Dance
Chapter Seven: The Truth Will Set You Free
"Shelby, what happened?" Daisy was truly scared for her. She had never seen her so upset before. Shelby was the master of keeping everything inside. The fact that she was breaking down in front of them for once spoke volumes.
"Are you sick?" Kat asked gently.
Shelby closed her eyes and shook her head. "I think it's passed."
Juliette strolled into the bathroom. "Can someone please tell Scott to stop shining his flashlight in the window? I'm trying to sleep." She stopped suddenly. The other three girls were huddled on the floor, talking in hushed tones. "What's going on?"
Shelby couldn't stop shaking. She was angry, because that woman had hurt Scott and was going to get away with it. She was hurt, because no matter how much Elaine's insults were bitter and said out of malice, they were still true. '...trashy little whore...' She was scared, because what if Elaine was right? 'How long do you think it will be before he gets tired of you too?' What would she do if he didn't want to be her friend anymore? She was disgusted, because she had let Elaine mess with her head. But most of all, she was repulsed that there could be anyone like Elaine in the world.
She lunged for the toilet as her stomach turned over again. She felt like her body was trying to cleanse itself of any trace of that woman. Not that she could blame it. Is this how Scott felt, after... She gagged painfully, her throat burning, as the familiar pungent taste swept through her mouth. Hot tears squeezed out of her eyes and mingled with the sweat seeping from her skin.
Daisy ran to her side. "Get Peter or Sophie," she said helplessly to Kat. "I don't know what's wrong with her. She might need a doctor."
Kat nodded. She looked at Shelby sympathetically, then tore out of the cabin, not even bothering with a coat.
"What can I do?" asked Juliette worriedly.
"Go get Scott. I have a feeling he knows what's going on."
"No," Shelby protested weakly. Her eyes widened in panic. He can't know anything about this. She couldn't let him know how she let Elaine get to her.
"Fine, look out for Peter or Sophie then."
Juliette nodded, glad to be useful. She ran to the window.
By this time, Scott and the others were almost to the door of the girls' dorm. Scott was worried about Shelby. Seeing Kat run out of the cabin, seemingly not caring that it was past curfew or about getting caught, was the only excuse he needed to go investigate.
He nearly tore the door off its hinges. Juliette whirled around from the window, startled. "What's wrong?" he asked, his heart racing. "Where's Shelby?"
He surveyed the room. Three of the beds were disturbed. It looked like they had been vacated hastily. The fourth, the one he knew must be Shelby's, was untouched. He looked at the bathroom door. It was partly open. A thin triangle of light poured out onto the dark floor boards. He moved toward the door.
"I don't think she wants to see you," Juliette said hesitantly.
There was no stopping him. He pushed the door open all the way. "Shelby?"
Juliette looked at Auggie helplessly. "What's going on?" he asked, frowning.
"I'm not sure. Shelby is pretty upset. I've never seen her like that before." Her voice was hushed, almost in awe.
"Something must've happen when she was with Scott and his parents," Ezra spoke up. "Scott was acting weird when he came back too."
Auggie shook his head. "I don't know, man. Something doesn't feel right."
Scott poked his head in the bathroom. Shelby was hunched over the toilet. She was pale and shaking. Her face was wet, from tears or sweat, he didn't know. Daisy held her hair with one hand and rubbed her back with the other. She looked at him gratefully. "Maybe you can tell me what's going on."
He ignored her. Shelby had been fine until he had let her go to the bathroom with Elaine. This was all his fault.
Shelby pulled herself away form the porcelain and painfully curled up into a ball on the floor. Just don't think about it, she told herself. Think about something else.
Scott kneeled on the floor next to her. She finally registered his presence. She turned her head away. "Go away," she whispered weakly.
"No," he said stubbornly. "Shelby, what did she do to you?"
"Nothing," she mumbled.
"Shelby, you have to tell me what she did to you. Did she hurt you? What did she say?" His voice grew louder with every question.
"You're not helping," Daisy told him reproachfully.
