Chapter Six: Consequences and Other Heartache
They sat side by side on the wood bench outside Peter's office. Scott resisted the urge to joke that they were like two kids waiting to be called in to see the principal. The Cliffhangers had just completed their solos and hiked back that morning. Scott and Shelby had been attached at the hip since they were picked up at their solo sites. Horizon had just come into view when Peter grimly informed them that they were to come to his office after unloading their gear.
Scott's leg bounced up and down on the ball of his foot. The unconscious mannerism gave away his anxiety. It grated on Shelby's nerves. He was shaking the whole bench. Suddenly, she slammed a palm down on his knee, stilling his movements.
"Calm down," she said, the slightest hint of annoyance creeping into her tone.
"Sorry," he said sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it," she said. The hard planes of her face softened, immediately contrite for snapping at him. "They didn't seem mad. It probably won't be that big of a deal."
The door opened. They nearly jumped out of their skins. Peter poked his head around the corner. He gestured for them to come in. They immediately jumped to their feet, flustered. Peter cracked a smile. "Relax. You're not on death row here."
They calmed slightly. He stood to the side as they filed in and sat in the chairs in front of his desk. He closed the door behind them and seated himself on the edge of his desk.
A good sign, Scott noted. If he was really angry he would have sat behind the desk.
They stared up at him warily. He opened his mouth, then immediately shut it. He stood up and paced in front of them. They looked at each other in confusion. He stopped suddenly. "You will both have to repeat the solo. I think we all know that the point of the solo was not realized this time around."
"When?" asked Shelby.
"Whenever we feel that you are ready."
Scott nodded. That was fair. Shelby raised her eyebrow, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Another moment of silence.
"What's our punishment?" she asked finally.
"You tell me."
This time the look they exchanged was pure bewilderment.
"I don't get it," said Scott.
"I'm going to level with you," Peter began. "I'm at a loss with you two. I see good stuff happening, both in group and in your general attitudes. Let me know if I'm way off base here, but I think it's because of this understanding that you have. I can't explain it, and I don't think you can either. I don't want to put an end to this...friendship that you have going. But I also can't let you run around with impunity. So tell me what you think I should do."
He sat down behind the desk. He watched with veiled amusement as they surreptitiously exchanged another look, this one clearly screaming 'Is he serious?'
He studied them from behind the desk. He rested his elbows on the surface of the desk and fisted his right hand inside the left.
Shelby gaped at him, her mouth partially hanging open in amazement. Running through her mind were all the lectures and cliches she had expected him to spout. This was definitely not one of them. In fact, it was a little disconcerting to see Predictable Peter so unpredictable. She snapped her mouth shut.
Finally he stood up. "Since neither of you have any ideas, I'll decide. Kitchens for two weeks, starting Monday."
"That's it?" Scott blurted out. He felt a sharp pinch under his ribs where Shelby elbowed him.
"That's it."
Shelby quickly stood up, ready to bolt before he changed his mind.
"Shel, you can go. Scott, I have something to discuss with you."
They exchanged a final glance, a silent communication that Peter was not privy to. Suddenly in no hurry to leave, Shelby scuffled her way to the door and pulled it shut with a soft click.
She made her way out of the wood lodge and into the crisp air. She breathed in deeply, enjoying the scent of late autumn at Horizon. There had never been air like that in California. A gentle breeze rustled the fallen leaves and sent them into swirling patterns as they danced over the uneven ground.
She was headed for the docks. It had become their unofficial meeting place. It had never been verbalized, but she automatically associated it with Scott and vice versa. She plopped down on the ancient boards and waited.
She was lightly dozing on the docks when she heard the unmistakable tread of his footsteps creak the boards. She turned to greet him. The small smile she wore was replaced with a look of concern when she saw his expression. The anxiety he felt prior to their meeting with Peter was nothing compared to his agitation now.
"What happened?" she asked, alarmed.
He looked like he was on the verge of tears. "She's coming here."
She understood what he meant immediately. "When?"
"Tomorrow."
"And your dad?"
He nodded.
She grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly.
He pulled her closer, engulfing her in his arms. He fiercely held her against his chest as if she were his favorite teddy bear.
She was startled at the close contact but recovered quickly and hugged him back. Her eyes were troubled as she looked at the setting sun over his shoulder.
Sophie rapped on the door softly. Hearing his affirmative answer, she stepped inside the darkening room. "How did it go with Scott?" she asked curiously.
