ttac11

"How come they're letting in another kid in so late? First term started a month ago," Juliet asked, she was sitting in the middle of her bed brushing her hair.
"How do you think?" Daisy replied, "Obviously the family has money. How do you think you got here?"
Juliet frowned, "Daisy you came late too."
"People come in late all the time," Shelby reminded both of them. "It has nothing to do with money."
"Oh ya, I forgot all about you Shelby," Juliet mocked. Shelby glared at her roommate and went in to the bathroom to brush her teeth.
Daisy sighed, "Judge not, lest yee be judged," she said in Juliet's direction.
Juliet laughed, "What's this? The one that came in here dressed as Marilyn Manson's twin sister is preaching the bible to me!" Daisy rolled her eyes and joined Shelby in the bathroom the girls shared.
Sophie knocked on the doorframe and called out, "Fifteen minutes to lights out girls!" None of them acknowledged her. After a few minutes all the girls were in their beds, writing in their journals to fill the last few minutes before they had to go to sleep.

~

Juliet -- October 7, 2001 -- . . . Everyone is on edge because there's a new kid coming in. I'm sure we'll hear all about her tomorrow in group session. I still haven't talked to Auggie about when we left. I'm just grateful that Peter was able to get him back here to Horizon. Auggie gave me a new strength. With him gone, I'm afraid all of that would disappear in no time. That's why it's safe to have him around, but I have to be apart from him at the same time so that I can . . .

Daisy -- oct, 7, 2001 -- . . . they're all spazzing around here. it seems like we're all running around like chickens with our heads cut off. it's like when someone fresh is going to come in, everyone worries about losing attention or something. and of course there's going to be the inevitable period of adjustment and self-destructiveness. I went through it all too . . .

Shelby -- oct/7/01 -- . . . There's a newbie coming in tomorrow, which means chaos around here. The staff is crapping themselves including Peter and Sophie. All the kids are walking on eggshells. It's so stressful for someone new to come in. Hopefully it will be someone halfway cool and they won't force us to put up with too much crap. I remember when David got here . . .

~

"What's the rumor?" Auggie asked as he brushed his teeth at the sink beside Scott. "Is the rookie going to be a guy or a girl?"
Scott shook his head, "None of us will find out until he or she get's here. You know that as well as the rest of us."
"There's thirty seconds to lights! Quit talking and get in your beds," Peter called from the door to their room. Scott and Auggie rushed in to the bedroom and hopped in their beds.
"I'll bet you it'll be another guy? After all we've got an empty bed in here," David said.
Scott switched off the light on his bedside table and pulled the covers over himself, "Ezra's coming back, but I guess we'll have to wait and see."

~

Shelby breezed past Juliet sitting on her own, nibbling on her breakfast while she stared at Auggie across the room. Shelby made a beeline for Daisy and Scott's table and sat down with them, "Only an hour until the newbie gets here."
"Why does everyone always have to make such a big deal about new people?" Scott asked as he lifted some scrambled eggs to his mouth.
Shelby jogged his memory, "Because the new kids always bring excitement. We need that around here every once in a while. It reminds us all of our early days, when we didn't have lights out and restriction."
"I still think that everyone's blowing this way out of proportion," Scott replied.
Daisy smirked at Shelby, "Wait and see. When the newbie gets here you'll be staring and gawking just like the rest of us." Scott shook his head and continued eating.

~

Peter was seated behind his desk, in his office briefing Sophie. "What are we dealing with here?" Sophie asked as she took a seat.
He took a deep breath before he told her, "A history of promiscuity, alcoholism and soft drugs. Some shoplifting too. She's fresh out of rehab. Seemed well behaved at the clinic, so perhaps it's the lack of authority that's causing her to act out at home."
"Lack of authority?"
"I don't think the parents are around very often, at least that's the impression I got when I talked to them on the phone. The father is travels a lot for business and the mother is a travel agent, so she's also got late hours and travels a lot. According to them she's taking advantage of the freedom." He lowered his voice, "Personally I think they've given her too much independence. A seventeen year old needs boundaries and security."
"Not a weekend home alone in the mansion with Daddy's gold card?"
Peter corrected her, "Platinum card. So let's be very careful about not offending the parents. Mr. Underwood even mentioned something about funding our new building project."
"What new building project?" Sophie asked in surprise.
"I haven't decided yet."
Sophie laughed, "When are they getting here?"
"In about ten minutes."

~

Shelby and Daisy were walking to the art building when they saw a big rented Ford Explorer drive in to the gravel parking lot. "I told you there was money involved," Daisy whispered. They slowed their pace down so that they could see the people getting out of the car.
Peter and Sophie walked up to the car and waited for the Underwoods to get out. Mrs. Underwood jumped out of the driver's seat, she seemed a little uncertain about her surroundings. She was definitely overdressed for the school's rustic setting.
Peter reached out to shake her manicured hand, "It's nice to meet you Mrs. Underwood. I'm Peter Scarbrow."
"Please call me June," she replied easily and shook Sophie's hand as well. "I'm sorry Kristy's taking her time getting out of the car. She's a little uncooperative today."
"I was getting my bags!" Kristy told her mother defensively as she came around the other side of the Explorer.
"I'm afraid she might have over packed," June Underwood fiddled with one of her diamond earrings. "Kristy I'm sure that there's someone who can take care of those for you."
Krista was carrying a pricey designer gym bag over her shoulder as she reached the spot where they were waiting for her. She rolled her eyes, "It's not a hotel, they don't have bell hops."
Sophie spoke up before the mother and daughter could argue, "We can't take your things to the dorm just yet. I need to check your things first."
"We'll help you carry everything. Let's go to my office," Peter said smoothly. "Mr. Underwood couldn't make it?"

