Disclaimer : I own nothing except for Belle and Emma.
Shelby walked into her dorm. It was Friday and her step-dad was to arrive tonight. She had made the arrangements with Peter. He had been so amazingly accommodating. Maybe he figured he had given her and Scott a hard enough time as it was. No, that couldn't be it. This was Peter, we were talking about, he never accommodated anyone in order to "prepare" them for the "real world." But when she thought about it, what was the "real world." She was in a world and every single day it seemed to be getting even more real. Shelby was busy thinking these thoughts as she sat down on her bed, pulled out her suitcase and started packing for her mock buddy hike-back with Scott.
"Shelby?" Daisy sounded worried.
"Huh?" she sounded really distracted.
"Well, first of all, why on earth are you packing. Did you get in trouble with Peter?"
"No, don't worry about it. It just that since my step-dad is coming, Peter accepted the fact that I didn't want to see him and he gave me and Scott a buddy hike-back. Well, not really. We'll have real food and no restraints."
"Oh, I see. Well, have you talked to Jess lately? Especially about the thing with Walt?"
"Nope, why? Is she okay? She made it really clear to me that she wanted to see him. She seemed to think there might still be hope. Jess is so sweet though. I often worry about how she'll make it outside of Horizon."
"Well, I had a bad night's sleep last night. I hardly slept. I had too much on my mind. Apparently so did Jess. She slept, but barely. She kept having nightmare after nightmare. I don't think she knows I know, but every time she had a nightmare she would say something right before she woke up. Most times it was inaudible or something silly like: 'Oh, the paper's nearly done, Peter.' But the last time..." Daisy stopped here. Shelby had never heard her ramble on like that before. She didn't seem to have her ideas worked out fully. She had just stopped here. Her face had turned a deadly pale colour.
"What?" Shelby asked, worried about both her best friend and her little sister.
"Well, she seemed to be remember when Walt would rape her. It was something like: 'No, please stop. You said you wouldn't anymore. Not after last time. Oh, please. No! No!' After that, she sat bolt upright and didn't fall asleep again. I think she'd be scared of what else could happen to her... in her dreams."
"Oh my god. I knew she was holding something back from me. I thought she might be scared of having Walt come back, but I didn't know. I'm gonna go talk to Peter. Can you come? You know, in case he needs witnesses."
"Sure. That's me! The reliable witness." Daisy said, with a hint of sarcasm behind the sincere look on her face. Then again, Shelby thought, Daisy was one of those people whose face is always such a mix of emotions that it appears to be expressionless.
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"Peter, you don't understand. Jess, doesn't want him to come, but she's too sweet to hurt anyone's feelings. I feel it in my bones, in my very soul, he's gonna try to hurt her! Peter, you have to help us! You have to!" Shelby had started breathing hard, as if she would start crying. She had become desperate.
"Look, all I can do is talk to Jess. I mean, she has to tell me herself, otherwise I can't help her. Walt will be watched, don't worry about that. Well, Shelby, I think you'd better get Jess here," Peter said calmly. Shelby stormed out, feeling betrayed. She didn't think Jess would do anything to stop Walt from coming and she didn't think he had changed.
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"Hey, Jess," she said as she found her sister in the lounge, reading a book for English class.
"Hey, Shel. What's up?"
"Are you sure you want Walt to come. Jess, I know about your dreams last night. You don't have to hide anything from me."
"Look, Shelby. I know it may seem like I don't want him here but it's really just nerves. I really do want to try to fix our relationship." She seemed so uncertain and hesitant when she said this that it sent a shiver down Shelby's spine.
"Alright. If that's the way you want it," she said as she started to go.
"Shelby! Wait!" Shelby turned around. "Do you think he's changed?"
"Not at all. I don't think people really do change. Not completely."
"Oh, Shelby! What am I doing?" She ran into her big sister's arms.
"First thing's first. Do YOU want Walt to come. It doesn't matter what anyone one else wants or needs, just you."
"No, or at least I don't think so. It hasn't been long enough. I haven't gotten over it yet. I'm not ready for this yet," Jess said as she started to weep.
"Alright, let's go talk to Peter." When Jess cried it tore Shelby's heart apart. She couldn't stand it.