"Not well," Peter said frowning.
"But he's so close to his father! I thought he would be excited." Sophie looked confused.
"He was, until I told him his step mother was coming too."
"So he was angry?"
"No. He was panicky. Scared. I've never seen him so scared..."
"Do you think he'll run?"
"I don't know. But I'll keep an eye on him, just in case."
Shelby had trouble sleeping that night. She couldn't stop thinking about the trials that would await Scott in the morning. She couldn't imagine having to face her step father again. In fact, it was her inability to face what was happening to her that landed her at Horizon in the first place. Her attention was drawn to a flurry of flashes illuminating the wall opposite her window. She smiled.
She had fallen into the habit of sleeping with the curtains pulled back from the window ever since she and Scott had started signaling each other with flashlights. They had worked out a simple system loosely based on Morse Code in order to communicate after lights out.
She rolled out of bed and retrieved her flashlight from under her bed. She crouched by her window sill and flashed once, letting him know that she was awake. He flashed his message again. 'Meet me outside,' it said. She flashed an affirmative reply.
As she was pulling on her sneakers, Daisy's voice startled her. "How Shakespearean," she drawled in her usual mocking tone. "The secret lovers meeting under the cover of darkness, at the risk of death. Or, in our case, shuns."
Shelby rolled her eyes as she pulled on her coat over her pajamas. She knew Daisy wouldn't rat her out. "You know it's not like that," she said, exasperated.
Daisy shrugged. "Be careful," she cautioned.
Shelby smirked. "Oh please. We haven't gotten caught once."
"First time for everything."
Scott was waiting for her outside. They sat on the tufts of grass that separated the boys dorm from the girls, just out of reach of the soft glow that lit up the trails. He was jittery and his expression was haunted. "I had another nightmare."
"You don't have to see her if you don't want to," she said softly. "They can't make you."
"I'll have to sooner or later if I ever want to see my dad again."
She hesitated, knowing he wasn't going to like what she was going to say. "Maybe you should tell your dad."
"He'll never believe me," he said, frustrated. He lowered his head. "He loves her," he whispered.
She moved closer and forced his eyes to meet hers. "You're his son. He loves you," she emphasized. "She can't compete with that."
He wouldn't allow himself to be comforted. "I'm going to try to get some sleep." He neatly side stepped the subject and dismissed her, all in one shot. He walked away without waiting for a reply. She cast a long suffering look at the stars above and went back inside.
His heart leaped into his throat as he saw his father's familiar car pull up in front of the lodge. He had no idea what to expect. Peter give him a reassuring pat on the back as his father stepped out of the car. Father and son regarded each other for a brief second. Mr. Barringer's face broke into a happy smile. He held his arms out to his son. Scott's face assumed a similar smile before he flew into his father's embrace.
Shelby's lips curved into a pleased smile. She was happy for him. From her vantage point on the steps of the lodge, it looked to be a heartfelt reunion.
Martin Barringer pulled away from his son and held him at arms length. "You look great," he said approvingly. His son looked much the way he had before: healthy, alert, and most important, happy. "You've done well," he said to Peter.
Peter smiled. "Give credit where it's due," he said. "Scott's made a lot of progress in the last month."
A new voice joined in. "Scotty, you look like your old self." Elaine was now standing with her arm slung around her husband's waist.
Scott visibly recoiled. "Well I'm not," he said, inching way.
Shelby's eyes narrowed as she assessed Elaine. Exotically pretty, in a dark, conniving sort of way. She wasn't fooled by the eyelash batting doe-eyes that Peter was being subjected to. Any physical beauty she might possess was quickly overshadowed by the ugliness that lay hidden beneath the surface.
Elaine's perfectly timed entrance left a palpable curtain of tension hanging in the air. It effectively ended the small talk and pleasantries, leaving everyone standing uncomfortable and disconcerted by the sudden shift in mood.
Peter's discerning eye quickly picked up on the cause of the sudden transformation. How strange. He made a mental note to bring up the topic of his step mother in Scott's next session. Initially, he thought the anger stemming from his parents' divorce was the cause of Scott's hostility toward Elaine. But now he had the distinct impression that there was more to it than that.
Scott unconsciously sought out Shelby's presence. She was the only one who understood what was really going on. He reached his hand out behind him and was relieved when she took it.
