Disclaimer: I don't own them! You all know that! To avoid having to put a disclaimer at the beginning of each chapter, I'll put this one for the rest of the story. Oh, and I don't own most of the second to last conversation between D&D. That's mostly Oscar Wilde's. Thanks, man! You rock! lol, no I'm not clinically insane!
Author's Note: I really got you guys, didn't I? LOL read on, you won't be disappointed, I hope. And the strike's officially over, Emma!
After their little chat, Daisy and David spent all their time avoiding each other. David was afraid he'd break and either explode or try and fight Mother Nature (the trees, they're still on their way back from the hike) in which case he'd fail miserably. Because of his situation, he started to walk with Marc and Alex who were chatting uselessly. Daisy walked on her own, rebuilding a mask that had vanished last year, at her mother's funeral.
Shelby noticed her friend was walking alone. No one else seemed to have noticed this. But then again, Scott and Shelby were bringing up the rear and Daisy was behind everyone else.
"Why do you think Daisy's alone?" Shelby whispered to Scott.
"I have no clue. She's a little odd sometimes, maybe she spooked everyone off," Scott said with a smirk.
"But David isn't bothered by her oddness."
"Yeah, he matches it." He looked to Shelby for approval of his joke. She seemed to not even have heard it. "Shel, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, but look at her. She seems so alone, so confused," Shelby pointed out.
"Well, go talk to her. I'll go talk to Auggie." Shelby nodded, and gave Scott's hand a squeeze.
"Thanks, she looks like she needs a friend." Scott gave her a kiss, and went off to where Auggie was walking with Jules. Shelby walked alone a while longer, observing Daisy. Then, she tentatively approached her. "Dais? You okay?" she asked.
"Oh, me? Just peachy!" she replied sarcastically. This scared Shelby a little. Normally Daisy's sarcasm wouldn't scare her, but there was something beneath it, this time. Normally, Daisy's sarcasm was almost said in a mocking voice, but now, there was an undertone of sadness and anger.
"Right. Do you want to tell me what wrong?" Shelby asked, seeing right through the mask.
"You know, peachy normally means nothing's wrong," she replied.
"Yeah? Well, normally you're not like that."
"Peachy?"
"No, like that... with the tone. Dais, I know you well, you don't fool me," Shelby pointed out.
"Well, aren't we smart?" Shelby gave her a look that said, "what are you talking about?" but Daisy ignored it. "Just leave it, Shelby."
"No! You're my best friend, and I'm not going to just give up on you!" Shelby said.
"Well, there's a new one," Daisy said rolling her eyes.
"David didn't give up on you," Shelby prodded.
"You think that, do you?"
"Yes, I do," Shelby replied testingly.
"Well, things change. And since when do I have boyfriends?"
"Uh, Dais, you were with him for like half a year!" Shelby didn't get it. "What happened? I thought you love him."
"Loved, past tense," Daisy corrected.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, Shelby, for someone as smart as you, I thought you'd understand simple English. The past tense signifies the fact that I no longer love him."
"You're joking!" Shelby said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, you know me, I'm just not one for hypocrisy," Daisy said, a fake laugh, and a shrug present in her voice.
"So, don't lie to me. Tell me what happened," Shelby pleaded. Daisy looked at her, in the eyes. She could tell Shelby really wanted to help, but she wasn't going back there. As far as everyone was concerned, Daisy didn't care about David. And as far as she was concerned, he didn't care about her.
"No," she shook her head and walked off, leaving Shelby behind, puzzled. The look she'd seen in Daisy's eyes was one of upmost sadness. I just don't get it, she thought. So they broke up then. But why? They were so in love. I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Obviously he dumped her, she'd've told me if she was going to dump him. Just why did he do it? That, I don't understand.
"David," she said, walking up to him, and pulling him aside.
"What?" he asked rudely. Well, that was to be expected, she thought.
"I know you broke up with Daisy."
"Good for you," he said, with sarcastic applause.
"Why?" she asked. His countenance changed. It became sad. This is so weird, Shelby thought. Why would he cause his own pain? Don't the people here try to avoid it? He shook his head.
"No," he said simply.
"No, what?"
"Sorry, Shel, I can't... I couldn't..." he stammered. She looked perplexed. He walked off, leaving her alone, again. What is going on with them? This makes no sense!
"Scott!" she called, walking up to him.
"Hey, what was wrong with Daisy?" he asked.
"She broke up with David. Or rather, he broke up with her," she explained.
"No way!" Juliette said.
"You're loco!" Auggie added. Scott had still been walking with them when Shelby came and told him her findings.
"I'm not! And it's true," she said.
"Why?" Scott asked, his brows knitted. "Makes no sense."
