Disclaimer: I don't own Higher Ground.

Claimer: I own Jason, Abby and Ali Long.

Hey guys sorry this one is short but it basically a set for what happens next in the story. I like it. I hope you do you too.

Chapter 14

It had been 2 months since the Cliffhangers visited and everything was going great at Horizon and at her house. Shelby and Daisy wrote to each other every week as promised. Shelby even wrote Scott a few times. Scott and Chelsea are still going out. Shelby and her father are still close and catching up on lost time.

It is 3 weeks before christmas and all the Cliffhangers are going home for the holidays except Daisy, which she doesn't mind.

*Merrick House*

Jason and Shelby are sitting in the den watching tv and doing homework. Abby is sitting on the table watching Shelby's pencil and thinking its a game grabs it every few seconds.

Shelby: (Abby just grabbed her pencil again) Abby stop it (she gently pushes her away and goes back to her homework, but Abby just comes back and sits watching it) chemistry I hate Chemistry.

Jason: (joking) Well at least you get 50 more problems to learn to like it.

Shelby: Shut up!

Jason:(laughing to himself then getting serious) Are you eating at my house tonight?

Shelby: I don't know what's your mom cooking?

Jason: Tacos

Shelby: Sure, hey maybe we invite my dad. (hinting him)

Jason: (knowing what she's talking about, hooking up their parents.) You kow its not gonna work, their totally different. (not interested)

Shelby: (determined) never know til I ask him.

Mike: (walking into the den with his breifcase in one hand adn the mail in another) Ask him what?

Shelby: (surprised turnin around to look at him) If you want to eat at Jays tonight, I hear Ms. Long is making Tacos. (trying to convince him.)

Mike: (looking up from the stack of mail)I don't think so hun, I have a ton af work to do. (he leaves)

Shelby: (getting up and following him into the kitchen) Please, you've been working late everynight this week, just one night, please? (begging adn giving him the puppy dog eyes, which he can't resist)

Mike: giving in) fine, when's dinner?

Shelby: (smiling) I don't know (yelling to the den) Jay when's dinner?

Jason: (yelling back) 6:30

Mike: ok (walks back to his room and she goes back to the den.)

Jason: (as she sits down, and not even looking up from his work) so, he gonna come?

Shelby: yup!

Jason: kewl (shutting his book, standing up and getting his stuff) I better get home. C~ya at 6:30

Shelby: 6:30 bye. (he leaves and shelby goes back to her homework)

*Jason's house*

They are seated at the table Ms. Long and Mike are across from eachother as with Shelby and Jason. There is an uncomfortable silence.

Shelby: (trying to break the ice) The tacos are really good.

Ms. Long: thank you Shelby, why don't youhave another one. (handing her a shell)

Mike: Ali these are great, what's your secret?

Ali: I can't reveal that, now can I? (smirking)

Mike: (smirking back) Well, then now how am I supposed to get it?

Shelby: (mouthing to Jason) I told you so!

Ali: I'll think of something.

Jason: (getting fed up with them flirting) I'm done, it was great mom. (he leaves to the kitchen to put his plate away.)

Shelby: (standing up) Me too. Thanks Ms. Long (she nods and Shelby follows Jason to the kitchen.)

Ali: I guess its time to clean up. (standing up and starts clearing off the table.)

Mike: (standing) let me help. (he takes a few things off the table and proceeds to the kitchen.)

*Jason's room*

shelby and Jason are in there talking.Jason's sitting on the bed and Shelby is standing.

Shelby: I knew it would work. they like eachother. I mean really like eachother. (smiling)

Jason: (not happy about their parents flirting) What's so good about that? (sour)

Shelby: (sitting next to him) If they get married then you would be my brother. (kinda jokin but kinda wishing it was true.)

Jason: I practically am now why get the parents involved? (dryly)

Shelby: (not liking the way he is acting) What on earth is your problem?

Jason: I don't have a problem, its you who's trying to mess up our lives my hooking up our parents! (yelling)

Shelby: Please, I would never mess up our lives. (yelling back)

Jason: Whatever. (then goes into his bathroom adn Shelby leaves the room)

*Kitchen*

Ali is washing and Mike is drying and stacking them to be put away.

Mike: I was wondering maybe, you would want to go out to dinner with me some time?

Ali: Are you asking me on a date Mr. Merrick? (smirking but happy he finally asked.)

Mike: yea, so what do you say?

Ali: (joking) I don't know, I'll have to check my schedule.

Mike: (joking back) Well if you don't want to.....

Ali: I'd love too.(washing the lst dish and handing it to her)

Mike: k, I'll pick you up Fri. at 7? (drying and stacking the last dish)

Ali: Okay, (walking with him to the door.) You guys may want to hurry up and get home before it starts to storm any harder.

Shelby: (walking down the stairs) it can get any harder?

Mike: Could, you ready to go. (she nods he turns to Ali) thank you for the wonderfull dinner.

Shelby: yea, thanks. (smiling as she walks out the door to the car.)

Mike: See you on friday. (he leaves to the car and they drive off.)

*Car*

It is storming really bad and mike is driving fast to get home before it gets any worse. Remembering his short cut he found on day turns down the run. It is a dirt road by now muddy, there are fields of just grass on one side and on the other is trees and and fences. It was basically deserted.

Shelby: (confused) Dad, where are we going?

Mike: its a short cut I found one day,

Shelby: oh, (jumping right to what she wanted to know) so, what did you and Ms. Long talk about?

Mike: Why would i tell you? (smirking)

shelby: because I wanna know.

Mike:We talked about the dinner.........

Shelby (very impationant) and?

Mike: And i asked her out.

Shelby: (smiling) what did she say?

Mike: (truning to look at her face) She said........ she said.......

Shelby: well?

Mike: yes (smiling)

Shelby: (truning back to look at the road and noticing something in the road) OMG! Look out!!!!!! (yelling)


I kow the most rotten place to stop! Can I get 10 reviews please?

-Kelly