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.
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.