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"Peter, Jess has something to tell you," Shelby said as she entered Peter's office. A man was there already. As he turned around, Jess turned to Shelby, hiding her face in her shoulder. Shelby had a face of intense horror. Then, as she composed herself, that fear turned to anger. She glared at him.
"Hi girls." Walt spoke.
"Shelb, Jess, your step-father just arrived," Peter said.
"Peter. Jess just changed her mind. Ya, ass-hole, she didn't want you to come after all." Shelby said glaring at him. "Surprised at my strength? Huh? Well, I'll tell you, it took me a long time to where I am. It was all your fault and I can finally face you."
"Walt, could please wait outside?" Peter asked politely to of a stunned Walt.
"Sure," he said getting up. He gave Shelby a look of intense rage, but looked at Jess. And it was not just any look, he was checking her out!
"Shelby, what are you doing?" Peter said, as Walt closed the door.
"Peter, I don't have any fear any more. Not when Jess is involved. Not from him," Shelby said defiantly.
"I understand. And I am proud, but don't you think you could have done it at a more opportune time?"
"No!"
"What? Why not?"
"Because we were coming to tell you that we both don't want him here. He therefore now, does not have any right to be here."
"Jess, is this true? Are you sure?" She nodded shyly both times. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, I just don't want him back. I'm fine really, I'm just not ready for him right now."
"I understand. Hold on a minute," Peter said, reassuringly.
The girls just stood there. Jess in Shelby's arms, weeping quietly, Shelby rubbing her back comfortingly. They could hear what was happening outside. They heard Scott come down, ask where Jess and Shelby were. The door opened, and Scott entered. They all continued listening in silence. Scott, sitting on the couch, Shelby sitting beside him, her head on his shoulder and her arm around Jess. They hear shouts but can't make out what's happening. Apparently Walt isn't taking the news too well. The heard the door open and Walt enter. They all got up. Walt headed in a beeline for Jess. Scott jumped in his path. He may not have been much stronger that Walt, but when it came to protecting his love and his sister, for that's how he had taken Jess, he was stronger than in any ordinary situation. Walt threw a punch and Scott got it right in the face. The girls yelled. They could hear Peter yelling for back-up. Scott stood up, now furious. He started beating the crap out of Walt. It wasn't even self-defence anymore. It was now the opposite way around. He had become the aggressor, and they all knew it. As the girls tried to take Scott off, Peter tried with Walt. Finally, Shelby succeeded. She pulled him off, and after restraining him for a minute, he turned around and collapsed into her arms. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He had beat up his girl friend's dad. Well, it wasn't completely his fault at least. There was so much consolation in that. Shelby gave him a kiss. Peter didn't stop her. Scott immediately changed. He regained his strength and turned toward Walt. He was okay, but had a black eye, a bleeding nose and lip. The lip was actually about three or four times it's normal size by now. Scott had no injuries save a little cut beside his eye. Peter let go of Walt as he was lead to the hospital for possible internal injuries.
"Did he touch you?" he asked Shelby and the Jess. They both shook their heads. Jess was crying uncontrollably, sitting on the couch and rocking back and forth.
"Shelby, take her to the dorms, leave her with Juliette. Tell Jules not to ask her anything and then come back here right away." Shelby nodded, adopting a resolute air on her face and left.
"Alright. Tell me what happened," Peter said, turning to Scott.
"All I know is I came in here. Jess looked to be scared out of her wits, and Shelby looked like she was on the verge of crying. I just sat there," he pointed at the couch, "with them. We were quiet, and Shelby had her head on my shoulder, I could feel her uneven breath and with each one she took, I kept feeling worse and worse for her. I had never seen her step-dad before, and I had no idea that was him. Then the guy opens the door and has this look in his eyes. I can't describe it, but I had this instant jolt that told me that he was gonna hurt one of them. He headed for Jess and I stepped in his way, blocking Jess from view. I could hear her crying now. He looked at me as if to say: 'Move over or else.' I just matched his stare with mine, and he threw a punch. I defended the girls and myself. I know I overdid it a bit, but if I hadn't, he would probably have come back at me, madder and stronger than before." Scott stopped here, realising just how much he had said. He was actually very articulate, which surprised him because of the state he was in.
"Look, Scott, I believe you. That man," Peter sighed, "he should never have come back and I should not have let him. You and Shelby were right."
