A/N—Merry Christmas to everyone who celebrates it! About the story—I don't know when it takes place, but Scott has come back for Shelby, and none of them have gone on Solos yet.

*****

"Geez it's cold out here." Shelby mumbled to herself.

"What was that?" Scott questioned while grabbing Shelby and pulling her into a kiss.

"I said..it was cold out here, but then you came along. And now…" she trailed off as Scott leant in to kiss her once again.

"And now what?"

"Now I feel all warm inside." She replied sarcastically. Scott began to laugh and then they walked to the edge of the docks and sat down.

"You know ever since you came back at the morp and told me you loved me, well Scott I haven't felt this way about anyone." Shelby turned away while speaking her true feelings to Scott for once.

What are you doing Shelby? Are you really telling him how you're feeling? Gosh I can't believe i'm doing this

Scott took her face in his hands and turned her to him.

"Shel..I never want to leave you again. You mean so much to me, you helped me through my rough times and I want to do the same for you." He pulled her in to hug her, the hug faded and they began to kiss passionately on the dock.

"You guys better watch it, Peter's out looking for you." Daisy warned the two.

"Thanks Dais" both Shelby and Scott had turned and thanked in unison. Ever since Scott and Shelby had gotten close it was always Daisy who saved their butts from Peter.

"Let's go." Shelby spoke as they got up to walk back with Daisy.

"Oh our ever so mighty leader, what do we owe this pleasure?" spoke Daisy directing it towards Peter who was walking up to the three of them.

 Peter shot her one of those 'Don't start with me looks.'

"Can you guys do me a favor?"

"I'm sure we don't have much of a choice now do we?" Shelby replied

"No…No you don't, round up the cliffhangers, were having group in the lodge in 15 minutes. Don't be late." He said running off towards the admin building.

I have to call Shaye's parents before group starts to see if she will be taken out of Horizon. Peter made a mental note.

*******

Peter walked into his office and began to dial Shaye's home phone number.

*ring ring*

Please be there, I don't want this to wait any longer than it already has

*Ring ring*

"Yah." A voice on the other line spoke.

Who answers the phone with 'Yah', wow I always pictured her family to be rather polite and sophisticated. From what Shaye told me…His thoughts ended when the person on the other line spoke again.

"Look buddy, I don't know who this is but if you're going to fucking call at least speak."

"Uh…Sorry, Hello, this is Peter Scarbrow from Mount Horizon high, may I speak to Mr. or Mrs. Watts?"

"Yah, hang on."

"Hello, this is Mrs. Watts speaking."

And here is the politeness I imagined.

"Hello Mrs. Watts this is Peter Scarbrow from Mount Horizon."

"Oh yes, the school we sent our daughter to. Hello Peter, how can I help you? Do you need more information on Shaye? Did something happen?"

"No, Debbie, I don't need any more information and yes something happened. But don't worry your daughter is perfectly fine." Peter told her rubbing his forehead

"What is the trouble then? If she's alright then why are you calling me?"

"Mrs. Watts, Shaye well when she first arrived shortly after you left she ran. What I mean by that is while asked to change for a physical she ran away. Straight into the forest. Might I add your daughter can run. I found her in a fetal position under the tree, she was saying…." He trailed off wondering if he should say anything about what the frail girl spoke of when he found her. Deciding it would be best not to mention it he continued.

"She wasn't saying anything, finally I persuaded her to come back to the school with me. It had been raining." He was cut off.

"Peter, is this all you called to tell me? That it was raining when she ran? I know it was raining we were driving in it." Debbie told getting rather upset.

"No, Mrs. Watts. I'm calling to tell you that one your daughter tried to run away from this school no longer than 15 minutes since you arrived and finally, she was found in the girls dorm covered in blood. It appears that your daughter has been cutting herself for quite some time now." He gave her a minute to respond and take everything in. When she didn't speak he began again.

"Here at Horizon, cutting is sometimes a cry for help, a cry that they want to be sent home."

"I'm very aware that my daughter has cut herself, she has been doing this stupid antic for over two years now." She was frustrated and most of all embarrassed that her daughter was making a fool of herself in front of these people.

