Disclaimer: I don't anyone except Chase, Paige, Mr. Campbell, and the rest of the Agnes High School students. Please don't sue!
AN: Ok, so here's chapter 7! I really hope you guys still like this!!! Please review and tell me any suggestions you have! They are much appreciated! Well, here goes…
Chapter 7 - The truth is never easy
Shelby sat propped up against a huge pile of pillows. The infirmary walls were so white, she had trouble looking at them without blinking. Her throat ached with every breath and her eyes stung.
It had been two hours since her explosion in the woods, and she was still shaking from the mixed emotions.
There was a quiet knock on the door. Shelby glanced up to see Peter standing in the doorway with a concerned look on his face.
"How are you doing?" he asked quietly. Shelby shrugged.
"My eyes are stinging and I feel like I can't breath." Shelby paused, lifting her shaking hand to show it to Peter. "And I can't stop shaking." Shelby voice was little and quiet. She looked so scared. Peter nodded his understanding. He handed her a cool glass of water.
"This should help your throat." He paused. "As for your eyes and the shaking, some rest should help. Just take it easy." He gave Shelby an encouraging smile. "I'll be in my office. If you need anything, the phone's right there," he pointed to the cordless phone on the bedside table, "I'm at extension 403…Do you think you'll be ok? Is there anything I can do? Do you need anything?" Peter questioned gently. Shelby stared at him for a few seconds.
"Do you think anyone will ever talk to me again?" she asked innocently.
"It might take a few of them a bit of time, but things will definitely get better." Peter thought for a few seconds. "As for Chase…I think he'll be scared of you forever." Shelby half-expected Peter to smile about that, but his face remained serious and concerned. "Shelby was there ever anything going on between you and Chase? Anything that would help to explain your reaction?" Peter asked. Shelby swallowed. She wanted to give in. To spill everything out, but she didn't want to risk the consequences. What would happen if she did??? Slowly, the teenager shook her head. She cleared her throat.
"No. There was never anything going on with us. He just bothers me." Shelby lied. Peter looked at her, not sure whether or not to believe her. Finally, he gave up. She wasn't going to talk.
"Ok, well, if it's nothing…" He let his voice trail off in an attempt to get her to interrupt him with a confession. She just looked at him, a slightly puzzled expression on her face. "If you need anything you know how to reach me." Peter turned and left with one last, little smile.
* * * * *
Shelby must have dozed off because the next time she opened her eyes, it was dark out. She sighed and sat up, noticing an intense hunger in her stomach. She yawned and was about to get out of bed when there was a faint knocking on the door.
"Come in," she called quietly, her voice still groggy from sleeping. The door opened slowly and Scott walked in carrying a tray of food.
"Peter was gonna bring this to you but he got caught up with a phone call. You interested in some plastic food?" he asked quietly. Shelby nodded slowly, scared that he might throw it in her face.
Scott carefully put the tray down on the bedside table. He was about to leave when he stopped.
"Do you want some company?" he asked, watching Shelby balance the tray on her lap. Shelby swallowed. Was this a joke? Did he actually want to sit with her while she ate? She breathed in.
"Yes please." She answered cautiously. Scott smiled and carefully pulled up a chair.
"So, are you feeling any better? Peter said you had a sore throat and stuff." Scott tried to make conversation. Shelby took a bite of the rubbery spaghetti.
"Yeah…the sleep helped a lot." She looked at Scott for a few seconds. "How was the kayaking?" she asked, kind of sad that she had missed the expedition. Scott shrugged.
"Your classmates are real pros." He replied sarcastically with a little laugh. "A girl named Kara was asking about you. She said that if I saw you to tell you that she hopes you're ok." Scott watched Shelby closely.
"We did a project together for English class. She was pretty nice. I mean, she wasn't mean or anything. I probably should have given her more of a chance. She made a pretty big effort to be my friend and I just pushed her away. I guess it's too late now though."
"It's never too late. Give it a chance Shel. Maybe you guys could become friends."
"…Maybe," She paused to take another bite of spaghetti. "Is Chase mad?" she asked quietly.
"I think he's more terrified than mad. What did he say that got you so mad?" Scott asked. "And don't tell me that it's because he threatened to tell everyone that you went here. I know it's more than that."
Shelby looked at Scott. What would he say if he found out? Would he turn away from her again like he had after the hike to Dog's Peak? She took a deep breath.
"He called me a sexy kitten." She whispered so quietly that Scott almost didn't hear her. "It's what -" Shelby couldn't finish the sentence, not to Scott.
"What Walt used to call you." Scott finished for her. Shelby nodded. "What happened between you and Chase?" he asked.
"Nothing, Scott. Why do people keep asking me that?"
"Because we know you're not telling the truth. Shel if you were, you wouldn't have gotten so mad at him. Tell me what happened."
For a long time Shelby was quiet. She was scared. Should she tell Scott the truth? Tell him everything? What would he do? How would he react? She stabbed the spaghetti with her fork.
