Bringer of Futures
Chapter 22: Have I told you lately that I love you?
*****
I suppose this is going to be a very long chapter seeing as I want to close it all up in this chapter. There is a lot I have remembered to do for this story so as not to leave you hanging. Don't worry, if I do leave you hanging, I'm sorry in advance.. heh.. or email me at purplehole@hotmail.com and ask me a question. As for the person who wanted a quick character review there isn't really much good that will do now since it's the end of the chapter and only two characters are important as of now. One being deceased and the other being Staci who is a friend of Katie. That's really all you need to know so you don't get confused. Sorry if there has been any confusion. Oh and I've decided to put a lot more of the real Cliffhangers in here. I know how people hate it when too many characters are added.. I made a mistake with that.
DISCLAIMER: For the last time with this story I do not own anyone you have seen on Higher Ground. So HA! You can't sue me. OH And the song lyrics in here are from Rod Stewart incase you haven't noticed. The song title is the same as the chapter title. "Have I told you lately that I love you" oh and "Everything I do, I do for you" by Bryan Adams are the other lyrics. Good song, go download it... or buy the cd if you don't do illegal things! lol, Woah, wait, I shouldn't be telling you to do illegal things in a disclaimer where I'm trying not to get sued... lalala Just pretend I didn't say that and everything will be fine. Assuming you don't hate me and you don't want to sue me.
ANYWAY, I'll stop making stupid jokes and get on with the story.
*****
The funerals were set for the following Friday. Peter, even though narrowly escaping a lawsuit from the Wilton's, managed to persuade them into letting Issac's funeral be with Katie's because he, and a bunch of the Cliffhangers, knew that that was what Isaac would have wanted. Mrs. Wilton, being the soft, caring one, had forgiven Peter for whatever he was guilty of in her eyes, and had managed to convince her husband and with a lot of planning they were to be buried side-by-side in the local church of Agnes.
Several attempts to cure Shelby of the experience of finding a dead body in the bathroom were all in vain for she didn't want to talk to anyone.. even Scott. Everyone was worried about her. Little did they know that finding Katie on the bathroom floor was not what was keeping her from letting her feelings out. Had they forgotten that she had once found her best friend dead from a drug overdose on her days on the streets? This was nothing compared to that. She was hardly even aquatinted with the other girl... but Patty was her best friend.
The fact that Walt had come back to haunt Shelby in real life, not just in her dreams, was hurting her psychologically. Sure she knew that Scott would understand but a part of her was still scared to tell him about what had occurred the night of the party. Hadn't he once turned away from her when she told him of her days as a prostitute on the streets? He had wanted HER to apologize for it when she only wanted him to say, "I'm Sorry". What if he turned her away again?
'No, that's silly.' She had kept telling herself. Scott wasn't like that now. Things had gone down a different path. Scott would comfort her. And hadn't Peter comforted her when she freaked and tore up the campsite? The day he learned of her step-father-- the day of Katherine's hike to Dogs Peak? They all hugged.. and he said it would all be all right. He would understand as well. There was no questioning how Sophie would take it. When her and Daisy had gone to Daisy's mother's funeral, they learned of Sophie's own secret.. the one in which she had yet to tell Peter. They would understand, Shelby thought as she sat up in bed.
It was midnight and Peter would be leaving after last bed checks soon. If she was going to tell him she would have to tell him, Sophie and Scott now or else she would lose her courage. She jumped off her bed, slid a hoodie and her shoes on and tip-toed out of the girls dorm, being careful not to wake anyone else.
"Where are you going?" Shelby heard her best friend, Daisy call from behind her.
"I'm going to do what I should have done a long time ago." Shelby replied, without so much as a side glance at Daisy. She would have to tell her later... after telling Peter and the rest. She knew that she would always have the courage to tell Daisy. It was just that easy with her. It was like she understood everything, even without experiencing it.
It had started a light drizzle that soon turned into a steady rain halfway through the walk from the girl's dorm to the boy's dorm. She was going to wake Scott up first. Speeding up, she realized that she was shaking. Not from the cold, or from her obvious nervousness, but from the adrenaline pumping through her system. The only other time she had felt this was when, in her other "universe", she had "opened up the door for the police" and told on her stepfather for the first time. She knew she could do it now, whatever if took.
