"Do you people ever shut-up?" commented Jennie while putting on her pajamas.
"When there is nothing happening sure, but this isn't one of those times" Shelby retorted.
"Lucky me" mumbled Jennie sarcastically. She pulled her shoulder length, strawberry blonde hair into a quickly made braid and got into bed. Just then Sophie opened the door, "Lights out girls. Goodnight." With that Sophie flicked the light switch to off, and quietly shut the door. Jennie laid in her white sheets watching all the girls slowly drift off to sleep, one by one. When all was quiet and everyone was asleep Jennie grabbed her black adidas sweatshirt and quietly crept out of the cabin. She pulled on her sweatshirt and sat down on the steps of the cabin looking up at the stars. Her thoughts drifted off to a home. She remembered a particularly horrible argument she had had with her mother several months ago.
*Flashback*
Jennie was walking into Julie's, (her mother) room and noticed that it was still dark and it was eleven in the afternoon. She figured that she would let her mother sleep in because she was very tired the night before.
"Mommy are you okay? Mommy? Answer me."
She walked up to her mothers bed and looked at her. Julie began to mumble things that Jennie couldn't make out. Then finally Julie mustered up the strength to speak a full sentence.
"Go get your brother to call 911. Hurry."
In a stream of panic, Jennie went to her older brother's room and told him what was going on. Several minutes later, she watched as the paramedics carried out her mother on a stretcher out the door of their house and into an ambulance. She had tears in her eyes. She didn't understand what was going on. Why her mother couldn't talk or move at all. It was as though she was paralyzed from neck down. She was afraid that she was dying.
*End of Flashback*
A chill ran through Jennie's back remembering the fear for her mom. Which then turned to anger and frustration upon remembering the day the doctor told her that her mother has Multiple Sclerosis. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her chin in her hands. She gazed up at the twinkling stars while several tears ran down her pale white cheeks. Sophie walked up and took a seat next to Jennie.
" Beautiful out here isn't it?"
Jennie wiped her tear stained cheeks hoping that Sophie hadn't seen her crying, and merely nodded a yes.
"Couldn't sleep?"
"What was your first clue?"
"First nights are always tough, but it gets better as time goes on."
"Rioght."
"I don't know. So you like nature?"
"My dad and I used to go hiking and camping in the summer."
"Oh I can imagine that must have been fun."
"Yeah it was the best time I ever had." Jennie tried to stop herself in realizing that she had already sad more than she had wanted too."
"Well why did it stop?"
"Well dear old daddy was too busy arguing with mother."
Sophie was surprised that Jennie was so honest, but knew it was more than that. She decided to talk to Peter later about going on a hike.
" Well it has definitely been a long day for you so you should probably be getting back to bed. And just to remind you we will be meeting to talk about your little episode at your house today. Get some sleep, goodnight Jennie."
"Yeah sure." *I really need a cigarette right now. She had to take my cigarettes. My only friend in this rotten hell hole.* thought Jennie to herself. Jennie crawled back into her bed and soon fell asleep.
The next day
7:00 A.M.
Instead of going to breakfast Jennie walked to a clearing that overlooked a valley and tremendously huge mountains, and sat down to admire the view not to mention the sunrise. Jennie's thoughts wandered again ...
*Flashback*
Jennie has just arrived from the principals office because of having an attitude with just about every authority figure and not to mention cutting class several times that week.
"Jennie you look at me when I am talking to you. I don't understand why you are doing this? You can't use your A.D.D. as an excuse this time. So tell me what is going on."
"You mean just like you use your M.S. as an excuse?"
"Jennie don't you dare." Her mother slapped Jennie across her face. Jennie's adrenaline coursed through her body.
"I am so tired of hearing about your pathetic problems. Why can't you just leave me alone?" she screamed.
"You are such a spoiled brat. I cannot believe that you are my daughter." Jennie couldn't believe that her mother had just said that but then again her mother always says stuff like that. She was so selfish. Jennie was so angry, "You know what? I hate living here. I hate you." With that she stomped off to her room. Julie just stood there shocked. But quickly regained her composure to straighten up her daughter... *End of Flashback*
Jennie winced upon that memory. She hated her mother. No matter how many places she went her mother's voice was still haunting her. Tears once again formed at her eyes. But were quickly wiped away when she heard someone approaching.
"We missed you at breakfast this morning." said Sophie as she sat down next to Jennie. Jennie moved away from Sophie a few feet. Sophie took note of this action.
"Darn, my hearts broken." she replied sarcastically, still focusing her attention toward the horizon.
"I'm sure it is. But for future reference breakfast is not optional. SO what are you doing out here anyways. I mean, besides admiring the view."
She merely shrugged her shoulders. Sophie knew that she wasn't getting anywhere and decided not to push it just yet.
"I came here to tell you that we have group in five minutes."
"Yeah, sounds like fun. Let me guess, its mandatory right?"
"Yep. We're meeting in the lodge."
"Great." replied Jennie who was already walking off towards the lodge.
Jennie's mind begins to race with so many questions.
*Do I have to say anything? Will they make me spill it all out? How will I stay strong?*
Jennie cautiously opened the door to the lodge and walked towards her group. She sat on the floor giving a few feet away from the people next to her.
Peter and Sophie walked in.
"Good morning Cliffhangers. Nice to see all of your smiling faces wide and awake this morning."
"Like we had a choice." smirked Daisy.
Ignoring that remark Peter continued, "We are going to start group off by introducing ourselves to Jennie and telling her why we are here.