"I know. That's what I tried to find out from Daisy. She didn't seem to have a clue. Then, I asked David, and he didn't want to tell me. I need you to get it out of him," she pleaded.
"Why me?" Scott whined.
"Because, you're a guy... I dunno, maybe he'll tell you. You go too, Auggie!" she said.
"No way, man!"
"Okay, first off, Auggie, I'm a woman," Shelby pointed out. Auggie rolled his eyes. "Second, there's more to it. This is so weird. David's all torn up over it. This isn't a normal break-up!"
"Fine, fine, we'll do it," Scott said, giving Auggie a look forcing him into it with him.
"Fine. But you owe us big, Shelb!" Auggie said.
"Fine, you'll get blow jobs," she said sarcastically. She laughed at the look on Scott's, Auggie's, and Juliette's faces. "I'm just kidding! Scott, you'll get a blow job... Auggie, I'll figure something out."
"Dude! We don't want to know that!" Auggie and Jules protested.
"Sorry, too late," Scott said, satisfaction written over his face as he put an arm around Shelby. she rolled her eyes, but didn't protest.
"So, get to it!" she urged. She didn't like it when Daisy wasn't happy... or as close as she got to it.
"We'll do that when we get back to campus. It'll work better that way. Give him some time," Scott reasoned.
"He's right, you know?" Auggie said.
"Whatever." She shrugged.
"Wow, I can't believe it," Jules said. "David and Daisy. They were so in love."
"I know. I was thinking that too."
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"Ah! Showers! The best life has to give!" Juliette squealed as they exploded into the dorms after the hike. All the girls laughed at this. "I call first!" she said.
"Fine, I'm second!" Ley said. They eventually all had a number.
"Ah, screw this! I'm going to use Shelby's bathroom," Daisy said. The only other people who would've known Shelby well enough to use her bathroom were the other Cliffhanger girls. Juliette was already in the showers, and nearly done. Emma was next after Ley, and Jess was right after her. The Rivergliders weren't so close to Shelby, so they didn't bother. Daisy grabbed a towel, some flannel pants, and a tank top. She headed out the door, crossed the area between the dorms, and entered the guys' dorm.
As she passed the opening to the Cliffhangers' dorm, she heard something that stopped her in her tracks: David's voice.
"Guys! Stop badgering me! I'm not gonna talk about it!" he was saying. His voice sounded muffled, as if his face was stuck in a pillow. She could still tell it sounded different from what it normally was. It sounded strained. She cocked her head to the side at this thought.
"Why not?" Auggie's voice asked. There was a ruffling of bed sheets. David must've been turning away from him.
"Come on, man, just tell us! Maybe we can help!" Scott's voice said.
"Oh, I'm sure you could," he said sarcastically.
"Hey, we've been good at it before," Auggie said, remembering when he helped David out when he had girl troubles before.
"Yeah, you're right." David sounded like he was about to crack. Daisy was listening closer and closer with every word.
"So, come on, man, we'll do our best," Scott said. He sounded a little rushed. "Come on, before Shel's done in the shower."
"Hold your horses," David said. He took a deep breath and started his story. "Okay, look, the other day, when Daisy and I went to wake you and Shelby up... well, something happened."
"I know! You took a picture of Shel with no clothes on!" Scott burst out.
"Meat, let him finish!" Auggie said. Daisy rolled her eyes at how macho Scott was trying to be.
"Yeah! Let me finish," David said in a boyish way. This made Daisy smile sadly; she missed him so much. "Well, Daisy was so happy." Daisy felt a lump come up in her throat and her eyes well up. She looked around to check that no one was around. David said that with such care. She still couldn't believe he'd broken it off.
"But that's good, muchacho," Auggie said, confused.
"Yes, it is. If I could, I'd take all her pain away. I want her to be happy," he said. A tear slipped down Daisy's face, but she quickly wiped it away.
"Then why'd you break up with her?" Scott asked.
"Because I would've caused her pain."
"What are you talking about, meat?" Auggie asked.
"When I saw her looking at Scott and Shelby sleeping together, all cozy and loving, she looked so happy. I could tell she wanted that."
"I still don't get it," Scott said.
"I couldn't offer her that. I'm just not..." he struggled for the word.
"Ready?" Auggie supplied.
"Yeah. I just... I can't. And I don't want her to hate me for that. I just couldn't do that. Not yet. You know?" he asked. Daisy had slid down the wall, and was sitting there, tears streaming down from her eyes. So this was it. He still did love her. He'd done this to avoid hurting her. But, wait, she thought, I don't want what they have. I want what they have. She heaved a huge sigh.