No sooner than her mind had switched back to the task at hand then she had reached the boys dorm and her hand rested lightly up against it. The door opened before she had a chance to knock and Scott took her hand in his. It was like he knew she was coming.
"What are you doing here?" Scott asked, as he kissed her on the hand. Shelby blushed a bit and looked into his deep, blue eyes.
"I- I can't tell you now... we have to get to Peter and Sophie before they leave." Shelby explained. Scott nodded, sensing how important this was to her. He grabbed a wind jacket from the stand beside his bed and jogged out the door with her, holding the jacket over Shelby's head to protect her from the now pouring rain.
They both reached Peter's office where he and Sophie were just about to lock the door, soaked.
"Scott," Peter said looking between them, once he noticed their presence, "Shelby? What are you guys doing up? Why are you-" Shelby cut him off.
"Peter, before I lose the courage, I have to tell you guys something. You, Sophie," She said looking at the blonde woman standing behind Peter, "and most importantly, Scott." She said, looking back into his deep blue eyes.
"Well, what's so important that you had to come now, Shel?" Peter said, snapping Shelby out of her trance. She realized he had opened the door to his office up and they were now sitting in front of his desk together. Scott wrapped a blanket around her arms in such a loving way that it made her shudder with a feeling of almost pure happiness.
"Uh..." Shelby said biting her lip. 'They'll believe you, just tell them!' Her conscience was pushing her on. She looked up at the three of them. They were all looking at her expecting her to continue. "I promise you guys, I didn't want to do it!" She exclaimed, letting the tears that had so long been wanting to escape her saddened eyes stream out. Scott wrapped his arms around her to comfort her.
"What is it?" Sophie encouraged her. Scott squeezed her hand three times, telling her, in their language, that he loved her. She took a dare and looked back up into his eyes.
FLASHBACK
"Why'd you come back?" Shelby asked, finally being able to smile for the first time since Scott had left with his father. Scott bit his lip and was hesitant to say what he wanted to say so badly. What he had wanted to say for so long.
"Because...." he started. Shelby's smile increased, "because I love you!!" he finally let out. Her face lit up and she believed she couldn't get any happier as they both watched the meteor's streak across the sky.
END FLASHBACK
"Walt. H-he did it ag- again. The night of the party." Shelby said, finally finding enough courage to say it in front of them all. She was still staring into Scott's eyes and it looked like she was just talking to him. His eyes went from a confused, deep kind, to an angry, fierce kind. But there was something else there.. something she hadn't really seen before. It looked like a strong look of understanding and deep love.
He bent down and kissed her on the cheek, knowing that it wasn't the time to kiss her on the lips.. at least not in front of Peter and Sophie.
"It's okay," he said softly, "I'm here for you." He said and pulled her in for a tight embrace. The tears streamed from her eyes even faster now and had soaked Scott's night shirt. They could sense Peter and Sophie standing up.
Sophie looked back at Peter, trying to hold her tears back but eventually let them out. Peter nodded, knowing what Sophie was thinking and he went in for the hug while Sophie headed for the door.
On her way out Sophie decided to give Shelby a few encouraging words for she knew what to come wouldn't be easy, "It's okay, Hun. Things will be okay now. I know it will be hard.. but things will be okay." She finished and walked out the door to call child protection services.
Shelby pulled back. She had something else she wanted to say. "I- I need to talk to my sister and my mother. Both different reasons." Shelby said, finally remembering. She had to save her mom.. and she had to tell her sister all about what had happened to her like she had tried to do earlier.
"Is it of dire importance or can you wait until first thing in the morning?" Peter asked, not caring to bother them both in the middle of the night.
Shelby nodded, "It's okay, I can wait 'till morning. Can I just.. go to sleep now? Tomorrow is going to be hard, I can tell." Scott grabbed her hand and prepared to lead her out the door and back to her dorm when Peter stopped them.
"If you two promise me you won't do a thing, you can both stay in the den tonight, supervised by yours truly, of course." He smiled, devilishly for a second, then his expression showed seriousness again. "I just know you've both gone through a lot these past few weeks" he began again, "and need to be together." He finished. They nodded, Shelby laughing. "What?" Peter asked, with a strange look on his face.
"I just realized that maybe you DO have a heart, Peter." She said and all three of them chuckled as Peter set up separate sleeping bags for them all to sleep in.
