby still in the infirmary?" Daisy asked. Juliette listened from her bed.
"Yea. Sophie said its the flu. Poor Shelby." Said Kat.
"More like poor Scott. Shelby leaves his side for a minute and he's a helpless little boy again. Its so pathetic." Daisy mocked. Juliette tuned her out. She doesn't know anything. Scott loves me. The note said so.
With everyone in the bathroom, Juliette sat on her bed alone. She reached down under her bed and pulled out her favorite toy from her childhood, her doll. She pulled lightly at her hair and fixed her dress just right.
"I remember when you got that doll. You were so happy."
"Daddy your back!" She talked in an excited whisper.
"Of course I am. I would never leave you." He touched her cheek.
"Where did you go before? You just disappeared." She pouted.
"I'm sorry Juliette. I promise that I will never leave you ever again. You'll never have to be alone." She slowly smiled at the comforting thought. "But we must keep this a secret. Do you understand?"
"I understand Daddy." She paused. "I understand."
"That's my girl. You were always the perfect daughter Julie." She smiled. He hadn't called her that in years.
"Juliette! Earth to Juliette!!" Katherine's voice entered her head. Juliette jumped and turned to see Kat and Daisy staring at her in confusion.
"Getting a little too into Peter's assignment aren't we?" Daisy joked. Jules blushed.
"I'm just trying to get the most out of it. You know how Peter can be about lessons. Well I'm tired. I think I'm going to go to bed now." She crawled under her blankets and closed her eyes, the vision of her father still in her mind.
An Hour Later
Juliette sat up in bed and carefully examined the room. Daisy was motionless in bed, sound asleep. Katherine was tossing and turning, repeating the word Shannon over and over again. Jules stood slowly and carefully crept towards the door. She just reached the doorknob when she heard a sound from behind her.
"Going somewhere?" Daisy lay in bed, eyes open staring at her.
"I just want to get some fresh air." She lied. "I can't sleep." Daisy turned back over.
"Whatever."
Jules carefully opened the door and bolted out as fast as she could. She caught her breath when she was halfway to the docks. She looked up at the docks in the distance. Scott wasn't there. Maybe Ezra, Auggie, and David are still awake. Maybe he can't get out.
She reached the docks and sat down on the bench. Checking her watch, she realized that it was only eleven o'clock. Scott probably didn't expect her to get there that early. She let out a sigh of relief.
An Hour Later
"Where are you Scott?" She asked the hazy fog that had settled around her.
"He doesn't love you. He loves me." She turned to see Shelby standing behind her.
"Go away! He wants to meet me here." Shelby didn't go away.
"Aww...poor little princess get stood up? Well let me tell you one thing twig, you stay away from my boyfriend! Or you'll be very sorry." Shelby jumped in front of Juliette.
"Get out of my face!" She said loudly. Shelby backed off, sly look on her face.
"Or what? You gonna cut me with a razor? Or are you gonna throw up all over me? Which is it?"
"Stop!!" Juliette covered her ears and screamed.
"Scott doesn't want a disgusting freak like you! FREAK!"
"NO!!" She screamed and ran back towards her dorm. She stopped about ten feet away and looked back. Shelby wasn't there. No one was. She was all alone in the darkness.
"Don't cry Julie. I hate to see my baby girl cry." She turned and noticed her father behind her.
"Where have you been? You said you'd never leave me alone." Tears streamed down her face as she sprinted towards her dorm.
"Julie don't be mad at Daddy. I love you Julie, your my perfect daughter." She stopped and turned.
"You really mean it Daddy?"
"Of course I do sweetheart." She hugged him.
"I'm so scared Daddy! Am I crazy?!" She sobbed.
"No Julie your not crazy. Your perfect." She only sobbed harder.
BREAKFAST
She watched him from a distance as he moved through the food line. His hair was perfect, he was perfect. She tried to gather to courage to confront him.
"Don't worry Julie. He'll come around. He loves you." Said the man next to her.
"I know he does Daddy. He's just stubborn." She said smiling.
"Hey Jules." She turned to see Auggie standing where her father had been. "Who you talking to?" She fidgeted.
"Uh..hi Auggie. I wasn't talking."
"Oh. Are you ok Twig? You've been backing off of me these last few days. Whats up?" She turned and crossed her arms.
"Nothing."
"Well if you want to talk Jules I'm here for you." Yea right. Your leaving just like everyone else.
"Thanks." She replied coldly.
"I just wanted to tell you that I'm talking to Peter after breakfast. Its my judgement day." She closed her eyes.
