"Shelby? You ready?" Emma called out from to the bathroom where Shelby was getting ready.
"Yeah, just a minute," she called back out. Back to the horses, she thought. She remembered that one horse that she had formed a special bond with. She remembered how much she loved being around them. But then, so many things had happened since then that she hadn't had the time to spend at the stables. She had also become great friends with Fred, which upset Scott for a while. She hoped his jealous days were over now that they were engaged. At least, she hoped so. She smiled at this last thought. Despite the results-often buddy hikes-back-she loved the fact that he was so protective of her.
"Why are you so happy?" Emma asked, interrupting her solitary reverie and seeing her happy expression.
"Oh, Scott..." she said simply, but with an expression that hinted at more. Emma made the mental note to ask her about it, but not now.
"Alrighty. We'd better get going, then. We have a bunch of things to do, and since you're not mucking-out, I have quite a bit of that to do." She laughed at this statement, so did Shelby. She had ever so skillfully made arrangements to be around the horses, but not around their leftovers.
"Great, I'm ready. Let's go," she said, pulling her hair into a ponytail. With that they left just as Daisy, Jess, Jules, Leonie, and Kristen were headed off to the kitchens, classrooms and woodshed.
When they arrived at the stables, Emma instructed Shelby as to the feeding routine and went to get the shovel and wheelbarrow for her own task. Since one naturally starts to talk while in a stable, they did just that.
"So? Why exactly are you here?" Emma asked. "You weren't exactly explicit at the first group. And I never really got to know you."
"Oh... um... I don't know..." she stammered. Could she trust Emma? Daisy did, and she decided that was good enough for her, since Daisy trusted even less than she did. Besides, she knew about her, so it was just fair, she thought. "My step-father was crap at fatherhood and abused me... sexually. My mother turned a blind eye, and I felt trapped. So, I ran away. Several times, in fact. I got hooked on drugs, and to pay for my drugs and to just survive, I... uh..." here she stopped. She was sure Emma understood since she was an intelligent girl. Emma could tell Shelby was really uncomfortable despite not seeing her at the moment (she was clearing the stall out).
"I get it, no need to explain," she said sweetly.
"Thanks," Shelby said smiling, throwing hay over the top of a stall door. She was now covered in hay, but she had to start the grain. This is where she had to run because the horses got very impatient, as the grain was the sweetest feed they received. "So? Did you talk to Jules?"
"Nope, she talked to me."
"And?" Shelby asked expectantly.
"And all is good. We're back to being great friends. I told her what had happened after she left. We talked about Ali. She was horrible to both of us."
"I see," Shelby said as she started putting shavings down in the stalls that Emma had finished mucking-out. "Well that's good I guess."
"Yeah, it's great. Thank you so much for making me get it out. Even though she started talking to me, you're the one who pushed me to share. I have to thank you so much," she said, tears running down her face. Her voice remained amazingly even. Shelby sensed she was crying and went over to her. She hugged her.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I just need some time to get used to this. Everything." At that moment Fred came in the barn.
"How are you two holding up?"
"Fine. Shelby, would you like to go for a ride?" Emma asked.
"Uh, sure. But what about our chores?"
"Fred, can you finish mucking out? Shelb and I have some serious horse therapy to do." She looked at Shelby and they both burst out laughing.
"Fine by me, but no jumping."
"We'll go out onto the field. She can take Vicky. She's okay outside. I'll take Belle. Get her used to the outdoors a bit."
"Sounds like a plan. Be careful. And don't go too close to the lake, just in case one of them spooks."
"Sure thing Fred. C'mon Shelby," she said, handing Fred her stuff, and taking Shelby's hand leading her to Vicky's stall. "Do you know how to brush and tack-up?"
"Yup," Shelby answered confidently. "Hey girl, how are you doing?" she said, entering Vicky's stall with a brush and currycomb. Emma looked on, watching to see if she really did know what she was doing. After about a minute Shelby noticed and said: "Don't you have a horse to attend to?"
"Yeah, but I'm real quick at tacking-up," Emma said matter-of-factly.
"Suit yourself," she said turning back to her horse and speaking quietly to her. Emma went off to get her brush. Within fifteen minutes, they were both tacked-up and riding out to the field.
********************************************************************************
"So? We have to remain tied up like this until we get back? But that won't be until tomorrow!"