*****
Shelby sat up as the morning light streamed in through the windows. It was Thursday morning and she had to talk to Child Protection Services today.. but first she decided to call her mother. She looked down at Scott, expecting him to be sound asleep but he was laying on his side, propping his head up with his arm and looking at her, smiling.
"What's so interesting?" Shelby asked, averting her eyes and blushing a little. Scott gently cupped her face with his fingers and made her look in straight in the eyes. She fell into the trance immediately.
*** Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there's no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do***
"You're beautiful," he said softly while smiling and leaned in to kiss her on the lips when he heard a loud cough from behind them.
"I'm going to pretend that didn't even start to happen. I'm not going soft on you two now.." Peter said looking down at his coffee cup and smiling. "Come on guys, get up and get ready. I'm sure the other Cliffhangers are already worrying about where you went."
Both Scott and Shelby nodded, got up, and packed up their sleeping bags. Seeing as they didn't bring any clothes the night before, they were both still in their night clothes and jackets. They slid their shoes back on and walked down the same path, only splitting up when Scott had walked Shelby back to the girl's dorm.
"You know I love you," Scott began, "and I'm going to help you through everything to come, don't you?" He asked, looking as if on the verge of tears while holding both her hands.
***Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for I can't help it
there's nothin' I want more
Ya know it's true
Everything I do
I do it for you***
"Yes.. don't worry, I know." Shelby smiled and kissed him shortly. "I know you'll always be there for me." She finished and smiled, turning away leaving Scott standing on the steps to think over the past few events.
Shelby walked in to hear Juliette squeal, "Where have you been!!? We've all been soooo worried!!! You were out with Scott all night weren't you?! I tell you, one of these days you're going to get caught and don't come running to-" Everyone was now quiet and expecting an answer, even Daisy.
"Chill, Princess," Shelby tried to say without sounding like anything was wrong. Tried being the keyword because she knew no one would believe her, "I had some business to attend to with Peter..." She looked around to all the skeptical faces. "I guess you could say I had to get something off of my chest." She said and stole the bathroom before Juliette even had time to blink.
*****
The phone rang and rang until finally a young girl picked up, "Hello?"
"Jess?" Shelby asked.
"Shelby?! Oh It's so good to hear your voice. I've been so- so confused and lonely." Jess cried out.
"Oh I know, Jess and I'm sorry for everything I've ever done to hurt you. Especially leaving you at home with that.. man" She said, while emphasizing the word man with hatred.
"What are you talking about?" Jess said, knowing perfectly well that Walt was a monster. What she couldn't figure out is why Shelby would hate him.
"Don't play stupid with me, Jess. I know what he's been doing to you. He- he did it to me, as well. I know-" Shelby tried to explain before Jess could say anything.
"You knew? YOU KNEW AND YOU LEFT ME HERE!" Jess yelled. "You left me here.. with HIM! And you knew! You knew perfectly well what he was doing!" These words sounded so familiar.
"Look, I know your mad at me but he said that he wouldn't." She said trying to use the same excuse as before. "He- he said that if I didn't tell- that- that he would leave you alone.. and I thought it was just me he wanted. Just me..." Shelby trailed off.
"But it wasn't! And you knew that... I suppose your just going to say sorry now?" Jess said. Shelby knew sorry wouldn't be good enough.
"I know.. I know, Jess.. but I had to get away. He promised me he wouldn't touch you if I didn't tell and- and I DIDN'T tell.. now I realize that I could have gotten him away from you but I was ignorent. Please, Jess.. you have to believe me. I was young- your age. I didn't know what to do! I was so scared," Shelby paused, biting her lip before going on, "so I ran." She said blankly. "I ran to the streets where I punished myself with- with sex. I became a prostitute, Jess, just to get away from him." She could hear Jess gasp lightly.
"Shelby.. I didn't know." She said, sadly.
"Well, I know that. I would know if you knew because I'd be the one to tell you." She said grimacing at her bad sense of humor. This wasn't the time for that. "So now you know the reason I kept running. I didn't want to leave you or mom with that son of a..." she paused for a second. She couldn't cuss in front of her sister, "that son of a mother" she finished. "I just HAD to get away. But I'm different now, Jess. I really am. I've got Scott now... and you.. and maybe, just maybe, you'll be able to come here with me.. to Horizon, to maybe get help." Shelby said, unsure of what Jess' response would be. There was a long pause before Jess finally spoke.