"Good luck." She turned and walked towards Scott. When she reached him she smiled.
"Hi Scott." He turned and looked confused.
"Hi Juliette."
"So aren't you going to say anything?"
"What am I supposed to say?" She pulled him to a solitary corner where they could be alone.
"Well for starters why you never showed last night." She put her hands on her hips.
"What are you talking about?" He only looked confused as he clutched his tray.
"I'm talking about the note. 'Meet me at the docks', remember? You left me there by myself, all alone."
"That note was for Shelby. We're over, remember?! Get it through your head!" He said aggressively.
"Why are you so stubborn?!" She followed him towards the middle of the room.
"Why are you tripping?!" He stopped when he noticed that people were staring. He took her by the arm and pulled her aside. "Juliette, what's going on with you? Shelby and I are together. I love her. So lets just forget this ever happened." He let her go and began walking away.
"Fine be with the slut, see if I care!" She screamed and ran from the dining hall. She ran and ran until she hit the woods. Then she ran until she was completely concealed by trees. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out the thumb tack she had stolen from the art room. She drove it into her arm, causing a stream of blood to form. She watched as it quickly made a trail down her forearm and dripped onto the dirt at her feet. She continued to make more and more cuts, and didn't stop until she could no longer feel the immense pain Scott had caused her. All she could feel was the blood, and the small stinging sensation from the wounds.
"Juliette. Are you cutting yourself again? No wonder we can't keep a man around this house." She turned to see her mother, standing with her hands on her hips.
"I'm sorry mother. I promise I'll stop." She hung her head. "I'm so ashamed."
"You'll never stop. Your hopeless. What did I do to deserve such a disgrace for a daughter?" Juliette could feel tears on her face.
"I'll be good Mother. I'll be perfect. I promise." She cried. "Just please don't send me away from you and Daddy. I don't want to be alone!"
"FREAK! FREAK! YOUR A FREAK!" She looked up and seen Shelby, Scott, Ezra, Daisy, David, Auggie, and Katherine. They were all pointing at her. They repeated the words over and over again. "FREAK! FREAK!"
"NO! Please stop! I am a freak..." She fell to the ground and cried.
"Please don't cry Julie, Daddy will always love you." She looked up to see her father through blurred teary vision.
"Please don't leave me Daddy, please don't leave me." She sobbed for a long time.
Back on the Campus
Auggie slowly opened the door to Peter's office. He felt as if he were walking towards his own death. Peter smiled at him and sat down behind the desk.
"Hey Peter." He said and took a seat.
"Hey Aug. Well I won't keep you waiting any longer. I talked to Frank and were both convinced that, as long as you work hard to improve your behavior, you can stay here at Horizon." Auggie smiled and sighed in relief.
"For real? Your not messing with me are you man?" Auggie leaned forward in the chair.
"No Auggie, I'm not messing with you. You can stay." Auggie jumped practically out of his chair.
"Aw yea...thanks Peter. I'm really sorry for all this trouble I've caused." Peter grinned.
"Your forgiven. But this is the last straw, if I hear about you starting any more fights I won't have a choice but to send you home. Understand?"
"I got it man. No more fighting here." He shook hands with Peter.
"All right. Now that that's settled, I need your help on something." Auggie sat back in his chair.
"Anything, I owe you."
"This isn't about me or you Auggie, this is about Juliette."
"Juliette? What about her?" Peter stood and paced.
"I'm worried about her. She hasn't been talking much in group these last couple of days, since her father cancelled his visit."
"He cancelled? Man what a butt-wipe. She couldn't wait to see him."
"She was very upset to say the least. But I think that she might be in trouble Auggie. I know that you two have been close these past few months. I've tried talking to her with no success. I was hoping you might give it a try."
"Me? I ain't no councilor Peter. I'll probably say something wrong."
"Or you might say something right. I think at this point its safe to say that Juliette isn't getting over this on her own. In group your always helping her and the others with their problems. I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't believe you could." Auggie paused to consider the proposition.
"Anything for Jules."
"Thanks Auggie. The others should be meeting for group right about now. Why don't you go join them. I'll be along in a minute." He followed Auggie to the door and let him out. Just as Auggie was walking out Sophie walked in.
"What's the verdict?" She asked, eyes full of fear.
"Frank came over to our side." He winked at her and tossed her the talking stick that would be used in group.
"That's great Peter! Auggie's a good kid and he's been doing so well. So what did you have to promise to convince him?"