He bit back a hostile comment. She was right. He gathered Shelby's limp body in his arms. He gently picked her up and carried her out of the bathroom. He deposited her carefully on her bed and swept the damp hair off of her forehead. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
Her throat was too raw to respond. She felt weak. I'm probably dehydrated, she realized. She didn't like being the center of attention. Everyone was standing around her bed like she was dying or something. She wished they would go away.
Peter and Sophie barged in a few minutes later. They were out of breath because they had been all the way across campus, ready to go home, when Kat had finally found them.
"I want everyone to go to the boys' dorm," Peter announced. His tone left no room for argument. "You're going to be on the Honor system. Don't make me regret this."
"I'm staying," Scott said quietly.
"I really don't think-" Sophie began.
"I'm staying," he repeated firmly.
Peter acquiesced. He glanced at Sophie, silently giving her instructions. He pulled Scott over to the far side of the cabin as Sophie cautiously lowered herself to the corner of Shelby's bed.
"Shelby? Are you alright?" Her voice was low and soothing.
Shelby shook her head.
"Tell me what's wrong."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"It's not my story to tell."
Sophie patted her hand and crossed the room to where Peter was waiting to compare notes.
"He won't tell me anything."
"Ditto."
"Alright, let's talk to them both at the same time. Maybe they'll be more forthcoming."
"Can you tell what's going on over there?"
"Maybe, if you'd get your fat head out of the way!"
"Move over!"
"Go to the other window!"
"No, I was here first."
"Wait, now they're talking to both of them. Scott looks nervous."
"Scott, how was the visit with your parents?" asked Peter.
He looked at his hands. "It was good seeing my dad again."
"But that's not what I asked you," Peter said slowly. "Shelby? What about you? Did you have fun?"
If it was possible, her face paled even whiter.
Scott played with the edge of his shirt. He knew what she was doing. Elaine did something to her to make her upset, but she wouldn't tell Peter, because then she'd have to tell him what Elaine had done to him. He felt his fear of Elaine ebb away, while his anger intensified. He couldn't take it anymore. He was sick of lying to everyone, his father, his friends, Peter...He was tired of being scared and manipulated. He was tired of everyone thinking that he did drugs just for the heck of it. It was time for some truth.
"Scott? What is it?"
He snapped. "I hate her!" he yelled. His face darkened. His voice rose and his face contorted in fury.
Sophie jumped in surprise at his outburst. "Who?"
"Elaine..." Peter said. It all made sense now. The clues had been there, he just hadn't been able to put it together.
"She broke up my family! She stole my father and she stole my life! She...she made me..." He punched the air in frustration. "She made me have sex with her!"
Sophie gasped. Suddenly, all the anger bottled up inside Scott began to make sense. Her eyes became sorrowful. Her heart reached out to him.
"She wouldn't leave me alone! I told her to stop and she wouldn't. She-" He stopped suddenly as the sobs wracked through his body. He fell to his knees, whispering now. "She wouldn't stop. She's the reason I had to get high everyday. It's her fault." He dragged his gaze to Shelby.
She was sitting up, wide eyed. Even she had not expected that degree of rage and anguish.
"I'm sorry, Shelby," he said. "This is all my fault. I'm sorry you had to be around her and I'm sorry for whatever she did to you. I'm so sorry!"
The tears poured freely down his face as he gave into the pain and relief he felt at finally having told the truth.
"Scott," she said quietly. Her throat was still sore and raspy, but he needed to hear this. "You don't have anything to be sorry about. None of this is your fault. None." Her face wrinkled in disgust. "She's the one with problems. And she didn't do anything to me. Empty threats. That's all it was. I got scared because I thought that maybe she was right about some of the things she said. But I know now that she's not."
How could she have ever been so dumb as to think that Scott wouldn't want to be her friend? They depended on each other. Elaine had seen that and twisted it into something to taunt her with. Well, it wasn't going to work. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck.
"I hate her," he sobbed.
"I know."
Peter cleared his throat. They both looked up. They had almost forgotten he and Sophie were there.
"Scott, I'm sorry to have to tell you this. I have to report what you just told me."
"To who?"
"To Child Services. There will be an investigation into the allegations. Possibly a trial."
"I just want to make her pay for what she did to me," he spat. He paused, a new thought suddenly popping into his head. "Do I have to tell my dad?" he asked pathetically.
