Author's Note: Ookay! Last chapter! Thanks for reviewing, y'all, I really appreciate it, I hope you enjoy this last chapter before I write the sequel. Thanks!



"Scott? Is everything all right? Is what you were saying on the phone true?"

Scott turned around slowly to face his questioning neighbours.

"Uh.. yeah," he managed.

"Can we do anything?" Nora offered, her eyes anxious.

"Not really," Scott replied dismally.



He couldn't do anything.. they certainly couldn't do anything.

Nothing could be done.. to mend broken seams.. to change the past.. to turn back time..

He was helpless, merely existing, without the slightest grasp on his own life.. his grip had failed him long ago.



"What happened to your face, man?"

Matt's voice, questioning tone, brought Scott back to reality.

"Uh.." Scott began, not exactly eager to share the story. "Well.. basically, my dad.. got pissed when I wasn't going to let him run my life."

Nora's eyes widened. "Scott.."

"It's.. nothing," he dismissed, his eyes drawn.

"It's not nothing," Nora persisted.

"Whoa, man," Matt assessed. "What are you going to do?"

Scott shook his head bleakly. "I don't know. I need to make another call."

"Go right ahead," Nora told him, trying to conceal her uneasiness with the entire situation.



Trying his best to block out his feelings entirely, Scott picked up the phone again. Hastily, he dialled a long memorized number, the numbers burned into his subconscious, and waited as the ringing of the phone on the other end sounded in his ear.

"Hello?"

It was his mom's voice.

"Hey, mom," Scott said, his voice a monotone.

"Scott?"

"Hey, listen," Scott said hurriedly. "I don't have a place to stay anymore."

"What?"

"Dad, uh.. kicked me out of the house," Scott managed.

"He did what?! What for?"

"I wasn't gonna let him run my life, so he kicked me to the curb," he explained.

"Scott... oh my god. Do you want me to come get you?"

Scott shrugged. "Or something. I don't have a place to stay."

"I'm coming right now. It'll be a few hours t'ill I get there, though. I'll catch the first flight I can manage."

"You're coming?" Scott questioned.

"Yes, Scott. I guess you'll be living with me now."

"Okay."

"Where are you?"

"I'm next door," Scott replied. "326 Green Terrace road."

"Alright. I'll be there in a couple hours."

"Thanks," Scott managed.

"I love you."

"Yeah, same."

"Bye, Scott. See you soon."

"Bye."

And with that, Scott hung up the phone.

Scott turned to meet the anxious eyes of his neighbours.

"Hey," he began, "is it.. okay if I stay here a couple hours, until my mom comes to pick me up?"

"Absolutely," Nora replied easily. "Make yourself at home."



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

some time later.



Scott lounged on the couch of his neighbour's, video game controller in hand.

"What the hell is going on with you, man?" asked Matt, who was sitting on the floor, his eyes glued to the television screen, his fingers maneuvering the controllers of the video game.

Scott almost flinched. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"You suddenly show up, after bein' gone for over a year, then.. Your old man kicks you out?" Matt momentarily looked towards Scott, but his gaze returned to the screen, their game.

"It's a long story," Scott replied stolidly, transfixed himself.

"Yeah, I'll bet it is. And man?"

"Yeah?"

"Why in the hell are you dressed like that? You gettin' hitched or something?"

"I wish," Scott muttered under his breath.

"What?"

"Nothing," Scott dismissed.

"You know, whatever man."

Their attention returned to their video game, and not another word was exchanged between the too. Were it not for the pleasant distraction of the video game, it would have been an awkward silence.



a couple hours later..




The doorbell sounded, and Scott bolted to his feet, tossing the video game controller aside.

"That must be her," Scott said hopefully, and went to answer the door, with Nora and Matt following him.

Scott opened the door, and found his mother standing there.

Her hair a brassy blond, curly, eyes a deep blue. A kind face.

"Hi Scott," she smiled at seeing her son again.

