Disclaimer: I don't own them... and you all know this. So, to avoid having to put up a disclaimer at the beginning of each chapter, I'm gonna say that this applies for the entire story... except, of course, for the characters that I invent.
Author's Note: Ha, ha! See, Emma, I did it, now you have to update! Strike's off!!!
"Scott, it's morning," Shelby said, waking up a peacefully sleeping Scott. He grumbled awake.
"What time is it?"
"5:30," she replied.
"Shit, Shel, my dad isn't even up yet, and he's an early riser!" he said incredulously.
"I know. I figured I'd better leave before he did wake up," she said, shrugging.
"Why?"
"Well, wouldn't it be awkward?"
"I guess, but he probably wouldn't care. I mean, we don't really talk that much," Scott said with a shrug.
"What will he think when he sees me, though?" She was getting a little uncomfortable with where this was going.
"That you're my girlfriend and that you slept over."
"Your what?" she asked totally surprised.
"Well, I thought...after last night..." Her eyes softened at this.
"Look, Scott, I can't be your girlfriend."
"Why the hell not?" Wait, he thought, why am I protesting this? I'm in the perfect position to fuck her and run. But...
"It's more than a one-sentence-quick-fix answer," she replied. I didn't think he even cared, she thought. "Anyway, we can talk about this later, you have to go get ready for school, and I have to figure out what I'm going to do."
"Well, you're going to come to school with me," he said as though it were the most obvious thing the world.
"Like this?" she said, touching her cheek unconsciously and shuddering at the cut. "You've gotta be fucking me!"
"Well, if you're not coming to school, what're you gonna do?" he asked.
"I don't know." She shrugged.
"You could stay here, if you like. I mean, I leave last of everyone, if I want to, and get back before anyone else," he explained.
"That would be great," she said, smiling a genuine smile.
"Okay, but here, come up to my room. We can get a little more sleep before the day actually begins at 7 o'clock," he said with a roll of the eyes at the early hour he woke up at.
"Okay, sounds like a plan," Shelby said, and followed him to his room. They went to sleep on either side of the bed; Shelby making sure Scott didn't get any ideas.
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"Get up you lazy fuck!" Robert Ruxton yelled as he pulled David out of bed.
"Well, good morning to you too, daddy," David said, slapping on a sarcastic smile.
"How dare you talk to me like that?" he hollered back. David looked away, not knowing what to say, and half-hoping the general would just leave. This, as he knew, was too much to ask.
A set of four rock-hard knuckles collided with the temples of David's head, sending him flying. His father's ring, the one he got when he became general, cut up David's already relatively bruised face.
Once Robert had gone, David got up, off the ground, pulled on some jeans and a shirt and went to sneak out his window. Suddenly, he stopped, turned around, and went to his bed. He lifted the mattress and pulled out a little clear baggy that was slightly bulging from the goods of David's last deal.
"And a glorious day it's turning out to be," he mumbled before he pocketed the baggy and left.
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Shelby woke up to the sound of the shower going. There was a bathroom joining to Scott's room and the door hadn't been properly closed.
She smiled and stretched out over the bed. This is the first night in a long time I've been able to just sleep, she thought. No Walt or anyone else wanting sex, just sleep. This is weird... I actually felt safe in his arms. It felt so natural; to wake him up this morning, after we slept all night together... He only wants me for one thing though.
A frown spread across her face at this thought. Then, she continued thinking, why did he tell me about his past? Either he's changed his mind about only wanting the sex, or he's just one sick puppy.
Then, she noticed the time: 8:30. They'd obviously slept in longer than expected.
"Scott," she said, slipping into the bathroom. "You nearly done?"
"Nearly... why?" he called back.
"Well, for one, you need to get to school. For another, I need a shower."
"Well, you can come and join me, baby."
"Nah, I'll pass," she said, rolling her eyes. She went back to Scott's room and lay down on his bed to think.
What am I going to do here all day, she thought. I dunno, this is just all too weird. And Scott... wanting to be my boyfriend. I thought he just wanted my body. I didn't know it was like this. With our histories, I hope he doesn't actually want the relationship. I can hardly deal with my shit-load of baggage, let alone his. No, he can never find out! I'll never let him know. This is just too much. I don't have to tell him anything, and I don't want to. He can't find out about it all. If he does, he'll hate me.
