Memories- Part 11
Disclaimer- I do not own any of the original Higher Ground characters. I do how ever own all the new ones. These include Jordan, his mom and step-dad Kendra and Jackson. His sister Hailey Jade and bother Dillion. His social Worker Max Anderson and Helen Brandon (Hailey and Dillion's social worker). I also own Jill Trinity, the mail lady. And also Aubrey, as I said before Shelby's friend.
In this chapter- Post Solo Hike stuff. The missing journal page builds up on Peter and Sophie's suspicions. Shelby writes a letter and gets one back too. Is she falling for him all over again? Can you love 2 people the same and only give yourself to one?
Note- Okay Shelby's letter sounds very un-Shelby like. But think of it this way okay when you read it. She's known Aubrey her whole life and she can tell him anything. So she's less icy to him than anyone else.
Oh yeah another Note- Here we tell how Scott told the Cliffhangers about the skank. This takes place after everyone meets her and his dad "separate" from her. I have a philosophy that Scott's dad and the Skank will get back together. Whether this scene would really happen or not is your own idea. But since Every one knows in Former Chapters about it I showed to for Jordan to have a personal Revelation.
CLIFFHANGERS BOYS DORM
Jordan trudged into the dorm tired and irritated. He was hoping to find the room empty, being so close to lunchtime and all. But It couldn't be so. Scott, Auggie, and Ezra were there. Sitting on the floor playing what seamed to be a game of poker.
"Hey J." Auggie said looking up from his cards for a moment.
Jordan made his way to his bed without saying anything to the guys. He didn't want to talk. Afraid of saying something to offend them or something he would regret later.
"Yo! Jordan, we said hey." Scott said as he folded from the game.
Jordan still kept the ignoring state of the conversation. He started to unpack his stuff. Putting it in piles of clean and dirty on his bed. The guys sensed something was up.
"Bad hike J?" Auggie asked. The group looked at him, waiting for an answer.
It took a few moments before Jordan spoke. "That would be an understatement." Jordan sighed. He wondered if the guys even heard. But they had.
"Why what happened?" Scott asked. Intrigued with the newest gossip.
"Peter and Sophie went through my stuff while I was off my camp site is what." Jordan shouted. He had done it, lost his cool. That's why he had shut up but there was no stopping now. "They went through my tent. And plus I got a letter from mom and Jackson back home." He said their names bitterly. "It was a stupid hike, and a stupid idea."
The guys looked at Jordan. They couldn't believe Peter and Sophie would go through his things. They wondered why they would have if they did at all.
"They wouldn't." Ezra said almost in disbelief. The guys laughed at his late reaction. "I mean they wouldn't do that unless they had a reason right?"
The guys looked at Jordan that sounded right. It went along with the whole 'We don't tolerate tattle-tailing unless it's about someone hurting themselves or someone else.' They wouldn't search for something unless they had sufficient doubts.
"You hiding something from them Jordan?" Scott asked, and then realized how rude that sounded. "Were you afraid they'd find something there? Is that why you're so upset about it?"
'Yeah, scared to death of it all.' Jordan thought. But he didn't say that. What he said was more vicious. And as soon as it came out of his mouth he regretted it.
"Screw you Scott." Jordan said through his teeth. Trying to keep his cool. Scott's words were so accusative. And it wasn't even the fact that they were that bothered Jordan, it was the fact that they were so true. And that meant that maybe Scott, and Ezra and Auggie knew. That meant that everyone might know.
"Why don't you all go worry about your own screwed up freaking lives and stop butting into mine. You all have worse problems then mine. So bug off. And leave me the heck alone. I can take care of myself." Jordan said throwing his dirty close at the three of them. "I don't have to worry about a gang coming after me Aug. Or using drugs or anything to get attention Ez. I can protect myself unlike you Scott. I can take care of myself. I have before and their ain't no reason I can't now." He screamed at them. He was blowing them all down and he didn't like himself for it but he didn't care.
Scott got up and came at him, grabbing his arm, and almost twisting it. Jordan hardly winced at the familiar act of force and the sharp pain that came with it. "Don't you ever say that." Scott threatened. Though he hated fights he was sticking up for all 3 of the guys.
"Let go of me." Jordan said.
"Not until you listen to what I have to say." Scott said. "I tried to protect myself. But she was always there. There was nothing I could do, short of locking my door, which she could pick by the way, that I could do to stop her from coming onto me. So don't tell me that I can't protect myself. I wouldn't have confronted her if I couldn't handle it."
"And don't say anything about gangs Jordan. The streets are tough. I can say that. But when I was there with my brother It wasn't all bad. I mean the cops coming after me and getting knifed were but it was a piece of home." Auggie said as he confronted Jordan.
"Let go of me." Jordan said struggling to get out of Scott's grasp.
"No." Scott said as he grabbed onto Jordan's arm tighter, an action Jordan was also way too familiar with.
"And don't say I did drugs to get attention. I might have at the beginning but then it wasn't anymore. I couldn't stop after I started. But I grew past that. I'm clean now." Ezra said. "And I don't have to hide anything like you do."
"Man let me go." Jordan said almost beggingly.
It didn't seam like Scott was going to and Jordan spun around fast and hard so Scott would have to let go of him. And it worked. Scott looked at him and rubbed his arm that was now hurting him.
"When I say let me go, I mean it." Jordan said angrily. "Got it?"
"No I don't. I don't get how you can't stand anyone else trashing anyone when you just trashed us. Or how you shut yourself off from all of us and then get mad on quests when we don't let you in on the group. Why should we. You don't make the effort but we stick up for you. Cause we're supposed to. We didn't tell Peter and Sophie about the nightmares, or trashing the cabin. When we really well could've. But we didn't cause that's now how we work around here." Scott said as the leader. "Got that? Cause if you don't you better shape up really fast."
"If you have a problem with anyone just say it Jordan, god. You wanna fight we'll fight. But not like this." Auggie said.
"You wanna hit me, go ahead and hit me Auggie, Scott. I know you both want to. There's nothing here to stop you. Cause if I tell Peter I'll get shuns to. So just do it. Man or all you all chickens?" Jordan said cockily. He had been hit enough to know how to take pain. It was nothing new.
Auggie looked at him and raised his fist. Jordan backed away on reflex. 'No, please' he thought on instant. It sickened himself. He had taken beatings before and was not scared of a punch.
*****FLASHBACK*****
Jordan stood against the kitchen counter. He was backing away as far as he could from the punch that Jackson was aiming to get at him. The man's fist went higher.
"No, Please" Jordan said beggingly.
The man didn't listen and Jordan braced himself for the impact of his stepfather's fist on his face. The man's fist came down right on Jordan's cheekbone. The pain hit fast and hard.
