Author's Note: Hey y'all... Sorry that this chapter took so long! I went to visit some family, and I wasn't able to access this story in all the three weeks that I was gone. But it made me realize how much I really missed writing it! And I had a lot of time to think about it, and I've got it all figured out. Every last detail. This story still isn't close to being over! But yes, the chapter's finally up! And yes.. The misery in this fic is finally coming to an end. Or getting there, in any case. Thanks for reviewing everyone who reviews, love y'all, if it weren't for y'all reviewers, this story would have probably gotten nowhere. Y'all totally motivate me! Thanks, again~! Now, onto the chapter!



A few days passed uneventfully..



Scott Barringer was seated outside on the bottom step of his front porch. He watched absently as the wind maneuvered the trees, the foliage swaying and rattling in its embrace. He simply sat there, with the breeze against his face, ruffling his hair.

A mere hour ago, he'd played an important football game.

Countless spectators had cheered him on. He'd played brilliantly, leading his team to victory. He had owned that game- scoring countless touchdowns, doing what he did best. He'd proved that he was there for a reason. But somehow, he didn't feel accomplished. He didn't feel anything.

It all meant nothing to him.

He suddenly noticed Tara, standing several feet away from him, a quiet smile on her lips. He met her gaze, but said nothing. But she didn't appear to be disturbed by his lack of acknowledgement. She slowly drew nearer, taking her steps leisurely, and sat down next to him. "Hey Scott," she said amiably.

"Hey."

"You played a great game," she said, her gaze never lingering from him.

"Yeah," he dismissed.

"No- an amazing game. You're so good."

"Un huh," he said distantly.

Tara stared at him intently, wishing that he'd look at her, meet her gaze if just once. He didn't. He was a mystery to her- once a close friend, now just a gorgeous stranger.

Her brown eyes scrutinized him, finding no trace of emotion. Just vacancy, impassiveness.

Scott merely sat there in silence, staring off into the distance, giving no indication that he knew she was even there.

"What's up with you, Scott?" she asked him finally. "No one's seen you in over a year and when you come back, you recluse."

For the first time during their encounter, Scott turned to her. "Don't worry about it," he dismissed, before turning his gaze away.

"Scott, I care about you," she maintained.

Scott shook his head. "Why?"

Tara furrowed her brows, surprised that he was, yet again questioning her. "Because I do, alright? Do I need to give you a reason?"

He didn't turn to face her, didn't do anything, couldn't even bother to respond.

"Scott? What's wrong?" Tara prodded, growing concerned.

Scott met her gaze, and she could faintly detect sadness, hollowness in his eyes. "Nothing that you can fix," he replied sadly.

"Are you sure about that?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," he replied easily.

Tara smiled, thinking about how she'd prove his words wrong. Impulsively, she reached out to touch his face, and kissed him.

At her lips' touch, Scott turned his head away from her.

"Tara- it's not going to happen," he said, irritated.

"Why not?" she asked. "Seriously, why not?"

When he didn't answer, Tara resorted to guessing.

"You don't like me, is that it?"

"It's not that I don't like you," Scott replied, shaking his head, "it's that.. my heart is with someone else."

Tara raised her eyebrows in interest. "Yeah? Who is she?"

"She's not here."

"I'm here," Tara offered. She reached out to touch his hand. "Sometimes you have to move on."

"I don't have to move on," Scott asserted, pulling his hand away from her touch. "Nor can I."

Seeing that it was useless, Tara rose. "Fine," she said through clenched teeth, irritated with him, irritated with herself for wasting her time on him. "Whatever. I do all this for you and this is how you repay me."

Scott sighed, exasperated. "Just let me be. Alright? Just let me be."

"Fine," she dismissed, taking a few steps away from him. "You want to be alone, I'll let you be alone."

Without another word, Tara turned away from Scott's indifferent eyes. Without looking back, she walked away.

Out of her earshot, Scott offered a reply. "Thanks," he said quietly.





It was night, dreary and dismal inside the girl's dorm.

