***Quick Author's Note*** Please be aware that it takes me so long to post because I am posting an entire story at a time, not just chapters. I plan on starting to post more frequently though, so please continue to read and review...Please. I am also almost done with the website that I am working on for this series and should be posting the web address with the next story.
A FALLEN STAR
"Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again."
-Dag Hammarskjöld
A little while later Shelby entered the lodge. "Hey guys. Peter tell you guys the good news?" She asked sarcastically.
"What good news?" Juliette asked.
"We're getting a new member." Shelby said as she slid into a chair near the others.
"A new cliffhanger? Haven't we had enough changes lately?" David asked.
"That's what I said." Shelby admonished.
"So we're getting a new cliffhanger." Daisy said. "That should be fun."
"I think we should stay the way we are." Juliette slightly whined. "We have a good group going here."
"Yea, a new member will only throw off our dynamics." Ezra said.
"You guys can't be serious?" Shelby asked.
"Well, a new member will throw off our dynamics but it doesn't have to be a bad thing." Scott said.
"Yea, new blood." Daisy said raising her eyebrows with incinuation.
"Someone else to pick on." David said. "Other then Ezzrrrraaaa."
"Shut up, Davey." Ezra said. "Maybe a new member will kick your butt." Suddenly he perked up a little. "Hey, maybe it's not such a bad idea."
"Ha Ha." David said throwing Ezra a look.
"I hope it's a girl." Juliette practically squealed.
"No one's having a baby, Princess. It's just a new member." Shelby said and everyone laughed.
"I just meant a girl would even things out." Juliette defended herself.
Shelby was about to respond, when Sophie walked in.
"Hey, guys." Sophie said walkingover. "You guys will be getting a new member today so I thought we'd have group before he shows up."
"So much for a girl." David said setting people off with laughter again.
Sophie looked around. "What's the joke?"
"Juliette said, she hoped it was a girl, kind of like it was a new born baby not a new member." Scott explained, but when Sophie didn't laugh or even smile, he said, "I guess it was a geographical joke - had to be there to hear it."
"Yea." Sophie said quietly. She took a deep breath and then smiled brightly. "I guess we should start group."
The cliffhangers noticed the change in mood in Sophie, but no one said anything as they quieted down and began group.
"This is for the best Eric." Mrs. Jackson said from the front seat of the car.
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever mom. This school is for a bunch of rejects."
"I guess that makes you a reject then son, because you're going there." Mr. Jackson said giving his son a look. Eric rolled his eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me." He said turning and giving Eric a stern look. "Maybe they can teach you some respect at this school."
"Respect?" Eric asked. "It's not military school."
"Well had they had an opening for you, that's where you'd be." His father said pointedly.
"Mom never would have let you send me there, isn't that right mom?" Eric said flashing his sweetest smile at his mother.
"I don't know why your always trying to pit us against each other Eric." His mother said. "Your father and I make these decisions together."
"Yea, you two make all your decisions together." Eric muttered under his breath.
"What did you say Eric?" His mother asked sweetly.
"Nothing." Eric said giving her a look and then reaching over and sliding his sunglasses on. "Nothin at all."
Peter and Roger stood in front of the admit building.
"You sure I'm ready to do Admits on my own?" Roger asked. "I'm more used to bringing them in."
"Rog, you've been here for years." Peter said.
"But I'm not even a counselor. I substitute as one, but for all technical purposes I'm not."
Peter paused for a moment giving Roger a sidelong glance and then said, "Would you want to be one?"
Roger turned sharply. "Would I want to be a counselor?"
"Yea." Peter asked. "We're looking for counselors, you've been filling in sense the beginning of summer and you know these kids almost better then their counselors do."
"I don't know. What about someone to bring the kids in and such? I couldn't keep doing that if I'm expected to be here for the students. It's fine to do both jobs when they have a permanent counselor other then myself, but it couldn't be done all the time."
"We could hire someone that's qualified to do that." Peter said. "And we could also hire other counselors if you don't want to move up. No one's forcing you too, but you do a great job with these kids Roger. And if you want to counsel, the job is yours."
Roger nodded not sure what to say. "I'll have to think about it. I don't know if I want to make that kind of a change right now."
"Well think about it and let me know."
Roger nodded and then asked. "Are you sure I can do this admit though?"
"You'll do fine Roger." Peter assured.
"Thanks." Roger said with a nod. After a moment more he turned to Peter. "Any useful information on this kid?"
Peter took a deep breath. "His parents say he got mixed up in the wrong crowd. Their not exactly sure why, but they think it might be because his acting career ended."
Just then a car pulled into the drive way. "Guess we'll find out." Roger said to Peter, whom nodded before walking over to the car so he could greet them.
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson stepped out of the car and over to where Peter was and they introduced themselves. Eric made sure to climb out on the opposite side. He turned around mostly hidden by the car. "Guess this is home sweet home." He said sarcastically to his parents.
"Eric!" His father said sharply. "There is no need to be rude."
"I'm not being rude." Eric said walking around the car, carrying his bag. "I was simply making a statement." He said looking his father in his eyes. "After all this is going to be my new home for awhile, since you and mom want to get rid of me."
"Honey," His mother said reaching out and touching his arm. "We're not trying to get rid of you we're trying to help you."
"Whatever." He said, pulling his arm away from his mother's touch. He then turned to Peter, "Well Pete," He said raising his eyebrows arrogantly. "Shall we get started?"
Peter, somewhat suprised by the boys behavior, nodded. "Roger will take you and get you started."
"Great." Eric said sarcastically. He then turned to his parents. "Well, it was real fun being home for the few months that I was actually in the house, it was nice to see the old neighborhood again."
"Eric," His mother said pleadingly, "Don't do this."
"Do what, mom?" he asked. "Tell it like it is?"
"She means acting like a jerk." His father said glaring at him.
"Well, like father like son I guess." Eric said. Suddenly the older man reached out to grab Eric, but Peter stepped in between the two.
"You need to cool down Mr. Jackson." Peter said calmly, suprised by the older man's reaction.
"See what I have to put up with Pete." Eric said straightening his shirt. He reached down and grabbed his bag. "Have fun putting up with him mom. Now that I'm gone, he only has you left to kick around." With that he turned and walked past Peter.
"So I take it that you and your parents don't get along?" Roger asked as he sorted through Eric's stuff.
"You take it right." Eric said his arms folded in front of his chest. "But I'm sure they are gone now, so it doesn't matter."
"Out of sight out of mind." Roger said with a slight smile.
"Right." Eric said with a nod.
Roger took a deep breath. Eric seemed to be talking pretty easily. Not like most new admits. "Do you know why your at Horizon, Eric?"
Eric looked up at Roger. "I'm here because my parents decided they don't want to put up with me anymore."
Roger nodded. "Any other reason you can think of that they might have sent you here?"
Eric looked at Roger for a moment and then caught on. "Oh." He said. "You mean the drugs. I'm clean. Besides, I don't know why they would send me here for that. They would be happier if I had overdosed."
"That's not true Eric. If it were, they wouldn't have sent you here." Roger said looking the boy right in the eyes.
"Yea, whatever." Eric said turning his head and staring at the wall.
Roger picked the bag up off the floor. He'd already told Eric about the rules of Horizon. He then laid the bag on the table. "The search is over. I'm going to leave now and you can get undressed and a doctor will be in to give you a physical and to also make sure you have nothing on your body."
Eric rolled his eyes. "I'm clean." He said again.
"That's good." Roger said, before heading out the door leaving Eric by himself.
"So how are things going in here?" Peter asked Sophie. He had been standing off to the side watching the end of their group session. It seemed that they were getting along better, but he could tell Shelby and Scott were both a little sad about not being together and that Ezra wasn't happy that David and Daisy were getting so close. But overall it seemed as if the group was healing well and setting aside their differences. For a moment he wondered if he should be putting a new member in their group at all. Especially Eric Jackson. After his shoot at Horizon the year before, he wasn't a favorite of the cliffhangers. He watched as the group ended and the cliffhangers spread out a little to hangout with one another. "Did you tell them yet?" Peter asked walking over to Sophie.
"Did Sophie tell us what?" Juliette asked catching a snippit of the coversation.
Suddenly all eyes were focused on Peter. "No." Sophie said quickly. "I didn't tell them."
"Well, the member you guys are getting," Peter took a deep breath before going on, "Is someone you guys have met before."
"Someone we've met before?" Scott asked. "Like with David. Was he a student here before?"
"Well, not exactly." Peter said. "He's been on campus, but not as a student."
"I can't think of anyone." Shelby said with a shake of her.
"How long ago?" Ezra asked.
"Last year." Peter answered.
"The only guy we met last year that was on campus was David. And Isaac, but he's dead." Daisy said.
"There was someone else." Peter said rocking back and forth on his heels. "He was here with a group of visitors."
"The only visitors we had last year that I can think of were those...." Shelby's mouth dropped open and she turned in accusation to Peter. "You can't be serious?" He gave a nod and she groaned.
Everyone else looked at her questioning. "Can someone fill the rest of us in?" Ezra asked.
"You guys remember those acting jerks that did that promotional shoot last year. It's one of them. It has to be. They are the only other kids we met. Unless there from that prep school. Both are bad choices." Shelby said.
"You were right the first time Shelby. It was one of those acting je.. people." Peter caught himself, shocked that he'd almost carelessly used the phrase Shelby had. "His names Eric Jackson."
The rest of the group groaned, now understanding Shelby's distress. "Those guys were jerks Peter. How could you put him in our group?" Auggie asked.
"People can change a lot in a year." Sophie said. "Just remember he's here because he has problems just like the rest of you."
"I'm sure it's a big distress for him trying to figure out which hair gel to use." Juliette said causing the others looked at her.
"What?" She asked.
"Never heard you say anything like that before."Shelby said. "You insulted someone."
"Well, you guys might want to remember that Horizon does have rules and I hope that you treat the new admit with the respect he deserves." Sophie said.
"Of course we'll give him what he deserves." Scott said gruffly. Catching the look that Peter threw at him, he said, "I mean the respect he deserves."
"Just give him a chance." Peter said.
The discussion ended there because it was at that moment that Eric Jackson entered the lodge.
There was a long uncomfortable moment of silence in the room, when they all realized exactly who each other were. Shelby in particular was not happy. When Eric had been there the year before the two had exchanged words more than once.
Sophie could tell things were tense. "Um, why don't you guys introduce yourselves?" She asked. "Why don't you start?" She said pointing at Ezra.
"I'm Ezra." He said dully.
"Daisy."
"David."
"Auggie."
"Juliette."
"Scott."
" I'm Shelby." She said giving him a hard look.
Eric could tell they weren't happy to meet him and why he had been a bit put off at first when he realized who they were, he had hoped bygones could by bygones. Apparantly that's not the case, Eric thought. So instead of introducing himself he smiled a cocky smile, looked Shelby up and down and said,"You certainly are."
Scott threw him a dirty look. "Keep your eyes to yourself."
"They're my eyes - I can do with them what I please." He said glancing at Shelby and then glancing at Juliette and then glancing at Daisy. All three girls gave him a dirty look.
"Not if I blacken them." Auggie said just loudly enough for him to here.
"You want to try and take me." Eric asked stepping forward.
"Hey!" Peter said. "That's not appropriate behavior here Eric." He threw a glance at the cliffhangers to give them a warning.
"Whatever." Eric scoffed rolling his eyes.
"Well." Sophie interrupted realizing things were going from bad to worse, "Eric needs a buddy to show him around campus." She knew she was stating the obvious, but maybe things would lighten up with a little bit of time.
"David, why don't you show Eric around campus?" Peter said. He knew that David had never met Eric and hoped that that would be helpful in Eric getting accepted into the group.
David mumbled something, but when he caught Peter's look he said, "I'd be happy too." With a forced smile. "Let's go." David said pushing past Eric. Eric scoffed, but then turned and followed David.
Peter watched as the other cliffhangers dismissed themselves and headed off in various directions. He then turned to Sophie, "Well I think that went well, how about you?"
Sophie gave Peter a look and then turned and headed out of the lodge.
The second David was out the door he stopped and turned to Eric. "Over there are the girls cabins, and next to it is the guys cabin. We were just in the lodge, that way are the playing fields and you saw the main building when you came to campus. Tour done." David said as he finished pointing out the highlights of campus.
Eric glared at David. "You're supposed to be giving me a tour, not barely pointing things out to me."
"Well you've been on campus before." David said annoyed.
"It was almost a year ago."
"I just figured you had a good memory. After all you do spend a lot of time memorizing lines." David paused then and then shook his head, "Oh wait I'm sorry, I forgot that you were a hollywood flunky."
Eric pierced his lips together. "And I forgot that you were a societal reject. At least I made it to hollywood. You probably barely made it out of middle school."
"What's going on here?" Both boys turned at the sound of a male voice to see Peter and Sophie standing by and watching them.
"I was just about to start the grand tour." David said with a fake smile.
"Yea, right after he gave me the highlighted details from here." Eric mumbled.
Peter could sense the tension between the two and wondered how much of a problem Eric joining the group was going to be. He looked to David and said, "Make sure you show him where everything is, remember that he is going to have to be able to find his way around." Peter then faced Eric, "Just like you'll be expected to find the places so pay attention as he gives you the tour." Both boys nodded and then turned and headed off.
"Well, the next few days ought to be interesting." Sophie said.
Peter nodded. "They most certainly will be."
David walked quickly through the main part of campus, barely letting Eric keep up with him as he walked.
"And this is the woodshed." David said as he hurried past the wood shed, barely pointing to it.
"Some tour guide you are." Eric said as he tried to keep up with David.
"You have a problem with me?" David asked turning to face Eric.
"No, I just wish you'd actually show me where things are. You know that's usually what someone who's showing you around is supposed to do. Or are you too dumb to know that?"
David clenched his teeth, "You know what? Maybe you wouldn't need a tour guide if you were smart enough to figure out where everything was. I guess your just too used to the star's life and being catered to."
Eric glared at David, "You don't know a thing about my..." Eric stopped himself. "Nevermind. I don't need this." With that, Eric turned and headed away.
"So how did the admit go?" Peter asked as Roger walked into Peter's office and joined him and Sophie. The two of them had headed back here after the group session to talk about ways to try to bring the new cliffhanger into the rest of the group.
"That kid has a lot of anger." He said. "You've got your work cut out for you Sophie."
Sophie nodded. "I always do."