***********END FLASHBACK**************
Auggie must have sensed his fear. The guys all saw it on Jordan's face though he didn't admit it was there. He dropped his fist and put out his hand for a shake.
"We're gonna make a truce." He said not in a question but an order.
Jordan shook his hand and walked, no ran, out of the room without looking back. He couldn't be there any more.
The guys looked at each other. "Did you see the look he had on his face when you raised your fist Aug.?" Ezra asked.
"Did you see his eyes?" Scott said. "Those are the eyes I had when I saw the skank again.
"We need to tell Peter and Sophie, Homes." Auggie said taking action this time.
"Yeah." Scott and Ezra agreed.
They just had one problem. What were they going to say.
ADMITIONS BUILDING- PETER'S OFFICE
Peter and Sophie collapsed next to each other on the couch exhausted. After Jordan had his blow out, which they knew he rightfully deserved to have, after what they did, they were tired of the world. It seamed like it would be on a rainy day, only without the rain.
"If we did the right thing, according to you, not me, why do we feel like this?" Sophie asked.
"We feel like this because we thought something would be there and it turns out it's not." Peter said. He knew the whole thing was stupid. Jordan had come so far and it was his and Sophie's fault he was slipping back.
"I think we need to say we're sorry." Sophie said. "I mean really say it." She said and absentmindedly flipped through the Journal Jordan had thrusted into her hands before stomping into the car.
"Hey Peter..." She asked looking at the book closer. "What was Journal question number eight?"
Peter looked at her. "Isn't it there?" he asked looking at the book and back to her.
"It's ripped out. It goes from question seven to question nine." She said.
"Let me check." Peter said getting off the couch and going to his file cabinet. He pulled out another Journal and opened it up. "What is your worst memory you had as a child?"
"I think we're onto something." Sophie said.
MEANWHILE- In the Girls Cliffhanger Dorm
Shelby had an early lunch. She had cleared it with Jeff already. She wanted to have the whole room to herself while she wrote to Aubrey. She picked up a pen. It seamed like so long since she had written to him. At least a month or two. But she loved getting his letters. It reminded her that someone other than Scott could ever love her.
"Dear Aubrey, Hey! I got your letter. I'm fine I guess. I miss you a lot too you know. I read your letter and I felt sad. When you said you loved me. I don't know. This isn't like me Aub. I can't show my feelings like this. Why do you have that over me. Why can you always make me do that. Make me who I'm not. Or maybe it's who I really am. WHY did you have to say you love me?!?! Why? Oh God Aubrey. I think I love you to. I mean I know I love you. More than anything, except maybe Scott (I don't know maybe I love you equally) And Jess, I love my sister. But you. I can't not love you. But I have just one question. Is it possible for me to love you and Scott. Is it? Man I go from not loving anyone at all to loving 2 guys at once. Scott's here with me but lately I see myself dreaming of you and me. It's weird. I never had dreams like this before. I don't know Aubrey, I've never felt this way before. Never. Anyway. Horizon Is hectic right now. Jordan (the newbie) isn't much better than before. I thought he had been but then he called us all screwed up freaks. And I might be screwed up. But I am not a freak! Not at all. And then the funny thing is, is that like not more than 3 minutes later he looks all sad and apologizes. Like he really means he's sorry. I don't know. It's weird. Scott's teaching me to play the piano. I don't know what else to say Aubrey. This is weird. I want to talk to you but can't write it now. So I'll stop. I love you. Love, Shelby." She wrote.
She didn't really know why she felt the need to stop but stopped none the less.
She put the letter in an already addressed envelope that Aubrey had so nicely sent as a reminder that he expected a letter back. She licked the envelope and stuck it in her pocket. She'd have to give it personally to Jill, the mail lady later. But now she had to go to group.
THE LODGE
Scott, Shelby, Ezra, Daisy, Auggie, Juliet, and Kat sat on the chairs and couch in the center of the Lodge. Shelby on Scott's lap in one chair, Ezra and Daisy on the love seat and Kat, Auggie and Juliet on the couch. They had been waiting for over 10 minutes for Peter and Sophie to make it to the lodge. And they weren't there yet.
"Do you think their okay?" Juliet asked worriedly.
"I think their fine." Kat said touching her arm. They probably got held up or something.
"More importantly though," Shelby said. 'Where's Jordan. The little guys skipping group."
"Any bets on what will be his punishment when Sophie and Peter find out?" Daisy asked.
"I'm all for Shuns." Auggie said.
"Me too." Said Juliet agreeingly.
"I think kitchen duty, and restriction for a week." Shelby said.
"Yeah, and no quest next week. He'll have to stay here." Daisy said added.
"I agree with the first part" Ezra said. "But isn't not going on a quest a blessing?"
"Not for Jordan it isn't." Kat said. "He loves them. I don't think Peter and Sophie are that cruel. I vote for Kitchen Duty and shuns all weekend."
"I'm thinking a phone call to mommy and daddy dearest in Vermont, cause he missed lunch too. And ran out of the cabin." Scott said. "And then not having to go on the quest."
"Oh, you're vicious today aren't you? Calls are a rare thing." Daisy said. "I don't think I've ever had one home. Not that mad dad would give a crap about what happened to me here. As long as I'm not there." She added bitterly. She hated her father so much, her mom to, but she couldn't take it out on her, she was dead
"I thin we should send out a search party." Ezra said jokingly.
"No need. Peter and Sophie are coming now." Kat said point to the entrance of the lodge from the dining hall.
"Hey guys, sorry we're late." Sophie said as they both came over.
"We got a little held up with the US mail." Peter said.
"Oh no. It came already?" Shelby said jumping up and looking at her watch.
"Yes why? Jill just stopped us. We had a lot of mail." Peter said.
"I had a letter to mail." Shelby said putting her hand reflexively in her pocket. "And I wanted to mail it today. That's all." She said and sat back down.
"Is it important? I think Jill is still here." Sophie asked, she and Peter still not realizing that Jordan wasn't there.
"No." Shelby said when she and the others realized that Peter and Sophie didn't notice that Jordan wasn't there yet. "That's okay.'
"Okay, lets get started then." Peter said almost sitting down.
He looked over the group, something was missing. He had noticed it a few minutes ago. 'Scott, Shelby, Kat, Auggie, Ezra, Daisy, Juliet...'
"Where is Jordan?" he asked.
The group looked at each other. They would have laughed but they sensed Pete and Sophie were too serious.
"WE don't know." Daisy said. "He wasn't here when we got here for group."
"And he wasn't at lunch either. He ran out of the dorm before lunch. We thought we'd see him there but..." Scott started to explain, but Peter cut him off.
