Author's note: woohoo.. Two chapters up in a day! Hopefully this makes up for the fact that it's like, a week late. Now, the story's going in a completely different direction, and I'm having loads of fun writing it. Hope y'all enjoy reading these past two chaps. :) ~Jazz



PLEASE READ: Read the chapter previous to this one if you intend to understand this one at all. I uploaded two chapters at the same time, and y'all are going to be totally confused without reading the previous chapter. Thanks~

Martin Barringer stared blankly at the road ahead, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, waiting for the traffic light to change colors.

He had been driving for hours. It was a long trip that he was making, a long but very necessary one in his mind.

This was about his son's very future.

He watched the traffic light turn green, and he put his foot to the pedal, all the while lost in thought.

There had to b e something wrong, he pondered. It had been a miracle when the coach had called his residence, shown to him that all hope was not lost. There was no way he was going to let his son be idle, watching the opportunities drift by him. It was unthinkable. If he were not to take action, he decided, he would be a poor parent, even worse than Scott thought him to be. And that thought was unbearable.

There had to be reason for Scott's refusal, Martin knew. Had Scott grown too accustomed to the nurturing ways of Horizon? Had he grown dependant? What could it be?

Peter had said that Scott was ready. But Scott had made it clear that he wasn't. What as going on that he didn't know about?

Martin reached the wilderness and isolation of the mountainside, he was drawing nearer to Horizon, one thought in his head: I am not going to let my son throw away his future.

Peter sat at his desk in his office, shuffling through the mounds of paperwork stacked before him. It was an ordinary day, as far as he knew.

A knock came at his door, and he called, "Come in."

He was stunned to see that the visitor was none other than Martin Barringer.

"Hello Peter," Martin greeted, closing the door behind him.

"Mr Barringer," Peter returned, "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Yes, actually," came Martin's reply. "Scott is throwing his life away."

Peter set down his paperwork momentarily. "How so?"

"He wants to stay here," Martin responded, sounding thoroughly baffled, and as though he was trying to make sense of it all. "Before, he was jumping to get out of here, and now that he has the opportunity to leave, to make something of himself, he wants to stay. I don't understand it."

Peter furrowed his brows. "He doesn't want to go home?"

"That's right. This is his final chance, there isn't going to be one after this, and he's willing to pass it up. He can still get his scholarship, but he doesn't want it." There was a note of desperation in his voice.

"Hmm," Peter assessed.

"I know that Scott and I don't have the best relationship at the moment," Martin rambled on, "but that can change, especially with Elaine long gone. She's a distant memory."

"So he doesn't want to go home?" Peter repeated.

"That's exactly it," Martin responded, growing impatient. "Can you tell me why this is?"

Peter leaned back in his chair as he thought, mentally ran through the possibilities, but one jumped out at him, and it made him uneasy. "The only reason I can think of is, that maybe he wants to stay for Shelby," he said.

"Shelby? Who's Shelby?" Martin demanded.

"They've grown really close," Peter replied. "So close, in fact, that they are both on shuns at the moment."

"What are you telling me?" Martin asked outright.

Peter shrugged, and recounted it as simply as he could. "He's in love with a girl."

Puzzlement crossed Martin's features. "That's it? That's why he's willing to pass up a scholarship? A girl?"

Peter nodded. "Yeah, that's what I think. You can ask Scott yourself if you want," he offered.

"I asked him over the phone why he was willing to pass it up, and he wouldn't tell me. Said that he couldn't leave," Martin related.

"Then, would you like me to have a talk with him?"

Martin nodded immediately. "Yes. Put some sense in his head."

"Alright," Peter assessed. "I'll do that."

Martin sighed in relief. This is all going to work out in my, and Scott's favour, he thought in relief. "Thank you Mr Scarbrow. I appreciate it. There's no way I'm going to let him give up his future a second time."



Scott stood at the closed door to Peter's office. Here's my death sentence, he thought. The day before, Peter had promised that his mass of punishments was not yet done accumulating. What's the worst he could possibly do, what's the worst punishment he could possibly come up with? Scott thought, but quickly brushed the thought aside. He could think of plenty of things.

Scott knocked at the door, and opened it ajar.

It was just Peter, with a ton of paperwork keeping his hands occupied.

"You wanted to see me?" Scott asked.

"Yes," Peter stated simply.

"Come up with my punishment yet?" Scott questioned impatiently.

Peter drummed his fingers on his desk. "Actually Scott, recent events have put that on hold."

"What recent events?"

"Your old football coach.." Peter began.

"Yeah, I know, my dad told me," Scott interrupted. "And I don't care because I'm staying right here."

"Scott, you might still have a shot at the scholarship," Peter explained. "You won't if you stay here."

Scott furrowed his brows. "So what, you want to get rid of me that badly, huh?"

"I just want what's best for you."

"I think I'd know what's best for me, and it's right here." Scott's voice was unwavering, and insistent.