"I'd love to be with you all the time, Shelby. You've no idea how much I've missed just hearing your voice and to be around you would be- it would be wonderful. Maybe Peter could save me.. just like he saved you." Jess said, the line also sounding very familar to Jess. Shelby laughed lightly and smiled.
The doorbell rang at the house.
"Who is it?" She could hear Jess yell. Mumbled voices came from the door and Jess gasped, confused.
"Jess what are you doing? Who is it?" Shelby asked.
"I'm going to open up the door for the.... police." Jess said, confusion in her voice. That line sounded so familiar for she had said it right before she told on Walt. She knew why the police were there. Sophie had talked to CPS and CPS talked the police into taking Walt into protective custody so Jess wouldn't be hurt any more.
"Shelby.. listen.. Listen I have to go now. The police want to talk to him" She said him with such hatred dripping from her words that it made Shelby wince.
"Jess. JESS!" Shelby said trying to get her attention.
"What?" She asked.
"Listen.. tell mom to be careful when she drives." Shelby said in her last attempts to mend things.
"Why?"
"Just do it! It's important!" Shelby yelled and slammed the phone into the receiver, slid to the floor, and sobbed into her lap. Maybe the tears were happy.. maybe they were sad. She didn't know. The confusion had taken over her mind. She sat and cried for a long time just beacuse she needed to. No other reason.
The time had come and she couldn't avoid it any longer. Shelby walked into Peter's office where a woman was sitting on a leather couch, setting up a camera. Shelby saw Peter standing in the corner and he gave her an encouraging nod. She sat down at the seat set up in front of the camera. She had avoided this for so long but now... now she needed to get this out.
"This is child protection services case number 50284. Please state your name." The woman said, smiling. She was different.. not like Scott's... interrogator. She felt her face cool off and her courage build up.
"Shelby Merrick," She said for the camera. She could feel that things were going to get better. Looking out the window she saw Scott looking in, smiling at her brightly.. and her face lit up as she now had enough courage to get through it all. He was right, he would be there for her through thick and thin.
*****
And there they all stood. A large circle around two grave sites, a preacher mumbling on, two of their own gone, everyone was crying. The sadness was thick. The preacher had finished his sermon and the caskets were being lowered into the ground. This was too much for everyone. Everyone but Staci who stood and stared at them. No emotion was seen in her face. It was like everything was gone. She just breathed out sharply, gave a cynical half smile, shook her head and walked away. She simply walked away...
Everyone knew this would take some time getting used to. That things would never really be the same.. but this had maybe given them some closure and as the sun started to set over the horizon, and all the cars were being packed up, everyone all realized that they had reached a new point in their life. Maybe now their wounds would be able to heal and their scars able to dissapear.
*****
THE END
*****
Okay, so that had tons of Scott and Shelby but you cant deny your love for the S AND S!!!! Woah... preppy moment. Yes, that was corny but if I can make my own self cry at it.. you must be bawling... awwww you babies!
Okay, new story after this? Am I going to retire from writing? Have all your nightmares come true!? NO! OF COURSE NOT! No sequel though, sorry! I've been drained of all my ideas with this. Anyway, I might just make a Higher Ground Season Two. I know that someone has probably tried this but I'm going to do something very original. I'm going to pre-write them and then every Tuesday night at 9 PM sharp (assuming the site lets me) I will update with a chapter. It will be just like the show with Scott, Shelby, Juliette, Auggie, David, Ezra, Daisy, Peter, Sophie, Curtis, Hank, Katherine, Gracie, etc! Everyone will be in it and I will definitely have some help from Kristyn cause I can't do it on my own. It's hard work! Anyway, If you want this to happen, e-mail me and tell me what you think! If you have an idea of your own, I would be more than happy to see it and I would deffinately credit you to your idea. purplehole@hotmail.com leave the subject as "Hey, stupid, it's me from ff.net!" Hehe, no, really.. make the subject that so I don't delete it. If I don't reply to you within a week, send another one, lol cause I suck at deleting e-mails.
Okay, this was long and I've FINALLY gotten it finished. Now I really need to be going to bed because its 3:45 am.
And thus ends the Safety Shattered/Bringer of Futures saga. *cries*
Chapter 22: Have I told you lately that I love you?
