Holding on to the Rooftops- Cherry Chocolate Shakes
Scott lightly tapped his toe on the linoleum kitchen floor. He followed Landon's every move, never taking his eyes off him. Scott just wanted to jump out of his chair, attack him, yell at him, anything… but he couldn't.
'I'm such a coward,' Scott thought to himself. 'I can't believe what I've turned into, Shelby would be so ashamed if she could see what I was doing'
'No she wouldn't," a different voice in the back of his head replied. 'She would understand, she would try to help you.'
'She probably doesn't even want anything to do with you anymore, she's probably found someone new.'
'Don't say that, you can't say. She'd love you no matter what,' the other voice replied, the words echoing in his head.
"Great, now I'm hearing voices," Scott mumbled under his breath.
"Excuse me, what was that?" Landon asked in his little uptight voice.
"Nothing, I was just going over a few plays in my head."
Landon looked Scott over, pausing a moment on the bruise just under his eye that was slowly turning purple. "You really should get going to that now, shouldn't you."
"What do you mean?" Scott demanded loudly, almost spitting cereal all over the table.
"Well, you don't want to be late for practice, now do you?"
"Practice doesn't start for another forty five minutes!"
"Yes, but it will take you about twenty minutes to walk there, and you still aren't even ready. Which, as I have already informed you is unacceptable."
"Walk, Elaine said she was going to drive me."
"Well, she's in no condition to be driving you today now is she?"
"Yeah, you mad sure of that," Scott spat out as he walked up to his room. He slammed the door behind him and slowly sank to the floor. "What do I do Dad? What do I do?"
Scott allowed a single tear to slither down his face. "You weren't always the greatest father, but at least you never touched me or mom, or Elaine for that fact. At least, if you were still here you would know what to do, you would think of a way out of this," Scott whispered to the silence.
And that's how it went for weeks, Scott and Landon would end up in some sort of argument, occasionally ending in violence, in which case Landon always came out victorious. Eventually, Scott just gave up on talking all together, and went about his life trying to be as invisible as possible. He called Horizon once, but Peter made it very clear he wouldn't be able to talk to Shelby for a long time, and he would be informed of that time when he received a call from Shelby. And thus, Scott was alone. But, it wasn't all fun and games for Shelby either.
"Having fun Shelby," Daisy taunted.
"Actually, I am. Cleaning out toilets is way more fun than I would have ever imagined. Brings tears to my eyes, the fun of toilet bowl cleaning it does."
"Look who's turned into the Queen of Sarcasm."
"You're just jealous because I stole your title," Shelby laughed jovially.
"Oh, whatever, I could totally steal it any time I want, I just don't choose to do so, because if I did, then you wouldn't have any title's left to hold. After all, I took Miss Bitchy from you WEEKS ago."
"How's that going?"
"Oh David's still not willing to admit that he misses Ezra. Speaking of Ezra, he called a week ago, but I managed to ward him off when I asked him why he left, so now not only is David pissed off at me, but Juliette and Auggie are too. But, at least they're back on speaking terms, and aren't like yelling at each other anymore. As it turns ouot, all I needed to do was piss everyone off to reunite them. But, still, since you're on shuns, I am completely alienated at the dinner table. Ah, isn't family life great?"
"Aww, my little girl's growing up so fast, and maybe she should leave pretty quickly too, just in case Peter decides to come in and check up on me."
"Ah, but Peter trusts you, so he won't be coming to check up on you anytime soon."
"Really?" Peter's voice came from the door. "Well Shelby, since you chose to have Daisy leave, and she didn't grant your wishes, I think you deserve a reward."
Shelby's ears perked up. "You mean like Daisy has to clean the toilets for me?"
"Shelby," Daisy gasped.
"No, nothing like that, although I do have a simple task for you Daisy. In any case, Shelby there is someone on the phone for you."
Shelby didn't even hesitate to ask who it was, she bolted out of the dorm, ran down the stairs, and slammed straight into someone.
"Aubrey?" She said the moment she saw his hair.
