DANGEROUS LOVE CHAPTER 4
He relieved some tension every time he swung the ax. It was a tedious job but at least it killed some time and it seemed like he had a lot of that right now. The last thing that Scott wanted to do was go bond with a new group. He knew that he couldn't fight the inevitable much longer because he saw Roger walking over towards him.
"Well Scott, if we have you do all the chores around here then it wouldn't be anything left for the other students."
"Why are they complaining that they are bored?" he said with sarcasm.
"I don't think boredom has ever been a problem here. You can stop chopping wood now so that you can reserve some of your energy to socialize with your new group. I'd like to hold a group session in 15 minutes so that you can get acclimated with them."
Scott rolled his eyes like he was thrilled to death at the offer. "No thanks, I'd rather chop wood." He continued to grab another log and put it on the chopping block.
Roger folded his arms across his chest in an authoritative manner. "Scott perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough. This wasn't an option. I want you to stop what you are doing and meet in the lodge for group."
Scott continued to split the log apart that he had up on the block. He reached over to grab another log and raised the ax over his head. Roger reached over and intercepted the ax before Scott could bring it down upon the log. He couldn't believe the strength that Roger possessed and glared at him angrily.
"Are you crazy? I could have cut your arm off."
"You could have but I was quicker than you." He took the ax and put it in the shed. He yelled over his shoulder as he walked away, "Be in the lodge in 10 minutes."
Scott just stood there dumfounded with his mouth open and hands on his hips. He couldn't figure out if he was impressed at Rogers courage or appalled at his stupidity. He realized that Roger won this battle as he sulked his way over to the lodge. He would make an appearance but he told himself that he wasn't going to participate. It took him a long time to get used to the cliffhangers and he didn't want to make the effort to socialize with the Ridge Runners.
He walked into the lodge and found a quiet corner that he could look at the letter that Daisy had given him. He sank down to the floor partially hiding himself behind a chair. He pulled out the letter and began to read:
Scott, I know that things are rough for you right now but hang in there
because things will get better. I'm not sure what is wrong with Shelby
but she is taking it out on all of us and not just you. Don't take all the
blame yourself. I think that Shelby problem goes deeper than we all
realize. I'll try and get her to open up but you know how she likes to
put up walls. When I find out something I'll let you know. If you want
to pass a message on for her then I'll help you out as long as we don't
get caught. I'm not too keen on extra chores. Life does go on. Daisy
The letter did help bring his spirits up a little. He needed to figure out why Shelby was acting the way she was. They had almost joined together each other's soul and now she was pissed at him. He just couldn't figure her out. He sat there in a daydream wondering what to do about her when his eyes finally became focused on Roger standing in front of him.
"You care to join the groups now?"
Scott slowly got up forgetting about the letter in his hand. Roger pointed to the letter and said, "Anything you care to share with me?" Scott hurried over to the fireplace and threw the letter into the fire. "Just trash," he said as he waked over to the group and sat down without making eye contact with anyone.
Roger took note that it was going to be a full time task keeping an eye on him. He came and sat among the circle with his group. "Life is full of challenges and full of unexpected surprises. Just when things become comfortable we like to throw in a few curves to help you deal with situations that you all will be faced with after you leave Horizon. One of these situations is change. How many people here have ever had to move with their family to a different city or state?" Several people raised their hands. "And how did you feel when you were forced into an unfamiliar place?"
"Scared"
"Lonely"
"Lost"
"Ok those are some good answers. Right now we are faced with that exact same situation within our own little group. We have a new member to our group. Even though he is not new to the school, he is probably having some of those feelings you just mentioned. This is Scott Barringer and I want everyone to help make his transition into our group easier."
Scott had been rocking back on the two back legs of his chair looking unimpressed. He had heard enough. He dropped the chair down on all fours and stood up. "This is bullshit. Don't do me any favors." He took off outside as he heard Roger yell his name behind him.
Scott took off with no where to go in particular. He just needed to get out because he felt like he was suffocating. He took the first corner around the lodge and ran right into Shelby. At first they just stared at each other for a minute and then Shelby stepped around to leave. Scott grabbed her by the arm and turned her around. "Come on Shelby talk to me. What did I do that was so wrong?"
"Aren't you on shuns from all cliffhangers?"
"So that's it? You use that as an excuse to not talk to me?"
"Why should I be punished because of you?"
