Disclaimer: I own nothing! (I think you understand what I mean.)
Author's Note: This is gonna be the second last chapter cause I really have no ideas of how to continue this fanfic. I know it's been months since I posted and I'm soooooooooooooo sorry!!!!!! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I LOVE you guys! Your opinions mean A LOT to me!!!!!
Chapter 13
The Cliffhangers sat patiently on the Mt. Horizon picnic tables, silently awaiting the Newbie's arrival. Scott watched Shelby closely as she sat next to Daisy. Her eyes were a little red, probably from crying, and she looked tired. Scott shifted his eyes towards the ground. Was it his fault that she was hurting? He wondered to himself.
Suddenly a navy blue station wagon appeared at the end of the gravel road that led into the vast campus. The teenagers looked on, all with different emotions churning in their hearts.
"Can that car go any slower?" Shelby asked no one in particular, breaking the uneasy silence that had settled over the group. No one answered, but a few soft chuckles could be heard throughout the group.
"What are you guys doing out here? You know you can't meet her until after she's been checked in." Peter spoke up as he walked over to the group. The group moaned and slowly started to make their way back to the lodge.
"We can't even see if she's hot?" Chase questioned.
"You're the only one who cares." Scott replied, stepping up to Shelby. "Can I talk to you for a second?" he asked his girlfriend quietly. Shelby hesitated.
"You have five minutes, that's it." Shelby replied calmly.
"Thank you." Scott took her hand and led her towards the docks.
"Your time limit includes travel time." Shelby said as she pulled her hand away. Scott sighed, but sped up his pace. Once they were seated on the docks, Scott spoke up.
"I'm sorry for not coming to see if you were ok yesterday." Scott apologized.
"I know."
"You do?"
"Yeah. But an apology isn't good enough. You can't just keep ignoring me or not caring about me, and then expect an apology to be enough to make everything ok, Scott. I mean, look at you and your Dad."
"Please don't use us as an example." Scott said quietly.
"He apologized for not listening to you, for not believing you, but did that make everything ok between you?" Shelby continued, ignoring Scott's request. "I didn't think so," she finished when he remained silent.
"Shelby, this isn't like that."
"You're right, it's not. This time it's you that isn't being there for the person you claim to love, when you should be." Shelby interrupted him angrily. Scott lowered his head and ran a hand through his hair.
"Give me another chance?" he begged finally. "Shelb I'll make it up to you, just please, don't let this be the end."
"It's not the end," Shelby paused. "I just wanted you to know that it hurts me. You know, when you're not here. I'm scared and there isn't anyone here to help me be strong."
"I'm here now Shelby. Everything is going to work out." Scott's voice was soothing, and Shelby smiled slightly.
"Thank you." she whispered, hugging Scott tightly.
* * * * *
"Cliffhangers, I would like to introduce you to the newest addition to your group. This is Leigh Pemberton. Why don't you all introduce yourselves and tell Leigh why you're here." Peter stood next to a slender teenage girl with shoulder length auburn hair and light green eyes.
Leigh watched the Cliffhangers with mild interest. She scanned the group cautiously, carefully avoiding their eyes. Yet somehow, without her consent, her eyes had met Chase's. He held her calm gaze for a few seconds before lowering his eyes to the floor.
"I'm Juliette." Juliette interrupted the silence since no one else had offered to go first. "I'm here because I couldn't live up to my mother's expectations and I thought self destructive habits could stop my pain." Juliette explained carefully. Leigh shifted her eyes to meet Juliette's brown ones.
"Why don't we go clockwise around the circle?" Peter suggested when the uncomfortable silence had descended over the room once more.
"I guess that means I'm next." Scott spoke up. "Uh, I'm Scott and I'm here because I was molested by my step mom and I used drugs to try to make the world disappear."
"My name's Shelby and I'm here because, well, I guess because my ex-boyfriend almost raped me and then my only friend turned against me and I couldn't deal with it anymore." Shelby summed up the past few months of her life.
