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 4 – Heartache

Sophie walked into the dining hall and up to Peter.

"Peter, we'd better call a group session to tell the Cliffhangers about tomorrow," Peter was still looking at the Cliffhangers table, a worried look on his face.

"Soph, I really don't know if this is the time to be going. I can feel the conflict between Scott and Talia. Scott just had a small explosion."

"Peter, if I didn't have to go, I wouldn't go, but you know how it is with family. Why don't you stay behind and watch over the Cliffhangers if you're worried?"

"No, Sophie. I promised you that I would be there for you and I will," said Peter with another worried glance at the Cliffhangers. "I'll ask Roger to keep an extra tight eye on them. I'll tell the Cliffhangers we have group in fifteen minutes. Why don't you go round up Scott and Shelby."

"Fine, I'll be right back."

- - - - -

The Cliffhangers sat haphazardly on couches and on the floor in front of the fireplace in the main lounge. Talia was perched on a couch between Juliette and Auggie while Scott was slouched on the ground on the other side of the room from Shelby.

"Hi Cliffhangers," said Peter. "This is going to be really short. Sophie has an announcement to make." Juliette nudged Auggie with a smile.

"Okay guys." Sophie stepped to the front of the room. "My mother is sick. The doctors don't know what is wrong with her, so they are keeping her in the hospital. Tomorrow, Peter and I will both be going down to visit her. We'll be back here the morning of the day after tomorrow."

"Oh, Sophie, that's rough," said Auggie.

"Well I don't know whether to whoop or holler!" said David making eyes at Daisy.

"I'm glad everyone is so sympathetic," said Sophie sarcastically. "But it's getting late."

"Good night, everyone. Get to your dorms and get ready for bed," ordered Peter. There were groans as they pushed themselves off their seats and straggled out the door. Peter and Sophie looked at each other as Scott walked slowly past, his head down.

"Scott," said Peter. "Stay here, we'd like to talk to you."

Scott turned back to them defiantly.

"What?" he mumbled.

"Sit back down on the couch," said Sophie.

Scott walked back to the couch and plopped himself down.

"What?" he said again.

"Scott," said Peter. "What happened at dinner today? I saw you walk out early."

"Nothing happened."

"Scott," said Sophie in a warning tone. "Are we back at square one again? You know you can trust us."

"Yes, Scott. I'd like to know what's going on between you and Talia," added Peter. At the name Talia, Peter could see Scott closing himself off like he had done in the past.

"I already told you, nothing is happening!"

Peter and Sophie looked at each other.

"All right then, Scott. We'll talk more when we get back. Good night," said Peter.

Scott walked out without a word.

- - - - -

In the girls' dorm Juliette had Daisy pulled to one side and was whispering to her. Daisy was only half-listening. She was watching warily Talia and Shelby. Shelby was writing in her journal on her bed, stopping sporadically to send a glare across the room at Talia. Talia ignored her, reading calmly in her bed. Finally, Shelby couldn't hold herself back. She got off her bed and went to stand in front of Talia. Talia kept on reading. With one yank, Shelby pulled the book out of her hands and hurled it across the room. Talia looked up.

"If you have something to say, Shelby, say it. Don't take it out on my book."

"Yeah, I have a lot to say, Talia," said Shelby pulling out Talia's name as if it were something nasty. "I want an explanation as to what is going on with you and Scott."

"What is going on? I'm sorry Shelby, but nothing is happening. And nothing will."

"Nothing is happening?" Shelby pulled Talia off the bed violently and held her by the neck of her shirt. "If you know Scott at all you take a look at him and tell me nothing is happening! How can you do this to him?"

"Somehow I think you're caring less about him than about your relationship, Shelby," said Talia. "Get your hands off of me."

Shelby pushed Talia back onto her bed, hard. Then she jumped on the bed herself and started to pound on Talia. But the next second she found herself pinned on her back on the bed with Daisy, Juliette and Talia holding her down.

"Shelby, stop it!" said Daisy. "It's not worth it. Leave it alone for now." Talia walked across the room and retrieved her book. Juliette and Daisy led Shelby back to her bed. Talia went back to her bed, turned off the light, and made as if to go to sleep.

- - - - -

Everyone had finally turned off their lights. Talia could hear steady breathing as she stared blankly up at the dark ceiling. Everything was wrong, had all gone wrong. Quietly she slipped out of bed, put on her coat and went outside. She walked just outside of the pools of light, making her way over to the water. She knew instinctively that this was Scott's favorite place. She walked to the edge of the dock and sat down, dangling her feet over the edge. Everything was quiet.

"Oh Scott, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should have been there for you," she whispered into the darkness.

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