I know what I'm going to do today...
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After Shelby had walked with Scott halfway to school, she went off her separate way-towards her house.
It was now 9:15 and she thought everyone would be gone. She thought Jess would've gone to school; he mom and Walt to work. She thought wrong.
She opened the door to her house, just this totally creeped her out. She closed it behind her, walked down a hall and entered her room.
She took out her duffel bag and stuffed her things hurriedly in it. She was just about to get up and go when...
"Hello, kitten," cam a cold voice from behind her.
Shelby rose and turned around. "I'm not doing anything anymore! I'm leaving!" she said in a heightened whisper-which was the most she could manage.
"Oh, I think you'll do everything I ask," he said, his voice almost mocking her.
"You do, do you?" she replied, trying to get her voice under control.
"Yes, I know you will because if you don't do everything I want, I'm going to go after Jess. Now, you don't want that, do you?" he asked with a smirk. At Jess's name, Shelby had gasped.
She shook her head furiously. "You can't! You-you pr-promised!" she stammered. "I didn't t-tell! You promised!" she continued.
Walt shook his head and smiled cruelly.
"Please! Don't Walt! I'll-I'll do any-anything," she finally got out. "Just don't touch Jess!" she said quietly, but firmly.
"I knew you'd understand," he said. He walked towards her and pushed her onto the bed. He didn't care about now rough he was now, there was no one to hear her cry out in pain.
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"Hey, Auggie, have you seen David lately?" Daisy asked him at lunch.
Auggie, who had been talking to some very rough-looking Latino guys, shook his head. "Sorry, Dais, not since yesterday. Hey," he said all of a sudden, "where's Shel?"
"Not at school," Daisy said with a shrug.
Auggie motioned for her to go on in her explanation, but she just shook her head.
"It's a long story, Aug, I'll tell you later." She then left to try and see if David was somewhere else on campus.
Auggie shrugged and went back to the guys he'd been talking to.
"Hey, muchacho, what'd the chica want?" one of the older guys called out, checking Daisy out as she walked off.
"Ah, nothin, ese, don't worry about it," Augusto said, waving a had dismissively. "Look, guys, I gotta go, fucking tutoring sessions. I'll see ya later," he said, leaving in the opposite direction Daisy had gone.
He went up a floor and into a presently empty classroom. This is where Mr. Scarbrow had told him to wait for his tutor. He had not yet been told who this tutor was, but it wasn't like he really cared.
He waited around idly for about five minutes until someone finally walked in.
"Well, it's about-" but he stopped mid-sentence upon seeing who it was.
"Hi, I'm Juliette Waybourne," she said in a highly perky voice, while flipping her long brown hair so it wasn't in her face.
"Uh..." he stammered. She was beautiful. He shook his head. "I'm Augusto Ciceros. Uh... are you my new tutor?" he asked daftly.
"Yeah, I am, Augusto," she said.
"Nah, just call me Auggie." She smiled.
"Alright, and you can call me Jules, if you like," she said in a dumb-blond type voice.
Their eyes locked and for a while neither spoke.
They could both feel the near electric twinge that ran through their bodies. There they were, contented with just looking into one-another's eyes.
Suddenly, Juliette shook her head, breaking contact. She mumbled a little and Auggie moved his head around with a smirk, trying to make eye contact once more.
"Oh, I'm just wanted to say I'm sorry I was late. I went to lunch with a friend, and was on my way back to meet you when I took a pit stop," she said, smiling uncomfortable. She unconsciously touched her throat.
"You okay?" he asked, walking closer to her. She nodded and plastered on her smile. He wasn't fooled, though. He could see her eyes and he knew she wasn't all right. He went to ask her some more questions. Sensing what was coming, she briskly walked over to a desk and put her bag down, pulling out a text book.
She sighed and rubbed her eyes as though tired and trying to wipe away the memories. Tonight, she thought, I'll get rid of all this pain. Tonight.
She turned back to Auggie. "Alright, on with the session."
