Author's Note: Okay, new chapter, and it's a long one. I won't be here to supply chapters for the following three weeks (I'll be vacationing), so I wanted to be sure to get this chapter up before I left. I'm beginning to wonder if this fricking story will ever end. It has taken on a life of its own. I'm amazed at the form that it's moulded itself to, I never would have guessed that this would have happened with the newbie fic I began with. In any case, thanks for reviewing everyone who reviews, and without further ado, here's the chapter:



"You're not going to believe this, Soph."

Sophie met Peter's gaze. "Believe what?"

"Juliette," Peter sighed, with more than a hint of exasperation. "She's run away from home."

Sophie emitted an audible gasp. "Is she alright?"

Peter shrugged, unknowing. "Her mom said that she had an argument with Juliette, and not long after, Juliette fled."

"An argument about what?"Sophie asked pointedly.

"She didn't say."

Sophie sighed, assessing it all.

"The cops will let us know when they find her, and bring her here," Peter continued.

"Poor Juliette," was Sophie's empathetic reply.

"Evidently, the trip home wasn't such a good idea," Peter said.

"Evidently."

Peter shook his head, and let a handful of paperwork fall onto his desk. "I can't believe this has happened."

"What else did Juliette's mom say over the phone?"

"Not much," Peter answered. "We'll know more when Juliette is brought here. Hopefully, this hasn't caused further damage."

"Yeah," Sophie concluded quietly.



"Anyone have something they want to address before we begin?"

Auggie looked around the circle. All of the Cliffhangers were present, gathered for the latest group session- well, all of the remaining ones. All except one certain girl, of whom he cared very much about..

"Yeah, man," he said. "Where's Jules?"

Peter kept a very neutral tone as he replied. "She'll be back soon," he said, trying not to betray any emotion.

"You didn't answer my question, man."

"Her case, just like all of yours, is confidential," Peter explained. "In any case, no one really knows for sure."

Auggie stood. "What do mean no one knows where she is?!" he demanded.

Peter sighed, exasperated. "Auggie, give it rest. She'll be back soon."

Auggie slowly sat back down.

"Alright. So.. a lot has happened in the past week," Peter continued. "For one thing, Scott left. How do you each feel about this? Starting with Kat."

"I miss him," she said genuinely, "and I miss the old Shelby."

"Alright, next."

Shelby glared, and intercepted the flow before the next person could respond. "You know, I miss the old Shelby too."

Peter blinked. "Would you like to elaborate, Shelby?"

It was with all of her willpower that she contained that she was able to restrain herself. "I think you'd know, Peter. After all, you're partly responsible."

Peter was caught off-guard, and offered no immediate response. Shelby glowered, and subsequently left the scene, unable to restrain herself longer.

Kat looked towards her headmaster. "Peter?" she asked. "Do you know what she's talking about?"

"Yeah," he said dimly. "Group, you're dismissed for now. I have something to attend to."





Peter drummed his fingers against the hard wood of his desk, lost in thought. He sat back in his chair, mulling it over, turning it over in his thoughts.

Could he have been wrong? Could it all have been a mistake?

The conflict raged on, he so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't even notice when Sophie opened the door to his office, and ambled inside. Only did he notice her presence when his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her shutting the door.

At the mere sight of her, his drumming fingers lost their rhythm, the tension in his muscles eased somewhat knowing that now that she was there, she could help put things in perspective.

Sophie's eyes grazed over him: she could easily discern the tension in his muscles, the conflict that clearly lined his face. She pulled up a chair next to him.

"Been thinking?" she asked.

"I'm starting to question my decision," he related.

"And why is that?"

"Shelby," Peter replied. "She's not taking Scott's absence well."

Sophie smiled weakly. "Well of course she isn't," she replied knowingly. "Young love," she continued, reminiscing.

Peter held Sophie's gaze. "How do you think I handled it?"

"I think that you did what you felt you had to do," Sophie replied easily. "In any case, we couldn't have Scott and Shelby continuing on like they were."