"I knew this would happen." He said. "We need to find him."
The group got up, ready to search. "He couldn't have gone far right?" Sophie said.
Peter split the group up between Sophie and himself. Sophie got Kat, Daisy, Auggie, and Ezra, and Peter got Scott, Juliet, and Shelby. They went looking for him.
SUPPLY SHED
Jordan hid in the corner of the supply shed, behind some kayaks and covered with a tarp. He had his knees up to his chest and his hands wrapped around them and his head. He was good at hiding, at making himself small so no one could find him. It saved from getting a lot of beatings either because he hid long enough for Kendra and Jackson to think him smart enough to evade the beating for a while, or he hid enough so they would cool down and get drunk maybe and forget. But sometimes, it made the beatings worse when he was found, cause he had wasted their time finding him and they had something else to punish him for. But now, running seamed like a good idea.
He breathed slowly and steadily, knowing if he breathed to hard you could be able to hear it. And he didn't want to be found right now. He was scared of what Peter and Sophie were going to do. His offenses were adding up, first the Journal entry that he wrote saying basically that he hated them, then the one he had ripped out, then skipping lunch, and skipping group. And then finally the biggest one, running. He hadn't run of school grounds which was a good thing, he had hid on campus but in the eyes of the rules of Horizon it was the same thing.
He had been beginning to trust them. Let his guard down a little, a flaw he had just recently started to hate about himself. He had trusted Peter and Sophie a bit, and they had taken it away with the little camping incident. It was to close. They were to close to finding out about "it". And he couldn't let that happen, that's why he had stolen the file, burned the picture, done all he had done. To save his own butt.
But it hurt to feel betrayed by them. He had actually thought they would keep their promises, unlike everyone else in his life, unlike Kendra or Jackson who promised not to hit him if he had been good and still did. Unlike his brother and Sister who had promised to love him and always be with him but had left him alone. Unlike his dad Matthew who had promised after he died that he'd give Jordan strength, well Jordan could have used some of that strength now. From the Social Workers who had promised to protect him, and the foster parents who had said he could stay with them, only to be kicked out and shipped back home. And from his grandparents that said once Hailey Jade and Dillion got settled they would send for him, he still hadn't received a call. He had trusted them all and they had all betrayed him.
He had run because they were getting to close for him. And plus everyone seemed to be mad at him. The guys, Peter, Sophie, even Daisy and Shelby hadn't forgiven him for calling them freaks. It was easier this way. But it made Jordan more scared.
He hugged his knees tighter. The door to the supply shed opened, he heard it creaking.
"Jordan, You in here?" a voice said, he couldn't tell who's it was.
He didn't answer. A surge of fear went through him. They were close. He had been missing almost 2 hours now.
"Jordan, Please be in here." A voice that he thought was Sophie's said pleadingly.
*****CHANGE IN VIEW POINT*****
Sophie entered the Supply shed followed by Kat, Daisy, Auggie, and Ezra. It was the last place the cliffhangers hadn't looked on campus in the last hour. She hoped Jordan was in here.
"Jordan, please be in here." She said, hoping if he were there he would come out.
"Yo J, you in here?" Auggie said as he and Ezra went over and searched near the hiking supplies.
"Please come out Jordan." She said beggingly.
Sophie let out a very audible sigh. She banged her hand on the wooden wall. "Where the heck is he?" she said to herself.
This was the first time since Sophie had joined the Horizon staff that a student had run away. And it made her feel bad since it was one of her own also. The cliffhangers were special to her heart.
She started over towards the kayaks and canoes when she heard Peter's voice from outside.
"Guys call it quits." Peter shouted from outside.
The group met back at the totem pole. The easiest place to see the whole campus from, next to the climbing wall of course. They had been searching for almost 2 hours now. They had checked all the buildings, the Supply shed being the last building. No one had found anything.
"Man, J's in trouble now." Auggie whispered to Scott.
Scott nodded. "Yeah, to bad." He said sadly. He remembered when he ran away and they almost sent him back home. A place he didn't want to go.
"I thought Jordan was smarter than to run away." Juliet said sadly.
"He's been going through a lot lately Juliet." Sophie said trying to give an explanation.
"I want to say I'm sorry about when I ran. I didn't think it was this much work." Scott said.
"Maybe we should call Cliff and the rest of the sheriffs department." Sophie said.
"No," Peter said. 'We'll wait until nightfall and then call them. And call Jordan's Parents. Maybe he'll come to his senses and be back by then."
Peter looked over the cliffhangers. "Okay guys, why don't you all go back to the lodge and have some down time okay?"
The group nodded solemnly and walked away. As they did Sophie sighed and Peter hugged her.
BACK IN THE SUPPLY SHED
Jordan still hid under the tarp. He hadn't moved. He looked at his watch- 6:30. He had been hiding for almost 3 hours. And he was really, really tired.
"Maybe I'll just sleep for a minute." He said yawning. He hadn't slept much during his trip, and his nerves were making him tired. Eventually he fell asleep with his head on his knees.
******DREAM*******
Jordan sat with the other Cliffhangers. Scott had called a group session. Jordan thought it was just another excuse to see Shelby who had been on restriction. But when he saw the look on Scott's face he knew it wasn't true.
"What's up Scott?" Daisy asked.
Scott looked at Shelby, the Sophie, then finally at Peter, they all nodded to him. Jordan felt like an outsider. It was a cliffhanger thing and he was just a newbie.
'I know you probably all wonder why I'm here sometimes right? Rich kid, who had it all. Money, good grades well not lately but..., Football talent, a scholarship lined up for it for college. Even a loving mom and dad. Why did he turn to drugs, and screw up his life right?" Scott asked.
The group not realizing it, answered in their eyes. They had wondered sometimes.
"You guys know Elaine right?" he asked.
"That hot chica that came to parents day with your dad?" Auggie asked.
Scott's cheeks got red, either from anger or embarrassment Jordan didn't know.
"Yeah, my step mom." He said. "She's the problem."
"What, she broke up your parents marriage?" Juliet asked innocently.
"No..." Scott said. "Not exactly." He looked at the group, ashamed almost.
Daisy was the first to pick up on this hidden message. "That... No Way Man.. That's so sick." She screamed.
The group got the picture.
"She didn't..." Ezra said. "Did she?"
But Scott had to tell them himself. 'Yes, she made me have sex with her." He said to them, not trying to beat around the bush or anything. "All the time. And no one believed me until Peter and Sophie."
'Dude that sick little..." Auggie said shutting his mouth when he saw Peter glaring at him.
"Sorry Scott. I mean, yeah... We never knew. Sorry we talked about her and stuff." Ezra said awkwardly, though he meant it.
