"Scott," Peter began. "What do you think I should do with you?"

Scott raised his eyebrows. "Huh?" he asked, wondering if he had heard correctly.

"Erika's on restriction for awhile. What do you think I should do with you, huh?"

"I don't know," he responded.

"How does buddy hike back sound?"

"No," Scott responded firmly, shaking his head. "Don't you think I've done enough of those?"

"Well obviously they haven't had much of an impact on you or else you wouldn't be here."

Scott shrugged.

"Buddy hike back it is," Peter decided.

"No, come on," Scott argued. "You have got to be kidding me."

"Not kidding, Scott. You, as well as Erika, need to work on talking things out before you erupt in a fight."

"That girl is messed," he said.

"Do you think that'll garner you any sympathy from me? Come on, Scott, you've been here awhile, you know the rules. No violence."

Scott looked around at Peter's office, exasperated.

"Get your bags ready for tomorrow. You, Erika, and Sophie will leave at first light. Got it?"

"Yeah."





Peter strolled through the corridors of the main lodge. He turned towards a near empty classroom, with only two people inside. Erika Lavalier, surveyed by Dave Claypool. Erika occupied one of the many desks, aligned in rows, and was in the process of reproducing Horizon's rules and regulations.

"Hey Erika," Peter said, barging into the room, disrupting the tranquillity. "There's been a change in plans."

"Yeah, what? Decided one week of kitchens wasn't enough?" Erika said, glancing up from her work. She was conspicuously irritated with the mass of punishments she had garnered.

"Do you know what a 'buddy hike back' is?" asked Peter, sitting on the edge of a nearby desk, facing his defiant student.

"What? According to the rules you made me rewrite, it's some crazy thing where two people are dumped in the middle of nowhere and have to find their way back."

"That's right," Peter said, pleased that she had retained something of which she had written.

"You don't seriously think that I should do this stupid buddy hike back thing?"

"That's exactly what I had in mind."

Erika gave her headmaster a look. "No," she said. "I refuse."

"Erika, you have no choice. It doesn't look to me as though you've accustomed to rules yet. How's that essay coming along?"

Erika fed him a blank stare. "Coming along," she replied nonchalantly.

"Well, good. You, Scott and Sophie will set off at first light tomorrow."

"So let me get this straight- we have to find our own food, we're tied together by a piece of twine and we have to survive the outdoors?"

"Yup."

Erika looked towards the ceiling. "God, why do you hate me?" she said dramatically.

Peter stifled a smile. "Erika, it's not that bad. You might even learn a thing or two."

"I doubt it."

"When you get back to your dorm," Peter said, rising, "be sure to pack your bags."

"Don't count on it being done."

"Would you like one of the counsellors to help you with it?"

Erika shot him a glare. "No, I'm pretty sure I can pack my things myself."

"Good."

Erika sighed, and without another word, returned to her work. Peter was pleased to see that she had almost completed the first assignment he had given her, and departed from the room.



Shelby sat on the edge of the docks, her legs dangling over the side. The waves would rise and brush against the soles of her shoes, and descend in a peaceful motion. Out on the Horizon, the day was drawing to an end, and the sun was beginning to set in a thorough melange of blue and orange. The colours reflected on the rippling water.

"Hey beautiful."

Shelby turned and smiled to find Scott standing a few paces behind her.

"Hey cowboy," she replied as Scott came to sit down next to her at the edge of the docks. "What did Peter want?"

"More punishment consequences stuff," he replied.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I'm in for Buddy Hike Back tomorrow morning," he responded.

"Why? What'd you do now, Scott?" she questioned, still smiling as she faced him. She knew it was likely something serious that had gotten him in another mess with Peter, but something about his presence always put a smile on her lips.

"Got in a fist fight with Erika during kitchen duties," he said.

"Why is it that that doesn't come as a surprise," Shelby said in her familiar sarcastic tone. "What happened?" she asked.

"She ran her mouth longer than I could take," Scott sighed. "A buddy hike back is not what I had planned for tomorrow.."

"You'll get through it," reassured Shelby. "Lots of luck though, and man, you will need it to put up with her."

"She's going to be tied to me. Our feet are going to be tied together. With twine. I can't think of anything I'd rather do less."

"Have fun, cowboy."

"Yeah, right."

"Oh, and try to straighten her out, would you? She's really pissing me off lately," Shelby said, smiling at Scott. She touched his cheek.

"Anything, babe."

"Pissing everyone off, actually."

"I'll do what I can, Shelb."

The two leaned towards one another in a slow, lingering kiss.

"How long are you going to be gone?" asked Shelby as they eventually broke apart.

"Assuming I get back, you mean. I wouldn't be surprised if that girl would try to kill me in my sleep."

"Well you'll just have to beat her to it," said Shelby smirking.

"Yeah, I guess so," Scott smiled. He subsequently rose. "I gotta go pack my stuff. We're leaving at first light. Wanna meet here again tonight?"

"Yeah, sure," she responded. "At eleven, after lights out."

"All right," he affirmed. "Don't forget," he said as he took off towards him dorm.

"I won't," she said quietly. She turned back towards the beautiful sunset that had enveloped the sky.