Disclaimer: The song fic at the end was put together by Ks. I borrowed it from her (with permission). The song is "When You Love Someone," by Brian Adams.
Author's Note: Well, here's the one we've all been waiting for!!! The wedding one! So, I'll do this chappy as though going through the week leading up to the wedding. Don't worry, it shouldn't be that long. Enjoy!
A few weeks passed after this… uh… reunification. There was now much less drama going on and everyone had calmed down. Well, actually all that lasted about a day.
After that one day, Shelby was hit by how close the wedding was. Everyone, except Daisy, Jules, Jess, and Sophie stayed the hell away from her. They were afraid she'd end up throwing something big at them.
Scott was in a dilly of a pickle. He knew Shelby would need him now and then, but he was only human. And the one thing all humans know by instinct is don't get yourself in a death situation.
Now, the only times he saw her out of their room was in class and in group. Well, and in their room, they didn't do much talking, if you know what I mean. Hey! Shelby had to get all her energy out somehow; and Scott wouldn't complain, he is, after all, a male.
Finally, the week of the wedding came round. It was the second week of May. The wedding was to take place on the Saturday.
Monday ~
"Scott, Shel, wake-up!" David yelled through their door all the while trying to knock it down with his fist (his foghorn had been confiscated).
"David!" Shelby said loudly, waking up with a start. They could hear him laugh as he ran back to the dorm to get ready for the day. He had become Scott and Shelby's official wake-up call after Shelby got mad at him one morning and chucked her alarm clock at him. She had had some serious explaining to do with Peter concerning the resulting hole in the wall.
Scott chuckled as she lay back down, huffing.
"Oh my god!" she said into her pillow, which she was using to block out mark's yells through their window. Unfortunately for the residents of Horizon, David had passed on his wisdom to mark, who, like the master, only used his power to annoy. His prime targets had become his fellow Rivergliders and Cliffhangers, though he and David did spread it out to the faculty and other groups.
"I know, those two have gone too far," Scott said, rolling out of bed.
"No, that's not it, this is the wedding week."
"You're right! Where has the time gone? Shit!" he said, checking the calendar.
Later on, as they walked to breakfast together, Scott noticed something. "You seem happier," he remarked.
"Do I? You mean to tell me my dysfunctional-ness is gone? Oh, but I was just coming to terms with it," she said in mock disappointment. Scott didn't miss a beat.
"You'll just have to get over it," he replied sarcastically.
"Done and done! It's actually because Daisy and I finalized the wedding plans last night."
"Oh, thank god, I was starting to worry you were sneaking off," he said jokingly.
"There's no one who even comes close to how perfect you are," Shelby said, smirking.
"Wonderful, so no more Raging Shelby?"
"Is that my new nickname?" she asked sarcastically.
"Not any more." She gave him a smirk as they entered the caf. Scott noticed how everyone shushed down to avoid being on Shelby's warpath. "Raging Shelby's gone!" he cried. Everyone began to cheer.
Shelby sat down next to Daisy, leaned over, and said, "somehow I resent the cheering."
"Oh, you're just jealous you lost all your control by losing the scare factor."
So Monday was the end of Raging Shelby. The teachers decided to ease up on the homework for the Cliffies and Gliders that week, as there was a wedding going on in their group.
Tuesday ~
An idea had been mulling in my mind for some time now. This whole situation with Shel's dad… it just doesn't make sense. I mean, on her side, I can see why she'd be like that. Shelby always wanted a proper father. But she can get so offended if people bad-mouth Scott. I guess she would forgive him though.
Her dad. Oh, he's one amazing actor; I'll give him that. He had some nerve, walking out on them all those years ago, never showing a face, and then popping up here. Why would he do that, after all these years? Sure Shelby called him, but if I were in his position, I'd probably just hang up in her face.
I hope he doesn't have some ulterior motive, some hidden agenda. I mean, he seemed pretty pained when Scott played that song on the piano for Shel. It doesn't add up.
One thing's for sure, he's gonna walk out on her and Jess the moment it won't look real suspicious. Hell! He'll time it. Something else's for sure: this whole wedding's a problem for him. He won't let it get out that his daughter's marrying a guy from a school for dysfunctional teens. He's throwing money at it.
