UNHAPPY BIRTHDAY part three
The cliffhangers are in class.
Notes between Scott and Daisy
Scott writes - Where do you think Shelby is?
Daisy writes - She's probably with Peter.
Scott writes - She finished with Peter remember?
Daisy writes - Maybe she's with Sophie. Remember Sophie wanted to talk to her.
Scott writes - I think something is wrong. She disappeared this morning. And did you see how she looked.
Daisy writes - Maybe she was with Peter all morning.
Scott writes - No. Peter had just shown up. I'm sure of it. Something's wrong. I know her. I can tell.
Daisy writes - I know her too, I was just hoping I was wrong.
Scott writes - I'm still hoping I'm wrong.
Daisy gives Scott a sympathetic smile before turning back and trying to focus on what Jeff is saying. She hadn't heard a word all morning, she was too worried about Shelby. Shelby had looked scared at breakfast. Daisy had only seen her for a moment and hadn't even talked to her, but she knew. Shelby never looked scared, not even when she'd gone home. Shelby had put up the brave front then infront of everyone, except for her. Daisy had known she was scared, but Daisy hadn't seen it, but now she saw it. It scared Daisy.
I wonder if Scott saw it? She wondered. Scott and Shelby were in love. They were. But Shelby could be so complicated sometimes. Daisy understood why though. In the letters that Shelby had written her why she was away, Daisy had been able to learn the truth. Had been able to live the nightmare right along side of Shelby. When Shelby returned Daisy had been thrilled. But things were different now. Had changed when Shelby came back.
Shelby had faced her problems why she was away and she was now happy and ready to move on. But Daisy wasn't ready to move on. She wasn't ready to face her problems or to deal with them. But now that Shelby had, Daisy couldn't help, but feel like she should face hers. Like Shelby wanted her to face hers, so that Daisy would also be happy. Daisy knew this feeling was unwarranted, but she couldn't help how she felt.
Just like she couldn't help how she felt about David and Ezra. The two were always fighting over her. She enjoyed it in a way and other times it really bugged her. Daisy shook her head trying to rid herself of the thoughts. And again trying to focus on what Jeff was saying. But her thoughts again went away. Went to when her father had visited. He's said he was sorry and that he loved her and that now it was up to her. She wasn't ready yet. But she felt maybe she was closer then she'd ever been to forgiving her father. That scared her. She had always hated him. Actually just what he'd done and who he was when he drank, when he was sober things had been ok. Not great, but ok.
She looked up at Jeff and forced herself to focus on what he was saying.
"So you need to read chapter twelve and answer the questions on the handout I gave you. It's due tomorrow. Class dismissed." Jeff said. Daisy looked to Scott. They were both thinking the same thing: Want to go find Shelby? Daisy nodded and the two started to head for the door. "Daisy, Scott?" Came Jeff's voice. The two looked at each other and then headed to talk to Jeff.
"Yes Jeff?" daisy asked trying to get right to the point.
"I noticed you two had a nice commentary running throughout the class." The two looked at each other again and then back at Jeff. "You want to explain why the two of you were off in your own little world?" Daisy looke dot Scott, there was one thing that could actually save them and that was the truth. No other excuse would work.
"Well," Daisy said. "We wondered why Shelby wasn't here. She missed breakfast and were just concerned." Daisy said trying to act nonchalant.
"Oh." Jeff said. " I can see why you'd be worried. But Peter gave her the morning off from classes." Daisy and Scott were shocked. Peter hardly ever allowed someone to miss classes. "But, the two of you did not have permission to miss class." He said talking about their utter unattentiveness. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again and that you actually do the homework tonight or else you will be really behind tomorrow." Jeff said giving them a break.
"No offence, Jeff." Scott said, "But are we done here, we want to find Shelby."
"Go on. But try to pay attention in my class from now on." He said.
'Yea, sure. No problem." They said and headed out the door quickly,
"So where do you think she is?" Daisy asked Scott.
"I'm not sure, why don't we try the administration building first. See if she's with Peter and if not, we'll check the girls dorms." Daisy nodded and the two took off for the administration building.
Julliette and Auggie walked arm in arm across campus. "Where do you think Shelby was?" Auggie asked.
"I don't know, but Scott and Daisy are really worried." She looks at Auggie, "Not that I'm not, but I'm sure she's fine." Julliette said, with more confidence then she felt.