Scott squeezed her hand as she swallowed back tears, before stealing a glance at Chase. He met her gaze and for the first time she could see a distinct look of regret pass across his features. She smiled sadly as the spotlight was shifted to her left.
"I'm Daisy and I'm at this wonderful institution because my mother was an alcoholic and my Dad was verbally abusive, which almost changed to physical abuse. He seems to have problems accepting me for who I am." Daisy said in her usual serious tone.
"I'm Ezra and I'm here because my parents adopted me to save their already hopeless marriage." Ezra stated easily. "Oh, and because of drugs." He added casually.
"I'm Auggie and I'm here cause I was a tagger in my bro's gang."
"I'm Chase and I'm here because..."Chase drummed his fingers nervously on the arm of the couch as his knee bounced rapidly. He was nervous and he had every reason to be. His reason for being at Horizon had never really been discussed in this manner, and it suddenly occurred to him just how hard it would be to say the words out loud...And not be loathed. "Uh, I'm the ex-boyfriend Shelby mentioned." Chase finished softly.
"I'm not quite sure that Leigh understands what you mean." Scott said, rubbing salt into Chase's open wound. Apparently there was still hidden anger boiling beneath the surface.
"It's ok, uh, Scott. I understand." Leigh spoke for the first time. She glanced at Shelby, then at Chase. She could feel the tension in the room, but she had also caught the look of regret Chase had given Shelby.
"Can we go now?" Ezra asked suddenly. Peter nodded.
"Yes. You have free time until lunch." He said. "Girls, why don't you show Leigh your dorm?" he recommended.
"Ok. Good idea!" Jules got up and the others followed her out of the lodge.
* * * * *
"So Leigh, what's your story?" Daisy pried once Leigh had unpacked her things and was sitting comfortably on her bed.
"Uh, well..." Leigh paused. Could these people be trusted? She swallowed, glancing at each of them slowly. "I tried to commit suicide...three times." She said cautiously. The cliffhanger girls glanced at each other, surprised by their new member's open demeanor.
"Honestly?" Jules asked.
"Why would I lie?" Leigh asked innocently.
"Usually it takes weeks for a newbie to cough out their secret." Daisy explained, still in slight shock.
"What pushed you to think that death was better than life?" Shelby asked. She was sprawled contentedly across Daisy's bed, juggling the rock that Scott had given her between her hands. Leigh bit her lip.
"I had a big family; two brothers and three sisters with me stuck in the middle." She started to explain, her voice steady, but with a hint of hesitation.
There was a knock on the door and Jules jumped off her bed to be the first one to answer it. A few seconds later, she re-appeared from behind the half wall that blocked the door and motioned to Daisy.
"It's Ezra. He's wondering if you'll give him five minutes of your time."
"But I might miss out on something really interesting." Daisy argued, glancing at Shelby who just rolled her eyes. Daisy hesitated but dragged herself towards the door.
A few seconds later Juliette started to pull on her coat. As she tied her bootlaces Shelby gave her a quizzical look.
"Where are you going princess? I can't think of anyone who would want to spend time with you." Shelby said jokingly. Juliette rolled her eyes.
"Well if you must know, I'm meeting Auggie at the gazebo." Jules replied with a smug smile. Shelby offered a sincere smile in return.
"Have fun." She said seriously.
"I'm sure I will," and with that Juliette had disappeared out the door, leaving Shelby and Leigh alone.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Shelby glanced at Leigh and noticed her eyeing her curiously.
"What?" Shelby asked defensively.
"Do you hate him?" she asked.
"Do I hate who? You're going to have to be a little more specific." Shelby shot back self-consciously.
"Chase." Leigh said his name carefully, not wanting Shelby to get mad. Shelby shook her head.
"I used to. Now I'm just trying to put it behind me. Trying to make myself believe that he'll change like he says he will."
"I will." Chase's voice came from the doorway, making the two girls jump.
"What are you doing in here?" Shelby asked.