"What? Why was there no mention of this in her files?" Peter asked looking at his watch and then back to her files.

Crap, group is starting in a minute.

"Mrs. Watts Shaye's file says nothing about self destructive behaviors."

"I know, her father and I didn't think you are anybody at that school had to know, I mean she hasn't cut herself in quite some time now."

"Of course, we had to know!! Your daughter is attending my school; we have to look out for her well being and safety among everything else. Leaving out that vital piece of information it not only hurt herself all the more it put pressure and fear onto ourselves." Peter spoke out to Debbie utterly disgusted that she thought it was in her daughter's best to leave out such vital piece of information.

"My point of this phone call was to update you and ask you if you would feel more comfortable taking Shaye out of this school. As she has tried to run and cut herself."

"You can't deal with my daughters problems?" Debbie implied

"No Mrs. Watts, we are perfectly capable of dealing with Shaye, its just mandatory of us to inform the parents had a student done something that could harm themselves or others." Peter said getting annoyed with the lady.

"Then no, I want to keep her there. I couldn't help her, her father couldn't help her, and her friends couldn't help her. Surely to God you can help her."

"Okay then, I have to go; the group is waiting for me to arrive."

"Nice talking to you Peter."

"You too Mrs. Watts, and don't worry we will take good care of your daughter here."

With that they both hung up the phone.

********

In the lodge.

"Yo meat! What's the deal; you tell us all to come here five minutes ago and Peters not even here." Auggie directed towards Scott.

"Yah Scott what's up, Peter told us we are having group, but he doesn't even show?" Shelby leant over and whispered to Scott.

"I don't know where Peter is, but he told us to meet here so lets just wait I guess." Scott told them all. Answering both questions at once.

"I'm tired of waiting." Jules pouted.

"Aww too bad Queenie, guys Queenie's tiiired of waiting." Shelby mocked her.

Jules didn't know what else to do but glare at her, Shelby was always making fun of her. Shelby always called Jules Queenie, but little did Shelby know that it truly did hurt Jules' feelings.

"Shelby! Just drop it okay." Kat broke in.

"Oh fearless leader." Daisy interrupted while tilting her head towards the door in which Peter was hurrying through.

"Sorry i'm late guys, I had a phone call to make."

Scott, Shelby, Kat, Jules, Auggie, Ezra, Daisy, David,…..Shaye. Why is she sitting alone on the floor?

"Since everyone is here I'd just like to say that tomorrow morning at dawn we will be going on Solo hikes." He was interrupted by a series of groans from the group.

"So pack only the essential, it will be a two day hike. One day up there, one solo night and then the hike back."

"Peter, do we all have to go?" Jules whined.

"Yes, Jules everyone will be participating in this hike."

"Now for group, is there anything anyone wants to discuss?" he questioned hoping someone would speak. But much to his desire no one said a word.

"Fine then, finish the sentence. One thing I wish I knew before……Daisy?"

"One thing I wish I knew before would be that my parents didn't start drinking because of me. David."

"Very good Daisy." Peter butted in.

"One thing I wish I knew before was that the Colonel was nice??" He had a confused look on his face. Peter didn't want to fight with David tonight, so he let it slide.

"Scott."

"One thing I wish I knew before was that the skank liked to prey on younger guys."

"What would you have done had you known that before?" Shelby questioned, curious as to what Scott had to say.

"I would have left my house and stayed with a friend or even my mother." Scott said rather pleased with himself that that is what he would have done.

Peter smiled to himself thinking of how far Scott has come since he first arrived at Horizon.

"Kat"

"One thing I wish I knew before was that my parents loved me for me, no matter color."

"Shaye"

"One thing I wish I knew before would be what it felt like to feel loved, to not feel alone. One thing I wish I knew before was that it was okay to whine and complain and cry to your friends for one whole day if it meant that you wouldn't be doing something else to hurt yourself in return. Yah, that's what I wish I knew before."

I can't believe I just said that to them, God i'm a fool. How could I open up. Stupid stupid stupid. Look away, don't look at them…say a name to get them to change the subject…just say a name."