"So he did say something?" Peter asked still wanting to know how the boy had acted once away from his parents.
"He is really mad at his parents. Most new admits are though, but from what we witnessed outside I think it's obvious that him and his father have some things to deal with. He talks pretty easily about some things, but there is still a lot that he doesn't speak of. And his bag search was clean." Roger said. "What did his parents say?"
Peter took a deep breath. "His father apologized for his display of anger and said that that's the first time it's happened. He says Eric intentionally tries to provoke him. His wife stood by his side and agreed with everything he said."
"That didn't look like the first time to me." Roger said looking at Peter.
"It didn't sound like the first time either. Before Eric walked away he said some thing to his mom about watching out, because now that he's gone, she's the only one he has to kick around."
"Wow." Sophie said. "Do you think abuse is involved?"
"I think it's highly likely considering the boys behavior towards his parents and the way his parents acted." Peter said. "But it's too early to tell."
Sophie nodded. "Well at least I have an idea of what I'm working with. Normally I go in knowing nothing."
"Remember to not assume, Sophie. We won't know anything for sure unless he tells us." Peter said. "So be careful about what you say."
"How did the tour go?" Daisy asked as David walked over to where she was sitting in the lodge.
"That guy is such a jerk." David muttered angrily.
"Well I could have told you that." Daisy said as she looked up from the homework that she was working on. It was then that she noticed how angry David was. Her eyes narrowed. "You ok?"
"Yea." David said with a short nod. "It's just that that guy really gets on my nerves."
Daisy watched him for a moment. She noticed that he was anxious. Clenching and unclenching his fists. His body almost shaking. "David, are you ok?" She asked concerned. She had never seen him like this before.
"Yea, yea." He muttered looking at her. "I'm just going to get out of here now. Take a walk or something."
He turned to go and Daisy called his name. "Do you want me to go with you?" She asked. David shook his head and quickly headed off.
A while later Scott walked over to where Daisy, who had been joined by Shelby a few moments earlier, was sitting at the table in the middle of campus. "What's up with David? He's going psycho on that punching bag in the shed."
"Eric." Daisy and Shelby both said together.
"What a jerk." Scott said. "Doesn't that kid know how to get along with anybody?"
"What kid?" Peter asked walking up behind them.
"Eric." Scott said with disgust.
"He causing problems?"
"He pissed David off." Scott said. "He's in there beating the crap out of your punching bag, so that he doesn't kill him."
"That so?" Peter asked, glad that David was finally showing some control, but not happy that it was because of Eric.
"So where is Eric?"
"Don't know." Scott said. "David gave him the tour. Haven't seen him sense."
Peter walked into the shed to find David throwing hard punches. He was covered in sweat and he was breathing hard as he repeatedly punched the bag fast and furiously.
"You seen Eric?" Peter asked. when he didn't recieve an answer he walked over closer to where David was. Speaking a slight bit louder, he asked again, "David, have you seen Eric?"
David still didn't seem to hear Peter. His anger not subsiding as he furiously beat his fists hard against the punching bag, muttering soft curses as he did so.
Peter realized that David was clearly upset about something. Something that was far more than Eric.
"David!" Peter snapped, but the teens attention was still on pulverizing the bag.
Taking a dangerous chance, Peter stepped forward and quickly grabbed David's swinging arms. When the boy began to shove him away. Peter tightened his group and said, "It's ok David, it's just me, Peter. It's ok, your safe here."
Just as suddenly as the rage had kicked in, it left. David stopped moving, freezing in Peter's arms when he realized where he was.
"You ok David?" Peter asked relaxing his grip only slightly.
"Yea. I'm fine." David murmered breathing hard. "You want to let go of me?"
Peter paused for a moment trying to think of the best course of action. "Yea." He said releasing his grip on David, but keeping himself between the only exit and David.
David took several steps forward finally free of the restraining grip. Not knowing what else to do, he walked to the table against the wall and began to take the boxing gloves that he was wearing off.
"You want to talk about it?" Peter asked gently.
David took a deep breath trying to slow his breathing. "The new guy gets on my nerves. There's not much more to tell."
Peter took a step forward walking around the edge of the punching bag. "I've had people get on my nerves before, but I've never reacted like that."
"Maybe that's because your not me!" David snapped, turning to Peter. Immediatly after saying it he dropped his head. "Sorry." He apologized.
Peter nodded, keeping his body language calm and his voice gentle. "I wasn't assuming, David, I was just trying to figure out what made you so upset."
David turned away from Peter for a moment. "The kid called me dumb."
Peter was glad David wasn't looking at him or else he would have seen the suprise on his face. Peter quickly masked it and then said, "I thought you didn't care what others thought about you?"
David had made the comment before in a private session between the two. Peter had always figured that David wasn't one to give much thought to other people, but lately Peter had been seeing a whole new side of the teen. Including the fact that he actually did care about others and what they thought.
"Well I lied, alright?" David snapped. "He called me dumb." The teen's voice then grew quiet. So much so that Peter almost didn't here him as he said, "He's probably right, so it's no big deal. You should just go find him and finish the tour yourself."
"You are not stupid David." Peter said firmly.
David looked up suprised that Peter had heard the coment, but immediatly the suprise was gone and replaced by a protest, "Yea, not stupid at all, that's why my...." David stopped just as quickly as he had started. He shook his head. He wasn't going to say that, not here - not now.
"That's why your what... David?" Peter pushed gently.
"Nothing." David said turning away.
"You said 'that's why my...' Finish the statement David." Peter pushed again.
"No!" David snapped. "It's nothing alright, just let it go." David started to make his way past Peter, but Peter grabbed the boy's arm and going on a gut feeling pulled the boy close to him in a tight hug.
David started to fight him, but realizing he wasn't going to get away gave up the fight and welcomed the embrace.
"You are not stupid David." Peter said again.
"Then why doesn't anybody want me?" The question was out before David realized what he was saying.
Peter gripped the boy tighter. "You are wanted, David. Somebody will always want you."
David nodded skeptically and Peter relinquished some of his hold. "Why don't you tell me why you're feeling this way and maybe the two of us can work some of this out?"
David nodded, but didn't look at Peter.
Peter reached out and forced David to turn to look him in the eye. "It's ok to feel something when somebody else calls you a bad name. Your a good kid David and you are not stupid." Peter emphasized.
David gave another nod; this time with a bit more believability to it.
A short while later Peter walked slowly down the path towards the docks. For some reason he had a feeling that that was where Eric was. As he neared the docks he could see a lone figure sitting with their feet dangling off the edge. Peter didn't say anything, he just walked over and sat down next to the teen.
"You been talking to David?" The question came after a moment of silence.
"Yes." Peter said calmly. "You upset him with what you said."
"What about what he said to me?" Eric asked. Peter looked at Eric suprised for a moment. Eric shook his head. "Should have known he wouldn't mention that. You know, he blasts me for having the so called perfect life and freaks out because I call him stupid, what about the fact that he called me stuck up?"
"Neither of you should have called the other anything." Peter said neutrally. "Horizon has rules."
Eric shook his head. "'Horizon has rules, Horizons a safe place, blah, blah, blah," Eric mocked him. "I keep hearing that, but I have yet to see it."
"You've been here less then two hours Eric, give it a shot."
"Kind of like they gave me a shot?"
"Eric, they were suprised to see you. Things didn't go well when you were here last time, but trust me, things will get easier, they just have to get to know you better."
The young man didn't say anything for a moment. "I just thought this place was going to be different." He muttered.
"What was that?" Peter asked having not heard what the boy said.
Eric started to repeat what he said, but then thought twice. He had come here to start over. To get away from his parents and family and his old life. Maybe he could still make this work. "I said, I'll give it another try."
"Good." Peter said, then he added, "And you need to apologize to David."
"Only if he apologizes to me." Eric said quickly.
"That seems fair." Peter said. After a moment he asked, "Were you able to finish the tour?"
"I was barely able to start the tour." Eric said with a slight smile.
Peter smiled too. "Well, after you and David work things out, I'll have him finish showing you around, it will be a good way for the two of you to get to know each other."
Eric looked at Peter skeptically for a moment. He had a feeling he and David were not going to get along any time soon, but maybe the man before him was right. Maybe they all had just gotten off on the wrong foot. Besides he hadn't exactly been friendly to them when he showed up. "Ok." Eric said with a nod and a smile and he and Peter stood up and headed off to start his tour.
Peter and Eric were headed to find David when he spotted Sophie heading towards the football field. "Hey Sophie!" Peter called, causing his fiance to turn and walk over to him.
"Hey Peter," She said with a smile. "Hey Eric. How are you guys doing?" Peter had told Sophie about what had happened with David before he'd gone in search of Eric.
"We're good." Peter said.
"Good." Sophie said. She glanced over her shoulder to where Roger and the Ridge Runners were heading towards the football field. "I should probably go, the Ridge Runners have challenged the Cliffhangers to a football game. I've already told Roger we can do it."
"Football?" Eric asked suddenly.
"Yea, Eric." Sophie said, "Why do you play?"
"A little. We played last year when I was here."
"That's right." Peter said knowingly. "The underground game between the actors and the students."
"Yea, sorry about that." Eric said with an embarressed smile, knowing that the students hadn't been supposed to play that game.
"Well this game is allowed, but it isn't tackle." Sophie said with a friendly smile.
"Can I play?" Eric asked.
Peter looked at Sophie, suprised that the boy actually wanted to participate, but hadn't he just told the boy he needed to give the Cliffhangers a second try. "The tour can wait till after the game, besides it might assist with some team work."
Peter, Sophie and Eric walked to the field where the cliffhangers and ridge runners were waiting.
"Well look what we have here?" Ezra said nodding his head in the direction of where the two adults and Eric was. The cliffhangers stopped tossing the football around and turned to look in the direction indicated.
"The star lives." David said with sarcasm and slight anger.
"Don't let him get to ya, David." Auggie said as he and the others all walked over forming a group. "Hollywoods not worth it."
"Hey guys." Peter said as he, Sophie and Eric joined the group. He could feel the tension as the old Cliffhangers stood across from there new member. "Well, it's a bit unusual for the first day, but Eric asked if he could join the football game and I agreed. I thought it might give you all a chance to get to know each other a little better. Might also help with your teamwork skills."
"The last time someone wanted to participate on their first day they turned out to be an undercover reporter." Shelby said looking at Peter.
"You guys have met Eric before, he's not an undercover reporter."
"No, he's just a bad actor." Scott said under his breath, causing the other Cliffhangers to laugh.
"What was that Scott?" Peter asked, he had heard the comment and from the look on Eric's face knew he had too.
"Just commenting on Eric's acting skills." Scott said with a not so innocent smile.
"Or lack thereof." Daisy added.
"That's enough you guys." Sophie reprimanded. "Now I think you owe Eric an apology."
When no one said anything, Peter jumped in, "You guys can apologize or you can spend the rest of the day working on some odd jobs that I need done."
The Cliffhangers looked at each other. They wanted to play, they just didn't want to play with someone who thought he was better then everyone. "Come on you guys," Sophie said, "Don't you want to play?"
The Cliffhangers looked to their feet and before anyone could say anthing else, Roger came jogging over. "You guys ready to play?" He asked.
"Actually I'm not sure the cliffhangers are up to it." Peter said, looking to Sophie. "I think they may have some work to do."
"What?" Juliette asked. "I didn't say anything."
"One down all down remember?" Auggie said looking to Juliette.
"That's unfair. I wanted to play some football." She whined.
"Jules wants to play football?" Shelby asked with a smile. "Wow, things have changed."
Everyone but Eric smiled at the comment and then things grew quiet.
"So are the Ciffhangers playing?" Roger asked after a moment.
Peter looked to Scott raising his eyebrows. Scott had always been the undesignated leader of the group and if they were going to apologize it would be led by him.
"Fine." Scott growled shaking his head. "I'm sorry."
"Yea, sorry." The other Cliffhangers broke in with their apologies.
"Looks like they will be playing." Peter said turning to Scott. "And Eric will be joining them."
Roger nodded smiling at Eric. "You play football?"
"A little." Eric said with a slight attitude. He was still upset about the Cliffhangers lack of acceptance.
"Well then," Roger said ignoring the attitude and tossed the ball to Eric, who caught it easily. "Go play." With that Roger jogged over to where the Ridge Runners were.
"David, Eric." Peter called as the Cliffhangers started to take the field. They both turned and Peter motioned for them to join him.
"Yea Peter?" David asked once the two had joined him.
"I think that you and Eric both owe each other an apology for what was siad earlier on the tour."
"I really can't think of anything I need to apologize for." David said. "He called me dumb."
"You called me stuck up."
"Doesn't matter." Peter said. "I want you both to apologize."
They both glared at one another for a moment. "Fine," David said. "I'm sorry your stuck up."
"And I'm sorry that your dumb." Eric said.
Peter started to say something to the sarcastic apologies, but both boys turned and headed for the football field.
"So much for the idea of teamwork." Sophie said.
The lack of teamwork continued for the Cliffhangers. For one, if they could keep the ball away from Eric, they did, mostly leaving him standing off to the side on his own, unless they were "accidentally" tagging him to hard. Eric had just taking his fifth "tag" of the game, when he finally said something.
"What is up with you?" Eric shouted as he pushed himself up from the ground.
"Sorry Hollywood, lost my footing." David said with a smirk.
"Yea right." Eric spat.
"Do we have a problem here?" Roger, who was reffing the game asked, coming over.
"No problem." David said quickly.
Eric shook his head. "No problem at all."
Heading back to the line, Eric decided he'd had enough. So when Scott threw the ball, Eric ran across the field shoving the others out of the way and jumping and catching the ball.
"What was that about?" Scott asked harshly walking over to Eric. "That ball was meant for David."
"Yea, well the ball was never going to be meant for me."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Daisy asked.
"If you didn't want me playing you should have told me."
"We did." David said stepping over.
Eric shook his head. He didn't belong here.
"What's going on?" Roger asked coming over to the group; Peter not far behind him.
"Hollywood here, doesn't know how to play as a team." Auggie said.
"I don't know how to play as a team?" Eric asked shocked.
"That's what he said." Jules answered in Auggie's defense.
"What's the problem?" Peter asked as he and Sophie joined the others.
"Eric doesn't know how to let anyone else play the game." Shelby said.
"Yea," Daisy added. "Apparently he always has to be a star."
