Chapter Five



"Okay, you guys go play basketball or something, we'll clean up then go out for light-seeing." Martin said when everyone was finished. "You sure? I could help?" Kristin offered. "Nah...it's okay, go ahead and play." Martin said and Scott and Kristin ran outside. "So...what's to do around here?" She asked once they were outside.

"Well...do you wanna meet one of my friends?" "Okay." "Okay, wait here, I'll be right back." Scott said and ran inside to tell his dad where he was going.

THey walked to Scott's friends house. "His name is Michael, he's 18." "Okay." She said.

Scott knocked on the door. A tall woman answered. "Hey, Scott!" She said and hugged him. "Hey, Mrs. Thomas. This is my cousin, Kristin. She's at Horizon to." Scott said. "Hi, Kristin." "Hi." Kristin said shyly. "Is Mike home?" He asked. "Yeah sure. In his room." She said and let them in. Kristin followed Scott up the stairs. He stopped at a door and knocked. "Yeah? Who is it?" a voice called from inside. Scott put a finger to his lips to tell Kristin to hush. "The pizza man." "What the fuck?" "THe pizza man, Scott Barringer?" "Scott!" The voice yelled and the door flew open. A cute guy who was about 6'2, bleached blonde hair and grayish-green eyes appeared. "Hey, man!" He said and exchanged high-fives with Scott. "Whose this?" MIke asked, motioning to Krisitn. "You got a girl, man?" "Yeah!" MIke's eyebrows shot up. "What? Not her! THis is my cousin...my girl, Shelby, is back at Horizon!" Scott cried, looking embarassed. Kristin bit back a grin. "Yeah, sure, man." Mike said and laughed. "Hey, Scott's cousin. Sorry he's a bit rude. I'm Mike. And you are..." "Hi, Mike. I'm Kristin." She said. "Cool. Hey, Kristin. So Scott, can ya stay long?" "Naw, can't stay at all, in fact. We're going light seeing. Just wanted to say high. I'll come sometime soon, though." "Alright. Bye, man. Bye, Kristin." "Bye." They both answered. Kristin and Scott walked downstairs and Martin was waiting for them across the street. "C'mon guys!" He yelled. "Don't worry about Dad. He just gets a bit...over excited about Christmas. Now with you here..." Scott trailed off.

They got into the jeep and for the most part Scott was silent. Kristin looked at him. He seemed faraway, distant-not like how he was at Horizon. Was he always like this at home? Or just around Elaine?

Kristin tried to concentrate on the lights, but it was hard. For once, she was worrying about Scott instead of vice versa. "What's wrong with you two? I know you're not that quiet," Elaine noted. Scott bit his lip. When they didn't answer Elaine sighed and turned back around. Scott looked over to her. "What's wrong?" She whispered. "I'll tell you later." Scott muttered. Kristin shrugged.

When they got home it was around 9:30, they had stopped for ice cream. Kristin and Scott were beat so they both headed to his room. "You still want me to sleep here?" She asked. Scott nodded immidiately. "Yeah...we were alone for a sec earlier and she was flirting...if you don't want to, though..." "No, it's okay. I know how it feels." "What? He did-" "No...not him. Steven did. But you can't tell Peter, Scott!" She pleaded. "I'll think about it." He muttered. Kristin went to her room and changed then walked back into Scott's room. He had already changed and was making a pallet on the ground. "I'll sleep on the floor," Krisin said. "No. I will." He said. "Why? I've slept in worse places. In cars, strangers homes, streets, I'm use to it," She said. "Huh? What-" Before he could ask Elaine walked in and Scott grew quiet. "Scotty, your dad wants to talk to just you." She said. "Okay." He muttered and slipped past Elaine.

"What are you doing in here? What's Scott doing making a pallet on the ground?" "Um, I'm sleeping in here." "No you're not. That's what you have a room for." "Well he wants me to so I'm sleeping in the bed and he's sleeping on the ground. He wants to." "No, you're not, I'm your Aunt and I don't care how bad your father treated you you don't act like a piece of crap in this house." "Like you?" She retorted. Elaine raised her to slap her but Scott grabbed her arm from behind. "Don't you dare, skank," He said. "Scott, she has her own room." "What do you care?" He demanded and Elaine turned bright red. "I don't." She said and stomped out. "She hates me. Everyone always hates me." She said and sat down on the bed and stared ahead. "Why do you care what she thinks? SHe's a skank... " He said. "Yeah, well, when everyone says they hate you because of my bruises, you kind of take it hard...even if it is HER." She said. "Hey, cheer up. We'll go tomorrow, okay? Without her. Okay?" "Yeah. Thanks." "No problem. No get in the bed." He said and hugged her. "'Night." He said. "Good night." She said.

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Next chapter: Scott meets up with an old enemy and it ends up in a rough fight in front of Kristin.