Disclaimer: I own none of the characters or features of Higher Ground, except the following: Emma Morgan, the Rivergliders, Alex, Andrew, James, Leonie, Kristen, Alexis, Fred, Belle, Billy, the stables, or any other horses in that stable. Don't SUE!
The next few days went on relatively uneventfully. Auggie was quiet and reserved. Sophie and Peter were worried about him, but he wouldn't let them help. He would watch over Jules constantly. The other guys had all taken to being really protective of the girls, especially Scott and David. Only the Cliffhangers and Andrew knew what had happened in the shed, that is, apart from Peter and Sophie. Peter had arranged for Jules to be in a secluded cabin when she wasn't in group or class. The Rivergliders knew that something was up, but they weren't sure what. They never saw Jules, Auggie was rarely to be seen (he was the only one apart from counselors who was admitted to her cabin), and Andrew was still in the infirmary until god knows when.
Peter, after a lot of talking with Sophie, decided that Andrew would remain at Horizon, but would suffer severe punishment once he recovered from his beating. They both agreed that this didn't just arise off the top of his head, that there was some deeper meaning to his actions. After the incident, Scott and Shelby went in to see the counselors. Shelby told them of the incident at the docks; Scott stayed with her for moral support. They both understood that Andrew was definitely having a terrible time coping with rejection. He wasn't telling them something, and it would haunt him forever if he didn't let it out. That's why they kept him there.
Juliette, though in considerable pain and shock, agreed that to press charges would only make the situation worse and decided not to-she made that decision all on her own, which made Sophie and Peter very proud of her judgement and kindness. They knew that she would be able to forgive him in time. Auggie, on the other hand, was a different story. He wanted some definite payback, but he eventually saw that a broken nose, a few broken teeth, and a fractured leg and fractured rib were enough payback as it was, at least from him. All this, not to mention the many bruises and cuts, kept Andrew at bay in the hospital for a long time.
Auggie could sense as he spent time to Jules after the attempted rape, that she was hiding something from him.
"Jules, what is it?" he asked her on one Tuesday afternoon.
"Oh, nothing, Auggie," she said, slapping on a fake smile. "I'm perfectly fine. I swear."
"Jules, I can see it in your eyes that you're not!" he said, sounding more and more worried.
"Auggie," she began, but hesitated. He saw the look of hurt in her eyes. As a tear slipped down her face, his heart ripped apart. There was no more reason for her to hide the way she felt. She knew he knew something was wrong. She knew that to waste her energy on it would be useless. There was only one thing that would make her this hurt, Auggie thought. He walked over to the bed she was sitting on and sat down beside her. He reached over and took her arm. He turned it so that the inside of her forearm was facing up and slid up her sleeve. He gasped in horror at what he saw. She was crying now, rocking back and forth, with her arm held out to him. He just sat there, not knowing what to do with himself. He got up and began to leave. However, when he reached the door, he turned around and looked at her. He didn't say anything, he wasn't crying, and his face looked completely blank, rid of emotion, but the look in his eyes said it all. After the door closed, she began crying hysterically. Eventually, she collapsed and cried until she was overwhelmed with the exhaustion of hiding it for the last few days and fell asleep.
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Alexis stood up, off her bed, where she had been doing homework. It was now done. She slid her skateboard from underneath her bed and went outside. There were some sloped areas of pavement; some stairs and railings: a skateboarder's paradise, she thought. She skated around, doing relatively easy stuff for a while to warm up. It had been too long since her last time on her board, she thought. As she fell back into her old groove, she started doing tricks. Alex, who had been reading a book for English class, sitting on a nearby bench, looked up and saw her. At first, he thought it was Emma. As he came closer to talk, he noticed it was Ali. Wow, there's such a resemblance there, he thought, amazed that he mistook one for the other.
"I didn't know you skate," Alex said, looking rather impressed.
"There are a lot of things you don't know about me," she said with a wink.
"Oh yeah? When did you start?"
"A few years ago. After a while, I stopped."
"Why?" he asked. The only reason he'd stopped skating was because he was always getting high all the time. He tried to skate once, while he was high (he probably had some alcohol in him too) and he ended up in the hospital getting stitches on his brow. It wasn't a pretty thing. He winced at the memories.