"I don't need this." Eric snapped as he threw the ball angrily. He then turned to walk away, but was stopped when he heard a startled cry. Turning back around he saw the others moving quickly towards Daisy who was doubled over.
"You ok Daisy?" Sophie asked concerned from where she stood with one hand on Daisy's shoulder, the other on her arm.
"Fine." Daisy gasped out. "It was - - - un - - -expected."
Eric realized then that Daisy had been hit with the football he had thrown.
"You did that on purpose!" Ezra snapped walking purposefully over to Eric. The others turned never having seen Ezra angry like this.
"I..I...I...I'm sorry." Eric stammered. "I didn't see her... I swear."
"Yea, right." Ezra snapped. "Maybe if you had been paying attention to the rest of your team it wouldn't have been a problem."
"Look, I didn't mean...." Eric's voice trailed off as he saw the others looking at him, nothing that he said would matter - just like at home.
Peter seeing that trouble was coming turned to David, "Take Eric and finish the tour." It was said in a tone that could not be denied.
David stood, walked over and taking Eric's arm pulled him into a direction away from the group. "Come on Star, let's make this fast so that I can help Daisy."
"Let go of me." Eric said jerking his arm back.
David turned. "You should be glad I'm not pounding your face into the ground right now after what you did."
"Well what's stopping you?" Eric asked pushing his sleeves up and preparing to take David on.
"I can't afford to get into anymore fights." David said.
"Oh, well you poor thing." Eric said as he headed forward ahead of David.
"But I can still get back at you." David said softly as an evil smile graced his lips. "Hey, Eric, lets head out to the ropes course."
"The rope course is this way." David said leading Eric through the woods.
"Don't you think we should be on the path?" Eric asked.
"Who's been going here longer?" David asked.
"You know, if I we're you, I wouldn't brag about that sort of thing." Eric said.
David just shrugged, the wicked smile still on his lips. He suddenly stopped. "The ropes course is just through those trees there." He said. 'Why don't you go ahead and I'll meet up with you?"
"What are you going to do?" Eric asked.
"Go to the bathroom." David said. "Sometimes you just gotta go."
Eric shrugged. "Whatever man. I'll just keep walking."
David nodded and watched as Eric walked several feet past him. David then began to take slow quiet steps backward. When David felt he was far enough away, he turned and began to run back towards campus.
"Hey, Dave." Eric called turning to look over his shoulder, "I think your a little lost because there is no ropes..." Eric stopped talking and nodded slightly as he realized what had just happened. "We'll this is great." He says to himself as he stands with his hands on his hips looking around the woods.
David emerged onto campus about an hour later, looking around to make sure no one had seen him come out of the woods alone. He headed across campus and stopped at the steps leading to the girls dorm. Scott, Shelby, Ezra, Auggie and Juliette all sat waiting on Daisy.
"How's Daisy?" David asked as he approached.
Shelby looked up from where she sat on the steps. "The nurse is in with her now. She had some swelling and bruising on her stomach. Sophie doesn't think it was anything serious, but they thought it should be checked just in case."
David nodded. "I guess that's good." He said taking a seat on the steps.
They all sat in silence for a few moments waiting until Shelby finally broke the silence by asking, "So where's your 'buddy'?" Shelby asked as David walked up to the girls dorm.
David couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. "Lets just say he decided to... take a walk."
"What did you do to him?" Juliette asked with slight astonishment.
David looked around, trying to maintain a level of innocence. "Nothing."
"Come on David." Auggie said. "That look doesn't sat nothing."
"I'm not saying anything, but" David said with a smile, "I'm sure he'll be back, by say dinner."
"David, I don't know what you did, but I wish I had thought of it first." Scott said with a smile.
Eric stood in the woods for several minutes trying to get his bearings. "Well, if I wanted out, this would be the perfect way." He said to himself. "But I don't want out. My only other option is home and I'm not going back there." He looked over and thought he recognized a fallen tree. "Guess I'll go this way." He said and then began to walk down the path.
Peter walked up to Scott and Shelby who were studying in the lodge. It had been hours sense the incident on the football field and Peter hadn't seen Eric or David since. "Have either of you guys seen David or Eric?" Peter asked.
Scott and Shelby looked at each other for a moment. "David's in his dorm, but I don't know where Eric is." Scott said honestly.
Peter nodded and turned to head to the boy's dorm. That's odd, he thought, I wonder where Eric is.
Peter entered the boys dorm and found David sitting on his bed reading a book.
"David, do you know where Eric is?"
"I haven't seen him since I finished the tour of campus." David said. "Not that I'm complaining about that."
"David." Peter said with warning.
"What I said I wasn't complaining."
"It's the way you said it David." Peter walked over and sat on the bed across from David's. "You guys have problems during the tour?"
David sat up. "He still think's he's better then us Peter." David says. "The Cliffhangers don't need someone like that around."
"We'll he's staying in your group, so you guys are going to have to learn to live with him. Which means the two of you will have to settle your differences." Peter paused. "He didn't hit Daisy with the football because the two of you don't get along. You know that right?"
"If your asking if I think that Daisy being hurt was my fault, then I would tell you that the thought had crossed my mind, but I know it's not."
"Good." Peter said with a smile. "Now if the two of you can get to know each other, maybe you'll find that you have something in common."
David nodded uncommittedly and stood heading for the bathroom. "First you have to find him." He muttered under his breath, low enough so that Peter didn't hear him.
"David." Peter said, before David walked completely away.
"Yea?" David asked.
"Where and when was the last time you saw Eric?"
"Oh, we we're going to the ropes course and I had to go to the bathroom, but Eric wanted to see it, so he kept going. And that was around three o'clock this afternoon." David said.
"Thanks." Peter said and headed out of the dorm. He headed to the lodge and found Sophie and Roger. "I think Eric might have ran."
"Really?" Roger asked suprised. "He didn't seem like the type."
"I thought the same thing, but no one has seen him for several hours and David said the last time he saw him was near the ropes course." Peter said.
"So what do you want us to do?" Sophie asked concerned.
"Well, he has three, maybe four, hours on us, so I doubt he's in town, but I'll call Curtis and have him keep an eye out. Right now I think we should search the campus and if we don't find him, then we'll gather the groups and go out looking for him." Peter said. "We need to hurry though, we'll lose the light in about two hours."
Roger and Sophie nodded and then the three left each other to go searching.
Eric stopped walking. He had been walking for hours and was now more lost then when he started. "I think I'd rather be with my dad then be here." He mumbled to himself. "When I get back, I'm going to get that kid." He said. "If I get back." Eric looked up at the sun and tried to navigate where he was. "Well that won't work, I never learned how to read the sun. After all," He ranted to himself, "I'm just an actor, what the hell would I know? It's not like I've ever been in the woods before!" He said his voice getting louder and louder until finally he was screaming. "It's not like I am dressed for this!" He looks at his cloths. "It's not like I woke up this morning thinking I'm going to get lost in the woods for hours on end because some dumb jerk decided to screw me over!' He screamed. "THIS PLACE SUCKS!"
Peter, Roger and Sophie met back up in the middle of campus. "There's no sign of him." Sophie said. "He's been here for less then a day and he's already managed to vanish."
"Looks like we're going to have to send out search parties." Peter said. "We'll take the Cliffhangers, Ridge Runners and the Wind Dancers. We meet back here in ten minutes and I'll give directions then."
Eric walked through the woods. "I was a fool to think that coming here would be better then military school. At least there I would be part of something." He said to himself. He shook his head. "I'm going to so get that punk when I get back." He muttered to himself as he walked. "I wish I had water." Even though it was the beginning of December and cool out, he was warm. The temperature was higher then usual and there was no snow, and he was sweating from the walking. He wasn't used to hiking through the forest.
Suddenly Eric spotted a building. "I made it." He said. A smile spread across his lips. "I'm going to get that kid."
Peter, Sophie, Roger and the three groups stood in the center of campus preparing to start searching. The Cliffhangers, minus Daisy, who was in her dorm resting, stood off to one side talking.
"David, maybe you should tell Peter about what you did." Juliette said nervously.
David shook his head. "I'm sure he's fine." He said, but David didn't look at all convinced about it.
"All right guys we'll be breaking up into groups of two or three. Stay within shouting distance of the groups around you." Peter said. "And if you see anything let us know."
"I see something." Someone from inside the mass of people called out.
Peter was about to tell them all that this was a serious matter, when someone else called out. Peter turned to see what they we're talking about and saw Eric wondering out of the woods and onto campus, looking tired and sweaty. "You guys are dismissed." Peter said and he and Sophie handed Roger their packs and headed over to talk to Eric.
"We were just getting ready to send out a search party." Peter said evenly walking up to him.
"Yea, well, it's not necessary, I'm here now." Eric said angrily as he wiped sweat off of his face.
"Eric, wondering off into the woods on your own is not a good idea." Sophie said. "A million things could happen: you could get hurt or lost."
"Yea, tell me about it." Eric said sarcastically, half listening to what Sophie was saying, but his eyes were on the group of Cliffhangers who we're standing in the middle of campus watching him and the two adults.
"Eric." Sophie said. "Are you listening?"
"I have something I need to take care of." Eric said trying to walk past them.
"But not before we take care of this." Peter said taking the boy by the arm.
"Let go of me." Eric said throwing Peter a look.
Peter loosened his grip, but didn't let go. "Horizon has rules, Eric. They exist to protect you and the other's around you. You can't just go wandering off."
"I didn't." Eric said gruffly glaring at Peter.
"Eric, you've been missing for hours and..." Sophie said.
"No, I've been lost for hours." Eric said pointedly. "And maybe had you asked where I had been when I came back onto campus you would have known that."
Peter was surprised by the boys attitude, but more surprised by the fact that Eric seemed to be telling him the truth that he had been lost. Which meant Peter had just blown his first trial of trust with this kid. "Eric, I'm sorry." Peter apologized.
"Apology not accepted." Eric said, pulling his arm from Peter's grip and walking away. He then walked across campus towards the other Cliffhangers, who watched him coming, wondering what he was going to do.
Eric walked right up to David. Without a word, he threw a right cross, hitting David squarely in the jaw and also knocking him straight to the ground. Auggie and Scott normally would have jumped in as defense, but they we're both shocked by Eric's actions. Eric then turned and began to walk away, but David got up and ran after him. He was about to jump on him, when Peter grabbed David, and Roger grabbed Eric.
"You guys want to tell me what's going on here?" Peter asked angrily looking between the two boys.
"I'm sorry." Eric said breathing hard. "No wait, I'm not sorry I hit him, he deserved it."
"No one deserves to be hit." Roger said seriously still holding onto Eric.
"Let go of me." Eric said pulling at Roger's hold.
"Not until we know what's going on." Peter said.
"Well then why don't you ask Dave." Eric spat.
"The names David." He said trying to get into his face, but Peter held him back.
"David do you know what he's talking about?" Peter asked.
"Why would I know? It's not like I'm the Star's keeper."
"You jerk!" Eric shouted lunging forward.
"Eric why don't you tell us what happened." Roger said.
"Nothing." Eric said disgusted. "Nothing happened." With that Eric was half released from Roger's grip, half pulled himself from the grip, and walked away.
"David?" Peter questioned turning to face him.
"Don't ask me." David said. "The Star's just mad because he's fallen from Hollywood's grace." With that David turned and headed back to the other Cliffhangers.
Peter walked around campus and found Eric sitting on the docks by himself. It had been several hours since he's come back onto campus, but Peter had wanted to give him time to calm down before trying to talk to him.
"Hey." Peter said gently.
"Hey." Eric replied, not taking his eyes off of the stars.
"You missed dinner."
"Are you on my back for a reason?" Eric snapped.
"I'm here to help you." Peter said. "Sometimes that means getting on your back." He said honestly.
"Well I don't want your help."
"Eric, I don't know what happened today, but Sophie and I and all of the other counselors are always here to listen."
"Like you listened so well this afternoon?" Eric asked his voice crisp.
"Ok." Peter said sitting down next to him. "I deserved that, but I did apologize."
"And I said it wasn't good enough."
"Eric you might realize this isn't such a bad place to be if you give it a chance."
"Give it a chance? Give it a chance?" He asked incredoulsy jumping to his feet. "All I wanted was to give this place a chance."
"Sophie and I have seen you and the Cliffhangers arguing all day."
"Oh, and automatically you think it's the fault of the new guy. Did you ever think maybe it was your precious students? Why don't you try going to them and asking them to tell you honestly about this afternoon and then maybe you'll realize that this isn't my fault." With that Eric walked away, leaving Peter with a sinking feeling that he had just failed a student.
The Cliffhangers, minus Eric, sat in the lodge shortly after Peter's conversation with Eric. Peter and Sophie stood before them.
"All right cliffhangers." Sophie said. "Peter and I want to talk to you about your group."
"You mean lack of group." Daisy said sarcastically.
"Yea," Shelby said. "It would have been nice if Eric would have shown up."
"Eric didn't know about this meeting." Peter said.
"Why not?" Scott asked. "Isn't he a Cliffhanger?"
Peter nodded. "He's supposed to be. But he's not being treated like one."
"Maybe because he doesn't act like one." David said.
"Or maybe because you guys don't treat him like one?" Peter said.
The Cliffhangers looked at each other. "He thinks he's better then us." Juliette said.
"But he's not." Peter said. "Eric is here because he has problems, just like all of you do."
"He doesn't act like he does." Shelby said. "He acts like an arrogant jerk."
"Shelby, there are a lot of people here who act like they don't have problems." Peter said pointedly. "Look, Eric seems to think that you guys aren't giving him a fair chance and he seems to think it has something to do with his disapperance this afternoon."
The Cliffhangers all occupied themselves looking at other things.
Sophie looked at them. "We just want to know what happened this afternoon. Honestly." She said looking at all of them.
"You guys either tell us or else you guys will be receiving extra work until we do find out what really happened." Peter said when no one responded after several moments.
The Cliffhangers all turned and looked at David. "Why are you all looking at me?"
"David, your name seems to be being brought up an awful lot. Why don't you tell us what happened?" Peter said.
"I told you I don't know anything."
"I know you did." Peter said. "But I think you do."
David looked at the floor. "Fine." He said begrudgingly. "Eric was acting like a jerk and he hurt Daisy." He said in his defense. "So I thought it would be funny to play a joke on him, so I took him to the ropes course, only I didn't really take him there, I took him into the woods and then I left him there."
"You did what?" Peter asked shocked.
