ttac1 The study hall room looked entirely different. The tables and chairs had been pushed to one side of the room. There was a TV and VCR at the front of the room with one table beside it covered in pizza, pop and other kinds of junk food. The other members of the Cliffhangers had already set their stuff around the room.
Shelby and Kristy put their comforters and pillows down on the far, Shelby of course was in between Scott and Kristy.
"We better grab some pizza before the guys inhale it all," Shelby joked. The three of them shuffled over to the food table. "Sweet they brought us a whole pan of brownies."

~

"This movie is whack," Scott muttered. "Of course they'd rent us something PG 13 crap."
"What did you expect, Playboy Playmates of 2000?" Shelby said too him. She glanced sideways at Kristy and mouthed, 'talk to him.' Kristy made a face back at her and walked to the food table. Shelby kicked Scott and gestured to him.
"Cute pajamas," Scott said quietly as he made his way over to the table.
Kristy blushed, "What these old things?" She was actually wearing a pair of fifty-dollar navy pajama pants and a Tommy Hilfiger T-shirt. "Could we talk somewhere?" Kristy said it like she was in pain.
"Sure," Scott grabbed his blanket and they went out in to the hall. They sat down opposite each other leaning against the wall while they shared the blanket.
Kristy began, "I feel bad about the way that I left things this morning. I'm sorry."
"I just don't get what you were talking about." Scott looked at her, "I can tell you're afraid, I knew that days ago. I just don't understand why."
"I'm terrified." She added, "Of you." He looked at her. "You're staring at me again."
"Sorry," Scott looked at his knees. "What are you afraid of me for?"
Kristy squished her face up, "Do you remember why I'm here? I've never done the boyfriend girlfriend thing before. I don't know anything about it. I've never given two shits about anyone. Especially not the guys I knew, I knew how to get what I wanted from them and they used me too. I don't know how to be emotional with a person." Scott nodded his head. "I would frustrate the hell out of you."
"I wouldn't mind that much."
Kristy sighed, "Scott. I like you, and I've never had an attachment like this with a guy before. I'm learning so much here…"
"I feel a 'but' coming on."
"But I can't take it to another level yet. Let me figure this part out first."
Scott furrowed his brow, "Let me get this straight. You like me but you won't go out with me?"
"Right. I'm trying to take things slowly, I don't want to go back to my old ways. I think if we went out, I'd be using you to adjust to the situation and it wouldn't mean as much as I'd like it to." Kristy added, "Shelby told me to be completely honest with you."
"Yea that sounds like something Shelby would say unless it directly effected her."
Kristy flinched, "Don't be mad at Shelby because I'm the one that's letting you down."
"I'm not mad at anyone," Scott replied. "Just disappointed."
They were both quiet for a few minutes, "We should go back inside?"

~

Kristy sat down again next to Shelby when she and Scott went back inside the room. Kristy smiled at Shelby, "Everything's fine. More or less."
"What did he say?" Shelby asked, Scott was getting more food.
"He's disappointed but he'll live."
Shelby puffed up her shoulders, "I told you so. He'll back off until you make a move."
"I'm not going to make any moves," Kristy said dryly. "At least not yet."
"So Scotty?" David said as Scott passed by him. "How was she? You guys were out there pretty long."
Scott's eyes flared and he whipped his head around to look at David. For a second the room felt tense, everyone was waiting for Scott's reaction. "We only talked man," Scott went back to his place and handed Shelby and Kristy the last two brownies.
"Wow Scott," Shelby laughed quietly at him. Kristy on the other hand was staring intently at the movie playing on the screen trying to ignore David and the rest of them. She needed to settle things in her head and sitting two feet away from Scott, no matter how well things had gone when they talked, seemed absolutely crazy.

~

David -- october, 31, 2001 -- … If I were home tonight I'd probably get baked with the guys, snag some eggs and go ruin the night for all the little kids. But around here I bet they won't even give us candy. Halloween is the holiday just for drinkers, druggies and other various screw-ups. It should be the utmost priority at Horizon. Man last year was the best …

Daisy -- oct , 31, 2001 -- . . . They're all killjoys around here. what was I thinking? of course they won't let us dress up for Halloween. this bites, I was going to dust off the goth stuff and prance around for the day. that would really make Peter and Sophie crazy. Dave would love it . . .

Kristy -- Oct 31 01 -- … I HATE HALLOWEEN! Mom used to dress me up as the latest Disney character. Then I got older and changed around the corner. Then I grew up even more and the costume came off quicker than it went on, wherever the party was. At least they won't make a big deal about it here. I can relax and not spaz about where or who I'll wake up with tomorrow morning …

Auggie -- OCT, 31, 2001 -- . . . One year on Halloween I tagged this HUGE pumpkin on the back wall of my school. They didn't catch me 'cause I was dressed as a girl. Because I've been here it seems like it's been all work and no play, but since we had our night off things have been really calm around here. Halloween won't matter at all . . .


