Friday morning Scott, David, Kristy and Juliet ate breakfast quietly and packed up their things on the last site they had stayed on. The hike back to Horizon wasn't very long or difficult but they drew it out as long as possible with lots of breaks for water.
They knew that as soon as they got back they would have to explain to Peter and Sophie about the missing tent and what they did about it. They considered lying about when they lost it, where they slept and came up with all sorts of longwinded stories to explain themselves. But in the end it would probably be easier to tell the truth and stick to that.
When they finally did reach the Horizon it was lunchtime and the courtyard was deserted, but Sophie was waiting at the Gazebo, like the day they left. "You guys got back first," she said as she walked down the steps to meet them. The four of them exchanged looks, they had expected to be last considering how much they had stalled that morning. "How did it go?"
"Good," they all replied simultaneously.
Scott slipped off his pack. "It was fun," he answered, deciding to speak for everyone.
"Any problems?" Sophie said.
Juliet started fidgeting. "Ummm. One little one," Scott said.
"Little?" David snorted.
Sophie frowned, "What's going on?"
Juilet made puppy dog eyes, "We promise to explain later. Can we shower and get something to eat first? We've been in the middle of nowhere all week."
Sophie agreed only because the other four Cliffhangers were beginning to worry her. "Get cleaned up. Peter and I will meet you in the cafeteria at one thirty. You can eat while we talk about whatever it is that went wrong." She walked back to the main building, probably to let Peter know they had arrived and that there was no sign of Shelby's group.
Juliet skipped off in the direction of the dorms singing to her self about a shower and flush toilets. Scott, David and Shelby followed after her.
*
David -- may, 3, 2002 -- … I honestly didn't lose the ten on purpose. I mean what could I possibly have to gain? It's not like sleeping next to Juliet is that big of a prize. The only ones who could possibly benefit were Scott and Kristy. And by the sounds of things there wasn't much action happening anyway …
*
"Any sign of the others yet?" Kristy asked as she sat down in lunchroom. It was empty except for David and Scott at the same table as her.
"Nothing." David added, "You're hair's still wet."
"Thanks updates. Juliet was still in the shower, singing at the top of her lungs. Not even the blow dryer could drown her out so I left. It still smells like shampoo if you want to take a whiff?" Kristy told him sarcastically. "Right after that I'll get a restraining order."
David blinked a few times and decided his lunch was more interesting. "I'll pass thanks."
Juliet got there with Peter and Sophie in tow. They explained that the others had shown up and gone straight to the dorms to clean up. "What's this little or not so little problem I've heard about?" Peter asked as he leaned against the table next to theirs.
"We had an accident with one of the tents," Kristy started.
"David had an accident with the tent," Juliet corrected her.
Peter wrinkled his forehead, "What kind of accident?"
"It's at the bottom of Lake Opeongo," David answered as he tried not to laugh. "It really was an accident. It came off my pack when I had some trouble getting the canoe in the water at the end of a portage. We couldn't get it back."
"Lake Opeongo?" Peter remembered their route. "You lost the tent on Tuesday!"
Scott nodded, "It was an accident."
"We understand," Sophie said. "But where did you guys sleep?"
"It was raining off and on all week. So we all slept in the tent that was left."
"Oh. Why didn't you get a hold of us on the radio?" Peter asked.
Scott frowned, "Losing a tent is hardly an emergency. There was a enough room for all of us."
Peter and Sophie didn't know what else to say. They started asking about the rest of the trip and babbling about teamwork and leadership again. All four of them had to fill in reports about how it went.
"I want to talk to both of you later. I'll find you," Peter said looking at Scott and Kristy, before leaving again to go and see Shelby, Auggie, Ezra and Daisy.
*
"Do you think he's mad?" Kristy asked as she and Scott waited outside Peter's office.
"I wouldn't say mad," Scott replied. "I don't really see what he could
possibly have to talk to us about. I mean we told them everything there
is to say back at lunch."
Peter poked his head out the door and asked them both to come inside.
The two of them sat down on opposite ends of the couch and Peter sat on
the edge of his desk. "So you lost the tent on Tuesday right?" he asked
with his arms crossed. Scott and Kristy nodded their heads. "But you didn't
call it in on the radios?"
"It wasn't an emergency," Kristy answered. "There was room for four people in the tent that was left. Do you think we should have called?"
"I'm not sure," Peter said. "It's a touchy situation. Did you two sleep beside each other?"
"Yea," Scott replied honestly. "But it's not like we were going to do anything with Juliet and David around. You told us to behave while we were gone and we did. Why do you keep asking all these questions?"
Peter frowned, "I have to make sure Scott, it's my job."
"You want her to take a pregnancy test too?" Scott asked rudely.
Peter shook his head, "I don't think that will be necessary, it's not really the policy in this type of situation."
"God Peter! If you think I would lie to you after all this time you don't know me at all," Scott said before standing up and walking out.
Kristy looked at the door swinging shut and then at Peter. "We really didn't do anything against the rules. Believe me we had opportunities but we didn't take them. Scott was really adamant about it. He hates letting you down."
"Thanks Kristy," Peter walked around his desk. "You can go now."
*
Scott -- 3 may, 2002 -- . . . What the fuck? How many times am I going to have to prove to everyone here that I'm not the same person I was when I first showed up. I can't believe that Peter is still questioning me about every move I make. What kind of motivation is it this supposed to be? . . .
*
The next morning at the dock Kristy met Scott, he was skipping stones along the surface of the water. "Peter talked to me last night," Scott told her before she could even say hello. "Get this. He apologized to me and said he was wrong to assume that we'd fool around."
"As much as he would like to think the best about people it's kind of a hazard of the job to expect the worst," Kristy said quietly as she sat down beside him.
Scott agreed, "Yea I guess. I told Peter that we were thinking about going a road trip this summer."
"You did? What did he think?"
"It doesn't really matter what he thinks." Kristy looked at Scott expectantly. "He wasn't exactly supportive of the idea but he didn't start scratching his head so he can't be all that against it. Now I just have to convince you."
She frowned, "I don't know Scott. It just seems like there's so many things that could go wrong."
"It'll be so much fun though Kris, trust me. Our parents won't be around, or Peter and Sophie. We can do whatever we want, go where we want, when we want," he said as he squeezed her hand. "Listen. We're both going home soon. You can mention the idea to your parents. I'll plan everything I promise. If you still don't think it's a good idea, then we won't go. I'll just drive up to your place and visit for a while."
"Would you be satisfied if I tell you that it's a definite maybe leaning towards the end of yes?"
He smiled, "I would be more than satisfied."
"I said maybe Scott. Don't act like you've won or anything," she teased him.
"You know I have my ways of convincing you," he replied slyly.
She laughed and pushed him away, "God if you're this horny at Horizon what are you going to be like on the road sleeping in hotels. I want separate beds."
"Not a chance," Scott joked as he pulled her close and kissed her on the neck.
~ The End ~
I hope you guys all liked the story, I'll have a sequel called Change
Of Pace uploaded to FanFiction.Net sooner or later. If you would like to
be contacted when I update any of my stories e-mail me, kr_sta@hotmail.com
or go to my website, http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/trickyfic. PLEASE
REVIEW.