David heard something, so he got up. No, this couldn't be, he thought. He left the dorm, and looked around. There, right outside the opening was none other than Daisy. He looked at her, shock written all over his face. She looked up at him, tears still streaming down her face.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. It wasn't said harshly, or meanly. It was asked kindly, with that same hint of sadness in his voice. It was a simple and legitimate question.
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Most of the girls had gone to get some food and Ali was in the shower. Julia decided she ought to talk to Kristen now, they were alone in the dorm, and they didn't get this kind of privacy often.
"Kristen," she said soothingly.
"What?" she asked rudely, which was very unlike her.
"There's more to it than I've said."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Max had his reasons. They don't excuse it, but they justify it, you know?" Julia said.
"I get what you mean. What were these reasons?" Kristen asked, her eyes narrowed into slits.
"That, you'll have to ask him," Julia replied, a sly smile on her face.
"Fine. But these better be some damn good reasons!" she said, getting up off her bed, and going to the caf, where she knew he'd be. Julia smiled to herself.
"Where'd Kristen go?" Ali asked when she left the bathroom. Julia stepped in.
"To find out the truth," Julia said. Ali scoffed.
"Whatever." She left for dinner too. Julia rolled her eyes, closing the door to the bathroom. Some people could be so unromantic, she thought.
**************************************************************************************
"Max, can I talk to you?" Kristen asked, walking up to the table where the Rivergliders, minus Julia and Ali, who was still on her way over, and where the Cliffhangers, minus Daisy, Shelby, Scott, and Auggie, were.
"Uh, sure," he said, getting up, and leaving the table, following Kristen. They walked all the way out to the docks, before she spoke again.
"Okay, you can explain."
"What?" he asked.
"Why you had to get your stomach pumped and why you got into a coma because of drugs," she said, completely disgusted by it all. He looked at her unsure whether he should go on or not. "You have reasons, I expect?"
"Oh, yeah, I do," he said.
"Then, go on."
"Well, I can't explain the alcohol, that was just a party I went to far in," he said. She scoffed.
"And I supposed the coma thing was that the drug was laced with something else and you didn't know about it."
"Yeah, actually." He was still really uncomfortable. He was hiding something big, and didn't want to say it just yet.
"Why did you take it?" she asked.
"Because of... pressure. So I could deal with it," he said honestly, although that wasn't the whole story.
"Okay, but why were under pressure?" she prodded further. Her voice was softening, but he face was still ice cold and impassible.
"Uh... the guys... they... uh... wanted me to... uh... nail this girl," he stammered. Kristen took a deep breath.
"Why did you give in?"
"To prove it to them..." he said.
"Prove what? Max! This isn't like you! I don't get what you're saying!" she exploded from frustration.
"That I'm not gay!" he burst out.
"Why would they think that?" she asked quietly.
"Cause I am," he said slowly. Kristen just stared ahead.
"Wait, I must've heard you wrong. You just said you're gay. Are you serious?" she said, working her way through every word. Max nodded.
"I needed to nail the girl, to show them... and I didn't want to, so I got really high. There was something in the crack, and later that night, I had a seizure and fell into a coma," he said, looking to the ground as though there'd be answers written down.
"Oh, Max!" she said sympathetically. She walked to him, raised his head with her hand so he was looking at her. He could tell she wouldn't judge him. She gave him a tight, sincere hug. He felt a huge load come off his shoulders.
"Thanks for understanding," he whispered.
"Hey, what are best friends for?" She could feel him smile into her shoulder.
**************************************************************************************
"David!" she said, looking up at him, from where she was sitting on the ground. "I... I love you!" she said, getting up and giving him a hug.
"Dais... I can't, you know that. I told you. I can't. I... I won't. I'm sorry," he said, pulling out of the hug and leaving.
Shelby came out of her room, and was going to tell Scott it was free, but she first bumped into David.
"David!" she called out.
"No! Just leave me alone!" he said, running out the door.
"Oh no, Daisy..." she said to herself, and ran off. She ran to the opening of the Cliffhangers' dorm, instinctively. She found Daisy collapsed on the floor in a sitting position with her head in her hands. "Oh, Dais!" she said, sitting beside her friend and putting her arms around her. Daisy slung her arms around Shelby. "Don't worry, Dais. We'll figure this out. It'll be alright."
"No, no, it won't," she said shaking her head.
"Yes, it will. Don't worry. We'll set him straight. Just wait. It's okay, hun. Calm down," she said soothingly.
**************************************************************************************
Peter skipped the group that night. He could tell the students had had enough drama for one day. ("Well, I do believe Peter's growing a heart," Shelby had said sarcastically.)
For Daisy, and David this was a sleepless night. Each wanted the other, but knew that until they figured this out, neither would be happy. The next day, as everyone knew, would be monumental.
