CHAPTER 3


The day was just beginning and it was already turning out to be one of the worst days of his life. Peter guided Scott out of his office to help him start his new life at Horizon. He knew that it was going to take a lot of adjusting on other people's parts. He thought it would be best just to immediately turn him over to Roger and let Roger take care of the transition. They headed towards the dinning hall because that's where most of the students and staff were at this hour.

As they walked in the dinning hall Scott took notice of the other cliffhangers, with the exception of Shelby, chowing down on their breakfast. Auggie was the first one to notice.

"Hey meat, what took you so long? We have a seat saved for you."

Scott took a step in that direction but was pulled back by Peter. "What? I'm hungry. You aren't planning on starving me now too are you?"

Peter shook his head and let go of Scott's arm. "No you can eat but you are on shuns from the rest of the cliffhangers. No talking or contact of any kind."

Scott angrily protested. "But that's not fair. You already banned me from their group. Why can't I at least speak to them."

"Because there are consequences when rules are broken. You may not like it but that was the choice you made by braking them."

Peter walked over to where Roger was eating. "Roger you have a new member of your group. Scott will be joining the Ridge Runners from now on. Please make him feel welcome and help him adjust to the other students. His status right now is that he has 3 hours to work off on wood shed and he is on complete shuns from all the other members of the cliffhanger group. To make the transition even I think it would be best if one of the Ridge Runners makes an even swap. Do you have any suggestions?"

Scott spoke up quickly. "I think that you should move Fred because I hear that he gets along with David. You know not too many people do."

Roger nodded in agreement. "I think that would work out ok."

It took all of Scott efforts to hold in his emotions when he heard that. If he were an actor, he'd get an academy award for his performance. I finally get my revenge on David before I leave. At least I know that Fred won't be hitting on Shelby.

"Scott go get your breakfast and we'll make the dorm switch afterwards. You can sit anywhere but near the cliffhanger group."

Scott proceeded through the breakfast line and hesitated while he looked for a table to sit at. He saw an empty chair in the corner of the room and decided to make a slow pass by the cliffhanger table on his way to it. As he was passing the table he bent down and softly said to David, "Watch your ass from now on David because Fred is going to be your new buddy."

"SCOTT" Roger had noticed his little conversation with David. "Shuns means no contact whatsoever. That will cost you a night on Kitchens."

David turned around and said, "You're lying."

Scott smiled triumphantly. "Roger why don't you tell the group who the cliffhanger is?"

Roger came over to guide Scott away from the table. "There will be time for that later."

Daisy stood up "Wait, were getting a newbie?"

Scott, "Not newbie but a transfer."

Juliet, "Wait if there is a transfer then who are they making the switch with?"

Roger, "Scott go find a seat a eat your breakfast, now."

Auggie, "Why can't he sit with us?"

David didn't want Scott to know that he was pissed. "Scott's been a bad boy and is no longer worthy of our presence. Looks like Scott is no longer a cliffhanger." He was grinning from ear to ear.

The rest of the group all stood up and starting throwing complaints to Roger at the same time. It was hard to understand anyone and the room was feeling like total chaos.

Roger throw his hands up and shouted. "Quiet. Everyone please be quiet and sit down." He gave Scott and evil glare and pointed to the other side of the room. "You really know how to start something don't you. Get over there and eat your breakfast." He turned back to the group "Just relax right now. Sophie will hold a group session and you guys can discuss it then. Until then you are to understand that Scott is on shuns from braking a rule. You guys are here by served notice so if anyone of you is seen talking or associating with him then you will be punished as well. Do I make myself clear?"

Even thought they all grumbled and moaned they understood where they stood and shook their heads. Roger was satisfied that he made his point and left the dinning hall to take care of some business. A few minutes later Shelby came walking in with a very disturbing look on her face. She looked like so was out for blood.

Juliet, "Shelby what did you do? Scott's been banned from our group and we're all not permitted to associate with him anymore."

Shelby whipped around and shot her with a killer look. "Auggie, maybe you should be concerned. The little princess is sticking up for him again. Where is he by the way, I'm going to kill him."

Daisy, "Am I missing something here? Scott's been banned from seeing any of us, especially you and you want to kill him?"

Shelby didn't need to be told because she could feel his eyes on the back of her head. She turned around and saw him sitting by himself in the corner of the room. She looked around to make sure one of the counselors weren't in the room as she trotted over to him.

She stood in front of his table with her hands on her hips. "Thanks a lot Scott. I was dragged out of my room this morning to take a pregnancy test."
He couldn't believe it. He dropped his fork as his jaw dropped open. "You're pissed at me?"

"Is there another Scott that I'm standing in front of? You ratted me out."