"I thought he would find his way back and he did. It just took longer then I expected. It was really just to teach him that he shouldn't mess with us." David said defensively.
"Do you guys not remember what it's like when you first get here?" Sophie said. "It can be scary. You're in a new place, you're dealing with new things and you're life is already off track. And you guys decided to take him into the woods and leave him."
"We didn't do it." Shelby said, "David went off on his own on this one."
"But you guys knew about it?" Peter said, from the Cliffhangers looking away Peter could tell they had. "You guys I'm really dissapointed in you. You are above this." He shook his head. "You never gave Eric a chance and because of that it's going to be harder for him to open up to anyone at this school." The Cliffhangers hung there heads. "You guys are going to keep getting new members, you are not going to be the same seven people always. I know your a tight knit group, but you can't exclude people. That's not what your taught to do here." The cliffhangers nodded. "You guys are going to get one chance to redeem yourselfs and if you don't you'll all be on shuns."
"What do we have to do?" Scott asked.
"You have to apologize to Eric and convince him that you want him to be part of the group." Sophie said.
"But that'll be impossible." Juliette whined.
"It's shuns or apologize." Peter said. "You guys know what the right thing to do is." With that Peter and Sophie turned and headed out of the lodge. "Oh, and you guys have until breakfast to fix this." With that they left.
"How are we going to convince him by tomorrow morning?" Juliette asked with a sigh.
"Maybe it's an impossible task." Daisy said.
"It's not impossible guys." Auggie said. "But I think we're going to have to start by apologizing. And then possible begging."
"I don't beg." Shelby says she looks around the group. "I don't beg - anymore."
"So we apologize," Ezra said, "But I don't think that will be enough. He barely knows us and we screwed him over, he's not going to want to listen to us."
"Well, first we'll apologize," Auggie said, "And if that doesn't work, we'll show him."
"Hey Eric." Auggie called walking into the boys dorm. "Eric?" He called again.
"What?" Eric asked walking out of the bathroom in sweats and a t shirt, his hair wet. He had just finished his shower a few minutes before.
"Why isn't your stuff unpacked?" Auggie asked watching Eric stack his packed bags in his closet.
"Because I don't plan on staying long. You guys have made it clear that I'm not wanted."
"Yea, about that," Auggie said rubbing his neck, "David can be a real jerk sometimes, but I can promise you that we didn't know he was going to do it until it was done."
"Yet," He said turning around and looking at Auggie, "When you heard about it, you did not think to tell Peter or anyone so that I could be found."
Auggie shook his head. "We made some mistakes. But we are sorry. We we're just playing our own deck. We didn't think about you."
"We'll that was obvious."
"I'm trying to apologize."
"And I'm trying to not accept." Eric said.
Auggie looked at the floor and then back at Eric. "What can we do to make this up to you?"
"What?" Eric asked suprised.
"You tell us what to do and we'll do it. We are really sorry this happened and now we want to make it up to you."
Eric smiled at the thought of getting them to do all sorts of stupid things, but then he shook his head. "There's nothing you can do."
Auggie nodded and then walked out of the dorm.
"Well?" The Cliffhangers who had been waiting outside asked.
"He says he doesn't accept the apology and we can' t do anything to make it up to him."
Shelby groaned. "Goodbye life, hello shuns."
"So what do we do now?" David asked.
"You're the one who got us into this mess David, you should figure out how to get us out." Juliette said.
"Let's just go back to our dorms, it's almost lights out anyway." Scott said. "We can talk to him again in the morning before breakfast."
They all nodded and went there seperate ways.
"You sure that this will work?" Sophie asked as they walked into Peter's office.
"No." Peter said frustrated as he sat down in the chair behind his desk. "Because they made it quite clear they don't want him here." He sighed. "I'm not sure I want him here."
"What?" Sophie asked shocked.
Peter rubbed the bridge of his nose with his finger and thumb. "Sophie, the kid is an actor. He makes a living making things up and pretending to be someone else."
"So you don't beleive that he's here sincerly. Now you sound like the cliffhangers." She said taking a seat across from him.
Peter sighed and placed his elbows on the edge of his desk. "I beleive that what happened with his parents earlier was sincere and I beleive he needs help. I'm just not sure I can help him." He said quietly.
"Why not?" Sophie asked with concern.
"I'm not sure Sophie." He said quietly. "I never used to let anything about a kid effect the way I helped them, but the fact that he was here before as an actor..." Peter shook his head letting his voice trail off.
Sophie looked at Peter for a long moment. "I don't think this has to do with Eric."
Peter looked up from his desk shocked. "Of course it has to do with Eric."
"No it doesn't." Sophie said walking around the desk and sitting on the edge nearer to him. "We teach the students every day to take off their masks and trust us. Now I'm asking you to do the same thing."
"I do trust you Sophie." Peter said, but he was still confused. "Where is this coming from?"
"You don't trust me Peter. Not when it comes to these kids. You think that I'm still learning. Don't get me wrong I still am, but I can help them too."
"I know that, I never would have asked you..."
"Then why during the last year or so that I've been here do you point out all the things I do wrong? With Scott it was being alone with him, with Juliette it was assuming things, with Daisy and Shelby it was allowing them to push me." She looked at him. "I understand that they were mistakes - human mistakes, but why can't you trust me enough to admit your own faults, to tell me when your wrong." She takes his arm causing him to look at her. "Let me in."
Peter drops his head into his right hand and rubs his forehead wearily. He sits quietly for several moments breathing deeply, before saying, "I have this gut feeling that I'm going to keep letting Eric down." He said softly. "I already did once. I don't know how long it will take for me to gain his trust back." He paused for a moment, dropping his head in his hands. "I don't know what I'm doing here Soph. I didn't know what happened between Shelby and her father, I didn't know that Daisy would drink. I didn't think the Cliffhangers would treat someone like that." He looks up at her "I'm slipping Sophie. I'm losing my touch and I'm afraid I'm going to end up losing any chance to help Eric because of it." Sophie didn't say a word she just wrapped her arms around him. "Am I even helping them?" She heard the soft words whispered.
"Yea." She answered back gently.
Peter shook his head no and broke the hold. Reaching out and picking up the folder with the scholarship information named after his father, he says with a slight edge, "Is a scholarship enough? What is it that I'm doing with this school, Soph? I try to help the kids, but if I can't reach them, if they don't trust me, if I can't tell what's wrong -then what am I doing this for?"
She reached out and put her hand on his arm. "It's because you do help the kids. There will never be a day in your life when you see a kid that needs help, that you won't try to help." She lifts her hands indicating to the campus and the students through the window. "This is what you do Peter. This is a big part of who you are. You help kids, and they and their families are greatful for it." Peter looked at her unconvinced. "So maybe you didn't know that Shelby's dad's visit would do more harm then good, but your here for her now. Same with Daisy. Peter you don't just try to make their lives better. You do make their lives better, by being here for them all the time - not just when they are hurting, but when they are happy as well."
It's quiet for a moment as she let's her point sink in. She then leans over a little closer to him and states quietly, "I will never have kids Peter." Her eyes are moist as she says it, "And that makes me realize how precious each and every student that comes here is. Whether they are here for an hour or four years, they will mean something to me. And even if we can't help them, well - " Her voice changes to a wistful tone, "They still had a small amount of time here, in a place where they were safe and that they felt hope." She looks down and smiles at Peter. "To me that's worth it. That's why we do this."
Peter stands and wraps his arms around Sophie. "Thank you." He whispers in her ear. "And I love you."
"I love you too." Sophie says as she pulls Peter tighter to her.
After several moments in the tight emotional hug, Sophie released Peter and wiped the tears from her eyes. Peter smiled at her. "Why don't you and I head home and we'll pick up some dinner on the way there from Rusty's?"
"I'd like that." Sophie said with a slight nod. The two stood and left the office hand in hand.
As they headed to Peter's car, Peter turned to Sophie and asked, "Do you think the Cliffhangers will make it?"
"Make it how?" Sophie questioned glancing over at him.
"I mean, do you think Auggie and Juliette will leave here together or that Scott and Shelby will find their way back to each other? If Ezra will go back to drugs when he leaves here." He pauses. "I wonder if I've taught them well enough. Most of them graduate in a few months, I'm just not sure they can make it."
"You're saying the same thing that you said in your office a few minutes ago." Sophie said as they settled into his car and headed for town. She turned to face him, "Quit doubting yourself Peter. You do a damn fine job with these kids, don't let anyone - including yourself - convince you otherwise."
Peter smiled with a small shake of his head. "What did I do when you weren't around?"
"You were lost without me." Sophie joked with a slight smile, but she was suprised by the sincerity in Peter's eyes when he nodded to the comment.
"I was Soph. I'm glad that your here now and that your staying. I'm glad that were marrying and spending the rest of our lives together." Thinking back to their earlier conversation he added, "And it doesn't matter to me that you can't have kids, because I love you."
Sophie smiled awkwardly. No matter how many times Peter said he was ok with her not being able to have kids, she just wasn't sure that was true. The conversation lulled after that until they arrived at the resturant.
"We both going in?" Peter asked as he started to climb from the car.
"Yea." Sophie said, "But lets get it to go."
Peter nodded and the two headed inside. "Hey Annie." He said as they approached the counter.
"You guys getting food?" Annie asked.
"Yea, to go." Peter said.
"Hey Sophie. Peter." Curtis said as he walked back up to the counter. "Did everything work out with that boy that was missing?" He asked Sophie as Peter ordered.
Sophie sighed. "Things are complicated, but since when aren't they at Horizon?"
"You guys have had quite the year so far." Curtis commented. "With the suicide of that girl's father..."
"Shelby." Sophie interrupted.
"Shelby?" He asked.
"Yea, that's the girl."
"Isn't she the one that ran away after that?"
"Yea." Sophie said. "That's Shelby for you. But she's doing much better now."
"Good to hear." Curtis said with a smile.
"What's good to hear?" Peter asked joining the conversation.
"That Shelby is doing better." Curtis said. "After her father's suicide I figured she'd have a hard time."
"She did." Peter said. "But she's doing better now."
"That's what Sophie was telling me." Curtis said.
"Who's that with Roger?" Curtis and Peter both turned to look in the direction that Sophie was looking when she asked the question. "Isn't that one of the doctor's that works over where Shelby has treatment?"
"Yea." Peter said with a slight smile. Then he turned serious. "I wonder if that's why he doesn't want to be a counselor - because he's seeing someone."
"They didn't come together." Annie said walking over with the order.
"They didn't?" Peter asked.
"No. Apparently they met this morning, she came in to get take out and so did he. They ran across each other and decided to have dinner."
"Way to go Roger." Peter said looking at the two conversing across the room "What?" He asked when he turned back around and was recieving dirty looks from both woman.
Neither said anything. "We should probably be going Peter." Sophie said.
"Yea." Peter said picking up the food. "Bye Curtis. Thanks Annie."
"No problem Peter." Annie said. "Bye."
"Bye." Curtis called after them.
"When did you offer Roger a position?" Sophie asked, suddenly feeling a little out of the loop.
"Just this afternoon when Eric showed up. I was thinking that it might be easier to hirer on someone to do his job then to find a counselor with all the qualifications and skills that he has."
Sophie nodded. "He does do a good job." She said as they climbed into the car. "I think he could be a real benefit to the students."
"Only problem is," Peter said climbing in and handing the order across the seat to Sophie, "He's not sure he can do it."
"Roger? He could do it. If that's what he wants."
"I'm not sure it is Soph. But I only asked him today, so he has time to think about it."
Sophie nodded as Peter started the car and they headed home.
Early the next morning, Eric awoke to find the other guys gone. "Second day here and it's going to be about as great as the first." He mumbled, climbing out of bed.
"What did you say?" David asked walking into the room from the bathroom.
Eric threw David a dirty look and turned away. David walked over to his bed and began to go through some school papers. He then stopped and turned back to Eric. "You know what Star," David said his voice steady. "The other cliffhangers and I are going to get into a lot of trouble because of you."
Eric turned and glared at David. For an hour after lights out the night before he had listened to David practically grovel, which Eric had enjoyed, about how sorry he was and why Eric should give them one more chance and how they would all be in a lot of trouble if Eric didn't forgive them. "You left me in the woods, remember?"
"You hit me." David said pointing out the purplish black bruise that covered the right side of his face almost entirely.
Eric shrugged. "I was mad."
"And you had every right to be." David said. He knew now how wrong he had been the day before. So did the other cliffhangers. They really hadn't given Eric a chance. "But you got me back, you hit me. The other cliffhangers didn't know that I was going to do it. And no they didn't turn me in, but we all make mistakes. We are sorry that it happened." David paused and slung his back pack over his shoulders. "I guess I'm trying to say that we'd like another chance. I know we don't deserve one, but we'd like one." When Eric didn't respond, David turned and headed out. "See ya."
Eric watched as David went thinking about everything that had happened. He then grabbed his cloths and headed to the bathroom.
The Cliffhangers minus Eric sat at a table in the cafeteria eating breakfast. "Guess this is our last meal together." Juliette said looking at Auggie. "I wish we could get him to accept our apology."
"Why because we were caught, or because we were wrong?" Daisy asked.
"Because we screwed up." Juliette said sincerly. "We shouldn't have done that. Peter was right we didn't give him a chance."
The others nodded.
"You're right, you didn't." Sophie said as she and Peter walked up.
"I see Eric isn't here." Peter asked looking around the table. "Did he not accept your apology?"
The cliffhangers all looked at each other and David spoke up, "We went to him and apologized, but he said..."
"That I would be running late." Eric said walking up to their table as though nothing was wrong. "Thanks for remembering David." The Cliffhangers stared at Eric in astonishment.
"So they apologized and you guys worked things out?" Sophie asked, also surprised.
"Yea." Eric said smiling up at Sophie. "We made an agreement - they would get me a map and I would consider myself only slightly above them." He said, but then he smiled.
"That's really not all that funny." David said giving a mock angry face.
"Well neither or you." Eric said with a laugh. The other Cliffhangers laughed too, although they weren't sure exactly how this had happened.
"Looks, like David has met his match." Ezra said.
Peter and Sophie walked to the other side of the cafeteria and watched the newest Cliffhanger being part of the group.
"Why do I think that wasn't quite what the old Cliffhangers were expecting?" Sophie asked.
"Because I think Eric decided at the last minute to give them another chance." He took a deep breath. "Maybe he'll do the same for me."
"I'm sure he will." Sophie said with confidence.