They weren't mistaken.
The next morning, Daisy was looking less than her best. Because they had kitchens together, Shelby, Scott, Daisy, and David, were all looking very tense at breakfast. Neither Daisy nor David spoke, to each other, or anyone else. But David kept a steady gaze on her, the entire time.
"Okay, this is enough. David, Daisy, get up, now!" Shelby said, taking out all her frustration on her breakfast. They looked up quizzically. "NOW!" she yelled, scaring everyone in the room. They all looked at who Shelby was raging hell on this time and were surprised to see it was her best friend, and her best friend's boyfriend. They got up, almost afraid of what she might do. "Scott, can you help me?" she added to him in a whisper. He got up quickly, a little afraid of her. The others looked on, wanting to see what she'd do. "Out," she said, pointing to the door. Everyone moaned, they weren't going to see her wrath unveiled after all.
They left the caf. Sophie wanted to follow, but Peter stopped her. "They need to figure this out on their own, or this crazy tension will continue. Believe me, you didn't see them on kitchens this morning," he said.
Outside, Shelby was leading them toward the forest, away from the caf.
"Shel, where are we going?" Scott asked.
"Don't worry, we're not running," she said, rolling her eyes. Beside the forest, she stopped. Daisy and David looked at her curiously. "Sort it out!" she commanded.
"Shelby!" Daisy protested, getting angry.
"No! I'm not leaving this to go on! Daisy, you were a wreck last night. Not to mention you, David!" she said, looking at each respectively. "David, why did you break it off?"
"None of your god-damn business!" he yelled.
"David, come on. This'll never end otherwise," Scott said.
"And if you don't say it now, we'll just stay here all day. It's Sunday, we can wait forever," Shelby said, folding her arms over her chest.
"Fine, I broke it off because I thought Daisy wanted what you and Scott have and I couldn't go there. I'm not ready." He huffed angrily at Shelby. Scott was ready to defend her against an attack he might launch. Daisy just looked at him, surprised at how easily he said that.
"Daisy..." Shelby said, she was calming down a little more now. She didn't really know what to ask of her best friend. Daisy raised her eyebrows at her.
"Yes, master?" she said sarcastically.
"Uh, what do you have to say?"
"I don't care. I just want to be with him," she said quietly.
"David?"
"What?" he asked, but his voice was no longer convincingly angry, and he was stealing furtive glances at Daisy.
"Care to respond?" Shelby asked, in a duh-like voice.
"Is that true?" he asked Daisy, turning to her. She nodded. "You don't want what they have... at least not now?" he asked cautiously. She nodded again. Her voice was gone. "Are you sure?" he checked. He didn't want to get himself into this if it was gonna end up how he thought it would.
"Yes, David. I'm sure. I just want to be with you. In case you're to daft to see," she continued, a smirk now playing on her lips, "I want what we had." He smiled the biggest smile he'd ever smiled.
"You do?" She nodded. "I love you so much! So, could you still love me?"
"Oh, you silly boy!" she said sarcastically. "If you knew anything about anything, which you don't, you'd know that I absolutely adore you!"
"Why didn't you say this sooner?"
"Because, dear boy, you never would've believed me. Hold on, I actually did and you didn't believe me!" she said, laughing. He leaned in and gave her a tentative kiss, when she responded to it, he pulled her in by her waist, and she slipped her arms around his neck. The kiss grew more and more passionate.
"Well," Scott said slowly. He and Shelby were gaping at this scene. They obviously were just waiting for a reason to get back together. They got it, and were... together. "Good work," he finally got out.
"Thanks, cowboy," Shelby said, turning towards him. She put a hand round his neck, and laid it on his head. She gently pushed his head down towards her. She kissed him too.
"Come on, lovebirds, we have to see Julia and Max off!" Juliette squealed, running up to this scene.
"Coming," Scott called back. He looked at Shelby and laughed. David and Daisy seemed unfazed and continued to kiss.
"We'll cover for you guys," Shelby said.
Daisy opened her eyes, as David kissed her neck. She saw Shelby and Scott laughing. Her smile said it all.
"You're welcome, hun," Shelby said, and pulled on Scott's hand to bring him to where Julia and Max were getting picked up.
"Oh, guys, you may want to go a little further in the forest... just to avoid being seen," Sophie said, coming up. David and Daisy stopped and looked at her with confused faces. She just winked and joined Scott and Shelby who were nearly out of sight. Daisy looked back at David.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too," she replied, smiling. "Come on, don't want to be caught," she said sarcastically.
"Well, thank god everyone's normal again," David said sarcastically.
"Until later, when more drama will unfold," she said mysteriously.
"How do you know?"