Scott's mouth dropped open as he threw his hands up. "What? What planet have you been on? I'm the one that's been punished in case you haven't noticed."
Shelby saw Roger coming and tried to look innocent. She jerked away from Scott as she loudly spoke, "You're not suppose to be talking to me." She turned and walked away leaving Scott to deal with Roger alone.
"All right Scott. You refuse to be apart of the group and you continue to challenge the rules that have been set for you. Let's go see if Peter has a solution for you."
As they were walking over to the administration building they noticed that Curtis had his police car parked outside. Roger wondered what was going on that he didn't know about. Scott and Roger walked inside and they could see Peter having a heated argument with Curtis and what looked like a probation officer. Peter looked up and motioned for Roger to wait a minute. He came to the door and spoke to Roger softly.
"I was just getting ready to call for you. It appears that we have a problem regarding Scott."
Even though Roger was concerned, he gave a little laugh. "You and me both."
Peter questioned first. "Why what's wrong?"
They both looked over to Scott who was now sitting on the couch waiting for the next proceedings.
"Well it appears that he is refusing to bond with the new group and he is deliberately braking the rules of his shuns."
Peter didn't seem concerned at that moment. "Actually we have bigger problems than that." He looked over at Scott and said, "Scott come on in to my office. A situation has arisen that involves you."
Scott's heart started racing and he began to brake out in a sweat. He tried to come across cool and collective but a hundred things were going threw his mind at one time. Different scenarios were running threw his head all at once. Was he getting charged with rape when nothing actually happened? Did something happen to one of his parents? Was he getting busted for the drugs that he brought into Horizon? He didn't like the way everyone was staring at him as he walked into the room.
Peter motioned for him to sit down. He tried to find his voice to say something but he was afraid that nothing would come out. He decided it was best to take a seat and wait for someone else in the room to make the first move.
Curtis didn't seem to want to make the first move so he nodded to Peter to handle the situation. Peter paced the floor several times, scratched the back of his head and finally stopped in front of Scott. He grabbed a chair and pulled it up in front of him. He let out a long breath and began to speak.
"Scott it seems that your past is catching up to you." Before Scott could say anything Peter put his hand up for him to be quiet. "Let me finish and then you can ask any question that you want."
He looked around at the faces of the other occupants in the room. He made eye contact with Peter and nodded his head.
"Do you remember the first night you came here and you ran?" Scott nodded his head. "Do you remember the damage you did while you were in town?"
"Oh shit."
Peter raised his eyebrows. "Oh shit is right. It appears that your paperwork involving that incident was misplaced. Since the town has elected a new major, the county courthouse has gone through a major audit. It seems that some of the police records of misdemeanor crimes, which were overlooked and misplaced, have now surfaced. The new Major wants some of the old and neglected cases to be brought up and dealt with. Yours is one of them."
"But I thought that I was adjudicated into your care?"
"Yes you were. Instead of sending you to the Juvenile Detention Center, you were sent here but the sentencing never occurred."
"What sentencing?"
"It appears that the residence of that home pressed charges but it never went to court. They settled out of court but you never received your punishment because your paperwork became misplaced. Now you need to give the county some time."
Scott became paranoid. "You mean I have to go to jail."
"No, no, no." Peter made sure that he understood that quickly. "You need to give 60 hours of community service."
"What does that mean? I have to leave here? Where will I stay?"
"That's what we've been discussing in here for the past half hour. This is Jean Sanders and she has been assigned as your probation officer. She will come and get you from here in the mornings and take you into town where you will be put to work doing community services. At the end of the day she will bring you back here until all 60 hours have been accounted for."
Scott definitely wasn't thrilled regarding his new situation and his body language showed his defiance.
"Scott this is something you can't take lightly. You did the crime and now you need to pay the price. Time will go quickly as long as you don't stir up more trouble. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Jean spoke for the first time. "Look at the bright side. At least you are not being thrown behind bars. There are some other kids that are giving time as well so you won't be alone. You actually have the better end of the bargain because they will be coming from juvvie. At least you have a better place to return to at night."
"So when does this all start?"
"Tomorrow morning bright and early. I'll be here at 6 am to pick you up. Make sure you pack a lunch." With that said she was gone.
Peter looked over at Roger. "What was the other situation we needed to deal with?"
"Oh nothing. It's minor compared to this. Come on Scott. I think that you are going to need some rest."