Mr. Barringer's shrewd eyes picked up on the connection. He desperately grabbed at the new thread of conversation, like a drowning man might grab at a life preserver. "Hello," he said pleasantly, striding over to Shelby and holding out his hand. "I'm Martin Barringer, Scott's father."
She hesitantly dropped Scott's hand. "It's nice to meet you," she said genuinely. "I'm Shelby."
"Shelby's my best friend," Scott spoke up, needing his father to understand the importance of her role in his life.
Something inside of her awakened in recognition of his words. She stood up straighter, proud that he thought of her that way.
Mr. Barringer nodded at her. Then he looked at Scott. "You hungry?"
"Are you kidding? I'm dying for some real food." After a quick good bye to Shelby and Peter, they walked to the car. Elaine was seated in the front seat, applying more lipstick.
Shelby sat on the steps once more, refusing to leave until they had driven off. Scott came running back to the stairs. "My dad wants to know if you want to come too." He looked at her hopefully.
"Peter?" she asked.
He nodded his assent. "I'll see you two later."
They were seated at Rusty's with plates of burgers and fries placed in front of them. Shelby didn't like the appraising glances or innuendo laced comments that Elaine directed at Scott. Mr. Barringer remained blissfully unaware, simply content to have his family whole again.
Shelby was fuming. Why couldn't he see what was going on right in front of him? And what was wrong with Elaine, blatantly hitting on her stepson in front of her husband? For the first time, Shelby saw what it was like in Scott's world. It wasn't all football and homecoming queens like she had assumed. No, it was more like the American dream turned nightmare.
Elaine directed her cool gaze at Shelby. "So, Shelly, where are you from?"
"Actually, it's Shelby," she barely said through clenched teeth. "And I'm originally from California."
"If you don't mind me asking," she said in a friendly conversational tone, "why are you at Horizon?"
Shelby's tightly clenched hands shook under the table, though her face was a picture of nonchalance. Scott looked like he was going to throw up.
"Well," she said, her anger making her bold, "I ran away from home and turned to drugs, among other things, as a result of the physical and sexual abuse I suffered at the hands of my step father." She stressed the last two words, clearly telling Elaine exactly what she thought of her.
Her eyes, now blazing with anger, caught the brief instant when Elaine lost her composure and blanched.
Elaine quickly dodged back. "'Among other things?'"
Martin looked like he was about to say something, but was interrupted by his cell phone. He sighed. "I'm sorry. If you'll excuse me."
Elaine seized her opportunity. "Shelby, will you show me where the bathroom is?" she asked sweetly.
"It's right over there." Scott pointed condescendingly to the clearly marked sign, his voice full of disgust.
"She might get lost," Shelby said snidely. "I'd be happy to show her the way."
Shelby stood and turned, waiting for Elaine. Elaine laid a hand on Scott's shoulder. "We'll be back soon, Scotty," she said in a sultry voice.
He unsuccessfully tried to suppress a shudder as he batted her hand away.
Shelby's blood boiled. She stalked to the bathroom, not waiting to see if the other woman was following. She had already seen enough.
Luckily, the restroom was empty. "You disgust me," Shelby hissed. "They should lock up people like you."
"Oh Shelby," Elaine said woefully. "There's a lot you need to learn about men."
Shelby barely restrained herself from contradicting her. There's no need to give her more ammunition, she reminded herself. Especially since I haven't even told Scott.
"Men are fickle," Elaine continued. "Scotty used to write me the most heart wrenching love letters. But look at the way he treats me now."
"Because you forced him to have sex with you and ruined his family!" Shelby sputtered.
Elaine continued speaking as if she hadn't heard her. "How long do you think it will be before he gets tired of you too?" Her calculating eyes probed Shelby's defiant ones.
Shelby's insecurities began to get the best of her. "You can't hide this forever," she said shakily, her rage slowly giving way to fear.
"Who's going to tell? Scotty wouldn't dare. And Martin wouldn't believe a trashy little whore like you." Her smug voice floated away into nothingness as she let Shelby absorb the stinging insult.
She felt her stomach turn over painfully. She felt nauseous. Elaine had gotten the best of her. Elaine had won.
"Everything okay?" Martin asked brightly, as Elaine sauntered back to the table. Shelby trailed behind her listlessly.
"Just wonderful," Elaine smiled and pecked him on the cheek. "Shelby and I were just getting better acquainted." She winked at Shelby.