Peter glanced away. "I'm starting to question my decision. When Scott and Shelby were together, they seemed to improve together. But now that Scott's gone, Shelby has become downright unruly."

Sophie cocked an eyebrow. "Can you blame her? She'll get over it eventually. Don't worry about it."

"I should talk with her."

"I think it'd be better if I did it- you know, girl to girl."

Peter shrugged. "Alright," he consented. "Thanks Soph."

"No problem."









Shelby laid on her bunk, miserable. Scott was gone, forever. She'd have to spend the entire duration of the rest of her life without him. Shelby thought about their last moments, before the entire chaos of the football and Scott's dad had come about. She and Scott had actually discussed a future together, and who knows where that could have led. Marriage? Kids? Shelby felt so strongly for Scott, that it didn't seem farfetched to her to contemplate marriage. Bleakly, she pondered what could have been.

Shelby abandoned the thought. Scott was gone, forever, and he wasn't coming back. She'd never see him again- let alone marry him.



Shelby felt her bunk shift with someone's weight next to her.

"Hey. Are you doing alright?"

Shelby turned to the speaker. It was none other than Sophie Becker. "What do you think?"

"I take it, that no, you're not doing alright," Sophie replied.

"You think so?" Shelby said sarcastically.

"Do you want to tell me?"

Shelby rolled her eyes, irritated that she couldn't be left alone. "If I had wanted to tell you, I would have done so already."

"C'mon Shelby," Sophie said. "It's obvious that something is bothering you."

"And you really don't know what it is, huh?" came Shelby's reply. "Well here's a hint, I'm about ready to kill Peter."

"For his part in Scott leaving?" Sophie questioned.

Shelby glared at Sophie, as if to say, 'Duh'.

"It was for the best."

"And *how* do you figure that?!" Shelby demanded, now angry. "What about me? Do you think it was best for me?!"

"Was it?"

Shelby glowered. "It was about the worst possible thing that could have happened to me."

"Shelby," Sophie began.

"Don't pretend like you know," Shelby continued, glaring. "You have no idea."

"Do you want to tell me about it?"

Shelby met Sophie's gaze fiercely. "I am never going to forgive Peter- not ever. He may have saved my life- but he killed me too. Don't pretend like I owe either or you anything- because I don't, not anymore. These talks are useless- they're not going to undo the damage, that PETER convinced me into doing. 'It's for the best'- don't give me that. And don't come to me asking what the hell's wrong when you already know. You know, where the hell is Peter? I have a few things I need to get off my chest.."





The rest of the Cliffhangers were confined in the art room.

"I suck at art," Amber noted, scanning her artwork in distaste.

Auggie added a stroke of his paintbrush to his own artwork. "I bet you don't," he said.

Amber chuckled idly. "See for yourself," she said, displaying her creation.

Auggie threw a glance in the direction. "Ok, I take it back."

"Well THAT was reassuring."

"Yeah, really," Ezra put in.

"Hey anyone know what Shelby was talking about in group today?" questioned Kat.

"According to the cards," said Daisy, "Peter committed an act, and is now conflicted about it. We can now presume that it implicates Shelby, maybe even Scott."

"Ooh gossip," Amber noted. "Speaking of which, c'mon Adrian, I need to talk with you." She gestured toward Adrian, when he didn't move.

"Uh, alright," he said, setting down his paintbrush, and followed her outside the room.

----

Amber grasped the front of his shirt. "So what do you say we skip art and 'talk' in the janitor's shed?"

Adrian removed her hand from his shirt impatiently. "Amber- no."

"Why not?" she demanded. "Don't try to tell me that you didn't enjoy our last 'talk', because I know you did."

"A part of me did, a part of me is still missing Erika."

Amber glared at him. "Forget Erika. She's not coming back. I'm here, now."

"No," he said sternly.

Amber smirked mischievously, and took his hand. "I'll take that as a yes.."

"Amber, no."

"You're trying to resist me. You can't."

Adrian roughly yanked his hand away. "Watch me. I don't even like you."