*****
I suppose this is going to be a very long chapter seeing as I want to close it all up in this chapter. There is a lot I have remembered to do for this story so as not to leave you hanging. Don't worry, if I do leave you hanging, I'm sorry in advance.. heh.. or email me at purplehole@hotmail.com and ask me a question. As for the person who wanted a quick character review there isn't really much good that will do now since it's the end of the chapter and only two characters are important as of now. One being deceased and the other being Staci who is a friend of Katie. That's really all you need to know so you don't get confused. Sorry if there has been any confusion. Oh and I've decided to put a lot more of the real Cliffhangers in here. I know how people hate it when too many characters are added.. I made a mistake with that.
DISCLAIMER: For the last time with this story I do not own anyone you have seen on Higher Ground. So HA! You can't sue me. OH And the song lyrics in here are from Rod Stewart incase you haven't noticed. The song title is the same as the chapter title. "Have I told you lately that I love you" oh and "Everything I do, I do for you" by Bryan Adams are the other lyrics. Good song, go download it... or buy the cd if you don't do illegal things! lol, Woah, wait, I shouldn't be telling you to do illegal things in a disclaimer where I'm trying not to get sued... lalala Just pretend I didn't say that and everything will be fine. Assuming you don't hate me and you don't want to sue me.
ANYWAY, I'll stop making stupid jokes and get on with the story.
*****
The funerals were set for the following Friday. Peter, even though narrowly escaping a lawsuit from the Wilton's, managed to persuade them into letting Issac's funeral be with Katie's because he, and a bunch of the Cliffhangers, knew that that was what Isaac would have wanted. Mrs. Wilton, being the soft, caring one, had forgiven Peter for whatever he was guilty of in her eyes, and had managed to convince her husband and with a lot of planning they were to be buried side-by-side in the local church of Agnes.
Several attempts to cure Shelby of the experience of finding a dead body in the bathroom were all in vain for she didn't want to talk to anyone.. even Scott. Everyone was worried about her. Little did they know that finding Katie on the bathroom floor was not what was keeping her from letting her feelings out. Had they forgotten that she had once found her best friend dead from a drug overdose on her days on the streets? This was nothing compared to that. She was hardly even aquatinted with the other girl... but Patty was her best friend.
The fact that Walt had come back to haunt Shelby in real life, not just in her dreams, was hurting her psychologically. Sure she knew that Scott would understand but a part of her was still scared to tell him about what had occurred the night of the party. Hadn't he once turned away from her when she told him of her days as a prostitute on the streets? He had wanted HER to apologize for it when she only wanted him to say, "I'm Sorry". What if he turned her away again?
'No, that's silly.' She had kept telling herself. Scott wasn't like that now. Things had gone down a different path. Scott would comfort her. And hadn't Peter comforted her when she freaked and tore up the campsite? The day he learned of her step-father-- the day of Katherine's hike to Dogs Peak? They all hugged.. and he said it would all be all right. He would understand as well. There was no questioning how Sophie would take it. When her and Daisy had gone to Daisy's mother's funeral, they learned of Sophie's own secret.. the one in which she had yet to tell Peter. They would understand, Shelby thought as she sat up in bed.
It was midnight and Peter would be leaving after last bed checks soon. If she was going to tell him she would have to tell him, Sophie and Scott now or else she would lose her courage. She jumped off her bed, slid a hoodie and her shoes on and tip-toed out of the girls dorm, being careful not to wake anyone else.
"Where are you going?" Shelby heard her best friend, Daisy call from behind her.
"I'm going to do what I should have done a long time ago." Shelby replied, without so much as a side glance at Daisy. She would have to tell her later... after telling Peter and the rest. She knew that she would always have the courage to tell Daisy. It was just that easy with her. It was like she understood everything, even without experiencing it.
It had started a light drizzle that soon turned into a steady rain halfway through the walk from the girl's dorm to the boy's dorm. She was going to wake Scott up first. Speeding up, she realized that she was shaking. Not from the cold, or from her obvious nervousness, but from the adrenaline pumping through her system. The only other time she had felt this was when, in her other "universe", she had "opened up the door for the police" and told on her stepfather for the first time. She knew she could do it now, whatever if took.