"Maybe you should try phoning Scott again?" Kat suggested.

"Maybe I shouldn't try at all," Shelby said grimly, any remnant of spirit visibly drained from her body. "Maybe I should just give up."

"No, Shel, you can't give up."

"Yeah?" Shelby said sardonically. "Give me a reason why I shouldn't."

"There's probably way more to it than you know," Kat reasoned. "Maybe whoever just forgot to deliver the message. There has to be an explanation, because there's no way Scott would give up on you."

Shelby shook her head doubtfully. "I doubt it. As far as he knows, I don't love him, which is so far from the truth that.. in any case, he probably wants nothing to do with me, ever again."

"That's not true and you know it," Daisy interjected.

"You know what?" Shelby announced. "I'm giving up, forever. He gave me this false hope... and I'm not going to let myself believe anymore. It's not worth the disappointment, it's not worth the pain."

Daisy sighed quietly as she overturned a tarot card.



the next morning..



Juliette was seated at a picnic table outside, alone, occupied with her homework. She hadn't spoken with Auggie in all the time that she'd been back. He'd tried to initiate conversation with her, but each time, she'd refused to look him in the eye, refuse to answer his burning questions directly. She couldn't. She'd changed, she wasn't who once was, she was no longer the girl by his side. She was different now. Ever since the incident, she'd..

"Hey Jules," Auggie said, sitting down beside her. "How's it going?"



Juliette knew she couldn't utter the usual superficial reply of 'fine', so she didn't bother. She didn't even give any indication that she knew he was beside her.

"Juliette?" Auggie asked, concerned.

Juliette turned to him, suddenly emotional, teary-eyed. "I'm sorry," she managed. "I can't."

And with that, she fled, leaving a thoroughly confounded Auggie behind her.





Two months strolled by, months dreary and uneventful, dragging by with every new day.. Nothing ever changed, it all just continued on as it had before, continuing on endlessly. Shelby smiled not once in the span of time, Juliette reclused, with Auggie chasing after her to no avail. Adrian waited for Erika to return in vain, and meanwhile was kept occupied with Amber. Scott continued to lead his football team to victory, but was never able to feel pride at his accomplishments, because inside, he could feel nothing but emptiness. Circumstances were driving them all insane, they were merely existing, wandering in circles. But a fateful day arrived, and scattered everything.



The Cliffhangers were seated outside on a picnic table, finishing up homework and chatting idly. It was like any other day, Shelby inside the girl's dorm, doing nothing but feeling sorry for herself, everyone in their usual mood. Nothing out of the ordinary. The day was sunny and temperate, perfect weather to be outdoors.

All was interrupted, all was stopped, when a vaguely familiar figure came loping towards them. A familiar tall, blond, green-eyed girl who exuded a fearless aura..

"S'up fellow rejects?" she said, resting her hands on the picnic table.

"Erika!" Adrian registered immediately.

"The one and fucking only," she retorted.

"You're really back?" Kat asked.

Erika smirked. "You didn't honestly think you could get rid of me for long, did you?"

"Are you staying?"

"Damn right I am."

"Cool."

"So, how was the juvie experience?" Ezra asked curiously.

"Juvie?" she snorted. "A fucking bore. Treat you like shit. Don't let you do shit."

"But you got out, eh?" Auggie put in.

"You'd better believe it," Erika replied, her gaze transferring to each of the Cliffhangers, before fixating on an unfamiliar face. "Who the fuck are you?" she asked outright.

"Name's Amber," Amber replied curtly, taking an instant dislike to Erika, eying her haughtily.

"There's been a few changes with our group," Kat explained to Erika. "For one thing, Scott went home."

"And his girl..?" Erika questioned.

"Shelby? Oh, she's in the girl's dorm, probably," Kat answered.

"Doin' what?"

Kat sighed. "Being depressed," she replied.

Erika shook her head in disgust. "That's fucking messed up."

"Man, you don't know the half of it," Auggie put in.

Erika scoffed, as she took a seat among them between Adrian and Juliette. "I don't want to know the half of it."