~

Sophie and Kristy were in intake room beside Peter's office. Kristy's bags and belongings were placed haphazardly around the room while Sophie checked everything and anything, "You really did bring a lot of stuff."
"My mom brought the extra stuff with her when she met me at the clinic." Kristy stiffened her back, "I've been living out of a suitcase for the last month. I just got out of rehab, but I'm sure you guys already know that. Anything you're looking for they already took."
"Sorry I've got to check no matter what." Sophie added, "Everyone follows the same rules here."
"Look out for my parents then. They think they can flash their cash to sidestep the rules. My uses his money to throw his weight around constantly."
Sophie eyed Kristy; she was leaning on the table holding her head up with her right hand. "What do you think about money?" Sophie asked her.
"I hate money. It makes people arrogant, gives them a false sense of security. Take my parents. They're loaded, they try to give me whatever material things they think I want."
"But not what you need?" Sophie suggested.
"Not necessarily. They give me what they think will make me happy, to make up for both of them being gone all the time. Then they act all surprised when I screw up. Like my dad, it seems like his heart is broken because he found out I'm not a little girl anymore. But he doesn't even know what grade I'm in. It doesn't make any sense."
"Why isn't your dad here today?"
"He had lunch with us at the airport but he had a plane to catch to Boston. I don't place very high on his priority list," Kristy sighed.
"High enough that he's trying to get you help though." Sophie picked up on the Kristy's attitude towards her parents and made a mental note to mention all of it to Peter when they met later to recap the day. She pulled a plastic lighter out of a pocket in one of Kristy's bag, "Where are the cigarettes?"
"There are none," Kristy replied. "It's a disgusting habit. I was practically the only one in rehab that didn't smoke. I just carried one because the freaks in there always forgot their own." Sophie looked at her skeptically. "I'm absolutely serious. Do you want to smell my hair and check?"
~

Meanwhile in the next room Peter was having no trouble with June Underwood. She answered his questions politely, eager to hand over the cheque and leave. "Do you think you can help Kristy?" she asked suddenly.
Peter shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "I can't make any guarantees on how effective the program will be for Kristy. I can only say that we'll do everything we can. That's the best I can do."
Sophie knocked on the door to Peter's office, he waved her and Kristy inside. Sophie signaled to him that Kristy hadn't brought anything against the rules. "I'm going to go and gather up the Cliffhangers," Sophie said and quietly slipped out.
"What are 'cliffhangers?'" Kristy asked.
Peter filled her in, "Everyone here is in team, they all have names that have something to do with the activities we have here. Teams have classes together, room together, session together. Don't worry, you'll learn as you go. The Cliffhangers are the group that you'll be in. Are you ready to meet them and have the grand tour?"
"I've really got to get going," June checked her watch. "I don't think I have time for a tour."
"Congratulations mother, you almost managed to stay for an hour."
June blushed and fumbled her words for a minute, "Mr. Scarbrow. Can I have a minute alone with my daughter to say goodbye?"
"Sure, I'll be right outside," he got up and waited in the hall.
Kristy stared at her shoes while her mother spoke, "Please try to make the best of this. Not everyone is as lucky as you, to be getting a second chance like this." Kristy nodded her head. "Obey the rules, do what the leaders tell you to. I will send you some things soon. If you need any thing, or any money just call." Kristy laughed when her mom mentioned cash. "Mind your manners!"
"I don't need anything else. You already packed enough for the both of us. Goodbye mother."
"I'll talk to you soon," June got up and left the room. She paused in the hall to shake Peter's hand and thank him before she rushed out to her car.
Kristy stepped out seconds after her. "Ready?"

~

"I thought you said you wanted the Cliffhangers in the quad," Daisy told Sophie when she met with the group in the large room. Daisy, Scott, Shelby and David were the only ones that had shown up.
"I did." Sophie explained, "But Ezra's in the infirmary still. Auggie and Juliet are on restriction."
"Is this about the new kid?" David asked.
"Of course it is," Scott sighed.
Sophie sat down on the big comfy chair opposite them, "Her name is Kristy and she's joining the Cliffhangers."
"You're not serious!" Scott cried. "Another girl? Sophie I honestly don't think you guys thought this through."
Sophie reassured him, "Peter and I talked about it for a while. We think this is the best group for her. Besides Kat is gone now and we think you guys could benefit from another body to even things up." The group shifted in their seats, Sophie realized that Peter and Kristy must be approaching, she turned around and there they were. When she turned around again she gauged their reactions of the Cliffhangers. The four of them looked stunned; Scott especially. For a split second she worried they had made the wrong decision. The last thing they needed was Scott chasing after another girl.
"Kristy," Peter said, "I'd like you to meet the Cliffhangers. That's Daisy, Shelby, Scott and David. They are your new team, three others are busy right now but you can meet them later." Kristy stood across from them and tried to remember their names. "You guys will have a chance to get to know each other better later. Right now I need someone to show Kristy around," Peter remarked, none of the Cliffhangers seemed enthusiastic but Scott, he was more than willing. Shelby how about you?"
Shelby groaned and got up, she reached Kristy's side and they walked down the hall together.
"Hey Peter man! What was that about?" Scott cried after the girls had left. "Hook a guy up once in a while."
"I have a different job in mind for you and David. Come with me."