'It's okay Ez. It's not your fault." Scott said. "I hardly admitted it myself."
******* END DREAM *********
Jordan awoke with a start. Something was jabbing into his side and it hurt. He looked and one of the ores was right next to him. He moved it over just a little. Jordan felt hungry. He hadn't eaten since around 11 that morning. Usually missing meals didn't bother him. He had missed quite a few in his life. For various punishments by his parents.
He looked at his watch. It was almost 8. He wondered if he should go back. He wondered if he should run too, it's not like he hadn't done it before. Usually he ran away because of fear of something, or an endless fear. Usually from 'them' but they weren't at horizon. They were home.
He heard a voice in his mind, one very, very familiar. He couldn't remember if it was from. Either words from his dad, the words of wisdom that his dad had to tell him at the very end when he was really sick, that Jordan even that young still remembered. It could have also been Officer Jennings, or maybe Max when he had run away one time.
"If you can walk away and not look back, then maybe your doing the right thin."
But could Jordan leave Horizon. He thought to himself.
"No you idiot. Or else you wouldn't be here in this stupid supply shed." Jordan said to himself. "Your to big of a wuss, you've gotten to soft."
Maybe he could try to go back. Just go near Peter and Sophie's office, see how mad they were an then run, or then go back. Whichever one he had the guts to do. He just hoped they hadn't called his parents yet.
Jordan got up. It was almost dark already. There must have been a storm coming, because it was still early. Jordan realized that he was kind of cold.
"Suck it up you wuss." He told himself, those had been words Jackson spoke to him when Jordan would cry after being hit.
He looked over at the admissions building and surveyed the campus. No one was in site. He was safe for the time being. He walked quickly through the grass towards the administrations building. And then ducked under the big window that opened out from Peter and Sophie's office. The same window he had tried to break through to get his file.
PETER AND SOPHIE'S OFFICE-
Peter and Sophie sat across from each other in his office. Sophie on the couch with a cold rag on her head and Peter at his desk frantically looking for something.
"What's wrong Peter?" Sophie asked.
"Remember when I had to call the police back in Jordan's home town to inquire about the lack of his records?" Peter asked.
"Yeah, so?" She said almost sighing, it was getting dark and they would have to call Jordan's parents soon, and the sheriffs department, something she didn't want to do.
"Well when I was talking on the phone to Officer Radly, Jack Radly, While we were talking he said something that I basically overlooked when he said it but I remembered." Peter said and paused for a moment. "He said that though it was unusual that Jordan hadn't run yet, but that only meant that he might feel safe here now, and that he would run when he didn't feel safe.
"Why didn't they tell us?" Sophie asked yelling. "Why didn't they freaking tell us the kid was a runner?"
CHANGE OF VIEW
Jordan sat crouched under the window of Peter and Sophie's office. They were talking about his "old buddy" Jake Radly. Jake was a cop at the police department, one that always ended up tracking down Jordan. Peter was talking about when he had called Jake earlier in the month. Jordan listened as he heard words Jake used over and over again.
****FLASHBACK****
Jordan sat across from Officer Radly in his office. Radly had caught Jordan running through the park. Jackson and Kendra had called the cops this time. It was just before Jordan had been sent away, the last time he had had the chance to run.
Jake looked at the young teen. Though Jake knew the kid was 15 he didn't look much older than 12 or 13. He had a young look for his age. A look of almost innocence. The only thing that proved Jordan's real age, other than his birth certificate and other documents were his eyes. Jordan's eyes looked older, they had a lot behind them, Jake knew. He always tried to meet Jordan's eyes. But many times it didn't work. Only rarely did it happen.
"Why this time Jordan?" Officer Radly asked.
Jordan was looking at his shoes, and then the ceiling. Averting his eyes to look anywhere but the mans face, anywhere. Eye contact was dangerous.
"Jordan, please, It's late, I'm tired, I want to go home." Radly said.
Jordan slipped up and looked at Jake straight for a minute. He had seen Jake's family in pictures before. They were important to him. He was big on family. He had a wife and 4 kids, all of whom were still in elementary school. And Jordan was keeping him here, at work, away from them.
"Sorry sir." Jordan mumbled almost incoherently.
Jake looked at the teens face, he rarely saw it cause Jordan always avoided looking at him.
"You know, my son had a soccer game today, and I had to miss it cause I was here?" Jake said.
Jordan didn't know what to say, should he feel guilty, cause maybe he did. He was the reason that Jake was stuck in the office now, he felt kinda bad.
"Sorry." Jordan said a bit more audible this time.
"So, what happened this time Jordan?" Jake asked picking up a pen.
*******END FLASHBACK *******
Jordan was knocked abruptly out of his dream by the sounds of Sophie yelling.
"Why didn't they tell us? Why didn't they freaking tell us the kid was a runner?"
Jordan's body tensed up. He had never really heard Sophie yell before. She had yelled a couple of times to people messing around on campus. But never yelling like this, she sounded mad. And Jordan knew she was talking about him.
He got scared. Really scared. He hated when people yelled at him. Peter had only done it once, when he had made Juliet cry during his first days here. But he hadn't since. That was one reason Jordan had stuck around for so long. But now... No way, they were sounding too much like Kendra and Jackson. He heard in Sophie's voice now what he heard in his mom's voice ever time she talked to him. That hate, that meanness, the coldness. And it scared him.
He got up and started to run. He tried to be quiet but his fear was making him sloppy. He didn't take the precautions he usually would have. He skidded on the gravel and it was loud.
CHANGE IN P.O.V.- Peter and Sophie's office.
Peter calmed Sophie down a bit. As they went to get to the phone, they heard the sound of gravel and rocks skidding. They looked out the window, Peter saw a figure running, not far from the building.
"Jordan." Peter yelled.
The figure turned slightly and then turned back and ran even faster away.
"God, he must have been under the window and heard me." Sophie said peering out the window just before her and Peter ran out of the building after him.
OUTSIDE-
Peter and Sophie ran as fast as they could after Jordan. They were almost behind him. Right near the end of the drive. That's when Peter's knee gave out and he fell to the ground. Sophie was ahead of him and heard the sickening thud of his body falling to the ground. It echoed in the silence of the woods.
Peter held his knee. 'Why, Why now?' he asked himself. They were so close.
Sophie turned around and met eyes with Peter. The figure, that is Jordan, turned around at the end of the road.
Jordan looked back. Stopped in his tracks, he heard a sound all too familiar to him. What should he do? Frozen for a second he thought and then he ran.....
TO BE CONTINUED.
Hey, I know I know, but I had to do it. How sad, hopefully it will all be over soon, but I can't make any promises. Oh yeah, where do you think Jordan ran to? To Peter or away from him? What will happen with him now?