"Uh-huh. Well, we do get untied at night, to sleep. The counselors seem to be a little sensitive to our requests not to sleep tied up," Scott answered, getting quickly irritated with Alex's constant complaints. He knew however, that if he wanted to get back to Shelby quickly, he couldn't start any fights. He'd take it out in group later. That is, if he didn't find Shelby before. She always had an amazingly calming presence with him.
"Oh, wonderful. Just what I need : sleep," Alex said sarcastically. They walked in silence until Alex just couldn't take it anymore. "Hey, so, um... what's your story?"
"Didn't you listen in group?" Scott said, obviously irritated. Didn't this guy get the message? He didn't want to talk to him!
"Nope. Does anyone listen in group anyway?" Alex asked as if it were the most boring thing in the world.
"Ya. Everybody listens and everyone participates. They realise it's for their own good. They understand it helps them to get things out in the open. You should too. The faster you heal, the faster you get out of here," Scott replied, wishing he was out of there now.
"But you don't want to leave. I've heard of how you came back to this... place, just for that whore." He had said the word "place" with such hatred in his voice that Scott winced. He just took a calming breath before continuing.
"She is not a whore. Don't ever call her that, or you won't be able to say anything for a while. Got it? And Horizon? It's the one place I've ever felt safe; safe from all the crap in the world. I love Shelby and I did come back for her," Scott said, full of pride. Nothing Alex said could take his love for Shelby away.
Sophie was following them. Not within noticeable distance, but just within earshot. She heard Scott's comments. How he defended Shelby, and Horizon. A smile crossed her face and a tear fell from her eye as she thought of how far he had come. She didn't even recognise the lost boy who had come to Horizon nearly two years ago. He had changed so much, and all for the better. He was definitely one of their success stories; one that she was exceedingly proud of.
They continued walking for about an hour or so, when Alex started complaining about his stomach. They hadn't eaten a breakfast, and it was pushing 11 o'clock.
"Normally, we only eat the poplar leaves, but it being winter, they've all fallen. With anything else you're taking a risk on your life. A kid at the school was gut-wrenchingly sick when he ate something on a buddy hike-back. He ended up in the hospital for the better part of a month. No matter how much you hate Horizon, the hospital is worse. Even the food there is worse, believe me. Soph, can we have our food?"
"Man, I don't think the food gets any worse than whatever they serve us in the caf."
"Here you go," Sophie said, giving them some food she pulled out of her pack. She had packed more than enough to last them the day and the next breakfast.
After they ate, they got back on their feet and continued walking. Scott had Shelby pushing him to make it home fast. He knew he'd have to spend a night in the forest, but he still wanted to spend the smallest amount of time with Alex. They walked in silence for the rest of the day. Alex remembered Scott's threat and since he only had insults for Shelby, he shut up. The other guys in the dorm, especially David, had made it clear not to mess with Scott. David had gotten beat up by Scott several times and even though he hated Alex, he knew that probably he wouldn't be able to slip out alive as he had so many times. Then again, David had a special arrangement going: David would live to see another day, so long as he didn't taunt Scott about Shelby. David respected that now, being with Daisy.
Just as the sun was setting, Sophie caught up to them.
"Guys, I think that's enough for today. We should get a fire going. It will get much colder than it is now. You guys also need to eat. It's been a long time since your brunch there," she said, putting her pack down and handing them some food.
********************************************************************************
Earlier that day at Horizon:
"Peter? May I speak to you?" Daisy asked politely as she walked in his office.
"Sure. What's up?"
"Well, you know about Shelby and Scott's engagement, right?" Shelby had told her when she returned to the dorm that she and Scott had told Peter.
"Yeah, what about it?" Peter sounded concerned.
"Well, since they are engaged, I thought it just might be fair to... how do I put this? Bend the rules a bit?"
"What are you asking for, Dais?" Peter asked, a smile appearing on his face. He was wondering who the first person to ask him this question would be.
"Well, there is the 'no inappropriate touching' rule which seems a bit unnecessary for them. As you know, they don't respect it, and since they are engaged, I think it would be only fair to completely exclude them form that rule."
"I agree. That would be fair. And I do pride myself on being fair. Soph and I will have to have a little discussion on that point, but I think it's very possible that this rule be changed for their sake. Anything else?"
"Well, ya, but I think that's for Shelby to ask, not me," she said, turning to leave. She had a suggestive smile on.
"What is it Daisy?" Peter sounded jokingly exasperated.
"Oh, just some sleeping arrangements..." and with that she walked out.
"Sleeping arrangements?" Peter repeated, getting all tense.