"Because, well, I guess I just lost interest in it."
"Oh," he mumbled. Yeah right, he thought at the same time. No one just loses interest in something like that. There's got to be something more. He had his board with him so he got on it and they started a little competition of who could do the most tricks.
"As if she did this to me! That little slut!" Emma said to herself, her voice dripping with disgust. She had witnessed the whole thing. She liked Alex. He was nice to her. In fact, he was one of the only guys who'd ever been truly nice to her. She felt she could talk to him, and he obviously thought the same thing of her. Her sister, on the other hand, thought it was a joy to take anything worth something to Emma. She had noticed how close Emma and Alex had gotten and she wasn't prepared to let her win at anything. Emma turned on her heel and left. Alex notice her leave and just stood still. He started running after her retreating figure.
"Hey! Alex, what about your skateboard?" Ezra asked, hopefulness in his voice. He'd noticed their competition and had come to watch. Several times, he'd asked Alex to try it out.
"You brake it, you die," he said warningly.
"Thanks, man!" he shouted. With that, Alex ran off after Emma. He didn't only leave behind his board; he also left behind two very stunned looking people.
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"I know... Yes, that's right... Listen, Mrs. Wood... Yes, he'd be very safe, if you admit him, you can leave all responsibility to me and his father couldn't take him out without your permission... Perfect, I'll be waiting," Peter said, hanging up the phone. He'd just had a very stressful conversation with James's mother. She had been checking up on James and had just admitted Marc into his care. Another Riverglider, he thought as he brushed his hands through his hair. He opened up a new file and typed in "Marc Matthew Wood". Below the name, he wrote in "Physical abuse at the hands of a drunken father. Drug user: morphine addict. Started using when he was admitted to the hospital for injuries caused by repetitive beatings. Has been a chronic run-away ever since he couldn't get hold of drugs from home." Man, this is a toughie, Peter thought. I think he's going to be a harder case that even James has proved to be.
"Hey Mountain man!" Sophie said, knocking and entering the office where Peter was working. "Is he coming?" Peter nodded.
"She seemed in bad shape. She's going to a shelter tomorrow."
"Who is this? The mother?" Sophie asked concerned. "Is she pregnant?"
"Not anymore." Sophie gasped.
"He caused her to lose the baby?" she asked, horrified.
"Yeah, she's not pressing charges though. She doesn't the time, energy, or money to deal with a lawsuit now. She has to start working again to allow the boys to continue to come to Horizon. I told her if things get to tough that we have a fund to support all the students. She seemed very independent and didn't want help."
"She seems very capable." Sophie said, obviously impressed. Peter nodded. "So when's he getting here?"
"Tomorrow afternoon around three. We'll have to get Shelby and Scott out of the dorm so that he can settle in. I think we may have to find them another room. I can't believe they want to be married at Horizon!" A smile appearing on Peter's face as he said the last sentence.
"I know it's so amazing!" Sophie squealed. "I'm so excited! How on earth are we supposed to keep the secret that it's in two months! Peter that's three months before the ends! Do you realize that?" she asked, now coming back to reality.
"Yes, of course. It's going to be a little tough to conceal it from everyone."
"How do you suppose they're going to tell everyone?" Sophie asked, getting all giddy again.
"I don't know, but I've never seen you this excited before," he said laughing.
"I know, but they're so cute, so perfect for each other. They're going to be so happy together. They've been together for about a year and they still have the fire that they had at the beginning. Peter, when they are married, they'll need a separate room!"
"I know! Where are we going to put them?" he was now getting totally stressed out over it.
"Peter, don't worry, I'll do that. I'm sure the other Cliffhangers and Rivergliders will be happy to help. We'll manage, you have to much to do to stress about that!" she said, putting her hands up to calm him down. "You have no say whatsoever in this!" With that last statement, she left the office, nearly at a run.
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"Hi, I'm Peter Scarbrow," he said as he approached the boy of thirteen in the backseat of an expensive looking car, the next day.
"He won't talk, he hasn't talked since James left. His name's Marc," his mother answered for him.
