"And then, Shelby turns to me and huffs: 'I am fully capable of paying my own damn bail

DISCLAIMER: I own no one. I claim to own no one (with the exception of Alex, Connie, Britany, and anyone else I want to throw in there to confuse the heck out of you guys), and if I did, Hayden wouldn't see the light of day again. LOL…. I don't own any of the songs either. The complete list will be at the bottom of the story if you want it.

(~) Means flashbacks

(*) Means dreams

Any other questions e-mail me at Darlasfriend@aol.com

~The eyes are the window to ones soul. ~ Unknown

"And then, Shelby turns to me and huffs: 'I am fully capable of paying my own damn bail.' Then she pulls the entire fifteen hundred out of the pouch she keeps in her boots and pays the officer." The group laughed and all turned to face a now blushing Shelby. She looked around the table at her friends and smirked sarcastically. They had been at the restaurant for about half an hour when the conversation had shifted to past and present Shelby. "But the real kicker was after she signed her papers, she turned to me and said-"

"Now you can buy me breakfast." Shelby finished for him, looking down at the steak that she had barely touched. Alex and Daisy both watched her food cautiously. They knew she wasn't going to finish it, but neither said anything about it. "That was one of the only nights that I skipped work." She told everyone so matter-of-factly. "Of course, Alex spent the next week and a half paying my bills and buying me clothes."

"I'm still trying to explain the two hundred dollar Victoria's Secret bill to my father." Alex joked, taking a long sip of his wine. Peter was the only one blushing this time. He didn't like the thought of Alex knowing Shelby well enough to talk about her like that. Alex took his mind off Shelby in her underwear and turned to the rest of the group. "So, anyone else have any good stories?"

Auggie scooted closer to the table and raised his hand. "I've got an entertaining one." He winked at both Shelby and Sophie before placing his hand inside Juliet's opened one.

~ Sophie moved rapidly around the turns in the path that lead away from the ropes course. She had asked Peter if she could go after Shelby, and now she was slightly regretting it. The blonde was just too fast for her to catch up without running. "You have an old soul." She commented just loud enough for the blonde girl in front of her to hear. She had known many girls like Shelby, even if she didn't know anything about her.

"Wow." Shelby spat back at her mockingly; the new girl Peter had brought to 'observe' them was going to get really annoying really fast. "Gee, Groovy."

"Hard shell too." Sophie commented. Getting Shelby to talk to her wasn't going to be easy. This girl wasn't going to give an inch, and she knew it. "Always a good quality in a woman."

Shelby didn't want to listen to it. "Do you work here?" She snapped as she turned to face the woman that was trailing her. "Or are you just giving this out for free?"

"I'm a visitor," Sophie started only to be cut of.

Her feet pounded on the trail as she turned away from Sophie. "From what Planet?" She barked as she walked away. ~

Taking a quick sip of his wine, Alex chuckled. "Bitch alert!" He shouted mockingly, not caring who heard what he said. "Damn Slate, what happened to the girl I knew on the streets?" He paused for a few moments and handed the wine to Peter and Sophie. "No, wait…Lemme guess…She-"

"Went home." They said in unison. It was Shelby's favorite quote every time he had asked her that question over the past few days.

"Now that's the thing that I don't get." David said as he took a sip of his iced tea. "Listening to Alex talk about Shelby, it sounds as though he's describing a completely other person." He watched Scott's reaction to his statement, and decided to continue. "I mean what happened to Shelby to make her go completely postal on the rock until you show up?" He pointed his glass at Alex for emphasis.

"Life." Shelby said ironically, thinking about the last time she had said that phrase. "It's amazing how it just keeps on giving."

At the point the lights dimmed and the DJ started playing music. David jokingly put his left hand on Shelby's thigh and gave it a good pat. "Remove it, or I will." Scott's voice crept into David's ear angrily. Promptly David's hand removed itself from her leg and Shelby threw Scott a questioning glance. Almost immediately, Scott looked away.

Alex took the opportunity to take Shelby's hand and pull it to his lips. "Dance with me." He said simply.

"Is that a request or a demand?" Her voice questioned as he stood and pulled her to her feet. "Fine. Have it your way." He led her out onto the dance floor and wrapped his hands around her extremely small waist. His chin rested itself on the top of her head, and he took a deep breath to smell her strawberry shampoo. That was one of the things he missed about her. She always smelled like strawberries. "What?" She asked him cautiously as he looked into her eyes. "What are you staring at?" Alex just shrugged as the music started.

I laid the blanket there on the shoreline

And saw the water shine with the moon.

What kind of fool would fail to notice

The best thing shining was you.

Alex stood there for minutes at a time, just watching Shelby move to the music. He just couldn't believe that he was standing there, in the middle of the grand ballroom in the Madison Hotel, with the love of his life in his arms. If only she felt the same way. Shelby shifted in his arms, and he saw her blue eyes staring directly into his. The world stood still for that moment, and everything just felt right. "What?" She asked him softly, letting her words drift up to his ears. "Alex, what's wrong?"