********************************************************************************
"Peter? You wanted to see me?" Shelby asked, walking into his office a little while after Peter's conversation with Daisy.
"Yeah. Oh my god! What is that smell?" he asked, pinching his nose.
"Oh, I went riding with Emma this morning. It was great," she replied, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Great. Well, about this new engagement," Peter began. But Shelby cut him off.
"What is it? You're not mad are you?" she said, as she began to get upset.
"No, no. I'm very glad for you both. Now, I got a visit from a certain person this morning," Peter said, knowing that Shelby knew exactly what he was talking about. She smiled as if to say "go on." So, he did. "I hate to bend the rules, but seeing as you are engaged, some might be able to be slightly bent or lifted. One of these will be the 'no inappropriate touching' rule. It will be lifted, seeing as any normal couple in your position will, well, you know." Shelby nodded, showing she understood. "Besides, I get it from a certain person that you don't follow that rule anyways," Peter said, smiling. Shelby laughed, making a mental note to kick Daisy's ass next time she saw her.
"Right," she said with a nod. "Oh, and Peter I have one question."
"Shoot."
"Well, seeing as we will be married, and we are both eighteen..." she trailed off.
"Yes?" he asked, predicting what she was about to ask.
"The sleeping arrangements. And it won't be to have sex. God knows, I'm not even ready for that. But it will be just to be near him, you know?"
"Uh, ya. Well, I'll talk to Soph about it. We may be able to get you guys a bed together in the boys' dorm. It is bigger than the girls' dorm either way. I'll see. By the way, that wasn't a 'yes,' it was a 'maybe,'" Peter cleared up, still smiling. He couldn't believe he was changing his rules like this. Then again, there had never been an engagement between the kids at Horizon before.
"Thanks captain," she said, getting up. "I think I'll go for that shower now. Or else, my teachers won't be too happy about my stench," she said with a little smile. With that, she left. Peter fell back on his chair. Smiling to himself. Those kids, he thought, lovingly. He didn't know what he was going to do when they would all leave Horizon in a few months. He knew for a fact that they would all stay in contact. They were still regularly talking to Kat. She even came over to Horizon for the Christmas holidays. All the Cliffhangers remained at Horizon to be with her and away from their dysfunctional families. With all these efforts, he was sure, they would have no trouble congregating somewhere monthly after graduation.
"Yeah, just a minute," she called back out. Back to the horses, she thought. She remembered that one horse that she had formed a special bond with. She remembered how much she loved being around them. But then, so many things had happened since then that she hadn't had the time to spend at the stables. She had also become great friends with Fred, which upset Scott for a while. She hoped his jealous days were over now that they were engaged. At least, she hoped so. She smiled at this last thought. Despite the results-often buddy hikes-back-she loved the fact that he was so protective of her.
"Why are you so happy?" Emma asked, interrupting her solitary reverie and seeing her happy expression.
"Oh, Scott..." she said simply, but with an expression that hinted at more. Emma made the mental note to ask her about it, but not now.
"Alrighty. We'd better get going, then. We have a bunch of things to do, and since you're not mucking-out, I have quite a bit of that to do." She laughed at this statement, so did Shelby. She had ever so skillfully made arrangements to be around the horses, but not around their leftovers.
"Great, I'm ready. Let's go," she said, pulling her hair into a ponytail. With that they left just as Daisy, Jess, Jules, Leonie, and Kristen were headed off to the kitchens, classrooms and woodshed.
When they arrived at the stables, Emma instructed Shelby as to the feeding routine and went to get the shovel and wheelbarrow for her own task. Since one naturally starts to talk while in a stable, they did just that.
"So? Why exactly are you here?" Emma asked. "You weren't exactly explicit at the first group. And I never really got to know you."
"Oh... um... I don't know..." she stammered. Could she trust Emma? Daisy did, and she decided that was good enough for her, since Daisy trusted even less than she did. Besides, she knew about her, so it was just fair, she thought. "My step-father was crap at fatherhood and abused me... sexually. My mother turned a blind eye, and I felt trapped. So, I ran away. Several times, in fact. I got hooked on drugs, and to pay for my drugs and to just survive, I... uh..." here she stopped. She was sure Emma understood since she was an intelligent girl. Emma could tell Shelby was really uncomfortable despite not seeing her at the moment (she was clearing the stall out).
"I get it, no need to explain," she said sweetly.
"Thanks," Shelby said smiling, throwing hay over the top of a stall door. She was now covered in hay, but she had to start the grain. This is where she had to run because the horses got very impatient, as the grain was the sweetest feed they received. "So? Did you talk to Jules?"