"He's going to find out anyway. Don't you think it would be better if he heard it from you?"
"No one's ever going to believe me."
"I believe you," he said, looking him straight in the eye.
"So do I," she whispered in his ear.
He nodded grimly. "I just want it to be over."
Much later, Shelby finally burrowed under her blankets. Everyone had been allowed back into the dorms. She had assured Peter and Sophie that she was fine now. But was she really? She knew that Scott would never turn his back on her because he was tired of her. But what about when he found out that she really was a skank?
What would make her different from Elaine in his eyes? They had both taken sex and twisted it into something dirty and ugly. They had both used it to suit their own purposes. Was she really all that different from that horrible woman?
She vowed never to tell him. He would never understand.
Morning came all too quickly. The Barringers were expected to arrive after breakfast. Needless to say, no one ate much that morning. The rest of the Cliffhangers knew something was up. They didn't know the exact details, but they could feel a disturbance, something that was definitely out of place.
Peter approached the Cliffhanger's table. They were all staring down at their plates morosely. He couldn't tell if it was because of last night's excitement and the subsequent lack of sleep, or the innate knowledge that something was amiss.
"Scott."
He looked up, resigned.
"They're here."
He nodded.
Shelby squeezed his hand under the table. "Do you want me to come?"
"No," he said quickly. "I need to do this alone. And I don't want you anywhere near her."
He pushed his chair away from the table. They looked at him, silently wishing him luck. He walked away.
Peter gave them a reassuring glance, then hurried after Scott.
Shelby cradled her chin in her hands glumly. For the first time in a long time, she raised a silent prayer to God.
Martin Barringer's knees buckled in shock. He quickly sat down on the hard wood chair before he could collapse. Scott had to be lying. He was still not himself. He couldn't be. His son would never say the things that were pouring out of Scott's mouth. His son was a star football player, always surrounded by friends. His son was a good kid, liked by teachers and adults.
His son was staring at him, resigned to his fate. His shoulders slumped and his head bowed. But he didn't cry. He had no more tears left. He saw the refusal in his father's eyes. He knew he was asking his father to believe the impossible, to trust him even though he had no reason to anymore. It was a lost cause. His father had lost everything after he had turned to drugs, and now he was asking him to give up his new wife in exchange for a broken son? The hardest part was seeing his father's eyes turn to stone, as if he wasn't really seeing him. As if he was a nameless stranger, just someone he might pass on the street.
Elaine was stunned. When had she lost control of the situation? She maintained her composure on the outside, looking innocent and shocked at the accusations. Inside, the first signs of panic grabbed her heart and threatened to choke her. Peter Scarbrow was scrutinizing her and she didn't like it. Could he tell? Could he tell that she was guilty?
Martin looked from his wife to his son helplessly. His wife, his beautiful, lovely wife, looked outraged. His eyes roamed her face. Is it possible that he could have been so wrong about someone? Could he have fallen in love with someone who could do the terrible things that she was being accused of? He didn't want to believe it. He was scared to admit to himself that he could have been blinded and fooled by the things she wanted him to see. So he didn't.
The next blow was brutal for Scott. His father grabbed Elaine's hand and led her out of the door. He looked at his son then quickly looked away, as if pained by the sight of him.
"Mr. Barringer, wait." Peter unsuccessfully tried to keep him from running away.
In the midst of all the confusion, Scott caught Elaine's look of triumph. 'I win,' it said. She smirked at him as the door closed behind her.
Utter silence. Before Peter could say anything, he ran outside. He saw the tail lights of his father's car speeding farther and farther away from him. He felt like his still beating heart had been ripped out of him with a dull knife. The father he had always worshipped and looked up to had made his decision. He felt like an orphan.
But an indescribable emotion began to work its way up from the very bottoms of his feet and radiate through his limbs. Relief. The truth was out there, no longer trapped inside his head or his heart. He was finally free. It was a bittersweet moment.
Peter stepped out of the lodge. He patted Scott's shoulder. "He'll come around. It's just going to take some time."
"I hope so."
"What you did today took courage. I'm so proud of you. No matter what lies she tries to hide behind, you have the truth on your side. Just remember that."
