Disclaimer : I own nothing about Higher Ground except for Emma, Fred, Belle, the Rivergliders, and the stables.
The Cliffhangers all sat down in English class. They were to have a discussion on "Pride and Prejudice," by Jane Austen, the book they were reading at the time - or listening to, as was Auggie. His dyslexia didn't allow him to understand what he read, so he listened to it on tape. Jules had helped him come a long way in conquering his dyslexia. She tutored him every evening. Auggie loved these tutoring sessions, even if it was school, it was Juliette!
"Alright gang, so, what can you tell me about Elizabeth Bennett?"
Emma spoke up. She had read the book before and owned the movie. She loved the story and had studied it on her own.
"Well, Elizabeth Bennett is the most important character. She was probably some sort of direct voice for Jane Austen. She was one of the first women to directly defy the limits of wealth and birth. She told Lady de Bourg that she would act only as it would constitute her own happiness and would not refer or ask for permission from a person so wholly unconnected with her," she stopped there, to applause from the class. They were so impressed with her analysis of the book.
"Good job," Sophie said, also looking very impressed. Normally, the kids didn't really care about schoolwork. They did it because they couldn't graduate without it, but it was often very poorly done. "Do you like 'Pride and Prejudice'?" she asked.
"Oh! Yes! It's my favourite book! I also love the movie. In times of despair, that's what I either read or watched," she said, sounding very enthusiastic.
"Interesting," was all Sophie said. They continued the discussion. No statements even came close to the details included in Emma's. She obviously wasn't kidding when she said that she had studied it. She had all this amazing insight in the book. She knew all about why something was said and what it meant to the story in terms of foreshadowing and such. As class ended, they all cleared out quickly, except for a few. Only Shelby and Scott were left at the end. They slowly walked off to their next class together. Scott looked as if he had something on his mind.
"What's up Cowboy? Not feeling well?" Shelby asked sweetly.
"Nah, it's not that. I just... oh, you'll think I'm being an idiot," he answered.
"No, of course I won't, and you know that! What's wrong? Scott, we promised each other that we would be completely honest with each other and keep it to ourselves, no matter what, and I stand by that promise," she answered solemnly.
"Alright," he looked convinced. He knew Shelby would never betray him. "Well, I think that guy Alex may be.... Um, how do I say this nicely?"
"Wanting me, knowing my history?" Shelby attempted.
"Yeah. Sorry."
"No need to worry. If he thinks he's gonna get some based on what I used to be, he's seriously wrong. First of all, I'm not like that anymore. Second, and most importantly, I've got you."
"Okay, so, there's no problem then?" Scott did look worried.
"Of course not. What did you think cowboy? Did you think I would leave you for someone that hardly knows me, that's not in it for the long run, and that only wants my body? Besides, he's not nearly as adorable as you are!" she burst out laughing at the expression on his face. He looked as though he knew he should've seen it coming, he just didn't.
"Ah, so? You're in it for the long run?"
"Would I be here if I weren't? I love you, Scott."
"I love you too, Shel, I can't imagine my life without you. You're my rock, my shining star, my cool breeze, and my comfort blanket. You're the one I want to run to at night... for the rest of my life."
"Scott," she gasped. "That was beautiful! I didn't know you could do that, just like that."
"What do you mean just like that? I've been planning this speech for quite some time now!" he said, smiling, but with sarcasm in his voice.
"Right," she said, one eyebrow raised as if to test him. She looked him up and down, then took him in her arms and kissed him.
"You're the best," she said as they pulled apart. They then headed to their next class which was happening in the lounge, due to some sort of accident in the art room. Sophie didn't look impressed when they arrived late, neither did she look surprised. She knew, however, that Shelby and Scott were not the type to go for a quickie in between classes and that it was probably harmless flirting that had taken up their time, so she didn't make a big deal out of it. She did make a mental note to give them chores, but not together, for a month.