Disclaimer- I do not own any of the original Higher Ground characters. I do how ever own all the new ones. These include Jordan, his mom and step-dad Kendra and Jackson. His sister Hailey Jade and bother Dillion. His social Worker Max Anderson and Helen Brandon (Hailey and Dillion's social worker). I also own Jill Trinity, the mail lady. And also Aubrey, as I said before Shelby's friend.
In this chapter- Post Solo Hike stuff. The missing journal page builds up on Peter and Sophie's suspicions. Shelby writes a letter and gets one back too. Is she falling for him all over again? Can you love 2 people the same and only give yourself to one?
Note- Okay Shelby's letter sounds very un-Shelby like. But think of it this way okay when you read it. She's known Aubrey her whole life and she can tell him anything. So she's less icy to him than anyone else.
Oh yeah another Note- Here we tell how Scott told the Cliffhangers about the skank. This takes place after everyone meets her and his dad "separate" from her. I have a philosophy that Scott's dad and the Skank will get back together. Whether this scene would really happen or not is your own idea. But since Every one knows in Former Chapters about it I showed to for Jordan to have a personal Revelation.
CLIFFHANGERS BOYS DORM
Jordan trudged into the dorm tired and irritated. He was hoping to find the room empty, being so close to lunchtime and all. But It couldn't be so. Scott, Auggie, and Ezra were there. Sitting on the floor playing what seamed to be a game of poker.
"Hey J." Auggie said looking up from his cards for a moment.
Jordan made his way to his bed without saying anything to the guys. He didn't want to talk. Afraid of saying something to offend them or something he would regret later.
"Yo! Jordan, we said hey." Scott said as he folded from the game.
Jordan still kept the ignoring state of the conversation. He started to unpack his stuff. Putting it in piles of clean and dirty on his bed. The guys sensed something was up.
"Bad hike J?" Auggie asked. The group looked at him, waiting for an answer.
It took a few moments before Jordan spoke. "That would be an understatement." Jordan sighed. He wondered if the guys even heard. But they had.
"Why what happened?" Scott asked. Intrigued with the newest gossip.
"Peter and Sophie went through my stuff while I was off my camp site is what." Jordan shouted. He had done it, lost his cool. That's why he had shut up but there was no stopping now. "They went through my tent. And plus I got a letter from mom and Jackson back home." He said their names bitterly. "It was a stupid hike, and a stupid idea."
The guys looked at Jordan. They couldn't believe Peter and Sophie would go through his things. They wondered why they would have if they did at all.
"They wouldn't." Ezra said almost in disbelief. The guys laughed at his late reaction. "I mean they wouldn't do that unless they had a reason right?"
The guys looked at Jordan that sounded right. It went along with the whole 'We don't tolerate tattle-tailing unless it's about someone hurting themselves or someone else.' They wouldn't search for something unless they had sufficient doubts.
"You hiding something from them Jordan?" Scott asked, and then realized how rude that sounded. "Were you afraid they'd find something there? Is that why you're so upset about it?"
'Yeah, scared to death of it all.' Jordan thought. But he didn't say that. What he said was more vicious. And as soon as it came out of his mouth he regretted it.
"Screw you Scott." Jordan said through his teeth. Trying to keep his cool. Scott's words were so accusative. And it wasn't even the fact that they were that bothered Jordan, it was the fact that they were so true. And that meant that maybe Scott, and Ezra and Auggie knew. That meant that everyone might know.
"Why don't you all go worry about your own screwed up freaking lives and stop butting into mine. You all have worse problems then mine. So bug off. And leave me the heck alone. I can take care of myself." Jordan said throwing his dirty close at the three of them. "I don't have to worry about a gang coming after me Aug. Or using drugs or anything to get attention Ez. I can protect myself unlike you Scott. I can take care of myself. I have before and their ain't no reason I can't now." He screamed at them. He was blowing them all down and he didn't like himself for it but he didn't care.
Scott got up and came at him, grabbing his arm, and almost twisting it. Jordan hardly winced at the familiar act of force and the sharp pain that came with it. "Don't you ever say that." Scott threatened. Though he hated fights he was sticking up for all 3 of the guys.
"Let go of me." Jordan said.
"Not until you listen to what I have to say." Scott said. "I tried to protect myself. But she was always there. There was nothing I could do, short of locking my door, which she could pick by the way, that I could do to stop her from coming onto me. So don't tell me that I can't protect myself. I wouldn't have confronted her if I couldn't handle it."
"And don't say anything about gangs Jordan. The streets are tough. I can say that. But when I was there with my brother It wasn't all bad. I mean the cops coming after me and getting knifed were but it was a piece of home." Auggie said as he confronted Jordan.
"Let go of me." Jordan said struggling to get out of Scott's grasp.
"No." Scott said as he grabbed onto Jordan's arm tighter, an action Jordan was also way too familiar with.
"And don't say I did drugs to get attention. I might have at the beginning but then it wasn't anymore. I couldn't stop after I started. But I grew past that. I'm clean now." Ezra said. "And I don't have to hide anything like you do."
"Man let me go." Jordan said almost beggingly.
It didn't seam like Scott was going to and Jordan spun around fast and hard so Scott would have to let go of him. And it worked. Scott looked at him and rubbed his arm that was now hurting him.
"When I say let me go, I mean it." Jordan said angrily. "Got it?"
"No I don't. I don't get how you can't stand anyone else trashing anyone when you just trashed us. Or how you shut yourself off from all of us and then get mad on quests when we don't let you in on the group. Why should we. You don't make the effort but we stick up for you. Cause we're supposed to. We didn't tell Peter and Sophie about the nightmares, or trashing the cabin. When we really well could've. But we didn't cause that's now how we work around here." Scott said as the leader. "Got that? Cause if you don't you better shape up really fast."
"If you have a problem with anyone just say it Jordan, god. You wanna fight we'll fight. But not like this." Auggie said.
"You wanna hit me, go ahead and hit me Auggie, Scott. I know you both want to. There's nothing here to stop you. Cause if I tell Peter I'll get shuns to. So just do it. Man or all you all chickens?" Jordan said cockily. He had been hit enough to know how to take pain. It was nothing new.
Auggie looked at him and raised his fist. Jordan backed away on reflex. 'No, please' he thought on instant. It sickened himself. He had taken beatings before and was not scared of a punch.
*****FLASHBACK*****
Jordan stood against the kitchen counter. He was backing away as far as he could from the punch that Jackson was aiming to get at him. The man's fist went higher.
"No, Please" Jordan said beggingly.
The man didn't listen and Jordan braced himself for the impact of his stepfather's fist on his face. The man's fist came down right on Jordan's cheekbone. The pain hit fast and hard.