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Shelby lay on her bed, naked and shaking. Walt had gone to work. Finally, she thought. She got up and her upper legs hurt. All her muscles were screaming out in protest to her movements. She picked up her bag and headed for the exit. She knew what she had to do.
She went straight to school. She knew classes weren't out yet, but she knew what class Daisy had and that was all she needed.
She walked up to the classroom, and miraculously caught Daisy's eye. She signaled her to come into the hallway, which Daisy did.
"Shelby! Where did you go?" she asked almost at once.
"I... uh... I went to Scott's house. Don't worry, he didn't try anything. Well, he tried everything, but we didn't do anything."
"What are you doing here? I didn't think you'd show," Daisy said incredulously. Shelby was immensely relieved she didn't press more on the Scott subject.
"I need you to do something for me, Dais," Shelby said quietly.
"What is it?" she replied carefully.
"I need you to protect Jess. I can't let her go home, but I can't do anything more as it is. Please, Dais," she said, getting slightly hysterical.
"Wait, calm down. Why can't she go home?"
"Walt... he knows I'm running. He'll go after her. I can't take her with me, but I can't leave her!"
"Okay. I'll do it. I can't do this alone, Shell," Daisy pointed out.
"I know. We'll figure something out, just make sure she doesn't go home tonight," Shelby said in a hushed voice.
"Yeah, I promise. Don't worry. Where are you going tonight?" she asked.
"I don't know."
"You're not going back to Scott's?" Shelby just shook her head. "Why not?"
"He told me his past. He wants a relationship Dais! I can't do that. You know that!"
"Yeah..." she sighed. "Wait! He told you his past?!" she asked curiously.
"Yeah, let's just say it's too similar to mine to be comfy," Shelby replied shrugging.
"No way!" Daisy was totally shocked. Shelby nodded. "Well, then, you're psychic. Remember how you were telling me that's what you thought happened to him?" Shelby smirked. Daisy shrugged. "Okay, Jess goes to the middle school around the block?"
"Yeah, just ask for her at the front desk. She usually takes her time," Shelby said, heaving a huge sigh.
"Alright, Shel, I want you to do something for me if I do this," Daisy said, seeing a great opportunity.
"What?" Shelby asked cautiously.
"I want you to stay at Scott's. I normally wouldn't ask this, but I know you don't want to come to my house with my dad there, and I know you feel safe at Scott's."
"How do you know that?"
"Because you're thinking clearly, despite being distraught. I still haven't figured out why you're distraught, but I can tell you had a good night's sleep."
"Walt got me again just now," Shelby whispered, hanging her head in shame.
"No!" Daisy gasped. "How? You were at Scott's!"
"No, I went home to get my shit," Shelby said, shaking. She slid down the wall and sat there, her head in her hands."
"Shel, you're in no shape to run," Daisy said, sitting beside her and putting her arm around her friend's shoulders.
"What am I supposed to do? Go home?" she nearly yelled.
"No, go to Scott's! That's the only way I know you'll be safe," Daisy said quietly, her voice cracking. "Shelby, I really worry about you when you run."
"I know you do," Shelby said quietly. "Okay, I won't run... for you."
"Thank you!" Daisy said, obviously relieved.
"You know how much this means though?" Shelby said, smirking. "I'm putting my sanity on the line. He'll be pushing to know my past now," she pointed out.
"I know. You're strong, hun, you're strong now."
"Thanks, Dais, for everything!" Shelby said. She leaned over and gave Daisy a tight hug. Daisy, although a little shocked at first at how strong and sincere the hug was, returned it gratefully. "Well, I have to go. I'll see you later. I'll give you a call tonight. Bye, Daisy." With that, she got up, and left, with a smile on her face.
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After having successfully escaped another detention with Miss Becker, Daisy was walking home, with Jess in tow. They were chatting easily. After three years of knowing Shelby so well, Daisy knew Jess almost intimately too.
As they turned the corner to Daisy's house, they saw something that shocked both: David. But not only David... David high... very high! He was sitting on the steps to Daisy's house.
Before they arrived at the house, Daisy stopped walking.
"Jess, here's the key. Go in around the back. The parentals aren't in yet. I'll join you once I've sorted him out, okay?" Daisy asked in a rushed voice.