Daisy and Shelby sat beneath the shade of a large oak tree. Shelby looked at her watch for the fifth time within the last ten minutes.
"I'm sure he's alright," Daisy ventured.
Shelby said nothing.
"What about you? Are you alright?"
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I just thought-"
"Well you obviously thought wrong," she snapped.
Daisy was unruffled. Shelby's self preservation tactics had ceased to be a mystery to her a long time ago.
"What got you so upset last night?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "Just the thought of that woman-"
"-and what she did to Scott," Daisy supplied.
"No, it wasn't just that. This is going to sound insane, but it was almost like part of her saw something in me and knew me." She shuddered. "She made me feel so low. As if I was so low that it wasn't even worth the effort to look at me."
"You are nothing like her." Daisy's intuitive nature picked up on what Shelby was really scared of.
"How do you know?" she whispered. "The things I've done-"
"-have helped shape you, but they don't define you."
Shelby mulled that statement over.
"You're going to have to face your past, you know. You can't hide from it forever."
"No," she said, standing up. "But I can try."
He found her later that afternoon, sitting by herself in the lodge. She waited for him to speak.
"For the first time in a long time," he confessed, "I feel safe in my own skin."
She smiled sadly. "That must feel great."
"You helped me face my demons. I want to return the favor." He was serious. He realized he knew next to nothing about her past.
"I don't think I'm ready for that yet," she said, hugging a pillow closer to her chest.
He pulled a bundle from behind his back. "Then maybe you can start with this."
She looked at her old ballet slippers. "I stopped being this girl a long time ago." She reached out and traced the lines of the ribbons. A memento from her past. "Will you hold onto them for me?"
A look of confusion.
"I don't want them now. But I might...someday."
End Chapter Seven
Some random concerns:
Am I getting too melodramatic? Have I softened Shelby's character too much? Have I made Scott into a wuss? Do I use the same words or expressions too freakin much?
Constructive criticism is always appreciated.
And I usually don't do this, but...
To Hidden Identity: Thank you so much. Your comments always mean so much to me, and I appreciate that you've stuck with me from way back at the GG board. You're awesome.
Chapter Seven: The Truth Will Set You Free
"Shelby, what happened?" Daisy was truly scared for her. She had never seen her so upset before. Shelby was the master of keeping everything inside. The fact that she was breaking down in front of them for once spoke volumes.
"Are you sick?" Kat asked gently.
Shelby closed her eyes and shook her head. "I think it's passed."
Juliette strolled into the bathroom. "Can someone please tell Scott to stop shining his flashlight in the window? I'm trying to sleep." She stopped suddenly. The other three girls were huddled on the floor, talking in hushed tones. "What's going on?"
Shelby couldn't stop shaking. She was angry, because that woman had hurt Scott and was going to get away with it. She was hurt, because no matter how much Elaine's insults were bitter and said out of malice, they were still true. '...trashy little whore...' She was scared, because what if Elaine was right? 'How long do you think it will be before he gets tired of you too?' What would she do if he didn't want to be her friend anymore? She was disgusted, because she had let Elaine mess with her head. But most of all, she was repulsed that there could be anyone like Elaine in the world.
She lunged for the toilet as her stomach turned over again. She felt like her body was trying to cleanse itself of any trace of that woman. Not that she could blame it. Is this how Scott felt, after... She gagged painfully, her throat burning, as the familiar pungent taste swept through her mouth. Hot tears squeezed out of her eyes and mingled with the sweat seeping from her skin.
Daisy ran to her side. "Get Peter or Sophie," she said helplessly to Kat. "I don't know what's wrong with her. She might need a doctor."
Kat nodded. She looked at Shelby sympathetically, then tore out of the cabin, not even bothering with a coat.
"What can I do?" asked Juliette worriedly.
"Go get Scott. I have a feeling he knows what's going on."
"No," Shelby protested weakly. Her eyes widened in panic. He can't know anything about this. She couldn't let him know how she let Elaine get to her.
"Fine, look out for Peter or Sophie then."
Juliette nodded, glad to be useful. She ran to the window.
By this time, Scott and the others were almost to the door of the girls' dorm. Scott was worried about Shelby. Seeing Kat run out of the cabin, seemingly not caring that it was past curfew or about getting caught, was the only excuse he needed to go investigate.