***********END FLASHBACK**************
Auggie must have sensed his fear. The guys all saw it on Jordan's face though he didn't admit it was there. He dropped his fist and put out his hand for a shake.
"We're gonna make a truce." He said not in a question but an order.
Jordan shook his hand and walked, no ran, out of the room without looking back. He couldn't be there any more.
The guys looked at each other. "Did you see the look he had on his face when you raised your fist Aug.?" Ezra asked.
"Did you see his eyes?" Scott said. "Those are the eyes I had when I saw the skank again.
"We need to tell Peter and Sophie, Homes." Auggie said taking action this time.
"Yeah." Scott and Ezra agreed.
They just had one problem. What were they going to say.
ADMITIONS BUILDING- PETER'S OFFICE
Peter and Sophie collapsed next to each other on the couch exhausted. After Jordan had his blow out, which they knew he rightfully deserved to have, after what they did, they were tired of the world. It seamed like it would be on a rainy day, only without the rain.
"If we did the right thing, according to you, not me, why do we feel like this?" Sophie asked.
"We feel like this because we thought something would be there and it turns out it's not." Peter said. He knew the whole thing was stupid. Jordan had come so far and it was his and Sophie's fault he was slipping back.
"I think we need to say we're sorry." Sophie said. "I mean really say it." She said and absentmindedly flipped through the Journal Jordan had thrusted into her hands before stomping into the car.
"Hey Peter..." She asked looking at the book closer. "What was Journal question number eight?"
Peter looked at her. "Isn't it there?" he asked looking at the book and back to her.
"It's ripped out. It goes from question seven to question nine." She said.
"Let me check." Peter said getting off the couch and going to his file cabinet. He pulled out another Journal and opened it up. "What is your worst memory you had as a child?"
"I think we're onto something." Sophie said.
MEANWHILE- In the Girls Cliffhanger Dorm
Shelby had an early lunch. She had cleared it with Jeff already. She wanted to have the whole room to herself while she wrote to Aubrey. She picked up a pen. It seamed like so long since she had written to him. At least a month or two. But she loved getting his letters. It reminded her that someone other than Scott could ever love her.
"Dear Aubrey, Hey! I got your letter. I'm fine I guess. I miss you a lot too you know. I read your letter and I felt sad. When you said you loved me. I don't know. This isn't like me Aub. I can't show my feelings like this. Why do you have that over me. Why can you always make me do that. Make me who I'm not. Or maybe it's who I really am. WHY did you have to say you love me?!?! Why? Oh God Aubrey. I think I love you to. I mean I know I love you. More than anything, except maybe Scott (I don't know maybe I love you equally) And Jess, I love my sister. But you. I can't not love you. But I have just one question. Is it possible for me to love you and Scott. Is it? Man I go from not loving anyone at all to loving 2 guys at once. Scott's here with me but lately I see myself dreaming of you and me. It's weird. I never had dreams like this before. I don't know Aubrey, I've never felt this way before. Never. Anyway. Horizon Is hectic right now. Jordan (the newbie) isn't much better than before. I thought he had been but then he called us all screwed up freaks. And I might be screwed up. But I am not a freak! Not at all. And then the funny thing is, is that like not more than 3 minutes later he looks all sad and apologizes. Like he really means he's sorry. I don't know. It's weird. Scott's teaching me to play the piano. I don't know what else to say Aubrey. This is weird. I want to talk to you but can't write it now. So I'll stop. I love you. Love, Shelby." She wrote.
She didn't really know why she felt the need to stop but stopped none the less.
She put the letter in an already addressed envelope that Aubrey had so nicely sent as a reminder that he expected a letter back. She licked the envelope and stuck it in her pocket. She'd have to give it personally to Jill, the mail lady later. But now she had to go to group.
THE LODGE
Scott, Shelby, Ezra, Daisy, Auggie, Juliet, and Kat sat on the chairs and couch in the center of the Lodge. Shelby on Scott's lap in one chair, Ezra and Daisy on the love seat and Kat, Auggie and Juliet on the couch. They had been waiting for over 10 minutes for Peter and Sophie to make it to the lodge. And they weren't there yet.
"Do you think their okay?" Juliet asked worriedly.
"I think their fine." Kat said touching her arm. They probably got held up or something.
"More importantly though," Shelby said. 'Where's Jordan. The little guys skipping group."
"Any bets on what will be his punishment when Sophie and Peter find out?" Daisy asked.
"I'm all for Shuns." Auggie said.
"Me too." Said Juliet agreeingly.
"I think kitchen duty, and restriction for a week." Shelby said.
"Yeah, and no quest next week. He'll have to stay here." Daisy said added.
"I agree with the first part" Ezra said. "But isn't not going on a quest a blessing?"
"Not for Jordan it isn't." Kat said. "He loves them. I don't think Peter and Sophie are that cruel. I vote for Kitchen Duty and shuns all weekend."
"I'm thinking a phone call to mommy and daddy dearest in Vermont, cause he missed lunch too. And ran out of the cabin." Scott said. "And then not having to go on the quest."
"Oh, you're vicious today aren't you? Calls are a rare thing." Daisy said. "I don't think I've ever had one home. Not that mad dad would give a crap about what happened to me here. As long as I'm not there." She added bitterly. She hated her father so much, her mom to, but she couldn't take it out on her, she was dead
"I thin we should send out a search party." Ezra said jokingly.
"No need. Peter and Sophie are coming now." Kat said point to the entrance of the lodge from the dining hall.
"Hey guys, sorry we're late." Sophie said as they both came over.
"We got a little held up with the US mail." Peter said.
"Oh no. It came already?" Shelby said jumping up and looking at her watch.
"Yes why? Jill just stopped us. We had a lot of mail." Peter said.
"I had a letter to mail." Shelby said putting her hand reflexively in her pocket. "And I wanted to mail it today. That's all." She said and sat back down.
"Is it important? I think Jill is still here." Sophie asked, she and Peter still not realizing that Jordan wasn't there.
"No." Shelby said when she and the others realized that Peter and Sophie didn't notice that Jordan wasn't there yet. "That's okay.'
"Okay, lets get started then." Peter said almost sitting down.
He looked over the group, something was missing. He had noticed it a few minutes ago. 'Scott, Shelby, Kat, Auggie, Ezra, Daisy, Juliet...'
"Where is Jordan?" he asked.
The group looked at each other. They would have laughed but they sensed Pete and Sophie were too serious.
"WE don't know." Daisy said. "He wasn't here when we got here for group."
"And he wasn't at lunch either. He ran out of the dorm before lunch. We thought we'd see him there but..." Scott started to explain, but Peter cut him off.