Shelby wanted to throw up. Scott looked at her questioningly. She avoided his gaze. He could only speculate as to what must have happened in there. He was all too familiar with Elaine's little mind games. He began to get a sinking feeling in his stomach. He never should have subjected Shelby to Elaine. He should have been strong enough to deal with her on his own. But no, he had selfishly dragged Shelby into it. And now there was no telling what Elaine had done to her.
"Uh, Dad?"
"Yes, Scott." His father smiled at him.
"Do you think we could head back now? I'm feeling kind of tired."
Martin's smile faltered a little bit. "Oh, sure. If that's what you want. We'll have plenty of time to catch up tomorrow. We're here for the whole weekend, after all."
Scott smiled back weakly.
Elaine calmly munched on her salad.
When they arrived back at Horizon, it was just after curfew. They headed back to their respective dorms. Scott immediately took his flashlight from his drawer, oblivious to the fact that Auggie and Ezra were still up. They gave him puzzled looks as he furiously signaled out the window.
"Scott, man, you okay?" Auggie ventured.
No response. Shelby wasn't responding.
She was too busy emptying the contents of her stomach in the bathroom, as a concerned Kat held her hair.
Daisy sat up in bed. Scott's flashlight blinked incessantly above her head as she heard the sound of Shelby's retching. She had the distinct impression that something was horribly wrong. She hesitantly padded to the bathroom. Shelby was crouched in the corner shaking as Kat stroked her hair. Wordlessly, Daisy sank to the floor and embraced them both.
Mr. Barringer smiled contentedly. As far as he was concerned, all was right with the world. There would be plenty of time to reconnect with Scott in the morning.
His wife gave an ironic chuckle beside him. He loved the sound of her laugh. "What's so funny?" he asked, smiling at her indulgently.
"Nothing," she said, patting his hand. "Just looking forward to tomorrow."
End Chapter Six
It seemed wrong to break this chapter up into parts. In my opinion, it ruined the flow. So that's why this chapter is twice as long as the rest. Also, if you haven't noticed, you won't find too many author's notes or comments before chapters, since I find that highly distracting. And while I'm at it, is there anyone out there still reading? I can't tell. (hint hint) For now I'll chalk it up to the instability of the site. But soon there won't be any more excuses.
They sat side by side on the wood bench outside Peter's office. Scott resisted the urge to joke that they were like two kids waiting to be called in to see the principal. The Cliffhangers had just completed their solos and hiked back that morning. Scott and Shelby had been attached at the hip since they were picked up at their solo sites. Horizon had just come into view when Peter grimly informed them that they were to come to his office after unloading their gear.
Scott's leg bounced up and down on the ball of his foot. The unconscious mannerism gave away his anxiety. It grated on Shelby's nerves. He was shaking the whole bench. Suddenly, she slammed a palm down on his knee, stilling his movements.
"Calm down," she said, the slightest hint of annoyance creeping into her tone.
"Sorry," he said sheepishly.
"Don't worry about it," she said. The hard planes of her face softened, immediately contrite for snapping at him. "They didn't seem mad. It probably won't be that big of a deal."
The door opened. They nearly jumped out of their skins. Peter poked his head around the corner. He gestured for them to come in. They immediately jumped to their feet, flustered. Peter cracked a smile. "Relax. You're not on death row here."
They calmed slightly. He stood to the side as they filed in and sat in the chairs in front of his desk. He closed the door behind them and seated himself on the edge of his desk.
A good sign, Scott noted. If he was really angry he would have sat behind the desk.
They stared up at him warily. He opened his mouth, then immediately shut it. He stood up and paced in front of them. They looked at each other in confusion. He stopped suddenly. "You will both have to repeat the solo. I think we all know that the point of the solo was not realized this time around."
"When?" asked Shelby.
"Whenever we feel that you are ready."
Scott nodded. That was fair. Shelby raised her eyebrow, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Another moment of silence.
"What's our punishment?" she asked finally.
"You tell me."
This time the look they exchanged was pure bewilderment.
"I don't get it," said Scott.
"I'm going to level with you," Peter began. "I'm at a loss with you two. I see good stuff happening, both in group and in your general attitudes. Let me know if I'm way off base here, but I think it's because of this understanding that you have. I can't explain it, and I don't think you can either. I don't want to put an end to this...friendship that you have going. But I also can't let you run around with impunity. So tell me what you think I should do."