"Shelby"

"One thing I wish I knew before would be that not saying anything is only hurting Jess more than protecting her."

Peter smiled to himself again, this time last year he would never have thought Shelby could make such good progress yet she has. He couldn't be more proud of his students.

"Ezra"

"One thing I wish I knew before would be that drugs do more harm than good."

"Jules"

"One thing I wish I knew before would be……Peter I can't think of just one thing, I mean I wish I knew everything I ever did wrong before. I wish I knew that mother only wanted me to be perfect for her husbands, that she was looking out for me, making sure I looked decent. That being skinny doesn't determine who you really are, and that cutting is only a temporary relief from the pain I feel everyday." Jules turned away from the group, only letting one silent tear fall from her glistening eyes.

She feels pain everyday. Peter questioned himself.

"It's okay Jules" Auggie gave her support.

"I guess its just me now huh?"

"Yes, go ahead Auggie." Peter urged.

"One thing I wish I knew before was that being with my brother would only make momma et papa more upset with themselves. That's all I could give right now Peter. Minds gone blank, yo."

"That was very well done everyone, group is over."

"Finally" Was the only word heard from everyone.

"It's almost time for lights out so head back to your dorms and get ready for bed."

Everyone got up to leave, except Shaye.

"Oh and remember tomorrow morning 6am be in the lodge." All he got were another series of groans.

"Peter.?" Shaye began almost at a whisper.

Peter didn't know what to expect, this girl hadn't wanted to talk at all before now she was staying after. Peter sat down beside her on the couch. Neither of them were looking at each other. Peter was looking straight ahead and Shaye was looking down at her shoes. Moments had passed and neither had said a word to each other, finally Shaye began.

"Do I really have to go on this hike tomorrow?" tears were falling from her eyes, she couldn't help herself.

You fool, why are you crying, in front of Peter too!!! Dont show your emotions, don't!! It's a sign of weakness and fear not strength how could I be crying in front of him.

Peter could hear the despair in her words but didn't want to look at her, he thought that perhaps not looking would make her feel more comfortable. He sighed.

"What makes you not want to go on this hike?"

"I don't know, I just….do you trust me?" she asked

"Trust you?" Peter questioned in response, not knowing what exactly she was talking about.

"Yeah, trust me to be alone and everything. You know with the running and the cutting. Do you trust me?"

"Yes. I do. I trust you fully. Being here is only going to help you not hinder you. Every choice you make while being in this school is to your own choice. If you make the wrong choice then yes there will be punishments but no choice is necessarily the wrong one."

"How so?"

"Well if you choose to run, then it shows that you're scared, or are running from something that is new and is intimidating you. It tells us something. If you choose to cut then it tells us that we are not giving you what you need and that something needs to happen. Be it we inform the parents about possible other methods of help." He was cut off.

"You called my parents??" She questioned getting upset

"Yes, it is school policy, you did something to harm yourself therefore we are bound by law to inform the proper officals." He turned to face the girl for the first time during their conversation.

"You know, why didn't you tell us that you had a history of self destruction?"

"I…I was ashamed and embarrassed, I thought you would judge me differently."

"You had nothing to be embarrassed about, there are many students at this school who have cut themselves..be it in the past or present. You're not alone and you should never feel alone. My mother used to tell me "Never be alone, not in your head or in your heart. It's too easy to get lost." I wish I knew before that she was so right when she told me this."

"It's getting late, perhaps you should go to your dorm, and we can finish talking tomorrow if it's okay with you."

"Yah, its fine." Shaye turned to walk out of the lodge, stopping at the main door.

"Peter" she turned around.

"Yes?" he asked

"Thank you."

"I'll always be here for you to talk to."

"I know, I wasn't thanking you for that."

"oh?" Peter asked puzzled

"Thank you for trusting me." With that she turned and walked to her dorm leaving a prideful and pleased Peter in the lodge to himself.

***A/N--- Hope you all liked this chapter…Reviews would be greatly appreciated!!!!!

-cough-hint-cough- lol. So review even if you don't like it!!!! Everything helps!!!!!