Disclaimer: I don't own any Higher Ground Characters. I made up Janey and Keith. And Garrett. The usual.
Turning the tape over and over in his hands, Peter watched Janey's face. He'd been waiting for a response for four minutes and counting.
"Janey?"
"I don't know," she whispered.
Peter picked up the phone. He dialed.
"Wait," Janey said, but someone had already answered.
"Hello? This is Peter Scarbrow from Mount Horizon…uh huh…sure…Well, I've got a kid here who needs to report child abuse…No, her stepbrother, but she was a witness…Okay, that sounds good…Really, that soon?…sure…Bye."
He hung up. "They know me. They're sending someone down in an hour or so. Someone's nearby for another case. You want to stick it out?"
"Can I stay here?" she asked pitifully.
"That's fine," he replied. She reclined on the couch, and he turned back to his paperwork.
Twenty minutes later, he noticed that Janey was fast asleep. Sophie entered, and he put a finger to his lips. She came over, and they held a whispered conversation.
"What's her story?"
"Wait on that one. I want you here when the CPS people come."
"What!?"
"Shh!" Peter warned. "She wants to give her two cents about her stepmother and Scott."
"Does Scott know?"
"Nope," Peter said. "And I don't want him to yet. This is for Janey. I want to wait and hear what she says."
"Okay," Sophie agreed.
"How's Keith?" Peter asked.
"Polite," Sophie said thoughtfully. "A little more polite than I'd expected."
"His file says bare minimum about him," Peter said. "Stats; that he was in therapy for a couple years."
"Therapy?"
"With a psychiatrist. It was for family issues, but the paperwork didn't elaborate, and the doctor's office wouldn't disclose any information to me. His mother was reluctant to talk about it on the phone."
"Interesting," Sophie mused. They were quiet for a few minutes, then Sophie spoke up again. "You get a partner for Keith yet?"
"How about Auggie?" Peter asked.
"Okay with me," Sophie said. "I'll go grab him. When Keith comes back, tell him I'll be here in a few."
"Sure," Peter said, and Sophie left. Peter got back to work.
Ten minutes later, Sophie came back with Auggie. He looked cheerful. "So I really don't gotta finish chopping the wood if I show the newbie around?"
"That's it," Sophie said, winking at Peter. Then, remembering, she gestured for Auggie to be quiet and pointed at the still-sleeping Janey.
"What's up with her?" Auggie asked.
"Nothing you need to worry about, Aug," Peter said quietly, giving Auggie a meaningful look. "She needs some time to sort through some stuff."
"Cool by me, man."
There was a soft knock, and Sophie opened the door for Keith, making the necessary introductions.
"Keith, this is Auggie. Auggie, Keith. Auggie's going to be your buddy for the first few days, all right?" Keith nodded. "Auggie, you take him to the dorm, show him around, introduce him to the Cliffhangers."
"Will do," Auggie promised, grabbing two of Keith's bags, leaving just one for the other boy. He then held the door for Keith. After the new boy had exited, he turned to Peter and said in a low voice, "Hey, I'm here for Janey. We all are. Let her know."
"Thank you, Auggie," Peter said warmly. It was when kids did something like that that made it all worthwhile.
Waiting impatiently outside Peter's office, Juliette shifted from foot to foot. It was very cold, and the sky was clouded over. But at least it wasn't raining.
Auggie exited the main lodge with Keith and walked toward Juliette. He gestured at the long-legged boy beside him.
"Jules, this is Keith, the newbie. Keith, this is Juliette, my girl." As if to punctuate the claim, he gave her a quick hug, checking to see if there were any counselors in sight. There weren't. Juliette, after being released, offered her hand to Keith, who shook it shyly, aware of the unspoken threat in Auggie's tone. Juliette was not to be messed with.
"Where's everyone?" Auggie asked.