Adrian turned to her, his eyes fixated on her countenance.

"Yo Adrian," Erika said to him.

"Hey," he replied. "I'm glad you're back."

"Better get used to it."

Adrian smiled. "I'm already used to it," he said.

Erika looked down at her hands, surprised to find herself feeling awkward. "Hey, uh, sorry that I left so soon last time."

Adrian's gaze never wavered. "It's alright now."

Amber watched the exchanged uneasily, her stomach turning. Finally, she could take it no longer. "This is sickening," she said aloud, rising from her seat, and beginning to walk away.

"Hey, Amber!" Adrian called, as he watched her walk away. At her name, Amber didn't turn back to him. Adrian turned his gaze back to Erika momentarily, before he rose, and took off after Amber.

Erika turned to the others. "What's up with him?"

"Eh," said Ezra, "they're sort of together."

Erika raised her eyebrows. "Really now?"

"Yeah, a lot's happened," Kat replied.

"Yeah, a lot of shit has happened with me too," Erika retorted.

"Like what?" Kat asked casually.

Erika gave her a look. "Like nothing that you fucking need to know."

"I was just asking."

"And I gave you a fucking response," Erika returned.

The Cliffhangers were silent for a moment.

Erika was visibly irritated. "What the fuck is up with y'all?" she demanded.

Ezra glanced around. "Care to elaborate?"

"Y'all get your shit together, y'all are fucking bores," she said, rising from her seat and taking off.

The Cliffhangers turned to each other and merely shrugged. Ezra started laughing.





Shelby was sprawled over her bunk, as usual, staring up blankly at the ceiling. Her melancholy thoughts were interrupted by the opening of the door, her eyes drifting towards the guest. Her eyes widened as she registered who it was.

"Yo," Erika announced, tossing her duffle bag on her assigned bunk.

"You're back?" Shelby asked drearily.

"I'm here ain't I?" Erika retorted, unzipping her duffle bag.

"What are you doing here?"

Erika turned towards Shelby. "What do you fucking think I'm doing here? What, you think I'm here on my own free will?"

"Go away, Erika," Shelby muttered, turning away from her.

Erika watched her intently. This wasn't the same girl she'd once known. The girl she'd once known was strong.. The one before Erika at the moment, was weak. "What the fuck is up with you?" Erika questioned. "Is this about Scott?" she continued, removing her things from the duffle bag.

Shelby rolled her eyes. "No, it isn't," she said sarcastically.

"So what, he just left, with you here?"

"Pretty much," Shelby answered wearily.

"What kind of fucking moron is he?!" Erika exclaimed, more to herself than to Shelby. "I don't believe it."

Shelby shrugged, not caring. "Believe what you want."

"I thought he'd never leave this dump," Erika pondered aloud, "for anything, especially not just leave you here."

"What do you care?" Shelby asked outright.

Erika merely shrugged. "It seems pretty fucking odd to me," she replied. "When I think of Scott, I think of him always going on about how fucking great love is, how much you fucking complete him. He gave me this speech before I left. Went on about how you're the fucking reason he goes on."

It proved to be hard for Shelby to hear this. She suppressed the tears welling in her eyes, and offered no response.

"I guess I was right," Erika continued.

Shelby almost couldn't bring herself to ask. "About what?"

"You know what I told him?" Erika said to Shelby. "I said, love makes you weak. If you're not evidence of that, I don't know what is."

Shelby didn't offer a response, wondering if there was truth in her words.

"So either you fucked up big-time," Erika continued, turning to face Shelby, "or he's a hypocritical moron. Which is it?"

"What do you care?"

Erika turned back to her unpacking. "I was just fucking asking," she dismissed. "Get your fucking shit together, girl. Your life doesn't fucking end just because he's gone."

Shelby met Erika's prying stare coldly. If she knew..

"Have you been doing this since he left?" Erika pried.

Shelby didn't offer a response, once again.

"You have, haven't you?" Erika's countenance twisted in disgust. "You make me sick."