Alex kissed the top of her head and leaned to where his mouth was right next to her ear. "I'm just wondering how long it's been since I was able to enjoy myself this much." Alex lied, not wanting to tell her the truth about his thoughts. He knew Shelby well enough to know that she wouldn't be pleased if her were blunt with her. "I missed you too much."

"Well stay as long as you want." Shelby giggled lightly as he tickled the sides of her stomach. She squirmed to get away from him, but his strength held her where she stood. "I've enjoyed you being here. It's been too damn long since I've even thought about you and Patty." She pulled him closer to her and fluttered butterfly kisses on his cheek. "I want you to stay here forever."

"Your wish is my command." Alex joked as he looked over at the table where Scott sat, glaring at him from squinted eyes.

Oh I laughed kind of nervous

I felt you move closer

And felt the world unwind

Auggie leaned over to Scott and smiled an evil grin. "You were the one that didn't tell her the truth." He said cautiously, before he grabbed Juliet's hand and led her out to the dance floor. Auggie tapped Alex on the back and smiled as both Alex and Shelby turned his way. "Somebody's jealous." He laughed in a singsong voice. His left hand let go of Juliet's and pointed to Scott. Then he looked back at Shelby. "Can't say I blame him, though." The smirk on his face was apparent as he pulled Juliet away from them and kissed her on the cheek. "I love you." He whispered to her softly.

Shelby's mind was swimming. She couldn't believe that Scott could get so jealous about one dance. Then again, she really couldn't explain her outburst the other night, when she began throwing things around when she had heard about Britany. No, wait; now that she thought about it, she knew exactly why she did it. She was hurt that he couldn't just tell her about it. But true, he had his reasons. Her mind kept slipping back to the man who held her in his arms. The way he always smelled like he just got out of the shower. The one who knew her inside as well as out so well, that he knew what she was feeling without even talking to her. Did she love Alex? She didn't know if she could answer that question without hurting anyone. You mean without hurting Scott. Her mind answered for her. He has another girlfriend. Her mind reminded her in a voice that sounded too much like Daisy's. He slept with Britany remember? He doesn't even look at you anymore. Shelby shrugged and laid her head back onto the shoulder that already knew hat kind of war was going on inside her head.

Once was a stranger, not quite a lover.

But steadily crossing that line.

Scott knew that this shouldn't bother him. He wouldn't let this bother him. Shelby was just going along with Alex because he knew how to make her happy. Happier then you've ever made her. His mind answered for him in a voice that sounded too close to Ezra's. It was amazing how he thought these people that he lived with were his conscience. Ezra especially, he always knew what to say to get Scott on the right track. Talk to the girl. The voice told him angrily. Explain yourself to her and you know she'll forgive you. Somehow he knew his mental voice was telling the truth, but way back in his mind he could still hear Auggie's warning. "Tell her the truth." He said to himself, noticing the odd looks he was getting from both Daisy and Ezra.

"Do you think they know what we think about this?" Ezra whispered to Daisy when she reached across him to get to the salt. She had been getting closer to Ezra ever since Alex showed up, and she didn't have to worry about Shelby that much. Daisy liked the feeling she to whenever she was next to Ezra. He didn't make her feel like he expected something from her. He just wanted her. "I mean-"

Ezra smiled at how nervous she was getting with the situation between Shelby and Scott. "I think they know our minds, yes." He slowly moved his left hand and patted her on the thigh. "You said yourself that Shelby doesn't come to you for advice because she already knows what you were going to say. There is no doubt in my mind that whenever they have a problem, it's our voices that jerk them back to reality." He watched her smiled then pulled her out of her seat. "You're dancing." He said as she giggles and fell into his arms. There was nothing else that could have ever made him feel the way he did at that moment.

Carry me far away

Don't hold back, I won't break

Leave the past behind

All I know, wrong or right

Just the thought of this night

Will get me every time.

Every time

Peter and Sophie watched as their children danced around the dance floor. With the exception of Scott, who sat by himself at the far end of their table. David had asked Jessica to dance shortly after Daisy had left the table with Ezra. Peter thought this was the perfect moment to fill his wife in on Alex's surprise for the Cliffhangers. "How do you think this room would look with the Morp decorations that Jessie and Juliet have created?" He asked a little too self-confidently, his eyes never leaving the group of kids on the dance floor.

Sophie turned her head slightly, looking directly at Peter's face. "We don't have the money for that kind of thing Peter." She watched where his eyes were looking and realized immediately what he was referring to. "You're kidding me!" She squealed, watching as he shook his head. "Alex is going to do that…for the Cliffhangers?"

"Not for the Cliffhangers," Peter corrected her. "For Shelby." He watched Shelby grab Alex by the collar of his shirt and smiled. "He's got a major yen for her. He'd do anything for her." Alex shifted Shelby in his arms and play hit Auggie in the shoulder. Then Peter's head turned and he was looking at Scott. "The bad thing is so would Scott. That's probably the worst part of this whole thing. We have two children that love each other more than life itself, and they're not going to be together on their Prom night." Sophie nodded and turned her attention to the girl who was walking up behind Scott.

Well the voice in my head said

"What are you doing?"

