ttac1 Peter and Sophie were holding group session in the lodge that night. "Okay guys, it's been a long day. I think we have a lot to talk about. Does anyone want to start?" Peter asked as he looked around. The Cliffhangers avoided making eye contact. "I know that there is a lot going on with you guys right now. I'm sure that one of you has something to say." Still no one said anything. Peter and Sophie watched the group, the kids glanced at each other and fidgeted.
"Come on guys, the point of group is to get what's bothering you off your chest and hash things out with each other in a sound environment," Sophie reminded them.
"Do I have to get out the rain stick?" Peter asked.
Daisy sniffed, "Anything but that."
"Daisy! Thank you for volunteering to go first," Peter smiled. "Please tell us one things that is bothering you right now."
"Fine," Daisy sat up straight. "I'm annoyed at everyone for being so hypocritical."
Peter clasped his hand together, "Would you care to elaborate?"
"I don't see why people are bullying Kristy to share her whole life story. She's new here and when the rest of us showed up at Horizon we weren't looking to talk either."
"Encouraging Kristy to share so that she can get help isn't hypocritical," Sophie said.
"I wouldn't really call it encouragement," Daisy remarked.
Kristy groaned, "Please don't talk about me like I'm not in the room, my parents do that."
"We're sorry if that's the way that it comes across Kristy," Peter apologized.
"Is it such a crime that I don't feel comfortable opening up to you people yet?" Kristy cried. "There's nothing that you guys are missing out on. I thought we were getting along and getting to be friends. How does not knowing every skeleton in my closet change that?"
"If we're your friends why don't your trust us enough to tell us?" Shelby replied quickly.
Peter tensed, the girls seemed to be nearing an argument fight, but Sophie touched his arm telling him not to interfere. She whispered to him, "Let them talk it out. If they start yelling then you can mediate."
"It has nothing to do with whether or not I trust any of you. I'm just not comfortable talking about it yet," Kristy replied.
Scott sighed, "We only want to help."
"Fine!" Kristy shouted. "I'm here because my parents, the ones that are never home, found out I was drinking like a fish every other night. They also found out that I was sleeping with half the football team. A week later my dad caught me in bed with the boy next door. Oh excuse me, we weren't in bed we were in the kitchen the morning after. After that it was rehab and now Horizon. Wait, I forgot the shoplifting problem in grade eight. That's me in a nutshell." She stood up abruptly, "How are you going to help that?" She said before rushing out the door.
The kids looked after her and Peter told them to let her go. "She needs some time to be on her own and think about it. She was unsettled about telling you guys and now that she has she is probably feeling embarrassed," Peter explained to them. "She feels ashamed whether you guys can identify with her or not."
"Do we still have to stay?" Auggie asked.
"Of course," Peter smiled.

~

At first when she had run out of the lodge, Kristy was planning on going to the dock to be alone for a while. But then she decided against it and ran towards the girls' dorm room figuring that the Cliffhangers would stay near the lodge during free time.
"I stayed away as long as I could," Shelby said quietly as she walked in to the room. "Group let out an hour ago. I played Monopoly to keep busy if you can believe it." Shelby crossed towards her bed and sat down, facing Kristy. "I actually checked the docks first but it turns out you weren't dumb enough to hang out by the lake in the freezing cold. I'm babbling here Kristy, help me out."
"Are you happy now?" Kristy glared at her. "No more mystery."
Shelby's eyes flashed, "We didn't force you. You could have just stormed out with out saying anything."
"Let's not fight." Kristy added, "Haven't we been through enough tonight?"
"Do you know exactly why I'm here?" Shelby took a deep breath, "My stepfather abused me… sexually. My family is just finding out about it now. I ran away from home a few years ago and lived on the street. I was a prostitute Kristy. I sold my body for rent money, drug money, whatever. We all have our things. The point is we have to admit to them, now matter how hard, to deal with it. I don't want to sound like some twelve step program but it's true." Kristy seemed a little shocked. "Whatever you've been through, I can relate to some of it. You don't need to be embarrassed, don't bullshit around me. We can be honest with each other. That's all I ask."
"Alright," was all Kristy could manage.

~

Juliet -- February 25, 2001 -- . . . Wow, Kristy finally spilled the beans about all that stuff that brought her here. I'm a little shocked actually. I was hoping for some more over-eaters anonymous partners. ha ha ha. Anyways the secret's out and everyone is reeling. I kind of feel bad because in the end she just blew up and freaked, but that was bound to happen . . .

Daisy -- oct , 21, 2001 -- . . . I was right after all. Kristy felt way too much pressure and ended up telling all in group tonight. Oh well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Perhaps it was better that Peter and Sophie were there to take care of everything and pick up the pieces, at least with us that is. Kristy ran off . . .

Auggie -- OCT, 21, 2001 -- . . . So it turns out it was sex, drugs and rock and roll that did Kristy in. Well actually sex, drugs and drinking but whatever. Her parents sound like real jerks. Maybe Peter is right, I think she's feeling embarrassed and that's why she was scared to tell us all . . .