"Oh...just my first born. No biggy." He joked. She grinned.
"Very funny mountain man." She kissed him then pulled back when she seen his vacant stare. "So what's wrong then Peter?" He pulled away and began paging through some papers on his desk.
"uh...I'm worried about Juliette. She's been so withdrawn, so not like herself." Sophie frowned.
"Well it was a big dissapointment when her father didn't show. That poor girl." She paused before a horrified stare caught her face. "Oh no Peter, you don't think she's cutting herself again do you?"
"I don't know Soph, that's what I plan to find out." He opened the door to leave and noticed Daisy standing behind it.
"What's going on Dais?" He asked. She seemed concerned.
"Juliette is gone."
"What? What do you mean she's gone?" He trampled past her and Sophie followed him.
"She didn't show up for group so I went to check the dorm. She wasn't there either."
"Bathrooms?" Sophie asked.
"Not there either." She paused as Peter reached the group area. Everyone was there except for Auggie.
"Its alright guys, where'd Auggie go?"
"He came in and seen that Jules wasn't here. Then he just left." Ezra explained.
"He didn't say where he was going?" Sophie quizzed.
"Man he just ran out! Where's Juliette?" Scott asked. He and Shelby were standing close together.
"Don't worry Scott we'll find her. She couldn't have gone far." He paused for a moment to think and ordered Sophie to take over while he informed Frank and Roger.
"OK, Did Juliette say anything suspicious to anyone this morning? Anything not like herself." At first there was silence as the group looked around the circle.
"Don't look at me! I've been tossing for the past twenty four hours." Shelby explained, her comments breaking the tension that had formed.
"No one's blaming you Shelby." Sophie chimed in. "This is very important. Juliette could be in trouble."
"Well...I don't know if this fits in the category of "suspicious" since it is Juliette were talking about, but I caught her talking to herself a few times these past few days." Daisy said.
"I saw her too." Katherine said. "She's been depressed. I thought it was just Juliette being Juliette."
"And she was upset this morning. She left breakfast early." Daisy said. Scott glared at her, only making her angry. "Scott would know what was going on, he was the one who made her upset!" Sophie turned to Scott.
"Scott? What were you two fighting about?" Sophie asked. Shelby stared at him, making him nervous.
"Man I didn't do nothing! She came up to me and started talking trash."
"What kind of trash?" Shelby asked after a brief silence. Scott hesitated.
"Just...it was like she wasn't Juliette. She was a different person. She even looked different." He explained. Shelby continued to stare. Peter, Roger, and Frank rejoined the group.
"OK we're going to split up. Jeff and Frank are going to cover the campus. Sophie, Kat, Ezra, David, and Roger are going to cover the docks. Scott, Shelby, Daisy, and myself are going to cover the woods. Any questions?"
"What about Auggie?" Asked Katherine.
"My guess is that he's looking for Juliette. So if any of you run across him make sure you stay together and blow your whistle so one of the councilors can come find you. Same goes if you find Juliette. OK, lets move out."
IN THE WOODS
Juliette curled into a ball and covered her ears. She couldn't think. A piercing whistle had taken over her head. She rocked her body back and forth, willing the ringing to stop.
"NO! STOP!" She opened her eyes as her father held her in his arms.
"I love you Julie."
"NO! Your in my head! Go away!" She cried out.
"
She opened her eyes and found that she was in her bedroom again. She was lying in her purple canapee bed and clutching her favorite doll. For the first time in so long she felt at peace. Everything was perfect, in its place. Her shelves with all her favorite dolls, her dresser with the little roses painted perfectly on it, and her vanity table with the mirror that cast a light onto the wall behind her. Juliette breathed a sigh of relief.
WHAM!
Her bedroom door opened to reveal her mother in a fit of rage!
Get up! Get up Juliette! If I have to tell you one more time to get out of bed you are going to be very sorry! Sam is coming over in a few hours and you have to be PERFECT!" She ran throughout the room, investigating every inch of everything.
"I'm sick Mother. I'm sick! My head hurts. Please I can't get up!"
"I don't care if your sick, Sam will expect everything to be perfect." She put her hands to her head and let out a vicious scream. "What is THAT?!"
"What Mother?" She asked calmly.
"Don't you talk to me like that young lady...you know what I'm talking about. THERE!" She pointed to a spot on the vanity table. Juliette squinted to see what her Mother was pointing at. There, at the edge of the vanity, was a single lipstick tube.