"Alright, will you get out?" Peter asked politely, but making it obvious that this was no question. Marc got out. He was about Auggie's height, but much more buff. He looked like he'd been working out for the sole purpose of intimidation, and it worked! He had jet black, slightly curly hair. He also had a chin stud and several ear piercings. He looked around, reached back into the car, got his bag, and stood straight, looking directly at Peter. "Do you have anything you want to say to your mother before she leaves?" Peter asked. He didn't so much as acknowledge that Peter had said something. "Alright. He's in good hands, Mrs. Wood. We'll take good care of him."
Robin, his mother, looked hurt that he didn't have so much as a good-bye for her, but didn't really expect one in the first place. She got back in the car and drove off, squeaking the tires in her hurry to escape her son.
"Follow me, please," Peter said. And thus, the formalities began.
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"Scott, you're going to be his first-week buddy," Peter said, as Scott entered his office. Marc was sitting on a chair in front of his desk. He looked around and saw this Scott person. Man, this has got to be a joke, he thought.
"Sure, Peter. Name?" Scott said.
"Marc," the boy answered shortly.
"Alrighty, you look like another Alex." Marc looked at him without the slightest touch of interest. "Completely uninterested in the world... or at least, so it would seem," he added, remembering how he himself felt his first day at Horizon. With that thought in mind, he gave a little chuckle. "Follow me." With that Marc got up, picked up his bag and left, following Scott. "That was the admin building. There's the lodge, and that's the cafeteria. Over there is the woodshed, the barn, basketball courts. I don't suggest playing until all that winter run-off has dried up," Scott continued, pointing to random areas of the campus. "The gazeboes are down that slope. Around the lodge are the docks. The girls' dorm is down that path, and this," he said, opening the door, "is the boys' dorm. Your new home!" he added, waving his arm around.
"Newbie?" Shelby asked, looking up from the book she was reading. She was lying down on her and Scott's bed.
"I thought you said boys' dorm?" Marc asked, looking her over.
"Yeah, boys' plus Shelby's. She and I are engaged. Don't even think about it," he added, seeing where his gaze was going.
"Wasn't thinking anything," he said defensively, throwing his arms up protectively. He threw his things down on the vacant bed and sat down. Shelby got up and went over to Scott.
"Hi," she said, kissing him. "I haven't seen you today."
"Shel, I left you at breakfast to go get Marc. I spent all night, morning, and breakfast with you."
"I know, I love making you sweat a bit," she said with a little smile. She turned around and sat back down on the bed.
"Uh, I just got the speech from the captain, and isn't that stuff like illegal here?" Marc asked, a little uncomfortable.
"Normally yes, but we're special. See there's never been an engagement at Horizon so they didn't know how to deal with it. This is all basically a trial run. Besides, nothing's gonna happen," Shelby explained. She had become so much happier since her and Scott's engagement. She still had a lot of demons to deal with, but she had come so far. He was so proud of her. He smiled as he looked at her. Really looked at her. Her beautiful blond hair was pulled back with a clip. It fell down over her shoulders. Her eyes looked deep into his. They were a beautiful baby blue. Sometimes, like right then, they were of an almost scary clearness. At other times, they became shaded over.
"Earth to Scott!" she called out. He snapped out of it.
"Sorry, hun, you're just so beautiful."
"Aw, Scott, come on!" she said, getting up, and going over to him. Sensing what was about to happen, Marc spoke up.
"Uh, I'll just go outside."
"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute," Scott answered, rather distractedly.
"Yeah, right," Marc muttered as he left out onto the porch. I'm going to have one heck of a time here, he thought. I'm no idiot so I won't run. I mean where'd I go? I looked where we were going when we drove up. There's nothing around for mile. Those are thick forests, I'd either get lost or eaten. His thoughts, however, were interrupted.
"Hey, I don't think I've seen you around. You with the Rivergliders?" a girl asked him.
"Yeah, who're you?" he asked. Man, she's so cute! He thought to himself.
"I'm Kristen. You must be Marc." He nodded.
"How'd you know," he asked, looking surprised.
"Your brother's my friend. He told me you might be coming. I didn't think Peter and Sophie would separate siblings. After all, there are three sisters in our group alone."
"Okay."