"It's in the cards," she said pointedly. By then, they'd gone a little further in the forest, and David had Daisy pushed up against a tree. He leant in and kissed her once more.
Author's Note: I really got you guys, didn't I? LOL read on, you won't be disappointed, I hope. And the strike's officially over, Emma!
After their little chat, Daisy and David spent all their time avoiding each other. David was afraid he'd break and either explode or try and fight Mother Nature (the trees, they're still on their way back from the hike) in which case he'd fail miserably. Because of his situation, he started to walk with Marc and Alex who were chatting uselessly. Daisy walked on her own, rebuilding a mask that had vanished last year, at her mother's funeral.
Shelby noticed her friend was walking alone. No one else seemed to have noticed this. But then again, Scott and Shelby were bringing up the rear and Daisy was behind everyone else.
"Why do you think Daisy's alone?" Shelby whispered to Scott.
"I have no clue. She's a little odd sometimes, maybe she spooked everyone off," Scott said with a smirk.
"But David isn't bothered by her oddness."
"Yeah, he matches it." He looked to Shelby for approval of his joke. She seemed to not even have heard it. "Shel, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, but look at her. She seems so alone, so confused," Shelby pointed out.
"Well, go talk to her. I'll go talk to Auggie." Shelby nodded, and gave Scott's hand a squeeze.
"Thanks, she looks like she needs a friend." Scott gave her a kiss, and went off to where Auggie was walking with Jules. Shelby walked alone a while longer, observing Daisy. Then, she tentatively approached her. "Dais? You okay?" she asked.
"Oh, me? Just peachy!" she replied sarcastically. This scared Shelby a little. Normally Daisy's sarcasm wouldn't scare her, but there was something beneath it, this time. Normally, Daisy's sarcasm was almost said in a mocking voice, but now, there was an undertone of sadness and anger.
"Right. Do you want to tell me what wrong?" Shelby asked, seeing right through the mask.
"You know, peachy normally means nothing's wrong," she replied.
"Yeah? Well, normally you're not like that."
"Peachy?"
"No, like that... with the tone. Dais, I know you well, you don't fool me," Shelby pointed out.
"Well, aren't we smart?" Shelby gave her a look that said, "what are you talking about?" but Daisy ignored it. "Just leave it, Shelby."
"No! You're my best friend, and I'm not going to just give up on you!" Shelby said.
"Well, there's a new one," Daisy said rolling her eyes.
"David didn't give up on you," Shelby prodded.
"You think that, do you?"
"Yes, I do," Shelby replied testingly.
"Well, things change. And since when do I have boyfriends?"
"Uh, Dais, you were with him for like half a year!" Shelby didn't get it. "What happened? I thought you love him."
"Loved, past tense," Daisy corrected.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, Shelby, for someone as smart as you, I thought you'd understand simple English. The past tense signifies the fact that I no longer love him."
"You're joking!" Shelby said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"Oh, you know me, I'm just not one for hypocrisy," Daisy said, a fake laugh, and a shrug present in her voice.
"So, don't lie to me. Tell me what happened," Shelby pleaded. Daisy looked at her, in the eyes. She could tell Shelby really wanted to help, but she wasn't going back there. As far as everyone was concerned, Daisy didn't care about David. And as far as she was concerned, he didn't care about her.
"No," she shook her head and walked off, leaving Shelby behind, puzzled. The look she'd seen in Daisy's eyes was one of upmost sadness. I just don't get it, she thought. So they broke up then. But why? They were so in love. I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Obviously he dumped her, she'd've told me if she was going to dump him. Just why did he do it? That, I don't understand.
"David," she said, walking up to him, and pulling him aside.
"What?" he asked rudely. Well, that was to be expected, she thought.
"I know you broke up with Daisy."
"Good for you," he said, with sarcastic applause.
"Why?" she asked. His countenance changed. It became sad. This is so weird, Shelby thought. Why would he cause his own pain? Don't the people here try to avoid it? He shook his head.
"No," he said simply.
"No, what?"
"Sorry, Shel, I can't... I couldn't..." he stammered. She looked perplexed. He walked off, leaving her alone, again. What is going on with them? This makes no sense!
"Scott!" she called, walking up to him.
"Hey, what was wrong with Daisy?" he asked.
"She broke up with David. Or rather, he broke up with her," she explained.
"No way!" Juliette said.
"You're loco!" Auggie added. Scott had still been walking with them when Shelby came and told him her findings.
"I'm not! And it's true," she said.
"Why?" Scott asked, his brows knitted. "Makes no sense."
"I know. That's what I tried to find out from Daisy. She didn't seem to have a clue. Then, I asked David, and he didn't want to tell me. I need you to get it out of him," she pleaded.