I thought not listening to you

You see I'm taking a chance

I'm thinking about flying

Over the moon

Britany took deep breaths as she neared Scott. She could feel his presence the second she walked into the ballroom. Carefully she smoothed the dress that she had changed into before she had called the cab to come take her to the hotel. She wanted to make herself look decent for when she was introduced to the legendary Shelby. She had no doubt in her mind Shelby would look perfect. So she had to match the look that Shelby would have. Then again, Britany had been warned about the fight that had happened after she had called the first time. She herself had seen pictures of the damage that Shelby had caused to the lodge. Slowly patting down the skirt to her dark blue party dress, Britany walked up and tapped Scott on the shoulder.

Scott whirled around as if he had been shot. What he saw surprised him more than he thought was possible. Britany looked way too much like Shelby for his liking. Now he knew why he had been so quick to sleep with her when he was drunk. "Britany." He whispered barely audible. "What are you doing here?"

"Mrs. Scarburrow told me that you guys were eating dinner in Seattle, and I haven't eaten all day, so I thought I'd take a cab here and join you…" She noticed the look on his face and smiled. "You don't look happy to see me." She frowned. "Did I do something wrong?"

Scott hugged her and smiled at her innocence. "No. It's just been one of those days." He told her, carefully choosing his words. "Come on." He took her hand and pulled her out to the dance floor. "I haven't danced all night."

And it's crazy to be this out of practice

And have it all come so naturally

Don't you love knocking logic, right off it's axis

And watch it float far out to sea?

Shelby wasn't oblivious to the girl that Scott pulled out onto the dance floor. She noticed right away how pretty the girl was, and the striking resemblance that she and Shelby had. Scott looked her way right before Alex shifted her in his arms to where she was looking at a frustrated Auggie. Unlike her, Auggie didn't feel the need to mask his anger, and it was later said that if it weren't for the fact that Juliet was holding onto him, he would have killed Scott.

Carry me far away

Don't hold back, I won't break

Leave the past behind

All I know, wrong or right

Just the thought of this night

Will get me every time.

Every time

"Calm down Slate." She heard Alex whisper in her ear. She could feel his hands move from her hips to her shoulders as she closed her eyes and leaned backwards, testing his strength. Alex pulled her back up to him and smiled. "Somebody remembers." He joked as he moved his hands back to her waist and lifted her up from the floor. Shelby giggled when he put her back on her feet and Alex rubbed her lower back with the palm of his hand. "Beautiful," he commented absent-mindedly.

Scott turned to watch Alex lift Shelby over his head. She seemed so happy being there with Alex. All of the stories he told were of a defiant, yet happy, Shelby that had long since been gone. He looked at the girl he held in his arms and knew that Shelby was the only one for him. Britany was a distraction. Shelby, now she was his life.

So, now here I am reading my fortune

In he winding lines of your hand

Oh and I see a lost unwanted orphan

Headed right for the Promised Land

Carry me far away

I won't…I won't break

Auggie turned to watch Shelby stifle a laugh as Alex made a joke about Connie. She pulled herself up against Alex and tried to bury her face in his shirt. Suddenly the hands on his shoulders stiffened, and Juliet's lips brushed against his own. "You are too wonderful for words?" She laughed at his confusion. "Don't tell me that you and Alex aren't trying to make this Morp more memorable for Shelby because of her accident." He feigned ignorance before Juliet kissed him again and he stopped.

"You keep doing that and I'm going to wind up telling you his entire plan." Auggie joked, wrapping his arms around Juliet's slender waist and pulling her roughly against his body. They had never been like that toward each other, and it surprised both of them. Auggie had always been gentle with Juliet. It wasn't that he thought she was 'going to break' or anything like that. She just was a little more delicate to him than Shelby was. He knew this stage was coming with them, he just didn't know that Juliet would want them to be that forceful, especially around the other Cliffhangers.

Juliet smiled up at Auggie, praying that he couldn't feel her insecurities through her fake smile. The truth was she was terrified of him leaving her. She was scared that he would think Britany was prettier than she was and decide to fight Scott for her. This feeling had manifested itself over dinner when Ezra and Auggie were talking about how beautiful this girl had to be to get Scott over Shelby. The thought that he could just dump her like that was just too much for her to handle. What Juliet didn't know, however was the fact that Auggie had already talked Alex into getting two-dozen white roses for Juliet. He knew about her insecurities and he was more than happy to make her forget all about the rest of the world.

Carry me far away

Don't hold back, I won't break

Leave the past behind

All I know, wrong or right

Just the thought of this night

Will get me every time.

Every time

The music stopped and Alex pulled Shelby to him once more. "You enjoying yourself?" He asked her cautiously. Taking a moment to poke her on the nose to get her to smile. Shelby nodded just as one of the waiters walked up to them.

"Mister Wallace?" He asked Alex lightly. "Do you wish to order anything else before the bill is drawn up?"

Alex thought for a moment. "Yeah, sure." He coughed to himself. "We're going to have two death by chocolates, one rather large birthday cake, and ice cream for everyone at the table." The man wrote it all down and turned. "Oh, and I'd like two bottles of your finest wine, and some sparkling cider." A little startled by this, the man bowed and practically ran for the kitchen. "I seemed to have missed your birthday, and I insist that we fix that problem." Shelby giggled again and turned to Scott and Britany. Her smiled faded as her eyes locked with Scott. "You want to talk about it?" Alex asked her softly.