Shelby walked into her dorm. It was Friday and her step-dad was to arrive tonight. She had made the arrangements with Peter. He had been so amazingly accommodating. Maybe he figured he had given her and Scott a hard enough time as it was. No, that couldn't be it. This was Peter, we were talking about, he never accommodated anyone in order to "prepare" them for the "real world." But when she thought about it, what was the "real world." She was in a world and every single day it seemed to be getting even more real. Shelby was busy thinking these thoughts as she sat down on her bed, pulled out her suitcase and started packing for her mock buddy hike-back with Scott.
"Shelby?" Daisy sounded worried.
"Huh?" she sounded really distracted.
"Well, first of all, why on earth are you packing. Did you get in trouble with Peter?"
"No, don't worry about it. It just that since my step-dad is coming, Peter accepted the fact that I didn't want to see him and he gave me and Scott a buddy hike-back. Well, not really. We'll have real food and no restraints."
"Oh, I see. Well, have you talked to Jess lately? Especially about the thing with Walt?"
"Nope, why? Is she okay? She made it really clear to me that she wanted to see him. She seemed to think there might still be hope. Jess is so sweet though. I often worry about how she'll make it outside of Horizon."
"Well, I had a bad night's sleep last night. I hardly slept. I had too much on my mind. Apparently so did Jess. She slept, but barely. She kept having nightmare after nightmare. I don't think she knows I know, but every time she had a nightmare she would say something right before she woke up. Most times it was inaudible or something silly like: 'Oh, the paper's nearly done, Peter.' But the last time..." Daisy stopped here. Shelby had never heard her ramble on like that before. She didn't seem to have her ideas worked out fully. She had just stopped here. Her face had turned a deadly pale colour.
"What?" Shelby asked, worried about both her best friend and her little sister.
"Well, she seemed to be remember when Walt would rape her. It was something like: 'No, please stop. You said you wouldn't anymore. Not after last time. Oh, please. No! No!' After that, she sat bolt upright and didn't fall asleep again. I think she'd be scared of what else could happen to her... in her dreams."
"Oh my god. I knew she was holding something back from me. I thought she might be scared of having Walt come back, but I didn't know. I'm gonna go talk to Peter. Can you come? You know, in case he needs witnesses."
"Sure. That's me! The reliable witness." Daisy said, with a hint of sarcasm behind the sincere look on her face. Then again, Shelby thought, Daisy was one of those people whose face is always such a mix of emotions that it appears to be expressionless.
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"Peter, you don't understand. Jess, doesn't want him to come, but she's too sweet to hurt anyone's feelings. I feel it in my bones, in my very soul, he's gonna try to hurt her! Peter, you have to help us! You have to!" Shelby had started breathing hard, as if she would start crying. She had become desperate.
"Look, all I can do is talk to Jess. I mean, she has to tell me herself, otherwise I can't help her. Walt will be watched, don't worry about that. Well, Shelby, I think you'd better get Jess here," Peter said calmly. Shelby stormed out, feeling betrayed. She didn't think Jess would do anything to stop Walt from coming and she didn't think he had changed.
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"Hey, Jess," she said as she found her sister in the lounge, reading a book for English class.
"Hey, Shel. What's up?"
"Are you sure you want Walt to come. Jess, I know about your dreams last night. You don't have to hide anything from me."
"Look, Shelby. I know it may seem like I don't want him here but it's really just nerves. I really do want to try to fix our relationship." She seemed so uncertain and hesitant when she said this that it sent a shiver down Shelby's spine.
"Alright. If that's the way you want it," she said as she started to go.
"Shelby! Wait!" Shelby turned around. "Do you think he's changed?"
"Not at all. I don't think people really do change. Not completely."
"Oh, Shelby! What am I doing?" She ran into her big sister's arms.
"First thing's first. Do YOU want Walt to come. It doesn't matter what anyone one else wants or needs, just you."
"No, or at least I don't think so. It hasn't been long enough. I haven't gotten over it yet. I'm not ready for this yet," Jess said as she started to weep.
"Alright, let's go talk to Peter." When Jess cried it tore Shelby's heart apart. She couldn't stand it.
