"Cliffhangers, as you know, we never had an opportunity to wrap up yesterday's group session, and I think there are still issues that need addressing."

Peter Scarbrow's voice shattered the awkward silence that had enveloped the Cliffhangers as they sat in chairs, facing one another in a circle. They stared at one another idly, their gazes drifting between each other.

Daisy was the first to speak. "You're sure you wanna relive that, Peter?"

"Resolve it, yes," he replied.

Daisy shrugged. "Then by all means, give it your best shot."

"Daisy?"

She transferred her gaze to Peter. "You can't just resolve a discussion because you think it needs resolving. It was pretty heated." Her voice was casual, and nonchalant.

Peter set aside her comments. "Anyways, we were unable to finish group yesterday, since two of our group members ran off. Now Erika, Shelby, why did that happen?" he questioned. "Erika?"

Erika shrugged. "She's a bitch who can't take what I say."

Shelby was quick to snap right back. "Maybe that's because you're full of shit."

Peter waved his arms as if to halt their snapping. "Guys, guys! No profanity! Another word of profanity and you both are on kitchen duties for the next two weeks."

"Aren't I already on kitchen duties for the rest of my stay here?" Erika asked dryly.

"No," Peter responded. "You're on wood chopping for the next while. But you earned it," he continued pointedly.

"Whatever."

"So Erika," Peter began, "why did you run out of the room?" After he saw that he hadn't mustered a response, he continued, pressing. "Why, huh?"

Still no response. But in his usual fashion, Peter didn't give up. "Didn't want to confront what was in front of you? How about you Shelby?"

Shelby merely shrugged.

"We run away because it's the easy way out," Peter lectured. "Now, I'm not going to let you do that. We're going to resolve this."

The two key players were unresponsive.

"I can't help if you don't talk to me."

Shelby was conspicuous irritated. "Maybe I don't want your help. We don't get along. That's all there is to it," she dismissed.

"And why is that?"

Shelby looked at Peter like he was inhuman. Why did everything have to be justified in his world? "Ever heard of clashing personalities?" she questioned dryly.

"Not clashes that couldn't be overcome."

Shelby rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Peter."

"We're going to work on this. I want a thousand word essay, each of you, about the other," Peter stated.

"Oh, god," Shelby muttered.

Erika's response dripped with sarcasm. "This ought to be fun," she said.

"You got it?" Peter questioned.

Erika dismissed his words. "Whatever."

"On another note," Peter began in a more upbeat tone, "we have a new Cliffhanger. This is Amber.."

A curvy girl with shoulder-length chestnut hair and matching eyes emerged into the room. She wore a flirtatious smile that showcased her perfectly white teeth as she walked towards the circle, swaying her hips. She wasn't dressed according to the dress code at Horizon. She wore a short, tight, denim miniskirt and a blue halter top that showcased her cleavage, topped off with platform sandals with denim straps. Her entrance provoked some whistles from the male Cliffhanger members.

"Yeeouch!" Auggie hailed, but was quick to shut up when Juliette nudged him in the ribs.

"So this is the group I'm stuck with, huh?" Amber noted. Her voice was deliberately sultry. At a glimpse of Scott, she remarked, "well, I could have done worse. Hey you."

"He's taken," Shelby interrupted, protecting her territory.

Peter's voice was irritated, as he said, "Amber you were supposed to change. There is a dress code here."

"Yeah, well I changed back," Amber replied, flipping her hair. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm not in the taliban, I can wear whatever the hell I want."

"You're not going to participate in the group unless you're wearing appropriate attire," Peter said sternly, sending Amber back to get changed.

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Gossip rampaged loose in the girl's dorm.

"Did you see that newbie?!" Juliette gushed.

"Duh, Queenie," was Shelby's reply.

"What's with you? Anyways, I totally can't believe we're getting that slut in our group! Did you see the way she looked at the guys?"

"Or rather, Scott," Daisy commented dryly.

"Yeah. I didn't like the impression I got of her," Kat agreed.

Erika smirked. "Imagine that, Shelby."

"Imagine what," Shelby said disinterestedly.

"A newbie you actually have something in common with," Erika replied.

Shelby's gaze snapped to Erika. "Excuse me," she demanded.

Juliette furrowed her brows. "What do you mean?" she asked Erika.

"You two can make a sluts anonymous group."

Shelby slammed down her fists. "What the hell is your problem?"

"What the hell is *your* problem?"

"Last time I checked, I was the one you're trying to lecture."

"What, do you have a problem with who you are? You can't deny who you are."

Shelby shook her head, her deadly gaze meeting Erika's. "I've had enough of you," she stated.

Erika smirked. "I'd like to see you try to get rid of me."

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Erika sat slumped in a wooden chair located in Peter's office. Her gaze was distant and disinterested.

"Erika, I warned you. What can I say, I warned you."

She heard Peter's voice ring in her ears as he stood over her behind his desk.

"Whatever."

"You decided to not make it work here, and now you're paying the consequences."

Erika idly put her feet on Peter's desk as she sat, simply to irritate her headmaster. Peter shoved her feet off.