Wednesday ~
"Okay, guys, as we go around, you're each going to say something nice about the person you pick out of the hat," Peter said, holding group for the last time before the wedding. With a final look around the group he added, "and guys, be serious." Marc and David looked extremely disappointed. Juliette went first and pulled out "Daisy."
She sighed, pensively, but in a still-perky way. "Funny how she does that," Shelby said to Daisy sarcastically.
"Okay, Dais, you're really smart, sometimes scarily so. You notice everything," she said.
"Thanks, Jules," Daisy said sarcastically. She caught the hat next and put her hand in.
"Marc… well, you adapt well to situations. Look at your first day here," she said. Marc looked at Juliette.
"You weren't kidding!" Juliette shook her head.
"Hey!" Daisy said. "I'm sitting right here!" she said. She laughed and tossed the hat to Marc.
He rummaged inside for a while and finally pulled out a name. "Okay," he said, "Auggie is a really cool guy because he doesn't take shit from anyone, but he's still a really nice guy." Auggie smiled appreciatively. "I live to give," Marc said, throwing his arms up and then going down for a bow.
"Okay, next," Peter said, indicating to Marc that he needed to sit back down.
Auggie took the hat and pulled out a name: David. He laughed at this. He sighed. "David," he said, stroking his chin pensively.
"Aw! Come on! I'm not that hard!" Think again, Shelby thought sarcastically.
"Okay, David's a really good judge of character." Everyone raised his or her eyebrows.
"I am?" he asked skeptically. "I mean, I am," he said, with conviction in his voice.
"Yeah, you are. Oh, by the way, Daisy, that says a lot about you," Auggie added.
Daisy lifted an eyebrow and cocked her head. "Hmmm… I suppose," she sighed. Everyone laughed at this except for David. David smirked at her. He picked up the hat. Emma's name came out of the hat. He winked at Daisy and proceeded.
"Emma does have that smokin' body!" Daisy just rolled her eyes.
"You're not so bad yourself," she said playfully. "Oh, come off it, Peter! It's just fun!" she said, laughing.
"We're just playing!" David said, grinning almost evilly. "In all seriousness, Emma's a great joker."
"That's seriousness?" Shelby asked sarcastically.
"It's the best he can do," Scott said, nudging her in the side. David smirked.
"No, I'm not kidding, she's excellent at her craft."
"Why, thank you!"
"I was wondering who'd dyed my toothpaste brown," Ley said. "Hey! I kept having to replace it!"
"Okay, Emma, it's your turn," Peter said, smiling. His kids were having fun. He was going to miss them so much when they all left. Well, some kids were staying behind: Jess, Marc, Kristen, Emma, Alex, Andrew and Leonie. Wow, he thought, Jess is gonna have it hard. Shelby, her sister is leaving; the only family she has left. On top of that, Scott, Daisy, and Juliette, who are like family to her, are going.
"Okay, I have Andrew," she said. Emma hated Andrew ever since the incident with Jules. She looked at him angrily. She was in major inner conflict. On the one hand, she was great friends with Ley, and didn't want to insult her boyfriend; on the other hand… he was evil. "Peter, I can't do this one, can I pick again?"
"No, I want you to try," he said, sensing the tension. Why him? She could do this for everyone except him! She bit her lip and swallowed her pride and anger.
"He's good at sports," she said, completely disgruntled. It wasn't the best, but it was nice, and true.
"Good job," Sophie said, giving her shoulder a squeeze as she roamed outside the circle.
"Uh… thanks, Emma," Andrew said. She handed him the hat. He reached in the hat and pulled out Scott's name. He winced. Scott hated him on two levels. Not only was Scott protective of Juliette, but he was insanely protective of Shelby, sometimes to the point of starting fights with her. He still felt like he was trying to protect his sister. It was weird. Then, he explained it to Ley, and she understood and didn't judge him. He was so thankful for that. But what was he going to say about Scott?
"Scott, you have a good heart. You love Shelby so much, and… you're brave," he said honestly. Scott looked taken aback.
"Thank you," he said, almost weary of himself. He put his hand in the hat. Shelby smiled at his uneasiness. "EZ!" he said, breathing a sigh of relief. "You're a really cool guy, you're very loyal, you're honest… you're also real smart. Remember Bobby Joe and Gillian?" he asked, laughing.
"Wow, Scott!" Ezra said. "Thanks."
"Oh, yeah, easy," he said, shrugging. He was really good friend with Ezra though, so it was easy enough.