He relieved some tension every time he swung the ax. It was a tedious job but at least it killed some time and it seemed like he had a lot of that right now. The last thing that Scott wanted to do was go bond with a new group. He knew that he couldn't fight the inevitable much longer because he saw Roger walking over towards him.
"Well Scott, if we have you do all the chores around here then it wouldn't be anything left for the other students."
"Why are they complaining that they are bored?" he said with sarcasm.
"I don't think boredom has ever been a problem here. You can stop chopping wood now so that you can reserve some of your energy to socialize with your new group. I'd like to hold a group session in 15 minutes so that you can get acclimated with them."
Scott rolled his eyes like he was thrilled to death at the offer. "No thanks, I'd rather chop wood." He continued to grab another log and put it on the chopping block.
Roger folded his arms across his chest in an authoritative manner. "Scott perhaps I didn't make myself clear enough. This wasn't an option. I want you to stop what you are doing and meet in the lodge for group."
Scott continued to split the log apart that he had up on the block. He reached over to grab another log and raised the ax over his head. Roger reached over and intercepted the ax before Scott could bring it down upon the log. He couldn't believe the strength that Roger possessed and glared at him angrily.
"Are you crazy? I could have cut your arm off."
"You could have but I was quicker than you." He took the ax and put it in the shed. He yelled over his shoulder as he walked away, "Be in the lodge in 10 minutes."
Scott just stood there dumfounded with his mouth open and hands on his hips. He couldn't figure out if he was impressed at Rogers courage or appalled at his stupidity. He realized that Roger won this battle as he sulked his way over to the lodge. He would make an appearance but he told himself that he wasn't going to participate. It took him a long time to get used to the cliffhangers and he didn't want to make the effort to socialize with the Ridge Runners.
He walked into the lodge and found a quiet corner that he could look at the letter that Daisy had given him. He sank down to the floor partially hiding himself behind a chair. He pulled out the letter and began to read:
Scott, I know that things are rough for you right now but hang in there
because things will get better. I'm not sure what is wrong with Shelby
but she is taking it out on all of us and not just you. Don't take all the
blame yourself. I think that Shelby problem goes deeper than we all
realize. I'll try and get her to open up but you know how she likes to
put up walls. When I find out something I'll let you know. If you want
to pass a message on for her then I'll help you out as long as we don't
get caught. I'm not too keen on extra chores. Life does go on. Daisy
The letter did help bring his spirits up a little. He needed to figure out why Shelby was acting the way she was. They had almost joined together each other's soul and now she was pissed at him. He just couldn't figure her out. He sat there in a daydream wondering what to do about her when his eyes finally became focused on Roger standing in front of him.
"You care to join the groups now?"
Scott slowly got up forgetting about the letter in his hand. Roger pointed to the letter and said, "Anything you care to share with me?" Scott hurried over to the fireplace and threw the letter into the fire. "Just trash," he said as he waked over to the group and sat down without making eye contact with anyone.
Roger took note that it was going to be a full time task keeping an eye on him. He came and sat among the circle with his group. "Life is full of challenges and full of unexpected surprises. Just when things become comfortable we like to throw in a few curves to help you deal with situations that you all will be faced with after you leave Horizon. One of these situations is change. How many people here have ever had to move with their family to a different city or state?" Several people raised their hands. "And how did you feel when you were forced into an unfamiliar place?"
"Scared"
"Lonely"
"Lost"
"Ok those are some good answers. Right now we are faced with that exact same situation within our own little group. We have a new member to our group. Even though he is not new to the school, he is probably having some of those feelings you just mentioned. This is Scott Barringer and I want everyone to help make his transition into our group easier."
Scott had been rocking back on the two back legs of his chair looking unimpressed. He had heard enough. He dropped the chair down on all fours and stood up. "This is bullshit. Don't do me any favors." He took off outside as he heard Roger yell his name behind him.
Scott took off with no where to go in particular. He just needed to get out because he felt like he was suffocating. He took the first corner around the lodge and ran right into Shelby. At first they just stared at each other for a minute and then Shelby stepped around to leave. Scott grabbed her by the arm and turned her around. "Come on Shelby talk to me. What did I do that was so wrong?"
"Aren't you on shuns from all cliffhangers?"
"So that's it? You use that as an excuse to not talk to me?"
"Why should I be punished because of you?"