"Well Shelby, I like you too, but there is no reason to start gettin' violent about it," Aubrey said in his smooth voice with a cockeyed grin.
"Mmm," Shelby whispered, melting in his arms.
"Where were you goin' in such a hurry doll?" Aubrey asked and Shelby's mind switched back into gear; Scott.
"Oh, umm, my Mom's on the phone," Shelby lied for some reason unbeknownst to her.
"Well, it's good to see that I'm not the only one here with a good relationship to their mom."
"Yeah, umm, we talk all the time." Another lie Shelby's rational mind could not explain.
"Well then, I guess I'll let you go," he said slowly letting her go.
"Yeah," Shelby said her eyes closed trying to savor the last moments of their embrace. When he had completely let go Shelby felt cold.
"Shelby, aren't you going to go?"
Aubrey's voice entered her mind like a splash of cold water. Scott, she told herself as she smiled at Aubrey. "Yeah," she said leaving as quickly as possible. Scott, Scott, Scott, Aubrey, NO, SCOTT, Scott, Scott, that's right, Scott. She repeated his name over and over again in her mind; finally, as soon as she had reached the phone, his face came up in her mind.
"Hello," she said shyly.
"Shelby," a strange voice squeaked out. It was Scott, she knew it was, but he sounded all wrong. His voice was stressed, like he was hurt, or in pain. Shelby didn't know what to think of it.
"Scott, what's wrong?"
"Shelby, I'm here. I ran, I just, he was about to hit me, and I ran, out the door, I had my backpack and some clothes in the car, and that's all I have, and now I'm here. I'm so scared Shelby, oh my God, I'm so scared. What if he finds me Shelby, what if he finds me?" Scott's words all came tumbling out, sending shivers down her spine.
We would sleep to the glow of the exit sign
Dream that the world was yours and mine
Better run if you want shotgun
The day was dark but it was all good and fun
We were heroes to those who knew us better
Times change are evident
I read your letter
The path we chose went different ways
But I can't let you get lost that maze
"Scott, Scott slow down, you're scaring me. What happened? Who's coming after you Scott?" Shelby asked trying desperately to keep her voice calm and cool.
"He, he tried to hit me again…. I… I couldn't take it again, I just couldn't…. So I ran, I ran all the way here, and I don't know what to do Shel, you have to help me…"
"Scott listen to me, calm down. I love you, and I want to help you, but I can't unless you calm down."
'Cause I don't see that you're next to me
After all we've been through I still wish you would come around, around again
"Shel, I need you, I need you real bad."
"Scott, where are you?"
"I'm here."
"Here, what do you mean you're here?"
"I'm in town, right here in town. I'm calling from a pay phone," Scott responded his voice calming down a bit. Shelby was hit in the gut with a sudden realization; Scott had run from home, and he was here at Horizon now.
"Scott, tell me, calmly, what happened."
"So much happened. Elaine, she got engaged to some guy named Landon. I thought he was okay… I thought. But he wasn't Shel, he wasn't. He beat Elaine and me up. He… he left so many bruises. And she tried to protect me, Elaine tried to protect me, she just beat him up more. I called you, and he told me to get off the phone, and I said no so he hit me. Then, we got in to a fight again, and… and he started hitting me and hitting me… I got one good hit in, and he stalled, so I ran, I grabbed a bag and ran like hell. I ran until I got here, and now I'm here and I don't know what to and I'm so scared. You were so far away. You weren't there, I needed you so bad Shel, and you weren't there." Shelby listened to every word, taking it all in, and a single tear slipped down as she realized how screwed up everything had become.
Yell from the rooftop you didn't care
And throw your fist up in the air
Life always hits like a bomb
But why did it hit to you so hard
'Cause I don't see that you're next to me
After all we've been through I still wish you would come around, around again
Shelby had been so selfish; she had enjoyed her time with Aubrey more than she should have, while Scott was in so much pain with Elaine and her fiancé, she had been yelling at Peter and abusing him as much as she could because she was mad that Scott wouldn't call her, while Scott was getting physically abused because he wanted to talk to Shelby.