"No." Shelby coughed as she turned and ran for the bathroom.

Daisy stopped dancing long enough to see Shelby race off towards the girl's bathroom. She let go of Ezra and tapped Auggie on the shoulder. When Juliet turned to look at her she pointed at Alex. "Shelby." She said simply, hoping it was enough to excuse both of them from their dates.

It only took a minute for Juliet to figure out what she was talking about. She kissed Auggie quickly before muttering a soft 'sorry' and heading in the direction that Daisy went. When she found both Shelby and Daisy, Daisy had successfully talked Shelby out of the restroom and just outside the door to the grand ballroom, Shelby lighting up a new cigarette and Daisy taking it away from her. Shelby's hands were shaking as she attempted to light another one. "Daiz," Juliet said softly. "You go back in to Ezra. I think I can handle this one." Daisy nodded and dropped the two cigarettes that she had taken away from Shelby onto the floor. Juliet took the lighter away from her and stood again. "Come on. I'll let you have as many as you want outside." After a barely audible grunt from Shelby, both girls were standing and heading for the main doors.

After the doors shut, Juliet lit one of Shelby's cigarettes and handed it to her. "Now, you want to tell me what that was about in there?" Shelby shook her head and took a long drag. The cigarette traded hands easily, seeing as though Shelby wasn't in the best frame of mind to fight Juliet on it. "Allow me to rephrase," she said harshly. "What happened in there?"

"I'd like to say it was temporary insanity," Shelby started, taking her cigarette back from Juliet. Her head shook slightly. "I'm getting too close to Alex." She explained simply, wiping the tears from her eyes. "If I get to comfortable having him around, when he leaves, I'll be crushed."

"And…"

"How'd you know?"

Juliet laughed shortly. "I have eyes..." She offered helpfully. "Face it Shell, you can hate it all you'd like, but you know you're in love with the boy." Shelby laughed harshly and sank down onto the cold stone walkway. "I know you're hurting Shells, but you have to realize that Scott's hurting just as much. He loves you Shell, he's just confused."

"Confused, my ass." The voice sounded more and more like a frightened girl every time she spoke. "I think he just loves the fact that he's finally free from the skank from Reject High." She took another puff and stubbed it out with the toe of her boot. "Let's face facts, Jules. I'm nothing to him. He just wanted me as long as he knew there wasn't any possible way he could find someone normal. Someone real." Tears were falling faster than Juliet had ever seen. Shelby's resolve to hold her tears crumbled to nothing as she buried her head in her hands and just sat there for minutes weeping.

For the first time when it cam to dealing with Shelby, Juliet had no clue what to do. She had never seen Shelby act like this. "Come on Shelby," she wasn't sure why she was still talking. It just felt better than sitting there, watching her cry. "You know that's not true." Juliet pulled Shelby half into her lap and stroked her head slowly, waiting for the tears to subside. She didn't have to wait long. Shelby sat up by her self and wiped her eyes, trying to get the rest of the wet mascara off of her face. "Feel any better?"

Shelby slid her cigarettes back onto her pocket and smiled at the brown haired girl that she spent so much of her time at Horizon being mean to. "Actually," she began softly, pulling Jules into a hug. "Yeah, I do." The two girls walked back into the ballroom, together.

Scott felt horrible. There was no other word to describe the feeling of anguish that was echoing inside his chest. After Shelby and Juliet got back, Auggie kept throwing menacing glances at him and Britany from across the table. Finally he just could take it anymore. He stood slowly and walked over to Shelby's side of the table. Shelby stopped mid-sentence as she turned and noticed the look of hunger in his eyes. "Dance with me?" He asked as sweetly as he could manage.

"I don't think-" Alex tried to object before Shelby stood.

"Sure." Shelby's voice wavered slightly, and she looked at Juliet for the strength to walk out onto the dance floor with the guy she once claimed to love. The music started quietly, as if the DJ picked the song just for them.

They say in this world

Nothing lasts forever

But I don't believe that's true

"I'm sorry." Scott said finally. They had been out on the floor for several seconds now. Both of them were aware of the looks that they were receiving from the group at the table. It had been the first words that he had spoken to her all night. He didn't even know why he was talking to her now. The feel of her in his arms gave him the strength to do the impossible. Her hair fell against his shoulder as she stopped moving to look at him.

"You're sorry?" Shelby asked him after a second. She wasn't quite sure that she had heard him right. "What for?"

"Don't pretend you don't know." He snapped back at her. Feeling her recall from him slightly, Scott immediately felt bad for doing that. "I'm sorry for the past year." He looked around the room, trying desperately not to meet her eyes. When he couldn't stand it anymore, he glanced briefly. Her gaze held him there.