"Scott you start off."
"Hi, I'm Scott. I am here because my step-mother sexually abused me."
"I'm Ezra. I am here because I couldn't deal with my adopted parents divorce, therefore turning to drugs."
"I am Shelby. I am here because I had a step father who abused me."
" I am Daisy and I'm here because I attacked my father with a golf club. He was drunk."
" Hello, I'm Juliette, binge and purge queen.
"And I am Auggie, I was in a gang."
"I am Jennie." *sigh* "I am here because I guess ditching class and running away wasn't an option, oh that and getting high."
"Okay, that was good. Now we have something else we need to tell you all. We are going on a two day hike. We will be leaving in twenty minutes so meet me back here after packing your bags." Peter said.
Groans were heard throughout the group. Peter noticed Jennie's face light up with a smile as he said this, but was then quickly replaced by a frown.
"Something wrong Jennie?"
"No."
"Alright then, you are dismissed." The Cliffhangers slowly walked back to their cabins.
One Hour Later
"Alright guys, take a five minute break." yelled Sophie.
Jennie sat down by a tree off on her own. Auggie decided to go and talk to her.
"Hey 'sup?"
"Hi."
"How's it goin'?"
She shrugged.?"
"So you into hikin' and stuff like that?"
"Yeah sure. Well and sports."
"Oh really? Meat over there used to play football before he came here. So what sports do you like to play?" Figuring that these were harmless questions, she decided to answer them.
" Well I used to horseback ride and play soccer. But I am into all sports."
"That's kewl."
"Okay gang let's head out. We have one more hour to go before we set up camp for the night."
Auggie noticed how Jennie held her own throughout the hike. She was keeping up with everyone and even going ahead of the rest of the group also. After about an hour, Peter spoke up. "Alright guys let's set up camp here." After everyone set up their tents, it was getting near dusk so they built a campfire and ate. Peter decide to have a group session.
"Time for group Cliffhangers. Finish this sentence, I am feeling..."
Auggie, "Content."
Jules, "Tired." she wined.
Shelby, "Annoyed."
Scott, "Happy."
Jennie, "Empty."
Daisy, "Hopeless."
"Good now tell me why."
Auggie, "Because I am conquering my dyslexia."
Jules, "Because we just hiked forever."
Shelby, "Because these hikes are really getting old, fast."
Scott, "Because I am away from my step mom and with the girl of my dreams." he said looking at Shelby." Everyone groaned and rolled their eyes.
Jennie, "Because life sucks." she replied looking straight forward though not at anyone.
Daisy, "I can't trust anyone, not even my own father."
"Great well it is soon time to head to the sack."
As they all trudged slowly to their tents, Peter tapped Jennie on the shoulder. She jumped, startled. But when she jumped she threw her arm up as if to guard herself from someone throwing a punch.
"Jeez don't do that to me. God. What do you want?"
"Could you come over here to the fire please so we can chat."
He walked over and sat down on a log that he had pulled up. Jennie sat down on another log.
"Um could you please explain why you got sent here because your records don't contain much information."
"Well what do my records say?"
"It says that you had cut class about twelve times that month. Not to mention violent acts towards your parents, repeatedly running away, and getting into fights with the kids at school. And the fact that you have Attention Deficit Disorder."
"Sounds like you have it all covered." she retorted.
"Then why did you run away?"
She remained silent.
"Jennie please, if you tell us we can help."
"Help? Help? You weren't there to help when my mom almost died. You weren't there to help any other time. How could you possibly help now? Just leave me alone. Go away."
She shot up from her sitting position and began walking away from Peter.
"Jennie...come back please...we're not finished yet." Peter yelled helplessly. Sophie heard Peter yelling and watched as Jennie quickened her pace into a full fledged run and watched as Peter ran after her. Sophie decided to join in the run cutting some of the distance off at an angle. But Jennie was quick and smaller. Peter was slowly gaining speed.
Jennie ran as fast as she could while low branches were flying into her face and tears stung her eyes so that she could barely see. Sophie had almost caught up to her when Jennie slipped on some wet leaves on the ground in front of her. She hit the ground with a thud then quickly jumped up knocking into Sophie while Peter caught up.
Jennie attempted to get out of Sophie's strong grasp around her waist , thinking that it was her mother, by thrashing and twisting in her arms and pushing on Sophie's arms.
"Let go of me! Get..."
"Jennie calm down. You aren't going anywhere. It's me Sophie. Just tell us what is going on."
"Just stop!" She yelled, still struggling, when she realized it was Sophie. Peter ran up.
"Jennie...Hun, it's alright, relax, we can help you."
"I just want it to stop. Just let me go!" Sophie released her grasp a little while Jennie attempted to calm down. She collapsed to the ground in tears. Sophie gently wrapped her arms around Jennie's thin body while Peter handed her a tissue from his pocket.
After calming down a bit Peter looked her in the eye and asked her a question, "Jennie who did you think Sophie was just a minute ago?" Jennie looked at him in surprise. "Peter, what are you talking about?"
"Jennie stop the games, you know what I am talking about. When you were trying to get away from Sophie you looked at her as though she were someone else and when you finally figured out it was her you were surprise and stopped struggling. What was that all about?"
"Just forget it I don't have to tell you anything."
"Fine, but I want you to write me a paper on your fears. The length doesn't matter and I want you to hand it in when we get back to the school. Okay."
With a scowl, Jennie got up, shrugged Sophie's arm away and stomped off back towards the tents.