"Nope, she talked to me."
"And?" Shelby asked expectantly.
"And all is good. We're back to being great friends. I told her what had happened after she left. We talked about Ali. She was horrible to both of us."
"I see," Shelby said as she started putting shavings down in the stalls that Emma had finished mucking-out. "Well that's good I guess."
"Yeah, it's great. Thank you so much for making me get it out. Even though she started talking to me, you're the one who pushed me to share. I have to thank you so much," she said, tears running down her face. Her voice remained amazingly even. Shelby sensed she was crying and went over to her. She hugged her.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, I just need some time to get used to this. Everything." At that moment Fred came in the barn.
"How are you two holding up?"
"Fine. Shelby, would you like to go for a ride?" Emma asked.
"Uh, sure. But what about our chores?"
"Fred, can you finish mucking out? Shelb and I have some serious horse therapy to do." She looked at Shelby and they both burst out laughing.
"Fine by me, but no jumping."
"We'll go out onto the field. She can take Vicky. She's okay outside. I'll take Belle. Get her used to the outdoors a bit."
"Sounds like a plan. Be careful. And don't go too close to the lake, just in case one of them spooks."
"Sure thing Fred. C'mon Shelby," she said, handing Fred her stuff, and taking Shelby's hand leading her to Vicky's stall. "Do you know how to brush and tack-up?"
"Yup," Shelby answered confidently. "Hey girl, how are you doing?" she said, entering Vicky's stall with a brush and currycomb. Emma looked on, watching to see if she really did know what she was doing. After about a minute Shelby noticed and said: "Don't you have a horse to attend to?"
"Yeah, but I'm real quick at tacking-up," Emma said matter-of-factly.
"Suit yourself," she said turning back to her horse and speaking quietly to her. Emma went off to get her brush. Within fifteen minutes, they were both tacked-up and riding out to the field.
********************************************************************************
"So? We have to remain tied up like this until we get back? But that won't be until tomorrow!"
"Uh-huh. Well, we do get untied at night, to sleep. The counselors seem to be a little sensitive to our requests not to sleep tied up," Scott answered, getting quickly irritated with Alex's constant complaints. He knew however, that if he wanted to get back to Shelby quickly, he couldn't start any fights. He'd take it out in group later. That is, if he didn't find Shelby before. She always had an amazingly calming presence with him.
"Oh, wonderful. Just what I need : sleep," Alex said sarcastically. They walked in silence until Alex just couldn't take it anymore. "Hey, so, um... what's your story?"
"Didn't you listen in group?" Scott said, obviously irritated. Didn't this guy get the message? He didn't want to talk to him!
"Nope. Does anyone listen in group anyway?" Alex asked as if it were the most boring thing in the world.
"Ya. Everybody listens and everyone participates. They realise it's for their own good. They understand it helps them to get things out in the open. You should too. The faster you heal, the faster you get out of here," Scott replied, wishing he was out of there now.
"But you don't want to leave. I've heard of how you came back to this... place, just for that whore." He had said the word "place" with such hatred in his voice that Scott winced. He just took a calming breath before continuing.
"She is not a whore. Don't ever call her that, or you won't be able to say anything for a while. Got it? And Horizon? It's the one place I've ever felt safe; safe from all the crap in the world. I love Shelby and I did come back for her," Scott said, full of pride. Nothing Alex said could take his love for Shelby away.
Sophie was following them. Not within noticeable distance, but just within earshot. She heard Scott's comments. How he defended Shelby, and Horizon. A smile crossed her face and a tear fell from her eye as she thought of how far he had come. She didn't even recognise the lost boy who had come to Horizon nearly two years ago. He had changed so much, and all for the better. He was definitely one of their success stories; one that she was exceedingly proud of.
They continued walking for about an hour or so, when Alex started complaining about his stomach. They hadn't eaten a breakfast, and it was pushing 11 o'clock.
"Normally, we only eat the poplar leaves, but it being winter, they've all fallen. With anything else you're taking a risk on your life. A kid at the school was gut-wrenchingly sick when he ate something on a buddy hike-back. He ended up in the hospital for the better part of a month. No matter how much you hate Horizon, the hospital is worse. Even the food there is worse, believe me. Soph, can we have our food?"
"Man, I don't think the food gets any worse than whatever they serve us in the caf."
"Here you go," Sophie said, giving them some food she pulled out of her pack. She had packed more than enough to last them the day and the next breakfast.