'Cause the way that I feel

When we're together

I know that's the way

I'll always feel for you

"What about the past year?" She asked calmly, not showing him any of the emotions that were running rampant throughout her mind. He tore his eyes away from hers angrily. "Scott?" She asked as she allowed her hand to cup his cheek. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry that I hurt you like this." He finally managed to get out. The touch of her hand on his face sent shivers down his spine. "I caused you all this pain, and you didn't deserve any of it. I-"

"I understand." Shelby said, more to her self than to him. "I know what you want to do, and I don't blame you at all." It was coming out now, and there wasn't a damn thing she could do to stop it. The only thing Shelby felt now was the need to just let go. She had to make a clean break and never look back. "I know you, Scott. Or at least I once thought I did." She leaned against him one last time and felt his breath on her cheek. "You don't have to try to tell me that you were thinking of me when you slept with Britany. I know you too well for that." She wiped her eyes and shifted her weight.

From now until forever

That's how long I'll be true

I'll make you this vow

And promise you now

Until forever

I'll never stop loving you

Scott had no clue what was going on inside her head, nor was he about to pretend he did. "No Shell, you don't understand. I want you. I love you-"

"You're kidding yourself." She snapped in frustration. "You said so yourself months ago that you don't go for used trash. You told me that you didn't need anything I had to offer-"

"That's before I knew you." Scott tried to explain. "That's before I found myself closing my eyes just to see your face." He took her head in his large palms and kissed her forehead. "I need you more than I ever needed anyone. I need you more than my mother, more than my father. You're my life, my world, my everything, Shell." His voice rose slightly, trying to make her hear him. "Please believe me?" He begged slightly. "Please?"

There'll come a day

When the world stops turning

And stars will fall from the sky

But this feeling will last

When the sun stops burning

All I want to do is love you

Till the end of time

"I'm sorry Scott," she hung her head long enough to get the image of his face out of her mind. "You can't make me believe you when you're five minutes away from walking back to that table and pulling Britany close. I-"

"I don't want Britany!" He snarled angrily. "I love you."

Shelby forced her body to move away from him. "Keep telling yourself that." She took a deep breath and sighed heavily. She had begun to walk back to the table, before wiping her eyes and turning slightly. "Oh and Scott?" He lifted his head and their eyes met. "Take care of the cowboy." She sniffled before wiping her eyes one more time. "He's the best kisser I've ever seen." Scott laughed a little at that remark, and he too returned to the table.

From now until forever

That's how long I'll be true

I'll make you this vow

And promise you now

Until forever

I'll never stop loving you

Shelby's world crashed the second she sat down. Every time Scott had ever been there for her flashed through her mind. Every tear, every kiss; her entire world revolved around the single fact that Scott was hers and now it had been taken from her. The tears welled up in her eyes once more and she sighed. Don't, she told herself calmly. You cry in front of Britany, and you'll never make it out of this place alive. You had to do this. Her mind kept telling her over and over. You had to end it one way or that other, and you chose the painful way. She took a few sips of Alex's wine, knowing that she shouldn't have but she needed a way to calm down. She tried to recall another time in her life that she needed the strength that Patty had given her. There was only one other time that her mind remembered:

~ Patty always told her that when it came to getting caught, you have to stay tough. Weakness was never an option when it came to them. And that 's how it was when Shelby was delivered to her mother. After a short visit at her house, to get her things and say her 'good-byes' to her friends and Walt, Shelby and her mother drove four hours to get to the place her mother told her would do wonders for her. The sign that they passed read: MOUNT HORIZON HIGH SCHOOL, and by the looks of the woods that they drove through, there was no possible way Shelby was going to be able to get out of there without some serious planning.

"Diet Coke?" Her sister Jessica's words jarred her from her thoughts. Shelby looked across the seat at Jessica and smiled as the younger girl held out another bottle of Coke. "Shelby?" She asked again before Shelby reached out to take the coke.

"Horizon will be a good place for you." Her mother said again. She was averaging that sentence three times and hour, and it was getting old. "There will be kids like you that you'll be able to relate to. And the constant supervision will help you with you're problems with authority-"

"Whatever you say Mother." Shelby took a sip of her Coke and smiled at her sister. Jessica was probably the only thing she knew she was going to miss from her old life. The closeness with her sister had to be the only thing worth salvaging from the many years of Walt sneaking into her room at night. I'm doing this for her. She told herself again. If I stay up here and don't come back to that house, Jess will be safe. And that's how we're going to do this. She could still feel Walt's hug on her skin. Think of Jess. She told herself one more time for good measure.

The car stopped in front of a huge wooden lodge. The campus was fairly large, with plenty of trees and fresh air. The teens that were loitering the yard were dressed warmly, with no visible holes in their jeans or shirts. The group of girls sitting on the steps of the lodge wasn't wearing any make up either. Suddenly Shelby knew this wasn't a good idea. She would have to find someone worth staying here for, and for Shelby Merrick- correction, Slate Harding, it wasn't going to be an easy task. Her mother got out of the car and walked into the lodge. Shelby turned to look at this one guy who was standing with people that could pass as his parents. He looked like he was having as much fun as she was. His black button-down shirt was opened showing off his muscular chest underneath a white wife-beater, and his pants were baggy enough so Shelby could recognize him as a guy who just recently got pulled from some gang activities. By the color of the bandanna he wore, she would have thought him from someplace out of the region, Atlanta maybe, or at the very least Chicago.

