The Cliffhangers were grouped outside in front of Roger

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 – Development

The Cliffhangers were grouped outside of the main lodge in front of Roger.

"Okay, guys, listen up!" Roger said. His eyes traveled along the group, seeing Scott's defiant face, Juliette's excited one and Shelby closed off inside herself. "I am responsible for all of you as Peter and Sophie are gone for the day. However, I also have my own group to look after. With that in mind, Peter has left some independent work for all of you to do."

David groaned. "Dude, tell me not some more soul searching. My imagination can only come up with so much."

"Sorry, David," Roger said. "You know Peter too well." He turned to the group. "Your assignment is to have a piece of visual art handed in to me by 9 pm. Your art piece is to express a moment of intense emotion you've experienced. Any questions?"

"Yeah," said Auggie. "We gotta stay in a classroom to do this? Or can we work wherever we want?"

"This is the part I'm uneasy about," said Roger looking them over again. "Peter's authorized you to go wherever you want – outskirts of the forest, dorm or lodge." Juliette couldn't suppress her smile. Roger looked at her, narrowing his eyes. "You've all got to realize the trust being put into you. Don't break it. One more thing. This is not a day to socialize. As David put it so well, it's about doing some soul searching. So this is to be done individually, understood?"

The Cliffhangers muttered in reply.

"Good. Then I'll see you all back in the lodge by 9 pm with your assignment. Happy Independence Day."

The Cliffhangers straggled back to their dorms to get ready. Roger watched them with a worried look in his eyes.

- - - - -

As soon as they were out of sight of Roger Juliette pulled Auggie and Daisy near her.

"Okay, guys. This will be easy to pull off! All we have to do is meet near the road and hitch a ride down!" Juliette said in a voice a little too loud. Ezra looked towards them.

"Ssh. Jules," whispered Auggie. "I don't know if this is such a good idea. Peter told me a project would be coming up that would help bring up my grades. It's gotta be this one."

"Oh, Auggie," complained Juliette. "You've got so much art work, you can hand anything in!"

"I don't know Jules. And what about you guys?"

"Peter knows Daisy and I aren't artists. He'll take anything we hand in."

"What do you think, Dais?" Auggie asked.

"I say we do it," she said suddenly with determination. "We've got an almost fool-proof chance to get out of here. I don't know about you guys, but the tension's getting to me. I can only do so much to help," she said looking at the backs of Shelby, Talia and Scott.

"Yeah," said Auggie with a sigh. "Old Meat is living up to his nickname. Just sits and sulks all day long."

"Whatever," said Juliette with a happy smile. "So what's the plan?"

- - - - -

Scott had been walking around campus for two hours. As much as he tried, he couldn't concentrate. Shelby had walked away from him as soon as he'd tried to get near her. And Talia – he still couldn't make the connection between the Talia he had known and the Talia he was now seeing. Thinking about her made him get a guilty feeling in the pit of his stomach. Everyday now he was remembering that night, that night he still had locked fuzzily away in his memory. What had happened to her since then?

Scott neared Peter's office, and with a quick look around him, entered the building. Like he had thought, the office door was unlocked. He stood for a minute on the threshold. He'd never been here alone before. But he walked determinedly up to the filing cabinets lining one of the walls. They were locked. In frustration, Scott sat down at Peter's desk. And there, on a neat unopened package was the name: Talia Lewis.

- - - - -

Auggie waited impatiently in the forest beside the road. Finally he heard footsteps and turned to meet Juliette and Daisy.

"Supplies," whispered Juliette pointing to the backpacks she and Daisy were carrying.

"Good idea," whispered back Auggie taking Juliette's pack. "It's 10:30 am. I say we walk for half an hour to get away from Horizon and then try to hitch a ride down. Even if we don't get one we should get to the party on time."

"Great," said Daisy. They began to walk quietly following the road at a close distance. Suddenly Auggie whirled to look behind him.

"What's wrong, Aug?" asked Juliette.

"Didn't you hear that, Jules?" said Auggie, still on edge.

"No, and I don't see anything either, Auggie. You're just being paranoid."

"Maybe. I hope so," said Auggie looking behind him again just to make sure.

- - - - -

Roger couldn't get his mind off the Cliffhangers. Something didn't feel quite right. Deciding to see if Peter had left him further instructions he headed towards Peter's office. Once inside he pushed open the door and came face to face with Scott, looking up from where he was sitting at the desk.

"Scott!" Roger snapped out. "What are you doing here?"

Scott winced and began shoving papers back into a pile on the desk. With one step, Roger was beside him looking at the papers.

"Files on another student? You know these are strictly personal, Scott. What did you think you were doing, huh?" Roger took Scott by the shoulders, pulling him up and shaking him.

"Stop it, Roger!" said Scott pushing himself out of Roger's grasp. For the first time Roger stopped to look at him. Scott had tears in his eyes.

"What's going on, Scott?" Roger demanded. Scott looked away from him, refusing to meet his eyes.

"I asked you a question."

"And you can go to hell," Scott spat out.

Roger stared at Scott for a minute.

"I'm sure Peter will be real interested to hear all about this, Scott. For now, you're on shuns and you're confined to the lodge, understood?" With an iron grip on his shoulder, Roger led Scott out of the office.

I am so sorry this took me so long to post – schoolwork got in the way. Please read and review!