ttac1"Did I miss something?" Kristy asked, she was in study hall at a table with Shelby and Daisy.
"What do you mean?" Shelby said.
Kristy explained, "Did I do something to offend David? I don't think that he likes me very much."
"I don't think it's that." Daisy added, "That's kind of the way that he is. He just wants to get a reaction out of you. He needs to see that he has an effect on you."
"Daisy he's being unreasonable. First he went after Ezra and now he's bugging Kristy." Shelby closed her book, "You don't want to see it because you like him."
"No offense but he's going after Kristy because she appears vulnerable. Shelby, you and Scott are the problem. You wrap yourselves around her like you're her bodyguards. Dave sees that and he's attacking it because he knows that Kristy is capable of standing on her own two feet," when Daisy was finished she looked both girls in the eye for a second before moving to another table.
"Do I really come off as vulnerable?" Kristy was hurt.
Shelby sniffed, "Don't listen to her, she's offended because we reminded her that David isn't sweet and cuddly like she wants him to be. Don't pay any attention to her, or Dave for that matter. Tomorrow he'll bother Jules about her calorie count and the day after that it'll be Auggie's dyslexia."

~

Daisy -- oct , 25, 2001 -- . . . it's true, by blocking off Kristy from the others, Shelby and Scott are practically begging David to target her. They're asking for it. Dave feeds on stuff like this. I admire that about him, he's not a bull shitter, he's not afraid of starting conflict or of offending people. He sees things the way they are . . .

David -- october, 25, 2001 -- … I have to find something to do for fun and entertainment around here. Kristy's not such an easy target because Scott and Shelby pounce the minute there's a threat. Scott's clearly thinking below the belt. Going after Ezra is fun because he's never sure what to say. Juliet obviously wears her emotions on her sleeve. But Auggie is the most entertaining because he always wants to fight …


~

"What's the matter?" Scott asked. They had been at the dock for a few minutes and she hadn't said anything. Scott and Kristy met every morning at the dock like clockwork.
"I keep thinking about what Daisy said."
Scott looked confused, "What did she say?"
"That Dave was picking on me because I'm weak."
"She said that?"
Kristy sighed, "Actually 'vulnerable' was the exact word she used."
"When did all this go on?"
"The other day in study hall," Kristy frowned. "It was just Shelby, Daisy and me. I didn't want to say anything because of everything else she said."
Scott went in to defense mode, "There was more? Man, Daisy and David are made for each other. They love bullying people, making it seem like they're stronger, smarter, or better."
"Scott," Kristy tried to get him to stop. "Daisy says that he picks on me because you and Shelby make me look like a target. You two are always trying to protect me but I don't need it."
"You want me to sit back and watch him dis' you?"
"No. I just mean, let me stand on my own two feet. I've been looking after myself for a long time. I can defend myself against an ass like David."
Scott's shoulders slumped, "I'm only looking out for you."
"Thank you," Kristy told him. "But let me try first next time. Don't hop in front of me all the time. You guys have to let me fight my own battles. There are plenty of ways to be there for a person and support them, from the background."
"Okay I'll try," Scott conceded. "I just want to make sure you recognize why I do that."
Kristy blushed and looked away from him, she knew exactly what he meant and she could even hear it in his voice. This was where things got tough. "I know why Scott."
"Look me in the eye." Kristy turned her head and met his gaze. "Do you get it?" Kristy only managed to nod her head. "We should go back now," Scott said quietly, he was upset she wasn't saying more.
He held out his hand to help Kristy up. When she was standing, she didn't let go of his hand. He looked at her a little bit in shock, but she just smiled weakly at him and they walked back towards the buildings.
It didn't last long though, when they were close to the dorms, Kristy saw Sophie jogging towards the gym. She let go of Scott's hand, "I'll see you at breakfast," she hurried up the steps and in to the girls' dorm.

~

Kristy -- Oct 26 01 -- … I'm an idiot, I don't know why I did that! Scott's important to me, more so than any of the guys I knew at home. All I wanted from them was a hook up for some booze, some pot, or some attention. It's more than that with Scott. A relationship with him would be an important one, certainly not the kind that I'm used to. I shouldn't have held his hand, it's too much …

Scott -- 26 oct, 2001 -- . . . I want to protect her, look after her, be there for her. If she asks me to back off what am I supposed to do? I want to do anything she asks me to, but that?! That's a lot to ask. I can see that she's scared, it's in her eyes. So am I, damn I'm scared shitless. I didn't even have the balls to come right out and tell her that I like her this morning at the dock. I think she knows exactly what I meant though. Man, when she held my hand . . .


