Brothers and Sisters
Chapter 3 - Pre Group

Sophie walked down the hall of the admissions building heading towards Peter's office. She had just arrived at Horizon a short time ago and had been told that Roger was there.
"I take it that this won't happen again?" Sophie overheard Roger as she approached the office.
There was a silent moment and then a sullen answer of "No sir."
"All right." Roger sighed. "Then your free to go."
"Whatever."
Sophie stopped outside the door waiting for the current occupant to leave. She was somewhat surprised to see Max, one of the Ridge Runners walking out. The boy had come a long way sense his arrival. Max didn't look at Sophie as he left. She watched him go and then walked into the office.
"What was that about?" She asked.
"He picked a fight."
"Oh"
"Yea. It's his second fight this week too, but he swears nothing is wrong."
"Don't they all." Sophie says and she falls into the chair sideways with her legs hanging over the edge.
Roger rolls his eyes and then looks at the laxed position that she has taken. "So now that your the boss' fiance you think you can just act any ole way you want to?"
Sophie rolled her eyes back. It was a running joke between them that she got special privileges because her and Peter were engaged.
"No." She said. "I get special privileges because" She looks over her shoulder to make sure no one is coming down the hallway or within hearing distance, "I live with him." She practically stage whispers.
"Why are we whispering?" Roger whispers back. "They all know anyhow. Same way they know about me and Alex."
Sophie grinned and then returning to her normal voice said, "Shelby figured it out did she?"
"Yea," He groaned. "We were talking this morning and I let it slip... really she set me up."
Sophie nodded. "You should know better then to try to keep something from her, she will always find out."
"One day I will find a way." He said with absolute determination and then he and Sophie both laughed.
They sobered up when there was a knock at the door.
"Hi Lindsay, you need something?" He asked gently looking up at the young girl.
"I was just wondering if you had a moment. I can come back later. It's no bid deal." She said in a rush and then turned to leave.
"Whoa, wait up Lindsay." Roger called causing the girl to turn around. He could see her face was flushed. The girl was almost painfully shy, not to mention extremely insecure. Her coming to talk was a good thing.
"I have group in a few minutes I have to be going." Sophie said standing up. Turning to Lindsay she said,. "So your not interrupting at all." She knew that Roger worked quite a bit with the Ridge Runners and was possibly going to be one of their new counselors. She walked out of the room, giving the girl an encouraging smile as she went. Lindsay smiled shyly back and entered the office cautiously.

Peter for the billionth time I do not know why you have given me this assignment.
Juliette looked up from where she sat on her bed writing in her journal. So far she could not figure out what the point of her current assignment was.
It's great not having to go to things though.
Juliette looked up as she heard the door to the cabin. Shelby came in followed by Daisy.
"Did you miss breakfast Juliette?" Daisy asked stopping in front of Juliette's bed. Shelby walked on to her own bed and was gathering her stuff for group.
"I ate earlier." Juliette said covering her journal so no one could read it.
Shelby turned and caught Daisy's eyes. "You weren't in the cafeteria." Shelby said.
"I went before you two woke up." Juliette answered not looking up. She hated people questioning her eating habits.
"They don't serve breakfast that early Jules." Daisy said softly.
"I had special permission." The two looked at her skeptically, so she added, "I was hungry."
"Whatever." Shelby said and her and Daisy went about gathering their things.

Turning back to her journal, Juliette continued on.
I don't know why people always question me about something. Everyone always wants to know what I ate. If I didn't eat, How much I ate. When I ate. If I did this, if I did that. Why can't they mind their own business? Even you Peter. Your reading this. Why do you care? What does it matter what I do?
Never mind, I already know the answer to that. But I wish that people didn't try so hard. I wish I didn't try so hard to please people. Maybe that's what bothers me. That they ask me. Because I feel like I'm not living up to them.

"You want to walk with us to group?" Daisy asked as she and Shelby headed towards the door.
"I'm not going." Juliette said not looking up.
Shelby looked to Daisy, but Daisy's eyes seemed to say, Hey I've already tried once today.
Shelby gave a slight nod and stepped towards Juliette's bed. "Jules, no one is mad at you or anything. So maybe you missed a meal, it's no big deal. Just make it up at lunch." Juliette didn't respond. " Or you could sit here and sulk." She said with sarcasm.
"I am not sulking." Juliette snapped.
"Your not eating either." Daisy chimed in.
"I told you, I ate earlier."
"Yea, yea. You had special permission." Shelby said. "You also have permission to miss group and class and anything else you want." She walked over and knelt beside Juliette's bed until the two were eye level. "Tell me Princess, what exactly do you have on the counselors that your managing to get all this slack from them lately. Not even Kat could get away with what you have."
"I've been making progress." Juliette said, but even to herself it sounded false.
"Right." Shelby said in disbelief as she stood up. "Because in the last few months, you've been through so many life changing events that you've discovered who you are and now you can go home with a seal that says your well right?"
"I didn't say that." Juliette protested.
"You didn't do that either." Shelby snapped and turned and walked out the door. "You've got a long way to go Princess."
Juliette watched as they disappeared around the corner.

David grabbed his notebook and put it in his book bag before zipping it up. He then threw it over his shoulders and headed for the door. As a last thought, he turned around and walked over to the huddled mass in the bed.
"Eric." He said. "ERIC." HE said louder. "HEY ERIC!" He shouted finally waking the actor.
"MMhh." Came the response.
"Eric, we have group. You've already missed breakfast so you might want to get up."
"Tell Sophie I'm sick." Came a mumbled reply followed by a sharp cough.
"Is he still in bed?" Ezra asked coming into the room.
"He says he's sick."
"I am sick." Came a defiant protest, that would have been more effective if it hadn't been followed by another sharp cough and some sneezing.
"That sounds bad." Ezra said.
"It feels bad too." Eric mumbled and again sneezed.
"But you are an actor, you could be faking." Ezra thought allowed.
"He's not that good." David said with a small smile.
Eric through a look at David. "I'm actually sick." He couched again, his entire chest burning with pain. "Never mind, what's the use. Send Sophie or someone to check on me if you don't believe me." He rolled away from them and went into another coughing fit.
"We'll tell Sophie." Ezra said feeling slightly bad for doubting Eric. The kid had gotten a bad break sense he had gotten there.
"Yea, and if your lying, it's your funeral." David said. With that Ezra and David headed for group, the sound of coughing following them.