Higher Expectations
Chapter 11: This Is Not A Democracy
"Fear is the little dark room where negatives are developed" Michael Pritchard
*****
The next morning was sprung on the students and faculty of Horizon just as fast as the night assaulted light the day before. Yawns and groans could be heard throughout the cafeteria, as well as scoldings of teenagers that liked to make trouble. The cliffhanger table was silent, however. Sophie Becker was no where to be found, but in her place was the strange new man called Dan. Gid took no notice of this, for he was new, but the rest of the Cliffhangers were suspicious.
"Aye, yo," Auggie spoke up, "what do you make of this new guy?" The rest of the adolescents looked at each other.
"I don't like him." Jess said immediately. There was something fishy, for lack of a better word, about this guy. He just didn't... belong.
"Okay, guys!" Peter piped up as he walked in the cafeteria. "I want to see the Cliffhangers and Sundogs over here for a minute." The RidgeRunners and Trailblazers lowered their heads again back to their food and the other two groups stood up and made their way over to their headmaster.
"What's up, Pete?" A Hispanic guy from the Sundogs asked Peter.
"I want you guys," He said as he pointed to the Sundogs. "To meet your head counselor in the lodge after breakfast to talk about the vandalism done to the guys dorms late last night." The Sundog girls looked at each other and tried to hold back their smirks. "Now go back to breakfast. As for the Cliffhangers," Peter said as the larger group took off back toward their table, and left the smaller one to the wrath of Peter. "I wanted to inform you guys about a little hike that is to take place in about three hours. Sometime before lunch." The Cliffhangers groaned. Peter shrugged.
"Aw, man!" Scott heaved. "Do we have to?"
Peter tapped his head in mock thought, "Hmm, let me think." Scott rolled his eyes. "Yes." Peter said almost immediately after.
"Arg!" The group cried out in unison.
Peter laughed, "Guys, you have got to stop thinking of this place as a democracy!" He chuckled once again and walked out of the cafeteria.
*****
Dan stood in front of the girls dorm. 'How should I approach this?' He thought to himself. Girls. He never got them, but he was going to have to now. He slowly walked up to the door and knocked on it.
"Girls? Are you all.. uh," Dan coughed, "Dressed and, uh, appropriate?" He asked. He didn't want to just burst in on them while they were dressing or packing their unmentionables. He heart a faint, 'Yes!' and opened the door. He made his way to the middle of their sleeping quarters. "Uh, Peter told me to come and tell you guys that we're leaving in about ten minutes. He wants you ready and out in front of the lodge in five."
"uh, Dan?" He heard a voice behind him. He spun around, catching a glance with Jess. He stared for a second, intrigued by the look the girl gave him. He smiled slightly and turned around fully when he heard the voice again. He met Shelby's soft glare.
"Uh, did we need to pack overnight stuff?" Shelby asked, now nervous of the man. She had seen the look Dan gave her sister.
"Uh, yes. I was under the impression that this would be a two day, one night stay. So pack about three changes of clothes." He informed her. Shelby nodded and Dan scurried out of the dorm quickly.
Shelby turned to her sister, "What was that?" She asked her. Jess looked uncomfortable but shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know.." Jess replied. "But I'd sure like to find out."
*****
"Okay, guys. I'm sure you're all wondering why in the heck we're going on a hike right in the beginning of flu season." Peter started. All the Cliffhangers were lined up in front of them with their packs at their legs. They all gave him the 'go-on' look. "Well, I thought this would be a type of buddy hike back. A considerably large one, however, but we all should take this time to get to know each other with the arrival of Dan and Gideon."
Gid looked at Peter with a half angry look. He didn't like to be the reason for bad things, and one of these "buddy hike backs" didn't sound like a good thing to the Cliffhangers according to their groans and glares toward him and Dan. Peter only smiled back at him, however, and walked to the front of the group.