Scott pushed himself up out of his chair so he could tower over her. "I helped you escape last night so you wouldn't get caught and in the process I took the fall for the both of us. How the hell can you be pissed at me? I had to sleep on the floor of Rogers cabin last night because I wouldn't give up your name."

"I was humiliated when Sophie made me take that test. Why didn't you just say you were alone in the shed."

Scott let out a laugh. "Are you kidding me?" He pulled his collar away from his neck as he raised his tone of voice. "LOOK AT THE MARK YOU LEFT ON MY NECK." It became dead silent in the dinning hall as everyone's head turned to see.

Patrick a kid from another table yelled out, "Hey Shelby, can I have one of those on my neck too?" The whole dinning hall stated laughing at Shelby's expense and that just made her even more furious.

Scott pointed his finger at Patrick, "Shut your face before I come over there and shut if for you."

"Thanks a lot for the second time today. Why don't you just take out an ad in the school newspaper."

Scott was trying to get a handle on the situation as he lowered his voice. "Look Shelby I'm sorry you had to go through that but it didn't take Einstein to figure out who I was with last night. Would you have rather it been someone else? Besides Peter said he was going to test every girl on campus if I didn't give a name."

Shelby's head was lowered as she turned to leave. "Maybe he should have then."

Scott stood their dumbfounded not knowing what just happened. Why was this such a big deal for her and why did it make her so angry? He might never know because Sophie walked in the room and saw Shelby walking away from him. Sophie walked over to Scott and started a lecture.

"Scott you've been told to have no contact with Shelby. If I so much as see you within 50 feet of her then I will report it to Peter."

"Why is this all my fault? Did it ever occur to you that I was sitting here minding my own business when she came over to me?"

"That's why I won't report it this time. Just stay away from her. This whole situation is really tearing her up." She said what she had to and then walked away.

This whole situation is tearing her up? Yeah, what about me? I'm the guilty one here just because I'm a guy. This is just like before. I'm used to please the female gender and then I get to take all the blame by myself. She is no better than Elaine.

Scott walked out of the dinning hall in a daze because of the mental anguish he was going through. He headed for the cliffhanger dorm before it hit him that he wasn't allowed in there any more. Where was he supposed to go? He walked around in circles for a minute and then ended up sitting on a picnic table with his head in his hands. He was feeling depressed, confused, unloved, a victim and worthless. He was going through a stage of feeling sorry for himself and self-pity. To make things worse, he wasn't allowed to associate with anyone that he had any kind of closeness to. He really wished that he could talk to Daisy or Auggie right now. He didn't know where he fit in and he felt like a total outcast.

Roger walked over and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey let's go get your belongings packed up and moved over to the other dorm." He turned around when he realized that he wasn't being followed. "Scott! Let's go."

Scott looked up from where he was sitting. "No."

"Come on Scott. Don't make this a big issue. You are going to be moved whether you like it or not."

"I'm not moving."

"Ok fine. I can get your roommates to help pack up your things and you are now grounded to that picnic table for the rest of the day. The next time I come back through here then you had better still be sitting there."

"And if I'm not?"

"Listen do you remember the first day you came here and you couldn't stand to have me following you where ever you went? I'm sure you don't want to have one of the staff members tailing you where ever you go."

"Fine. I'll sit here but I'm not packing my things."

"Suit yourself." Roger walked on towards the cliffhanger boy's dorm to get Scott's things packed up.

Several hours had passed and Scott was still sitting on the picnic table. Daisy passed by and gave him a pitiful look. She felt sorry for him and wished that she could say something to him. Scott felt the presence of someone walking by and lifted his head from his arms. Daisy could see the pain in his eyes as she tried to send him some kind of hope telepathically. She saw Peter walking across campus and decided she'd better move on.

Peter approached Scott and made himself known. "ok Scott. You've been sitting here for the past four hours. Let's get moving before you become apart of the wood."

"I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?"

"Roger said I have to stay here until he tells me to move."

"So what did you do this time? It seems your punishment list is getting longer and longer. Instead of sitting here soaking up the sun's rays why don't you go use up some of your time at the wood shed. Get moving. I'll let Roger know that you are working off some time."

Scott hopped off the table actually being relieved that he could stretch his legs. Chopping wood didn't seem like a bad thing right now and he was glad for the change in scenery. While Scott was chopping wood he noticed Daisy out taking a leisurely stroll. She walked passed several times until Scott looked up and made eye contact. He watched as she slipped an envelope between two of the logs that he had stacked. Once she was sure that he comprehended, she left. Scott continued to chop a few more logs and then when no one was looking went over to retrieve the envelope. He slipped it into his back pocket and decided to wait until he was alone to read it. Even though his life was crumbling around him he at least knew that one person cared.