"I came to make sure Leigh got settled ok." He replied looking Shelby in the eye so that she knew he was being honest.
"I'm well settled." Leigh broke the tension in the room. "Uh, how long have you guys been at this school?" she asked, making conversation. Chase sat down on Daisy's bed, being sure to keep his distance from Shelby.
"I've been here for two weeks." He stated.
"And I've been here for..." Shelby tried to calculate the length of time. "Quite a while." She finally decided it was too hard. "But if you consider the second time I came as the starting point for the length of time, then I've been here for less time than Chase." She explained, trying to be clear enough to understand. There was a long silence and Chase finally spoke up.
"I almost forgot. Scott wanted you to meet him at the docks." Chase announced. A bright smile lit up Shelby's face.
"I'll see you later, ok Leigh?" She asked the auburn haired teenager. Shelby couldn't explain it, but she trusted the new girl. She seemed honest and had a hint of understanding in her eyes.
"Yeah. Have fun with Scott." Leigh replied, nodding slightly. Shelby glanced at Chase again.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" she asked.
"Sure." Chase got up and followed Shelby outside into the bitter winter chill. "What's up?" he asked casually.
"If you hurt her you won't", Shelby began to threaten him with a calm anger in her voice.
"Shelby I'm not going to hurt her, ok?" Chase interrupted seriously. "I really like her and"
"That's what scares me Chase. If you like her, stay away. Save yourself before you get kicked out of the one place that will give you a second chance."
"She's my second chance, Shelby."
"To prove your dad wrong?"
"No, to find someone who will accept me and who will love me." Chase answered, his eyes trailing towards the ground.
Shelby gave him a hard, long stare, waiting for him to look up. Finally he brought his eyes to meet hers and she swallowed.
"Good luck with that." She replied simply as she turned and walked towards the docks.
Chase watched her for a few seconds until she was out of ear shot. Turning to go back into the girl's dorm, his voice was barely even a whisper.
"I'm going to need all the luck I can get."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The last chapter is (hopefully) coming soon : ) Please REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Author's Note: This is gonna be the second last chapter cause I really have no ideas of how to continue this fanfic. I know it's been months since I posted and I'm soooooooooooooo sorry!!!!!! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I LOVE you guys! Your opinions mean A LOT to me!!!!!
Chapter 13
The Cliffhangers sat patiently on the Mt. Horizon picnic tables, silently awaiting the Newbie's arrival. Scott watched Shelby closely as she sat next to Daisy. Her eyes were a little red, probably from crying, and she looked tired. Scott shifted his eyes towards the ground. Was it his fault that she was hurting? He wondered to himself.
Suddenly a navy blue station wagon appeared at the end of the gravel road that led into the vast campus. The teenagers looked on, all with different emotions churning in their hearts.
"Can that car go any slower?" Shelby asked no one in particular, breaking the uneasy silence that had settled over the group. No one answered, but a few soft chuckles could be heard throughout the group.
"What are you guys doing out here? You know you can't meet her until after she's been checked in." Peter spoke up as he walked over to the group. The group moaned and slowly started to make their way back to the lodge.
"We can't even see if she's hot?" Chase questioned.
"You're the only one who cares." Scott replied, stepping up to Shelby. "Can I talk to you for a second?" he asked his girlfriend quietly. Shelby hesitated.
"You have five minutes, that's it." Shelby replied calmly.
"Thank you." Scott took her hand and led her towards the docks.
"Your time limit includes travel time." Shelby said as she pulled her hand away. Scott sighed, but sped up his pace. Once they were seated on the docks, Scott spoke up.
"I'm sorry for not coming to see if you were ok yesterday." Scott apologized.
"I know."
"You do?"
"Yeah. But an apology isn't good enough. You can't just keep ignoring me or not caring about me, and then expect an apology to be enough to make everything ok, Scott. I mean, look at you and your Dad."
"Please don't use us as an example." Scott said quietly.