"Well," Peter started, taking a deep breath into the morning air. 'Let's get going. We've got a long day ahead of us." He waved at Roger who was there to see them off. He was going to take care of the place while Peter was gone, seeing as Jeff was slightly incapable of doing the job. Breaking your leg for the third time in two years can do that to you. Jeff always was a clumsy one.
*****
After about two hours of hiking, Juliette started to complain. As normal as this was, the group still glared at her for another half an hour before Peter agreed to stop. They all sat down on a rock and pulled out their lunches. Jules looked down at hers with disdain as everyone else tore into their food. When no one was watching, Juliette pocketed the little baggies which consisted of a sandwich and some trail mix.
"Uh, Peter?" Juliette asked, walking up to her headmaster while he was eating his lunch.
"Yes, Juliette?" Peter questioned. Jules smiled bashfully.
"Uh, where's the.. you know, bathroom?" Peter laughed a little.
"I saw a good spot about a couple yards out of the clearing. Be back in about five minutes. We're leaving then." Juliette nodded and made her way out of the clearing. She stopped when she saw a large pile of leaves.
"Thank you, fall." Juliette said as she revealed the baggies of food and covered them up with leaves. As she emerged from the woods minutes later she caught sight of the Cliffhangers packing up. She grabbed her pack and stuffed the remains of her lunch (which was a paper bag and a dull, plastic fork) back into the sack.
*****
An unnerving feeling rushed over Shelby as she walked up the trail, behind Scott and her sister, who were carrying on a conversation amongst themselves. She sighed as she stared at her sister who was smiling. Hopefully nothing would break her spirit in the week to come. The trial would more than likely be over in another day or two, maybe it would end that very day. No one knew.. but what Shelby did know, was that if Walt got off, he was well enough to hurt Jess or herself again. He was completely over the heart attack, and seemed even healthier than before.
Before Shelby could go on into even more depressing thoughts, Peter spoke up. Dusk was approaching fast and they needed a place to camp. "Okay, guys." Peter spoke up. "I think this is where we're going to set up for tonight. Pull out your tents and set them up. If you need any assistance, ask Dan or myself and we'll come and help you. Peter grabbed at his pack and threw it to the ground softly. He pulled out his own tent and started to set it up.
Jess grunted as she tried to pull her tent up. Scott noticed and started to come over to help her since he was done.
"Woah, hold on there, Scott. I think Shelby needs your help over there." Dan said pointing to Scott's girlfriend who was also having trouble. "I'm sure she'll feel better if you helped her. I'll help Jess out." Dan laughed a little and Scott shrugged and went toward his girlfriend. Dan smiled again, only this time it was a sickly smile.. one of guile and deceit.
"Stupid tent!! Why wont you just set up!" Jess yelled kicking at the large mass of green canvas.
"Here." Dan said grabbing at the poles that Jess was holding from around her back. He guided her hands with his own and eventually managed to get her tent up. Jess was feeling uncomfortable and once she found a way out of his grasps, she took the chance and smiled nervously.
"Uh, thanks, uh, Dan." Jess said backing away from him. Dan smiled sweetly this time and walked up to Jess and patted her on the head.
"No problem, kiddo. We all need help our first time." he said and walked off. He disappeared in his own tent moments later. Jess shook it all off and retreated into her tent. She grabbed at her sleeping bag and set it up inside. Once she was laid down, she grabbed for her personal journal.
'I don't know about this Dan guy. I'm sure it's all okay, though. I mean, these vibes I get from him just come from the fact that I'm not over Walt, yet, Right?' Jess wrote in her journal. 'He's a counselor of course, so he can't be all that bad. Maybe a little batty... after all, Peter would never put any of us in danger. He's here to save our lives.' Jess smiled at what she wrote, a little more comforted now and soon drifted off to sleep.
*****
Ack, sorry for not posting in what seems like forever. It might as well been forever. I've been having quite a tough time lately and haven't felt up to writing. I'm sure you guys didn't want another crap chap.. those are scary, lol. Anyway, I hope you all had a Happy Halloween and remember, brush those teeth after eating all that candy. XD! (I know this isn't much, but I'll try to post more often.)