"Alex…" Ezra said, picking a name. "Oh, I have something," he said, thinking for two seconds. Alex rolled his eyes. "You're an awesome skateboarder."
"Thanks… I know," he said, smiling. He too reached into the hat and pulled out the one person he didn't want to pick: Shelby. Well, here goes… "Shelby knows what to do to get what she wants."
"Gee, thanks," she said sarcastically.
"We'll explain later." She knew Alex's secret, and she knew Shelby would not appreciate it coming out in the open in group. Shelby looked at her skeptically and shrugged.
"Fine, give me the hat," she said coldly to Alex.
"Hey don't give me the attitude!" Shelby looked at him shocked. "You know perfectly well that's true!"
"Yeah, but how do you?" she asked, a little weary of the answer.
"I know what you were, you slut! You fucked my dad! All of it… just for the money. You're such a fucking whore!" he yelled, standing up. She was shocked. She didn't remember every trick she'd had! Just to get back at her, he'd called it out to the group. His bravery, however, still hurt her.
Her face shone with fury. "Never—and I mean NEVER!" she bellowed, standing up, "fucking judge me! You don't know anything!" She walked up to him and punched him in the face, and left.
Everyone was so shocked by this. Emma had her head in her hands. Alex was on the floor. Scott was shaking with fury, Auggie holding him back. Daisy slipped out, amidst the drama, and went after Shelby.
"Shelby! Wait up!" she cried, catching up.
"I didn't know, Dais!" she said, tears forming in her eyes. Now that she was only with Daisy, she was vulnerable. "I didn't know, I swear! I just… I was so hungry! It was winter! I was cold! I had nowhere to go!" she said, starting to quicken her breathing.
"Shel! Stop it! You're scaring me!" Daisy said loudly. Shelby was becoming hysterical.
"I caused it! I made him end up here! First, Jess, then Andrew, now Alex. I'm horrible!" she said, sitting down. Their running had led them into the forest.
"Shelby, for god's sake, listen to me! You protected Jess with everything you had. You did exactly what Patty asked you to. And you needed to survive! It's not your fault. Your first and foremost instinct is to stay alive! If that's what you had to do, so be it! You are a survivor!" Daisy said loudly. Shelby had pulled her knees up to her chest. Daisy had then squatted down in front of her so that she heard everything she'd said. "Do you understand?" she practically yelled. Shelby had never seen this side of Daisy before. She'd become a shadow of that scared little girl she once was. She lifted her eyebrows. Daisy nodded. "It's not you! It's his scar tissue. He needs someone to blame. He doesn't want to blame his dad. He wants to blame you, Shelby! You don't have to apologize to anyone!" Suddenly a lot of those lines seemed very familiar to Shelby. She was starting to feel better and cracked a smirk.
"Dais, you need some new lines. You used most of those lines when we came back from Dog's Peak with Kat. And I used the last few with Scott! Come on! Think up your own material!" she said mockingly.
"Hey, why work when all the material's there?" Daisy reasoned sarcastically. They both laughed.
"Right. Well, I'm glad my work is Daisy-speech worthy."
"You know it!" She helped Shelby back up, and they walked back to the dorms.
Thursday ~
At lunch, Shelby'd gone back to her room to get her books. There was a knock on the door. She stood up from her bag and looked at the door as though she was imagining it. It came again. She questioned the door with her eyes. Scott never knocked. Daisy, Jules, Auggie, and Jess pretty much just walked in. David yelled, which annoyed her. Peter and Sophie called through the door. No one else really went to their room. She walked to the door and opened it, solely for curiosity's sake.
"Go away!" she said immediately upon seeing who had been knocking.
"No, I need to talk to you," he answered. "Please?" Finally, he said, "Peter sent me." Shelby didn't answer; she just opened the door wider, and went back to gathering books.
"Talk. I got class."
"I over reacted. I'm sorry," Alex started. He was uncomfortable.
"Original. You make that up yourself?" she asked sarcastically, standing to full height and looking at him.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay, I said it!"
"Were you not there yesterday?" she asked incredulously. "You called me a fucking whore in front of my friends, my sister, and Scott! What the hell is the matter with you? That was so selfish." Alex looked at her.
"You made my dad sleep with you!" Alex protested. "That's the reason I'm here! You made my problems."
"Look. You caused you own problems. You took the drugs. I had nothing to do with that. I did that because I needed to survive. I'm not proud of it, but I don't have to apologize." she said, getting mad.
