Author's note: first of all, my thnx to everyone who reviews. y'all are awesome. :) and secondly, sorry not much happens in this chapter, but I finally know where this story is headed, and I can't wait to get to the core of it, which is coming up soon! believe it or not, this story actually has a point! this is my first fanfic and the longest story I've ever written by far (even thought I'm known to write stories that seem to go on forever), and it's not close to being done. thnx!~ Jazz





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"Shel!"

Shelby held an icepack to her swollen, shut left eye, when she heard her name called. She turned, and upon seeing who was approaching her in quick, concerned strides, smiled. This was how it was- his very presence evoked that out of her.

"Hey Scott," she greeted him, biting her bottom lip. It wouldn't have been her first choice for him to see her in this state. But he came to her and put an arm around her nonetheless. "What are you doing here?" she asked him.

"I heard that you got in a little brawl," he said, brushing a lock of hair out of her eyes. "Are you alright?" His eyes revealed concern.

Shelby sighed. "Yeah, I'll live," she said. "Erika isn't going to though, after I get my hands on her."

This provoked a grin out of Scott. "I love you Shel," he said. He looked at her intently. "But you know.." he began. It was a moment of their locked gaze before Scott continued. "Erika's gone," he said finally.

Shelby's gaze drifted. "What do you mean?"

His intent stare lingered on. "Peter shipped her off to juvie," he told her, never taking his eyes off of hers.

Shelby absorbed this new development. "Yeah, why? Aren't they supposed to fix us, not just like ship us off when we become too much to handle?"

"Peter warned her that if she got herself in another fight that she'd be sent to juvie," Scott explained. "It's not like he just all of a sudden decided she that she was too much to handle. She knew." Their gazes never lingered from the other. "And she didn't care," Scott continued.

"Well you know what they say," Shelby stated, in her familiar cynical tone, "you get what you earn."

"Yeah," Scott agreed.





The Cliffhanger girls were lounging in their dorm, clad in pajamas, the star-studded night sky visible through the window panes.

The dorm door opened, and the Cliffhangers girls were relieved to see that Shelby had finally returned.

"Hey Shelby, you doing okay?" Kat asked immediately.

Shelby shrugged. "Yeah, I'm alright."

"That's good."

"Yeah," Shelby replied distantly. "Hey did you guys hear the news?"

"Hear what?" Juliette perked in.

"Erika's gone."

The Cliffhanger girls exchanged glances. Juliette walked over to the bunk in which Erika had previously occupied. She took notice that Erika's things were all missing. Turning slowly to Shelby, Juliette asked, "Where?"

"Juvie."

"Peter was that merciful, huh?" Daisy said in her familiar sarcastic tone.

"Yep," Shelby replied. "Apparently she got a warning and didn't care."

"Why is it that that doesn't surprise me?" Kat responded.

Daisy wore a thoughtful visage. "So that's what that card meant.." she said cryptically.

Juliette giggled. "Daisy," she said. "You're so.. you."

"Thanks," Daisy replied, although not entirely sure how to take Juliette's comment.

Silence reigned as each of the girls were consumed in their own thoughts. Juliette was the first to speak. "Why would she prefer juvie over Horizon?" she asked no one in particular.

"This is Erika we're talking about, guys," Shelby reminded Juliette. "Who knows."

"Well one thing's for sure," Daisy stated.

"And what's that?" Kat asked curiously.

"This place is going to be one hell of a lot less interesting without the Erikaster."

"Well duh," Shelby replied. "But is that a good or bad thing?"

Daisy smiled. "Only time, or the cards, will tell."

Juliette giggled again. "Daisy.." she began.

Kat interrupted her. "I can't believe she's gone," she stated.

"Yeah, we were just starting to get used to her," Daisy agreed.

"And now.." Shelby began, "we have to get used to.. Miss Amber."

"Where is she anyways?" Juliette chimed in.

Shelby shrugged. "Who knows."

"You know what's funny?" Daisy spoke up. "Picturing Erika interact with Amber."

Shelby smirked. "All I can see is red."

"That's the point," Daisy said.

"I'm not sure I like Amber," Kat opined.

"Really?" Shelby said. "I hate her already."

"Yeah," Kat agreed, "but you have reason. I don't, really."

Shelby shook her head in disagreement. "You don't like her for being herself. That's reason enough."

"I wonder what she's here for?" Juliette said distantly.

"Please," Shelby said. "Is it that hard to conceive?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Yeah," Kat agreed.

After a moment of silence, Juliette couldn't stand it. She perked in, "Hey.. Guess what!"

"What?" Kat asked.

A huge grin spread across her face. "I'm visiting home in just a few days!!"

"Well that's something we didn't know," Shelby said sarcastically.

"Yeah, really," Daisy added dryly.

"I just can't wait!"

Irritated, Shelby cut in. "We know, Juliette."

"I'm so excited," Juliette continued on.

"Chill, queenie."

"Just think," Juliette continued, ignoring Shelby's comments, "I'm going to be home, in my own house, in my own room! And I'm going to see all the friends I left behind, and everyone!"

"And your mom," Kat added, "and which husband is it, are we up to number five?"