Flamingteen (Kates)
Chapter 11: This Is Not A Democracy
"Fear is the little dark room where negatives are developed" Michael Pritchard
*****
The next morning was sprung on the students and faculty of Horizon just as fast as the night assaulted light the day before. Yawns and groans could be heard throughout the cafeteria, as well as scoldings of teenagers that liked to make trouble. The cliffhanger table was silent, however. Sophie Becker was no where to be found, but in her place was the strange new man called Dan. Gid took no notice of this, for he was new, but the rest of the Cliffhangers were suspicious.
"Aye, yo," Auggie spoke up, "what do you make of this new guy?" The rest of the adolescents looked at each other.
"I don't like him." Jess said immediately. There was something fishy, for lack of a better word, about this guy. He just didn't... belong.
"Okay, guys!" Peter piped up as he walked in the cafeteria. "I want to see the Cliffhangers and Sundogs over here for a minute." The RidgeRunners and Trailblazers lowered their heads again back to their food and the other two groups stood up and made their way over to their headmaster.
"What's up, Pete?" A Hispanic guy from the Sundogs asked Peter.
"I want you guys," He said as he pointed to the Sundogs. "To meet your head counselor in the lodge after breakfast to talk about the vandalism done to the guys dorms late last night." The Sundog girls looked at each other and tried to hold back their smirks. "Now go back to breakfast. As for the Cliffhangers," Peter said as the larger group took off back toward their table, and left the smaller one to the wrath of Peter. "I wanted to inform you guys about a little hike that is to take place in about three hours. Sometime before lunch." The Cliffhangers groaned. Peter shrugged.
"Aw, man!" Scott heaved. "Do we have to?"
Peter tapped his head in mock thought, "Hmm, let me think." Scott rolled his eyes. "Yes." Peter said almost immediately after.
"Arg!" The group cried out in unison.
Peter laughed, "Guys, you have got to stop thinking of this place as a democracy!" He chuckled once again and walked out of the cafeteria.
*****
Dan stood in front of the girls dorm. 'How should I approach this?' He thought to himself. Girls. He never got them, but he was going to have to now. He slowly walked up to the door and knocked on it.
"Girls? Are you all.. uh," Dan coughed, "Dressed and, uh, appropriate?" He asked. He didn't want to just burst in on them while they were dressing or packing their unmentionables. He heart a faint, 'Yes!' and opened the door. He made his way to the middle of their sleeping quarters. "Uh, Peter told me to come and tell you guys that we're leaving in about ten minutes. He wants you ready and out in front of the lodge in five."
"uh, Dan?" He heard a voice behind him. He spun around, catching a glance with Jess. He stared for a second, intrigued by the look the girl gave him. He smiled slightly and turned around fully when he heard the voice again. He met Shelby's soft glare.
"Uh, did we need to pack overnight stuff?" Shelby asked, now nervous of the man. She had seen the look Dan gave her sister.
"Uh, yes. I was under the impression that this would be a two day, one night stay. So pack about three changes of clothes." He informed her. Shelby nodded and Dan scurried out of the dorm quickly.
Shelby turned to her sister, "What was that?" She asked her. Jess looked uncomfortable but shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know.." Jess replied. "But I'd sure like to find out."
*****
"Okay, guys. I'm sure you're all wondering why in the heck we're going on a hike right in the beginning of flu season." Peter started. All the Cliffhangers were lined up in front of them with their packs at their legs. They all gave him the 'go-on' look. "Well, I thought this would be a type of buddy hike back. A considerably large one, however, but we all should take this time to get to know each other with the arrival of Dan and Gideon."
Gid looked at Peter with a half angry look. He didn't like to be the reason for bad things, and one of these "buddy hike backs" didn't sound like a good thing to the Cliffhangers according to their groans and glares toward him and Dan. Peter only smiled back at him, however, and walked to the front of the group.
"Well," Peter started, taking a deep breath into the morning air. 'Let's get going. We've got a long day ahead of us." He waved at Roger who was there to see them off. He was going to take care of the place while Peter was gone, seeing as Jeff was slightly incapable of doing the job. Breaking your leg for the third time in two years can do that to you. Jeff always was a clumsy one.