"Whatever. Look, the point is, I shouldn't have said that stuff. I'm sorry I humiliated you—"
"That's not it! They all know what I was."
"Even Scott?" Alex asked carefully.
"Yep, even Scott. Look, I get you're sorry. Just go, okay?" she said quietly. "Oh, and Alex, we'll just not talk about it, okay? You're getting off easy, here," she added sarcastically.
"I assume that's just your way of accepting my apology?" he asked with a smirk. Shelby rolled her eyes.
Friday ~
"Isn't there some kind of superstition about the night before the wedding?" Shelby asked, coming out of the bathroom right before lights out, to join Scott. She came to a surprising sight: all the girls stood in the room, Scott was nowhere to be seen. "Holy shit!" she said, amazed. "Oh… sorry, I wasn't expecting you guys," she said. This was true; she was wearing nothing more than a towel.
"Okay, I'll make sure she comes. We'll meet you guys back at the dorm," Daisy said, shooing them out of the room.
"Dais, what the hell's going on?" Shelby asked confusedly.
"Oh, they wanted to give you a bachelorette party."
"What do Peter and Sophie think?" Shelby asked, taking out some clothes, and going back to the bathroom.
"Oh, that's the beauty of it: they don't know." Daisy laughed as she heard Shelby gasp.
"You're joking. They all agreed to this? Ley and Jules too?" she said, laughing.
"Yep, everyone's in on it. Even the guys. Scott's getting a party too. It was actually all their idea to begin with," Daisy said, laughing.
"Put it to David and Auggie to think something up like this," Shelby said, joining in on the laughter now. They left her room, together, going to the girls' dorm.
"All we have to remember is to keep it down," Daisy said.
"Not gonna happen," Shelby said sarcastically as they entered the dorm. All the girls were sitting around talking, laughing, somehow they'd gotten some food and drinks. This was going to be a night to remember, for both the guys and the girls.
Saturday ~
"Shelby!" Juliette squealed so loudly that everyone was woken up.
"You know, you'd think on my wedding day I'd get some peace and quiet," Shelby mumbled sarcastically through her pillow.
"Get up. Get up! GET UP!" came the squeals from Juliette. "It's your wedding day!"
"No kidding! Oh my gosh, I'm so old!" Shelby mumbled some more.
"Oh yes. You're past your prime," Daisy said, rolling her eyes.
"Come on, everybody, get up!" Juliette said some more, bouncing from bunk to bunk.
"Give me a gun, now!" Emma said loudly, pulling her blanket over her head.
"I would, but Peter confiscated mine," Jess said.
"Jess!" Shelby said, sitting up, putting on a brilliant show of mock shock.
The girls finally got up, Sophie forcing some of them out of bed. Peter ended up having to do the same with the guys, who were acting like a bunch of babies. ("Peter!" Scott had whined when he had resorted to physically dragging him out of bed.)
Shelby got into her dress with Daisy and Jules' help. "Oh, I'm not going to forget this one," she said, looking at herself in the mirror.
"And hey, if you do, Jess is taking enough pictures to force it back in," Daisy said with a nudge.
"Hey girls!" came a very familiar voice. One that belonged to…
"Kat!" all three girls cried at once.
"I'm so glad you could make it!" Shelby said.
"You knew she was coming and you didn't tell us?" Juliette scolded.
"Nah, Jules, it's called a surprise," Kat said. She hugged each of them. "Look I gotta go, and you two better get your dresses on, Jess is already all ready."
"Oh my god!" Jules gasped. "Look at the time! Come on, Daisy, we have to get ready. Shelby I'll see you later, bye. You look beautiful, by the way!"
"Thanks, Jules," she replied. "Daisy?" Shelby always prized Daisy's approval.
"You look like that ice queen we all know you are," she said smiling. "You look like a queen, is my point."
"Oh, okay," she said, sighing. "Thank you." She hugged Juliette, then Kat, and finally Daisy. Even though she had made them all 'maids of honour,' Daisy was the one with those particular responsibilities.
* Shelby's POV *
I watched them leave me alone. Wow, this is one spectacular dress. Then I took out a picture I had of Scott and I that was taken at X-Night (Sophie had been going mad with the camera). Wow, I sure am marrying one spectacular guy. I can't believe my luck. All this time, I always thought I'd never find someone who could love me despite my history, but Scott could, and can, although it took him some time. Here's Sophie.