He sat down behind the desk. He watched with veiled amusement as they surreptitiously exchanged another look, this one clearly screaming 'Is he serious?'
He studied them from behind the desk. He rested his elbows on the surface of the desk and fisted his right hand inside the left.
Shelby gaped at him, her mouth partially hanging open in amazement. Running through her mind were all the lectures and cliches she had expected him to spout. This was definitely not one of them. In fact, it was a little disconcerting to see Predictable Peter so unpredictable. She snapped her mouth shut.
Finally he stood up. "Since neither of you have any ideas, I'll decide. Kitchens for two weeks, starting Monday."
"That's it?" Scott blurted out. He felt a sharp pinch under his ribs where Shelby elbowed him.
"That's it."
Shelby quickly stood up, ready to bolt before he changed his mind.
"Shel, you can go. Scott, I have something to discuss with you."
They exchanged a final glance, a silent communication that Peter was not privy to. Suddenly in no hurry to leave, Shelby scuffled her way to the door and pulled it shut with a soft click.
She made her way out of the wood lodge and into the crisp air. She breathed in deeply, enjoying the scent of late autumn at Horizon. There had never been air like that in California. A gentle breeze rustled the fallen leaves and sent them into swirling patterns as they danced over the uneven ground.
She was headed for the docks. It had become their unofficial meeting place. It had never been verbalized, but she automatically associated it with Scott and vice versa. She plopped down on the ancient boards and waited.
She was lightly dozing on the docks when she heard the unmistakable tread of his footsteps creak the boards. She turned to greet him. The small smile she wore was replaced with a look of concern when she saw his expression. The anxiety he felt prior to their meeting with Peter was nothing compared to his agitation now.
"What happened?" she asked, alarmed.
He looked like he was on the verge of tears. "She's coming here."
She understood what he meant immediately. "When?"
"Tomorrow."
"And your dad?"
He nodded.
She grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly.
He pulled her closer, engulfing her in his arms. He fiercely held her against his chest as if she were his favorite teddy bear.
She was startled at the close contact but recovered quickly and hugged him back. Her eyes were troubled as she looked at the setting sun over his shoulder.
Sophie rapped on the door softly. Hearing his affirmative answer, she stepped inside the darkening room. "How did it go with Scott?" she asked curiously.
"Not well," Peter said frowning.
"But he's so close to his father! I thought he would be excited." Sophie looked confused.
"He was, until I told him his step mother was coming too."
"So he was angry?"
"No. He was panicky. Scared. I've never seen him so scared..."
"Do you think he'll run?"
"I don't know. But I'll keep an eye on him, just in case."
Shelby had trouble sleeping that night. She couldn't stop thinking about the trials that would await Scott in the morning. She couldn't imagine having to face her step father again. In fact, it was her inability to face what was happening to her that landed her at Horizon in the first place. Her attention was drawn to a flurry of flashes illuminating the wall opposite her window. She smiled.
She had fallen into the habit of sleeping with the curtains pulled back from the window ever since she and Scott had started signaling each other with flashlights. They had worked out a simple system loosely based on Morse Code in order to communicate after lights out.
She rolled out of bed and retrieved her flashlight from under her bed. She crouched by her window sill and flashed once, letting him know that she was awake. He flashed his message again. 'Meet me outside,' it said. She flashed an affirmative reply.
As she was pulling on her sneakers, Daisy's voice startled her. "How Shakespearean," she drawled in her usual mocking tone. "The secret lovers meeting under the cover of darkness, at the risk of death. Or, in our case, shuns."
Shelby rolled her eyes as she pulled on her coat over her pajamas. She knew Daisy wouldn't rat her out. "You know it's not like that," she said, exasperated.
Daisy shrugged. "Be careful," she cautioned.
Shelby smirked. "Oh please. We haven't gotten caught once."
"First time for everything."
Scott was waiting for her outside. They sat on the tufts of grass that separated the boys dorm from the girls, just out of reach of the soft glow that lit up the trails. He was jittery and his expression was haunted. "I had another nightmare."
"You don't have to see her if you don't want to," she said softly. "They can't make you."
"I'll have to sooner or later if I ever want to see my dad again."
She hesitated, knowing he wasn't going to like what she was going to say. "Maybe you should tell your dad."
"He'll never believe me," he said, frustrated. He lowered his head. "He loves her," he whispered.
She moved closer and forced his eyes to meet hers. "You're his son. He loves you," she emphasized. "She can't compete with that."