I'm sorry Mother, I must have forgotten to put it away." She explained. Her Mother marched towards her, Juliette filled with fear. She clutched the covers to her chin and tensed up.
"Didn't I say get out of this bed NOW? If your not up and ready by the time Sam gets here, you will not be visiting your Father this weekend!" Juliette cried.
"I'm sorry Mother. I promise I'll be perfect."
"I want this room spotless by the time I come back....and curl your hair, Sam likes girls with curly hair."
Juliette jumped as a she felt something touch her leg. Opening her eyes she realized she was in the woods. Near her was a bird, sitting helplessly on the ground. She realized it had broken its wing. Juliette wiped away her tears and began to crawl towards it. It didn't move, only maintained a frightened stare.
"Its ok birdie, I'll help you." She reached out her hand to touch it and it jumped back. Fear sent it running into a bush nearby. "Please come back, don't leave me alone." She said. It was then she noticed her arm. Dried blood caked every inch of her skin. She reached down and touched it with her fingers.
"What a freak..." She looked up to see Shelby staring down at her.
"Yea, how could I ever have liked such a nasty disgusting freak." Scott appeared next to her.
"Shut up and go away!"
"You make me sick Jules...I hope that Peter lets me go home. Then I won't have to see you again." Auggie came up behind Scott.
"And they call me weird..." Daisy just shook her head.
"They should've just left you in the cave..." Ezra spat.
"I wanted to gag when I found that bloody shirt of yours...freak." Katherine said.
"Just run away freak!" David shouted.
"FREAK! FREAK! FREAK! FREAK!" They all shouted in unison, huddling around Juliette. She felt so tiny and scared. So scared.
"Go away! Leave me alone!" She shouted, shielding her face with her arms.
Daisy leaned in toward her. "I read your cards...this means that your CRAZY!"
"No! I'm NOT CRAZY! I'm NOT CRAZY!"
"Julie...I love you Julie..."
"NO!"
"Juliette! Juliette stop it!"
"NO! GO AWAY!" She kicked violently as she heard a loud whistle.
"JULIETTE!!" She opened her eyes to find Daisy standing over her. She had never seen Daisy look so afraid before. "Juliette what did you do?" She looked down and noticed that her arm had started bleeding again. She also noticed that she was clutching her thumb tack in her opposite hand. Did I do this? I can't remember.
"I...uh..." She stuttered as Daisy removed a cloth from her pack and held it against her arm. She began to cry and Daisy hugged her tightly. "Am I crazy? Please tell me the truth..." She pleaded.
"Well if you ask me, we're all a little bit crazy." Daisy smiled slightly, trying to comfort her.
"Is that what the cards say?" Daisy shook her head.
"Nope. That's what I say." She held the cloth against her arm again, it felt good.
"Jules! Jules are you ok?!" She heard Auggie's voice from behind her. She turned and seen him running toward her.
"Auggie! You didn't leave me.." She said, half in tears.
"Na Jules, I couldn't ever leave you." He knelt down and touched her cheek, she'd missed that.
"Please don't leave me alone." She begged and cried. From a distance there were footsteps, and soon Peter appeared, followed by Scott and Shelby in the distance.
"Juliette!" He ran to her and checked her over. Daisy lifted the cloth and showed him her arm. Juliette wasn't paying attention anymore. Her eyes shifted from side to side, noticing every sound.
"It's going to be ok Juliette. Its going to be ok." Peter's voice sounded from a distance as Juliette closed her eyes.
When you feel all alone And a loyal friend is hard to find
You're caught in a one way street With the monsters in your head
~Savage Garden
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this story.
Juliette locked eyes with a man with the same raven hair as her. He smiled and tightened his tie. He wore a familiar suit and shoes so shiny he could see himself in them.
"Hi honey." She became sober and ran to hug him.
"They said you wouldn't come. I knew you would!!"
"Of course I would. I would never lie to you Juliette. Your the most important thing in the world to me." Juliette grinned and her eyes lit up.
"I missed you so much Daddy. I'm so happy to see you. I can't wait for you to meet everybody. They're all going to love you..." Juliette carried on. Her father took her by the shoulders and stopped her.
"Juliette...you must promise me that no one will ever find out that I'm here. If they do I'll have to leave. You don't want that, do you?" Jules' face dropped and her eyes filled with tears at the thought.
"Of course not. But why?"
"Lets just call it our special secret ok? A special father daughter secret that absolutely no one can know about. Not even Peter and Sophie."
"But how did you..." Juliette began when she seen the bathroom door open. In came Daisy.