"I'm so sorry Scott, I'm so sorry."
"Shel, I need you so bad, you have to come and meet me, you have to."
"I will Scott, I will, just meet me outside of Rusty's in thirty minutes. I'll be right there Scott, I will. We'll never be apart again, I promise Scott."
"Okay Shel, I'll be there waiting, hurry please."
Shelby hung up the phone, and worked quickly. First she hit the kitchen, Sophie was there in her way. "Hi Sophie, umm, Peter told me I should go to Rusty's to get some stuff for y'all tonight or…something," Shelby said trying to play her cards right.
"Oh right, my Mom's coming over tonight. I bet you need some money," Sophie said, and Shelby grinned due to the fact that her plan was working perfectly. Sophie began digging in her pockets and pulled out a fifty-dollar bill. "You know, it's funny, Peter said he had everything he needed."
Shelby panicked slightly as she took the money. "Yeah, that is funny. So hey, I guess I'll be back soon."
Sophie's eyes twinkled. "So Shelby, how are things with you and Scott?" she asked, the tone in her voice told Shelby she knew something.
"Just fine, umm I really should get going, you know I have all those toilets to be cleaning."
"Well Shelby, you know that if anything is wrong, anything at all, you can always come to me, and I'll help you OR Scott, no matter what the circumstance."
Shelby froze; she did know something. "Umm, yeah thanks for that."
Sophie shook her head and then put her hand on Shelby's shoulder, leaning down she whispered into Shelby's ear. "Scott likes the cherry and chocolate milkshake, and tell him hello for me."
Shelby sat there stunned for a moment. She looked up at Sophie who just smiled back at her. Shelby nodded her head slowly, and then walked out the door. She looked back at the building one more time. She couldn't believe Sophie knew, and that she was helping her. Shaking her head Shelby sneaked into the Cliffhanger boy's dorm. She walked over to David's closet and pulled out a few sets of clothing, and shoved them into one of David's bags, and then she walked out the door, and ran towards Rusty's.
"Sophie," Peter called out as he walked in to the kitchen. "Sophie have you seen Shelby?"
"Peter, maybe you should sit down," Sophie said in a comforting voice.
Peter remained standing. "What is going on Sophie?"
"I can't tell you, because if I do then you can't claim you didn't know. So just trust me when I say that everything is going to be just perfect."
Peter just stared at Sophie in confusion. "Fine, fine I believe you, just as long as you promise to tell me after this is all said and done."
"I promise," she said kissing him on the forehead.
Shelby's eyes darted all around her once she got in town. She had figured out her alibi if anyone asked her what she was doing here. She would simply say that Sophie had arranged a get together for Scott and Shelby at Rusty's, she knew Sophie would cover for her. Finally, Shelby's eyes landed on the most gorgeous guy she had ever seen; Scott. He was standing in a corner, holding himself, his hair was all crumpled, and he looked like hell, but Shelby thought he was gorgeous anyway.
"Scott," she stage whispered. He looked up at her, his eyes feverish.
"Shelby," he said quietly as she ran towards him, she jumped into his arms and he swung her around. He finally put her on the ground, but continued to hold her close. "I missed you so much Shel," he whispered into her hair.
"I missed you to Scott," she said pulling away so she could look at him. "Here," she said handing him a pair of jeans and an over shirt she had taken from David's drawers.
"What's this?" he asked staring down at it as if it were a time bomb.
Shelby smiled. "It's clothes silly. You can't go in there looking like you do now," she said as she pulled out the fifty-dollar bill.
"Shel… where?"
"Don't worry about it Scott, just change, and I am taking you out for a chocolate cherry milkshake courtesy of Sophie.
"You told Sophie?" Scott asked staring about her in amazement.
"No, I didn't."
"Then how?"
"I told you not to worry about it. Now hurry up and change, I'm starved."