~

Kristy and Scott were walking towards the lake, "Happy Halloween by the way," Kristy said. "What are we going to do when it starts snowing? I'm not meeting you at the lake if the thing is frozen."
Scott explained, "We'll sleep in."
"But I'd seriously miss it," Kristy complained. "This stops when the weather gets cold?"
They reached the dock and walked down the planks, "We can always go to study hall. No one's in there in the mornings."
"Sounds good," Kristy sat down and wrapped her blanket around her.
Scott smiled, "You look good like that?"
Kristy laughed at him, "Wrapped up in my blanket? Scott, I must look like a Teletubby."
"That's not what I meant," he replied. "You look real, natural. Not like Jules. You don't mind showing up here with out brushing your hair and doing your makeup. I like you best when you're in pajamas."
"You're cheesy, but thank you," Kristy shivered.
"Are you cold?"
"I'm freezing."
He pulled her in between his legs, "Is this okay?" Kristy nodded and leaned against him. He adjusted the blanket so that it was around both of them. "Warm now?"
"Almost," Kristy whispered. Scott crossed his arms around her and she rested her chin on top.
They sat quietly for a while. "You know we won't be able to do this in the library."
"Damn," Kristy muttered.
Scott nudged her, "I heard that."
Kristy settled a little closer to him and leaned her head back on his shoulder, "I think I could get used to this."
"What?" Scott asked quickly.
"You didn't hear that one?"
"I did I just wanted to see if you would say it again," Scott told her.
She sighed, "Well I won't."
"Okay," Scott relented. "After all why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free, right?" She bit his arm lightly. "Ow! I was just kidding."
They stayed like that at the dock for a half an hour, not really talking. That's what it was like at the dock, they did whatever they wanted but they didn't talk very much. And any other time of day they were only friends.

~

Scott -- 31 oct, 2001 -- . . . I don't know how I let her do it to me. I can't stand it, she gets me every time and then I'm left wondering what the hell happened. If I couldn't meet with Kristy at the dock I think I'd have some major issues. She seems so open and comfortable with me there, but when we're anywhere else it's like we're totally platonic . . .


~

Kristy walked in to the office behind Peter. "Couldn't you just tell her I was in a class?"
"I'm not going to lie to your mom for you Kristy."
"No that's my job right?"
Peter gave her a disapproving look, "Go easy on her, okay?"
Kristy slumped in to a chair and picked up the phone, "Hello?" He slipped out to give her some privacy. "Mother?"
"How are you?" her mother asked, in an attempt to be friendly.
Kristy rolled her eyes, "I'm fine."
"Peter said you were doing really well. Do you need me to send you anything?"
"I don't need anything. I got the package you sent me. Thank you," Kristy tried not to sound forced. "Why are you calling?"
"Because I'm your mother that's why!" June Underwood lowered her voice, "I didn't know that I couldn't call to check up on you."
"I'm still sober mom and I haven't slept with anyone either." Kristy added, "I know you're wondering."
Mrs. Underwood laughed, "Thank you dear, I'll sleep a lot better tonight. I have an idea for you. I'm checking out this cruise to the Caribbean after Christmas. Your dad's going up to Aunt Judy's." Kristy wasn't allowed at her aunt's house ever since she took her cousin to a party and the poor girl threw up all over her bedroom when she got home. "The ship leaves the day before Christmas eve and goes through New Years. Lilly is coming with me and I was thinking that maybe you should come. Lilly could bring Tracey, we'd get a separate cabin for you two girls." Kristy didn't say anything. "Kristy are you there?"
"I'm thinking," she replied quickly. Lilly Thomas was her mother's best friend, and incredibly arrogant and judgmental woman. They had been friends for years but Kristy couldn't figure out why. Lilly also disapproved of Kristy, partly because her daughter had gone to Kristy's school and always passed the gossip along. There was no way that Kristy could handle ten days at sea with her mother and that other woman unless she was on a first name basis with the bartenders. "Tracey Thomas hates me, and the feeling is mutual. I really don't want to go alone." June sighed. "Could I bring someone from school?"
"Someone from school?" June clicked her tongue. "You mean Horizon."
Kristy frowned, "Of course I mean Horizon, I've made friends here. I don't have friends anywhere else."
"I really don't know about that. I don't think I could handle two of you."
Kristy got defensive, "They'd give you an instruction manual!"
"Be reasonable Kristy. I can't keep track of you. How do you expect me to look after another teenager, especially one from Horizon." Kristy hung up on her.

~

Kristy – Nov 2 01 -- … Peter has no idea. Obviously neither does my mother. She must be smoking some pretty good stuff to even suggest I go on vacation with her. We haven't done that in ages, way before I learned about the magic of alcohol and how to lie to their faces with out coming off like a complete head case. That's exactly what I am now though, a TOTAL head case. I don't know how I let things with Scott get this way …