Holding on to the Rooftops- Betrayed by the World

Scott braced himself for the blow, but it didn't matter. The impact of Landon's fist with Scott's stomach knocked the wind out of Scott and caused him to fall back on the hard wood floors. Scott stayed down, hoping that Landon would think he had done enough damage. It worked; Landon walked off still fuming and Scott crawled up that stairs to his room. Once he had poured himself into his bed, Scott allowed his mind to recap what had just happened.
"Scott, it's three minutes past seven," Landon's voice rang through out the small dining room as Scott sat down at the dinner table. Scott chose to ignore him and instead reached for a dinner roll. "Scott."

"What," Scott said, his mouth full of bread-y goodness.

"I demand an apology," Landon said eyeing Scott coolly.

Scott looked up at him dumbfounded. "For being three minutes late?"

"I believe you were already informed that dinner was served promptly at seven, were you not?"

"I was, but still," Scott stammered.

"Well then, it would appear that an apology is in order."

"I was THREE minutes late."

"And I have been waiting for THREE minutes. Now apologize for keeping Elaine and I waiting."

"No," Scott's voice rang with such defiance that Elaine winced.

"Scott," she said in a tender, warning tone.

"Elaine, keep your stupid-ass comments out of this," Landon said practically snarling at her.

"Don't talk to her that way," Scott was shocked at the words that had just fallen out of his mouth; he was defending a monster. It didn't matter though; he didn't want her to get hers this way.

Landon's eyes iced over and he stood up, his chair scraping across the hard, wooden floor. "Get up."

Scott stood up and shook his head, and he began to walk out of the dining area when Landon caught him. "Let go of me," Scott yelled.

"Have it your way," Landon said as he threw Scott into the entrance hall. The movement jarred Scott's elbow and he was winded. He tried to get up, but his legs weren't working. "Get up."

Scott glinted at the man he had once felt sorry for and he found himself standing on his feet. "I'm going to bed."

"The Hell you are," Landon bit back amused. "Not until you apologize."

"Okay then," Scott said turning to Elaine. "Elaine, I am sorry for keeping you waiting."

Scott turned back to Landon a wide smile on his face. Scott quickly lost his amusement when he saw the smile playing about Landon's angry face. That was all it took. Landon jumped on Scott and the only thing Scott could think to do was submit, and he did.
A knock on the door jarred Scott from his thoughts and he wiped away the tears forming at his eyes. "Come in," he said praying to God that it was Elaine, how ironic.

Elaine popped her head in and then smiled a little at him. When she was fully through the door Scott could see a bruise forming on her arm and a phone in her other hand. "It's," she squeaked out, coughed, and smiled again. "It's for you."

Scott's mind raced as he wondered who it could be. He looked over at the letter he had written to Shelby and prayed he could throw it away soon. He took the phone from Elaine and she smiled at him as she walked out the door. "Hello?"

"Scott," Shelby's voice replied, feeling Scott's body with warmth.

"Shelby," Scott said, he winced; even he could hear the desperation in his voice.

"Scott I'm so sorry," Shelby sobbed into the phone. "I'm so sorry, I was scared, I'm still scared. And he was there, and, I'm sorry. It will never happen again, I love you. I'm so sorry, I, I love you and I want to be with you, I was just scared, but it's okay now. I'm okay, we'll be okay."

Scott stared at the phone blankly at the phone. "What?"

"I didn't mean what I said," Shelby said in a shy voice Scott didn't recognize.

Despite the awkwardness, Scott smiled. "I knew you didn't. It's okay Shel, I forgive you."

"Umm, as nice as that sounds, I have something… something else to tell you," Shelby whispered hoarsely. "I almost, almost kissed, umm, Aubrey?"

To Scott's surprise he laughed. Shelby seemed a bit baffled and Scott elaborated. "Almost?"

"Well, I almost did but then I didn't."

"Then everything's fine," Scott said. He smiled at his own maturity. Normally he would be seething in anger, but this all seemed so small and petty after what he had gone through in these past weeks.

"Scott, I have to see you."

"I know," Scott began and then he heard the clunk-clunk of Landon's shoes. "I know, me too, but, I have to call you back tomorrow morning. I'll explain later. I love you."

"I love you too," a confused Shelby said with an honesty that made Scott's heart soar. He felt a tear slip down his cheek as he listened to the dead phone. His eyes soon dried up, however, when Landon walked in his room.

"Are you ready to apologize Scott?" Landon said, his tone making it very clear that he was in no mood to mess around with Scott.

Scott closed his eyes for a moment. Then he swallowed his pride. "I am sorry Landon."

"Sorry for what?"

"I'm sorry that I mad both you and Elaine wait three minutes for me. I am sorry that I have been a nuisance ever since I came here, and I promise I will try to be better behaved from here on out," Scott inhaled deeply to brace himself. He was surprised at how calm the words had come out, and even more surprised that he was submitting himself to this jerk.

"Your apology is accepted. Now get some sleep, you're going to have to be up at 6 A.M. if you want to be ready in time for breakfast. Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir," Scott replied automatically.

As Landon turned his back, Scott felt like it was the whole world turning his back on him. As his door closed and his room seeped into a black hole, Scott felt like he had nothing left, no one that cared about him. "But someone does," Scott whispered to himself. "You still have Shelby."

Scott gently stroked the phone in his hand; it was the only source of comfort he had left.
Author's Note: Okay, okay, don't every bite my head off at once. I am really sorry, but I have been so swamped with school lately. Just ask my friend the Duck. Hey look, I know that excuses are like armpits: everybody has them and the all stink, and I am truly sorry. So, I know no most of you will have to re-read the whole thinf, and I am sorry for wasting your time, and I promise to try to post every other weekend at the LATEST. I will try, and once again, I am so sorry. I know you people dn't really think I am, but I am because I know what it is like to wait months for someone to post a story. i didn't do it because I hate you all, or because I can't finish this, I promise. So, once you're all ready to forgive me, then you can review. But if you are still angry at me, then you don't have to review, because I don't deserve it for making you all wait.

P.S. Maya, I love you sweetie, this WHOLE story is written in your honor, if it were a building, I would name a wing after you. Not just one chapter, the WHOLE thing, because I know that if I ever need anything, you'll be there for me and you won't judge me, because you're awesome like that, don't ever change.