He nearly tore the door off its hinges. Juliette whirled around from the window, startled. "What's wrong?" he asked, his heart racing. "Where's Shelby?"
He surveyed the room. Three of the beds were disturbed. It looked like they had been vacated hastily. The fourth, the one he knew must be Shelby's, was untouched. He looked at the bathroom door. It was partly open. A thin triangle of light poured out onto the dark floor boards. He moved toward the door.
"I don't think she wants to see you," Juliette said hesitantly.
There was no stopping him. He pushed the door open all the way. "Shelby?"
Juliette looked at Auggie helplessly. "What's going on?" he asked, frowning.
"I'm not sure. Shelby is pretty upset. I've never seen her like that before." Her voice was hushed, almost in awe.
"Something must've happen when she was with Scott and his parents," Ezra spoke up. "Scott was acting weird when he came back too."
Auggie shook his head. "I don't know, man. Something doesn't feel right."
Scott poked his head in the bathroom. Shelby was hunched over the toilet. She was pale and shaking. Her face was wet, from tears or sweat, he didn't know. Daisy held her hair with one hand and rubbed her back with the other. She looked at him gratefully. "Maybe you can tell me what's going on."
He ignored her. Shelby had been fine until he had let her go to the bathroom with Elaine. This was all his fault.
Shelby pulled herself away form the porcelain and painfully curled up into a ball on the floor. Just don't think about it, she told herself. Think about something else.
Scott kneeled on the floor next to her. She finally registered his presence. She turned her head away. "Go away," she whispered weakly.
"No," he said stubbornly. "Shelby, what did she do to you?"
"Nothing," she mumbled.
"Shelby, you have to tell me what she did to you. Did she hurt you? What did she say?" His voice grew louder with every question.
"You're not helping," Daisy told him reproachfully.
He bit back a hostile comment. She was right. He gathered Shelby's limp body in his arms. He gently picked her up and carried her out of the bathroom. He deposited her carefully on her bed and swept the damp hair off of her forehead. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
Her throat was too raw to respond. She felt weak. I'm probably dehydrated, she realized. She didn't like being the center of attention. Everyone was standing around her bed like she was dying or something. She wished they would go away.
Peter and Sophie barged in a few minutes later. They were out of breath because they had been all the way across campus, ready to go home, when Kat had finally found them.
"I want everyone to go to the boys' dorm," Peter announced. His tone left no room for argument. "You're going to be on the Honor system. Don't make me regret this."
"I'm staying," Scott said quietly.
"I really don't think-" Sophie began.
"I'm staying," he repeated firmly.
Peter acquiesced. He glanced at Sophie, silently giving her instructions. He pulled Scott over to the far side of the cabin as Sophie cautiously lowered herself to the corner of Shelby's bed.
"Shelby? Are you alright?" Her voice was low and soothing.
Shelby shook her head.
"Tell me what's wrong."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"It's not my story to tell."
Sophie patted her hand and crossed the room to where Peter was waiting to compare notes.
"He won't tell me anything."
"Ditto."
"Alright, let's talk to them both at the same time. Maybe they'll be more forthcoming."
"Can you tell what's going on over there?"
"Maybe, if you'd get your fat head out of the way!"
"Move over!"
"Go to the other window!"
"No, I was here first."
"Wait, now they're talking to both of them. Scott looks nervous."
"Scott, how was the visit with your parents?" asked Peter.
He looked at his hands. "It was good seeing my dad again."
"But that's not what I asked you," Peter said slowly. "Shelby? What about you? Did you have fun?"
If it was possible, her face paled even whiter.
Scott played with the edge of his shirt. He knew what she was doing. Elaine did something to her to make her upset, but she wouldn't tell Peter, because then she'd have to tell him what Elaine had done to him. He felt his fear of Elaine ebb away, while his anger intensified. He couldn't take it anymore. He was sick of lying to everyone, his father, his friends, Peter...He was tired of being scared and manipulated. He was tired of everyone thinking that he did drugs just for the heck of it. It was time for some truth.
"Scott? What is it?"