It's not too late for you my friend to start to live again
So please don't throw it all away and come around again
Scott lightly tapped his toe on the linoleum kitchen floor. He followed Landon's every move, never taking his eyes off him. Scott just wanted to jump out of his chair, attack him, yell at him, anything… but he couldn't.
'I'm such a coward,' Scott thought to himself. 'I can't believe what I've turned into, Shelby would be so ashamed if she could see what I was doing'
'No she wouldn't," a different voice in the back of his head replied. 'She would understand, she would try to help you.'
'She probably doesn't even want anything to do with you anymore, she's probably found someone new.'
'Don't say that, you can't say. She'd love you no matter what,' the other voice replied, the words echoing in his head.
"Great, now I'm hearing voices," Scott mumbled under his breath.
"Excuse me, what was that?" Landon asked in his little uptight voice.
"Nothing, I was just going over a few plays in my head."
Landon looked Scott over, pausing a moment on the bruise just under his eye that was slowly turning purple. "You really should get going to that now, shouldn't you."
"What do you mean?" Scott demanded loudly, almost spitting cereal all over the table.
"Well, you don't want to be late for practice, now do you?"
"Practice doesn't start for another forty five minutes!"
"Yes, but it will take you about twenty minutes to walk there, and you still aren't even ready. Which, as I have already informed you is unacceptable."
"Walk, Elaine said she was going to drive me."
"Well, she's in no condition to be driving you today now is she?"
"Yeah, you mad sure of that," Scott spat out as he walked up to his room. He slammed the door behind him and slowly sank to the floor. "What do I do Dad? What do I do?"
Scott allowed a single tear to slither down his face. "You weren't always the greatest father, but at least you never touched me or mom, or Elaine for that fact. At least, if you were still here you would know what to do, you would think of a way out of this," Scott whispered to the silence.
And that's how it went for weeks, Scott and Landon would end up in some sort of argument, occasionally ending in violence, in which case Landon always came out victorious. Eventually, Scott just gave up on talking all together, and went about his life trying to be as invisible as possible. He called Horizon once, but Peter made it very clear he wouldn't be able to talk to Shelby for a long time, and he would be informed of that time when he received a call from Shelby. And thus, Scott was alone. But, it wasn't all fun and games for Shelby either.
"Having fun Shelby," Daisy taunted.
"Actually, I am. Cleaning out toilets is way more fun than I would have ever imagined. Brings tears to my eyes, the fun of toilet bowl cleaning it does."
"Look who's turned into the Queen of Sarcasm."
"You're just jealous because I stole your title," Shelby laughed jovially.
"Oh, whatever, I could totally steal it any time I want, I just don't choose to do so, because if I did, then you wouldn't have any title's left to hold. After all, I took Miss Bitchy from you WEEKS ago."
"How's that going?"
"Oh David's still not willing to admit that he misses Ezra. Speaking of Ezra, he called a week ago, but I managed to ward him off when I asked him why he left, so now not only is David pissed off at me, but Juliette and Auggie are too. But, at least they're back on speaking terms, and aren't like yelling at each other anymore. As it turns ouot, all I needed to do was piss everyone off to reunite them. But, still, since you're on shuns, I am completely alienated at the dinner table. Ah, isn't family life great?"
"Aww, my little girl's growing up so fast, and maybe she should leave pretty quickly too, just in case Peter decides to come in and check up on me."
"Ah, but Peter trusts you, so he won't be coming to check up on you anytime soon."
"Really?" Peter's voice came from the door. "Well Shelby, since you chose to have Daisy leave, and she didn't grant your wishes, I think you deserve a reward."
Shelby's ears perked up. "You mean like Daisy has to clean the toilets for me?"
"Shelby," Daisy gasped.
"No, nothing like that, although I do have a simple task for you Daisy. In any case, Shelby there is someone on the phone for you."
Shelby didn't even hesitate to ask who it was, she bolted out of the dorm, ran down the stairs, and slammed straight into someone.
"Aubrey?" She said the moment she saw his hair.