Shelby glowered at her. "Your presence doesn't exactly make me feel warm and fuzzy inside either, honey."

"Un huh," Erika assessed.

The dorm room door opened with unexpected visitors. "Hey guys," Juliette announced.

"Just so you know, we have group in an hour."

"Are you going, Shel?" Kat asked.

Shelby glared at her, clearly not in the best mood. "Do I ever go?"

"Just asking," Kat retained. "What about you, Erika?"

Erika shrugged. "Hey, if the lovesick puppy over here doesn't feel like fucking going to group, there's no reason why I need to go."

Shelby sat up defensively. "I am not a lovesick puppy, thank you very.."

Erika rolled her eyes. "Cut the crap," she stated impatiently. Her tone subsequently changed from firm, to mocking and sardonic. "Oh, I can't go to group because I'm too busy being depressed because Scott left, and wah, my life is over."

Shelby glowered at the mocking display.

"Get the fuck over it, girl," Erika continued. "You're fucking weak."

"You don't know the half of it, don't pretend like you do," Shelby said defensively. "What the hell do you care, anyways?"

"I don't," Erika replied simply.

"You're too insensitive to care, that's why."

Erika scoffed. "Let's put this into perspective, alright? So maybe I'm insensitive when it comes to 'love', but look at where I am, compared to you."

Shelby glared. "We're in the exact same place, in case you haven't noticed."

"Home sweet home," Daisy intervened. "No place like a lock down for societal rejects."

"No, we're not!" Erika exclaimed, ignoring Daisy. "You're getting nowhere, girl. You're a fucking wreck. Are you going to fucking mope the rest of your fucking life?!"

Shelby didn't answer, her teeth clenched, ready to pounce on Erika.

"Then get your shit together! I don't know what this is fucking about," Erika continued, "but you know, I have a few things I'd like to tell Scott."

Kat furrowed her brows. "Like what?"

Erika didn't bother answering. She headed towards the dorm exit.

"What are you doing, Erika?!" Shelby demanded.

Erika turned towards them momentarily to reply. "What fucking needs to be done that no one else will do."

She subsequently left, with the rest of the Cliffhanger girls exchanging uneasy glances.





It was still morning.

Scott was arisen from sleep to his dad's voice, telling him to answer the phone. Unquestioningly, he dragged himself out of uneasy sleep, and began searching for the cordless phone lying around somewhere in his room.

After awhile of searching, tossing around some laundry that littered the floor of his room, frantically searching, he finally found it. He pressed a button, and put the phone to his ear.

"Hello?" he said into it.

"Yo, Scott."

The voice on the other end of the phone was vaguely familiar, but at the same time, foreign. "Who is this?" he asked.

"Erika Lavalier, you dumbass."

Scott raised his eyebrows. "Oh, hey Erika. You want something?"

"Hey, I heard you went home. What the hell is wrong with you?"

Scott sat on the edge of his bed. "Um.. what?"

"You're so fucking hypocritical. When I left, you were going on about how fucking great love is, and then you just abandon your girl to go home? What the fuck is wrong with you?"

Scott could feel his teeth clenching. "I NEVER abandoned Shelby. She wanted me to leave."

"Not so, Sherlock."

Scott furrowed his brows. "What are you talking about?"

"You don't know? You must be fucking blind."

Scott was beginning to grow impatient. "Well, are you going to tell me or what?"

"No I am not going to fucking tell you. Even Shelby deserves better than you."

And with that, Scott heard the phone on the other end hang up.

Puzzled, he looked down at the phone, and quickly dialled Horizon's number.

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



Soon, he had Erika back on the phone with him.

"What in the hell were you talking about?" he demanded.

But this was his only response: "I'm not the one you should be fucking talking to, buddy."

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

"What do you think it's fucking supposed to mean?! Dumbass."



And with that, the phone on the other end hung up on him, once again.

Scott put down the phone, Erika's words running through his mind, swarming his thoughts. He rubbed his temples as he tried to figure it out.

It came to him. Realization came to him suddenly and unexpectedly, like a tidal wave suddenly coming down on him, washing over him.



