A season for change: Part four

(Next day. It's raining so the cliffhangers are in the lodge. They are spread out across the room. Auggie and Julliette are on the couch working on their essays, Scott and Shelby are sitting at a table in the corner and Ezra, Daisy and David are sitting at another table across from them. Even though they're spread out in smaller groups, they are all sitting close enough to discuss things)
"What's the essay about?" Scott asks putting his pencil down and closing his notebook. He'd been thinking about the comment that Daisy had made earlier.
"Kind of getting personal. Aren't we?" She asked.
Scott leaned forward-looking Shelby in the eye. " Is it to personal to tell your boyfriend?" He said keeping his voice low.
"Scott..." Shelby closes her eyes and then takes a deep breathe. "It's about my mom." She says quietly.
Scott is shocked. Not by who it's about, but because she told him. He leaned over and kissed her. "Thank you." He says.
"For what?" She asks, knowing why, but wanting him to say it.
"For telling me. I know it took a lot. But I also thought it could have been about me."
"About you? Why would I write about you? I could never hate someone who loves me like you do." She leans over and kisses him. " So what's your about?" She asks after the kiss ended.
"My dad." He says in an even tone.
"You're still not talking?"
"No. He still thinks it's my fault. And he's mad." He says fighting to control the tone in his voice.
"He'll come around Scott. You'll work things out."
"Work things out?" Scott says, his voice rising. He lowers it when people look. "Could we just not talk about it please?"
"Sure, but I know, so if you want to talk..." Her voice trails off as he shakes his head.
"How's the essays going guys?" Sophie asks walking into the lodge.
"Well, if it isn't our fearless leader." Daisy says sarcastically.
"You've been MIA for a few days now. Peter more then you can handle?" Shelby asks.
Sophie ignored them. " I've been busy that's all."
"I bet." Shelby said. Sophie gave her a look.
"Hey guys, I've got some good news." Peter said coming up behind Sophie. "Kat is coming for a visit this weekend.'
"She's coming back to campus?" Julliette asked a little surprised. "She hasn't been back since..." Her voice trailed off. The cliffhangers sat there remembering what had happened earlier that summer.
"Kat's dealing with what happened. She might be a little off this first visit, but I think she'll get through it." Peter said. The cliffhangers still didn't seem convinced.
"Peter's right. Kat has been adjusting well to college life. And what happened here with Jack will only be a small problem, if a problem at all.' Sophie said. The cliffhangers nodded, accepting that as an answer for the time being.
"Well we better let you guys get back to work on your essays." Peter said a little awkwardly. He then walked out of the room, followed by Sophie.
"I don't know how I'll ever get this essay done." Ezra said to no one imparticuarly.
"Well what do you love and hate?" Julliette asked.
"He loves Daisy." David says raising his eyebrows. Then with a wicked grin says, " And he hates, that I'm with her." Ezra gave David a dirty look and then got up and left the table.
"Why did you do that?" Daisy asked, "Never mind." She said and stood up grabbing her stuff. 'Just so you know, I'm not with anybody." She said and walked away.

. (A few minutes later in Peter's office)
"You really think Kat will be OK?" Sophie asked Peter once they were out of the room. Hoping that maybe he'd quit worrying.
"No, but we'll find out when she gets here." Sophie starts to say something to him, but there's a knock at the door. "Come in." He called.
The door opens and Hank walks in. "Hey, Hank." Sophie said. " Long time no see."
"We didn't expect to see you until tomorrow, when Kat gets here." Peter said.
"I know, but I need to talk to you. About Kat."
'I'll just leave you two alone.' Sophie says and leaves the office.
"Have a seat." Peter says, motioning for Hank to sit down. Hank sits. "So what is it you need to talk to me about."
'Well, I'm worried about Kat. The other night I called to see how she was, but we ended up getting into a fight. I'm not even sure how it happened, but it did."
"Was the fight about Jack?" Peter asked.
Hank sighed. "Yes. It seems all Kat and me do now is argue. And usually it's about Jack and what happened. I just can't seem to forget. She's my girlfriend and to think she did nothing." He says starting to lose his temper. " I just don't know how to get past it."
"Hank it wasn't her fault. Or yours for that matter. Jack had deeper emotional and psychological problems then any of us knew. Had I known he never would have been in Kat's group. He probably wouldn't have even been in Horizon." Peter said looking Hank in the eye.
"No offense peter, but that doesn't help me get over it." He sighs." I just can't seem to let it go."
"Have you tried listening to Kat?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well I know you told her to talk about it with me and Sophie, but did you ever listen to why she did what she did?"
"Peter, we've talked about it many times."
"Yes, but do you listen to what she says?' He gets up and walks around the desk. He sits down on the edge. "If you really want to get over it. Have her tell you again, only this time listen to what she says, don't just hear the words. Kat had very good reasons for doing what she did. You'll probably agree with her once you listen to them."
Hank nods and stands up. "I guess it's worth a try. If she's even willing to talk to me after I hung up on her."
"I'm sure she will." Peter says putting a hand on Hanks shoulder.
'I'll see you tomorrow then." Hank says and leaves Peters office.
Peter sighs and then sits back down at his desk to do some work.