"There are still a lot of things we have to figure out about him." Peter said after a moment.
"I know." Sophie said. "But they are past the hard part now. He's one of them."
A FALLEN STAR
"Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again."
-Dag Hammarskjöld
A little while later Shelby entered the lodge. "Hey guys. Peter tell you guys the good news?" She asked sarcastically.
"What good news?" Juliette asked.
"We're getting a new member." Shelby said as she slid into a chair near the others.
"A new cliffhanger? Haven't we had enough changes lately?" David asked.
"That's what I said." Shelby admonished.
"So we're getting a new cliffhanger." Daisy said. "That should be fun."
"I think we should stay the way we are." Juliette slightly whined. "We have a good group going here."
"Yea, a new member will only throw off our dynamics." Ezra said.
"You guys can't be serious?" Shelby asked.
"Well, a new member will throw off our dynamics but it doesn't have to be a bad thing." Scott said.
"Yea, new blood." Daisy said raising her eyebrows with incinuation.
"Someone else to pick on." David said. "Other then Ezzrrrraaaa."
"Shut up, Davey." Ezra said. "Maybe a new member will kick your butt." Suddenly he perked up a little. "Hey, maybe it's not such a bad idea."
"Ha Ha." David said throwing Ezra a look.
"I hope it's a girl." Juliette practically squealed.
"No one's having a baby, Princess. It's just a new member." Shelby said and everyone laughed.
"I just meant a girl would even things out." Juliette defended herself.
Shelby was about to respond, when Sophie walked in.
"Hey, guys." Sophie said walkingover. "You guys will be getting a new member today so I thought we'd have group before he shows up."
"So much for a girl." David said setting people off with laughter again.
Sophie looked around. "What's the joke?"
"Juliette said, she hoped it was a girl, kind of like it was a new born baby not a new member." Scott explained, but when Sophie didn't laugh or even smile, he said, "I guess it was a geographical joke - had to be there to hear it."
"Yea." Sophie said quietly. She took a deep breath and then smiled brightly. "I guess we should start group."
The cliffhangers noticed the change in mood in Sophie, but no one said anything as they quieted down and began group.
"This is for the best Eric." Mrs. Jackson said from the front seat of the car.
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever mom. This school is for a bunch of rejects."
"I guess that makes you a reject then son, because you're going there." Mr. Jackson said giving his son a look. Eric rolled his eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me." He said turning and giving Eric a stern look. "Maybe they can teach you some respect at this school."
"Respect?" Eric asked. "It's not military school."
"Well had they had an opening for you, that's where you'd be." His father said pointedly.
"Mom never would have let you send me there, isn't that right mom?" Eric said flashing his sweetest smile at his mother.
"I don't know why your always trying to pit us against each other Eric." His mother said. "Your father and I make these decisions together."
"Yea, you two make all your decisions together." Eric muttered under his breath.
"What did you say Eric?" His mother asked sweetly.
"Nothing." Eric said giving her a look and then reaching over and sliding his sunglasses on. "Nothin at all."
Peter and Roger stood in front of the admit building.
"You sure I'm ready to do Admits on my own?" Roger asked. "I'm more used to bringing them in."
"Rog, you've been here for years." Peter said.
"But I'm not even a counselor. I substitute as one, but for all technical purposes I'm not."
Peter paused for a moment giving Roger a sidelong glance and then said, "Would you want to be one?"
Roger turned sharply. "Would I want to be a counselor?"
"Yea." Peter asked. "We're looking for counselors, you've been filling in sense the beginning of summer and you know these kids almost better then their counselors do."
"I don't know. What about someone to bring the kids in and such? I couldn't keep doing that if I'm expected to be here for the students. It's fine to do both jobs when they have a permanent counselor other then myself, but it couldn't be done all the time."
"We could hire someone that's qualified to do that." Peter said. "And we could also hire other counselors if you don't want to move up. No one's forcing you too, but you do a great job with these kids Roger. And if you want to counsel, the job is yours."
Roger nodded not sure what to say. "I'll have to think about it. I don't know if I want to make that kind of a change right now."
"Well think about it and let me know."
Roger nodded and then asked. "Are you sure I can do this admit though?"
"You'll do fine Roger." Peter assured.
"Thanks." Roger said with a nod. After a moment more he turned to Peter. "Any useful information on this kid?"
Peter took a deep breath. "His parents say he got mixed up in the wrong crowd. Their not exactly sure why, but they think it might be because his acting career ended."
Just then a car pulled into the drive way. "Guess we'll find out." Roger said to Peter, whom nodded before walking over to the car so he could greet them.
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson stepped out of the car and over to where Peter was and they introduced themselves. Eric made sure to climb out on the opposite side. He turned around mostly hidden by the car. "Guess this is home sweet home." He said sarcastically to his parents.
"Eric!" His father said sharply. "There is no need to be rude."
"I'm not being rude." Eric said walking around the car, carrying his bag. "I was simply making a statement." He said looking his father in his eyes. "After all this is going to be my new home for awhile, since you and mom want to get rid of me."
"Honey," His mother said reaching out and touching his arm. "We're not trying to get rid of you we're trying to help you."
"Whatever." He said, pulling his arm away from his mother's touch. He then turned to Peter, "Well Pete," He said raising his eyebrows arrogantly. "Shall we get started?"
Peter, somewhat suprised by the boys behavior, nodded. "Roger will take you and get you started."
"Great." Eric said sarcastically. He then turned to his parents. "Well, it was real fun being home for the few months that I was actually in the house, it was nice to see the old neighborhood again."
"Eric," His mother said pleadingly, "Don't do this."
"Do what, mom?" he asked. "Tell it like it is?"
"She means acting like a jerk." His father said glaring at him.
"Well, like father like son I guess." Eric said. Suddenly the older man reached out to grab Eric, but Peter stepped in between the two.
"You need to cool down Mr. Jackson." Peter said calmly, suprised by the older man's reaction.
"See what I have to put up with Pete." Eric said straightening his shirt. He reached down and grabbed his bag. "Have fun putting up with him mom. Now that I'm gone, he only has you left to kick around." With that he turned and walked past Peter.
"So I take it that you and your parents don't get along?" Roger asked as he sorted through Eric's stuff.
"You take it right." Eric said his arms folded in front of his chest. "But I'm sure they are gone now, so it doesn't matter."
"Out of sight out of mind." Roger said with a slight smile.
"Right." Eric said with a nod.
Roger took a deep breath. Eric seemed to be talking pretty easily. Not like most new admits. "Do you know why your at Horizon, Eric?"
Eric looked up at Roger. "I'm here because my parents decided they don't want to put up with me anymore."
Roger nodded. "Any other reason you can think of that they might have sent you here?"
Eric looked at Roger for a moment and then caught on. "Oh." He said. "You mean the drugs. I'm clean. Besides, I don't know why they would send me here for that. They would be happier if I had overdosed."
"That's not true Eric. If it were, they wouldn't have sent you here." Roger said looking the boy right in the eyes.
"Yea, whatever." Eric said turning his head and staring at the wall.
Roger picked the bag up off the floor. He'd already told Eric about the rules of Horizon. He then laid the bag on the table. "The search is over. I'm going to leave now and you can get undressed and a doctor will be in to give you a physical and to also make sure you have nothing on your body."
Eric rolled his eyes. "I'm clean." He said again.
"That's good." Roger said, before heading out the door leaving Eric by himself.
"So how are things going in here?" Peter asked Sophie. He had been standing off to the side watching the end of their group session. It seemed that they were getting along better, but he could tell Shelby and Scott were both a little sad about not being together and that Ezra wasn't happy that David and Daisy were getting so close. But overall it seemed as if the group was healing well and setting aside their differences. For a moment he wondered if he should be putting a new member in their group at all. Especially Eric Jackson. After his shoot at Horizon the year before, he wasn't a favorite of the cliffhangers. He watched as the group ended and the cliffhangers spread out a little to hangout with one another. "Did you tell them yet?" Peter asked walking over to Sophie.
"Did Sophie tell us what?" Juliette asked catching a snippit of the coversation.
Suddenly all eyes were focused on Peter. "No." Sophie said quickly. "I didn't tell them."
"Well, the member you guys are getting," Peter took a deep breath before going on, "Is someone you guys have met before."
"Someone we've met before?" Scott asked. "Like with David. Was he a student here before?"
"Well, not exactly." Peter said. "He's been on campus, but not as a student."
"I can't think of anyone." Shelby said with a shake of her.
"How long ago?" Ezra asked.
"Last year." Peter answered.
"The only guy we met last year that was on campus was David. And Isaac, but he's dead." Daisy said.
"There was someone else." Peter said rocking back and forth on his heels. "He was here with a group of visitors."
"The only visitors we had last year that I can think of were those...." Shelby's mouth dropped open and she turned in accusation to Peter. "You can't be serious?" He gave a nod and she groaned.
Everyone else looked at her questioning. "Can someone fill the rest of us in?" Ezra asked.
"You guys remember those acting jerks that did that promotional shoot last year. It's one of them. It has to be. They are the only other kids we met. Unless there from that prep school. Both are bad choices." Shelby said.
"You were right the first time Shelby. It was one of those acting je.. people." Peter caught himself, shocked that he'd almost carelessly used the phrase Shelby had. "His names Eric Jackson."
The rest of the group groaned, now understanding Shelby's distress. "Those guys were jerks Peter. How could you put him in our group?" Auggie asked.
"People can change a lot in a year." Sophie said. "Just remember he's here because he has problems just like the rest of you."
"I'm sure it's a big distress for him trying to figure out which hair gel to use." Juliette said causing the others looked at her.
"What?" She asked.
"Never heard you say anything like that before."Shelby said. "You insulted someone."
"Well, you guys might want to remember that Horizon does have rules and I hope that you treat the new admit with the respect he deserves." Sophie said.
"Of course we'll give him what he deserves." Scott said gruffly. Catching the look that Peter threw at him, he said, "I mean the respect he deserves."
"Just give him a chance." Peter said.
The discussion ended there because it was at that moment that Eric Jackson entered the lodge.
There was a long uncomfortable moment of silence in the room, when they all realized exactly who each other were. Shelby in particular was not happy. When Eric had been there the year before the two had exchanged words more than once.
Sophie could tell things were tense. "Um, why don't you guys introduce yourselves?" She asked. "Why don't you start?" She said pointing at Ezra.
"I'm Ezra." He said dully.
"Daisy."
"David."
"Auggie."
"Juliette."
"Scott."
" I'm Shelby." She said giving him a hard look.
Eric could tell they weren't happy to meet him and why he had been a bit put off at first when he realized who they were, he had hoped bygones could by bygones. Apparantly that's not the case, Eric thought. So instead of introducing himself he smiled a cocky smile, looked Shelby up and down and said,"You certainly are."
Scott threw him a dirty look. "Keep your eyes to yourself."
"They're my eyes - I can do with them what I please." He said glancing at Shelby and then glancing at Juliette and then glancing at Daisy. All three girls gave him a dirty look.
"Not if I blacken them." Auggie said just loudly enough for him to here.
"You want to try and take me." Eric asked stepping forward.
"Hey!" Peter said. "That's not appropriate behavior here Eric." He threw a glance at the cliffhangers to give them a warning.
"Whatever." Eric scoffed rolling his eyes.
"Well." Sophie interrupted realizing things were going from bad to worse, "Eric needs a buddy to show him around campus." She knew she was stating the obvious, but maybe things would lighten up with a little bit of time.
"David, why don't you show Eric around campus?" Peter said. He knew that David had never met Eric and hoped that that would be helpful in Eric getting accepted into the group.
David mumbled something, but when he caught Peter's look he said, "I'd be happy too." With a forced smile. "Let's go." David said pushing past Eric. Eric scoffed, but then turned and followed David.
Peter watched as the other cliffhangers dismissed themselves and headed off in various directions. He then turned to Sophie, "Well I think that went well, how about you?"
Sophie gave Peter a look and then turned and headed out of the lodge.
The second David was out the door he stopped and turned to Eric. "Over there are the girls cabins, and next to it is the guys cabin. We were just in the lodge, that way are the playing fields and you saw the main building when you came to campus. Tour done." David said as he finished pointing out the highlights of campus.
Eric glared at David. "You're supposed to be giving me a tour, not barely pointing things out to me."
"Well you've been on campus before." David said annoyed.
"It was almost a year ago."
"I just figured you had a good memory. After all you do spend a lot of time memorizing lines." David paused then and then shook his head, "Oh wait I'm sorry, I forgot that you were a hollywood flunky."
Eric pierced his lips together. "And I forgot that you were a societal reject. At least I made it to hollywood. You probably barely made it out of middle school."
"What's going on here?" Both boys turned at the sound of a male voice to see Peter and Sophie standing by and watching them.
"I was just about to start the grand tour." David said with a fake smile.
"Yea, right after he gave me the highlighted details from here." Eric mumbled.
Peter could sense the tension between the two and wondered how much of a problem Eric joining the group was going to be. He looked to David and said, "Make sure you show him where everything is, remember that he is going to have to be able to find his way around." Peter then faced Eric, "Just like you'll be expected to find the places so pay attention as he gives you the tour." Both boys nodded and then turned and headed off.
"Well, the next few days ought to be interesting." Sophie said.
Peter nodded. "They most certainly will be."
David walked quickly through the main part of campus, barely letting Eric keep up with him as he walked.
"And this is the woodshed." David said as he hurried past the wood shed, barely pointing to it.
"Some tour guide you are." Eric said as he tried to keep up with David.
"You have a problem with me?" David asked turning to face Eric.
"No, I just wish you'd actually show me where things are. You know that's usually what someone who's showing you around is supposed to do. Or are you too dumb to know that?"
David clenched his teeth, "You know what? Maybe you wouldn't need a tour guide if you were smart enough to figure out where everything was. I guess your just too used to the star's life and being catered to."
Eric glared at David, "You don't know a thing about my..." Eric stopped himself. "Nevermind. I don't need this." With that, Eric turned and headed away.
"So how did the admit go?" Peter asked as Roger walked into Peter's office and joined him and Sophie. The two of them had headed back here after the group session to talk about ways to try to bring the new cliffhanger into the rest of the group.
"That kid has a lot of anger." He said. "You've got your work cut out for you Sophie."
Sophie nodded. "I always do."
"So he did say something?" Peter asked still wanting to know how the boy had acted once away from his parents.