"Hi mom," Scott replied.

"I got tickets for the next flight out of here," she stated. "It's in an hour."

"Okay," Scott assessed. He turned to his neighbours, grateful for their hospitality. "Guys.. Thanks for letting me stay."

"It was no problem, Scott," Nora replied.

"K, thanks, bye."

"Hey, man," Matt intervened. "Is this bye for now, or bye forever?"

"Bye forever."

"Bye, man," Matt said. "Have a good life."

"Hey, you too," Scott returned. "Thanks."

And with that, he left their house, never to return again, but grateful.

"Why are you dressed like that, son?" his mom asked his as they headed out towards her rental car.

"It's a long story," Scott replied. "I was supposed to go to the morp, see the girl I told you about on the phone when we last talked. I was supposed to take my car and get there. My dad took my keys.. and kicked me to the curb."

His mom, usually so calm and reserved, so knowing and mature, was visibly angry at these revelations.

She stopped in her tracks, and turned to Scott. "You know, I'm going to give Martin a piece of my mind."

"Don't bother," Scott dead-panned. "He's a lost cause."

"That's exactly why I need to do it," she replied determinedly.

"I'll be out here," Scott told her.

"Alright," she responded, and walked up the doorsteps to the house, the empty house Scott used to know too well.

She rung the doorbell, waited as Martin came to answer it.

Martin Barringer hurried to the door. The bell had rung, and he opened the door to a countenance he hadn't seen in years. A countenance he hadn't wanted to see again.

The face of his ex-wife.

He'd barely had time enough to assess her presence when her words attacked him, her tone accusing and unrelenting.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Martin?"

Martin rolled his eyes, and began to close the door on his ex-wife, when she intercepted.

"Don't you dare slam the door on me!" she exclaimed, and inviting herself into his house, walked inside. She faced him, full of anger, barely containing it. Rage. "Kicking your own son out, to fend for himself?! What were you thinking? Or were you at all?"

"He was ruining his life," Martin replied curtly. "I had the courtesy to save him from himself."

"You had no right- you had no right to scheme behind his back to take him out of Horizon. You had no right to take his goddamn car keys, slash the tires on his car.. Very mature, Martin."

"You're one to talk," he returned. "You haven't seen him, let alone given a damn about him in the better part of a year."

"I'm not the one who's spouse seduced him!"

Martin raised his hand to her, but realizing what he was about to have done.. his hand fell back to his side.

Her eyes were fierce and unafraid as they met his. "You can hit me all you want, but that's not going to change the truth."

Martin used his height to its full advantage, and towered over her. "I think you've said enough."

"No, Martin," she said. "You've just heard all that you can stand to hear."



Scott waited outside, for his mom to emerge from the house.

He couldn't help but think about Shelby.

Shelby..

Beautiful blond hair.. blue eyes a deep blue.. Cynical humour he'd become accustomed to.. Cynical humour he'd come to love.

The girl he'd come to love.

He thought about her.. but something kept nagging at him.

He realized that he'd have to come to terms with the fact that he'd never see Shelby again.

No, he thought to himself. There has to be another way.

But then he realized that there was no other way.. no other alternative.

He was leaving with his mom, far away, and he'd never see Shelby again.

It had all come to this.

His mom emerged from his former house, and the door slammed behind her. They'd obviously fought.

"Come on Scott. Let's go," his mom called, and hurried towards her rental car. Scott followed in suit.

"You alright?" Scott asked.

"Fine," she dismissed. "I'll be better once we get away from that.. pig!"

Scott's expression was seemingly carved out of marble. "Alright."



----------

time passes..



Scott breathed deeply.. the clean scent of the rental car lingering in his lungs. He watched as the world passed them by, riding in the car towards the airport.

He watched the world, expressionless. Unable to make anything of it.

Why was it that everything that seemingly could go wrong, did? Why him? Why did it always have to happen to him?