"Oh, Hal didn't last long," Juliette replied, "She married again not long after the morp, to this guy named Andrew." Juliette sighed in longing, falling onto her bed. "I can't wait to meet him! I heard once that number 6 is supposed to be the one!"

"Yeah, sure," Daisy replied cynically.

"Maybe in your world, Queenie," Shelby added.

The opening of the dorm room door interrupted their conversation. Sophie barged in their dorm. "Girls, lights out in ten minutes," she informed them.

"Alrighty," Kat responded.

In mere seconds, as if on cue, Amber slunk into the dorm, and Sophie took notice. "Amber?" she questioned. "Where have you been?"

Amber flashed her a tight smile. "Nowhere," she replied.

"Un huh," Sophie replied, not buying it.





The Cliffhanger boys headed into their dorm. It was night, and would soon be 'lights out'. As Adrian walked towards his bunk, he noticed a piece of folded paper lying on it. He turned to the other boys in question.

"Hey what's this?" he asked, not unfolding it.

Scott noticed that Adrian had received Erika's farewell gift, and said, "It's uh, from Erika."

He unfolded the paper in astonishment, and subsequently turned to Scott. "I don't understand," he stated.

"She's gone."

"What do you mean she's gone??" Adrian demanded. "She can't be gone!"

"Well," Scott began, searching his brain for something sympathetic to say. To no avail, he continued, "she is."

Auggie overheard their conversation. "Yo, man, Erika's gone?"

"Yeah," Scott replied. "Peter sent her to juvie."

"Fer what?" Auggie questioned.

"She uh, got in another fight," Scott replied, "this time with Shelby."

"And yo, why didn't they invite me?"

Adrian interrupted their exchange. "I gave this to *her*," he said.

"I know," Scott replied.

"Then.." Adrian began, not understanding.

"She said that you drew it for yourself, not for her," Scott stated.

Adrian sat on the edge of his bunk, staring at the portrait he had drawn of the gone girl. "I don't get it," he said.

"Yeah, she's a tough girl to get," Scott stated.

"Yo, Adrian man, what are ya thinkin'?" Auggie asked.

"I think he liked her," Ezra put in.

"Yeah, I did," Adrian agreed.

"Yo, man, this is Erika we're talking about right?" Auggie asked.

"Yeah, Erika," Adrian replied, never tearing his eyes from the portrait. This was all that he had left of her. "Isn't she beautiful?"

"Whoa, man," Auggie remarked. "You got it bad."

"Is she gone for now, or forever?" Adrian asked distantly.

"I don't know," Scott replied. "Sorry man."

"I don't get it," Adrian said again.

"No one does, home," Auggie stated.

"I care about her you know."

"Man, you really got it bad."

"Yeah, I do," Adrian agreed. "But it's not like I can do anything about it, especially now."

"Hey man, you'll get over it," Scott said.

"Are you sure man?" Auggie asked Adrian Garret. "A girl like her?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Adrian questioned.

"I'd be scared shitless that she'd eat me alive, Garret!" Auggie replied, half-serious.

"Yeah," Adrian agreed, "that's what I like about her."

"Hey whatever man," Auggie replied.

Eager to change the topic, Ezra said, "Hey guys what do you think of the newbie?"

"Amber?" said Auggie. "She's smokin'."

Ezra grinned. "I agree there."

"She's not Erika," Adrian replied dimly.

"Get over it, man," Scott said finally. "You might never see her again."

"I know," Adrian replied. "And it drives me crazy. There's something about her, just that something."

"Oh," Scott answered distantly. He hadn't fathomed that Adrian, of all people, was in love with Erika. "I can relate," he said simply, referring to Shelby.

"Yeah, me too," Auggie added.

"But not me," Ezra stated in his usual tone.

"EZ!" Auggie exclaimed. "Man you gotta get a girl, and quick. That attitude is depressing, man."

"Yeah, I second that," Scott put in.

"Oh thanks guys," Ezra replied sarcastically.

"Hey anytime man," Scott replied.

"Yeah, I definitely needed to hear that," Ezra continued.

"Nice to know, Freakman," Auggie said. Then a thought hit him, and he was reminded of what played out not long ago. "Hey Scott," he began, "Where ya been?"

"Huh?" Scott asked. "I was visiting Shelby in the infirmary. Why?"

"Amber was looking for ya," Auggie stated.

"Why?"

"Adrian ain't the only one who got it bad," Auggie said slyly.

"Aww shit," was Scott's reaction.

"'Aww shit' is right, muchacho," Auggie responded.

"Hey remember when I took your place on the night of the storm?" Ezra said suddenly to Scott, a mischievous smile set on his face. "Think we can do that again, only with Amber?"

Scott grinned. "Yeah sure EZ. And while you're at it, convince her that there's no way I'm going with her. I got Shelby, and that's all I need."

"Alright!" Ezra exclaimed.

"Yo man," Auggie said to Ezra, "what ever happened with you and Dais?"

"What do you mean what happened?" Ezra asked. "Nothing happened. Unfortunately."

"You got it bad for her?" Auggie asked.

"Yeah, kind of. But it'll never happen so I try not to keep my hopes too high," Ezra replied.

"Man, you really are depressing," Scott remarked.

"Thanks Scott," Ezra replied sarcastically.

"Alright homes," Auggie asserted. "It's lights out soon."