"So, for art, since we can't use the art room due to a certain Anthony Ryan who seemed to get a little too excited in a painting class." The class burst out laughing. Anthony had often gotten in trouble this way. He was hyperactive and if he got to do something he liked... well, let's just say, there was something to clean up within about twenty seconds flat. "So, we're going to have class here."
"Ah, come on, we can't have an art class here!" the only artist in the group, Auggie, yelled out.
"Well, it won't be the best art class ever, but we'll have to make due. So, I brought some paper. I want you to draw your biggest fear and use colours and shadow to express yourself, like we learned." They all got to work. As Sophie looked at the drawings as she passed, she had to catch herself in order not to cry out in shock. Shelby had drawn a dead version of her sister. Auggie had drawn a sort of collage of drugs, a book, and a group of people Sophie assumed was a gang. Jules had a picture of a pool of blood with her arm extended in it with numerous cuts on it. Jess's had her alone in a dark room symbolising her being alone in the world. Emma had a drawn Belle, dead. Ezra was in the process of drawing every kind of drug imaginable. Sophie didn't even know most of them. Daisy had her behind bars. Sophie knew that Daisy hated to be enclosed, whether it was referring to her mind, her body, or her soul. That's why she loved it at Horizon. David was drawing his father, which didn't surprise Sophie one bit. She stopped when she reached Scott's. He was drawing himself. She was sure he would have drawn his stepmother or something like that. She asked him what it meant.
"It's me. Alone. Without Shelby." He looked at Shelby. She was looking up at him, her eyes full of tears and a smile on her face. She mouthed the words "Thank you" to him. Sophie looked very pleased.
"That's very nice, Scott," she said warmly. "Alright, when you guys are done, I'd like to group." She heard several groans, but when she added the following: "I think you'll all be pleasantly surprised," she didn't get groans, she got rolls of the eye, from nearly everyone except Jules.
********************************************************************************
"Alright, as you all know," Peter began, speaking to both the Cliffhangers and the Rivergliders, "you're all graduating at the end of this year, excepting Jess and Alexis."
"Where are you going with this?" Jules asked expectantly.
"Well, I was going to ask if you guys were interested in having a second morp. I know you all liked it last year." All he got was a bunch of lit up faces, but that was all he needed. "Alright, morp 2 it is then." The group erupted in cheers.
"What pushed you to suggest it?" Jules asked, exceedingly happy.
"Look around. Do you see one unhappy face? That's why! You guys needed a boost and I knew this was it. Besides, I loved morp last year. It blew off some serious steam, and got more than a few people back together." All the Cliffhangers smiled. The perfect romance going on between Shelby and Scott was owing to the morp. They had a proper group discussion and left.
"Wow, I can't believe it, Peter has a heart," Daisy said sarcastically. Everyone laughed.
"Ya, you wouldn't think so owing to the fact that we don't get away with anything around here," Alex said, sounding a bit annoyed.
"Well, if you did, you probably wouldn't heal properly," Shelby said, irritated with his remark. She always thought it was obvious why the rules were so strict, despite sometimes hating them.
"Ya well you're just little miss perfect, aren't you?" Alex said.
"Hey, don't talk to her like that," Scott said warningly.
"What are you gonna do? You're just a jock who's in love. Boy, get this, a slut'll stay a slut, no matter how much you think she's trustworthy."
"Dude, take that back, or you will regret it," Scott said. Shelby tried to hold him back soothingly, but it didn't work. Auggie, David, and Ezra were also coming together. They weren't going to let one of they're own be treated like that.
"Nah, she deserves every word."
"Do you honestly think you can fight-" but Jess's last words were drowned out by the sound of punches and screams. The girls were all screaming for the guys to stop. Andrew and James had helped out Alex. They were still Rivergliders despite being merged in with the Cliffhangers. They only broke it up when Peter came in with Sophie and together with the girls they pulled them apart.
"Scott, Auggie, David, Ezra go to my office immediately. Alex, Andrew, and James go wait outside with Sophie. This is not going to be fun." He turned on his heal and led the way.
Why did that bastard have to run his mouth like that? He's such an idiot, Shelby thought as she sat down in an armchair. What's going to happen to them?