Amber's grin grew broader. "You don't have to like me to enjoy my company. Now come on, before we lose any more time."





The door to Peter's office was flung open. Peter glanced towards it, seated at his desk.

"Shelby," he greeted, setting down the paperwork in his hands. "Can I get you something?"

"Can you get me something?" she asked incredulously. "Oh, lord. How about happiness? How about Scott? Think you can do that for me?"

Peter breathed a quiet sigh. "Shelby, I understand that you're upset about Scott leaving.."

"No, you don't," said Shelby angrily. "You don't understand it at all."

Peter met Shelby's gaze. "What don't I understand?"

"Just how severe the effects of a decision were," Shelby stated fearlessly. "That's what you don't understand."

Peter gestured to an vacant chair near his desk, motioning for her to sit down. She didn't. Seeing that it was useless, Peter leaned back in his own chair. "Do you want to tell me about it?"

Shelby's face was a mask of controlled rage. "I don't owe you anything. I will *never* forgive you for allowing it to happen."

"I'm sorry about that," he replied evenly. "But you realize, that all along, it was your decision, your actions that brought it into play."

"You convinced me into thinking that it was the right thing to do- that if I kept him here, I was being selfish, and holding him back! The worst part of it is- I still can't figure out whether or not I did the right thing! I definitely didn't do the right thing for myself. Let me ask you something- did you ever think about MY repercussions?"

Peter waited for her to continue.

"Well?" she continued. "You probably just wanted to get rid of Scott so you wouldn't have to deal with us anymore. You always lecture us about not taking the easy way out. Well, you did. Here's a tip- if you expect me to listen to you from here on, practice what you preach."

Shelby didn't wait for a reply- she immediately left his office, slamming the door behind her.



Shelby was draped across her bunk in the girl's dorm, clad in pajamas, miserable.

"I don't know what to do with myself," she said wearily.

Daisy chuckled. "Believe me, we don't know what to do with you either."

"That's reassuring."

"I wasn't meant to be," Daisy muttered to herself.

"What I'm trying to say is, well, there's no reason to stay here anymore, and yet there's nowhere I could go."

"Why don't you call Scott?" Kat suggested. "It'll probably do you good to hear his voice, even if it is just hello."

A weak smile formed on Shelby's features, and dissipated just as quickly. "I can't do that," she stated.

"Why not?"

"I don't know," she said. "But man, I'd kill to hear his voice."

"So why don't you do it?" Kat asked. "You're going to be here for a few months longer, then you can get out of here. Might as well be happy if for just a few minutes."

Shelby sat up. "You think I should?"

"Sure," Kat responded. "Besides, your depressed self isn't exactly the funnest thing to be around."

"I don't know."

"C'mon, Shelby, you deserve happiness."

"And we deserve peace," Amber added.

"But he's only been gone a day," Shelby said. "It'll seem desperate."

"I'm sure he won't mind."

Shelby stared into space. Her gaze subsequently transferred to Kat. "But what would I say?"

"Tell him to get his ass back over here," Amber put in.

"I don't care- anything," Kat replied, ignoring Amber.

Shelby glanced outside. "It's pretty late. I'll try to phone him tomorrow."

Kat smiled. "Alright, Shel."

Shelby brought the covers to her chin, an absent smile on her countenance.



the next day..



Shelby stood before the telephone. It had consumed her thoughts the entire duration of the night before, the mere thought intoxicating.

What would she say? She still hadn't decided, despite that she'd been awake the entire night before, contemplating it.

Shelby slowly enclosed her fingers around the phone, bringing it to her ear. Her fingers dialled the number, and as she listened to it ring, she closed her eyes.



----------------

Martin Barringer sat in his livingroom, finishing up some paperwork. As far as he was concerned, all was well in the world. Scott was at home, where he should be, away from that girl. It had all worked out, all according to plan. It had all played out perfectly.

Scott would go on to do what he was born to do- to play football. Scott would rightfully receive the scholarship and find his place in the world. And Scott would have him to thank for it.