*****
After about two hours of hiking, Juliette started to complain. As normal as this was, the group still glared at her for another half an hour before Peter agreed to stop. They all sat down on a rock and pulled out their lunches. Jules looked down at hers with disdain as everyone else tore into their food. When no one was watching, Juliette pocketed the little baggies which consisted of a sandwich and some trail mix.
"Uh, Peter?" Juliette asked, walking up to her headmaster while he was eating his lunch.
"Yes, Juliette?" Peter questioned. Jules smiled bashfully.
"Uh, where's the.. you know, bathroom?" Peter laughed a little.
"I saw a good spot about a couple yards out of the clearing. Be back in about five minutes. We're leaving then." Juliette nodded and made her way out of the clearing. She stopped when she saw a large pile of leaves.
"Thank you, fall." Juliette said as she revealed the baggies of food and covered them up with leaves. As she emerged from the woods minutes later she caught sight of the Cliffhangers packing up. She grabbed her pack and stuffed the remains of her lunch (which was a paper bag and a dull, plastic fork) back into the sack.
*****
An unnerving feeling rushed over Shelby as she walked up the trail, behind Scott and her sister, who were carrying on a conversation amongst themselves. She sighed as she stared at her sister who was smiling. Hopefully nothing would break her spirit in the week to come. The trial would more than likely be over in another day or two, maybe it would end that very day. No one knew.. but what Shelby did know, was that if Walt got off, he was well enough to hurt Jess or herself again. He was completely over the heart attack, and seemed even healthier than before.
Before Shelby could go on into even more depressing thoughts, Peter spoke up. Dusk was approaching fast and they needed a place to camp. "Okay, guys." Peter spoke up. "I think this is where we're going to set up for tonight. Pull out your tents and set them up. If you need any assistance, ask Dan or myself and we'll come and help you. Peter grabbed at his pack and threw it to the ground softly. He pulled out his own tent and started to set it up.
Jess grunted as she tried to pull her tent up. Scott noticed and started to come over to help her since he was done.
"Woah, hold on there, Scott. I think Shelby needs your help over there." Dan said pointing to Scott's girlfriend who was also having trouble. "I'm sure she'll feel better if you helped her. I'll help Jess out." Dan laughed a little and Scott shrugged and went toward his girlfriend. Dan smiled again, only this time it was a sickly smile.. one of guile and deceit.
"Stupid tent!! Why wont you just set up!" Jess yelled kicking at the large mass of green canvas.
"Here." Dan said grabbing at the poles that Jess was holding from around her back. He guided her hands with his own and eventually managed to get her tent up. Jess was feeling uncomfortable and once she found a way out of his grasps, she took the chance and smiled nervously.
"Uh, thanks, uh, Dan." Jess said backing away from him. Dan smiled sweetly this time and walked up to Jess and patted her on the head.
"No problem, kiddo. We all need help our first time." he said and walked off. He disappeared in his own tent moments later. Jess shook it all off and retreated into her tent. She grabbed at her sleeping bag and set it up inside. Once she was laid down, she grabbed for her personal journal.
'I don't know about this Dan guy. I'm sure it's all okay, though. I mean, these vibes I get from him just come from the fact that I'm not over Walt, yet, Right?' Jess wrote in her journal. 'He's a counselor of course, so he can't be all that bad. Maybe a little batty... after all, Peter would never put any of us in danger. He's here to save our lives.' Jess smiled at what she wrote, a little more comforted now and soon drifted off to sleep.
*****
Ack, sorry for not posting in what seems like forever. It might as well been forever. I've been having quite a tough time lately and haven't felt up to writing. I'm sure you guys didn't want another crap chap.. those are scary, lol. Anyway, I hope you all had a Happy Halloween and remember, brush those teeth after eating all that candy. XD! (I know this isn't much, but I'll try to post more often.)
Flamingteen (Kates)