"Then are you going to explain why I'm staying with you?" Jess asked, a little exasperated with the lack of information Daisy was sending her way.
"As much as I can," Daisy said honestly. She wasn't one for hypocrisy, and wasn't going to break that golden rule... ever. "Don't worry, you'll be safe here." Jess gave her a weird look. She still didn't get it. Daisy had only told her that she'd explain once they got to her house, but that Shelby needed her to come with her. Jess had wanted to know what was going on with her sister so much, that she accepted on that fact alone. She went on into the house, and Daisy proceeded onto David.
She walked up to him. He was focussing very hard on something in a nearby tree.
"David," she said quietly.
"Oh, 'ello, Daisy!" he said in a thick English accent. She raised her eyebrows at this.
"Uh, okay..." she mumbled, trying to accept his sudden change of dialect.
"Wha' brings you ou' on this lovely day?"
"Well," she said slowly, "this is my house," she pointed out. He knew this of course, but in the state had obviously forgotten it.
"Is it now? Jolly good!" he continued almost in his own world. Where's he getting this accent from, she thought curiously.
"Where've you been?" she asked finally, getting to the point. Maybe the drugs'll force the truth out of him, she mused.
Suddenly, he seemed to sober up. A shadow fell over his face and she knew he'd lost the brilliant accent.
He just shrugged in response to her query. She sighed and sat down beside him. She looked over at him about to specify the question. Then, she noticed it. A large bruise was changing colours on his face. Across the bruise, lay a deep scratch that looked sickeningly infected. She gasped.
"David! What happened?" He looked at her and figured that she saw it.
"You noticed. Is it really that bad?" he asked sarcastically.
"No, but it does cover half your face," she replied sarcastically. How come I didn't notice it before, she thought. Well, he was in the shadows, and had his head turned most of the time. "What happened?" she asked again.
"Fell down some stairs," he muttered dumbly with a shrug. The minute he stopped looking her in the eye she knew it was a lie, he didn't even have to say his phony excuse.
"Oh! Don't give me that shit!" she said. If there was one thing Daisy hated, it was being squarely lied to in her face.
He looked up at her. He was so unsure about whether or not he ought to tell her. He noticed something in her eye that made it almost glint. His attention focussed completely on it. In the distance, he could faintly make out Daisy saying something about having to tell her the truth, but that didn't matter to him at the moment. Once again, he was flying high. High and out of reach. His dad couldn't get him now. Oh no! He was so high. Even with his military planes, the general couldn't get him. Not while he was like this.
Daisy caught him by the shoulders and shook him hard to try and get him to focus. She'd called his name for the past two minutes and he wasn't responding. He was looking in her eyes, but not saying a thing, or even seeming about ready to come around. She was afraid he was going into shock or something.
"Don't touch me!" he yelled, snapping out of his trance-like state.
"Why the hell not?" she said. "I've touched you before."
"Not like that. Not like him."
"Him? Who's 'him'?" she asked curiously. He seemed to go back into a trance, but his mouth kept moving without his consent-let along his knowledge.
"Dear old daddy," he said swinging his head around.
"David, what did he do?" she asked slowly.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yes, I would," she said, amazingly enough, this was said sincerely.
"Tell me, Dais, do I look like a punching bag? Huh? Do I?' he asked, the anger boiling inside him. He seemed about ready to explode.
"No," she said slowly.
"Are you sure?" She nodded. "Well, the general better get his eyes checked cause he continuously mistakes me for one," he spilled, still swinging his head around dangerously. His voice was now varying largely in pitch and volume. Daisy gasped. "Oh! And do I look like a failure? Cause the mother fucking sun of a bitch thinks that too!" he yelled, that anger boiling over.
Daisy put a hand on David's face, on the side without the bruise. She's the only one, he thought. She's the only one who can touch me. No one else is allowed. I won't accept it.
Unconsciously, he reached up and put his hand over hers, pressing it to is cheek, showing her he wasn't afraid of her touch.
She leant in and kissed him.
When they broke apart, she took his hand and led him into the house, up to her room where he collapsed, amidst a cloud of snoring, onto her bed. She closed the door. At least he's safe, she thought. At least he's safe.