Scott -- 21 oct, 2001 -- . . . My head is spinning. Kristy let it all out today at group. A short version, but it's her story none the less. The fact that sex is involved makes things shaky. It also makes her even more like Shelby. Then again, even more like me. So maybe the three of us will keep getting along. I hope so . . .


~

Kristy was up early again the next morning so she decided to go for a run again. When she ended up at the lake and saw Scott sitting at the edge of the dock she decided to join him. She walked slowly towards him, not saying a word until she sat down. "Are you following me?" she asked jokingly.
"I was here first," Scott replied.
"You want me to go?"
He smiled, "I was kidding, stay."
"Okay." There was an awkward silence. "About last night --."
"I'm really sorry it worked out that way." Scott looked her in the eye, "It shouldn't have happened like that. Shelby was just trying to --."
Kristy finished his sentence, "To help. I know. I just wish I hadn't blown up like that. In front of everybody."
"You're not the first person to have a hissy fit and storm out of a group session. Don't worry about it. Someone else is going to have their own little crisis and you'll be old news."
Kristy lowered her eyes and scowled, "I'll be 'old news', that's comforting. Make a girl feel secure about herself. Is it breakfast time yet?"
"Still half an hour left."
"Good."
Scott looked confused, "Good? I'm starving."
"I don't want to face them yet. Juliet will be all over me with even more questions. The rest of them will be staring at me. I can't stand it when people look at me." Scott gawked at her pointedly, Kristy pushed his face away as she laughed, "Stop it. I'm serious."
"Shoot, my bad," Scott laughed and looked away from her.
"Now you're just being silly."
He looked at the lake in compromise, "Sorry. How's this?"
"Better, thanks."
Scott nudged her shoulder with his, "You don't like people to look at you. What's that about?"
She blushed, "I don't know. I'm just uncomfortable when people look at me. It doesn't bug you?"
"Not really." Scott paused, "People look at you, 'cause you're nice to look at."
"Was that a line?"
Scott stood up, "Sort of. We better walk back. I've still got to change before breakfast."
Kristy grudgingly got up and they started walking back to campus. "Scott?" she asked when they were about to go their separate ways. He looked back at her. "You're nice to look at too." He smiled and went in to the boys' dorm.

~

Kristy -- Oct 22 01 -- … The secrets out . Maybe I made too big of a deal about it. I still feel a little awkward around them. I definitely feel like there's a weight off my shoulders. But now that they know maybe I won't have constant anxiety from carrying around a secret, well at least one less secret. I talked to Scott again at the dock, thank goodness he's not judgmental, I'm glad he's my friend …


~

Kristy sat down at the table between Scott and Shelby, it seemed like they were becoming her protectors. She had made a point to get to know the others but she felt most comfortable with Scott and Shelby.
"Hey Kristy," Auggie said. "We're really sorry about the way things went down last night."
"It's okay. I'm glad to have it off my shoulders. I just don't want to do a Barbara Walters special about it if you get the picture, okay?" Kristy replied.
Daisy smiled, "We get it."
"So what was your drink of choice?" David asked, Scott kicked him under the table. "Ow!" The others laughed.

~

Shelby -- oct/22/01 -- . . . It's not that I'm jealous of the way that Scott looks after Kristy. It's just that it's weird because he used to pull the whole sweet and gentle masquerading as macho and tough for me, not that I needed his help. It's just really odd knowing that I'm not the one he worries about. It would be weird though for him and Kristy to hook up. I can see that she's got some issues with guys and I don't think Scott needs another girlfriend like that . . .

Auggie -- OCT, 22, 2001 -- . . . I remember how much Shelby and Jules fought over Scott when he first showed up here. Kristy's the new girl on campus now and it looks like Scott's got her all to himself. I was just as surprised as anybody when Scott and Shelby came back in September and they weren't attached at the lip. I can't believe that Shelby isn't doing anything about this . . .

Daisy -- oct, 22, 2001 -- . . . love is in there air. it seems like there might be some chemistry between Scott and Kristy. The strangest part is that Shelby even seems all right with it. this will be fun to watch, after all Scott isn't the most graceful person when it comes to matters of the heart . . .


~

Kristy sat at table beside Shelby, they were in English class and very bored. Ezra and David were in a heated debate about the main character of the book they were studying. The rest of the Cliffhangers were sitting back and enjoying the show. Normally it was Kat that headed up all the educational discussions, but since she was gone David and Ezra seemed to be competing for the spot as head intellectual.
"Explain to me again why these two are always at each other's throats?" Kristy whispered in Shelby's ear.
Shelby replied in a hushed voice, "It's a territorial thing over Daisy. But Ezra is clearly losing and he's trying to outsmart David now."
David looked over at where the girls were sitting, "Share with the class ladies?" Kristy and Shelby looked at him blankly. "Jonathon correct me if I'm wrong. But newbies are only allowed to get away with murder during their first week."
"David, you're out of line. No one gets away with anything here," Jonathon frowned. "Girls please pay attention."
"Sorry Dave, I'm all ears," Shelby glared at him and doodled in her notebook defiantly. Kristy sat up though and listened to the rest of their discussion. She didn't want to be disobedient, nor did she want to offend David. He was coming after her more and more