Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, except people you don't recognize! Please don't sue!
AN: Well, I know it's been a month, but I'm back…I have some new ideas, but I really need you guys to help me with something: Would you guys want Shelby to return to Horizon at the end of this (until the end of the school year when she would graduate with the others)??? If you don't, there will be a sequel to tell you what happens after she gets home…Sorry it's been so long since I've posted!!! The song used is Life by Our Lady Peace. The scene with the music, if you can picture it in your head, is something like the one where Shelby admits that Walt abused her in "Exposed". (When she starts yelling and crying and everything, and lets all her anger out) I know it's kinda copying, but it's how I pictured this happening…Well, here's chapter 6! Hope you enjoy it!!!
Chapter 6 - When Worlds Collide
A little while later, Scott's watch alarm went off. It was six thirty. He sighed quietly, knowing the peaceful moment with Shelby would have to end. He gently removed his arm from around her shoulders.
"We should get back to the field. Peter will be getting everyone up soon." He whispered.
Shelby stared at their reflection in the water below.
"Since when were you Mr. we-have-to-do-everything-Peter-says?" Shelby asked angrily, upset that the moment had to be broken. Scott didn't even need to think to answer her question.
"Ever since my reason not to care what Peter says disappeared without warning or explanation or even a simple goodbye." Scott replied coldly.
"I didn't have a choice Scott! It hurt too much."
"If you had loved me it wouldn't have mattered how much it hurt, you would have at least said goodbye."
"I tried ok? I did my best."
"Maybe you should have tried harder."
Tears poured down Shelby's face. She couldn't believe what Scott was saying.
"Maybe next time I will." She wiped her face with her sleeve. "But maybe you're not worth it." Shelby got up and walked back to the field. Scott watched her leave. He closed his eyes, trying desperately to shut out the pain. Why had he even said anything?
* * * * *
An hour later the students of Mr. Campbell's outdoor ed. class were gathered around Scott and Daisy.
"On the hike you are going to find a piece of nature that you will bring back with you. It could be a stick, a leaf, whatever. It will symbolize something you gained or learned on the hike. When we get back everyone will explain what their item symbolizes. Any questions?" Scott explained.
Paige raised her hand slowly. "What do you mean by the whole 'symbolize' thing?" she asked.
"Let's say you find a piece of moss that you like. For you, it could symbolize the success you feel for completing the hike. Understand?" Daisy explained.
Paige nodded that she understood.
"Ok everyone, let's move!" Scott said, leading the group towards the forest.
Shelby walked near the middle of the group. As she watched Scott at the front of the group, the pain from earlier that morning started to seep back into her heart. She needed to shut it out, to stop it before it got too strong. Desperately Shelby looked around, realizing where they were. It was a path she had taken many times.
By the time the group of weak students got to the old tree, some of the students were already short of breath. Scott must have noticed because he stopped.
"Ok guys, have a drink, relax a bit. We're moving in five!" He called to the tired group. "Man these guys are hopeless." He muttered under his breath.
Shelby leaned against the trunk of the tree she knew so well. She traced the rough bark with her fingertips. Scott watched her from a few meters away. The lost and forlorn look was back in her eyes.
Daisy wandered over to Shelby. It had been months since she had actually known how her friend was doing. What was going through her mind? Daisy wondered silently.
"So, what happened this morning?" Daisy asked.
"What do you mean?" Shelby played dumb. She knew even before the words were out of her mouth that Daisy would see through her transparent act.
"With you and Scott. On the docks." Daisy humoured her.
"Nothing." Shelby replied, losing the courage to let everything out.
"Come on Shelby. I'm not blind. Anyway, you've got to let it out sometime." Daisy pushed. Shelby looked at the friend who had helped her so much. Who had always been there for her. She swallowed.
"Apparently he's still mad about me not saying goodbye…" Shelby's voice trailed off as she saw Paige flirting with Scott. She bit her lip so hard the she could taste blood in her mouth. She looked away. It hurt too much. Daisy watched.
"He's not flirting back, you know. He wouldn't do that."
"He would after this morning. He's really pissed. He'll do anything to get my attention."
"And it's quite obvious that his attempt is working." Daisy replied, always able to know exactly what Shelby was thinking.
"What do I do? How do I make him jealous?" Shelby asked. Daisy gave her a confused glance.
"Why make him jealous when you could just as easily go back to loving each other?"