The door swung open at the girl's dorm, Erika appearing behind the door.

"What the hell did you do," Shelby demanded immediately as Erika appeared.

Erika shrugged. "Chill," she dismissed. "I'd be surprised if I did anything."

Shelby continued to eye Erika suspiciously, mentally contemplating what damage she could have caused. Although Shelby then realized that Erika couldn't have done much. The damage between her and Scott was already irreparable. Nothing Erika could do could make it worse, she reasoned.

A knock came at the girl's dorm, before the door swung open again. One of Peter's secretaries stood in the doorway.

"Shelby.. You have a phone call."

"From who?" Shelby asked drearily.

"Scott."

Shelby was completely motionless at the revelation. Her heart had stopped.

"Shelby?" the secretary asked.

"I'm not answering it," said Shelby decidedly, suddenly remembering how to breathe.

"Why not?" Kat asked immediately.

Shelby turned to her, irritated. "I gave up on him, remember?"

"But he hasn't given up on you yet," Daisy pointed out.

"He lost his chance," Shelby replied.

"That's the right fucking attitude if you ask me," said Erika. "Scott's messed up."

"At least hear what he has to say," Kat reasoned. "You might as well."

"Why?"

"What do you have to lose?"

Shelby considered it for a moment. "You know," she said finally. "You're right. It's not like I have anything to lose. I've already lost everything."

As Shelby walked to Peter's office, she pondered the new development. Why on earth had Scott decided to call her now? What had been wrong with calling her two months ago? All of a sudden he wanted to hear from her? Drearily, she wondered if Scott calling was Erika's doing. The possibility didn't seem entirely implausible.

The secretary led her to the phone in the main office. Shelby took the phone when it was handed to her, but waited a few moments, as if in preparation, before speaking into it.

"Hello?" she said uncertainly.

"Hi.. It's Scott."

"Un huh.." said Shelby. "What do you want?"

"I was just wondering.. You know... how are you doing?"

"Um.." Shelby began, racking her brain for the right words. "I'm surviving. What about you?"

"I've never felt worse."

Shelby almost could bring herself to ask. "Really?"

"Yeah."

"Score any touchdowns?" Shelby asked, steering the conversation away from fragile territory.

"None that mean anything."

"Un huh?"

"Yeah."

Shelby swallowed. This was more awkward than she'd thought it'd be. "So.. uh.. why'd you call?"

"I wanted to hear from you. Is that alright?"

"Why didn't you want to hear from me two months ago?" she questioned.

"Hmm? What are you talking about, Shel? Did you *want* me to phone you or something?"

Shelby furrowed her brows. She contemplated to possibilities- either he had become a consummate liar in her absence, or the message hadn't reached him. "Oh.. Well, nevermind."

"Shelby do you forgive me?"

Shelby was caught off guard by the question. As if he should be asking her for forgiveness. "For what?"

"For whatever I did that made you hate me."

Shelby's stomach turned. He still blames himself, she realized. "It's not like that, okay?" she managed.

"What?"

"It's not like that."

"It's not like what?"

Shelby closed her eyes, trying to find the words. "Just.. nevermind."

"Shelby- do you love me?"

She was caught speechless. "What kind of question is that?" she asked finally.

"I want to know. I need to know."

Tears formed in the corners of Shelby's eyes, and a tear escaped down her cheek.

"Shelby- I need to know. Do you know how much the last two months have sucked for me? Do you know how much I'd rather be there with you?"

"You *can't* be here, Scott," Shelby managed, her voice betraying emotion. "You have a scholarship to.."

"I don't want the damn scholarship, Shelby. I don't care about that."

"Why not," Shelby questioned, her eyes still teary, afraid of his answer.

"Because I only care about you."

Shelby didn't reply.. couldn't reply. Couldn't bring herself to reply.. couldn't find the words to say.

"Shelby?"

Shelby closed her eyes. "I've never stopped loving you."

And with that, she hung up the phone, wiping at the tears on her cheeks, dabbing at her eyes.