No sooner than her mind had switched back to the task at hand then she had reached the boys dorm and her hand rested lightly up against it. The door opened before she had a chance to knock and Scott took her hand in his. It was like he knew she was coming.
"What are you doing here?" Scott asked, as he kissed her on the hand. Shelby blushed a bit and looked into his deep, blue eyes.
"I- I can't tell you now... we have to get to Peter and Sophie before they leave." Shelby explained. Scott nodded, sensing how important this was to her. He grabbed a wind jacket from the stand beside his bed and jogged out the door with her, holding the jacket over Shelby's head to protect her from the now pouring rain.
They both reached Peter's office where he and Sophie were just about to lock the door, soaked.
"Scott," Peter said looking between them, once he noticed their presence, "Shelby? What are you guys doing up? Why are you-" Shelby cut him off.
"Peter, before I lose the courage, I have to tell you guys something. You, Sophie," She said looking at the blonde woman standing behind Peter, "and most importantly, Scott." She said, looking back into his deep blue eyes.
"Well, what's so important that you had to come now, Shel?" Peter said, snapping Shelby out of her trance. She realized he had opened the door to his office up and they were now sitting in front of his desk together. Scott wrapped a blanket around her arms in such a loving way that it made her shudder with a feeling of almost pure happiness.
"Uh..." Shelby said biting her lip. 'They'll believe you, just tell them!' Her conscience was pushing her on. She looked up at the three of them. They were all looking at her expecting her to continue. "I promise you guys, I didn't want to do it!" She exclaimed, letting the tears that had so long been wanting to escape her saddened eyes stream out. Scott wrapped his arms around her to comfort her.
"What is it?" Sophie encouraged her. Scott squeezed her hand three times, telling her, in their language, that he loved her. She took a dare and looked back up into his eyes.
FLASHBACK
"Why'd you come back?" Shelby asked, finally being able to smile for the first time since Scott had left with his father. Scott bit his lip and was hesitant to say what he wanted to say so badly. What he had wanted to say for so long.
"Because...." he started. Shelby's smile increased, "because I love you!!" he finally let out. Her face lit up and she believed she couldn't get any happier as they both watched the meteor's streak across the sky.
END FLASHBACK
"Walt. H-he did it ag- again. The night of the party." Shelby said, finally finding enough courage to say it in front of them all. She was still staring into Scott's eyes and it looked like she was just talking to him. His eyes went from a confused, deep kind, to an angry, fierce kind. But there was something else there.. something she hadn't really seen before. It looked like a strong look of understanding and deep love.
He bent down and kissed her on the cheek, knowing that it wasn't the time to kiss her on the lips.. at least not in front of Peter and Sophie.
"It's okay," he said softly, "I'm here for you." He said and pulled her in for a tight embrace. The tears streamed from her eyes even faster now and had soaked Scott's night shirt. They could sense Peter and Sophie standing up.
Sophie looked back at Peter, trying to hold her tears back but eventually let them out. Peter nodded, knowing what Sophie was thinking and he went in for the hug while Sophie headed for the door.
On her way out Sophie decided to give Shelby a few encouraging words for she knew what to come wouldn't be easy, "It's okay, Hun. Things will be okay now. I know it will be hard.. but things will be okay." She finished and walked out the door to call child protection services.
Shelby pulled back. She had something else she wanted to say. "I- I need to talk to my sister and my mother. Both different reasons." Shelby said, finally remembering. She had to save her mom.. and she had to tell her sister all about what had happened to her like she had tried to do earlier.
"Is it of dire importance or can you wait until first thing in the morning?" Peter asked, not caring to bother them both in the middle of the night.
Shelby nodded, "It's okay, I can wait 'till morning. Can I just.. go to sleep now? Tomorrow is going to be hard, I can tell." Scott grabbed her hand and prepared to lead her out the door and back to her dorm when Peter stopped them.
"If you two promise me you won't do a thing, you can both stay in the den tonight, supervised by yours truly, of course." He smiled, devilishly for a second, then his expression showed seriousness again. "I just know you've both gone through a lot these past few weeks" he began again, "and need to be together." He finished. They nodded, Shelby laughing. "What?" Peter asked, with a strange look on his face.
"I just realized that maybe you DO have a heart, Peter." She said and all three of them chuckled as Peter set up separate sleeping bags for them all to sleep in.