He'd lived a life, that would be, at best described as mixed-bag. A wonderful childhood, a free childhood.. Free of inhibitions, free of cares.. Free of responsibility. But after his parents divorced.. after Elaine became a part of his life.. Everything had gone downhill at a breakneck pace.

But Shelby..

Shelby had changed his life.

Scott was silent, wordless as he watched the world outside his window. Grim, accepting.

It was beyond his control



"How are you doing, Scott?"

His mom's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Okay," he replied, no conviction whatsoever in his tone.

"Good," she returned, her eyes on the road as she drove. "Soon, this will all be behind you."

Scott sank back into his seat. "Mom.. What if I don't want it to be behind me?" he blurted out.

"What?" she asked, confused.

"That girl.. Shelby.. she's still waiting for me."

"Is she?"

"Yeah. Do you think we could take a detour, go to Horizon?"

"We'd miss our flight," she said pointedly.

"I'd rather miss my flight than miss Shelby," Scott said, his eyes pleading, almost desperate.

She halted the car, parked it on the side of the road. Turning to her son seriously, she asked, "Are you sure about this?"

"Yeah. This girl saved me, mom."

It was a moment before she replied. "Okay," she decided finally. She put her hands back onto the steering wheel, resolve in her voice as she continued. "Then that's where we'll go."



Shelby sat sprawled over her bunk, tears in her eyes.

Alone, she resided in the girls dorm while everyone else was enjoying themselves at the morp.

Scott. He wasn't coming. He was never going to come.

Inevitably, tears leaked from her eyes.

Scott. Damn you, Scott.

Shelby buried her face in her pillows. She didn't want to admit how hurt she was. How devastated.. how utterly destroyed..

But she couldn't stop her tears from flowing any more than she could deny her emotions. She loved Scott.. perhaps too much.

Shelby was a wreck, still clad in the off-the-shoulder gold dress she'd selected. She hadn't bothered to removed her smudged make-up, despite that she had no intention of returning to the morp.

Outside, the stars glittered in the darkening sky.

Time had passed... and Shelby had done nothing but mourn.. lament.. Cry.

Acting on impulse alone, Shelby parted the curtains to her window, looked outside.

It was dark outside.. Dark and beautiful, a cloudless sky reflected onto the clear waters. Had she not been so depressed, she would have marvelled at how beautiful it was.

Her eyes drifted towards the docks..

Memories filled her conscious.. Memories of the most wonderful moments. Memories of soft lips and kisses, memories of defying rules to be together.. Memories of Scott.

Shelby snapped the curtains closed. She'd have to forget about Scott.. move on.. Somehow.

A tear strayed down her cheek. She couldn't forget about Scott.. no matter how much she wanted to.. No matter how much she needed to.



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



"That was soo much fun!" Juliette gushed.

Daisy had the suspicion that Juliette had taken a little too much sugary punch. "Yes. Fun. Indeed," she dead-panned.

"Oooh Daisy, lighten up!" Juliette giggled.

The three Cliffhanger girls were returning from the morp, to their dorm.

"Glad you had a good time, Jules," Kat smiled.

"Where's Shelby, anyways?" Juliette questioned suddenly, looking around, alert. "I haven't seen her around.."

"She needed some time alone," Daisy replied. "Scott didn't come."

"Oh no.. Poor Shel!" Kat exclaimed.

"Indeed," Daisy agreed.

"Poor Shel.."

They made their way towards their dorm, and entered it, to find Shelby sprawled over her bunk.



"Hey Shel are you okay?" Kat asked sympathetically.

In response, Shelby pulled herself together and left the dorm, fleeing.

"Guess not," Kat muttered.

"It's like I said," Daisy said, "she needs some time alone."

Juliette sighed. "You guys realize that tomorrow.. We'll all be going our separate ways?"

"Scary thought," Kat thought aloud.

"Only if you aren't prepared for it," Daisy replied, and pulled her hair out of the ponytail it had been pinned up in.

