Shelby was seated outside Peter's office, merely waiting. It was all that she could do, and every moment of nervous anticipation was agony. Peter was lecturing Scott inside, likely sealing his fate. With every passing moment, punishment was likely burdening Scott's shoulders, and that she couldn't hear a word of it, a word of what would become of them was the worst of it. She would find out soon their fate, but for now, she sat idly, waiting.

---



Scott sat, slumped, in Peter's office.

"Scott," Peter began, seated at his desk across from Scott.

"Yeah?" Scott replied disinterestedly.

"You know that all of our actions have consequences."

Scott folded his arms impatiently. "Yeah."

"You know that being out past lights out garners punishment," Peter continued.

"Uh huh."

"And you know that there is absolutely no sex here."

"Who said anything about sex?"

Peter held Scott's gaze as he spoke. "How am I to know what went on last night, huh, Scott?"

Scott shrugged. "You can trust what I say, but that might seem far-fetched for you."

Peter's gaze didn't waver. "So what possessed you to do what you did?"

Scott met his gaze. "To do what?"

"Don't play that game with me, Scott."

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

"What don't I get?" Peter questioned.

"I love her," Scott said outright. "Did you hear that? I love Shelby."

Peter sighed wearily. "Scott, you know that I don't discourage bonding."

Scott merely stared, not bothering to respond.

"But you and Shelby are taking it too far," Peter continued. "Horizon is a sanctuary, Scott, a place where you can get away from problems from everyday life. But you're creating those problems for yourself. You know that I can't have that"

"Yeah, why not?"

"You're bending too many rules for her sake," Peter explained. "I'm going to have a talk with Shelby later but, I know that, for the most part, the relationship between you and Shelby has had a positive impact. She opened you up, you broke down her walls. But this is past that."

"What don't you get?"

"I understand where you're coming from Scott, but I can't have it. You not only break two rules, you run from the consequences. But you couldn't outrun them, Scott."

"So... what consequences?" Scott asked, almost not wanting to know.

"You and Shelby will be on shuns for the next week, and you will not have any contact whatsoever until the week is up. Is that clear?"

Scott shrugged. "Yeah, sure."

"But that's not all," Peter continued. "That you tried to run from me, you garnered more. I'll sleep on it, and let you know what I come up with in the morning."

"Alright."

Peter scrutinized his defiant student, finding Scott's willingness for punishment interesting. "Scott, you do understand that I have nothing against bonding."

Scott didn't even bother to meet his headmaster's gaze. "Whatever Peter," he dismissed.

"The direction your relationship with Shelby is taking isn't good, Scott," Peter explained again. "The relationship could have serious repercussions. You not only disobey the rules, you run from confronting them head on. That isn't a healthy path that you and Shelby are taking. Do you understand?"

This time Scott met Peter's gaze. "Understand? Understand what, Peter? Understand that you can't be human if you separate me from Shelby? Understand that you don't have a clue what I'm feeling? Understand that I didn't come back to Horizon to deal with you? Understand that you don't have a clue what's healthy in my life? Cuz I get all that."

Peter sighed wearily. This isn't going to be easy, he thought. "Scott, I know you feel strongly for Shelby."

"You don't even know," Scott stated.

"Well why don't you enlighten me?" Peter questioned.

Scott's expression was stolid. "It's like I said, I didn't come back to Horizon for you."

"Scott, I know what's it's like to be a teenager. Hormones are running high, you're trying to figure out who you are.. But Scott, Horizon is meant for you to get your life back under control, and you can't do that with Shelby."

"Whatever, man," Scott dismissed.

"So it's clear?"

Scott shrugged, reluctant, but not desiring more punishment. "Yeah, sure," he said, not meaning a word of it.

Peter motioned towards the door. "Send Shelby in."







Scott headed outside, and shut the door behind him. He found Shelby awaiting him. She stood at his presence, and walked towards him.