*****
Shelby sat up as the morning light streamed in through the windows. It was Thursday morning and she had to talk to Child Protection Services today.. but first she decided to call her mother. She looked down at Scott, expecting him to be sound asleep but he was laying on his side, propping his head up with his arm and looking at her, smiling.
"What's so interesting?" Shelby asked, averting her eyes and blushing a little. Scott gently cupped her face with his fingers and made her look in straight in the eyes. She fell into the trance immediately.
*** Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there's no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles, that's what you do***
"You're beautiful," he said softly while smiling and leaned in to kiss her on the lips when he heard a loud cough from behind them.
"I'm going to pretend that didn't even start to happen. I'm not going soft on you two now.." Peter said looking down at his coffee cup and smiling. "Come on guys, get up and get ready. I'm sure the other Cliffhangers are already worrying about where you went."
Both Scott and Shelby nodded, got up, and packed up their sleeping bags. Seeing as they didn't bring any clothes the night before, they were both still in their night clothes and jackets. They slid their shoes back on and walked down the same path, only splitting up when Scott had walked Shelby back to the girl's dorm.
"You know I love you," Scott began, "and I'm going to help you through everything to come, don't you?" He asked, looking as if on the verge of tears while holding both her hands.
***Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for I can't help it
there's nothin' I want more
Ya know it's true
Everything I do
I do it for you***
"Yes.. don't worry, I know." Shelby smiled and kissed him shortly. "I know you'll always be there for me." She finished and smiled, turning away leaving Scott standing on the steps to think over the past few events.
Shelby walked in to hear Juliette squeal, "Where have you been!!? We've all been soooo worried!!! You were out with Scott all night weren't you?! I tell you, one of these days you're going to get caught and don't come running to-" Everyone was now quiet and expecting an answer, even Daisy.
"Chill, Princess," Shelby tried to say without sounding like anything was wrong. Tried being the keyword because she knew no one would believe her, "I had some business to attend to with Peter..." She looked around to all the skeptical faces. "I guess you could say I had to get something off of my chest." She said and stole the bathroom before Juliette even had time to blink.
*****
The phone rang and rang until finally a young girl picked up, "Hello?"
"Jess?" Shelby asked.
"Shelby?! Oh It's so good to hear your voice. I've been so- so confused and lonely." Jess cried out.
"Oh I know, Jess and I'm sorry for everything I've ever done to hurt you. Especially leaving you at home with that.. man" She said, while emphasizing the word man with hatred.
"What are you talking about?" Jess said, knowing perfectly well that Walt was a monster. What she couldn't figure out is why Shelby would hate him.
"Don't play stupid with me, Jess. I know what he's been doing to you. He- he did it to me, as well. I know-" Shelby tried to explain before Jess could say anything.
"You knew? YOU KNEW AND YOU LEFT ME HERE!" Jess yelled. "You left me here.. with HIM! And you knew! You knew perfectly well what he was doing!" These words sounded so familiar.
"Look, I know your mad at me but he said that he wouldn't." She said trying to use the same excuse as before. "He- he said that if I didn't tell- that- that he would leave you alone.. and I thought it was just me he wanted. Just me..." Shelby trailed off.
"But it wasn't! And you knew that... I suppose your just going to say sorry now?" Jess said. Shelby knew sorry wouldn't be good enough.
"I know.. I know, Jess.. but I had to get away. He promised me he wouldn't touch you if I didn't tell and- and I DIDN'T tell.. now I realize that I could have gotten him away from you but I was ignorent. Please, Jess.. you have to believe me. I was young- your age. I didn't know what to do! I was so scared," Shelby paused, biting her lip before going on, "so I ran." She said blankly. "I ran to the streets where I punished myself with- with sex. I became a prostitute, Jess, just to get away from him." She could hear Jess gasp lightly.
"Shelby.. I didn't know." She said, sadly.
"Well, I know that. I would know if you knew because I'd be the one to tell you." She said grimacing at her bad sense of humor. This wasn't the time for that. "So now you know the reason I kept running. I didn't want to leave you or mom with that son of a..." she paused for a second. She couldn't cuss in front of her sister, "that son of a mother" she finished. "I just HAD to get away. But I'm different now, Jess. I really am. I've got Scott now... and you.. and maybe, just maybe, you'll be able to come here with me.. to Horizon, to maybe get help." Shelby said, unsure of what Jess' response would be. There was a long pause before Jess finally spoke.