"I knew this would happen." He said. "We need to find him."
The group got up, ready to search. "He couldn't have gone far right?" Sophie said.
Peter split the group up between Sophie and himself. Sophie got Kat, Daisy, Auggie, and Ezra, and Peter got Scott, Juliet, and Shelby. They went looking for him.
SUPPLY SHED
Jordan hid in the corner of the supply shed, behind some kayaks and covered with a tarp. He had his knees up to his chest and his hands wrapped around them and his head. He was good at hiding, at making himself small so no one could find him. It saved from getting a lot of beatings either because he hid long enough for Kendra and Jackson to think him smart enough to evade the beating for a while, or he hid enough so they would cool down and get drunk maybe and forget. But sometimes, it made the beatings worse when he was found, cause he had wasted their time finding him and they had something else to punish him for. But now, running seamed like a good idea.
He breathed slowly and steadily, knowing if he breathed to hard you could be able to hear it. And he didn't want to be found right now. He was scared of what Peter and Sophie were going to do. His offenses were adding up, first the Journal entry that he wrote saying basically that he hated them, then the one he had ripped out, then skipping lunch, and skipping group. And then finally the biggest one, running. He hadn't run of school grounds which was a good thing, he had hid on campus but in the eyes of the rules of Horizon it was the same thing.
He had been beginning to trust them. Let his guard down a little, a flaw he had just recently started to hate about himself. He had trusted Peter and Sophie a bit, and they had taken it away with the little camping incident. It was to close. They were to close to finding out about "it". And he couldn't let that happen, that's why he had stolen the file, burned the picture, done all he had done. To save his own butt.
But it hurt to feel betrayed by them. He had actually thought they would keep their promises, unlike everyone else in his life, unlike Kendra or Jackson who promised not to hit him if he had been good and still did. Unlike his brother and Sister who had promised to love him and always be with him but had left him alone. Unlike his dad Matthew who had promised after he died that he'd give Jordan strength, well Jordan could have used some of that strength now. From the Social Workers who had promised to protect him, and the foster parents who had said he could stay with them, only to be kicked out and shipped back home. And from his grandparents that said once Hailey Jade and Dillion got settled they would send for him, he still hadn't received a call. He had trusted them all and they had all betrayed him.
He had run because they were getting to close for him. And plus everyone seemed to be mad at him. The guys, Peter, Sophie, even Daisy and Shelby hadn't forgiven him for calling them freaks. It was easier this way. But it made Jordan more scared.
He hugged his knees tighter. The door to the supply shed opened, he heard it creaking.
"Jordan, You in here?" a voice said, he couldn't tell who's it was.
He didn't answer. A surge of fear went through him. They were close. He had been missing almost 2 hours now.
"Jordan, Please be in here." A voice that he thought was Sophie's said pleadingly.
*****CHANGE IN VIEW POINT*****
Sophie entered the Supply shed followed by Kat, Daisy, Auggie, and Ezra. It was the last place the cliffhangers hadn't looked on campus in the last hour. She hoped Jordan was in here.
"Jordan, please be in here." She said, hoping if he were there he would come out.
"Yo J, you in here?" Auggie said as he and Ezra went over and searched near the hiking supplies.
"Please come out Jordan." She said beggingly.
Sophie let out a very audible sigh. She banged her hand on the wooden wall. "Where the heck is he?" she said to herself.
This was the first time since Sophie had joined the Horizon staff that a student had run away. And it made her feel bad since it was one of her own also. The cliffhangers were special to her heart.
She started over towards the kayaks and canoes when she heard Peter's voice from outside.
"Guys call it quits." Peter shouted from outside.
The group met back at the totem pole. The easiest place to see the whole campus from, next to the climbing wall of course. They had been searching for almost 2 hours now. They had checked all the buildings, the Supply shed being the last building. No one had found anything.
"Man, J's in trouble now." Auggie whispered to Scott.
Scott nodded. "Yeah, to bad." He said sadly. He remembered when he ran away and they almost sent him back home. A place he didn't want to go.
"I thought Jordan was smarter than to run away." Juliet said sadly.
"He's been going through a lot lately Juliet." Sophie said trying to give an explanation.
"I want to say I'm sorry about when I ran. I didn't think it was this much work." Scott said.
"Maybe we should call Cliff and the rest of the sheriffs department." Sophie said.
"No," Peter said. 'We'll wait until nightfall and then call them. And call Jordan's Parents. Maybe he'll come to his senses and be back by then."
Peter looked over the cliffhangers. "Okay guys, why don't you all go back to the lodge and have some down time okay?"
The group nodded solemnly and walked away. As they did Sophie sighed and Peter hugged her.
BACK IN THE SUPPLY SHED
Jordan still hid under the tarp. He hadn't moved. He looked at his watch- 6:30. He had been hiding for almost 3 hours. And he was really, really tired.
"Maybe I'll just sleep for a minute." He said yawning. He hadn't slept much during his trip, and his nerves were making him tired. Eventually he fell asleep with his head on his knees.
******DREAM*******
Jordan sat with the other Cliffhangers. Scott had called a group session. Jordan thought it was just another excuse to see Shelby who had been on restriction. But when he saw the look on Scott's face he knew it wasn't true.
"What's up Scott?" Daisy asked.
Scott looked at Shelby, the Sophie, then finally at Peter, they all nodded to him. Jordan felt like an outsider. It was a cliffhanger thing and he was just a newbie.
'I know you probably all wonder why I'm here sometimes right? Rich kid, who had it all. Money, good grades well not lately but..., Football talent, a scholarship lined up for it for college. Even a loving mom and dad. Why did he turn to drugs, and screw up his life right?" Scott asked.
The group not realizing it, answered in their eyes. They had wondered sometimes.
"You guys know Elaine right?" he asked.
"That hot chica that came to parents day with your dad?" Auggie asked.
Scott's cheeks got red, either from anger or embarrassment Jordan didn't know.
"Yeah, my step mom." He said. "She's the problem."
"What, she broke up your parents marriage?" Juliet asked innocently.
"No..." Scott said. "Not exactly." He looked at the group, ashamed almost.
Daisy was the first to pick up on this hidden message. "That... No Way Man.. That's so sick." She screamed.
The group got the picture.
"She didn't..." Ezra said. "Did she?"
But Scott had to tell them himself. 'Yes, she made me have sex with her." He said to them, not trying to beat around the bush or anything. "All the time. And no one believed me until Peter and Sophie."
'Dude that sick little..." Auggie said shutting his mouth when he saw Peter glaring at him.
"Sorry Scott. I mean, yeah... We never knew. Sorry we talked about her and stuff." Ezra said awkwardly, though he meant it.