"Oh, hunny, you look amazing!" she says, putting a hand over her mouth. I can see tears forming.
"Soph! You can't cry! Not now!" I say, looking back down at my picture.
"Scott's going to drop dead."
"I sincerely hope not. I kind of want to keep him alive," I say sarcastically. She laughs and hugs me. I love Sophie's hugs. They're so maternal. They take all your pain away for that moment. I remember at Dog's Peak, when I freaked out, Sophie hugged me. I would have collapsed had she not. It was the single most comforting thing ever. She lets go.
"I'll see you later, baby, Peter will be in shortly," she says, taking one final look at the beauty I am. Oh, yes, modesty is not one of my strong points. And here comes Peter. He's the one walking me down the aisle. He's the most fatherly figure I've ever known. My own dad was never there, and Walt was never a father. He is the worst kind of man imaginable.
"Hi, Shelby. I can't believe it. I truly feel like your dad. I'm getting all parental on Scott. I think I scared him a little. Sophie had to pull me away," he said, grinning.
"Peter! That's not cool! If he runs, it's your fault!" I joked, laughing.
"He won't run, he loves you too much."
"Well, last time I checked, that's a good thing." And it is.
"I'm going to give you five minutes, and then we'll be getting this show on the road." I nodded. He left.
Suddenly, Peter returns, and takes my arm. "You'll do great, Shel," he says, with a smile. I hear the wedding march begin. Peter leads me to the head of the aisle, and everyone turns to look at me. I can hear gasps and see camera flashes go off, I feel like a movie star!
My eyes land on Scott. I can tell he was nervous, but now he looks amazed. As his eyes land on my face, his whole face lights up. He's standing there, grinning sheepishly at me. I smirk back. I've gotta hand it to him, he makes that tux look so fine! It's oddly reminiscent of the Morp.
I walk down the aisle, holding onto Peter's arm. As I near the end, I look to the side. There are Kat and Hank, the Rivergliders and Emma, and Sophie. She gives me an encouraging smile and I grin big. I look back up at Scott. I love him so much!
I smirk at Daisy. She never wears these kinds of elaborate dresses. I couldn't help but give her one that was slightly more worked and pouffy. David is looking dumfounded at the fact that I got Daisy into bright colour. But it is my wedding, and Daisy's my best friend. As I reach the top of the aisle, I hand her my flowers and join up with Scott.
"I thought I'd never make it," I whisper.
"I admit, I wanted you here faster," he whispers back, his voice shaking. I squeeze his hand; he squeezes back. He's calmer now.
The entire time our vows were taken, I was in a daze. I couldn't stop thinking about him.
When you love someone - you'll do anything
[Shelby following Scott around]
You'll do all the crazy things that you can't explain
[Scott sneaking out after lights out.]
You'll shoot the moon - put out the sun
[Scott and Shelby sitting at the docks]
When you love someone
You'll deny the truth - believe a lie
[Shelby yelling at Scott]
There'll be times that you'll believe
[Scott telling Shelby about his past]
You can really fly
[Scott telling his dad about Elaine]
But your lonely nights - have just begun
[Shelby sitting in the dark by herself]
When you love someone
When you love someone - you'll feel it deep inside
[Shelby giving Scott a good bye hug before she went home]
And nothin' else can ever change your mind
[Scott throwing a lamp across the room because she left]
When you want someone - when you need someone
[Shelby telling Scott she needs people, too]
When you love someone
When you love someone - you'll sacrifice
[Shelby telling Scott about her past]
You'd give it everything you got and
[Scott telling her he understands]
You won't think twice
[Shelby lifting up Scott's chin]
You'd risk it all - no matter what may come
[Scott telling Shelby good bye]
When you love someone
You'll shoot the moon - put out the sun
[Scott coming back and telling Shelby he loves her]
When you love someone
[Scott proposing to Shelby]
"I do," I say, holding Scott's hands in mine, looking into his eyes, and giving all the love I have to give. "I love you," I whisper.
"I do," he says loudly, then whispers, "I love you more." He winks.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the priest says.
Scott leans in, and it's so right, I go up to meet his lips. When they touch, it's so perfect. I have found true love, and it's in the form of Scott Barringer. As corny and unreal as this seems, I know that nothing can really hurt us now.