The boy turned to face her and he smiled. He didn't seem all that bad. His look was a little too bad boyish for her tastes. But if he were the only one that she could get to, he would do just fine. By then her mother had returned with two counselors. A male and a female. The woman introduced herself as Hannah. She was kind of short, almost as tall as Shelby, with light red hair, and a funny shaped nose. The man on the other hand had the look of a high school teacher to him. He was about as old as her mother, with short brown hair, no facial hair what so ever, and an almost caring nature. He introduced himself as Peter.

"I just don't know what to do with her anymore." Shelby heard her mother tell the woman, Hannah quickly. "Walt and I can't keep her at home any longer. Every time the police and I seem to bring her back, she seems normal for a few days, then she's back to climbing out her window. We can't keep doing this to Jess. I can't keep disrupting her life because her sister is likes to run away." Her mother ran a well-manicured hand through long blonde hair and sighed heavily.

Hannah nodded in agreement. "I know how troublesome that can get, Mrs. Blaine. I can assure you that we will do everything in our power to make sure Shelby stays safe." Peter looked through the windshield at the two girls in the backseat. The older one he presumed was Shelby. He could tell just from the look of her that she was going to be a tough nut to crack. Her eyes were bright blue, yet they held a sort of age to them that he wasn't used to seeing from the kids that was brought in by their parents. Whatever her demons were, she knew what they were and how to keep them there.

Peter walked around to the passenger side of the Honda Civic and opened the rear door. "Why don't you come on out here Shelby? This concerns you." He decided that with this girl he was going to take a different direction. "We won't hurt you here." He saw her dark eyes exchange meaningful glances with her mother's before climbing out of the car into the open air, her little sister, Jessica in tow. "I know how hard this must be on you-"

"You know nothing about me." She snapped, her voice heavy with anger and weariness. Her eyes shifted to his, challenging his gaze. "Don't try to pretend that you can understand my and my life. You'll only be disappointed." She slid her hands into her pockets and smiled sarcastically. That's when Peter finally got a good look at her. Her hair was curly then, thanks to the aid of her curling iron and tons of hairspray, and she wore a pair of tight blue jeans with a hole in the right knee. Her tank top was as tight as she could possibly have gotten it, and although she didn't choose to come up to his mountain, Peter saw that she held her head high. On her face, she wore an easily mistaken look of determination that Peter had never seen before in a female admit.

"Shelby Elizabeth Merrick," Mrs. Blaine snapped, trying to cover her embarrassment. "You do not talk to them that way!" She turned her head away from her daughter and smiled at Hannah.

Peter held up his hand to silence her. "We don't keep anyone from expressing their opinions here, Mrs. Blaine." He watched, as Jess was always one step behind Shelby, no matter what she did. "Shelby can say whatever she wants to. As long as it is only said, not carried out." He looked Shelby over again. She was strong and confident. She held herself like any other teenage girl that thought she could handle everything would. That just reassured him that this girl would take some time.

"Well we should be going now." Mrs. Blaine said smoothly, pulling Shelby into a quick hug. "I love you baby." She said quickly, climbing into the car. "Jessie give Shelby a hug and a kiss and come on." She instructed her youngest daughter.

Jessica grabbed onto Shelby and refused to let go. "I love you Jess." Shelby said into her sister's hair. She had to be strong up here. She had to fight, for Jess's sake more than her own. "You'll be okay now. I promise." She held on to her sister until her mother honked the horn of the Accord. "Get going Jess, before she starts to get upset."

"Take care of yourself Shell." Jessica coughed into Shelby's shoulder. "Stay alive up here." Jessica let go of her sister and walked to the passenger side door. "I love you Shell." Jessica wiped her eyes and climbed into the car.

"You'll be okay." Shelby said to her mind. "Walt won't touch her. He only wanted you." She turned back to Peter and Hannah and tried to smile for them. Screw it. She told her mind. They have to find out about the nightmare sooner or later. "So how hard is it to score a cig around this place?" She asked Peter as seriously as she could. Peter looked like she had just tried to shoot her. It was going to be a good day after all. ~

It's going to take more than a lifetime

To give you all the love

All the love I feel for you tonight

"Shell?" Scott asked, as his face flushed with worry. "You okay Shelby?"

Shelby turned her face to him and smiled. "Just remembering a time where everything was easier." Scott gave her a strange look and she smile. "At least a time where bugging Peter was the highlight of my life."

Scott nodded understandingly and recalled in his mind the first time he realized that Shelby might be strong enough to handle him; Or at least strong enough to look after her own heart.

From now until forever

That's how long I'll be true

I'll make you this vow

~ Scott pulled Shelby into a passionate kiss as the thunder rolled through the heavens. The rain fell out of the sky like tiny droplets of clouds, which soaked the Earth. He pulled her onto the bunk that had been dubbed his and she moaned into his mouth. The kiss lasted a few minutes before Shelby broke it off. She took few deep breaths before turning and looking into his desire filled eyes. "See?" She asked him as if she were talking to a little kid. "Was that so bad?"