Scott's mouth dropped open as he threw his hands up. "What? What planet have you been on? I'm the one that's been punished in case you haven't noticed."
Shelby saw Roger coming and tried to look innocent. She jerked away from Scott as she loudly spoke, "You're not suppose to be talking to me." She turned and walked away leaving Scott to deal with Roger alone.
"All right Scott. You refuse to be apart of the group and you continue to challenge the rules that have been set for you. Let's go see if Peter has a solution for you."
As they were walking over to the administration building they noticed that Curtis had his police car parked outside. Roger wondered what was going on that he didn't know about. Scott and Roger walked inside and they could see Peter having a heated argument with Curtis and what looked like a probation officer. Peter looked up and motioned for Roger to wait a minute. He came to the door and spoke to Roger softly.
"I was just getting ready to call for you. It appears that we have a problem regarding Scott."
Even though Roger was concerned, he gave a little laugh. "You and me both."
Peter questioned first. "Why what's wrong?"
They both looked over to Scott who was now sitting on the couch waiting for the next proceedings.
"Well it appears that he is refusing to bond with the new group and he is deliberately braking the rules of his shuns."
Peter didn't seem concerned at that moment. "Actually we have bigger problems than that." He looked over at Scott and said, "Scott come on in to my office. A situation has arisen that involves you."
Scott's heart started racing and he began to brake out in a sweat. He tried to come across cool and collective but a hundred things were going threw his mind at one time. Different scenarios were running threw his head all at once. Was he getting charged with rape when nothing actually happened? Did something happen to one of his parents? Was he getting busted for the drugs that he brought into Horizon? He didn't like the way everyone was staring at him as he walked into the room.
Peter motioned for him to sit down. He tried to find his voice to say something but he was afraid that nothing would come out. He decided it was best to take a seat and wait for someone else in the room to make the first move.
Curtis didn't seem to want to make the first move so he nodded to Peter to handle the situation. Peter paced the floor several times, scratched the back of his head and finally stopped in front of Scott. He grabbed a chair and pulled it up in front of him. He let out a long breath and began to speak.
"Scott it seems that your past is catching up to you." Before Scott could say anything Peter put his hand up for him to be quiet. "Let me finish and then you can ask any question that you want."
He looked around at the faces of the other occupants in the room. He made eye contact with Peter and nodded his head.
"Do you remember the first night you came here and you ran?" Scott nodded his head. "Do you remember the damage you did while you were in town?"
"Oh shit."
Peter raised his eyebrows. "Oh shit is right. It appears that your paperwork involving that incident was misplaced. Since the town has elected a new major, the county courthouse has gone through a major audit. It seems that some of the police records of misdemeanor crimes, which were overlooked and misplaced, have now surfaced. The new Major wants some of the old and neglected cases to be brought up and dealt with. Yours is one of them."
"But I thought that I was adjudicated into your care?"
"Yes you were. Instead of sending you to the Juvenile Detention Center, you were sent here but the sentencing never occurred."
"What sentencing?"
"It appears that the residence of that home pressed charges but it never went to court. They settled out of court but you never received your punishment because your paperwork became misplaced. Now you need to give the county some time."
Scott became paranoid. "You mean I have to go to jail."
"No, no, no." Peter made sure that he understood that quickly. "You need to give 60 hours of community service."
"What does that mean? I have to leave here? Where will I stay?"
"That's what we've been discussing in here for the past half hour. This is Jean Sanders and she has been assigned as your probation officer. She will come and get you from here in the mornings and take you into town where you will be put to work doing community services. At the end of the day she will bring you back here until all 60 hours have been accounted for."
Scott definitely wasn't thrilled regarding his new situation and his body language showed his defiance.
"Scott this is something you can't take lightly. You did the crime and now you need to pay the price. Time will go quickly as long as you don't stir up more trouble. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Jean spoke for the first time. "Look at the bright side. At least you are not being thrown behind bars. There are some other kids that are giving time as well so you won't be alone. You actually have the better end of the bargain because they will be coming from juvvie. At least you have a better place to return to at night."
"So when does this all start?"
"Tomorrow morning bright and early. I'll be here at 6 am to pick you up. Make sure you pack a lunch." With that said she was gone.
Peter looked over at Roger. "What was the other situation we needed to deal with?"
"Oh nothing. It's minor compared to this. Come on Scott. I think that you are going to need some rest."