"Hey Shel," Scott said. The mere sight of her calmed him, he was constantly reminded why he sacrificed so much for her sake. He subsequently motioned toward the door, a small smile on his features. "The executioner wants ya."

"How was it?" she asked anxiously.

"Welll.." Scott began, "we're in for a lot."

"Restriction?" Shelby questioned.

"Shuns."

Shelby winced. "Ouch. For how long?"

"A week," Scott shrugged. But a grin subsequently spread across his face. "But it's nothing we can't overcome."

Shelby smiled back at him. "Yeah."

"Hey, meet me in the boys dorm in two hours, k Shel? Everyone should be in class."

Shelby nodded, smiling. "Alright Scott."

Scott motioned towards the door to Peter's office again. "You'd better get in there before Peter starts to suspect something."

Shelby gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and started towards the door. "K, bye Scott."

Scott grinned. "For now."

"Yeah."

"See ya."





After sitting through 'the lecture' from Peter...



Shelby waited endlessly. Again. She was seated in the detention room, doing assigned work with Claire Fletcher, one of the counsellors watching over her like a hawk. Shelby's eyes drifted towards the clock every few moments. Time seemed to have slowed down just to irritate her.

It seemed like the hands of the clock would never get to 12:00.

But eventually, they did.

Shelby rose from her seat. "I have to go to the bathroom," she said.

Claire Fletcher glanced at her watch. "You have two minutes."

Shelby ambled out of the room, and darted towards the boy's dorm, very pleased with herself.

Shelby arrived at the boys dorm. She opened the door, to find it empty, save for Scott. "Hey Scott," she said, smiling.

He stepped from his bunk towards her. "Hey beautiful."

Shelby closed the door to the dorm before she forgot. "You know what?" she said, "I have two minutes, but I'm sure they won't mind if I'm late."

Shelby put her arms around him.

"I'm not even gonna ask," he replied. And suddenly they were kissing, engaged in a sweet exchange.

That they were supposed to be separated only ignited more desire.

Scott suddenly pulled away, and touched her face tenderly. "Hey, we've got to figure out a plan to see each other the next week without anyone knowing," he said.

Shelby nodded in agreement. "Yeah.. Ok, how about the janitor's shed, everyday, noon."

"Alright," Scott replied. "That'll work."

[...]



Shelby returned to the detention class, her teacher's arms crossed as she entered.

"Shelby. That was longer than two minutes."

"Oh sorry about that, it's just that I.." Shelby racked her brain for an excuse, and suddenly it came to her. "I had some girl issues to attend to."

"I see," her counsellor replied. "Well, get to work."

Shelby seated herself at a desk, hiding a broad grin, thoroughly pleased with herself.



Peter was seated at a table, along with several members of his staff. "There's a few issues that need addressing," he began. "The first one being Scott and Shelby."

Jeff nodded. "Ah," he said, not surprised.

"Yesterday, past lights out, I was wandering around the grounds, and found the two heavily kissing. They spotted me, and decided to run into the forest, thinking they could evade me, or outrun me or something of the sort. When they didn't return early morning, I ventured into the forest myself, found them asleep in each other's arms," Peter explained.

Jeff merely chuckled. "Why is it that that doesn't surprise me?" he said.

Peter furrowed his brows. "And why is that?"

"Shelby hasn't been paying attention in class lately, she seems to be in this daydreaming mode where she didn't even care if she'd fail an important exam," Jeff explained.

"Shelby actually left restriction room," Claire added, "to supposedly take a trip to the bathroom and she came back half an hour later thoroughly dishevelled."

"And what was her excuse?" Peter questioned.

"She said that she had some girl issues to take care of, at the time I had presumed she meant her period," Claire stated. She subsequently chuckled, and said, "Now that I think about it, her need for being with Scott could constitute as a girl issue."

Peter sighed wearily. "This isn't good."

"What are we going to do with them?" Jeff asked.

