Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Higher Ground characters

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Higher Ground characters. I do own all the names you don't recognize from the show.

Summer of Changes

Chapter 3 – Clashes and Plans

Shelby was toying with her food. Except for Scott and Talia, the Cliffhangers were all gathered at the same table for dinner. There were winks and nudges to Daisy and Auggie from Juliette who were both trying hard to ignore her. Meanwhile, David and Ezra were too busy clambering for Daisy's attention to notice. Shelby wasn't paying attention either. Her eyes were glued on the dining hall door. Finally, Scott came hurrying in, and she let out a relieved sigh. But as Scott approached the table Shelby felt a tightening inside her stomach again. He slammed down his tray and started shoveling food in his mouth without so much as a look at anyone. The table grew quiet as all attention became focused on him.

"Scott, what's the newbie like?" asked Juliette, trying to keep up the happy mood she had been in before. "Is she nice?"

Scott looked up. His face was red. "Yeah sure, Jules, she's great," he said distractedly. He turned his attention back to his food. The Cliffhanger's looked at Shelby, asking her what was going on. She avoided their glances.

"Oh, look! There she is!" said Juliette, seeing Peter and Talia walk into the room.

"Woooow," said David. "Now there's a stunner I could definitely sink my teeth into! Take a look at that!" Daisy rolled her eyes.

But Scott cut in with a slam. "Shut up, David. Don't you dare touch her – you hear me?"

"Oh, my bad, Scotty." David said sarcastically. "She already taken?"

Scott seemed ready to take a jump on him, but Peter was approaching the table with Talia.

"Hey Cliffhangers, meet Talia. She's new, so I'd like you all to make her feel comfortable, okay?" said Peter. He left Talia, going to another part of the room to keep an eye on them from a distance.

"Sit right here," said Juliette patting a spot next to her.

"Thank you," Talia said without a smile.

There was an uncomfortable silence. Finally, David broke it.

"So, Talia, what's a beaut like you doing here?"

She turned her eyes to him. "I knifed an unruly boyfriend among other things," she replied, her eyes narrowing. There was another silence. This time, Auggie broke it.

"Where you from, Talia?"

There was another hesitation. "San Francisco."

"Yeah, really?" Juliette butted in. "That's where Scott's from! Did you guys know each other?" Talia's and Scott's eyes met. Then she looked back to Juliette.

"No," Talia said firmly.

Scott choked on his food. He coughed, pushed back his chair with a loud screech, took his tray to the garbage and almost ran out of the dining hall. After a second, Shelby followed him out.

- - - - -

The table lapsed into another uncomfortable silence. Everyone was concentrating on their food while looking out of the corner of their eyes at Talia. Talia kept on eating, her eyes unfocused.

"Hey, Auggie, Daisy, I need to talk to you guys," Juliette said with a smile. Daisy groaned. "No, come on you guys! Let's move to another table." Juliette pulled Auggie and Daisy to their feet.

"What's up Jules?" asked Auggie when they were settled.

"You know what's up, Auggie," said Daisy, "Jules, it isn't going to work."

"Yes it will, Daisy! Look at this." Juliette pulled out a newspaper clipping. "Come to the annual Independence Day Party! Fireworks, food and more. Starts at noon tomorrow."

"Juliette, that's insane! You know that Sophie and Peter will never let us go!" Daisy said.

"Yeah, Jules. I mean realistically. We don't have enough time to come up with a good plan to get out of here."

Juliette put on a mysterious look. "I know something you don't know!" she said in a singsong voice. Daisy rolled her eyes.

"Okay, out with it Jules," put in Auggie.

Juliette dropped her voice to a whisper.

"When I was outside Peter's office yesterday, I heard Sophie say her mother is in the hospital. Anyway, Peter and Sophie have decided to spend Independence Day with her."

"Juliette, that's horrible!" said Daisy. "So while Sophie's mother dies, we truants celebrate?"

Auggie looked thoughtful. "Yeah, but think about it. It could work." he said rubbing his chin.

"My point, exactly," said Juliette with a grin.

- - - - -

Shelby found Scott staring out at the water by the dock. She approached him warily and stood next to him. Together, they stood in silence, just looking out at the lake, both immersed in their thoughts. Scott finally started talking, in a whisper that Shelby had to strain to hear.

"She's a ghost from the past. The only part of the past I don't ever want to remember. Now here she is and I have to face up to who she was."

Shelby took his hand, "Scott, who was she?"

Scott bit his lip and tears came to his eyes.

"Talia was the part of my life that kept me going when Elaine was - you know. But when she needed me, I abandoned her. I was too immersed in my own problems. But look at what she's become. What I've made her become."

"Scott, you don't make anyone become anything. She made her own choices." Shelby whispered.

"That's not true Shelb. I was her family. Her support. We loved each other. I was all she had."

With a new tone in her voice, Shelby asked, "What exactly do you mean you loved each other, Scott."

Scott shook his head. "Shelby," he said in an exasperated tone, "Let's not go there. It was nothing like you're thinking."

"Well then, what was it?" Shelby demanded.

"She was like my sister, Shelb. We grew up together, that's all it was."

"Sure, Scott. That's why you're so upset right now. I believe you," Shelby said sarcastically, turning away to hide her own tears.

"Why are you always like this, Shelb?" Scott asked with anger. "Will you ever trust me? I love you as my girlfriend and no one else!"

"Maybe you do now, Scott. Maybe you do," Shelby said bitterly, before pulling away from him and walking towards the girls' dorm.

Scott turned back to the water with his hands on his hips, his head down. He was crying, slow, hot tears.

My thoughts are with everyone going through these tragic times.