Scott looked directly into her eyes. He sighed and smiled half-heartedly. "Shelby?" He asked her curiously.

Shelby smiled into his lips. "Yeah?"

The thunder clapped in the sky as Scott said the next words. "Stop talking." He commanded softly, his mouth turning upright into a mischievous smile. He kissed her again. Pulling her into him with his strong arms. He felt her lean back onto the bed before she pulled away.

"Make me want to stop." She challenged him softly, biting his lower lip.

He shut her up that time with a kiss. Sweet and sensual, both of them knew that the kiss would wind up meaning more than life itself. The kiss intensified, becoming more passionate than either had hoped it would be. But still, Shelby couldn't resist proving to him that she was right about them getting together. "Nice."

Then she noticed that he pulled away from her, a strange look spreading across his face. He looked like he had just seen a ghost. In reality though, his mind returned him back to his own bedroom, in his own house. The night was exactly like this one, wild stormy, a little unruly. The door opens and his stepmother Elaine enters, wearing a white negligee. The footsteps can be heard throughout the house as she walks over to the bed. Scott tries to shake the visions of Elaine off as he kisses Shelby once more. The thunder claps outside and this eyes snap open as lightning flashes. Instead of staring into Shelby's eyes, he looks directly at a picture of him and his father. It was a picture of father and son during happier times. The lightening struck again and he heard Elaine's voice throughout his head. This is nice Scotty. Scott tries to block the visions of Elaine by clamping his eyes shut so tightly, as Shelby's arms slowly wrap around his neck. Although his body is there, on the bed, with Shelby, his mind is still on Elaine, or rather what Elaine did to him. This is our secret. "No." He said softly, letting go of Shelby and forcing her away from him.

Shelby dropped her arms the second Scott broke contact with her mouth. "What's wrong?"

She could barely make out his response. It was as soft as a pin drop, but Shelby heard it. "You said never again." His eyes were closed, and she knew he was somewhere else, but his reaction to her kiss surprised her.

"What are you talking about?" She asked him strangely. She had never seen this kind of reaction to something like this. To tell the truth, she wasn't quite sure what she should do. Whether or not she should go to Peter and Sophie about this, or just leave it alone.

Shhh, he'll hear us. The voice in his head said cautiously. He forced Shelby as far away from his as he could get her and shouted at air. Shaking his head, he turns back to the picture. "Leave me alone!"

Now Shelby was definitely scared. It was like he was in the same kind of trance she used to get when she worked on the streets; only his made him lose all thought patterns. "Earth to Scott?" She tried to joke. It helped her more than she thought it did him.

But the only thing Scott could hear in his head was his stepmother's voice Scotty? He turned harshly and Shelby almost fell off of the bed. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" He shouted angrily at nothing in particular. Shelby froze. She didn't even try to breathe right. Scott focused onto the end of the bed. The lightning flashed again and illuminated his eyes.

She was there. Standing near the foot of Scott's bed was Elaine. Her white negligee was flowing around her body in the storm. She seemed to be shivering. "I'm scared of the storm, Scotty." She told him sadly.

"Don't call me that." He snapped at the image of the dark haired woman near him. He was terrified of what would happen if he actually let himself go. What might happen if he decided that he could live with what he had done?

Shelby allowed her eyes to move from Scott's face to the foot of the bed. But unlike Scott, she saw nothing but the bunk across the room. "Whatever you took just kicked in." She attempted to joke. He didn't even acknowledge that she was in the room with him. All he saw was whatever was at the end of the bed.

"You make me sick." Scott snickered at whatever he was seeing. Elaine reached out to him.

"And it's a bad trip to boot." Shelby tried again. She thought if she could only get him to talk to her. Maybe, just maybe he would tell her what the hell was going on.

"Be honest." Elaine said sweetly. "You like how I make you feel."

Scott never wavered. "I hate you." He tried to say evenly. The vision of Elaine sat on the bed next to him and he convulsed unconsciously. "Don't touch me." He tried to say through the shakes. His body was reacting to something that Shelby didn't know if she wanted to see. Slowly she stood and headed to the door, which had by now swung itself open with the help of the winds.

"You asked for it, remember?" Elaine reminded him harshly.

"That's a lie." Scott shot back. He just wanted her to go away so he could get back to his life. The one he wanted to live, not the one that revolved around the secret that he was certain to take to his grave.

"I saw how you watched me." Elaine tried again to get her Scotty to see the error of his ways.

Scott shook his head harder than the rest of his body. "You said no more." He reminded her viciously.

Elaine's hand touched his shoulder and he slumped backward. "I never said that, Scotty." She leaned in to kiss him, and suddenly she was gone. Scott pulled his knees up into fetal position against his chest and began to rock back and forth. He was trying so hard to make the dreams go away. The tears started down his face harder than anyone thought possible.

By this time, Shelby had made it as far as the large wooden door that swung itself shut again. She reached out to open it when she heard Scott crying. "Shelby?" He asked sorrowfully. He couldn't believe that this had happened when she was in the room with him. She didn't turn to acknowledge that she heard him so he tried again. "Shelby please?" He pleaded with her back.