"He apologized for not listening to you, for not believing you, but did that make everything ok between you?" Shelby continued, ignoring Scott's request. "I didn't think so," she finished when he remained silent.
"Shelby, this isn't like that."
"You're right, it's not. This time it's you that isn't being there for the person you claim to love, when you should be." Shelby interrupted him angrily. Scott lowered his head and ran a hand through his hair.
"Give me another chance?" he begged finally. "Shelb I'll make it up to you, just please, don't let this be the end."
"It's not the end," Shelby paused. "I just wanted you to know that it hurts me. You know, when you're not here. I'm scared and there isn't anyone here to help me be strong."
"I'm here now Shelby. Everything is going to work out." Scott's voice was soothing, and Shelby smiled slightly.
"Thank you." she whispered, hugging Scott tightly.
* * * * *
"Cliffhangers, I would like to introduce you to the newest addition to your group. This is Leigh Pemberton. Why don't you all introduce yourselves and tell Leigh why you're here." Peter stood next to a slender teenage girl with shoulder length auburn hair and light green eyes.
Leigh watched the Cliffhangers with mild interest. She scanned the group cautiously, carefully avoiding their eyes. Yet somehow, without her consent, her eyes had met Chase's. He held her calm gaze for a few seconds before lowering his eyes to the floor.
"I'm Juliette." Juliette interrupted the silence since no one else had offered to go first. "I'm here because I couldn't live up to my mother's expectations and I thought self destructive habits could stop my pain." Juliette explained carefully. Leigh shifted her eyes to meet Juliette's brown ones.
"Why don't we go clockwise around the circle?" Peter suggested when the uncomfortable silence had descended over the room once more.
"I guess that means I'm next." Scott spoke up. "Uh, I'm Scott and I'm here because I was molested by my step mom and I used drugs to try to make the world disappear."
"My name's Shelby and I'm here because, well, I guess because my ex-boyfriend almost raped me and then my only friend turned against me and I couldn't deal with it anymore." Shelby summed up the past few months of her life.
Scott squeezed her hand as she swallowed back tears, before stealing a glance at Chase. He met her gaze and for the first time she could see a distinct look of regret pass across his features. She smiled sadly as the spotlight was shifted to her left.
"I'm Daisy and I'm at this wonderful institution because my mother was an alcoholic and my Dad was verbally abusive, which almost changed to physical abuse. He seems to have problems accepting me for who I am." Daisy said in her usual serious tone.
"I'm Ezra and I'm here because my parents adopted me to save their already hopeless marriage." Ezra stated easily. "Oh, and because of drugs." He added casually.
"I'm Auggie and I'm here cause I was a tagger in my bro's gang."
"I'm Chase and I'm here because..."Chase drummed his fingers nervously on the arm of the couch as his knee bounced rapidly. He was nervous and he had every reason to be. His reason for being at Horizon had never really been discussed in this manner, and it suddenly occurred to him just how hard it would be to say the words out loud...And not be loathed. "Uh, I'm the ex-boyfriend Shelby mentioned." Chase finished softly.
"I'm not quite sure that Leigh understands what you mean." Scott said, rubbing salt into Chase's open wound. Apparently there was still hidden anger boiling beneath the surface.
"It's ok, uh, Scott. I understand." Leigh spoke for the first time. She glanced at Shelby, then at Chase. She could feel the tension in the room, but she had also caught the look of regret Chase had given Shelby.
"Can we go now?" Ezra asked suddenly. Peter nodded.
"Yes. You have free time until lunch." He said. "Girls, why don't you show Leigh your dorm?" he recommended.
"Ok. Good idea!" Jules got up and the others followed her out of the lodge.
* * * * *
"So Leigh, what's your story?" Daisy pried once Leigh had unpacked her things and was sitting comfortably on her bed.
"Uh, well..." Leigh paused. Could these people be trusted? She swallowed, glancing at each of them slowly. "I tried to commit suicide...three times." She said cautiously. The cliffhanger girls glanced at each other, surprised by their new member's open demeanor.
"Honestly?" Jules asked.