"He is really mad at his parents. Most new admits are though, but from what we witnessed outside I think it's obvious that him and his father have some things to deal with. He talks pretty easily about some things, but there is still a lot that he doesn't speak of. And his bag search was clean." Roger said. "What did his parents say?"
Peter took a deep breath. "His father apologized for his display of anger and said that that's the first time it's happened. He says Eric intentionally tries to provoke him. His wife stood by his side and agreed with everything he said."
"That didn't look like the first time to me." Roger said looking at Peter.
"It didn't sound like the first time either. Before Eric walked away he said some thing to his mom about watching out, because now that he's gone, she's the only one he has to kick around."
"Wow." Sophie said. "Do you think abuse is involved?"
"I think it's highly likely considering the boys behavior towards his parents and the way his parents acted." Peter said. "But it's too early to tell."
Sophie nodded. "Well at least I have an idea of what I'm working with. Normally I go in knowing nothing."
"Remember to not assume, Sophie. We won't know anything for sure unless he tells us." Peter said. "So be careful about what you say."
"How did the tour go?" Daisy asked as David walked over to where she was sitting in the lodge.
"That guy is such a jerk." David muttered angrily.
"Well I could have told you that." Daisy said as she looked up from the homework that she was working on. It was then that she noticed how angry David was. Her eyes narrowed. "You ok?"
"Yea." David said with a short nod. "It's just that that guy really gets on my nerves."
Daisy watched him for a moment. She noticed that he was anxious. Clenching and unclenching his fists. His body almost shaking. "David, are you ok?" She asked concerned. She had never seen him like this before.
"Yea, yea." He muttered looking at her. "I'm just going to get out of here now. Take a walk or something."
He turned to go and Daisy called his name. "Do you want me to go with you?" She asked. David shook his head and quickly headed off.
A while later Scott walked over to where Daisy, who had been joined by Shelby a few moments earlier, was sitting at the table in the middle of campus. "What's up with David? He's going psycho on that punching bag in the shed."
"Eric." Daisy and Shelby both said together.
"What a jerk." Scott said. "Doesn't that kid know how to get along with anybody?"
"What kid?" Peter asked walking up behind them.
"Eric." Scott said with disgust.
"He causing problems?"
"He pissed David off." Scott said. "He's in there beating the crap out of your punching bag, so that he doesn't kill him."
"That so?" Peter asked, glad that David was finally showing some control, but not happy that it was because of Eric.
"So where is Eric?"
"Don't know." Scott said. "David gave him the tour. Haven't seen him sense."
Peter walked into the shed to find David throwing hard punches. He was covered in sweat and he was breathing hard as he repeatedly punched the bag fast and furiously.
"You seen Eric?" Peter asked. when he didn't recieve an answer he walked over closer to where David was. Speaking a slight bit louder, he asked again, "David, have you seen Eric?"
David still didn't seem to hear Peter. His anger not subsiding as he furiously beat his fists hard against the punching bag, muttering soft curses as he did so.
Peter realized that David was clearly upset about something. Something that was far more than Eric.
"David!" Peter snapped, but the teens attention was still on pulverizing the bag.
Taking a dangerous chance, Peter stepped forward and quickly grabbed David's swinging arms. When the boy began to shove him away. Peter tightened his group and said, "It's ok David, it's just me, Peter. It's ok, your safe here."
Just as suddenly as the rage had kicked in, it left. David stopped moving, freezing in Peter's arms when he realized where he was.
"You ok David?" Peter asked relaxing his grip only slightly.
"Yea. I'm fine." David murmered breathing hard. "You want to let go of me?"
Peter paused for a moment trying to think of the best course of action. "Yea." He said releasing his grip on David, but keeping himself between the only exit and David.
David took several steps forward finally free of the restraining grip. Not knowing what else to do, he walked to the table against the wall and began to take the boxing gloves that he was wearing off.
"You want to talk about it?" Peter asked gently.
David took a deep breath trying to slow his breathing. "The new guy gets on my nerves. There's not much more to tell."
Peter took a step forward walking around the edge of the punching bag. "I've had people get on my nerves before, but I've never reacted like that."
"Maybe that's because your not me!" David snapped, turning to Peter. Immediatly after saying it he dropped his head. "Sorry." He apologized.
Peter nodded, keeping his body language calm and his voice gentle. "I wasn't assuming, David, I was just trying to figure out what made you so upset."
David turned away from Peter for a moment. "The kid called me dumb."
Peter was glad David wasn't looking at him or else he would have seen the suprise on his face. Peter quickly masked it and then said, "I thought you didn't care what others thought about you?"
David had made the comment before in a private session between the two. Peter had always figured that David wasn't one to give much thought to other people, but lately Peter had been seeing a whole new side of the teen. Including the fact that he actually did care about others and what they thought.
"Well I lied, alright?" David snapped. "He called me dumb." The teen's voice then grew quiet. So much so that Peter almost didn't here him as he said, "He's probably right, so it's no big deal. You should just go find him and finish the tour yourself."
"You are not stupid David." Peter said firmly.
David looked up suprised that Peter had heard the coment, but immediatly the suprise was gone and replaced by a protest, "Yea, not stupid at all, that's why my...." David stopped just as quickly as he had started. He shook his head. He wasn't going to say that, not here - not now.
"That's why your what... David?" Peter pushed gently.
"Nothing." David said turning away.
"You said 'that's why my...' Finish the statement David." Peter pushed again.
"No!" David snapped. "It's nothing alright, just let it go." David started to make his way past Peter, but Peter grabbed the boy's arm and going on a gut feeling pulled the boy close to him in a tight hug.
David started to fight him, but realizing he wasn't going to get away gave up the fight and welcomed the embrace.
"You are not stupid David." Peter said again.
"Then why doesn't anybody want me?" The question was out before David realized what he was saying.
Peter gripped the boy tighter. "You are wanted, David. Somebody will always want you."
David nodded skeptically and Peter relinquished some of his hold. "Why don't you tell me why you're feeling this way and maybe the two of us can work some of this out?"
David nodded, but didn't look at Peter.
Peter reached out and forced David to turn to look him in the eye. "It's ok to feel something when somebody else calls you a bad name. Your a good kid David and you are not stupid." Peter emphasized.
David gave another nod; this time with a bit more believability to it.
A short while later Peter walked slowly down the path towards the docks. For some reason he had a feeling that that was where Eric was. As he neared the docks he could see a lone figure sitting with their feet dangling off the edge. Peter didn't say anything, he just walked over and sat down next to the teen.
"You been talking to David?" The question came after a moment of silence.
"Yes." Peter said calmly. "You upset him with what you said."
"What about what he said to me?" Eric asked. Peter looked at Eric suprised for a moment. Eric shook his head. "Should have known he wouldn't mention that. You know, he blasts me for having the so called perfect life and freaks out because I call him stupid, what about the fact that he called me stuck up?"
"Neither of you should have called the other anything." Peter said neutrally. "Horizon has rules."
Eric shook his head. "'Horizon has rules, Horizons a safe place, blah, blah, blah," Eric mocked him. "I keep hearing that, but I have yet to see it."
"You've been here less then two hours Eric, give it a shot."
"Kind of like they gave me a shot?"
"Eric, they were suprised to see you. Things didn't go well when you were here last time, but trust me, things will get easier, they just have to get to know you better."
The young man didn't say anything for a moment. "I just thought this place was going to be different." He muttered.
"What was that?" Peter asked having not heard what the boy said.
Eric started to repeat what he said, but then thought twice. He had come here to start over. To get away from his parents and family and his old life. Maybe he could still make this work. "I said, I'll give it another try."
"Good." Peter said, then he added, "And you need to apologize to David."
"Only if he apologizes to me." Eric said quickly.
"That seems fair." Peter said. After a moment he asked, "Were you able to finish the tour?"
"I was barely able to start the tour." Eric said with a slight smile.
Peter smiled too. "Well, after you and David work things out, I'll have him finish showing you around, it will be a good way for the two of you to get to know each other."
Eric looked at Peter skeptically for a moment. He had a feeling he and David were not going to get along any time soon, but maybe the man before him was right. Maybe they all had just gotten off on the wrong foot. Besides he hadn't exactly been friendly to them when he showed up. "Ok." Eric said with a nod and a smile and he and Peter stood up and headed off to start his tour.
Peter and Eric were headed to find David when he spotted Sophie heading towards the football field. "Hey Sophie!" Peter called, causing his fiance to turn and walk over to him.
"Hey Peter," She said with a smile. "Hey Eric. How are you guys doing?" Peter had told Sophie about what had happened with David before he'd gone in search of Eric.
"We're good." Peter said.
"Good." Sophie said. She glanced over her shoulder to where Roger and the Ridge Runners were heading towards the football field. "I should probably go, the Ridge Runners have challenged the Cliffhangers to a football game. I've already told Roger we can do it."
"Football?" Eric asked suddenly.
"Yea, Eric." Sophie said, "Why do you play?"
"A little. We played last year when I was here."
"That's right." Peter said knowingly. "The underground game between the actors and the students."
"Yea, sorry about that." Eric said with an embarressed smile, knowing that the students hadn't been supposed to play that game.
"Well this game is allowed, but it isn't tackle." Sophie said with a friendly smile.
"Can I play?" Eric asked.
Peter looked at Sophie, suprised that the boy actually wanted to participate, but hadn't he just told the boy he needed to give the Cliffhangers a second try. "The tour can wait till after the game, besides it might assist with some team work."
Peter, Sophie and Eric walked to the field where the cliffhangers and ridge runners were waiting.
"Well look what we have here?" Ezra said nodding his head in the direction of where the two adults and Eric was. The cliffhangers stopped tossing the football around and turned to look in the direction indicated.
"The star lives." David said with sarcasm and slight anger.
"Don't let him get to ya, David." Auggie said as he and the others all walked over forming a group. "Hollywoods not worth it."
"Hey guys." Peter said as he, Sophie and Eric joined the group. He could feel the tension as the old Cliffhangers stood across from there new member. "Well, it's a bit unusual for the first day, but Eric asked if he could join the football game and I agreed. I thought it might give you all a chance to get to know each other a little better. Might also help with your teamwork skills."
"The last time someone wanted to participate on their first day they turned out to be an undercover reporter." Shelby said looking at Peter.
"You guys have met Eric before, he's not an undercover reporter."
"No, he's just a bad actor." Scott said under his breath, causing the other Cliffhangers to laugh.
"What was that Scott?" Peter asked, he had heard the comment and from the look on Eric's face knew he had too.
"Just commenting on Eric's acting skills." Scott said with a not so innocent smile.
"Or lack thereof." Daisy added.
"That's enough you guys." Sophie reprimanded. "Now I think you owe Eric an apology."
When no one said anything, Peter jumped in, "You guys can apologize or you can spend the rest of the day working on some odd jobs that I need done."
The Cliffhangers looked at each other. They wanted to play, they just didn't want to play with someone who thought he was better then everyone. "Come on you guys," Sophie said, "Don't you want to play?"
The Cliffhangers looked to their feet and before anyone could say anthing else, Roger came jogging over. "You guys ready to play?" He asked.
"Actually I'm not sure the cliffhangers are up to it." Peter said, looking to Sophie. "I think they may have some work to do."
"What?" Juliette asked. "I didn't say anything."
"One down all down remember?" Auggie said looking to Juliette.
"That's unfair. I wanted to play some football." She whined.
"Jules wants to play football?" Shelby asked with a smile. "Wow, things have changed."
Everyone but Eric smiled at the comment and then things grew quiet.
"So are the Ciffhangers playing?" Roger asked after a moment.
Peter looked to Scott raising his eyebrows. Scott had always been the undesignated leader of the group and if they were going to apologize it would be led by him.
"Fine." Scott growled shaking his head. "I'm sorry."
"Yea, sorry." The other Cliffhangers broke in with their apologies.
"Looks like they will be playing." Peter said turning to Scott. "And Eric will be joining them."
Roger nodded smiling at Eric. "You play football?"
"A little." Eric said with a slight attitude. He was still upset about the Cliffhangers lack of acceptance.
"Well then," Roger said ignoring the attitude and tossed the ball to Eric, who caught it easily. "Go play." With that Roger jogged over to where the Ridge Runners were.
"David, Eric." Peter called as the Cliffhangers started to take the field. They both turned and Peter motioned for them to join him.
"Yea Peter?" David asked once the two had joined him.
"I think that you and Eric both owe each other an apology for what was siad earlier on the tour."
"I really can't think of anything I need to apologize for." David said. "He called me dumb."
"You called me stuck up."
"Doesn't matter." Peter said. "I want you both to apologize."
They both glared at one another for a moment. "Fine," David said. "I'm sorry your stuck up."
"And I'm sorry that your dumb." Eric said.
Peter started to say something to the sarcastic apologies, but both boys turned and headed for the football field.
"So much for the idea of teamwork." Sophie said.
The lack of teamwork continued for the Cliffhangers. For one, if they could keep the ball away from Eric, they did, mostly leaving him standing off to the side on his own, unless they were "accidentally" tagging him to hard. Eric had just taking his fifth "tag" of the game, when he finally said something.
"What is up with you?" Eric shouted as he pushed himself up from the ground.
"Sorry Hollywood, lost my footing." David said with a smirk.
"Yea right." Eric spat.
"Do we have a problem here?" Roger, who was reffing the game asked, coming over.
"No problem." David said quickly.
Eric shook his head. "No problem at all."
Heading back to the line, Eric decided he'd had enough. So when Scott threw the ball, Eric ran across the field shoving the others out of the way and jumping and catching the ball.
"What was that about?" Scott asked harshly walking over to Eric. "That ball was meant for David."
"Yea, well the ball was never going to be meant for me."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Daisy asked.
"If you didn't want me playing you should have told me."
"We did." David said stepping over.
Eric shook his head. He didn't belong here.
"What's going on?" Roger asked coming over to the group; Peter not far behind him.
"Hollywood here, doesn't know how to play as a team." Auggie said.
"I don't know how to play as a team?" Eric asked shocked.
"That's what he said." Jules answered in Auggie's defense.
"What's the problem?" Peter asked as he and Sophie joined the others.
"Eric doesn't know how to let anyone else play the game." Shelby said.
"Yea," Daisy added. "Apparently he always has to be a star."
"I don't need this." Eric snapped as he threw the ball angrily. He then turned to walk away, but was stopped when he heard a startled cry. Turning back around he saw the others moving quickly towards Daisy who was doubled over.