"Why me?" Scott whined.
"Because, you're a guy... I dunno, maybe he'll tell you. You go too, Auggie!" she said.
"No way, man!"
"Okay, first off, Auggie, I'm a woman," Shelby pointed out. Auggie rolled his eyes. "Second, there's more to it. This is so weird. David's all torn up over it. This isn't a normal break-up!"
"Fine, fine, we'll do it," Scott said, giving Auggie a look forcing him into it with him.
"Fine. But you owe us big, Shelb!" Auggie said.
"Fine, you'll get blow jobs," she said sarcastically. She laughed at the look on Scott's, Auggie's, and Juliette's faces. "I'm just kidding! Scott, you'll get a blow job... Auggie, I'll figure something out."
"Dude! We don't want to know that!" Auggie and Jules protested.
"Sorry, too late," Scott said, satisfaction written over his face as he put an arm around Shelby. she rolled her eyes, but didn't protest.
"So, get to it!" she urged. She didn't like it when Daisy wasn't happy... or as close as she got to it.
"We'll do that when we get back to campus. It'll work better that way. Give him some time," Scott reasoned.
"He's right, you know?" Auggie said.
"Whatever." She shrugged.
"Wow, I can't believe it," Jules said. "David and Daisy. They were so in love."
"I know. I was thinking that too."
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"Ah! Showers! The best life has to give!" Juliette squealed as they exploded into the dorms after the hike. All the girls laughed at this. "I call first!" she said.
"Fine, I'm second!" Ley said. They eventually all had a number.
"Ah, screw this! I'm going to use Shelby's bathroom," Daisy said. The only other people who would've known Shelby well enough to use her bathroom were the other Cliffhanger girls. Juliette was already in the showers, and nearly done. Emma was next after Ley, and Jess was right after her. The Rivergliders weren't so close to Shelby, so they didn't bother. Daisy grabbed a towel, some flannel pants, and a tank top. She headed out the door, crossed the area between the dorms, and entered the guys' dorm.
As she passed the opening to the Cliffhangers' dorm, she heard something that stopped her in her tracks: David's voice.
"Guys! Stop badgering me! I'm not gonna talk about it!" he was saying. His voice sounded muffled, as if his face was stuck in a pillow. She could still tell it sounded different from what it normally was. It sounded strained. She cocked her head to the side at this thought.
"Why not?" Auggie's voice asked. There was a ruffling of bed sheets. David must've been turning away from him.
"Come on, man, just tell us! Maybe we can help!" Scott's voice said.
"Oh, I'm sure you could," he said sarcastically.
"Hey, we've been good at it before," Auggie said, remembering when he helped David out when he had girl troubles before.
"Yeah, you're right." David sounded like he was about to crack. Daisy was listening closer and closer with every word.
"So, come on, man, we'll do our best," Scott said. He sounded a little rushed. "Come on, before Shel's done in the shower."
"Hold your horses," David said. He took a deep breath and started his story. "Okay, look, the other day, when Daisy and I went to wake you and Shelby up... well, something happened."
"I know! You took a picture of Shel with no clothes on!" Scott burst out.
"Meat, let him finish!" Auggie said. Daisy rolled her eyes at how macho Scott was trying to be.
"Yeah! Let me finish," David said in a boyish way. This made Daisy smile sadly; she missed him so much. "Well, Daisy was so happy." Daisy felt a lump come up in her throat and her eyes well up. She looked around to check that no one was around. David said that with such care. She still couldn't believe he'd broken it off.
"But that's good, muchacho," Auggie said, confused.
"Yes, it is. If I could, I'd take all her pain away. I want her to be happy," he said. A tear slipped down Daisy's face, but she quickly wiped it away.
"Then why'd you break up with her?" Scott asked.
"Because I would've caused her pain."
"What are you talking about, meat?" Auggie asked.
"When I saw her looking at Scott and Shelby sleeping together, all cozy and loving, she looked so happy. I could tell she wanted that."
"I still don't get it," Scott said.
"I couldn't offer her that. I'm just not..." he struggled for the word.
"Ready?" Auggie supplied.
"Yeah. I just... I can't. And I don't want her to hate me for that. I just couldn't do that. Not yet. You know?" he asked. Daisy had slid down the wall, and was sitting there, tears streaming down from her eyes. So this was it. He still did love her. He'd done this to avoid hurting her. But, wait, she thought, I don't want what they have. I want what they have. She heaved a huge sigh.
David heard something, so he got up. No, this couldn't be, he thought. He left the dorm, and looked around. There, right outside the opening was none other than Daisy. He looked at her, shock written all over his face. She looked up at him, tears still streaming down her face.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. It wasn't said harshly, or meanly. It was asked kindly, with that same hint of sadness in his voice. It was a simple and legitimate question.