"Daisy's in the main lodge, trying to teach Ezra geometry, but he's too busy drooling over her to learn," Juliette said, giggling. "Scott's teaching Shelby how to throw a football. I don't know about Janey. I think she said she was going to unpack. And David's getting on the nerves of everyone in the Wind Dancer group."
"Sounds like our man David," Auggie replied, shaking his head. "Wanna help me show Keith here around?" Juliette nodded, smiling kindly at the nervous newcomer.
They went first to the field, where Shelby was leaning back against Scott, letting him hold her arm in a position from which she could supposedly throw the football. Both were laughing. Juliette was pretty sure this constituted inappropriate touching.
Keith, on the other hand, only saw Shelby. The shine of her long, blond hair. The glow of her smile. The flash of joy in her eyes. She was perfect in his mind. He watched her as she laughed giddily with a tall, blond boy, and he felt a wave of jealousy. Fighting it angrily, he bit hard on his lip, tasting blood.
The pair saw Juliette, Auggie, and Keith approach, and separated reluctantly. Scott tossed the football from hand to hand.
"Hey guys," Juliette said.
"What's up?" Scott asked. "This the new kid?"
"Yeah," Auggie confirmed. "Keith. Keith, this is Scott, and this is Shelby."
"H-hi," Keith stammered, immediately embarrassed by his inability to sound remotely human around a pretty girl.
Shelby raised her eyebrows at him. "Here for a stuttering problem?"
"Shelby, that's mean," Juliette said angrily as Keith blushed.
Scott noted the obvious look on Keith's face, and his own face darkened. He drew Shelby closer, hugging her tightly to his body.
"Scott, Shelby, I need to see air between you," Sophie reprimanded, coming up behind the small group. The couple obediently separated. "Auggie, the tour going okay?"
"Yeah," he said. "We're cool. Gonna go find Daisy and E-Z."
Sophie nodded. Juliette, Keith, and Auggie headed off toward the main lodge. She turned back to Scott and Shelby.
"I know this is a stressful time," she began sternly, and the two teens braced themselves for a patented Sophie Scarbrow lecture. "But there is to be no…no…inappropriate touching. I can go for a hand squeeze, a hug, a pat on the back. No clutching or…excessive…hugs. Watch the hands. I think you guys understand the difference between what's acceptable and what is not."
Scott scuffed his toe on the ground, fixing his eyes on it. Shelby looked straight at Sophie, unflinching, unblinking.
"Got it?" Sophie asked. "Scott?" Scott looked up and nodded once. She softened toward him, picking up on his emotions. "I know it's hard right now. I know you're stressed, I know you're mixed up. And it's good that you're so supportive of each other. But do it verbally, please." She made sure that she got two confirming nods. "Good. Scott, Auggie's wood needs to be finished chopping. Shelby, life jackets need sorting by size in the kayak barn."
"Auggie should finish his own—" Scott began.
"Scott." The single, sharp syllable got him moving. He left the other two on the field, heading unenthusiastically to the woodshed.
Shelby stared at Sophie. "He's hurting."
"I know," Sophie answered. "And you're doing a good job with him, Shelb." The teen was silent. "You're a true friend."
"I'm trying," Shelby said softly. "The whole Janey thing…"
"I know," Sophie repeated, comfortingly. "It's hard on him. It's hard on her. And it's hard on you. But you're strong, Shelby. You all are."
"Coulda fooled me," Shelby said flippantly with a lopsided grin that effectively masked her feelings. She walked away, toward the kayak barn.
Sophie watched her go, feeling a mixture of exasperation and sorrow. Every time she thought that she might have broken through Shelby's defenses, Shelby hit her with a sarcastic remark. But it was obvious that Shelby cared very much for Scott, who was going through a time of tumult himself.
A cheerful looking boy approached her. "Hey, Sophie?"
"Yeah?" she asked, trying to remember the boy's name. Garrett. That was it. He was in the Sundog group.
"Peter wants you."
"'Kay. Thank you, Garrett," she replied, giving Shelby's retreating back one final look before following Garrett back to Peter's office.