"Because he's flirting with her, so I'm obviously not what he wants. He wants someone new. Someone who's popular and funny and who's a cheerleader. Someone who he would actually date outside of the Horizon world. Someone who doesn't belong at Horizon." Shelby replied bitterly.
"Then why did he watch the sunrise with you this morning? And why is he so hurt right now?" Daisy asked. Shelby shrugged. She still hadn't figured that out.
"Ok guys, let's go! We're behind schedule!" Scott's voice brought Shelby back to the real world.
As the group started walking, Shelby was surprised that Daisy stayed beside her. After a few minutes of walking in silence, Daisy spoke.
"So why did you stop writing?" she asked calmly. Shelby's heart sank. This was the one question she hadn't wanted to hear. She glanced at Daisy, who kept her eyes on the trail. Shelby thought for a few seconds, searching her mind for an answer. How could she answer?
"I guess I was scared. After Walt went to jail I thought that everything would get better. I'd go to a new school where I could make friends, you know, now that the secrets and the pain could go away. I guess I was wrong though, because everyone hates me. I guess I'm too troubled to be accepted…I was scared that if I told you all of that stuff you'd think I was a washout or something, you know, for not being able to start over again." Shelby stole a glance at Daisy. She was still looking at the path. "I didn't want to have to open up like that because I didn't want to get hurt again. I didn't want to crumble." Shelby finished.
"It's always about you, isn't it?" Daisy asked, mad that Shelby had thought that she would just turn against her like that. "You never thought that I'd be worried? That I would be scared that something had happened to you? We were all so worried. I mean, Scott was worse than ever. You couldn't even call once, or write, or something, just to let us know that you were alive. That you were at least breathing. Shelby, we could have helped you. And if we couldn't, Peter definitely could have…" Daisy stopped short when Chase squeezed in between the two girls.
"I knew your past was a little more interesting then you said it was. I mean, come on baby, a little town in Canada? What a joke! But still, a closet Horizonite? I must say, I'm impressed!" Chase laughed.
Shelby felt her blood run cold. Had Chase heard everything? She gave Daisy a panicked glance.
"How much did you hear?" She asked, terrified.
"Enough to know that this definitely isn't your first visit to this institution. I bet you even have a bed in your name in the dorms, and possibly a file in Peter's office. He does have an office right? Or is it a cabin in the woods or something like that?" Chase paused, laughing at Shelby and Daisy's expressions. He glanced at Scott who was still at the head of the group. "So Shel, did the drugee teach you to be such a sexy kitten?"
Shelby froze. Nightmares of Walt and her life on the street crashed through her mind, ripping off the scabs that had begun to form over her past. All that was left were the deep wounds that Horizon had helped her heal.
"You asshole!" Daisy yelled. "Leave her alone!"
"Whoa! Don't get too loud girlie, you wouldn't want me to let my whole class know what I just found out, would you?" Chase challenged.
By that time the rest of the class had stopped, and was watching intently. Scott and Peter were both making their way towards Shelby.
"Chase just go away! It's none of your business. Just-just leave me alone! Forget it! Forget everything!" Shelby screamed.
How many times have
you been pushed around?
Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
How many times have
Your friends let you down?
Shelby charged at Chase, beating at him with her fists. The hidden anger that had been boiling up in her body for months now slowly started to seep out. Peter rushed to restrain the furious teenager.
Is anybody there?
Did anybody stare?
How many times has
your faith slipped away?
Is everybody high?
Is everyone afraid?
Everything around Shelby went hazy as she started to break down. She hated Chase with her whole heart. It was the same hate she had once felt towards Walt. Her world was deteriorating and it was all Chase's fault. Shelby pushed Peter out of the way, desperate to get revenge. Scott grasped her shoulders and held her back.
How many times have
You wished you were strong?
Have they ever seen your heart?
Have they ever seen your pain?
As the rage drained from her veins, Shelby melted into a flood of tear. She pressed her face into Scott's chest, completely forgetting how mad she had been that morning. At that moment nothing else seemed to matter. All she wanted was for the pain to stop. For the anger to go away. For Chase to go away.
Life is waiting for you
It's all messed up but we're alive
Life is waiting for you
It's all messed up but we'll survive
* * * * *
So, what do you think??? I'm not posting anymore before I get at least 10 reviews so I can hear what you guys think…And don't worry, things WILL turn out ok! (Although it may not look that way from the way I ended this chapter. Well, hopefully I'll be able to post more soon!!! Bye 4 now!