"You know, you're nothing like James."
"Whatever," he didn't seem to like his brother too much.
"Alright," she began. "Do you want to come with me? I'll introduce you to the others." Shit, that guy's hot, she thought. He's also got a certain something.
"I think I'm supposed to wait for Scott." What am I doing? I want to go with her, right? Why won't my legs move, he thought frantically.
"Scott and Shelby are going to be in there all day. You may as well come now, and get the introductions over with before group. That's when it's really uncomfortable."
"Sure. So, what's group?" he asked. They walked off to the soccer field where the two groups were playing a little football. On their way, Kristen explained all he needed to know to get through the day. They became really comfortable around each other, which was odd. Normally it took a while for students at Horizon to warm up to each other, but these two hit it off in the first five minutes. Peter saw this, sitting at a picnic table with Sophie.
"We'll have to keep an eye on those two. Kristen obviously likes him. She's never been that forward with anyone and she's been here a few months!"
"I know. He must like her too. No student has been that nice with others on their first day."
"I know. They look like Auggie and Jules."
"I thought you might say that," Sophie answered, cuddling up to him. These were the precious few minutes before another big thing happened. The quiet before the storm, if you will.
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"Guys, this is Arianne. She will be your new counselor," Peter said, the next day, addressing the Rivergliders assembled in a classroom.
"What do you mean? Like replacing Sophie or you?" James shot out. "No offense," he added, as he was a nice person and really didn't mean to offend anyone.
"None taken," Arianne said, looking thankful for him even caring.
"No, no, no one's leaving. It's just that I've had to teach you guys and the fact is that I just don't have that much time. I have several other groups to attend to and other things to deal with. Since you guys have become rather close to the Cliffhangers, or at least, since I want it this way, you will still have group with them and remain in the same dorms. All Arianne is here for is teaching your classes and accompanying us on hikes and such activities," Peter finalized, running out of breath. There were mumbles of approbation. Everyone except for James, Kristen, and Leonie were looking at her rather warily and didn't seem to want her there at all. By the looks on their faces, the two counselors knew they were in for a rough ride until the students warmed up to her. After all, as Peter knew, it had taken a while for the Cliffhangers to warm up to Sophie and until they had, it had been hard.
The next few days went on relatively uneventfully. Auggie was quiet and reserved. Sophie and Peter were worried about him, but he wouldn't let them help. He would watch over Jules constantly. The other guys had all taken to being really protective of the girls, especially Scott and David. Only the Cliffhangers and Andrew knew what had happened in the shed, that is, apart from Peter and Sophie. Peter had arranged for Jules to be in a secluded cabin when she wasn't in group or class. The Rivergliders knew that something was up, but they weren't sure what. They never saw Jules, Auggie was rarely to be seen (he was the only one apart from counselors who was admitted to her cabin), and Andrew was still in the infirmary until god knows when.
Peter, after a lot of talking with Sophie, decided that Andrew would remain at Horizon, but would suffer severe punishment once he recovered from his beating. They both agreed that this didn't just arise off the top of his head, that there was some deeper meaning to his actions. After the incident, Scott and Shelby went in to see the counselors. Shelby told them of the incident at the docks; Scott stayed with her for moral support. They both understood that Andrew was definitely having a terrible time coping with rejection. He wasn't telling them something, and it would haunt him forever if he didn't let it out. That's why they kept him there.
Juliette, though in considerable pain and shock, agreed that to press charges would only make the situation worse and decided not to-she made that decision all on her own, which made Sophie and Peter very proud of her judgement and kindness. They knew that she would be able to forgive him in time. Auggie, on the other hand, was a different story. He wanted some definite payback, but he eventually saw that a broken nose, a few broken teeth, and a fractured leg and fractured rib were enough payback as it was, at least from him. All this, not to mention the many bruises and cuts, kept Andrew at bay in the hospital for a long time.
Auggie could sense as he spent time to Jules after the attempted rape, that she was hiding something from him.
"Jules, what is it?" he asked her on one Tuesday afternoon.
"Oh, nothing, Auggie," she said, slapping on a fake smile. "I'm perfectly fine. I swear."
"Jules, I can see it in your eyes that you're not!" he said, sounding more and more worried.