"Who are you talking to?" She wondered as she entered one of the stalls. Juliette glanced to her side and realized that her father wasn't there anymore.
"Uh..."
"Don't bother making up excuses...I already know." There was a toilet flush and Daisy stepped out again.
"You know?" Juliette asked.
"One of Peter's confidence boasting exorcises right? I hate those." Daisy wet her fingers and moved them through her red hair.
"Yea...me too." She nervously glanced around the room, searching for him.
"So did you hear anything about Auggie yet?"
"Auggie....no."
"Oh. Well, uh, maybe you should come out of the bathroom sometime this year. Peters gonna get suspicious." Daisy turned and left. "Just to warn you." Then she was gone. Juliette paced the room. What do I do? What's happening? Daddy! He never reappeared. Juliette went back to the cafeteria feeling frightened and worried.
Girls Dorm
Juliette looked at the note she had stuffed into her notebook. She had to meet Scott. She just had to. She had to tell him that she still loved him. Auggie didn't matter. Auggie was going to leave her and go home. She didn't ever want to be left alone again.
"Is Shelby still in the infirmary?" Daisy asked. Juliette listened from her bed.
"Yea. Sophie said its the flu. Poor Shelby." Said Kat.
"More like poor Scott. Shelby leaves his side for a minute and he's a helpless little boy again. Its so pathetic." Daisy mocked. Juliette tuned her out. She doesn't know anything. Scott loves me. The note said so.
With everyone in the bathroom, Juliette sat on her bed alone. She reached down under her bed and pulled out her favorite toy from her childhood, her doll. She pulled lightly at her hair and fixed her dress just right.
"I remember when you got that doll. You were so happy."
"Daddy your back!" She talked in an excited whisper.
"Of course I am. I would never leave you." He touched her cheek.
"Where did you go before? You just disappeared." She pouted.
"I'm sorry Juliette. I promise that I will never leave you ever again. You'll never have to be alone." She slowly smiled at the comforting thought. "But we must keep this a secret. Do you understand?"
"I understand Daddy." She paused. "I understand."
"That's my girl. You were always the perfect daughter Julie." She smiled. He hadn't called her that in years.
"Juliette! Earth to Juliette!!" Katherine's voice entered her head. Juliette jumped and turned to see Kat and Daisy staring at her in confusion.
"Getting a little too into Peter's assignment aren't we?" Daisy joked. Jules blushed.
"I'm just trying to get the most out of it. You know how Peter can be about lessons. Well I'm tired. I think I'm going to go to bed now." She crawled under her blankets and closed her eyes, the vision of her father still in her mind.
An Hour Later
Juliette sat up in bed and carefully examined the room. Daisy was motionless in bed, sound asleep. Katherine was tossing and turning, repeating the word Shannon over and over again. Jules stood slowly and carefully crept towards the door. She just reached the doorknob when she heard a sound from behind her.
"Going somewhere?" Daisy lay in bed, eyes open staring at her.
"I just want to get some fresh air." She lied. "I can't sleep." Daisy turned back over.
"Whatever."
Jules carefully opened the door and bolted out as fast as she could. She caught her breath when she was halfway to the docks. She looked up at the docks in the distance. Scott wasn't there. Maybe Ezra, Auggie, and David are still awake. Maybe he can't get out.
She reached the docks and sat down on the bench. Checking her watch, she realized that it was only eleven o'clock. Scott probably didn't expect her to get there that early. She let out a sigh of relief.
An Hour Later
"Where are you Scott?" She asked the hazy fog that had settled around her.
"He doesn't love you. He loves me." She turned to see Shelby standing behind her.
"Go away! He wants to meet me here." Shelby didn't go away.
"Aww...poor little princess get stood up? Well let me tell you one thing twig, you stay away from my boyfriend! Or you'll be very sorry." Shelby jumped in front of Juliette.
"Get out of my face!" She said loudly. Shelby backed off, sly look on her face.
"Or what? You gonna cut me with a razor? Or are you gonna throw up all over me? Which is it?"
"Stop!!" Juliette covered her ears and screamed.
"Scott doesn't want a disgusting freak like you! FREAK!"
"NO!!" She screamed and ran back towards her dorm. She stopped about ten feet away and looked back. Shelby wasn't there. No one was. She was all alone in the darkness.
"Don't cry Julie. I hate to see my baby girl cry." She turned and noticed her father behind her.
"Where have you been? You said you'd never leave me alone." Tears streamed down her face as she sprinted towards her dorm.