Author's Note: Ha, ha! See, Emma, I did it, now you have to update! Strike's off!!!
"Scott, it's morning," Shelby said, waking up a peacefully sleeping Scott. He grumbled awake.
"What time is it?"
"5:30," she replied.
"Shit, Shel, my dad isn't even up yet, and he's an early riser!" he said incredulously.
"I know. I figured I'd better leave before he did wake up," she said, shrugging.
"Why?"
"Well, wouldn't it be awkward?"
"I guess, but he probably wouldn't care. I mean, we don't really talk that much," Scott said with a shrug.
"What will he think when he sees me, though?" She was getting a little uncomfortable with where this was going.
"That you're my girlfriend and that you slept over."
"Your what?" she asked totally surprised.
"Well, I thought...after last night..." Her eyes softened at this.
"Look, Scott, I can't be your girlfriend."
"Why the hell not?" Wait, he thought, why am I protesting this? I'm in the perfect position to fuck her and run. But...
"It's more than a one-sentence-quick-fix answer," she replied. I didn't think he even cared, she thought. "Anyway, we can talk about this later, you have to go get ready for school, and I have to figure out what I'm going to do."
"Well, you're going to come to school with me," he said as though it were the most obvious thing the world.
"Like this?" she said, touching her cheek unconsciously and shuddering at the cut. "You've gotta be fucking me!"
"Well, if you're not coming to school, what're you gonna do?" he asked.
"I don't know." She shrugged.
"You could stay here, if you like. I mean, I leave last of everyone, if I want to, and get back before anyone else," he explained.
"That would be great," she said, smiling a genuine smile.
"Okay, but here, come up to my room. We can get a little more sleep before the day actually begins at 7 o'clock," he said with a roll of the eyes at the early hour he woke up at.
"Okay, sounds like a plan," Shelby said, and followed him to his room. They went to sleep on either side of the bed; Shelby making sure Scott didn't get any ideas.
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"Get up you lazy fuck!" Robert Ruxton yelled as he pulled David out of bed.
"Well, good morning to you too, daddy," David said, slapping on a sarcastic smile.
"How dare you talk to me like that?" he hollered back. David looked away, not knowing what to say, and half-hoping the general would just leave. This, as he knew, was too much to ask.
A set of four rock-hard knuckles collided with the temples of David's head, sending him flying. His father's ring, the one he got when he became general, cut up David's already relatively bruised face.
Once Robert had gone, David got up, off the ground, pulled on some jeans and a shirt and went to sneak out his window. Suddenly, he stopped, turned around, and went to his bed. He lifted the mattress and pulled out a little clear baggy that was slightly bulging from the goods of David's last deal.
"And a glorious day it's turning out to be," he mumbled before he pocketed the baggy and left.
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Shelby woke up to the sound of the shower going. There was a bathroom joining to Scott's room and the door hadn't been properly closed.
She smiled and stretched out over the bed. This is the first night in a long time I've been able to just sleep, she thought. No Walt or anyone else wanting sex, just sleep. This is weird... I actually felt safe in his arms. It felt so natural; to wake him up this morning, after we slept all night together... He only wants me for one thing though.
A frown spread across her face at this thought. Then, she continued thinking, why did he tell me about his past? Either he's changed his mind about only wanting the sex, or he's just one sick puppy.
Then, she noticed the time: 8:30. They'd obviously slept in longer than expected.
"Scott," she said, slipping into the bathroom. "You nearly done?"
"Nearly... why?" he called back.
"Well, for one, you need to get to school. For another, I need a shower."
"Well, you can come and join me, baby."
"Nah, I'll pass," she said, rolling her eyes. She went back to Scott's room and lay down on his bed to think.
What am I going to do here all day, she thought. I dunno, this is just all too weird. And Scott... wanting to be my boyfriend. I thought he just wanted my body. I didn't know it was like this. With our histories, I hope he doesn't actually want the relationship. I can hardly deal with my shit-load of baggage, let alone his. No, he can never find out! I'll never let him know. This is just too much. I don't have to tell him anything, and I don't want to. He can't find out about it all. If he does, he'll hate me.