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Most of the girls had gone to get some food and Ali was in the shower. Julia decided she ought to talk to Kristen now, they were alone in the dorm, and they didn't get this kind of privacy often.
"Kristen," she said soothingly.
"What?" she asked rudely, which was very unlike her.
"There's more to it than I've said."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, Max had his reasons. They don't excuse it, but they justify it, you know?" Julia said.
"I get what you mean. What were these reasons?" Kristen asked, her eyes narrowed into slits.
"That, you'll have to ask him," Julia replied, a sly smile on her face.
"Fine. But these better be some damn good reasons!" she said, getting up off her bed, and going to the caf, where she knew he'd be. Julia smiled to herself.
"Where'd Kristen go?" Ali asked when she left the bathroom. Julia stepped in.
"To find out the truth," Julia said. Ali scoffed.
"Whatever." She left for dinner too. Julia rolled her eyes, closing the door to the bathroom. Some people could be so unromantic, she thought.
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"Max, can I talk to you?" Kristen asked, walking up to the table where the Rivergliders, minus Julia and Ali, who was still on her way over, and where the Cliffhangers, minus Daisy, Shelby, Scott, and Auggie, were.
"Uh, sure," he said, getting up, and leaving the table, following Kristen. They walked all the way out to the docks, before she spoke again.
"Okay, you can explain."
"What?" he asked.
"Why you had to get your stomach pumped and why you got into a coma because of drugs," she said, completely disgusted by it all. He looked at her unsure whether he should go on or not. "You have reasons, I expect?"
"Oh, yeah, I do," he said.
"Then, go on."
"Well, I can't explain the alcohol, that was just a party I went to far in," he said. She scoffed.
"And I supposed the coma thing was that the drug was laced with something else and you didn't know about it."
"Yeah, actually." He was still really uncomfortable. He was hiding something big, and didn't want to say it just yet.
"Why did you take it?" she asked.
"Because of... pressure. So I could deal with it," he said honestly, although that wasn't the whole story.
"Okay, but why were under pressure?" she prodded further. Her voice was softening, but he face was still ice cold and impassible.
"Uh... the guys... they... uh... wanted me to... uh... nail this girl," he stammered. Kristen took a deep breath.
"Why did you give in?"
"To prove it to them..." he said.
"Prove what? Max! This isn't like you! I don't get what you're saying!" she exploded from frustration.
"That I'm not gay!" he burst out.
"Why would they think that?" she asked quietly.
"Cause I am," he said slowly. Kristen just stared ahead.
"Wait, I must've heard you wrong. You just said you're gay. Are you serious?" she said, working her way through every word. Max nodded.
"I needed to nail the girl, to show them... and I didn't want to, so I got really high. There was something in the crack, and later that night, I had a seizure and fell into a coma," he said, looking to the ground as though there'd be answers written down.
"Oh, Max!" she said sympathetically. She walked to him, raised his head with her hand so he was looking at her. He could tell she wouldn't judge him. She gave him a tight, sincere hug. He felt a huge load come off his shoulders.
"Thanks for understanding," he whispered.
"Hey, what are best friends for?" She could feel him smile into her shoulder.
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"David!" she said, looking up at him, from where she was sitting on the ground. "I... I love you!" she said, getting up and giving him a hug.
"Dais... I can't, you know that. I told you. I can't. I... I won't. I'm sorry," he said, pulling out of the hug and leaving.
Shelby came out of her room, and was going to tell Scott it was free, but she first bumped into David.
"David!" she called out.
"No! Just leave me alone!" he said, running out the door.
"Oh no, Daisy..." she said to herself, and ran off. She ran to the opening of the Cliffhangers' dorm, instinctively. She found Daisy collapsed on the floor in a sitting position with her head in her hands. "Oh, Dais!" she said, sitting beside her friend and putting her arms around her. Daisy slung her arms around Shelby. "Don't worry, Dais. We'll figure this out. It'll be alright."
"No, no, it won't," she said shaking her head.
"Yes, it will. Don't worry. We'll set him straight. Just wait. It's okay, hun. Calm down," she said soothingly.
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Peter skipped the group that night. He could tell the students had had enough drama for one day. ("Well, I do believe Peter's growing a heart," Shelby had said sarcastically.)
For Daisy, and David this was a sleepless night. Each wanted the other, but knew that until they figured this out, neither would be happy. The next day, as everyone knew, would be monumental.
They weren't mistaken.