"Julie don't be mad at Daddy. I love you Julie, your my perfect daughter." She stopped and turned.
"You really mean it Daddy?"
"Of course I do sweetheart." She hugged him.
"I'm so scared Daddy! Am I crazy?!" She sobbed.
"No Julie your not crazy. Your perfect." She only sobbed harder.
BREAKFAST
She watched him from a distance as he moved through the food line. His hair was perfect, he was perfect. She tried to gather to courage to confront him.
"Don't worry Julie. He'll come around. He loves you." Said the man next to her.
"I know he does Daddy. He's just stubborn." She said smiling.
"Hey Jules." She turned to see Auggie standing where her father had been. "Who you talking to?" She fidgeted.
"Uh..hi Auggie. I wasn't talking."
"Oh. Are you ok Twig? You've been backing off of me these last few days. Whats up?" She turned and crossed her arms.
"Nothing."
"Well if you want to talk Jules I'm here for you." Yea right. Your leaving just like everyone else.
"Thanks." She replied coldly.
"I just wanted to tell you that I'm talking to Peter after breakfast. Its my judgement day." She closed her eyes.
"Good luck." She turned and walked towards Scott. When she reached him she smiled.
"Hi Scott." He turned and looked confused.
"Hi Juliette."
"So aren't you going to say anything?"
"What am I supposed to say?" She pulled him to a solitary corner where they could be alone.
"Well for starters why you never showed last night." She put her hands on her hips.
"What are you talking about?" He only looked confused as he clutched his tray.
"I'm talking about the note. 'Meet me at the docks', remember? You left me there by myself, all alone."
"That note was for Shelby. We're over, remember?! Get it through your head!" He said aggressively.
"Why are you so stubborn?!" She followed him towards the middle of the room.
"Why are you tripping?!" He stopped when he noticed that people were staring. He took her by the arm and pulled her aside. "Juliette, what's going on with you? Shelby and I are together. I love her. So lets just forget this ever happened." He let her go and began walking away.
"Fine be with the slut, see if I care!" She screamed and ran from the dining hall. She ran and ran until she hit the woods. Then she ran until she was completely concealed by trees. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out the thumb tack she had stolen from the art room. She drove it into her arm, causing a stream of blood to form. She watched as it quickly made a trail down her forearm and dripped onto the dirt at her feet. She continued to make more and more cuts, and didn't stop until she could no longer feel the immense pain Scott had caused her. All she could feel was the blood, and the small stinging sensation from the wounds.
"Juliette. Are you cutting yourself again? No wonder we can't keep a man around this house." She turned to see her mother, standing with her hands on her hips.
"I'm sorry mother. I promise I'll stop." She hung her head. "I'm so ashamed."
"You'll never stop. Your hopeless. What did I do to deserve such a disgrace for a daughter?" Juliette could feel tears on her face.
"I'll be good Mother. I'll be perfect. I promise." She cried. "Just please don't send me away from you and Daddy. I don't want to be alone!"
"FREAK! FREAK! YOUR A FREAK!" She looked up and seen Shelby, Scott, Ezra, Daisy, David, Auggie, and Katherine. They were all pointing at her. They repeated the words over and over again. "FREAK! FREAK!"
"NO! Please stop! I am a freak..." She fell to the ground and cried.
"Please don't cry Julie, Daddy will always love you." She looked up to see her father through blurred teary vision.
"Please don't leave me Daddy, please don't leave me." She sobbed for a long time.
Back on the Campus
Auggie slowly opened the door to Peter's office. He felt as if he were walking towards his own death. Peter smiled at him and sat down behind the desk.
"Hey Peter." He said and took a seat.
"Hey Aug. Well I won't keep you waiting any longer. I talked to Frank and were both convinced that, as long as you work hard to improve your behavior, you can stay here at Horizon." Auggie smiled and sighed in relief.
"For real? Your not messing with me are you man?" Auggie leaned forward in the chair.
"No Auggie, I'm not messing with you. You can stay." Auggie jumped practically out of his chair.
"Aw yea...thanks Peter. I'm really sorry for all this trouble I've caused." Peter grinned.
"Your forgiven. But this is the last straw, if I hear about you starting any more fights I won't have a choice but to send you home. Understand?"
"I got it man. No more fighting here." He shook hands with Peter.
"All right. Now that that's settled, I need your help on something." Auggie sat back in his chair.
"Anything, I owe you."
"This isn't about me or you Auggie, this is about Juliette."