"You ok Daisy?" Sophie asked concerned from where she stood with one hand on Daisy's shoulder, the other on her arm.
"Fine." Daisy gasped out. "It was - - - un - - -expected."
Eric realized then that Daisy had been hit with the football he had thrown.
"You did that on purpose!" Ezra snapped walking purposefully over to Eric. The others turned never having seen Ezra angry like this.
"I..I...I...I'm sorry." Eric stammered. "I didn't see her... I swear."
"Yea, right." Ezra snapped. "Maybe if you had been paying attention to the rest of your team it wouldn't have been a problem."
"Look, I didn't mean...." Eric's voice trailed off as he saw the others looking at him, nothing that he said would matter - just like at home.
Peter seeing that trouble was coming turned to David, "Take Eric and finish the tour." It was said in a tone that could not be denied.
David stood, walked over and taking Eric's arm pulled him into a direction away from the group. "Come on Star, let's make this fast so that I can help Daisy."
"Let go of me." Eric said jerking his arm back.
David turned. "You should be glad I'm not pounding your face into the ground right now after what you did."
"Well what's stopping you?" Eric asked pushing his sleeves up and preparing to take David on.
"I can't afford to get into anymore fights." David said.
"Oh, well you poor thing." Eric said as he headed forward ahead of David.
"But I can still get back at you." David said softly as an evil smile graced his lips. "Hey, Eric, lets head out to the ropes course."
"The rope course is this way." David said leading Eric through the woods.
"Don't you think we should be on the path?" Eric asked.
"Who's been going here longer?" David asked.
"You know, if I we're you, I wouldn't brag about that sort of thing." Eric said.
David just shrugged, the wicked smile still on his lips. He suddenly stopped. "The ropes course is just through those trees there." He said. 'Why don't you go ahead and I'll meet up with you?"
"What are you going to do?" Eric asked.
"Go to the bathroom." David said. "Sometimes you just gotta go."
Eric shrugged. "Whatever man. I'll just keep walking."
David nodded and watched as Eric walked several feet past him. David then began to take slow quiet steps backward. When David felt he was far enough away, he turned and began to run back towards campus.
"Hey, Dave." Eric called turning to look over his shoulder, "I think your a little lost because there is no ropes..." Eric stopped talking and nodded slightly as he realized what had just happened. "We'll this is great." He says to himself as he stands with his hands on his hips looking around the woods.
David emerged onto campus about an hour later, looking around to make sure no one had seen him come out of the woods alone. He headed across campus and stopped at the steps leading to the girls dorm. Scott, Shelby, Ezra, Auggie and Juliette all sat waiting on Daisy.
"How's Daisy?" David asked as he approached.
Shelby looked up from where she sat on the steps. "The nurse is in with her now. She had some swelling and bruising on her stomach. Sophie doesn't think it was anything serious, but they thought it should be checked just in case."
David nodded. "I guess that's good." He said taking a seat on the steps.
They all sat in silence for a few moments waiting until Shelby finally broke the silence by asking, "So where's your 'buddy'?" Shelby asked as David walked up to the girls dorm.
David couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. "Lets just say he decided to... take a walk."
"What did you do to him?" Juliette asked with slight astonishment.
David looked around, trying to maintain a level of innocence. "Nothing."
"Come on David." Auggie said. "That look doesn't sat nothing."
"I'm not saying anything, but" David said with a smile, "I'm sure he'll be back, by say dinner."
"David, I don't know what you did, but I wish I had thought of it first." Scott said with a smile.
Eric stood in the woods for several minutes trying to get his bearings. "Well, if I wanted out, this would be the perfect way." He said to himself. "But I don't want out. My only other option is home and I'm not going back there." He looked over and thought he recognized a fallen tree. "Guess I'll go this way." He said and then began to walk down the path.
Peter walked up to Scott and Shelby who were studying in the lodge. It had been hours sense the incident on the football field and Peter hadn't seen Eric or David since. "Have either of you guys seen David or Eric?" Peter asked.
Scott and Shelby looked at each other for a moment. "David's in his dorm, but I don't know where Eric is." Scott said honestly.
Peter nodded and turned to head to the boy's dorm. That's odd, he thought, I wonder where Eric is.
Peter entered the boys dorm and found David sitting on his bed reading a book.
"David, do you know where Eric is?"
"I haven't seen him since I finished the tour of campus." David said. "Not that I'm complaining about that."
"David." Peter said with warning.
"What I said I wasn't complaining."
"It's the way you said it David." Peter walked over and sat on the bed across from David's. "You guys have problems during the tour?"
David sat up. "He still think's he's better then us Peter." David says. "The Cliffhangers don't need someone like that around."
"We'll he's staying in your group, so you guys are going to have to learn to live with him. Which means the two of you will have to settle your differences." Peter paused. "He didn't hit Daisy with the football because the two of you don't get along. You know that right?"
"If your asking if I think that Daisy being hurt was my fault, then I would tell you that the thought had crossed my mind, but I know it's not."
"Good." Peter said with a smile. "Now if the two of you can get to know each other, maybe you'll find that you have something in common."
David nodded uncommittedly and stood heading for the bathroom. "First you have to find him." He muttered under his breath, low enough so that Peter didn't hear him.
"David." Peter said, before David walked completely away.
"Yea?" David asked.
"Where and when was the last time you saw Eric?"
"Oh, we we're going to the ropes course and I had to go to the bathroom, but Eric wanted to see it, so he kept going. And that was around three o'clock this afternoon." David said.
"Thanks." Peter said and headed out of the dorm. He headed to the lodge and found Sophie and Roger. "I think Eric might have ran."
"Really?" Roger asked suprised. "He didn't seem like the type."
"I thought the same thing, but no one has seen him for several hours and David said the last time he saw him was near the ropes course." Peter said.
"So what do you want us to do?" Sophie asked concerned.
"Well, he has three, maybe four, hours on us, so I doubt he's in town, but I'll call Curtis and have him keep an eye out. Right now I think we should search the campus and if we don't find him, then we'll gather the groups and go out looking for him." Peter said. "We need to hurry though, we'll lose the light in about two hours."
Roger and Sophie nodded and then the three left each other to go searching.
Eric stopped walking. He had been walking for hours and was now more lost then when he started. "I think I'd rather be with my dad then be here." He mumbled to himself. "When I get back, I'm going to get that kid." He said. "If I get back." Eric looked up at the sun and tried to navigate where he was. "Well that won't work, I never learned how to read the sun. After all," He ranted to himself, "I'm just an actor, what the hell would I know? It's not like I've ever been in the woods before!" He said his voice getting louder and louder until finally he was screaming. "It's not like I am dressed for this!" He looks at his cloths. "It's not like I woke up this morning thinking I'm going to get lost in the woods for hours on end because some dumb jerk decided to screw me over!' He screamed. "THIS PLACE SUCKS!"
Peter, Roger and Sophie met back up in the middle of campus. "There's no sign of him." Sophie said. "He's been here for less then a day and he's already managed to vanish."
"Looks like we're going to have to send out search parties." Peter said. "We'll take the Cliffhangers, Ridge Runners and the Wind Dancers. We meet back here in ten minutes and I'll give directions then."
Eric walked through the woods. "I was a fool to think that coming here would be better then military school. At least there I would be part of something." He said to himself. He shook his head. "I'm going to so get that punk when I get back." He muttered to himself as he walked. "I wish I had water." Even though it was the beginning of December and cool out, he was warm. The temperature was higher then usual and there was no snow, and he was sweating from the walking. He wasn't used to hiking through the forest.
Suddenly Eric spotted a building. "I made it." He said. A smile spread across his lips. "I'm going to get that kid."
Peter, Sophie, Roger and the three groups stood in the center of campus preparing to start searching. The Cliffhangers, minus Daisy, who was in her dorm resting, stood off to one side talking.
"David, maybe you should tell Peter about what you did." Juliette said nervously.
David shook his head. "I'm sure he's fine." He said, but David didn't look at all convinced about it.
"All right guys we'll be breaking up into groups of two or three. Stay within shouting distance of the groups around you." Peter said. "And if you see anything let us know."
"I see something." Someone from inside the mass of people called out.
Peter was about to tell them all that this was a serious matter, when someone else called out. Peter turned to see what they we're talking about and saw Eric wondering out of the woods and onto campus, looking tired and sweaty. "You guys are dismissed." Peter said and he and Sophie handed Roger their packs and headed over to talk to Eric.
"We were just getting ready to send out a search party." Peter said evenly walking up to him.
"Yea, well, it's not necessary, I'm here now." Eric said angrily as he wiped sweat off of his face.
"Eric, wondering off into the woods on your own is not a good idea." Sophie said. "A million things could happen: you could get hurt or lost."
"Yea, tell me about it." Eric said sarcastically, half listening to what Sophie was saying, but his eyes were on the group of Cliffhangers who we're standing in the middle of campus watching him and the two adults.
"Eric." Sophie said. "Are you listening?"
"I have something I need to take care of." Eric said trying to walk past them.
"But not before we take care of this." Peter said taking the boy by the arm.
"Let go of me." Eric said throwing Peter a look.
Peter loosened his grip, but didn't let go. "Horizon has rules, Eric. They exist to protect you and the other's around you. You can't just go wandering off."
"I didn't." Eric said gruffly glaring at Peter.
"Eric, you've been missing for hours and..." Sophie said.
"No, I've been lost for hours." Eric said pointedly. "And maybe had you asked where I had been when I came back onto campus you would have known that."
Peter was surprised by the boys attitude, but more surprised by the fact that Eric seemed to be telling him the truth that he had been lost. Which meant Peter had just blown his first trial of trust with this kid. "Eric, I'm sorry." Peter apologized.
"Apology not accepted." Eric said, pulling his arm from Peter's grip and walking away. He then walked across campus towards the other Cliffhangers, who watched him coming, wondering what he was going to do.
Eric walked right up to David. Without a word, he threw a right cross, hitting David squarely in the jaw and also knocking him straight to the ground. Auggie and Scott normally would have jumped in as defense, but they we're both shocked by Eric's actions. Eric then turned and began to walk away, but David got up and ran after him. He was about to jump on him, when Peter grabbed David, and Roger grabbed Eric.
"You guys want to tell me what's going on here?" Peter asked angrily looking between the two boys.
"I'm sorry." Eric said breathing hard. "No wait, I'm not sorry I hit him, he deserved it."
"No one deserves to be hit." Roger said seriously still holding onto Eric.
"Let go of me." Eric said pulling at Roger's hold.
"Not until we know what's going on." Peter said.
"Well then why don't you ask Dave." Eric spat.
"The names David." He said trying to get into his face, but Peter held him back.
"David do you know what he's talking about?" Peter asked.
"Why would I know? It's not like I'm the Star's keeper."
"You jerk!" Eric shouted lunging forward.
"Eric why don't you tell us what happened." Roger said.
"Nothing." Eric said disgusted. "Nothing happened." With that Eric was half released from Roger's grip, half pulled himself from the grip, and walked away.
"David?" Peter questioned turning to face him.
"Don't ask me." David said. "The Star's just mad because he's fallen from Hollywood's grace." With that David turned and headed back to the other Cliffhangers.
Peter walked around campus and found Eric sitting on the docks by himself. It had been several hours since he's come back onto campus, but Peter had wanted to give him time to calm down before trying to talk to him.
"Hey." Peter said gently.
"Hey." Eric replied, not taking his eyes off of the stars.
"You missed dinner."
"Are you on my back for a reason?" Eric snapped.
"I'm here to help you." Peter said. "Sometimes that means getting on your back." He said honestly.
"Well I don't want your help."
"Eric, I don't know what happened today, but Sophie and I and all of the other counselors are always here to listen."
"Like you listened so well this afternoon?" Eric asked his voice crisp.
"Ok." Peter said sitting down next to him. "I deserved that, but I did apologize."
"And I said it wasn't good enough."
"Eric you might realize this isn't such a bad place to be if you give it a chance."
"Give it a chance? Give it a chance?" He asked incredoulsy jumping to his feet. "All I wanted was to give this place a chance."
"Sophie and I have seen you and the Cliffhangers arguing all day."
"Oh, and automatically you think it's the fault of the new guy. Did you ever think maybe it was your precious students? Why don't you try going to them and asking them to tell you honestly about this afternoon and then maybe you'll realize that this isn't my fault." With that Eric walked away, leaving Peter with a sinking feeling that he had just failed a student.
The Cliffhangers, minus Eric, sat in the lodge shortly after Peter's conversation with Eric. Peter and Sophie stood before them.
"All right cliffhangers." Sophie said. "Peter and I want to talk to you about your group."
"You mean lack of group." Daisy said sarcastically.
"Yea," Shelby said. "It would have been nice if Eric would have shown up."
"Eric didn't know about this meeting." Peter said.
"Why not?" Scott asked. "Isn't he a Cliffhanger?"
Peter nodded. "He's supposed to be. But he's not being treated like one."
"Maybe because he doesn't act like one." David said.
"Or maybe because you guys don't treat him like one?" Peter said.
The Cliffhangers looked at each other. "He thinks he's better then us." Juliette said.
"But he's not." Peter said. "Eric is here because he has problems, just like all of you do."
"He doesn't act like he does." Shelby said. "He acts like an arrogant jerk."
"Shelby, there are a lot of people here who act like they don't have problems." Peter said pointedly. "Look, Eric seems to think that you guys aren't giving him a fair chance and he seems to think it has something to do with his disapperance this afternoon."
The Cliffhangers all occupied themselves looking at other things.
Sophie looked at them. "We just want to know what happened this afternoon. Honestly." She said looking at all of them.
"You guys either tell us or else you guys will be receiving extra work until we do find out what really happened." Peter said when no one responded after several moments.
The Cliffhangers all turned and looked at David. "Why are you all looking at me?"
"David, your name seems to be being brought up an awful lot. Why don't you tell us what happened?" Peter said.
"I told you I don't know anything."
"I know you did." Peter said. "But I think you do."
David looked at the floor. "Fine." He said begrudgingly. "Eric was acting like a jerk and he hurt Daisy." He said in his defense. "So I thought it would be funny to play a joke on him, so I took him to the ropes course, only I didn't really take him there, I took him into the woods and then I left him there."
"You did what?" Peter asked shocked.
"I thought he would find his way back and he did. It just took longer then I expected. It was really just to teach him that he shouldn't mess with us." David said defensively.