I know what I'm going to do today...
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After Shelby had walked with Scott halfway to school, she went off her separate way-towards her house.
It was now 9:15 and she thought everyone would be gone. She thought Jess would've gone to school; he mom and Walt to work. She thought wrong.
She opened the door to her house, just this totally creeped her out. She closed it behind her, walked down a hall and entered her room.
She took out her duffel bag and stuffed her things hurriedly in it. She was just about to get up and go when...
"Hello, kitten," cam a cold voice from behind her.
Shelby rose and turned around. "I'm not doing anything anymore! I'm leaving!" she said in a heightened whisper-which was the most she could manage.
"Oh, I think you'll do everything I ask," he said, his voice almost mocking her.
"You do, do you?" she replied, trying to get her voice under control.
"Yes, I know you will because if you don't do everything I want, I'm going to go after Jess. Now, you don't want that, do you?" he asked with a smirk. At Jess's name, Shelby had gasped.
She shook her head furiously. "You can't! You-you pr-promised!" she stammered. "I didn't t-tell! You promised!" she continued.
Walt shook his head and smiled cruelly.
"Please! Don't Walt! I'll-I'll do any-anything," she finally got out. "Just don't touch Jess!" she said quietly, but firmly.
"I knew you'd understand," he said. He walked towards her and pushed her onto the bed. He didn't care about now rough he was now, there was no one to hear her cry out in pain.
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"Hey, Auggie, have you seen David lately?" Daisy asked him at lunch.
Auggie, who had been talking to some very rough-looking Latino guys, shook his head. "Sorry, Dais, not since yesterday. Hey," he said all of a sudden, "where's Shel?"
"Not at school," Daisy said with a shrug.
Auggie motioned for her to go on in her explanation, but she just shook her head.
"It's a long story, Aug, I'll tell you later." She then left to try and see if David was somewhere else on campus.
Auggie shrugged and went back to the guys he'd been talking to.
"Hey, muchacho, what'd the chica want?" one of the older guys called out, checking Daisy out as she walked off.
"Ah, nothin, ese, don't worry about it," Augusto said, waving a had dismissively. "Look, guys, I gotta go, fucking tutoring sessions. I'll see ya later," he said, leaving in the opposite direction Daisy had gone.
He went up a floor and into a presently empty classroom. This is where Mr. Scarbrow had told him to wait for his tutor. He had not yet been told who this tutor was, but it wasn't like he really cared.
He waited around idly for about five minutes until someone finally walked in.
"Well, it's about-" but he stopped mid-sentence upon seeing who it was.
"Hi, I'm Juliette Waybourne," she said in a highly perky voice, while flipping her long brown hair so it wasn't in her face.
"Uh..." he stammered. She was beautiful. He shook his head. "I'm Augusto Ciceros. Uh... are you my new tutor?" he asked daftly.
"Yeah, I am, Augusto," she said.
"Nah, just call me Auggie." She smiled.
"Alright, and you can call me Jules, if you like," she said in a dumb-blond type voice.
Their eyes locked and for a while neither spoke.
They could both feel the near electric twinge that ran through their bodies. There they were, contented with just looking into one-another's eyes.
Suddenly, Juliette shook her head, breaking contact. She mumbled a little and Auggie moved his head around with a smirk, trying to make eye contact once more.
"Oh, I'm just wanted to say I'm sorry I was late. I went to lunch with a friend, and was on my way back to meet you when I took a pit stop," she said, smiling uncomfortable. She unconsciously touched her throat.
"You okay?" he asked, walking closer to her. She nodded and plastered on her smile. He wasn't fooled, though. He could see her eyes and he knew she wasn't all right. He went to ask her some more questions. Sensing what was coming, she briskly walked over to a desk and put her bag down, pulling out a text book.
She sighed and rubbed her eyes as though tired and trying to wipe away the memories. Tonight, she thought, I'll get rid of all this pain. Tonight.
She turned back to Auggie. "Alright, on with the session."
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Shelby lay on her bed, naked and shaking. Walt had gone to work. Finally, she thought. She got up and her upper legs hurt. All her muscles were screaming out in protest to her movements. She picked up her bag and headed for the exit. She knew what she had to do.