The Cliffhangers all sat down in English class. They were to have a discussion on "Pride and Prejudice," by Jane Austen, the book they were reading at the time - or listening to, as was Auggie. His dyslexia didn't allow him to understand what he read, so he listened to it on tape. Jules had helped him come a long way in conquering his dyslexia. She tutored him every evening. Auggie loved these tutoring sessions, even if it was school, it was Juliette!
"Alright gang, so, what can you tell me about Elizabeth Bennett?"
Emma spoke up. She had read the book before and owned the movie. She loved the story and had studied it on her own.
"Well, Elizabeth Bennett is the most important character. She was probably some sort of direct voice for Jane Austen. She was one of the first women to directly defy the limits of wealth and birth. She told Lady de Bourg that she would act only as it would constitute her own happiness and would not refer or ask for permission from a person so wholly unconnected with her," she stopped there, to applause from the class. They were so impressed with her analysis of the book.
"Good job," Sophie said, also looking very impressed. Normally, the kids didn't really care about schoolwork. They did it because they couldn't graduate without it, but it was often very poorly done. "Do you like 'Pride and Prejudice'?" she asked.
"Oh! Yes! It's my favourite book! I also love the movie. In times of despair, that's what I either read or watched," she said, sounding very enthusiastic.
"Interesting," was all Sophie said. They continued the discussion. No statements even came close to the details included in Emma's. She obviously wasn't kidding when she said that she had studied it. She had all this amazing insight in the book. She knew all about why something was said and what it meant to the story in terms of foreshadowing and such. As class ended, they all cleared out quickly, except for a few. Only Shelby and Scott were left at the end. They slowly walked off to their next class together. Scott looked as if he had something on his mind.
"What's up Cowboy? Not feeling well?" Shelby asked sweetly.
"Nah, it's not that. I just... oh, you'll think I'm being an idiot," he answered.
"No, of course I won't, and you know that! What's wrong? Scott, we promised each other that we would be completely honest with each other and keep it to ourselves, no matter what, and I stand by that promise," she answered solemnly.
"Alright," he looked convinced. He knew Shelby would never betray him. "Well, I think that guy Alex may be.... Um, how do I say this nicely?"
"Wanting me, knowing my history?" Shelby attempted.
"Yeah. Sorry."
"No need to worry. If he thinks he's gonna get some based on what I used to be, he's seriously wrong. First of all, I'm not like that anymore. Second, and most importantly, I've got you."
"Okay, so, there's no problem then?" Scott did look worried.
"Of course not. What did you think cowboy? Did you think I would leave you for someone that hardly knows me, that's not in it for the long run, and that only wants my body? Besides, he's not nearly as adorable as you are!" she burst out laughing at the expression on his face. He looked as though he knew he should've seen it coming, he just didn't.
"Ah, so? You're in it for the long run?"
"Would I be here if I weren't? I love you, Scott."
"I love you too, Shel, I can't imagine my life without you. You're my rock, my shining star, my cool breeze, and my comfort blanket. You're the one I want to run to at night... for the rest of my life."
"Scott," she gasped. "That was beautiful! I didn't know you could do that, just like that."
"What do you mean just like that? I've been planning this speech for quite some time now!" he said, smiling, but with sarcasm in his voice.
"Right," she said, one eyebrow raised as if to test him. She looked him up and down, then took him in her arms and kissed him.
"You're the best," she said as they pulled apart. They then headed to their next class which was happening in the lounge, due to some sort of accident in the art room. Sophie didn't look impressed when they arrived late, neither did she look surprised. She knew, however, that Shelby and Scott were not the type to go for a quickie in between classes and that it was probably harmless flirting that had taken up their time, so she didn't make a big deal out of it. She did make a mental note to give them chores, but not together, for a month.
"So, for art, since we can't use the art room due to a certain Anthony Ryan who seemed to get a little too excited in a painting class." The class burst out laughing. Anthony had often gotten in trouble this way. He was hyperactive and if he got to do something he liked... well, let's just say, there was something to clean up within about twenty seconds flat. "So, we're going to have class here."