"Well Shelby, I like you too, but there is no reason to start gettin' violent about it," Aubrey said in his smooth voice with a cockeyed grin.
"Mmm," Shelby whispered, melting in his arms.
"Where were you goin' in such a hurry doll?" Aubrey asked and Shelby's mind switched back into gear; Scott.
"Oh, umm, my Mom's on the phone," Shelby lied for some reason unbeknownst to her.
"Well, it's good to see that I'm not the only one here with a good relationship to their mom."
"Yeah, umm, we talk all the time." Another lie Shelby's rational mind could not explain.
"Well then, I guess I'll let you go," he said slowly letting her go.
"Yeah," Shelby said her eyes closed trying to savor the last moments of their embrace. When he had completely let go Shelby felt cold.
"Shelby, aren't you going to go?"
Aubrey's voice entered her mind like a splash of cold water. Scott, she told herself as she smiled at Aubrey. "Yeah," she said leaving as quickly as possible. Scott, Scott, Scott, Aubrey, NO, SCOTT, Scott, Scott, that's right, Scott. She repeated his name over and over again in her mind; finally, as soon as she had reached the phone, his face came up in her mind.
"Hello," she said shyly.
"Shelby," a strange voice squeaked out. It was Scott, she knew it was, but he sounded all wrong. His voice was stressed, like he was hurt, or in pain. Shelby didn't know what to think of it.
"Scott, what's wrong?"
"Shelby, I'm here. I ran, I just, he was about to hit me, and I ran, out the door, I had my backpack and some clothes in the car, and that's all I have, and now I'm here. I'm so scared Shelby, oh my God, I'm so scared. What if he finds me Shelby, what if he finds me?" Scott's words all came tumbling out, sending shivers down her spine.
We would sleep to the glow of the exit sign
Dream that the world was yours and mine
Better run if you want shotgun
The day was dark but it was all good and fun
We were heroes to those who knew us better
Times change are evident
I read your letter
The path we chose went different ways
But I can't let you get lost that maze
"Scott, Scott slow down, you're scaring me. What happened? Who's coming after you Scott?" Shelby asked trying desperately to keep her voice calm and cool.
"He, he tried to hit me again…. I… I couldn't take it again, I just couldn't…. So I ran, I ran all the way here, and I don't know what to do Shel, you have to help me…"
"Scott listen to me, calm down. I love you, and I want to help you, but I can't unless you calm down."
'Cause I don't see that you're next to me
After all we've been through I still wish you would come around, around again
"Shel, I need you, I need you real bad."
"Scott, where are you?"
"I'm here."
"Here, what do you mean you're here?"
"I'm in town, right here in town. I'm calling from a pay phone," Scott responded his voice calming down a bit. Shelby was hit in the gut with a sudden realization; Scott had run from home, and he was here at Horizon now.
"Scott, tell me, calmly, what happened."
"So much happened. Elaine, she got engaged to some guy named Landon. I thought he was okay… I thought. But he wasn't Shel, he wasn't. He beat Elaine and me up. He… he left so many bruises. And she tried to protect me, Elaine tried to protect me, she just beat him up more. I called you, and he told me to get off the phone, and I said no so he hit me. Then, we got in to a fight again, and… and he started hitting me and hitting me… I got one good hit in, and he stalled, so I ran, I grabbed a bag and ran like hell. I ran until I got here, and now I'm here and I don't know what to and I'm so scared. You were so far away. You weren't there, I needed you so bad Shel, and you weren't there." Shelby listened to every word, taking it all in, and a single tear slipped down as she realized how screwed up everything had become.
Yell from the rooftop you didn't care
And throw your fist up in the air
Life always hits like a bomb
But why did it hit to you so hard
'Cause I don't see that you're next to me
After all we've been through I still wish you would come around, around again
Shelby had been so selfish; she had enjoyed her time with Aubrey more than she should have, while Scott was in so much pain with Elaine and her fiancé, she had been yelling at Peter and abusing him as much as she could because she was mad that Scott wouldn't call her, while Scott was getting physically abused because he wanted to talk to Shelby.