The next morning, Daisy was looking less than her best. Because they had kitchens together, Shelby, Scott, Daisy, and David, were all looking very tense at breakfast. Neither Daisy nor David spoke, to each other, or anyone else. But David kept a steady gaze on her, the entire time.
"Okay, this is enough. David, Daisy, get up, now!" Shelby said, taking out all her frustration on her breakfast. They looked up quizzically. "NOW!" she yelled, scaring everyone in the room. They all looked at who Shelby was raging hell on this time and were surprised to see it was her best friend, and her best friend's boyfriend. They got up, almost afraid of what she might do. "Scott, can you help me?" she added to him in a whisper. He got up quickly, a little afraid of her. The others looked on, wanting to see what she'd do. "Out," she said, pointing to the door. Everyone moaned, they weren't going to see her wrath unveiled after all.
They left the caf. Sophie wanted to follow, but Peter stopped her. "They need to figure this out on their own, or this crazy tension will continue. Believe me, you didn't see them on kitchens this morning," he said.
Outside, Shelby was leading them toward the forest, away from the caf.
"Shel, where are we going?" Scott asked.
"Don't worry, we're not running," she said, rolling her eyes. Beside the forest, she stopped. Daisy and David looked at her curiously. "Sort it out!" she commanded.
"Shelby!" Daisy protested, getting angry.
"No! I'm not leaving this to go on! Daisy, you were a wreck last night. Not to mention you, David!" she said, looking at each respectively. "David, why did you break it off?"
"None of your god-damn business!" he yelled.
"David, come on. This'll never end otherwise," Scott said.
"And if you don't say it now, we'll just stay here all day. It's Sunday, we can wait forever," Shelby said, folding her arms over her chest.
"Fine, I broke it off because I thought Daisy wanted what you and Scott have and I couldn't go there. I'm not ready." He huffed angrily at Shelby. Scott was ready to defend her against an attack he might launch. Daisy just looked at him, surprised at how easily he said that.
"Daisy..." Shelby said, she was calming down a little more now. She didn't really know what to ask of her best friend. Daisy raised her eyebrows at her.
"Yes, master?" she said sarcastically.
"Uh, what do you have to say?"
"I don't care. I just want to be with him," she said quietly.
"David?"
"What?" he asked, but his voice was no longer convincingly angry, and he was stealing furtive glances at Daisy.
"Care to respond?" Shelby asked, in a duh-like voice.
"Is that true?" he asked Daisy, turning to her. She nodded. "You don't want what they have... at least not now?" he asked cautiously. She nodded again. Her voice was gone. "Are you sure?" he checked. He didn't want to get himself into this if it was gonna end up how he thought it would.
"Yes, David. I'm sure. I just want to be with you. In case you're to daft to see," she continued, a smirk now playing on her lips, "I want what we had." He smiled the biggest smile he'd ever smiled.
"You do?" She nodded. "I love you so much! So, could you still love me?"
"Oh, you silly boy!" she said sarcastically. "If you knew anything about anything, which you don't, you'd know that I absolutely adore you!"
"Why didn't you say this sooner?"
"Because, dear boy, you never would've believed me. Hold on, I actually did and you didn't believe me!" she said, laughing. He leaned in and gave her a tentative kiss, when she responded to it, he pulled her in by her waist, and she slipped her arms around his neck. The kiss grew more and more passionate.
"Well," Scott said slowly. He and Shelby were gaping at this scene. They obviously were just waiting for a reason to get back together. They got it, and were... together. "Good work," he finally got out.
"Thanks, cowboy," Shelby said, turning towards him. She put a hand round his neck, and laid it on his head. She gently pushed his head down towards her. She kissed him too.
"Come on, lovebirds, we have to see Julia and Max off!" Juliette squealed, running up to this scene.
"Coming," Scott called back. He looked at Shelby and laughed. David and Daisy seemed unfazed and continued to kiss.
"We'll cover for you guys," Shelby said.
Daisy opened her eyes, as David kissed her neck. She saw Shelby and Scott laughing. Her smile said it all.
"You're welcome, hun," Shelby said, and pulled on Scott's hand to bring him to where Julia and Max were getting picked up.
"Oh, guys, you may want to go a little further in the forest... just to avoid being seen," Sophie said, coming up. David and Daisy stopped and looked at her with confused faces. She just winked and joined Scott and Shelby who were nearly out of sight. Daisy looked back at David.
"I love you," he said.
"I love you too," she replied, smiling. "Come on, don't want to be caught," she said sarcastically.
"Well, thank god everyone's normal again," David said sarcastically.
"Until later, when more drama will unfold," she said mysteriously.
"How do you know?"
"It's in the cards," she said pointedly. By then, they'd gone a little further in the forest, and David had Daisy pushed up against a tree. He leant in and kissed her once more.