"Why would I lie?" Leigh asked innocently.
"Usually it takes weeks for a newbie to cough out their secret." Daisy explained, still in slight shock.
"What pushed you to think that death was better than life?" Shelby asked. She was sprawled contentedly across Daisy's bed, juggling the rock that Scott had given her between her hands. Leigh bit her lip.
"I had a big family; two brothers and three sisters with me stuck in the middle." She started to explain, her voice steady, but with a hint of hesitation.
There was a knock on the door and Jules jumped off her bed to be the first one to answer it. A few seconds later, she re-appeared from behind the half wall that blocked the door and motioned to Daisy.
"It's Ezra. He's wondering if you'll give him five minutes of your time."
"But I might miss out on something really interesting." Daisy argued, glancing at Shelby who just rolled her eyes. Daisy hesitated but dragged herself towards the door.
A few seconds later Juliette started to pull on her coat. As she tied her bootlaces Shelby gave her a quizzical look.
"Where are you going princess? I can't think of anyone who would want to spend time with you." Shelby said jokingly. Juliette rolled her eyes.
"Well if you must know, I'm meeting Auggie at the gazebo." Jules replied with a smug smile. Shelby offered a sincere smile in return.
"Have fun." She said seriously.
"I'm sure I will," and with that Juliette had disappeared out the door, leaving Shelby and Leigh alone.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Shelby glanced at Leigh and noticed her eyeing her curiously.
"What?" Shelby asked defensively.
"Do you hate him?" she asked.
"Do I hate who? You're going to have to be a little more specific." Shelby shot back self-consciously.
"Chase." Leigh said his name carefully, not wanting Shelby to get mad. Shelby shook her head.
"I used to. Now I'm just trying to put it behind me. Trying to make myself believe that he'll change like he says he will."
"I will." Chase's voice came from the doorway, making the two girls jump.
"What are you doing in here?" Shelby asked.
"I came to make sure Leigh got settled ok." He replied looking Shelby in the eye so that she knew he was being honest.
"I'm well settled." Leigh broke the tension in the room. "Uh, how long have you guys been at this school?" she asked, making conversation. Chase sat down on Daisy's bed, being sure to keep his distance from Shelby.
"I've been here for two weeks." He stated.
"And I've been here for..." Shelby tried to calculate the length of time. "Quite a while." She finally decided it was too hard. "But if you consider the second time I came as the starting point for the length of time, then I've been here for less time than Chase." She explained, trying to be clear enough to understand. There was a long silence and Chase finally spoke up.
"I almost forgot. Scott wanted you to meet him at the docks." Chase announced. A bright smile lit up Shelby's face.
"I'll see you later, ok Leigh?" She asked the auburn haired teenager. Shelby couldn't explain it, but she trusted the new girl. She seemed honest and had a hint of understanding in her eyes.
"Yeah. Have fun with Scott." Leigh replied, nodding slightly. Shelby glanced at Chase again.
"Can I talk to you for a second?" she asked.
"Sure." Chase got up and followed Shelby outside into the bitter winter chill. "What's up?" he asked casually.
"If you hurt her you won't", Shelby began to threaten him with a calm anger in her voice.
"Shelby I'm not going to hurt her, ok?" Chase interrupted seriously. "I really like her and"
"That's what scares me Chase. If you like her, stay away. Save yourself before you get kicked out of the one place that will give you a second chance."
"She's my second chance, Shelby."
"To prove your dad wrong?"
"No, to find someone who will accept me and who will love me." Chase answered, his eyes trailing towards the ground.
Shelby gave him a hard, long stare, waiting for him to look up. Finally he brought his eyes to meet hers and she swallowed.
"Good luck with that." She replied simply as she turned and walked towards the docks.
Chase watched her for a few seconds until she was out of ear shot. Turning to go back into the girl's dorm, his voice was barely even a whisper.
"I'm going to need all the luck I can get."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The last chapter is (hopefully) coming soon : ) Please REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!