"Juliette? What about her?" Peter stood and paced.
"I'm worried about her. She hasn't been talking much in group these last couple of days, since her father cancelled his visit."
"He cancelled? Man what a butt-wipe. She couldn't wait to see him."
"She was very upset to say the least. But I think that she might be in trouble Auggie. I know that you two have been close these past few months. I've tried talking to her with no success. I was hoping you might give it a try."
"Me? I ain't no councilor Peter. I'll probably say something wrong."
"Or you might say something right. I think at this point its safe to say that Juliette isn't getting over this on her own. In group your always helping her and the others with their problems. I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't believe you could." Auggie paused to consider the proposition.
"Anything for Jules."
"Thanks Auggie. The others should be meeting for group right about now. Why don't you go join them. I'll be along in a minute." He followed Auggie to the door and let him out. Just as Auggie was walking out Sophie walked in.
"What's the verdict?" She asked, eyes full of fear.
"Frank came over to our side." He winked at her and tossed her the talking stick that would be used in group.
"That's great Peter! Auggie's a good kid and he's been doing so well. So what did you have to promise to convince him?"
"Oh...just my first born. No biggy." He joked. She grinned.
"Very funny mountain man." She kissed him then pulled back when she seen his vacant stare. "So what's wrong then Peter?" He pulled away and began paging through some papers on his desk.
"uh...I'm worried about Juliette. She's been so withdrawn, so not like herself." Sophie frowned.
"Well it was a big dissapointment when her father didn't show. That poor girl." She paused before a horrified stare caught her face. "Oh no Peter, you don't think she's cutting herself again do you?"
"I don't know Soph, that's what I plan to find out." He opened the door to leave and noticed Daisy standing behind it.
"What's going on Dais?" He asked. She seemed concerned.
"Juliette is gone."
"What? What do you mean she's gone?" He trampled past her and Sophie followed him.
"She didn't show up for group so I went to check the dorm. She wasn't there either."
"Bathrooms?" Sophie asked.
"Not there either." She paused as Peter reached the group area. Everyone was there except for Auggie.
"Its alright guys, where'd Auggie go?"
"He came in and seen that Jules wasn't here. Then he just left." Ezra explained.
"He didn't say where he was going?" Sophie quizzed.
"Man he just ran out! Where's Juliette?" Scott asked. He and Shelby were standing close together.
"Don't worry Scott we'll find her. She couldn't have gone far." He paused for a moment to think and ordered Sophie to take over while he informed Frank and Roger.
"OK, Did Juliette say anything suspicious to anyone this morning? Anything not like herself." At first there was silence as the group looked around the circle.
"Don't look at me! I've been tossing for the past twenty four hours." Shelby explained, her comments breaking the tension that had formed.
"No one's blaming you Shelby." Sophie chimed in. "This is very important. Juliette could be in trouble."
"Well...I don't know if this fits in the category of "suspicious" since it is Juliette were talking about, but I caught her talking to herself a few times these past few days." Daisy said.
"I saw her too." Katherine said. "She's been depressed. I thought it was just Juliette being Juliette."
"And she was upset this morning. She left breakfast early." Daisy said. Scott glared at her, only making her angry. "Scott would know what was going on, he was the one who made her upset!" Sophie turned to Scott.
"Scott? What were you two fighting about?" Sophie asked. Shelby stared at him, making him nervous.
"Man I didn't do nothing! She came up to me and started talking trash."
"What kind of trash?" Shelby asked after a brief silence. Scott hesitated.
"Just...it was like she wasn't Juliette. She was a different person. She even looked different." He explained. Shelby continued to stare. Peter, Roger, and Frank rejoined the group.
"OK we're going to split up. Jeff and Frank are going to cover the campus. Sophie, Kat, Ezra, David, and Roger are going to cover the docks. Scott, Shelby, Daisy, and myself are going to cover the woods. Any questions?"
"What about Auggie?" Asked Katherine.
"My guess is that he's looking for Juliette. So if any of you run across him make sure you stay together and blow your whistle so one of the councilors can come find you. Same goes if you find Juliette. OK, lets move out."
IN THE WOODS
Juliette curled into a ball and covered her ears. She couldn't think. A piercing whistle had taken over her head. She rocked her body back and forth, willing the ringing to stop.
"NO! STOP!" She opened her eyes as her father held her in his arms.
"I love you Julie."
"NO! Your in my head! Go away!" She cried out.