He snapped. "I hate her!" he yelled. His face darkened. His voice rose and his face contorted in fury.
Sophie jumped in surprise at his outburst. "Who?"
"Elaine..." Peter said. It all made sense now. The clues had been there, he just hadn't been able to put it together.
"She broke up my family! She stole my father and she stole my life! She...she made me..." He punched the air in frustration. "She made me have sex with her!"
Sophie gasped. Suddenly, all the anger bottled up inside Scott began to make sense. Her eyes became sorrowful. Her heart reached out to him.
"She wouldn't leave me alone! I told her to stop and she wouldn't. She-" He stopped suddenly as the sobs wracked through his body. He fell to his knees, whispering now. "She wouldn't stop. She's the reason I had to get high everyday. It's her fault." He dragged his gaze to Shelby.
She was sitting up, wide eyed. Even she had not expected that degree of rage and anguish.
"I'm sorry, Shelby," he said. "This is all my fault. I'm sorry you had to be around her and I'm sorry for whatever she did to you. I'm so sorry!"
The tears poured freely down his face as he gave into the pain and relief he felt at finally having told the truth.
"Scott," she said quietly. Her throat was still sore and raspy, but he needed to hear this. "You don't have anything to be sorry about. None of this is your fault. None." Her face wrinkled in disgust. "She's the one with problems. And she didn't do anything to me. Empty threats. That's all it was. I got scared because I thought that maybe she was right about some of the things she said. But I know now that she's not."
How could she have ever been so dumb as to think that Scott wouldn't want to be her friend? They depended on each other. Elaine had seen that and twisted it into something to taunt her with. Well, it wasn't going to work. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck.
"I hate her," he sobbed.
"I know."
Peter cleared his throat. They both looked up. They had almost forgotten he and Sophie were there.
"Scott, I'm sorry to have to tell you this. I have to report what you just told me."
"To who?"
"To Child Services. There will be an investigation into the allegations. Possibly a trial."
"I just want to make her pay for what she did to me," he spat. He paused, a new thought suddenly popping into his head. "Do I have to tell my dad?" he asked pathetically.
"He's going to find out anyway. Don't you think it would be better if he heard it from you?"
"No one's ever going to believe me."
"I believe you," he said, looking him straight in the eye.
"So do I," she whispered in his ear.
He nodded grimly. "I just want it to be over."
Much later, Shelby finally burrowed under her blankets. Everyone had been allowed back into the dorms. She had assured Peter and Sophie that she was fine now. But was she really? She knew that Scott would never turn his back on her because he was tired of her. But what about when he found out that she really was a skank?
What would make her different from Elaine in his eyes? They had both taken sex and twisted it into something dirty and ugly. They had both used it to suit their own purposes. Was she really all that different from that horrible woman?
She vowed never to tell him. He would never understand.
Morning came all too quickly. The Barringers were expected to arrive after breakfast. Needless to say, no one ate much that morning. The rest of the Cliffhangers knew something was up. They didn't know the exact details, but they could feel a disturbance, something that was definitely out of place.
Peter approached the Cliffhanger's table. They were all staring down at their plates morosely. He couldn't tell if it was because of last night's excitement and the subsequent lack of sleep, or the innate knowledge that something was amiss.
"Scott."
He looked up, resigned.
"They're here."
He nodded.
Shelby squeezed his hand under the table. "Do you want me to come?"
"No," he said quickly. "I need to do this alone. And I don't want you anywhere near her."
He pushed his chair away from the table. They looked at him, silently wishing him luck. He walked away.
Peter gave them a reassuring glance, then hurried after Scott.
Shelby cradled her chin in her hands glumly. For the first time in a long time, she raised a silent prayer to God.
Martin Barringer's knees buckled in shock. He quickly sat down on the hard wood chair before he could collapse. Scott had to be lying. He was still not himself. He couldn't be. His son would never say the things that were pouring out of Scott's mouth. His son was a star football player, always surrounded by friends. His son was a good kid, liked by teachers and adults.