She went straight to school. She knew classes weren't out yet, but she knew what class Daisy had and that was all she needed.
She walked up to the classroom, and miraculously caught Daisy's eye. She signaled her to come into the hallway, which Daisy did.
"Shelby! Where did you go?" she asked almost at once.
"I... uh... I went to Scott's house. Don't worry, he didn't try anything. Well, he tried everything, but we didn't do anything."
"What are you doing here? I didn't think you'd show," Daisy said incredulously. Shelby was immensely relieved she didn't press more on the Scott subject.
"I need you to do something for me, Dais," Shelby said quietly.
"What is it?" she replied carefully.
"I need you to protect Jess. I can't let her go home, but I can't do anything more as it is. Please, Dais," she said, getting slightly hysterical.
"Wait, calm down. Why can't she go home?"
"Walt... he knows I'm running. He'll go after her. I can't take her with me, but I can't leave her!"
"Okay. I'll do it. I can't do this alone, Shell," Daisy pointed out.
"I know. We'll figure something out, just make sure she doesn't go home tonight," Shelby said in a hushed voice.
"Yeah, I promise. Don't worry. Where are you going tonight?" she asked.
"I don't know."
"You're not going back to Scott's?" Shelby just shook her head. "Why not?"
"He told me his past. He wants a relationship Dais! I can't do that. You know that!"
"Yeah..." she sighed. "Wait! He told you his past?!" she asked curiously.
"Yeah, let's just say it's too similar to mine to be comfy," Shelby replied shrugging.
"No way!" Daisy was totally shocked. Shelby nodded. "Well, then, you're psychic. Remember how you were telling me that's what you thought happened to him?" Shelby smirked. Daisy shrugged. "Okay, Jess goes to the middle school around the block?"
"Yeah, just ask for her at the front desk. She usually takes her time," Shelby said, heaving a huge sigh.
"Alright, Shel, I want you to do something for me if I do this," Daisy said, seeing a great opportunity.
"What?" Shelby asked cautiously.
"I want you to stay at Scott's. I normally wouldn't ask this, but I know you don't want to come to my house with my dad there, and I know you feel safe at Scott's."
"How do you know that?"
"Because you're thinking clearly, despite being distraught. I still haven't figured out why you're distraught, but I can tell you had a good night's sleep."
"Walt got me again just now," Shelby whispered, hanging her head in shame.
"No!" Daisy gasped. "How? You were at Scott's!"
"No, I went home to get my shit," Shelby said, shaking. She slid down the wall and sat there, her head in her hands."
"Shel, you're in no shape to run," Daisy said, sitting beside her and putting her arm around her friend's shoulders.
"What am I supposed to do? Go home?" she nearly yelled.
"No, go to Scott's! That's the only way I know you'll be safe," Daisy said quietly, her voice cracking. "Shelby, I really worry about you when you run."
"I know you do," Shelby said quietly. "Okay, I won't run... for you."
"Thank you!" Daisy said, obviously relieved.
"You know how much this means though?" Shelby said, smirking. "I'm putting my sanity on the line. He'll be pushing to know my past now," she pointed out.
"I know. You're strong, hun, you're strong now."
"Thanks, Dais, for everything!" Shelby said. She leaned over and gave Daisy a tight hug. Daisy, although a little shocked at first at how strong and sincere the hug was, returned it gratefully. "Well, I have to go. I'll see you later. I'll give you a call tonight. Bye, Daisy." With that, she got up, and left, with a smile on her face.
**************************************************************************************
After having successfully escaped another detention with Miss Becker, Daisy was walking home, with Jess in tow. They were chatting easily. After three years of knowing Shelby so well, Daisy knew Jess almost intimately too.
As they turned the corner to Daisy's house, they saw something that shocked both: David. But not only David... David high... very high! He was sitting on the steps to Daisy's house.
Before they arrived at the house, Daisy stopped walking.
"Jess, here's the key. Go in around the back. The parentals aren't in yet. I'll join you once I've sorted him out, okay?" Daisy asked in a rushed voice.