~

"Scott why don't you sit down?" Peter said, it was Scott's one-on-one and he was pacing the room. "You're making me dizzy."
Scott sat down on the sofa for a split second and stood back up again. He continued to pace, "Sorry I can't sit still. I'm going crazy Petey."
"What's bugging you?" Peter was amused.
"Kristy." Peter nodded his head, indicating for Scott to go on, he had been waiting for this moment. "Kristy and I meet every morning at the dock. We have been for the last few weeks." Scott noticed the disapproving look on Peter's face, "Don't worry. Unfortunately it's all been very appropriate. We just ran in to each other there one morning and now it's every day. We never even say, 'I'll meet you tomorrow.' We just show up each day. We just talk about stuff that's going on. It's cool you know because there's no bullshit, oh sorry, there's no bull."
"It sounds like there's nothing wrong with it. What's got you going 'crazy' Scott?"
Scott threw his hands up in there air, "I like her Peter. Everyone here can see that. I know you do, you see everything. But I'm scared this time around. I can tell that she is, she's terrified. How come? I don't even know if she likes me back. I kind of told her, more like implied, how I felt this morning. She held my hand when we walked back. I don't know maybe she was just humoring me."
"I don't think that's it Scott. She's just trying to deal with everything and take it all in." Peter went on, "She hasn't had a chance to learn all the skills you have. Kristy appears calm and together on the outside, but have you ever thought about everything going on inside of her. You might be ready to dive in to this, but it doesn't mean she is."
"I know. This is frustrating," Scott sighed and finally sat down on the couch. "I'm starving can I go to lunch now?"

~

"Where's Kristy?" Scott asked. It was early afternoon and classes were over. Shelby was playing cards in the library with him.
"She's in her one-on-one," Shelby told him, with out missing a beat she smacked her hand down on the table and pulled a pile of cards towards her. "I'm kicking your ass."
"I'm distracted."
Shelby stopped dealing the cards, "By what?"
"I'm just curious about what she's saying to Peter."
"What would she say to Peter that would have anything to do with you?" Shelby asked.
Scott laughed, "I don't know. She hasn't said anything to you about --. She hasn't said anything to you?"
"About what? I don't like secrets Scott, are you two hooking up? Did something happen?" Shelby asked excitedly.
"Nothing's going on, not really. Ask her about it, she probably knows more than I do," Scott took the cards from her and started dealing.

~

Shelby had waited as long as possible but that night in the girls' dorm she was chomping at the bit to ask Kristy what was going on between her and Scott. Shelby jumped on to Kristy's bed beside her. "What's the deal with you and Scott?" Shelby asked quietly.
Kristy looked up at her in surprise, "Um let's go outside."
They went outside to the porch. "So what's going on with you two?" Shelby was perched on the top step.
"Why do you think there's something going on?"
Shelby sighed, "Because he got his panties in a bunch while you were in your one-on-one today. When I asked him why it mattered he told me to ask you. Tell me what's going on, I'm dying to know."
"I never figured you for a gossip Shel." Kristy noticed the look on her face, "Okay seriously, there's not that much going on. I go running in the mornings, Scott and I meet at the dock. We just talk and stuff. I told him about Daisy and study hall and all that stuff. He was still being a tough guy, and he said something about why he wanted to help."
"So?"
Kristy looked at her, "Shelby it was the way he said it. He likes me, I can tell."
"Well duh!" Shelby laughed. Do you like him back?"
"I don't know. It's just that, well. Shelby of course I like him, Scott's amazing. I wouldn't say anything to him though and when we walked back I held his hand. But I shouldn't have, it was a bad idea. I think I left things badly. Sophie showed up and I totally brushed him off. I'm not ready for anything like this."
"Why not?" Shelby argued, she wasn't going to let Kristy count herself out right away.
"Think about it for a minute Shelby. I'm a mess. I'm just not ready to do this." Kristy frowned, "You know I have never had a boyfriend, at least not one at a time. I saw them in bed and at parties that was about it. I couldn't deal with something like Scott wants."
"So you won't even try?" Shelby accused her.
Kristy replied, "It's not that I won't try. I like him, but I'm not ready for this."
Sophie walked up to them, "Girls it's lights out."
"If that's the way you feel," Shelby whispered as they walked inside. "You need to tell him."