"When I first got to Agnes I had nobody. Chase was the first guy who talked to me, and after a few days he asked me out. We went out for about a month. He would come over for dinner and act like a gentleman for my mom and sister. They loved him. The whole time, I kept thinking of you. Whenever we kissed I pictured you, not him." Shelby glanced up at Scott, afraid to go on. He nodded encouragingly. Carefully, she continued. "On our one month anniversary he took me to his house. His parents were out of town for the weekend. He brought me upstairs and tried to get me to…" Shelby wiped a tear off her face, embarrassed. "I wouldn't let him. I pushed him away and left. At school, on Monday, he kept telling everyone that he had broken up with me, not that I had turned him down…He kept spreading rumors about us and how far we had gone…Ever since then everyone has hated me. No one really talks to me anymore. Not that they ever did." Tears were streaming down Shelby's face now. "Now he keeps asking me out again…Pretending like nothing went wrong…I hate him."
"I'm not gonna let him hurt you." Scott whispered to her. Very gently and cautiously he took her hand. "Peter is gonna talk to him later. Make sure he won't try anything."
"No!" Shelby panicked. "I don't want things worse than they already are…What are people gonna say when Chase starts to spread even more rumors?"
"Shel, Peter can make him stop. He knows how to scare people. How to stop them from making mistakes…Or at least he can try."
"Like how he tried to get me to stay here when Walt had the heart attack? He wanted me to talk to CPS, but I couldn't. Not after what I saw them do to you. They tore you apart. I wouldn't have been able to deal with that." Shelby told Scott.
So that's why she had left, Scott thought. He had never been able to understand why she would have just accepted to go home...the one place she feared the most. Maybe even more than she feared the streets.
"Shelby give it a chance. Let Peter help you. You and I both know that he can." Scott pleaded. Shelby looked into his eyes for a few seconds. It felt like it had been years ago that they had been sitting on the docks that morning. Slowly, she nodded.
"I'll let him try." She whispered.
Scott smiled. "Good. Everything will get better soon." Scott replied. He laced his fingers with hers. "Hey, you feel like going for a walk?" Scott asked softly. Shelby smiled slightly.
"That would be nice." She replied, taking Scott's outstretched hand.
Scott led her out of the building, both of them knowing exactly where they should go. By the time they got to the tree, clouds were covering the dark night sky. Shelby pouted slightly as she sat down next to Scott at the base of the huge tree.
"What Shel? Is something wrong?" Scott asked, concerned.
"There aren't any stars." She whispered sadly. Scott thought for a few seconds.
"We can pretend." He replied, with a small smile. Shelby rested her head on his shoulder. "What would you wish for?" he asked.
"I'd wish that I could erase my past and start over again."
"There's nothing you would want to keep?" Scott asked, wondering what exactly he meant to her that made her say this.
"There are a few things…Daisy, all the other Cliffhangers, Peter and Sophie…You." She murmured. Scott grinned.
"So you wouldn't erase me?"
"No. You helped me, you understood me, you didn't try to change me."
"But what about when I found out about Walt and your life on the streets?" Scott asked, not sure why he was bringing that up.
"You learned to accept me. Eventually you loved me for who I am." Shelby replied.
"I still do." Scott held his breath, hoping she wouldn't get mad. He watched her face closely as her expression turned from shock, to surprise, to happiness. She smiled.
"I love you too." Shelby answered softly.
Scott hesitated, not sure whether he should kiss her. He wanted to so badly… Finally he gave in. He leaned in and there lips met. When they pulled apart, Shelby smiled.
"I've missed you so much." She whispered. Scott smiled.
"I missed you too. Do you really have to leave tomorrow?" he asked. Shelby nodded slowly. She hated thinking about it. She wanted to just stop time and live in this moment forever. To be with Scott forever.
"Please don't remind me." She whispered.
"Ok."
Suddenly it started to rain. It was if the whole world wanted to avoid talking about Shelby leaving. The rain drizzled through the trees. Scott grabbed Shelby's hand and they started to run towards the gazebo for cover. Scott had an idea. He stopped in the middle of the field.
"Scott come on! We're gonna get soaked!" Shelby called to him over the sound of the rain.
Scott smiled and extended his hand towards Shelby. "May I have this dance?" he asked. Shelby looked at him, amazed. She had always wanted to dance in the rain.
"You're crazy, you know that?" Shelby laughed. Scott held her close.
"And you're beautiful." He replied, kissing her forehead.
They danced for a long time, completely forgetting about the rain. All Shelby could see was Scott. All she could feel were his arms around her, keeping her safe. These were the moments she wished she had never left Horizon. The moments she wished she had kept in touch with Scott. The moments she wished she could stay in forever.
* * * * *
Ok, so that's the end of chapter 7. Pathetic, I know.…I need to know whether or not Shelby should stay at Horizon. Just so that you know, if you say that she shouldn't, there will be a sequel to tell you what happens when she goes back home. If you say that she should stay at Horizon, there probably won't be a sequel. (This is because I have an idea for what should happen if she goes back to Agnes…) Well, PLEASE REVIEW!!! That's all for now! Peace & Love, JEN