"Then are you going to explain why I'm staying with you?" Jess asked, a little exasperated with the lack of information Daisy was sending her way.
"As much as I can," Daisy said honestly. She wasn't one for hypocrisy, and wasn't going to break that golden rule... ever. "Don't worry, you'll be safe here." Jess gave her a weird look. She still didn't get it. Daisy had only told her that she'd explain once they got to her house, but that Shelby needed her to come with her. Jess had wanted to know what was going on with her sister so much, that she accepted on that fact alone. She went on into the house, and Daisy proceeded onto David.
She walked up to him. He was focussing very hard on something in a nearby tree.
"David," she said quietly.
"Oh, 'ello, Daisy!" he said in a thick English accent. She raised her eyebrows at this.
"Uh, okay..." she mumbled, trying to accept his sudden change of dialect.
"Wha' brings you ou' on this lovely day?"
"Well," she said slowly, "this is my house," she pointed out. He knew this of course, but in the state had obviously forgotten it.
"Is it now? Jolly good!" he continued almost in his own world. Where's he getting this accent from, she thought curiously.
"Where've you been?" she asked finally, getting to the point. Maybe the drugs'll force the truth out of him, she mused.
Suddenly, he seemed to sober up. A shadow fell over his face and she knew he'd lost the brilliant accent.
He just shrugged in response to her query. She sighed and sat down beside him. She looked over at him about to specify the question. Then, she noticed it. A large bruise was changing colours on his face. Across the bruise, lay a deep scratch that looked sickeningly infected. She gasped.
"David! What happened?" He looked at her and figured that she saw it.
"You noticed. Is it really that bad?" he asked sarcastically.
"No, but it does cover half your face," she replied sarcastically. How come I didn't notice it before, she thought. Well, he was in the shadows, and had his head turned most of the time. "What happened?" she asked again.
"Fell down some stairs," he muttered dumbly with a shrug. The minute he stopped looking her in the eye she knew it was a lie, he didn't even have to say his phony excuse.
"Oh! Don't give me that shit!" she said. If there was one thing Daisy hated, it was being squarely lied to in her face.
He looked up at her. He was so unsure about whether or not he ought to tell her. He noticed something in her eye that made it almost glint. His attention focussed completely on it. In the distance, he could faintly make out Daisy saying something about having to tell her the truth, but that didn't matter to him at the moment. Once again, he was flying high. High and out of reach. His dad couldn't get him now. Oh no! He was so high. Even with his military planes, the general couldn't get him. Not while he was like this.
Daisy caught him by the shoulders and shook him hard to try and get him to focus. She'd called his name for the past two minutes and he wasn't responding. He was looking in her eyes, but not saying a thing, or even seeming about ready to come around. She was afraid he was going into shock or something.
"Don't touch me!" he yelled, snapping out of his trance-like state.
"Why the hell not?" she said. "I've touched you before."
"Not like that. Not like him."
"Him? Who's 'him'?" she asked curiously. He seemed to go back into a trance, but his mouth kept moving without his consent-let along his knowledge.
"Dear old daddy," he said swinging his head around.
"David, what did he do?" she asked slowly.
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
"Yes, I would," she said, amazingly enough, this was said sincerely.
"Tell me, Dais, do I look like a punching bag? Huh? Do I?' he asked, the anger boiling inside him. He seemed about ready to explode.
"No," she said slowly.
"Are you sure?" She nodded. "Well, the general better get his eyes checked cause he continuously mistakes me for one," he spilled, still swinging his head around dangerously. His voice was now varying largely in pitch and volume. Daisy gasped. "Oh! And do I look like a failure? Cause the mother fucking sun of a bitch thinks that too!" he yelled, that anger boiling over.
Daisy put a hand on David's face, on the side without the bruise. She's the only one, he thought. She's the only one who can touch me. No one else is allowed. I won't accept it.
Unconsciously, he reached up and put his hand over hers, pressing it to is cheek, showing her he wasn't afraid of her touch.
She leant in and kissed him.
When they broke apart, she took his hand and led him into the house, up to her room where he collapsed, amidst a cloud of snoring, onto her bed. She closed the door. At least he's safe, she thought. At least he's safe.