The phone rang, and he answered it.

"Hello?" he said.

"Hi- is Scott there?"

Martin could faintly recognize the caller's voice. "Who is this?" he asked.

"It's Shelby."

Martin wrinkled his nose. The girl still wasn't finished with his son. Well, he figured, as long as he had something to do with it, she was. "I'm sorry, he's not in right now."

"Well, can you please make sure that he phones me back, at Horizon?"

"Uh, sure," Martin replied, not meaning a word of it. "Bye."

"Bye."

He hung up the phone.

Martin couldn't help but feel disgust. The girl had aided them in getting Scott's life on the right track, and so what was she doing now, telephoning him? Did she want to undo all that they'd all worked so hard to create? The girl was Scott's one weakness. Scott and Shelby's life together had ended at Horizon, and if Martin had anything to do with it, it would stay that way.

---------------

Shelby breathed an exasperated sigh as she set down the phone. Scott hadn't been there, but at least now, she'd have something to look forward to.



Martin Barringer's thoughts were interrupted by Scott, entering the room. Seeing the thoughtful expression on his dad's visage, he asked, "Hey dad- what's up?"

"Nothing, Scott," Martin replied quickly. "Well, actually- there is something- coach phoned and said that they have a game Friday, so they have to get you in shape quick!"

"Okay," Scott assessed. "Anything else?"

"No."

"Alright."

Shelby returned to the girl's dorm, with her fellow inmates barely able to contain themselves, asking about her phone call.

"He wasn't there," she replied.

"Aww, that sucks," consoled Kat. "I'm sorry Shel."

"It's okay," Shelby dismissed. "His dad said he'd make sure Scott phoned me back."

"I'm glad," Kat said.

"That's great," Daisy commented.

"Yeah," Shelby smiled. "It'll give me something to look forward to, for sure."

"Yeah," Kat agreed. "C'mon, let's go eat lunch."



Ezra, Auggie and Adrian were seated at a table in the lunchroom.

"Where are they?" Ezra asked, his question directed to no one in particular.

"Who knows, man," Auggie replied, unconcerned.

Adrian nodded towards the entrance to the room. "They're coming," he said, watching as the female members of the Cliffhanger clan waited for their food to be served.

"Where were y'all?" Auggie asked them, as they neared their table.

Kat smiled. "Shelby tried to phone Scott."

"What to you mean 'tried'?" asked Ezra.

"He wasn't there," Shelby replied evenly.

"But he's going to call her back," Kat was quick to add.

Auggie grinned. "Heh! Well good for you, man."

"I'm actually not a man," said Shelby, "but thanks."

"So what does it mean?" Auggie questioned. "You've never even told us the whole thing that went on with Scott leaving. So are you gonna tell me or what?"

Shelby raised an eyebrow. "You really want to know?" she asked skeptically.

"Well yeah. I'm real interested, but -"

"It's alright," Shelby dismissed. "Listen up, because I'm only going to say this once. Ok, well me and Scott got into trouble for braking some rules. Then Scott's dad phones Scott, telling him he can still have a spot on the football team, that his old school's team is in the state championships, and they need a new quarterback because their's is injured. Scott refuses, because he promised me he'd never leave me again. So then, Scott's dad drives up, and I guess he and Peter talk, and figure out that the only way Scott would leave would be me. That's all."

"Man. That's real messed," Auggie said. "So you really love Scott, dontcha Shel?"

Shelby merely nodded, a small smile plastered on her countenance.

"Man, are you smilin'?"

"Yeah, I think she is," Ezra put in.

"Shelby smiling," Auggie mused. "That's something we haven't seen in a while."



Shelby sat on her bunk, bored out her mind, just waiting.

"When is he going to phone?" she said anxiously.

"All you can do is wait," came Daisy's reply.

"What if he doesn't call?"

"He's going to call."

Kat suddenly burst into the room. "Hey guess what, guys- I overhead Peter talking- Juliette's back."