~

Sophie and Peter were in their cabin that night discussing the students. "Aren't you the smallest bit worried about the Scott and Kristy thing?" Sophie asked him as they pulled the covers down on their bed.
"I trust them," Peter told her.
Sophie threw a pillow at him, "They meet at the dock every morning, unsupervised. They obviously have feelings for each other. It's not good for them to have time alone in such a secluded place."
"I don't agree with you. Kristy and Scott are only friends right now. They've done nothing but talk."
"But you said they held hands this morning," Shelby reminded him.
"That doesn't count as inappropriate. In her one-on-one Kristy said she regretted it. She knows she's not ready to have a relationship with him and she's not going to do anything about it," Peter said. "I mean it, I trust them."
"You really think tomorrow is a good idea?"

~

Scott was sitting on the dock the next morning, normally Kristy would be there by now. When he heard her coming down the dock he waited until she was sitting down before saying anything, "I didn't think you were going to come."
"I wasn't," Kristy replied. "I was going to sleep in, but I didn't want to make things worse."
"Worse? I liked the way things were going."
Kristy sighed, "Things have to go slower."
"That's fine."
"I can't go out with you Scott." She saw the look of hurt on his face, "Not yet I mean. I can't do this yet."
Scott frowned, "So you don't like me?"
"I do!" Kristy got up, "But I'm scared."
"Of what?" Scott yelled, but Kristy was already gone.

~

"Good news everybody!" Sophie said as she walked up to the Cliffhanger's table at lunchtime. "We're giving you guys the night off."
There was an air of excitement at the table. "What's the catch?" Auggie asked immediately.
"There's no catch," Sophie told them. "You guys have been great this month. We're giving you a reward. You've got the study hall room all to yourselves, we've rented movies and got a special dinner for you."
"Are you absolutely serious?" David asked and Sophie nodded. Kristy and Shelby high-fived each other.
Sophie smiled, "Get whatever you need to be comfortable and bring it with you to the study hall at five o'clock. Peter and I will be back later and we'll make sure that you're all in your dorm by twelve-thirty. Jonathan will be checking in on you guys every once in a while."
"That's a catch," Daisy said unhappily.
"As long as you guys are behaving, there won't be any problems," Sophie began to walk away. "Have a good night guys."
"Let's make it a pajama party!" Juliet cried all of the sudden.
Daisy rolled her eyes, "No way."
David smirked, "Come on Dais. I'm sure Juliet's been working for days to squeeze in to some cute little pink flannel number."
"Are you trying to ruin this for everyone?" Auggie growled at David. "Screw this up and I'll screw you up."
"Sophie did say whatever we needed to be comfortable," Ezra argued.

~

Shelby --–oct/27/01 -- . . . Do I have to do everything around here? Honestly, Scott and Kristy are so afraid of liking each other. I don't get it. Was I that neurotic when I first started up with him? I hope not. Oh well, I'm giving them lots of encouragement because the sooner they're happy and hooked up, the sooner I can sit back and relax and have fun . . .


~

"This doesn't seem like a good idea," Kristy she and Shelby were walking towards the dorm to get their things.
"What, our little pajama party?" Shelby laughed.
"They're leaving us semi-unsupervised for a night, they're basically giving us permission to act out. David's going to be his usual self. Scott and I aren't talking. It's not a good time."
Shelby held the door to their room open, "No one's going to screw it up. They know that if we do, we won't get to do it again."
Kristy opened one of her drawers and watched as Juliet ran in to the bathroom to check herself out in her pajamas. "How am I supposed to sit same room as Scott all night and not talk to him?" Kristy asked.
"You should talk to him," Shelby scolded her. "You owe him a better explanation than 'I'm scared,' Kristy. You have to be fair. If you tell him what the problem is he'll understand. He's not going to write you off."
"Hurry up guys it's almost five!" Juliet was beaming ear to ear dressed in navy silk pajamas. Daisy followed her out the door in sensible plaid flannel.
Kristy started changing, "This is going to be an interesting night."