"Do you guys not remember what it's like when you first get here?" Sophie said. "It can be scary. You're in a new place, you're dealing with new things and you're life is already off track. And you guys decided to take him into the woods and leave him."
"We didn't do it." Shelby said, "David went off on his own on this one."
"But you guys knew about it?" Peter said, from the Cliffhangers looking away Peter could tell they had. "You guys I'm really dissapointed in you. You are above this." He shook his head. "You never gave Eric a chance and because of that it's going to be harder for him to open up to anyone at this school." The Cliffhangers hung there heads. "You guys are going to keep getting new members, you are not going to be the same seven people always. I know your a tight knit group, but you can't exclude people. That's not what your taught to do here." The cliffhangers nodded. "You guys are going to get one chance to redeem yourselfs and if you don't you'll all be on shuns."
"What do we have to do?" Scott asked.
"You have to apologize to Eric and convince him that you want him to be part of the group." Sophie said.
"But that'll be impossible." Juliette whined.
"It's shuns or apologize." Peter said. "You guys know what the right thing to do is." With that Peter and Sophie turned and headed out of the lodge. "Oh, and you guys have until breakfast to fix this." With that they left.
"How are we going to convince him by tomorrow morning?" Juliette asked with a sigh.
"Maybe it's an impossible task." Daisy said.
"It's not impossible guys." Auggie said. "But I think we're going to have to start by apologizing. And then possible begging."
"I don't beg." Shelby says she looks around the group. "I don't beg - anymore."
"So we apologize," Ezra said, "But I don't think that will be enough. He barely knows us and we screwed him over, he's not going to want to listen to us."
"Well, first we'll apologize," Auggie said, "And if that doesn't work, we'll show him."
"Hey Eric." Auggie called walking into the boys dorm. "Eric?" He called again.
"What?" Eric asked walking out of the bathroom in sweats and a t shirt, his hair wet. He had just finished his shower a few minutes before.
"Why isn't your stuff unpacked?" Auggie asked watching Eric stack his packed bags in his closet.
"Because I don't plan on staying long. You guys have made it clear that I'm not wanted."
"Yea, about that," Auggie said rubbing his neck, "David can be a real jerk sometimes, but I can promise you that we didn't know he was going to do it until it was done."
"Yet," He said turning around and looking at Auggie, "When you heard about it, you did not think to tell Peter or anyone so that I could be found."
Auggie shook his head. "We made some mistakes. But we are sorry. We we're just playing our own deck. We didn't think about you."
"We'll that was obvious."
"I'm trying to apologize."
"And I'm trying to not accept." Eric said.
Auggie looked at the floor and then back at Eric. "What can we do to make this up to you?"
"What?" Eric asked suprised.
"You tell us what to do and we'll do it. We are really sorry this happened and now we want to make it up to you."
Eric smiled at the thought of getting them to do all sorts of stupid things, but then he shook his head. "There's nothing you can do."
Auggie nodded and then walked out of the dorm.
"Well?" The Cliffhangers who had been waiting outside asked.
"He says he doesn't accept the apology and we can' t do anything to make it up to him."
Shelby groaned. "Goodbye life, hello shuns."
"So what do we do now?" David asked.
"You're the one who got us into this mess David, you should figure out how to get us out." Juliette said.
"Let's just go back to our dorms, it's almost lights out anyway." Scott said. "We can talk to him again in the morning before breakfast."
They all nodded and went there seperate ways.
"You sure that this will work?" Sophie asked as they walked into Peter's office.
"No." Peter said frustrated as he sat down in the chair behind his desk. "Because they made it quite clear they don't want him here." He sighed. "I'm not sure I want him here."
"What?" Sophie asked shocked.
Peter rubbed the bridge of his nose with his finger and thumb. "Sophie, the kid is an actor. He makes a living making things up and pretending to be someone else."
"So you don't beleive that he's here sincerly. Now you sound like the cliffhangers." She said taking a seat across from him.
Peter sighed and placed his elbows on the edge of his desk. "I beleive that what happened with his parents earlier was sincere and I beleive he needs help. I'm just not sure I can help him." He said quietly.
"Why not?" Sophie asked with concern.
"I'm not sure Sophie." He said quietly. "I never used to let anything about a kid effect the way I helped them, but the fact that he was here before as an actor..." Peter shook his head letting his voice trail off.
Sophie looked at Peter for a long moment. "I don't think this has to do with Eric."
Peter looked up from his desk shocked. "Of course it has to do with Eric."
"No it doesn't." Sophie said walking around the desk and sitting on the edge nearer to him. "We teach the students every day to take off their masks and trust us. Now I'm asking you to do the same thing."
"I do trust you Sophie." Peter said, but he was still confused. "Where is this coming from?"
"You don't trust me Peter. Not when it comes to these kids. You think that I'm still learning. Don't get me wrong I still am, but I can help them too."
"I know that, I never would have asked you..."
"Then why during the last year or so that I've been here do you point out all the things I do wrong? With Scott it was being alone with him, with Juliette it was assuming things, with Daisy and Shelby it was allowing them to push me." She looked at him. "I understand that they were mistakes - human mistakes, but why can't you trust me enough to admit your own faults, to tell me when your wrong." She takes his arm causing him to look at her. "Let me in."
Peter drops his head into his right hand and rubs his forehead wearily. He sits quietly for several moments breathing deeply, before saying, "I have this gut feeling that I'm going to keep letting Eric down." He said softly. "I already did once. I don't know how long it will take for me to gain his trust back." He paused for a moment, dropping his head in his hands. "I don't know what I'm doing here Soph. I didn't know what happened between Shelby and her father, I didn't know that Daisy would drink. I didn't think the Cliffhangers would treat someone like that." He looks up at her "I'm slipping Sophie. I'm losing my touch and I'm afraid I'm going to end up losing any chance to help Eric because of it." Sophie didn't say a word she just wrapped her arms around him. "Am I even helping them?" She heard the soft words whispered.
"Yea." She answered back gently.
Peter shook his head no and broke the hold. Reaching out and picking up the folder with the scholarship information named after his father, he says with a slight edge, "Is a scholarship enough? What is it that I'm doing with this school, Soph? I try to help the kids, but if I can't reach them, if they don't trust me, if I can't tell what's wrong -then what am I doing this for?"
She reached out and put her hand on his arm. "It's because you do help the kids. There will never be a day in your life when you see a kid that needs help, that you won't try to help." She lifts her hands indicating to the campus and the students through the window. "This is what you do Peter. This is a big part of who you are. You help kids, and they and their families are greatful for it." Peter looked at her unconvinced. "So maybe you didn't know that Shelby's dad's visit would do more harm then good, but your here for her now. Same with Daisy. Peter you don't just try to make their lives better. You do make their lives better, by being here for them all the time - not just when they are hurting, but when they are happy as well."
It's quiet for a moment as she let's her point sink in. She then leans over a little closer to him and states quietly, "I will never have kids Peter." Her eyes are moist as she says it, "And that makes me realize how precious each and every student that comes here is. Whether they are here for an hour or four years, they will mean something to me. And even if we can't help them, well - " Her voice changes to a wistful tone, "They still had a small amount of time here, in a place where they were safe and that they felt hope." She looks down and smiles at Peter. "To me that's worth it. That's why we do this."
Peter stands and wraps his arms around Sophie. "Thank you." He whispers in her ear. "And I love you."
"I love you too." Sophie says as she pulls Peter tighter to her.
After several moments in the tight emotional hug, Sophie released Peter and wiped the tears from her eyes. Peter smiled at her. "Why don't you and I head home and we'll pick up some dinner on the way there from Rusty's?"
"I'd like that." Sophie said with a slight nod. The two stood and left the office hand in hand.
As they headed to Peter's car, Peter turned to Sophie and asked, "Do you think the Cliffhangers will make it?"
"Make it how?" Sophie questioned glancing over at him.
"I mean, do you think Auggie and Juliette will leave here together or that Scott and Shelby will find their way back to each other? If Ezra will go back to drugs when he leaves here." He pauses. "I wonder if I've taught them well enough. Most of them graduate in a few months, I'm just not sure they can make it."
"You're saying the same thing that you said in your office a few minutes ago." Sophie said as they settled into his car and headed for town. She turned to face him, "Quit doubting yourself Peter. You do a damn fine job with these kids, don't let anyone - including yourself - convince you otherwise."
Peter smiled with a small shake of his head. "What did I do when you weren't around?"
"You were lost without me." Sophie joked with a slight smile, but she was suprised by the sincerity in Peter's eyes when he nodded to the comment.
"I was Soph. I'm glad that your here now and that your staying. I'm glad that were marrying and spending the rest of our lives together." Thinking back to their earlier conversation he added, "And it doesn't matter to me that you can't have kids, because I love you."
Sophie smiled awkwardly. No matter how many times Peter said he was ok with her not being able to have kids, she just wasn't sure that was true. The conversation lulled after that until they arrived at the resturant.
"We both going in?" Peter asked as he started to climb from the car.
"Yea." Sophie said, "But lets get it to go."
Peter nodded and the two headed inside. "Hey Annie." He said as they approached the counter.
"You guys getting food?" Annie asked.
"Yea, to go." Peter said.
"Hey Sophie. Peter." Curtis said as he walked back up to the counter. "Did everything work out with that boy that was missing?" He asked Sophie as Peter ordered.
Sophie sighed. "Things are complicated, but since when aren't they at Horizon?"
"You guys have had quite the year so far." Curtis commented. "With the suicide of that girl's father..."
"Shelby." Sophie interrupted.
"Shelby?" He asked.
"Yea, that's the girl."
"Isn't she the one that ran away after that?"
"Yea." Sophie said. "That's Shelby for you. But she's doing much better now."
"Good to hear." Curtis said with a smile.
"What's good to hear?" Peter asked joining the conversation.
"That Shelby is doing better." Curtis said. "After her father's suicide I figured she'd have a hard time."
"She did." Peter said. "But she's doing better now."
"That's what Sophie was telling me." Curtis said.
"Who's that with Roger?" Curtis and Peter both turned to look in the direction that Sophie was looking when she asked the question. "Isn't that one of the doctor's that works over where Shelby has treatment?"
"Yea." Peter said with a slight smile. Then he turned serious. "I wonder if that's why he doesn't want to be a counselor - because he's seeing someone."
"They didn't come together." Annie said walking over with the order.
"They didn't?" Peter asked.
"No. Apparently they met this morning, she came in to get take out and so did he. They ran across each other and decided to have dinner."
"Way to go Roger." Peter said looking at the two conversing across the room "What?" He asked when he turned back around and was recieving dirty looks from both woman.
Neither said anything. "We should probably be going Peter." Sophie said.
"Yea." Peter said picking up the food. "Bye Curtis. Thanks Annie."
"No problem Peter." Annie said. "Bye."
"Bye." Curtis called after them.
"When did you offer Roger a position?" Sophie asked, suddenly feeling a little out of the loop.
"Just this afternoon when Eric showed up. I was thinking that it might be easier to hirer on someone to do his job then to find a counselor with all the qualifications and skills that he has."
Sophie nodded. "He does do a good job." She said as they climbed into the car. "I think he could be a real benefit to the students."
"Only problem is," Peter said climbing in and handing the order across the seat to Sophie, "He's not sure he can do it."
"Roger? He could do it. If that's what he wants."
"I'm not sure it is Soph. But I only asked him today, so he has time to think about it."
Sophie nodded as Peter started the car and they headed home.
Early the next morning, Eric awoke to find the other guys gone. "Second day here and it's going to be about as great as the first." He mumbled, climbing out of bed.
"What did you say?" David asked walking into the room from the bathroom.
Eric threw David a dirty look and turned away. David walked over to his bed and began to go through some school papers. He then stopped and turned back to Eric. "You know what Star," David said his voice steady. "The other cliffhangers and I are going to get into a lot of trouble because of you."
Eric turned and glared at David. For an hour after lights out the night before he had listened to David practically grovel, which Eric had enjoyed, about how sorry he was and why Eric should give them one more chance and how they would all be in a lot of trouble if Eric didn't forgive them. "You left me in the woods, remember?"
"You hit me." David said pointing out the purplish black bruise that covered the right side of his face almost entirely.
Eric shrugged. "I was mad."
"And you had every right to be." David said. He knew now how wrong he had been the day before. So did the other cliffhangers. They really hadn't given Eric a chance. "But you got me back, you hit me. The other cliffhangers didn't know that I was going to do it. And no they didn't turn me in, but we all make mistakes. We are sorry that it happened." David paused and slung his back pack over his shoulders. "I guess I'm trying to say that we'd like another chance. I know we don't deserve one, but we'd like one." When Eric didn't respond, David turned and headed out. "See ya."
Eric watched as David went thinking about everything that had happened. He then grabbed his cloths and headed to the bathroom.
The Cliffhangers minus Eric sat at a table in the cafeteria eating breakfast. "Guess this is our last meal together." Juliette said looking at Auggie. "I wish we could get him to accept our apology."
"Why because we were caught, or because we were wrong?" Daisy asked.
"Because we screwed up." Juliette said sincerly. "We shouldn't have done that. Peter was right we didn't give him a chance."
The others nodded.
"You're right, you didn't." Sophie said as she and Peter walked up.
"I see Eric isn't here." Peter asked looking around the table. "Did he not accept your apology?"
The cliffhangers all looked at each other and David spoke up, "We went to him and apologized, but he said..."
"That I would be running late." Eric said walking up to their table as though nothing was wrong. "Thanks for remembering David." The Cliffhangers stared at Eric in astonishment.
"So they apologized and you guys worked things out?" Sophie asked, also surprised.
"Yea." Eric said smiling up at Sophie. "We made an agreement - they would get me a map and I would consider myself only slightly above them." He said, but then he smiled.
"That's really not all that funny." David said giving a mock angry face.
"Well neither or you." Eric said with a laugh. The other Cliffhangers laughed too, although they weren't sure exactly how this had happened.
"Looks, like David has met his match." Ezra said.
Peter and Sophie walked to the other side of the cafeteria and watched the newest Cliffhanger being part of the group.
"Why do I think that wasn't quite what the old Cliffhangers were expecting?" Sophie asked.
"Because I think Eric decided at the last minute to give them another chance." He took a deep breath. "Maybe he'll do the same for me."
"I'm sure he will." Sophie said with confidence.
"There are still a lot of things we have to figure out about him." Peter said after a moment.
"I know." Sophie said. "But they are past the hard part now. He's one of them."
