Thank you to everyone who's reading!  Does anyone have any suggestions?  Right now I'm feeling like I'm in a bit of a rut.  For Julie: Thank you for your reviews ...I think I updated a bit sooner!  Summer of Changes

Chapter 8 – Second Chances

Roger was still on Scott's tail.  They were walking silently, Scott leading the way.  He was slowly veering towards one of Shelby's favourite spots.  It was on top of a cliff.  From there, you could see everything for miles around.  They'd gone there mostly at night, staring down at the lights of the cities.  Thinking of the lives down below and wondering what their own lives would have been.  Right now, Scott wanted to be there.  He just wanted to be alone, somewhere where he could sit and think.  And forget.  But first he had to lose Roger.

The opportunity came.  Roger's cell phone rang, and looking apologetically at Scott, he turned away and answered the call.   Scott was gone the next instant, running up a small hill in front of him and then down it, out of Roger's sight.  He kept on going. 

By the time he had neared the spot, Scott was out of breath and he had slowed to a walk.  He went down the small path, and then stopped.  David?  What was he doing here?  David was leaning against a tree, his usual smug face gone.  He was staring down at something intently.  Scott took a few more steps and then saw that something. 

Talia and Shelby.  Together.

Scott almost turned to run.  But at that moment, David looked up and saw him about to turn.  An expression of disgust came over his face, and he looked back down at the girls sitting at the edge of the cliff.  Scott followed his eyes.  Shelby was staring down the cliff, tears coursing down her cheeks.  Instinctively, Scott took two long steps and was kneeling besides her, his arms around her. 

"Shel," he whispered.  "Hey, come on, Shelby."  Shelby woke up at the sound of her name.  Without thinking, she pushed Scott away. 

"You can't have both of us Scott, is it me or her?" Shelby said, pointing to Talia.  Scott looked at Talia.  But she kept staring down the cliff.  Her long brown hair was ruffling in the wind, and she hugged her knees closer.  Shelby looked at Scott.

"I can't believe I asked you this," Shelby said, pressing her lips together.  "It's obvious who your choice is."  She turned away from them all.  But then Scott was beside her again, his arms around her, cradling her.  All he wanted to do was hold her, stop her pain. 

"It's you, Shel, it's always been you," he said.   

- - - - -

Auggie scanned the crowd.  A second ago Jules had been by the bar, but now she'd disappeared.   He looked back at Daisy.  No, she was standing alone under a tree, looking off in the distance.  He followed her gaze.  She was looking at two guys under a large oak tree.  They were both up in each other's faces, as if they were looking to start a fight.  One of them looked sort of like Ezra ... Auggie turned away and walked towards the now deserted bar.  There, only a few metres away, Auggie finally saw Juliette coming out from behind the tree.  He smiled.  She was bent over as she tiptoed behind the bar.  She was chewing her lower lip, and her eyes were focused intently on the refrigerator.  Talk about conspicuous, Auggie thought to himself, and laughed out loud.  But she was slowly nearing her goal.  Come on Jules, you can do it!  He kept on watching, a smile on his lips.  Then he started.  He'd been so intent on Jules that he hadn't seen the man approaching behind her.  He saw Juliette's scared look, the flash of the badge, the glint of the handcuffs...oh no.  If he got those handcuffs on her... Auggie pushed himself out of the crowd and behind the man just in time.

"Ah, sir," Auggie tapped the man on the shoulder.  Still gripping Juliette, the man turned around.

"Yes-" he started.  In that split second, his eyes searching desperately for a solution, Auggie picked up a full punch bowl and slammed it right in the man's face. 

"Let's go!" he said, not waiting for the man's reaction, and grabbed Juliette.  They took off on a run towards the forest.  Behind them, the man was still stunned, clawing at his eyes.  But the next second they heard him yell, and without looking back, they ran faster.

- - - - -

Daisy was still under the tree, watching.  By this time, she'd determined that it was Ezra, but she couldn't see the other guy, his back was towards her.  She walked slowly towards the two figures, keeping among the trees.  What could be going on?  Ezra wasn't the type of guy to start a fight.  Or at least the Ezra she knew.  Finally, Daisy was in hearing distance.

"Look man, I don't know what you're talkin' 'bout," said Ezra, or was it?  Ezra had lost his usual submissive tone and was speaking loudly.  Emphatically.  Taking control of the situation.  What was going on?  But the other guy wasn't backing down either.

"Yeah, you do Friedkin.  Bet you're real unhappy you decided to come down here to celebrate, huh?  Thought you could pull the wool over my eyes forever up at that Horizon place, yeah right."

"Whatever.  I'm not paying you anything.  I don't owe you a thing," Ezra said, rolling his eyes, and making a large gesture with his arms before turning to go.  The other guy grabbed his arm.

"You're not going anywhere.  I let you off once, and I'm not making the same mistake today!  You'll give me the money or-" he pulled out a knife and held it at Ezra's throat.  "Or this."  Daisy winced.  But Ezra laughed. 

"I'm not kidding, man," the other guy said, and he pressed harder.  Daisy could see blood pooling around the knife.  She didn't wait any longer.  Taking up a large branch, she crept up behind them.

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