"Ah, come on, we can't have an art class here!" the only artist in the group, Auggie, yelled out.
"Well, it won't be the best art class ever, but we'll have to make due. So, I brought some paper. I want you to draw your biggest fear and use colours and shadow to express yourself, like we learned." They all got to work. As Sophie looked at the drawings as she passed, she had to catch herself in order not to cry out in shock. Shelby had drawn a dead version of her sister. Auggie had drawn a sort of collage of drugs, a book, and a group of people Sophie assumed was a gang. Jules had a picture of a pool of blood with her arm extended in it with numerous cuts on it. Jess's had her alone in a dark room symbolising her being alone in the world. Emma had a drawn Belle, dead. Ezra was in the process of drawing every kind of drug imaginable. Sophie didn't even know most of them. Daisy had her behind bars. Sophie knew that Daisy hated to be enclosed, whether it was referring to her mind, her body, or her soul. That's why she loved it at Horizon. David was drawing his father, which didn't surprise Sophie one bit. She stopped when she reached Scott's. He was drawing himself. She was sure he would have drawn his stepmother or something like that. She asked him what it meant.
"It's me. Alone. Without Shelby." He looked at Shelby. She was looking up at him, her eyes full of tears and a smile on her face. She mouthed the words "Thank you" to him. Sophie looked very pleased.
"That's very nice, Scott," she said warmly. "Alright, when you guys are done, I'd like to group." She heard several groans, but when she added the following: "I think you'll all be pleasantly surprised," she didn't get groans, she got rolls of the eye, from nearly everyone except Jules.
********************************************************************************
"Alright, as you all know," Peter began, speaking to both the Cliffhangers and the Rivergliders, "you're all graduating at the end of this year, excepting Jess and Alexis."
"Where are you going with this?" Jules asked expectantly.
"Well, I was going to ask if you guys were interested in having a second morp. I know you all liked it last year." All he got was a bunch of lit up faces, but that was all he needed. "Alright, morp 2 it is then." The group erupted in cheers.
"What pushed you to suggest it?" Jules asked, exceedingly happy.
"Look around. Do you see one unhappy face? That's why! You guys needed a boost and I knew this was it. Besides, I loved morp last year. It blew off some serious steam, and got more than a few people back together." All the Cliffhangers smiled. The perfect romance going on between Shelby and Scott was owing to the morp. They had a proper group discussion and left.
"Wow, I can't believe it, Peter has a heart," Daisy said sarcastically. Everyone laughed.
"Ya, you wouldn't think so owing to the fact that we don't get away with anything around here," Alex said, sounding a bit annoyed.
"Well, if you did, you probably wouldn't heal properly," Shelby said, irritated with his remark. She always thought it was obvious why the rules were so strict, despite sometimes hating them.
"Ya well you're just little miss perfect, aren't you?" Alex said.
"Hey, don't talk to her like that," Scott said warningly.
"What are you gonna do? You're just a jock who's in love. Boy, get this, a slut'll stay a slut, no matter how much you think she's trustworthy."
"Dude, take that back, or you will regret it," Scott said. Shelby tried to hold him back soothingly, but it didn't work. Auggie, David, and Ezra were also coming together. They weren't going to let one of they're own be treated like that.
"Nah, she deserves every word."
"Do you honestly think you can fight-" but Jess's last words were drowned out by the sound of punches and screams. The girls were all screaming for the guys to stop. Andrew and James had helped out Alex. They were still Rivergliders despite being merged in with the Cliffhangers. They only broke it up when Peter came in with Sophie and together with the girls they pulled them apart.
"Scott, Auggie, David, Ezra go to my office immediately. Alex, Andrew, and James go wait outside with Sophie. This is not going to be fun." He turned on his heal and led the way.
Why did that bastard have to run his mouth like that? He's such an idiot, Shelby thought as she sat down in an armchair. What's going to happen to them?