He wouldn't allow himself to be comforted. "I'm going to try to get some sleep." He neatly side stepped the subject and dismissed her, all in one shot. He walked away without waiting for a reply. She cast a long suffering look at the stars above and went back inside.
His heart leaped into his throat as he saw his father's familiar car pull up in front of the lodge. He had no idea what to expect. Peter give him a reassuring pat on the back as his father stepped out of the car. Father and son regarded each other for a brief second. Mr. Barringer's face broke into a happy smile. He held his arms out to his son. Scott's face assumed a similar smile before he flew into his father's embrace.
Shelby's lips curved into a pleased smile. She was happy for him. From her vantage point on the steps of the lodge, it looked to be a heartfelt reunion.
Martin Barringer pulled away from his son and held him at arms length. "You look great," he said approvingly. His son looked much the way he had before: healthy, alert, and most important, happy. "You've done well," he said to Peter.
Peter smiled. "Give credit where it's due," he said. "Scott's made a lot of progress in the last month."
A new voice joined in. "Scotty, you look like your old self." Elaine was now standing with her arm slung around her husband's waist.
Scott visibly recoiled. "Well I'm not," he said, inching way.
Shelby's eyes narrowed as she assessed Elaine. Exotically pretty, in a dark, conniving sort of way. She wasn't fooled by the eyelash batting doe-eyes that Peter was being subjected to. Any physical beauty she might possess was quickly overshadowed by the ugliness that lay hidden beneath the surface.
Elaine's perfectly timed entrance left a palpable curtain of tension hanging in the air. It effectively ended the small talk and pleasantries, leaving everyone standing uncomfortable and disconcerted by the sudden shift in mood.
Peter's discerning eye quickly picked up on the cause of the sudden transformation. How strange. He made a mental note to bring up the topic of his step mother in Scott's next session. Initially, he thought the anger stemming from his parents' divorce was the cause of Scott's hostility toward Elaine. But now he had the distinct impression that there was more to it than that.
Scott unconsciously sought out Shelby's presence. She was the only one who understood what was really going on. He reached his hand out behind him and was relieved when she took it.
Mr. Barringer's shrewd eyes picked up on the connection. He desperately grabbed at the new thread of conversation, like a drowning man might grab at a life preserver. "Hello," he said pleasantly, striding over to Shelby and holding out his hand. "I'm Martin Barringer, Scott's father."
She hesitantly dropped Scott's hand. "It's nice to meet you," she said genuinely. "I'm Shelby."
"Shelby's my best friend," Scott spoke up, needing his father to understand the importance of her role in his life.
Something inside of her awakened in recognition of his words. She stood up straighter, proud that he thought of her that way.
Mr. Barringer nodded at her. Then he looked at Scott. "You hungry?"
"Are you kidding? I'm dying for some real food." After a quick good bye to Shelby and Peter, they walked to the car. Elaine was seated in the front seat, applying more lipstick.
Shelby sat on the steps once more, refusing to leave until they had driven off. Scott came running back to the stairs. "My dad wants to know if you want to come too." He looked at her hopefully.
"Peter?" she asked.
He nodded his assent. "I'll see you two later."
They were seated at Rusty's with plates of burgers and fries placed in front of them. Shelby didn't like the appraising glances or innuendo laced comments that Elaine directed at Scott. Mr. Barringer remained blissfully unaware, simply content to have his family whole again.
Shelby was fuming. Why couldn't he see what was going on right in front of him? And what was wrong with Elaine, blatantly hitting on her stepson in front of her husband? For the first time, Shelby saw what it was like in Scott's world. It wasn't all football and homecoming queens like she had assumed. No, it was more like the American dream turned nightmare.
Elaine directed her cool gaze at Shelby. "So, Shelly, where are you from?"
"Actually, it's Shelby," she barely said through clenched teeth. "And I'm originally from California."
"If you don't mind me asking," she said in a friendly conversational tone, "why are you at Horizon?"
Shelby's tightly clenched hands shook under the table, though her face was a picture of nonchalance. Scott looked like he was going to throw up.
"Well," she said, her anger making her bold, "I ran away from home and turned to drugs, among other things, as a result of the physical and sexual abuse I suffered at the hands of my step father." She stressed the last two words, clearly telling Elaine exactly what she thought of her.
Her eyes, now blazing with anger, caught the brief instant when Elaine lost her composure and blanched.