"So how long will I be chillin in juvie?" she questioned nonchalantly.

Peter sat in the chair behind his desk, so he was eye-level to his defiant student. "You'll serve time in juvie for as long as they see fit. You have the power to get yourself out of there. But you'll have to cooperate, in order to attain it. If you resist, then you're only making your stay longer. You cooperate, and your attitude improves, you can return here, if you want to, and after experiencing juvie, I take it you will. It's all up to you Erika," he explained. "So what do you think?"

Erika shrugged. "Bring on juvie."

Peter wasn't impressed with her answer. "Gather your stuff," he said finally. "Report to my office when you're done, with your bags."


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Erika folded her clothes into her duffle bag, mechanically. She wasn't sure how she felt. She had grown accustomed to this place. And now she was leaving for a place far grittier. She couldn't decide if she was anticipating the challenge juvenile hall would present, or if she would really miss the campground environment and colourful personalities of Mount Horizon. She was thrown for a loop when she came across the single item of hers that meant something. The single item of hers that she believed to be valuable. She fled from her dorm with it in hand, and headed towards the boy's dorm.

She reached the door, knocked discreetly, and subsequently entered, to find only Scott there.

"Is Adrian here?" she asked him.

"Nope, it's just me," Scott replied.

Erika sighed. "Well then, give this back to him," she instructed Scott, handing him a sheet of folded paper.

Scott furrowed his brows. He unfolded the paper out of curiosity, and stared in amazement. It was Erika's beautifully drawn portrait. His gaze transferred from Erika and the now unfolded paper. "What are you doing?" he questioned. "Did Adrian draw this for you?"

Erika shook her head. "No, he drew it for himself. I don't want it."

"What do you mean? What's going on?"

"I'm leaving," Erika replied simply, heading for the door.

"Where?" he questioned, bewildered.

"Juvie."

Scott chuckled at the irony of it, despite himself. "Yeah? How'd you land there?"

Erika shrugged, and leaned her back against the door. "Peter warned me if I got myself into another fight, that's where I'd be sent. Apparently, he thought it was a threat."

"I'm confused."

"I don't give a damn about juvie, or here," she replied.

"Hey, listen," Scott said. "I've never been to juvie, but I know it's not any better than here, Erika."

"You didn't think I knew that?"

Scott scrutinized the very complicated girl. "So who'd you beat up this time?" he questioned.

"Shelby."

Scott's jaw dropped. "Tell me your kidding." He said it almost like a command, like he wouldn't believe it.

Erika shrugged. "No can do," she replied.

Scott combed his fingers through his hair nervously. "Oh my god," was his immediate reaction. He subsequently got in Erika's face. "Is she alright?!" he demanded.

"She's still alive if that's what you're asking."

"Dammit Erika, why?!"

"She pissed me off."

"Yeah? What'd she do."

"It doesn't take much to piss me off."

"Damn it Erika. You know how much she means to me and you get in a fight with her because you feel like it! What's with you?!"

"Chill out," Erika dismissed.

"Why should I?" Scott was yelling now. "You're acting like it's not a big deal."

"It's not," Erika stated, unconvincingly. "She'll have a black eye by tomorrow. Big whoop. Get over it."

"You know what, you need to get your butt out of here now."

"Is that a threat, Scott?"

"You're not the only one who has problems controlling their temper."

Erika merely smirked.

Scott shook his head, disgusted. "You seriously need to get your shit together."

"Scott, I know how much your beloved Shelby means to you," Erika said.

"Then what were you thinking?!"

"You know what, I don't get it, and I don't care. Adios," Erika turned the knob of the door to exit.

"Wait. What is that supposed to mean?"

Erika turned back towards Scott. "What is what supposed to mean?"

"What you said."

"What, that I don't get why Shelby means shit to you?"

Scott stared seriously at Erika. "You want to know why Shelby means something to me?"

"Do I care?" she asked.

"You might."

Erika shrugged. "I've got some time before I head off."

"She helped me through my own issues, alright? She made sense of it all. She was always there."

Erika shrugged and turned once again to leave. "Whatever."

"You don't get it," Scott stated.

"No, I don't. But I'm not sure I care."

"You don't care about anything," Scott stated. "Get out of here."

"If that's what you want to think, then yeah, whatever, I don't care about shit."

Scott's eyes were scrutinizing. "You gotta care about something."

"Yeah, says who? You just said, I don't care about shit."

"Erika, have you ever met somebody who makes you go crazy inside and you can't get enough of them?"

Erika winced. "Urgh, I have to get out of here," she said, and opened the door to leave.

"No? Well then you can't understand, plain and simple. Shelby is the reason I go on. Shelby makes me feel whole. She knows about me what no one in the world does," Scott's words had turned into a passionate speech. "She knows all my flaws, and yet she's still with me. I've seen her at her worst, too. But I love her, Erika, I love her. You can't understand that? Fine. You were right. You don't need to. Get out of here."

Erika shook her head in disgust. "You're weak. Love makes you weak."

"I don't care," Scott replied.

"Bye, Scott," Erika said.

"Bye Erika," he returned. She left the dorm, closing the door behind her.