His son was staring at him, resigned to his fate. His shoulders slumped and his head bowed. But he didn't cry. He had no more tears left. He saw the refusal in his father's eyes. He knew he was asking his father to believe the impossible, to trust him even though he had no reason to anymore. It was a lost cause. His father had lost everything after he had turned to drugs, and now he was asking him to give up his new wife in exchange for a broken son? The hardest part was seeing his father's eyes turn to stone, as if he wasn't really seeing him. As if he was a nameless stranger, just someone he might pass on the street.
Elaine was stunned. When had she lost control of the situation? She maintained her composure on the outside, looking innocent and shocked at the accusations. Inside, the first signs of panic grabbed her heart and threatened to choke her. Peter Scarbrow was scrutinizing her and she didn't like it. Could he tell? Could he tell that she was guilty?
Martin looked from his wife to his son helplessly. His wife, his beautiful, lovely wife, looked outraged. His eyes roamed her face. Is it possible that he could have been so wrong about someone? Could he have fallen in love with someone who could do the terrible things that she was being accused of? He didn't want to believe it. He was scared to admit to himself that he could have been blinded and fooled by the things she wanted him to see. So he didn't.
The next blow was brutal for Scott. His father grabbed Elaine's hand and led her out of the door. He looked at his son then quickly looked away, as if pained by the sight of him.
"Mr. Barringer, wait." Peter unsuccessfully tried to keep him from running away.
In the midst of all the confusion, Scott caught Elaine's look of triumph. 'I win,' it said. She smirked at him as the door closed behind her.
Utter silence. Before Peter could say anything, he ran outside. He saw the tail lights of his father's car speeding farther and farther away from him. He felt like his still beating heart had been ripped out of him with a dull knife. The father he had always worshipped and looked up to had made his decision. He felt like an orphan.
But an indescribable emotion began to work its way up from the very bottoms of his feet and radiate through his limbs. Relief. The truth was out there, no longer trapped inside his head or his heart. He was finally free. It was a bittersweet moment.
Peter stepped out of the lodge. He patted Scott's shoulder. "He'll come around. It's just going to take some time."
"I hope so."
"What you did today took courage. I'm so proud of you. No matter what lies she tries to hide behind, you have the truth on your side. Just remember that."
Daisy and Shelby sat beneath the shade of a large oak tree. Shelby looked at her watch for the fifth time within the last ten minutes.
"I'm sure he's alright," Daisy ventured.
Shelby said nothing.
"What about you? Are you alright?"
"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I just thought-"
"Well you obviously thought wrong," she snapped.
Daisy was unruffled. Shelby's self preservation tactics had ceased to be a mystery to her a long time ago.
"What got you so upset last night?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "Just the thought of that woman-"
"-and what she did to Scott," Daisy supplied.
"No, it wasn't just that. This is going to sound insane, but it was almost like part of her saw something in me and knew me." She shuddered. "She made me feel so low. As if I was so low that it wasn't even worth the effort to look at me."
"You are nothing like her." Daisy's intuitive nature picked up on what Shelby was really scared of.
"How do you know?" she whispered. "The things I've done-"
"-have helped shape you, but they don't define you."
Shelby mulled that statement over.
"You're going to have to face your past, you know. You can't hide from it forever."
"No," she said, standing up. "But I can try."
He found her later that afternoon, sitting by herself in the lodge. She waited for him to speak.
"For the first time in a long time," he confessed, "I feel safe in my own skin."
She smiled sadly. "That must feel great."
"You helped me face my demons. I want to return the favor." He was serious. He realized he knew next to nothing about her past.
"I don't think I'm ready for that yet," she said, hugging a pillow closer to her chest.
He pulled a bundle from behind his back. "Then maybe you can start with this."
She looked at her old ballet slippers. "I stopped being this girl a long time ago." She reached out and traced the lines of the ribbons. A memento from her past. "Will you hold onto them for me?"
A look of confusion.
"I don't want them now. But I might...someday."
End Chapter Seven
Some random concerns:
Am I getting too melodramatic? Have I softened Shelby's character too much? Have I made Scott into a wuss? Do I use the same words or expressions too freakin much?
Constructive criticism is always appreciated.
And I usually don't do this, but...
To Hidden Identity: Thank you so much. Your comments always mean so much to me, and I appreciate that you've stuck with me from way back at the GG board. You're awesome.