"Auggie," she began, but hesitated. He saw the look of hurt in her eyes. As a tear slipped down her face, his heart ripped apart. There was no more reason for her to hide the way she felt. She knew he knew something was wrong. She knew that to waste her energy on it would be useless. There was only one thing that would make her this hurt, Auggie thought. He walked over to the bed she was sitting on and sat down beside her. He reached over and took her arm. He turned it so that the inside of her forearm was facing up and slid up her sleeve. He gasped in horror at what he saw. She was crying now, rocking back and forth, with her arm held out to him. He just sat there, not knowing what to do with himself. He got up and began to leave. However, when he reached the door, he turned around and looked at her. He didn't say anything, he wasn't crying, and his face looked completely blank, rid of emotion, but the look in his eyes said it all. After the door closed, she began crying hysterically. Eventually, she collapsed and cried until she was overwhelmed with the exhaustion of hiding it for the last few days and fell asleep.
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Alexis stood up, off her bed, where she had been doing homework. It was now done. She slid her skateboard from underneath her bed and went outside. There were some sloped areas of pavement; some stairs and railings: a skateboarder's paradise, she thought. She skated around, doing relatively easy stuff for a while to warm up. It had been too long since her last time on her board, she thought. As she fell back into her old groove, she started doing tricks. Alex, who had been reading a book for English class, sitting on a nearby bench, looked up and saw her. At first, he thought it was Emma. As he came closer to talk, he noticed it was Ali. Wow, there's such a resemblance there, he thought, amazed that he mistook one for the other.
"I didn't know you skate," Alex said, looking rather impressed.
"There are a lot of things you don't know about me," she said with a wink.
"Oh yeah? When did you start?"
"A few years ago. After a while, I stopped."
"Why?" he asked. The only reason he'd stopped skating was because he was always getting high all the time. He tried to skate once, while he was high (he probably had some alcohol in him too) and he ended up in the hospital getting stitches on his brow. It wasn't a pretty thing. He winced at the memories.
"Because, well, I guess I just lost interest in it."
"Oh," he mumbled. Yeah right, he thought at the same time. No one just loses interest in something like that. There's got to be something more. He had his board with him so he got on it and they started a little competition of who could do the most tricks.
"As if she did this to me! That little slut!" Emma said to herself, her voice dripping with disgust. She had witnessed the whole thing. She liked Alex. He was nice to her. In fact, he was one of the only guys who'd ever been truly nice to her. She felt she could talk to him, and he obviously thought the same thing of her. Her sister, on the other hand, thought it was a joy to take anything worth something to Emma. She had noticed how close Emma and Alex had gotten and she wasn't prepared to let her win at anything. Emma turned on her heel and left. Alex notice her leave and just stood still. He started running after her retreating figure.
"Hey! Alex, what about your skateboard?" Ezra asked, hopefulness in his voice. He'd noticed their competition and had come to watch. Several times, he'd asked Alex to try it out.
"You brake it, you die," he said warningly.
"Thanks, man!" he shouted. With that, Alex ran off after Emma. He didn't only leave behind his board; he also left behind two very stunned looking people.
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"I know... Yes, that's right... Listen, Mrs. Wood... Yes, he'd be very safe, if you admit him, you can leave all responsibility to me and his father couldn't take him out without your permission... Perfect, I'll be waiting," Peter said, hanging up the phone. He'd just had a very stressful conversation with James's mother. She had been checking up on James and had just admitted Marc into his care. Another Riverglider, he thought as he brushed his hands through his hair. He opened up a new file and typed in "Marc Matthew Wood". Below the name, he wrote in "Physical abuse at the hands of a drunken father. Drug user: morphine addict. Started using when he was admitted to the hospital for injuries caused by repetitive beatings. Has been a chronic run-away ever since he couldn't get hold of drugs from home." Man, this is a toughie, Peter thought. I think he's going to be a harder case that even James has proved to be.
"Hey Mountain man!" Sophie said, knocking and entering the office where Peter was working. "Is he coming?" Peter nodded.
"She seemed in bad shape. She's going to a shelter tomorrow."