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"Peter, Jess has something to tell you," Shelby said as she entered Peter's office. A man was there already. As he turned around, Jess turned to Shelby, hiding her face in her shoulder. Shelby had a face of intense horror. Then, as she composed herself, that fear turned to anger. She glared at him.
"Hi girls." Walt spoke.
"Shelb, Jess, your step-father just arrived," Peter said.
"Peter. Jess just changed her mind. Ya, ass-hole, she didn't want you to come after all." Shelby said glaring at him. "Surprised at my strength? Huh? Well, I'll tell you, it took me a long time to where I am. It was all your fault and I can finally face you."
"Walt, could please wait outside?" Peter asked politely to of a stunned Walt.
"Sure," he said getting up. He gave Shelby a look of intense rage, but looked at Jess. And it was not just any look, he was checking her out!
"Shelby, what are you doing?" Peter said, as Walt closed the door.
"Peter, I don't have any fear any more. Not when Jess is involved. Not from him," Shelby said defiantly.
"I understand. And I am proud, but don't you think you could have done it at a more opportune time?"
"No!"
"What? Why not?"
"Because we were coming to tell you that we both don't want him here. He therefore now, does not have any right to be here."
"Jess, is this true? Are you sure?" She nodded shyly both times. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, I just don't want him back. I'm fine really, I'm just not ready for him right now."
"I understand. Hold on a minute," Peter said, reassuringly.
The girls just stood there. Jess in Shelby's arms, weeping quietly, Shelby rubbing her back comfortingly. They could hear what was happening outside. They heard Scott come down, ask where Jess and Shelby were. The door opened, and Scott entered. They all continued listening in silence. Scott, sitting on the couch, Shelby sitting beside him, her head on his shoulder and her arm around Jess. They hear shouts but can't make out what's happening. Apparently Walt isn't taking the news too well. The heard the door open and Walt enter. They all got up. Walt headed in a beeline for Jess. Scott jumped in his path. He may not have been much stronger that Walt, but when it came to protecting his love and his sister, for that's how he had taken Jess, he was stronger than in any ordinary situation. Walt threw a punch and Scott got it right in the face. The girls yelled. They could hear Peter yelling for back-up. Scott stood up, now furious. He started beating the crap out of Walt. It wasn't even self-defence anymore. It was now the opposite way around. He had become the aggressor, and they all knew it. As the girls tried to take Scott off, Peter tried with Walt. Finally, Shelby succeeded. She pulled him off, and after restraining him for a minute, he turned around and collapsed into her arms. He couldn't believe what had just happened. He had beat up his girl friend's dad. Well, it wasn't completely his fault at least. There was so much consolation in that. Shelby gave him a kiss. Peter didn't stop her. Scott immediately changed. He regained his strength and turned toward Walt. He was okay, but had a black eye, a bleeding nose and lip. The lip was actually about three or four times it's normal size by now. Scott had no injuries save a little cut beside his eye. Peter let go of Walt as he was lead to the hospital for possible internal injuries.
"Did he touch you?" he asked Shelby and the Jess. They both shook their heads. Jess was crying uncontrollably, sitting on the couch and rocking back and forth.
"Shelby, take her to the dorms, leave her with Juliette. Tell Jules not to ask her anything and then come back here right away." Shelby nodded, adopting a resolute air on her face and left.
"Alright. Tell me what happened," Peter said, turning to Scott.
"All I know is I came in here. Jess looked to be scared out of her wits, and Shelby looked like she was on the verge of crying. I just sat there," he pointed at the couch, "with them. We were quiet, and Shelby had her head on my shoulder, I could feel her uneven breath and with each one she took, I kept feeling worse and worse for her. I had never seen her step-dad before, and I had no idea that was him. Then the guy opens the door and has this look in his eyes. I can't describe it, but I had this instant jolt that told me that he was gonna hurt one of them. He headed for Jess and I stepped in his way, blocking Jess from view. I could hear her crying now. He looked at me as if to say: 'Move over or else.' I just matched his stare with mine, and he threw a punch. I defended the girls and myself. I know I overdid it a bit, but if I hadn't, he would probably have come back at me, madder and stronger than before." Scott stopped here, realising just how much he had said. He was actually very articulate, which surprised him because of the state he was in.
"Look, Scott, I believe you. That man," Peter sighed, "he should never have come back and I should not have let him. You and Shelby were right."