After they ate, they got back on their feet and continued walking. Scott had Shelby pushing him to make it home fast. He knew he'd have to spend a night in the forest, but he still wanted to spend the smallest amount of time with Alex. They walked in silence for the rest of the day. Alex remembered Scott's threat and since he only had insults for Shelby, he shut up. The other guys in the dorm, especially David, had made it clear not to mess with Scott. David had gotten beat up by Scott several times and even though he hated Alex, he knew that probably he wouldn't be able to slip out alive as he had so many times. Then again, David had a special arrangement going: David would live to see another day, so long as he didn't taunt Scott about Shelby. David respected that now, being with Daisy.
Just as the sun was setting, Sophie caught up to them.
"Guys, I think that's enough for today. We should get a fire going. It will get much colder than it is now. You guys also need to eat. It's been a long time since your brunch there," she said, putting her pack down and handing them some food.
********************************************************************************
Earlier that day at Horizon:
"Peter? May I speak to you?" Daisy asked politely as she walked in his office.
"Sure. What's up?"
"Well, you know about Shelby and Scott's engagement, right?" Shelby had told her when she returned to the dorm that she and Scott had told Peter.
"Yeah, what about it?" Peter sounded concerned.
"Well, since they are engaged, I thought it just might be fair to... how do I put this? Bend the rules a bit?"
"What are you asking for, Dais?" Peter asked, a smile appearing on his face. He was wondering who the first person to ask him this question would be.
"Well, there is the 'no inappropriate touching' rule which seems a bit unnecessary for them. As you know, they don't respect it, and since they are engaged, I think it would be only fair to completely exclude them form that rule."
"I agree. That would be fair. And I do pride myself on being fair. Soph and I will have to have a little discussion on that point, but I think it's very possible that this rule be changed for their sake. Anything else?"
"Well, ya, but I think that's for Shelby to ask, not me," she said, turning to leave. She had a suggestive smile on.
"What is it Daisy?" Peter sounded jokingly exasperated.
"Oh, just some sleeping arrangements..." and with that she walked out.
"Sleeping arrangements?" Peter repeated, getting all tense.
********************************************************************************
"Peter? You wanted to see me?" Shelby asked, walking into his office a little while after Peter's conversation with Daisy.
"Yeah. Oh my god! What is that smell?" he asked, pinching his nose.
"Oh, I went riding with Emma this morning. It was great," she replied, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Great. Well, about this new engagement," Peter began. But Shelby cut him off.
"What is it? You're not mad are you?" she said, as she began to get upset.
"No, no. I'm very glad for you both. Now, I got a visit from a certain person this morning," Peter said, knowing that Shelby knew exactly what he was talking about. She smiled as if to say "go on." So, he did. "I hate to bend the rules, but seeing as you are engaged, some might be able to be slightly bent or lifted. One of these will be the 'no inappropriate touching' rule. It will be lifted, seeing as any normal couple in your position will, well, you know." Shelby nodded, showing she understood. "Besides, I get it from a certain person that you don't follow that rule anyways," Peter said, smiling. Shelby laughed, making a mental note to kick Daisy's ass next time she saw her.
"Right," she said with a nod. "Oh, and Peter I have one question."
"Shoot."
"Well, seeing as we will be married, and we are both eighteen..." she trailed off.
"Yes?" he asked, predicting what she was about to ask.
"The sleeping arrangements. And it won't be to have sex. God knows, I'm not even ready for that. But it will be just to be near him, you know?"
"Uh, ya. Well, I'll talk to Soph about it. We may be able to get you guys a bed together in the boys' dorm. It is bigger than the girls' dorm either way. I'll see. By the way, that wasn't a 'yes,' it was a 'maybe,'" Peter cleared up, still smiling. He couldn't believe he was changing his rules like this. Then again, there had never been an engagement between the kids at Horizon before.
"Thanks captain," she said, getting up. "I think I'll go for that shower now. Or else, my teachers won't be too happy about my stench," she said with a little smile. With that, she left. Peter fell back on his chair. Smiling to himself. Those kids, he thought, lovingly. He didn't know what he was going to do when they would all leave Horizon in a few months. He knew for a fact that they would all stay in contact. They were still regularly talking to Kat. She even came over to Horizon for the Christmas holidays. All the Cliffhangers remained at Horizon to be with her and away from their dysfunctional families. With all these efforts, he was sure, they would have no trouble congregating somewhere monthly after graduation.