"Who is this? The mother?" Sophie asked concerned. "Is she pregnant?"
"Not anymore." Sophie gasped.
"He caused her to lose the baby?" she asked, horrified.
"Yeah, she's not pressing charges though. She doesn't the time, energy, or money to deal with a lawsuit now. She has to start working again to allow the boys to continue to come to Horizon. I told her if things get to tough that we have a fund to support all the students. She seemed very independent and didn't want help."
"She seems very capable." Sophie said, obviously impressed. Peter nodded. "So when's he getting here?"
"Tomorrow afternoon around three. We'll have to get Shelby and Scott out of the dorm so that he can settle in. I think we may have to find them another room. I can't believe they want to be married at Horizon!" A smile appearing on Peter's face as he said the last sentence.
"I know it's so amazing!" Sophie squealed. "I'm so excited! How on earth are we supposed to keep the secret that it's in two months! Peter that's three months before the ends! Do you realize that?" she asked, now coming back to reality.
"Yes, of course. It's going to be a little tough to conceal it from everyone."
"How do you suppose they're going to tell everyone?" Sophie asked, getting all giddy again.
"I don't know, but I've never seen you this excited before," he said laughing.
"I know, but they're so cute, so perfect for each other. They're going to be so happy together. They've been together for about a year and they still have the fire that they had at the beginning. Peter, when they are married, they'll need a separate room!"
"I know! Where are we going to put them?" he was now getting totally stressed out over it.
"Peter, don't worry, I'll do that. I'm sure the other Cliffhangers and Rivergliders will be happy to help. We'll manage, you have to much to do to stress about that!" she said, putting her hands up to calm him down. "You have no say whatsoever in this!" With that last statement, she left the office, nearly at a run.
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"Hi, I'm Peter Scarbrow," he said as he approached the boy of thirteen in the backseat of an expensive looking car, the next day.
"He won't talk, he hasn't talked since James left. His name's Marc," his mother answered for him.
"Alright, will you get out?" Peter asked politely, but making it obvious that this was no question. Marc got out. He was about Auggie's height, but much more buff. He looked like he'd been working out for the sole purpose of intimidation, and it worked! He had jet black, slightly curly hair. He also had a chin stud and several ear piercings. He looked around, reached back into the car, got his bag, and stood straight, looking directly at Peter. "Do you have anything you want to say to your mother before she leaves?" Peter asked. He didn't so much as acknowledge that Peter had said something. "Alright. He's in good hands, Mrs. Wood. We'll take good care of him."
Robin, his mother, looked hurt that he didn't have so much as a good-bye for her, but didn't really expect one in the first place. She got back in the car and drove off, squeaking the tires in her hurry to escape her son.
"Follow me, please," Peter said. And thus, the formalities began.
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"Scott, you're going to be his first-week buddy," Peter said, as Scott entered his office. Marc was sitting on a chair in front of his desk. He looked around and saw this Scott person. Man, this has got to be a joke, he thought.
"Sure, Peter. Name?" Scott said.
"Marc," the boy answered shortly.
"Alrighty, you look like another Alex." Marc looked at him without the slightest touch of interest. "Completely uninterested in the world... or at least, so it would seem," he added, remembering how he himself felt his first day at Horizon. With that thought in mind, he gave a little chuckle. "Follow me." With that Marc got up, picked up his bag and left, following Scott. "That was the admin building. There's the lodge, and that's the cafeteria. Over there is the woodshed, the barn, basketball courts. I don't suggest playing until all that winter run-off has dried up," Scott continued, pointing to random areas of the campus. "The gazeboes are down that slope. Around the lodge are the docks. The girls' dorm is down that path, and this," he said, opening the door, "is the boys' dorm. Your new home!" he added, waving his arm around.
"Newbie?" Shelby asked, looking up from the book she was reading. She was lying down on her and Scott's bed.
"I thought you said boys' dorm?" Marc asked, looking her over.
"Yeah, boys' plus Shelby's. She and I are engaged. Don't even think about it," he added, seeing where his gaze was going.
"Wasn't thinking anything," he said defensively, throwing his arms up protectively. He threw his things down on the vacant bed and sat down. Shelby got up and went over to Scott.