Peter folded his arms. "And why is that?" he questioned.

"Why do you think?" Scott asked, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Why don't you tell me."

"Here's a hint," Scott said, "I'm not staying for you."

It was easy to read between the lines, especially since they had had a similar conversation not long ago. "But you want to stay for Shelby?"

"Yeah," Scott asserted. "You've got a problem with that?"

Peter's tone was serious. "That's not in your best interests, Scott."

"And so you know what my best interests are, huh?" Scott challenged.

It was a moment before Peter replied. Scott already knew the answer his own question, and so Peter didn't waste any time bothering to respond. "What are you going to do when you graduate from Horizon?" Peter asked quietly.

"I don't know," Scott admitted freely, "but it'll be with Shelby."

"Scott," Peter began, "don't let something get in the way of your future."

There was fierce determination in Scott's eyes. "Shelby is my future. That's all."

"And you know that for sure?" Peter questioned.

"Yes," Scott replied easily. "Are we done yet? You're not going to change my mind."

Peter sat slumped in his chair. What had begun as a simple decision had now escalated into a feud between father and son. And he was in the middle of it all.

Martin entered his office.

"So how'd it go?" Martin asked immediately.

"Well," Peter began, "it's definitely about Shelby, but he has his heart set on staying. With her."

He watched the grim realization take over Martin's face. But Peter could discern it in Martin's eyes, the same fierce determination that his son so relentlessly carried.

This was not yet over.

Shelby sat on the bench located in the janitor's shed, waiting for Scott. It was noon, they had a 'meeting' arranged, since otherwise, they had no means of seeing one another.

He suddenly emerged into the shed, but it was not his usual self. There was a wild look in his eyes, a look she didn't immediately recognize.

"Hey Shel," he greeted her.

"Scott, what's up?" she asked immediately.

Suddenly, his arms were around her, holding her tight. It was like he couldn't let her go, like she would slip from his grasp if he did. He held her face in his hands, and their gazes locked. "I'm never going to leave you," he said.

Shelby scrutinized him. "Good to know.." she replied. "But where did that come from?"

His eyes drifted from hers, and she recognized the look conspicuous in his eyes at last. Conflict? Inner turmoil? Or was it fierce determination? "My dad phoned today and was like, the football coach wants me back on the team cuz his star quarterback is injured and whatever," Scott explained quickly. Their eyes met once again. "But there wasn't a question in my mind."

Shelby's eyes widened. "Scott!" she exclaimed. "So you had another chance? And you turned it down."

He grinned at her. "Just for you, beautiful."

His smile was contagious, and she found that she, too, was smiling. "Why?" she asked eventually.

She knew that look in his eyes anywhere. Genuine sincerity. "I promised you, remember?"

"Oh, Scott," Shelby said, not knowing what to make of this revelation. Again, he had turned down his future for her. But she wanted him to know that it wasn't done for a lost cause. She smiled at him. "That's so sweet, not to mention crazy, but sweet."

"I love you, Shel," Scott said seriously.

She smiled at him. "I love you."



"Mr Barringer," Peter said finally, "I think Scott's made his decision. I have work to do."

"So that's it?" Martin demanded. "You're going to let him give up his future?"

Peter reached for his paperwork. "He loves this girl fiercely," he explained. "There's no swaying him."

Peter transferred his gaze to the relentless parent, and noted the lost gaze, deep in thought. He shifted his gaze back to his paperwork, when he heard Martin's voice, full of hope once again.

"Maybe not."

"What do you propose?" Peter questioned.

"Obviously, the problem is the girl," Martin stated. "What kind of girl is she? Does she know that Scott's giving up his future for her?"

"She's a decent girl, they make quite the pair. I don't know if she knows this situation with Scott that has arisen. I'd hope not, because they're both on shuns and aren't supposed to have contact," Peter replied.

"If there's any hope that Scott will get on with his life, make something of himself, she has to have a hand in it," Martin said.

Peter set his paperwork down, and focussed his full attention to the situation at hand. "I agree, but she's an independent girl. I doubt that she'd aid in a plan to send away Scott."

"Let me talk with her."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea, Mr Barringer," Peter replied.

"You can be present," Martin responded easily. "I just want what's best for my son, and at the moment, it's not her."

Peter sighed wearily. He pondered it, and decided that he, too, wanted the best for Scott. "Alright," he agreed finally.



Shelby entered Peter's office. She hadn't been surprised when she heard that Peter had requested her presence. It could be any number of things, she reasoned.

But she hadn't been anticipating what lay inside Peter's office. Peter, and another man, a black-haired, forty-something man of whom she recognized. Scott's dad. She had caught a glimpse of him when he had come to visit Scott some time ago. But what could he possibly want with her?

"Shelby, sit down," Peter instructed.

"Hello," she heard Scott's dad say, "I'm Scott's dad, Martin Barringer."