Peter scrutinized the girl before him- a girl hardly recognizable. Her head was drawn, her eyes directed towards the ground. This was not the girl he'd once known.

"Juliette?" he said.

Her head raised somewhat, her eyes meeting his for a moment. "What?" she asked, before diverting her eyes.

"Can you please look at me?"

"No."

Peter regarded her intently. "Why not?"

"I just.. no."

"Why did you run away?" he asked slowly.

Juliette's head raised, her eyes filling with tears. "No one believed me.."

"No one believed you about what?"

It was a moment before she answered. "My.. my stepfather. He's not as he seems.." Her words were slowly executed, and deliberate.

"Alright," Peter concluded. "We'll leave it at that, for now.'



"Well, Juliette's back," Peter announced as he walked into his office.

Sophie was there to greet him. "How is she?"

Peter took a chair. "She's a mess," he said dimly.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Peter said distantly. "Doesn't look good. I'm going to talk with her more later."

"Yeah, you'd better do that."

"She had this wad of cash in her pockets," Peter began, "that she said she stole from her step-dad. When I asked her why she ran away, she said it was because of him, and mumbled something about her mom."

"Did she explain why?" asked Sophie.

"I never got that far. I'd like to see her cleaned up first."

"Hm."

"By the way, when you talked with Shelby, what did she say?" Peter questioned, leaning back into his chair.

Sophie smiled weakly as she reminisced. "Just that she was never going to forgive you. Why?"

"She talked with me yesterday, looked about ready to explode," Peter explained.

"Well, I'm not surprised," Sophie replied. "She's really angry at you. She misses Scott."

"I know."





The Cliffhanger girls sat on their own bunks, conversing, when the door opening directed all attention elsewhere.

"Well if it isn't Juliette," Daisy greeted.

Juliette smiled meekly. "Hi guys."

Kat went to hug her. "So where ya been, girl?"

Juliette pulled away from her. "I don't want to talk about it."

Daisy's stare was all-knowing, with her tarot cards laid out on her bunk. "According to the cards, she's experiencing the aftereffects of a traumatic event."

"That's about right," Juliette mumbled.

"Juliette?" said Kat, her tone revealing concern. "Are you alright?"

Juliette shook her head, and Kat embraced her empathetically.

"So did you know that Scott left?"

"Scott left?" Juliette asked, suddenly alert.

"Yeah," Kat replied, "and he told me to tell you goodbye for him."

"Oh. He's really gone this time?"

Kat nodded. "Yeah. Have you seen Auggie? He's been really worried about you, Jules."

"Haven't seen him yet," came Juliette's soft answer.

"Are you going to?"

"Not now."

"Juliette, what's wrong?" Kat prodded.

"I want to go to bed," was all that Juliette offered.

"Alright, we understand."

Shelby was sprawled on her bunk. "Scott isn't going to phone me."

"He probably has an excuse," said Kat.

"Yeah, and it's probably that he just didn't feel like calling me."

"Shelby, you know that's not true," Daisy put in.

"Well," began Shelby, "apparently it is, because he isn't calling me."

Her only response was the silence.

"It's light's out," Kat announced after a few moments. "We should all be getting to bed."



Scott stared up at the night sky, trying to get to sleep, but unable to. His thoughts were consumed by a certain girl he loved, but wasn't with, couldn't be with. She puzzled him beyond what he thought possible, with a sudden change of heart, and a contradictory picture that he cherished.

His love for her consumed him. It would always consume him, and it always had. Just because she wasn't with him didn't tame his love... it only saddled him with sadness that she wasn't there with him.

And somehow, he was expected to live. Somehow, he would have to find a way to live, would have to adapt. Unknowingly, she used to breathe fresh air into him, she kept him alive. But now, she was a thousand miles away, and there was nothing he could do. Even sleep wouldn't allow him its console. He could do nothing, but breathe in his emotions, give into his sadness, and hope for brighter things to come- All the while knowing, that his existence would always be dim without the blinding light of his one true love.

He couldn't go on, couldn't even breathe, but would somehow have to.