Elaine quickly dodged back. "'Among other things?'"
Martin looked like he was about to say something, but was interrupted by his cell phone. He sighed. "I'm sorry. If you'll excuse me."
Elaine seized her opportunity. "Shelby, will you show me where the bathroom is?" she asked sweetly.
"It's right over there." Scott pointed condescendingly to the clearly marked sign, his voice full of disgust.
"She might get lost," Shelby said snidely. "I'd be happy to show her the way."
Shelby stood and turned, waiting for Elaine. Elaine laid a hand on Scott's shoulder. "We'll be back soon, Scotty," she said in a sultry voice.
He unsuccessfully tried to suppress a shudder as he batted her hand away.
Shelby's blood boiled. She stalked to the bathroom, not waiting to see if the other woman was following. She had already seen enough.
Luckily, the restroom was empty. "You disgust me," Shelby hissed. "They should lock up people like you."
"Oh Shelby," Elaine said woefully. "There's a lot you need to learn about men."
Shelby barely restrained herself from contradicting her. There's no need to give her more ammunition, she reminded herself. Especially since I haven't even told Scott.
"Men are fickle," Elaine continued. "Scotty used to write me the most heart wrenching love letters. But look at the way he treats me now."
"Because you forced him to have sex with you and ruined his family!" Shelby sputtered.
Elaine continued speaking as if she hadn't heard her. "How long do you think it will be before he gets tired of you too?" Her calculating eyes probed Shelby's defiant ones.
Shelby's insecurities began to get the best of her. "You can't hide this forever," she said shakily, her rage slowly giving way to fear.
"Who's going to tell? Scotty wouldn't dare. And Martin wouldn't believe a trashy little whore like you." Her smug voice floated away into nothingness as she let Shelby absorb the stinging insult.
She felt her stomach turn over painfully. She felt nauseous. Elaine had gotten the best of her. Elaine had won.
"Everything okay?" Martin asked brightly, as Elaine sauntered back to the table. Shelby trailed behind her listlessly.
"Just wonderful," Elaine smiled and pecked him on the cheek. "Shelby and I were just getting better acquainted." She winked at Shelby.
Shelby wanted to throw up. Scott looked at her questioningly. She avoided his gaze. He could only speculate as to what must have happened in there. He was all too familiar with Elaine's little mind games. He began to get a sinking feeling in his stomach. He never should have subjected Shelby to Elaine. He should have been strong enough to deal with her on his own. But no, he had selfishly dragged Shelby into it. And now there was no telling what Elaine had done to her.
"Uh, Dad?"
"Yes, Scott." His father smiled at him.
"Do you think we could head back now? I'm feeling kind of tired."
Martin's smile faltered a little bit. "Oh, sure. If that's what you want. We'll have plenty of time to catch up tomorrow. We're here for the whole weekend, after all."
Scott smiled back weakly.
Elaine calmly munched on her salad.
When they arrived back at Horizon, it was just after curfew. They headed back to their respective dorms. Scott immediately took his flashlight from his drawer, oblivious to the fact that Auggie and Ezra were still up. They gave him puzzled looks as he furiously signaled out the window.
"Scott, man, you okay?" Auggie ventured.
No response. Shelby wasn't responding.
She was too busy emptying the contents of her stomach in the bathroom, as a concerned Kat held her hair.
Daisy sat up in bed. Scott's flashlight blinked incessantly above her head as she heard the sound of Shelby's retching. She had the distinct impression that something was horribly wrong. She hesitantly padded to the bathroom. Shelby was crouched in the corner shaking as Kat stroked her hair. Wordlessly, Daisy sank to the floor and embraced them both.
Mr. Barringer smiled contentedly. As far as he was concerned, all was right with the world. There would be plenty of time to reconnect with Scott in the morning.
His wife gave an ironic chuckle beside him. He loved the sound of her laugh. "What's so funny?" he asked, smiling at her indulgently.
"Nothing," she said, patting his hand. "Just looking forward to tomorrow."
End Chapter Six
It seemed wrong to break this chapter up into parts. In my opinion, it ruined the flow. So that's why this chapter is twice as long as the rest. Also, if you haven't noticed, you won't find too many author's notes or comments before chapters, since I find that highly distracting. And while I'm at it, is there anyone out there still reading? I can't tell. (hint hint) For now I'll chalk it up to the instability of the site. But soon there won't be any more excuses.