~Scott~
I shouldn't be nervous and in reality I had no reason to be but my hands didn't seem to agree and they kept folding and unfolding, I couldn't stand still. I did my normal pacing routine, back and forth, back and forth, until my legs got tired and then I would stop and look for a car, then pace again. I tried to remember the call from early that day. Shelby had said that she was coming home and it took every bit of self-control in me not to whoop and holler in joy. She had also pointed out that she had a surprise for me but I had no idea what it was and I couldn't even begin to guess and in actuality I really didn't care, I was just excited to have her home again. It had been tough being alone and dealing with Mo's sickness. It was true that she was getting better and fast but there was still something inside her, I could tell, something holding her back from recovering completely. The psychiatrist had said that if she didn't slow down she might over do it and relapse, but telling Mo to slow down was like trying to tell the sun to stop shining. As I thought of Monique, I heard the distant sound of a car rumbling in the background of my mind and I walked outside to see who it was. An old brown station wagon stopped in front of the school and even before the door opened I knew who it was. I ran to the door and when it swung open I threw my arms around Shelby and hugged her tight to my chest. The urgency and relief I felt by being near her frightened me a little but I didn't have time to think about it because she pulled away to look at me and the sensation was gone.
"I think you've grown." She cocked her head to one side as if she hadn't seen me for years.
I put an arm around her waist. "I missed you, Shel."
She hugged me again but once again pulled away. "I missed you too but I want you to meet someone." As she said this the driver's side of the door opened and a tall, dark haired guy got out of the car. He came around to Shelby's side and stood grinning at me and immediately I hated him.
"Scott, Cameron. Cameron, Scott Barringer, the one I told you about." She said motioning to us both respectively. He continued to smile and extended a tanned hand, I shook it hesitantly.
"It's awesome to meet you. I've heard a lot about you." He was a little over enthusiastic but I could handle that.
"I've heard a lot about you too. What brings you to Horizon? You're not messed up like the rest of us are you?" I wouldn't have been shocked if he had said yes because he didn't look like your classic all American teenage boy. His hair had that messy look to it and he was dressed in a "Grateful Dead" t-shirt, he adjusted his thick-rimmed glasses and I noticed that when he lifted his arm you could see part of a tattoo sticking out from underneath his sleeve. He wasn't the kind of guy I would hang out with when I was in high school but I had heard that chicks dig the intellectually wild type.
"Actually no." He said in response to my question.
"Cam's trained in counseling teenagers with difficulties." Shelby cut in proudly.
Cameron smiled at her then continued. "Sort of like a peer counselor. Sometimes kids need someone on their level, their age to talk to, that's what I give them. I also am here to observe and takes some notes, get some experience for the road."
Shelby interrupted again, still beaming at him. "Cam is going to Yale in the fall to study adolescent psychology."
"That's nice. Well, enjoy your stay." I said curtly and then turned to Shelby. "I'm going to see Mo she gets out in a few days, she really wants to see you."
Shelby's smiled faded and she wore a pained expression. "Scott…I can't I promised Cameron I'd introduce him and show him around a little."
"But-…" I started.
"No that's okay." Cameron said and for a moment I thought I could tolerate him.
"No I promised. I can see Mo in a little while, give her my love okay?" She said kissing me on the cheek before she walked away with Cameron. They hadn't walked two feet away before they were deep in conversation. I sighed and then contemplated throwing a rock at him but refrained guessing that Shelby wouldn't appreciate that. I didn't even remind her that it was my birthday.
~Monique~
I tucked myself between the door and its hinge and tried to stay as quiet as possible. I couldn't see anything much in the dark and it was getting harder to breathe but the excitement was rippling through my body. I heard footsteps outside the door and immediately I tensed up in wait.
"Mo?" Scott's voice drifted to where I was standing. "Are you in here?"
I waited for a second then in one fluid motion I jumped out from behind the door, flicked on the lights and yelled surprise. Scott's eyes widened in shock and he was rendered speechless.
"Happy Birthday, you old man!" I grabbed his hand and led him over to the cushioned hospital chair he always sat in but which was festively decorated for the occasion.
"I didn't think anyone remembered." He said quietly. I grinned at him while I rummaged around for his gift.
"Did you actually think that I'd forget your seventeenth birthday?"
He smiled softly.
"Thanks Mo."
"No problem," I said casually but the depth of feeling behind his words wasn't lost on me. I handed him his present, which was oddly wrapped in comic paper. "Sorry about the paper, best I could do considering the circumstances."
He unwrapped it slowly and I waited on the edge of the bed for his reaction.
"Mr. Fluffums?" He quizzically surveyed the object in his hands and then a slow Scott-like smile crept across his handsome features. "Mo…how did you…when did you…I can't believe you found him!"
Scott wrapped his long arms around me in a hug.
"Actually, it was with a little help from your dad. I got the idea while I was watching soaps one day and I called him. He searched for days until he found him and shipped him here."
"My dad?"
"Yeah."
His face remained impassive and unemotional while we talked about his father and he dropped the subject.
"This things a rag." He quipped while rotating the bear in his hands. One eyes was missing and some of his little body was missing fur.
"He's well loved that's all." I said while trying to defend Mr. Fluffums. Scott held him to his chest for a moment with closed eyes and I could only imagine the memories that were running through his mind. I knew that I had given him more than just a bear. I had given him a part of a long ago forgotten past, a past that was still so much apart of him and maybe even a little hope for the future, nestled in between patches of brown synthetic fur.
"Scotty," I called after a few minutes of silence sat between us. "What's wrong?"
He snapped out of it and shook his head as if awakening from a dream. "What…nothing."
"Liar."
"I'm fine."
"Liar."
He sighed heavily and sat Mr. Fluffums down on the bed next to me.
"I don't want to talk about it, Mo."
"Fine," I picked Mr. Fluffums up and put him up close to his face. "Then talk to Mr. Fluffums."
"I'm not talking to a bear."
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not."
"Stop being such a dick, Scott."
He was going to come up with a smart aleck response but he didn't get a chance because Shelby's blonde head poked through the door followed by the dark hair of another person that I didn't recognize. As soon as Scott saw them a shadow swept behind his eyes but I didn't have time to ask him again what the matter was.
"Monique!" Shelby put her arms around my neck in a hug and I returned it warmly, it was good to see her, even if I did feel a little out of the loop. For some reason I couldn't take my eyes off the guy that was standing next to her. He was gorgeous, ruggedly handsome, smart, funny and charming all at the same time. Shelby had introduced him as her friend, Cameron who was going to Yale and I couldn't notice how enthusiastic she was and I also saw how annoyed Scott continued to look. Cameron and Shelby stayed for a few moments and it looked like she hadn't forgotten Scott's birthday because she gave him a 24 kt gold chain. He thanked her but distantly and there was an uncomfortable cloud in the room until after they left. Her excuse was that she had to accompany Cameron back to Horizon because he had a meeting with Peter.
"So…" I said to Scott. He was sitting there, staring out of the window with a dazed expression.
"Uhuh…"
"Cameron's a nice guy." I said hesitantly, he turned his eyes towards me and nodded slightly.
"Yeah, real nice."
"You aren't jealous are you?"
"No, of course not."
"You shouldn't be."
He got up fast. "I'm not, Mo. Just drop it, God!"
"Sorry." I whispered.
"It's just that…It's just that I miss her but she's standing right in front of me. Like I wanna reach her, hold her but I can't because she's far away. Damn it. Something has changed but I don't know what." He plopped back down and looked tired and defeated. I left him alone but I handed him Mr. Fluffums, whom he clutched to his chest again. I rolled over and went to sleep and I think that he sat there the whole night.