'It's okay Ez. It's not your fault." Scott said. "I hardly admitted it myself."
******* END DREAM *********
Jordan awoke with a start. Something was jabbing into his side and it hurt. He looked and one of the ores was right next to him. He moved it over just a little. Jordan felt hungry. He hadn't eaten since around 11 that morning. Usually missing meals didn't bother him. He had missed quite a few in his life. For various punishments by his parents.
He looked at his watch. It was almost 8. He wondered if he should go back. He wondered if he should run too, it's not like he hadn't done it before. Usually he ran away because of fear of something, or an endless fear. Usually from 'them' but they weren't at horizon. They were home.
He heard a voice in his mind, one very, very familiar. He couldn't remember if it was from. Either words from his dad, the words of wisdom that his dad had to tell him at the very end when he was really sick, that Jordan even that young still remembered. It could have also been Officer Jennings, or maybe Max when he had run away one time.
"If you can walk away and not look back, then maybe your doing the right thin."
But could Jordan leave Horizon. He thought to himself.
"No you idiot. Or else you wouldn't be here in this stupid supply shed." Jordan said to himself. "Your to big of a wuss, you've gotten to soft."
Maybe he could try to go back. Just go near Peter and Sophie's office, see how mad they were an then run, or then go back. Whichever one he had the guts to do. He just hoped they hadn't called his parents yet.
Jordan got up. It was almost dark already. There must have been a storm coming, because it was still early. Jordan realized that he was kind of cold.
"Suck it up you wuss." He told himself, those had been words Jackson spoke to him when Jordan would cry after being hit.
He looked over at the admissions building and surveyed the campus. No one was in site. He was safe for the time being. He walked quickly through the grass towards the administrations building. And then ducked under the big window that opened out from Peter and Sophie's office. The same window he had tried to break through to get his file.
PETER AND SOPHIE'S OFFICE-
Peter and Sophie sat across from each other in his office. Sophie on the couch with a cold rag on her head and Peter at his desk frantically looking for something.
"What's wrong Peter?" Sophie asked.
"Remember when I had to call the police back in Jordan's home town to inquire about the lack of his records?" Peter asked.
"Yeah, so?" She said almost sighing, it was getting dark and they would have to call Jordan's parents soon, and the sheriffs department, something she didn't want to do.
"Well when I was talking on the phone to Officer Radly, Jack Radly, While we were talking he said something that I basically overlooked when he said it but I remembered." Peter said and paused for a moment. "He said that though it was unusual that Jordan hadn't run yet, but that only meant that he might feel safe here now, and that he would run when he didn't feel safe.
"Why didn't they tell us?" Sophie asked yelling. "Why didn't they freaking tell us the kid was a runner?"
CHANGE OF VIEW
Jordan sat crouched under the window of Peter and Sophie's office. They were talking about his "old buddy" Jake Radly. Jake was a cop at the police department, one that always ended up tracking down Jordan. Peter was talking about when he had called Jake earlier in the month. Jordan listened as he heard words Jake used over and over again.
****FLASHBACK****
Jordan sat across from Officer Radly in his office. Radly had caught Jordan running through the park. Jackson and Kendra had called the cops this time. It was just before Jordan had been sent away, the last time he had had the chance to run.
Jake looked at the young teen. Though Jake knew the kid was 15 he didn't look much older than 12 or 13. He had a young look for his age. A look of almost innocence. The only thing that proved Jordan's real age, other than his birth certificate and other documents were his eyes. Jordan's eyes looked older, they had a lot behind them, Jake knew. He always tried to meet Jordan's eyes. But many times it didn't work. Only rarely did it happen.
"Why this time Jordan?" Officer Radly asked.
Jordan was looking at his shoes, and then the ceiling. Averting his eyes to look anywhere but the mans face, anywhere. Eye contact was dangerous.
"Jordan, please, It's late, I'm tired, I want to go home." Radly said.
Jordan slipped up and looked at Jake straight for a minute. He had seen Jake's family in pictures before. They were important to him. He was big on family. He had a wife and 4 kids, all of whom were still in elementary school. And Jordan was keeping him here, at work, away from them.
"Sorry sir." Jordan mumbled almost incoherently.
Jake looked at the teens face, he rarely saw it cause Jordan always avoided looking at him.
"You know, my son had a soccer game today, and I had to miss it cause I was here?" Jake said.
Jordan didn't know what to say, should he feel guilty, cause maybe he did. He was the reason that Jake was stuck in the office now, he felt kinda bad.
"Sorry." Jordan said a bit more audible this time.
"So, what happened this time Jordan?" Jake asked picking up a pen.
*******END FLASHBACK *******
Jordan was knocked abruptly out of his dream by the sounds of Sophie yelling.
"Why didn't they tell us? Why didn't they freaking tell us the kid was a runner?"
Jordan's body tensed up. He had never really heard Sophie yell before. She had yelled a couple of times to people messing around on campus. But never yelling like this, she sounded mad. And Jordan knew she was talking about him.
He got scared. Really scared. He hated when people yelled at him. Peter had only done it once, when he had made Juliet cry during his first days here. But he hadn't since. That was one reason Jordan had stuck around for so long. But now... No way, they were sounding too much like Kendra and Jackson. He heard in Sophie's voice now what he heard in his mom's voice ever time she talked to him. That hate, that meanness, the coldness. And it scared him.
He got up and started to run. He tried to be quiet but his fear was making him sloppy. He didn't take the precautions he usually would have. He skidded on the gravel and it was loud.
CHANGE IN P.O.V.- Peter and Sophie's office.
Peter calmed Sophie down a bit. As they went to get to the phone, they heard the sound of gravel and rocks skidding. They looked out the window, Peter saw a figure running, not far from the building.
"Jordan." Peter yelled.
The figure turned slightly and then turned back and ran even faster away.
"God, he must have been under the window and heard me." Sophie said peering out the window just before her and Peter ran out of the building after him.
OUTSIDE-
Peter and Sophie ran as fast as they could after Jordan. They were almost behind him. Right near the end of the drive. That's when Peter's knee gave out and he fell to the ground. Sophie was ahead of him and heard the sickening thud of his body falling to the ground. It echoed in the silence of the woods.
Peter held his knee. 'Why, Why now?' he asked himself. They were so close.
Sophie turned around and met eyes with Peter. The figure, that is Jordan, turned around at the end of the road.
Jordan looked back. Stopped in his tracks, he heard a sound all too familiar to him. What should he do? Frozen for a second he thought and then he ran.....
TO BE CONTINUED.
Hey, I know I know, but I had to do it. How sad, hopefully it will all be over soon, but I can't make any promises. Oh yeah, where do you think Jordan ran to? To Peter or away from him? What will happen with him now?