"Why don't we ask her?" Auggie said. " She's right there." He said pointing to a tree near the edge of campus. Shelby was leaning against it, hunched over working on something. Julliette nodded and the two walked over to where Shelby was sitting. It became clear once they got closer that Shelby was working on a journal, which Julliette assumed had been given to her by Peter.
"Working on one of Peter's wonderful assignments?" Julliette asked trying to break the ice. Her and Shelby had been getting along pretty well lately, but Julliette was still never quite sure if Shelby was having a good day or a bad day.
Shelby looked up. "Hey, Princess. Enjoy class?" She asked.
"I always enjoy Jeff's lectures." Julliette said sarcastically and then sat down next to Shelby. Auggie waved at Julliette and headed across campus, he could tell the others wanted to be alone. "You have to write in the journal for running off this morning?" Julliette asked.
Shelby looked down at the journal and then quickly shut it. Julliette was never really one Shelby could open up to, but over the last few months they'd been getting along. Shelby didn't know if it was because she had changed, or because Julliette had changed. Maybe it was both. Julliette was developing a thicker skin and standing up for herself. Shelby had started not being so thick skinned and had started trusting people and allowing her self to be happy. It was different for both of them, but they were getting along better.
"Well, actually Peter doesn't know I ran off." Shelby said.
"Then what's with the journal, and why weren't you in class?" Julliette asked concerned.
"Um, my mother's in town and wants to visit. She'll be here after lunch." Shelby said.
"Is that good or bad?" Julliette asked.
"I'm not sure. Can we not talk about it though? I kind of just want to be left alone."
"If that's what you want." Julliette said a little hurt. Her and Shelby weren't exactly best friends but they were no longer enemies.
"Yea, it's what I want." Shelby said and Julliette stood and walked away to find Auggie.
Shelby looked down at the notebook. She'd been writing in it since she had left Peter's office. She needed to get her thoughts out there and this was one way she could do it without having to talk to anyone. Scott and Daisy are probably worried, she thought. They haven't seen me all morning. Maybe I should go find them, she thought looking at the journal and then across campus and then back to the journal. But both of them would want her to talk and she wasn't ready to do that. She stood up. I should tell them, she decided. It's not like they won't find out. With that Shelby headed off across campus.

"Have you seen Shelby?" Scott asked. Peter was sitting at his desk working on some papers, but Daisy and Scott had dropped by.
"I talked to her earlier. We talked and then she left." Peter said answering the question.
"You don't know where she is then?" Daisy asked, trying to mask her concern, but not doing a good job.
Peter looked at the two of them. "I'm afraid I don't know exactly where Shelby is, but I know she asked for some time to herself and I agreed. She'll find you when she's ready." Peter said. He knew he shouldn't have told them that much, but this was Shelby's best friend and her boyfriend.
"Peter, is something wrong with Shelby? Did something happen?" Scott asked worried.
"Scott, I can't tell you that. But she'll find you when she's ready I promise." Peter said. Scott sighed and threw Daisy a look that said let's go check somewhere else. The two turned and headed out of the administration building.
On the way to the girl's dorm they ran into Auggie and Julliette who were walking across campus holding hands. When Julliette had left Shelby, she ran to catch up with Auggie. "Hey Aug. Julliette." Scott said. "Have you seen Shelby?"
"Yea, she's by the woods near the edge of campus behind the gazebo." Auggie answered.
"But I don't really think she's up to talking. She seemed kind of down." Julliette looked to the ground. "Maybe it's because her mom's coming."
"Her mom's coming?" Daisy asked. Shocked that Julliette knew and she and Scott didn't.
Julliette's face held surprise. "You didn't know?" She asked quietly. She hadn't realized. Well just chalk this up to another thing Shelby can hate me for. Julliette thought. I'm always screwing things up, just like my mom said I do. "Um. I've got to go." Julliette said turning away. "Homework and stuff." Auggie gave her a strange look, but followed her as she headed to the lodge.
"Her mom's coming?" Scott said shocked. "Did you know about this?" Scott said turning to Daisy.
"No. I'm just as surprised as you are. Who would have thought Shelby would tell her, before us." Daisy said. Scott nodded in agreement.
"But if she's telling Julliette, then something's wrong. We should find her." Daisy nodded and the two took off to where Julliette had last seen Shelby.