"I'd love to be with you all the time, Shelby. You've no idea how much I've missed just hearing your voice and to be around you would be- it would be wonderful. Maybe Peter could save me.. just like he saved you." Jess said, the line also sounding very familar to Jess. Shelby laughed lightly and smiled.
The doorbell rang at the house.
"Who is it?" She could hear Jess yell. Mumbled voices came from the door and Jess gasped, confused.
"Jess what are you doing? Who is it?" Shelby asked.
"I'm going to open up the door for the.... police." Jess said, confusion in her voice. That line sounded so familiar for she had said it right before she told on Walt. She knew why the police were there. Sophie had talked to CPS and CPS talked the police into taking Walt into protective custody so Jess wouldn't be hurt any more.
"Shelby.. listen.. Listen I have to go now. The police want to talk to him" She said him with such hatred dripping from her words that it made Shelby wince.
"Jess. JESS!" Shelby said trying to get her attention.
"What?" She asked.
"Listen.. tell mom to be careful when she drives." Shelby said in her last attempts to mend things.
"Why?"
"Just do it! It's important!" Shelby yelled and slammed the phone into the receiver, slid to the floor, and sobbed into her lap. Maybe the tears were happy.. maybe they were sad. She didn't know. The confusion had taken over her mind. She sat and cried for a long time just beacuse she needed to. No other reason.
The time had come and she couldn't avoid it any longer. Shelby walked into Peter's office where a woman was sitting on a leather couch, setting up a camera. Shelby saw Peter standing in the corner and he gave her an encouraging nod. She sat down at the seat set up in front of the camera. She had avoided this for so long but now... now she needed to get this out.
"This is child protection services case number 50284. Please state your name." The woman said, smiling. She was different.. not like Scott's... interrogator. She felt her face cool off and her courage build up.
"Shelby Merrick," She said for the camera. She could feel that things were going to get better. Looking out the window she saw Scott looking in, smiling at her brightly.. and her face lit up as she now had enough courage to get through it all. He was right, he would be there for her through thick and thin.
*****
And there they all stood. A large circle around two grave sites, a preacher mumbling on, two of their own gone, everyone was crying. The sadness was thick. The preacher had finished his sermon and the caskets were being lowered into the ground. This was too much for everyone. Everyone but Staci who stood and stared at them. No emotion was seen in her face. It was like everything was gone. She just breathed out sharply, gave a cynical half smile, shook her head and walked away. She simply walked away...
Everyone knew this would take some time getting used to. That things would never really be the same.. but this had maybe given them some closure and as the sun started to set over the horizon, and all the cars were being packed up, everyone all realized that they had reached a new point in their life. Maybe now their wounds would be able to heal and their scars able to dissapear.
*****
THE END
*****
Okay, so that had tons of Scott and Shelby but you cant deny your love for the S AND S!!!! Woah... preppy moment. Yes, that was corny but if I can make my own self cry at it.. you must be bawling... awwww you babies!
Okay, new story after this? Am I going to retire from writing? Have all your nightmares come true!? NO! OF COURSE NOT! No sequel though, sorry! I've been drained of all my ideas with this. Anyway, I might just make a Higher Ground Season Two. I know that someone has probably tried this but I'm going to do something very original. I'm going to pre-write them and then every Tuesday night at 9 PM sharp (assuming the site lets me) I will update with a chapter. It will be just like the show with Scott, Shelby, Juliette, Auggie, David, Ezra, Daisy, Peter, Sophie, Curtis, Hank, Katherine, Gracie, etc! Everyone will be in it and I will definitely have some help from Kristyn cause I can't do it on my own. It's hard work! Anyway, If you want this to happen, e-mail me and tell me what you think! If you have an idea of your own, I would be more than happy to see it and I would deffinately credit you to your idea. purplehole@hotmail.com leave the subject as "Hey, stupid, it's me from ff.net!" Hehe, no, really.. make the subject that so I don't delete it. If I don't reply to you within a week, send another one, lol cause I suck at deleting e-mails.
Okay, this was long and I've FINALLY gotten it finished. Now I really need to be going to bed because its 3:45 am.
And thus ends the Safety Shattered/Bringer of Futures saga. *cries*