But Shelby couldn't take anymore of this on again off again weirdness. She needed to be out there in the storm to calm her thoughts. "I'm out of here." She said quickly, hoping to get out the door before he changed her mind.

"Please don't go." She heard from behind her. He sounded so weak to her. He was so different from the Scott that he had been half an hour ago, back when he wanted her and no one else.

"You're scaring me." She warned him gently, moving to the door again.

"I'm scared too." He finally admitted to someone other than himself. "Please," he tried pleading with her again. "Shelby . . . don't go." It took her exactly three seconds to change her mind, then another four to turn and move to his side. She sat on the end that Elaine had been at; the end that he was so scared to turn to.

Scott calms himself to the point where he can sit up. Shelby still sits across from him, but she made no move to further her body away from him. Though she made no move to him either. "She would come to my bedroom - - say she was scared and stuff." Scott explained sheepishly. He wasn't sure what made him more self-conscious, the fact that Shelby found out what Elaine had done to him, or the fact that it happened as he was trying to make out with her.

Shelby sat there silently. Just listening to him. "How long has she been your stepmother?" She asked him cautiously.

"A year."

As much as she didn't want to hear what his answer would be, Shelby began to ask the question that she knew would help him get her out of his system. "And when was " She started to feel her cheeks turn a light shade of pink. "Like . . . the first time?"

Scott turned away from her now. "Couple months after she moved in."

Her mind recalled the vision of her own stepfather. "Don't get mad," she said after a second. "Cause I know this is gonna sound really bad . . ." She stopped and looked at his form. Deep in her heart she knew what he was going through, but she couldn't see it through his eyes, so she just tried to lighten things up and hear it in his words. "I kind of thought guys always wanted it."

His remark was silent, but it was there. "Me too."

"I thought this stuff only happened to girls." She said as she scooted closer to him. He placed his hand around her waist and she leaned into him.

"Which makes me even more of a freak."

"You're not the freak." Shelby almost shouted at him. She had tried to understand, but him pitying himself only made it worse. "Elaine's the freak." She leaned away from him and turned to look into his eyes. "See. That's what I hate." She tried to sound a little more understanding, and a little less pissed, but she couldn't do it. "This jacked up thing happened to you, and you act like it's your fault."

"I never stopped her." He explained sadly.

Shelby was persistent. "But you tried."

"But I still-" He leaned into his bed and sighed. "You know..."

"Maybe because it felt good." Shelby put her realization into his head and sighed.

Scott's face contorted strangely as he took in her words. "What?"

"Is she pretty?" Shelby put her sentence another way.

Scott spoke a little too quickly. "She makes me sick."

"Yeah, I know, now." She looked deep into his eyes and smiled at what she saw there. "But think back to the first time you saw her. Like, when your dad first brought her home. Was she pretty to you?"

The picture of Elaine popped into his head again. "I guess…"

"So maybe that's why you flipped out." Shelby rationalized for him. "You feel like you fantasizing about her or whatever makes you guilty." She took his face in her hands and forced him to look into her eyes. "I don't Scott." She told him bluntly. "It doesn't make you guilty-"

"But she's my dad's wife!" He protested strongly, pulling away from her. "He loves her."

"She's the one playing the head games and lying and making threats." The words on her lips sounded too much like Peter for her taste, but if it was going to help Scott, then she had to say them. "She's the one who should be carted off to some…psycho ward." That was when they both noticed that the rain had stopped pouring and turned into a heavy drizzle. They had spent a little over two hours in the boys bunk. "Are you gonna tell these guys here?" She asked slowly, not knowing what to say to anyone if they asked her what happened that night.

Scott shook his head a few times before stammering: "I don't know…"

"If you did," she started slowly, allowing her voice to carry throughout the room. "They would have to tell, you know."

"My Dad?"

"Everybody." The single word hung in the air like an axe. "Your Dad. The cops. It's the law of the school or something." She watched as Scott's face paled. "It happened to another girl who was here. In Group she told that her Dad was abusing her and they had to report it."

"What happened? "

"He came and took her home." She said more to herself than to him. She was reminding herself that she had to stay here for Jess's sake if not her own; And that's what she would do. She would stay at Horizon as long as it took for that sick bastard to hurry up and die.

Scott looked at her as if she was about to shoot him. "You won't tell, will you?" He asked her earnestly, trying to read her answer off of her face.

"No." She thought again of Walt at her home, watching television and throwing glares at her sister. "I won't tell." She stood and headed for the door when Scott's voice called her back.

"Hey!" She turned and again he caught the desire in her eyes. He wanted her now. More now than before, and this time it wasn't physical. It was purely for what she had inside. "Thanks."

She threw a sidelong glance at him and smiled. "Yeah well," She laughed to herself as he smiled. "We'll see what you say when you get my bill." ~

Shelby watched Scott for a long moment before smiling. "You still here, Cowboy?" She asked him, the smile in her eyes reflecting in her voice.

Scott shook off the memory and smiled back at her. Whatever it takes. He vowed to himself, I will have her back in my arms.