Peter shrugged. "Scott told me that he's in love with Shelby," he said.

Claire exhaled slowly, assessing the situation.

"I put them on shuns," Peter continued, "but they need more than just that."

"Sleep on it," Claire suggested.

"I don't want to discourage bonding," Peter began, "but this is too far, there are rules here."

"They'll be out of here in 3 months," said Jeff. "What do they expect to do when they get out of here?"

"I don't know. But while they're togther, they seem to improve, I think they will be ready to get out into the real world. But now their relationship is causing negativity, breaking rules, not paying attention in class, skipping detention.."

"I say sleep on it," Claire suggested again. "Things tend to turn out better when a little thought is put into it."

Peter nodded. "I will."



[time span]



It was past lights out, and Peter roamed the campgrounds, but to no avail. On this night, there was no secret romance progressing in the light of the moon.

Peter returned to his office, and slumped into his chair, mulling over present events endlessly. As mental gestation progressed, a sudden knock came at his door. The door to his office subsequently opened, and it proved to be his secretary, peering inside.

"Peter, you have a call from a Martin Barringer," she said.

"Alright," he replied, and rose from his seat, and proceeded from his office to the front desk.

The secretary picked up the phone again, and handed it to Peter. "Here," she said.

"Hello?" Peter said into the phone.

"Hello Peter, it's Martin Barringer. I received a call from the football coach from Scott's old highschool yesterday, who asked how Scott was doing."

Peter assessed this. "Un huh?"

"From the weekly updates you've supplied me with, I responded. But there was reason for his call."

"And what was that Mr Barringer?" Peter questioned.

"Apparently, their star quarterback is injured, and can't play in the state championships," Martin explained. "The coach said that he wants Scott to return, that he'll give him a second chance if he adjusts well and gets adequate grades. This is every athlete's dream- a second chance."

"Alright," Peter assessed.

"I want Scott to make a decision."

Peter glanced to his watch. "It's past lights out, so he can't make it now," he said.

"I understand," Martin replied.

"Mr Barringer?"

"Yes?"

"It could very well be possible, Scott seems to have gotten rid of the anger," Peter stated.

"And his stepmother's gone, so that shouldn't be an issue."

"Yes. You can tell Scott this tomorrow yourself, you can phone him with the news."

"Alright. Thank you Mr Scarbrow."



After saying goodbye, Peter hung up the phone. This was definitely a new development. And if Scott were to leave- the situation with Shelby and Scott would dissipate. There would be no more meetings past lights out, and a huge burden would be pulled from Peter's shoulders. This could very well be the answer, he thought. Scott seemed to be doing well, Peter reasoned, and he seemed to have gotten rid of the anger. But Peter couldn't be sure if Scott had really gotten rid of the anger, or if it had been Shelby.

Peter returned to his office, lost in thought.



The next morning..



Scott picked up the phone. "Hey dad," he said.

"Hello Scott, there's some news."

Scott twiddled with the phone cord as he listened to the news impatiently. He had already made up his mind. "Dad, forget it. I'm not going home."

"Why not? This is every athlete's dream, a second chance."

"I can't."

"Have you given up football?! Scott.."

"No, I just can't leave," Scott replied, irritated.

"And why is that?"

"I don't want to, okay? I'm not leaving her. Bye dad."

Scott hung up the phone abruptly. There was no way in his mind that he'd leave, especially after promising Shelby that he wouldn't. What did it matter anyways? It was doubtful that he'd still get his scholarship. Besides, Shelby was far more important than pleasing his dad.

Martin was left baffled. A second chance.. Only a select few athletes were presented with the opportunity of a second chance. And his son was willing to give it up.

For what reason? What possible reason?

All he knew was this- that he wasn't going to allow his son to pass it up. It was unfathomable. Scott would thank him someday, he reasoned.

Martin sat back in his swivel chair. He would find a way..