"Is anyone, really?" Juliette questioned. "How can you be prepared for it?"

"Well.. I am. Sort of," Kat admitted. "I know what college I'm going to.. And that's what I'm doing. What about you guys?"

Daisy shrugged. "I have already applied for a position at the Mortuary Monthly, if that tells you anything," she said.

Juliette smiled broadly. "I'll probably go to some community college. Hopefully I'll still see Auggie."

"What's Shelby doing?" Kat questioned suddenly.

"No clue," Daisy replied.

"I thought her plan was to be with Scott," Juliette said as she removed her eye make-up with a cotton-ball.

"Well.. That's not going to happen," Daisy said cynically.

"Poor Shelby," Kat sighed.



Shelby sat at the edge of the docks, and removed her shoes. She pulled her legs over so that they dangled over the edge, and brushed at the clear water.

Memories came flooding towards her from being in this setting.. Memories she wanted to forget, but couldn't let go of.

The summer night was warm and breezy, and the water was cold against her feet.

The atmosphere was silent, the curtain of night securely drawn.

She merely sat there, reminiscing, watching the waves of the water brush against her feet and slither between her toes.

Sleep would have been impossible, tears none left to cry, she stared blankly, bleakly ahead, into the darkness of night. Watching the water glitter in the light of the moon.





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

some time later..



It must have been mid-night.. At least.

Shelby hadn't moved once, still sitting on the docks, reminiscing, unable to help herself.

It was then that she felt a hand on her shoulder. A strong, warm hand.

She hadn't even heard a presence approach.

She turned around, but when her eyes grazed over the figure.. She felt like her heart was going to leap out of her ribs. She thought she'd die from happiness.

"Hey beautiful," Scott said with a smile.

Shelby pulled her feet out of the water, and leapt into his arms.

"Scott! You made it..!" she cried, her arms firmly fastened around his neck.

God himself could not pry her away from him.

It was a miracle. She'd almost not dared believe it when she saw his face, the eyes that had haunted her dreams for seemingly an eternity.. For fear her eyes were deceiving her.

But she'd definitely not imagined his arms around her.. like she'd dreamt for so long. He was real, and his voice breathed in her neck definitely wasn't a figment of her imagination either.

For once, something had gone right.

It had all come to this.

"Shelby.."

"Oh my god, Scott.." she breathed. She closed her eyes, crying, a flutter in her stomach.. something she hadn't felt in an eternity.. Something she thought she'd never feel again.

Love. True love. Happiness. True happiness.

"Sorry I'm late.." Scott whispered, not wanting to ever let Shelby go. "I had a few.. adventures in coming here."

Shelby opened her eyes, her gaze meeting his cerulean blue eyes. There were no eyes more beautiful than his.

She noticed, a purple bruise on his cheek.

"Oh my god, you're hurt," she said, concerned, touching his cheek tentatively.

He merely smiled. "It's funny though, since I've laid eyes on you.. the pain just disappeared."

Shelby smiled through her tears of joy. "Oh my god, Scott.." she said shaking her head. This was the last thing she'd ever anticipated happening.

"I love you Shel," Scott whispered, his short-cropped, wavy hair rustling in the wind.

"I love you," Shelby returned. "So much."



Scott touched Shelby's cheek, where was left a trail of dried black mascara. She'd obviously been crying. "You were crying..?" he asked, brushing a stray piece of hair from her face..

"You don't know how much it killed me to know that you weren't coming. I love you so much."

"I love you, right back at you, now and forever. I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere.."



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



And everyone lives happily ever after.. Well, sort of.





I'll continue this epic (lol) in the sequel, which will be called A Place with Harmony. I don't know when I'll get around to writing it, with school starting and all, but you can expect it sometime soon, I imagine. But it is in the works. Thanks for reading this endless epic, y'all! Hopefully y'all enjoyed it! Thanks!