"What is this?" she asked immediately.

"Shelby, I'm not sure if you are aware, but Scott now has a second chance at a football scholarship," Peter said.

She nodded. "I know."

Peter furrowed his brows at this revelation. "How so?"

Shelby knew that there was likely reason for this unusual session, and that she'd better be honest. "Scott told me," she replied quietly.

"You're both on shuns," Peter stated.

Shelby rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know," she said.

"What else did he tell you?" Martin asked curiously.

Shelby didn't bother answering the question. "What did you bring me here for?" she asked outright.

"Scott doesn't want to go, doesn't want his scholarship, because of you," Martin stated.

"Un huh," Shelby assessed.

"But this is future, and he's throwing his life away by staying here," Martin continued.

She couldn't help but get a little defensive. This was not how she had first anticipated to meet Scott's dad. "So him staying with me is throwing his life away?"

"He can still get the scholarship. It's the state championships, there's still a chance. And they need him," Peter explained.

Shelby blinked. "So what are you saying?"

"We need your help," Martin responded.

"To do what?"

"Convince Scott that he needs to go. You're the only one who can get him to do anything," Martin admitted.

Shelby shook her head. "There's no way he'd do it."

"Why not?" Peter asked.

"He.. The truth is.." Shelby began, trying to figure out how exactly to put it."He.. made me a promise," she said eventually.

"A promise? What kind of promise?" Peter questioned.

"He promised that.. he'd never leave me again."

Martin could hardly believe what she was telling them. "You made him promise that?!" he asked incredulously.

"No, he promised me that himself. I didn't ask him to make it," Shelby explained.

Peter regarded her seriously. "Shelby," he said, "do you want what's best for Scott?"

"Yeah, of course I do," she replied.

"Then you have to convince him to go."

"I couldn't do that if I tried," Shelby responded. "The only way he'd go is if he thought I didn't love him anymore."

"Then that's the answer," Martin declared. "To all of this. You have to convince him that you don't love him, so then he'd have no reason to stay."

Shelby shook her head. "I can't do that," she said outright.

"Why not?" Martin demanded.

"I love him, and he loves me."

Martin glanced towards her. "I'm not seeing the problem."

"Shelby," Peter addressed, "do you want to be the one holding Scott back? In the long run, it'd be better if he left. It's just a few months sooner."

It took all that she had to refrain from welling up with tears. Convince Scott that she didn't love him? Unimaginable. Unthinkable. What a horrifying concept, she thought. There was truly nothing she'd rather do less.

Peter apparently could read her face like a book, as he replied, "Shelby, I know this might be hard for you, but please consider it. This is our final resort."

"Just think about it," Martin stated, somewhat unsympathetically. He added, as an afterthought, "I'm sorry that we had to meet like this."

Shelby swallowed. "It's alright," she said finally. "I understand. I don't want to understand, but I do."

"So are you going to give it a shot?" Martin questioned.

She gave him a look. "I'm going to think about it." It was all that she could do, at that moment, to contain herself. She felt like she was going to explode.

"Thanks Shelby."

Shelby subsequently left the room without another word.

--

Peter turned to Martin. "Well," he said, "it's a start."

"Yeah."

Shelby stormed into the girl dorm, and flung herself onto her bunk rather ungracefully.

The angry display caught Kat's attention immediately. "Shelby?" she asked softly. "What's up?"

Kat turned to see that Shelby was lying face-down on her bunk. "Shelby?" she asked again.

"Oh nothing," came the muffled, sarcastic reply. "It's just been the worst day of my entire life. No need to care."

Daisy watched this thoughtfully, not surprised.

"Are you okay Shelby?" Kat questioned.

Shelby sat upright. "No," she replied furiously. "I am not okay. I am not even close to being okay. Life is so fricking unfair," Shelby said, and flung a pillow across the room. She subsequently bounded onto her bunk again, and refused to face the Cliffhanger girls.

"Shelby?"

"What the hell is the point of living?" Shelby rambled. "I mean it's not like things ever turn out the way I want them to."

When no one could reply, Shelby fled from the dorm, outside. Daisy thought she had discerned a tear on Shelby's cheek, but it didn't surprise her.

The cliffhanger girls exchanged uneasy, and confounded glances.

"What's up with her?" Amber remarked.

"She is faced with a difficult, heart-breaking decision," Daisy replied solemnly. "I read it in the cards."

"Can we do anything?" Kat asked her.

Daisy merely shrugged. "I don't know," she said helplessly.



Her head in her hands, Shelby cried helplessly. The one person who could make her smile at this moment she couldn't love. Worse yet, she couldn't tell him she loved him more than the world. She had to make him believe she didn't love him at all.

I don't have to go along with it, she reasoned. But each time she brought this thought up, she reminded herself that this was Scott's future. She knew that he promised that they'd live happily ever after once they got out of Horizon, but how realistic was that exactly? Could they, really?