"
She opened her eyes and found that she was in her bedroom again. She was lying in her purple canapee bed and clutching her favorite doll. For the first time in so long she felt at peace. Everything was perfect, in its place. Her shelves with all her favorite dolls, her dresser with the little roses painted perfectly on it, and her vanity table with the mirror that cast a light onto the wall behind her. Juliette breathed a sigh of relief.
WHAM!
Her bedroom door opened to reveal her mother in a fit of rage!
Get up! Get up Juliette! If I have to tell you one more time to get out of bed you are going to be very sorry! Sam is coming over in a few hours and you have to be PERFECT!" She ran throughout the room, investigating every inch of everything.
"I'm sick Mother. I'm sick! My head hurts. Please I can't get up!"
"I don't care if your sick, Sam will expect everything to be perfect." She put her hands to her head and let out a vicious scream. "What is THAT?!"
"What Mother?" She asked calmly.
"Don't you talk to me like that young lady...you know what I'm talking about. THERE!" She pointed to a spot on the vanity table. Juliette squinted to see what her Mother was pointing at. There, at the edge of the vanity, was a single lipstick tube.
I'm sorry Mother, I must have forgotten to put it away." She explained. Her Mother marched towards her, Juliette filled with fear. She clutched the covers to her chin and tensed up.
"Didn't I say get out of this bed NOW? If your not up and ready by the time Sam gets here, you will not be visiting your Father this weekend!" Juliette cried.
"I'm sorry Mother. I promise I'll be perfect."
"I want this room spotless by the time I come back....and curl your hair, Sam likes girls with curly hair."
Juliette jumped as a she felt something touch her leg. Opening her eyes she realized she was in the woods. Near her was a bird, sitting helplessly on the ground. She realized it had broken its wing. Juliette wiped away her tears and began to crawl towards it. It didn't move, only maintained a frightened stare.
"Its ok birdie, I'll help you." She reached out her hand to touch it and it jumped back. Fear sent it running into a bush nearby. "Please come back, don't leave me alone." She said. It was then she noticed her arm. Dried blood caked every inch of her skin. She reached down and touched it with her fingers.
"What a freak..." She looked up to see Shelby staring down at her.
"Yea, how could I ever have liked such a nasty disgusting freak." Scott appeared next to her.
"Shut up and go away!"
"You make me sick Jules...I hope that Peter lets me go home. Then I won't have to see you again." Auggie came up behind Scott.
"And they call me weird..." Daisy just shook her head.
"They should've just left you in the cave..." Ezra spat.
"I wanted to gag when I found that bloody shirt of yours...freak." Katherine said.
"Just run away freak!" David shouted.
"FREAK! FREAK! FREAK! FREAK!" They all shouted in unison, huddling around Juliette. She felt so tiny and scared. So scared.
"Go away! Leave me alone!" She shouted, shielding her face with her arms.
Daisy leaned in toward her. "I read your cards...this means that your CRAZY!"
"No! I'm NOT CRAZY! I'm NOT CRAZY!"
"Julie...I love you Julie..."
"NO!"
"Juliette! Juliette stop it!"
"NO! GO AWAY!" She kicked violently as she heard a loud whistle.
"JULIETTE!!" She opened her eyes to find Daisy standing over her. She had never seen Daisy look so afraid before. "Juliette what did you do?" She looked down and noticed that her arm had started bleeding again. She also noticed that she was clutching her thumb tack in her opposite hand. Did I do this? I can't remember.
"I...uh..." She stuttered as Daisy removed a cloth from her pack and held it against her arm. She began to cry and Daisy hugged her tightly. "Am I crazy? Please tell me the truth..." She pleaded.
"Well if you ask me, we're all a little bit crazy." Daisy smiled slightly, trying to comfort her.
"Is that what the cards say?" Daisy shook her head.
"Nope. That's what I say." She held the cloth against her arm again, it felt good.
"Jules! Jules are you ok?!" She heard Auggie's voice from behind her. She turned and seen him running toward her.
"Auggie! You didn't leave me.." She said, half in tears.
"Na Jules, I couldn't ever leave you." He knelt down and touched her cheek, she'd missed that.
"Please don't leave me alone." She begged and cried. From a distance there were footsteps, and soon Peter appeared, followed by Scott and Shelby in the distance.
"Juliette!" He ran to her and checked her over. Daisy lifted the cloth and showed him her arm. Juliette wasn't paying attention anymore. Her eyes shifted from side to side, noticing every sound.
"It's going to be ok Juliette. Its going to be ok." Peter's voice sounded from a distance as Juliette closed her eyes.