"I'm so sorry Scott, I'm so sorry."
"Shel, I need you so bad, you have to come and meet me, you have to."
"I will Scott, I will, just meet me outside of Rusty's in thirty minutes. I'll be right there Scott, I will. We'll never be apart again, I promise Scott."
"Okay Shel, I'll be there waiting, hurry please."
Shelby hung up the phone, and worked quickly. First she hit the kitchen, Sophie was there in her way. "Hi Sophie, umm, Peter told me I should go to Rusty's to get some stuff for y'all tonight or…something," Shelby said trying to play her cards right.
"Oh right, my Mom's coming over tonight. I bet you need some money," Sophie said, and Shelby grinned due to the fact that her plan was working perfectly. Sophie began digging in her pockets and pulled out a fifty-dollar bill. "You know, it's funny, Peter said he had everything he needed."
Shelby panicked slightly as she took the money. "Yeah, that is funny. So hey, I guess I'll be back soon."
Sophie's eyes twinkled. "So Shelby, how are things with you and Scott?" she asked, the tone in her voice told Shelby she knew something.
"Just fine, umm I really should get going, you know I have all those toilets to be cleaning."
"Well Shelby, you know that if anything is wrong, anything at all, you can always come to me, and I'll help you OR Scott, no matter what the circumstance."
Shelby froze; she did know something. "Umm, yeah thanks for that."
Sophie shook her head and then put her hand on Shelby's shoulder, leaning down she whispered into Shelby's ear. "Scott likes the cherry and chocolate milkshake, and tell him hello for me."
Shelby sat there stunned for a moment. She looked up at Sophie who just smiled back at her. Shelby nodded her head slowly, and then walked out the door. She looked back at the building one more time. She couldn't believe Sophie knew, and that she was helping her. Shaking her head Shelby sneaked into the Cliffhanger boy's dorm. She walked over to David's closet and pulled out a few sets of clothing, and shoved them into one of David's bags, and then she walked out the door, and ran towards Rusty's.
"Sophie," Peter called out as he walked in to the kitchen. "Sophie have you seen Shelby?"
"Peter, maybe you should sit down," Sophie said in a comforting voice.
Peter remained standing. "What is going on Sophie?"
"I can't tell you, because if I do then you can't claim you didn't know. So just trust me when I say that everything is going to be just perfect."
Peter just stared at Sophie in confusion. "Fine, fine I believe you, just as long as you promise to tell me after this is all said and done."
"I promise," she said kissing him on the forehead.
Shelby's eyes darted all around her once she got in town. She had figured out her alibi if anyone asked her what she was doing here. She would simply say that Sophie had arranged a get together for Scott and Shelby at Rusty's, she knew Sophie would cover for her. Finally, Shelby's eyes landed on the most gorgeous guy she had ever seen; Scott. He was standing in a corner, holding himself, his hair was all crumpled, and he looked like hell, but Shelby thought he was gorgeous anyway.
"Scott," she stage whispered. He looked up at her, his eyes feverish.
"Shelby," he said quietly as she ran towards him, she jumped into his arms and he swung her around. He finally put her on the ground, but continued to hold her close. "I missed you so much Shel," he whispered into her hair.
"I missed you to Scott," she said pulling away so she could look at him. "Here," she said handing him a pair of jeans and an over shirt she had taken from David's drawers.
"What's this?" he asked staring down at it as if it were a time bomb.
Shelby smiled. "It's clothes silly. You can't go in there looking like you do now," she said as she pulled out the fifty-dollar bill.
"Shel… where?"
"Don't worry about it Scott, just change, and I am taking you out for a chocolate cherry milkshake courtesy of Sophie.
"You told Sophie?" Scott asked staring about her in amazement.
"No, I didn't."
"Then how?"
"I told you not to worry about it. Now hurry up and change, I'm starved."
It's not too late for you my friend to start to live again
So please don't throw it all away and come around again
