CHAPTER FOURTEEN

            Scott had almost finished his second joint when he was blinded by a bright light.

            "Scott?"  He recognized Peter's voice immediately.  "Scott," he repeated, "what are you doing out here?"

            Silence.  His mind was racing.  What could he say?  He was caught red-handed.

            Peter turned off the flashlight, grabbed Scott's arm and hauled him to his feet.  "What are you doing out here?"

            Scott shrugged.

            Peter could smell the sweet aroma of marijuana and Scott was still holding a lit joint.  Peter reached for it.  "Smoking pot?  Breaking curfew?"  He scanned the ground and saw the small bag of weed next to where Scott was sitting.  "What's going on?"

            Scott sighed.  "Does it matter?"

            Peter was too angry to speak.  He led Scott back to his office while trying to cool his temper. 

            The two sat in silence in Peter's office for nearly a quarter of an hour.  Scott was drifting in and out of sleep.  Peter was enraged.  Sophie had stopped in to make sure everything was okay.  

            She glanced at Scott asleep on the couch.  "What did he say?"

            Peter shook his head.  "Nothing.  I haven't talked to him yet.  I need to get my anger in check first." 

            Sophie nodded and put a hand on Peter's shoulder.  "Is there anything I can do?"

            "Yah, give Curtis a call.  We're going to need him to transport Scott to juvenile hall."

            Sophie thought about protesting, but instead left Peter alone while she gave the local sheriff a call.

            "Scott!"

            Scott jerked awake and sat upright at the sound of his name.  "What?"

            "We need to talk."

            Scott settled back down on the couch.  "Why?  You won't believe me anyway."  He closed his eyes.  "Hey, can the drug test wait until morning?  I'm pretty wiped."

            "You're not getting a drug test."

            Scott opened his eyes and stared at Peter.  "Okay, now I think you're high.  What do you mean I'm not getting a drug test?"

            "At least not here.  Curtis will be here shortly to take you over to the county juvenile hall.  They can do whatever they want with you."

            Scott was wide awake now.  "What the hell are you talking about Peter?"

            "You've been warned over and over again.  I told you that if you got in trouble one more time you were out of here.  I meant it Scott."

            "You're not even going to ask me why I did it?" Scott's voiced cracked as he screamed.

            "Would you tell me the truth Scott?  I don't know what's going on with you, but obviously it's something I can't help you with!"

            Scott stood up and paced the room.  "I'm not going anywhere.  I'm staying right here."

            "You don't have a choice anymore Scott.  You broke my trust.  You're no longer welcome here."

            "GO TO HELL PETER!"  Scott dashed for the door and made it outside before Peter could stop him.  He could here Peter yelling after him as he ran.  He couldn't stop; he couldn't let Peter catch up to him.  He ran through the woods.  He knew them well by now, not like the first time he had tried to run from Horizon.

            He wasn't going to jail, he couldn't stay at Horizon, and he didn't want to go home.  There was only one thing left for Scott to do: He would end it all.  Finally, the pain inside him would go away; everyone would leave him alone.  It was the only option he had left.