"Hi," she said, kissing him. "I haven't seen you today."
"Shel, I left you at breakfast to go get Marc. I spent all night, morning, and breakfast with you."
"I know, I love making you sweat a bit," she said with a little smile. She turned around and sat back down on the bed.
"Uh, I just got the speech from the captain, and isn't that stuff like illegal here?" Marc asked, a little uncomfortable.
"Normally yes, but we're special. See there's never been an engagement at Horizon so they didn't know how to deal with it. This is all basically a trial run. Besides, nothing's gonna happen," Shelby explained. She had become so much happier since her and Scott's engagement. She still had a lot of demons to deal with, but she had come so far. He was so proud of her. He smiled as he looked at her. Really looked at her. Her beautiful blond hair was pulled back with a clip. It fell down over her shoulders. Her eyes looked deep into his. They were a beautiful baby blue. Sometimes, like right then, they were of an almost scary clearness. At other times, they became shaded over.
"Earth to Scott!" she called out. He snapped out of it.
"Sorry, hun, you're just so beautiful."
"Aw, Scott, come on!" she said, getting up, and going over to him. Sensing what was about to happen, Marc spoke up.
"Uh, I'll just go outside."
"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute," Scott answered, rather distractedly.
"Yeah, right," Marc muttered as he left out onto the porch. I'm going to have one heck of a time here, he thought. I'm no idiot so I won't run. I mean where'd I go? I looked where we were going when we drove up. There's nothing around for mile. Those are thick forests, I'd either get lost or eaten. His thoughts, however, were interrupted.
"Hey, I don't think I've seen you around. You with the Rivergliders?" a girl asked him.
"Yeah, who're you?" he asked. Man, she's so cute! He thought to himself.
"I'm Kristen. You must be Marc." He nodded.
"How'd you know," he asked, looking surprised.
"Your brother's my friend. He told me you might be coming. I didn't think Peter and Sophie would separate siblings. After all, there are three sisters in our group alone."
"Okay."
"You know, you're nothing like James."
"Whatever," he didn't seem to like his brother too much.
"Alright," she began. "Do you want to come with me? I'll introduce you to the others." Shit, that guy's hot, she thought. He's also got a certain something.
"I think I'm supposed to wait for Scott." What am I doing? I want to go with her, right? Why won't my legs move, he thought frantically.
"Scott and Shelby are going to be in there all day. You may as well come now, and get the introductions over with before group. That's when it's really uncomfortable."
"Sure. So, what's group?" he asked. They walked off to the soccer field where the two groups were playing a little football. On their way, Kristen explained all he needed to know to get through the day. They became really comfortable around each other, which was odd. Normally it took a while for students at Horizon to warm up to each other, but these two hit it off in the first five minutes. Peter saw this, sitting at a picnic table with Sophie.
"We'll have to keep an eye on those two. Kristen obviously likes him. She's never been that forward with anyone and she's been here a few months!"
"I know. He must like her too. No student has been that nice with others on their first day."
"I know. They look like Auggie and Jules."
"I thought you might say that," Sophie answered, cuddling up to him. These were the precious few minutes before another big thing happened. The quiet before the storm, if you will.
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"Guys, this is Arianne. She will be your new counselor," Peter said, the next day, addressing the Rivergliders assembled in a classroom.
"What do you mean? Like replacing Sophie or you?" James shot out. "No offense," he added, as he was a nice person and really didn't mean to offend anyone.
"None taken," Arianne said, looking thankful for him even caring.
"No, no, no one's leaving. It's just that I've had to teach you guys and the fact is that I just don't have that much time. I have several other groups to attend to and other things to deal with. Since you guys have become rather close to the Cliffhangers, or at least, since I want it this way, you will still have group with them and remain in the same dorms. All Arianne is here for is teaching your classes and accompanying us on hikes and such activities," Peter finalized, running out of breath. There were mumbles of approbation. Everyone except for James, Kristen, and Leonie were looking at her rather warily and didn't seem to want her there at all. By the looks on their faces, the two counselors knew they were in for a rough ride until the students warmed up to her. After all, as Peter knew, it had taken a while for the Cliffhangers to warm up to Sophie and until they had, it had been hard.