I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please let me review and let me know what
you think.
Just to let all of you know I am going to try to end this story in the next
couple of chapters. I have ideas for the next one I write, which would you
prefer?
The third story in the NEWCOMER/Recurrent Past series (Don't worry it will be an eventful story that involves all of the Cliffhangers)
A story about Cole's life before Horizon, jeep in mind this wouldn't involve the Cliffhangers or Peter and Sophie, but there would be mentions about Horizon. If I can think of a good way to tie in the Cliffhangers I might involve them.
A re-write to NEWCOMER. I was planning on doing this, but if I do one (or both) of the story ideas above, this will have to wait awhile.
Those are my ideas, let me know which you would prefer, but keep in mind if you are interested in the first two I will write both of them just let me know which you would prefer first.
**********************************
After Cole walked out of the administration building, he decided to just head over to the lodge. He figured that by the time he went back to the dorm to put his coat away, and get into a conversation with Scott, Auggie, or Ezra or get into a fight with David, it would be time for group to start.
As he walked into the lodge, he felt the warmth of the fire hit his face. He shut the door and unzipped his coat. He headed over to the couch and plopped down onto it. He let out a sigh of tiredness.
He looked around the lodge at all of the other students, he watched the ones playing games, the ones who were by themselves either reading or thinking, and the ones who were in groups talking and laughing.
He became bored really fast and was about to get up and go walk around, but before he could Ezra came in and sat down beside Cole.
"Hey Ez." Cole said acknowledging his presence.
"Hey Cole, how was your night out." Ezra asked, looking to see if any of the other Cliffhangers were coming, a part of him felt awkward because he had never really sat down and talked with Cole without any of the other Cliffhangers with them.
"It was okay. I mean I found out a lot of stuff," Cole informed, then changing the subject "I had caffeine tonight, sure its no weed or booze, but damn how I've missed caffeine."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Ezra said waving to the other Cliffhangers, who all mingled in together.
Scott saw Cole and Ezra sitting on the couch so he unknowingly led the rest of the Cliffhangers to the couch. Kristen plopped on the couch next to Cole while Scott and Shelby sat in two arm chairs that were next to each other. Auggie and Juliette sat in the other armchairs that were next to each other.
Katherine and Katie sat down in front of the couch and sat back resting up against it. Daisy sat in the armchair that was by it's self. David was about to sit down next to Daisy, but she shook her head and pointed to the center of the group.
David put on a playful hurt face and slowly moved to the center of the couch and chairs and then got down and laid on his stomach.
There were small conversations going on, but they all came to cease when Peter and Sophie walked towards them. Peter looked like he had been under a lot of stress lately, but none of the Cliffhangers noticed.
"Okay guys, lets begin," Sophie instructed, "Tonight's topic is open, you can talk about how you feel, something good that happened to you, something bad that happened if you want, but you want but ALL of you have to say something."
There were no moans, but a couple of sighs. Only a couple of people had an idea on what to say. No one spoke up right away to volunteer to go first.
"Shel, why don't you start us off?" Peter volunteered.
Shelby wasn't happy about this, "Fine," Shelby said, then thought for a second and then continued, "Uh, I got a call from my sister today."
Shelby paused and looked around at the Cliffhangers, Peter, and Sophie, then continued talking, "She said that Walt, didn't make parole. This means that he won't be out of jail for a while. That's my major news."
"Congratulations, Shelby." Sophie said, the other Cliffhangers also said "congrats."
"Yeah, let's not make a party out of this, whose next?" Shelby said she still wasn't the type to show her happiness.
"Katherine, go ahead." Sophie said.
"Well, I have sent out the last of my collage applications," She told, everyone could tell that she had in her voice, extreme happiness and extreme relief.
"Well, we are all proud of you Kat." Peter said he knew how hard she worked at filling out her collage applications.
"I just want to thank all of you for not letting me quit when I wanted to." Katherine added.
As the group went on, Kristen, Daisy, Ezra, Katie, and Auggie all made stuff up, so they had something to say in group. David tried to be the clown, as always, and said something that got laughs from everyone, everyone except Sophie and Peter. They decided to give him a very stern look and kitchens duty.
Peter suggested that Cole should go; Cole thought for a couple of minutes and finally said, "I really don't have anything to talk about."
"What about your night out?" Ezra piped up.
Cole elbowed Ezra in the ribs, not wanting to bear what he learned earlier tonight to the Cliffhangers quite yet.
"Hey!" Ezra yelped.
"That's a good idea, go on Cole, unless you don't feel comfortable." Peter said.
"Fine," Cole said, and reluctantly began, "Well, I first found out that my best friend from back home managed to land himself in jail for the next two years because he was stupid enough to attempt robbing a gas station. My guess is that he was high."
Nobody said anything, they all paid close attention to Cole, wondering if he had anything else to say.
"On the better side, I found out my dad was sentenced to twelve years in prison," Cole added, "well, I guess that was the highlight of my night."
After Cole finished telling his information filled night, he dropped the toothpick he was fiddling with in his fingers. He bent over to pick it up Scott caught a glance at Cole's left shoulder blade when the neck of his shirt rose up and saw something he couldn't make out.
"Didn't know that I would stop group." Cole sarcastically said, snapping everyone out of their trance.
"Scott, you're up." Peter informed.
"Well, I got nothing that can compete with that." Scott said, referring to Cole's information. There were chuckles from everyone except Peter and Sophie. Cole just gave a half cocked smile.
"Uh, I don't feel comfortable asking this in front of everyone, so hold on." Scott said. He got up and walked across the circle, stepping over David, and made his way to Cole. He leaned over and whispered something in his ear.
All the Cliffhangers as well as Peter and Sophie all looked confused, Peter was about to ask what was going on but he heard Cole say, "I don't care."
"K, Cole, what's on your shoulder?" Scott asked. "I couldn't think of anything else to say. Sorry"
Peter and Sophie weren't happy about Scott's question. They were hoping that the kids would have shared about how they were feeling. The only ones who had done so were Shelby, Katherine, and Cole. Even though the rest of the Cliffhangers didn't know, Peter and Sophie knew that they were just saying what they thought Peter and Sophie wanted to hear.
Both Peter and Sophie knew that this would be the last "open topic" group for a while. They would just go back to normal group sessions.
Cole looked at everyone and then simply told everyone, "It's just a tattoo."
Everyone looked at each other, none of them, not even the guy Cliffhangers who lived with him, knew he had a tattoo.
"Did you guys know about it?" Juliette asked.
Peter looked at Cole to see if it were all right that the other Cliffhangers knew. He normally liked the kids to tell about their things, but this time Peter and Sophie were asked.
"I don't care, you can tell them. It's no big deal." Cole told Peter, picking up that Peter was looking for permission.
"Yes, it was found when Cole first arrived and got his physical," Peter informed, "and to be honest, I am disappointed in you guys, if Cole wanted to tell you about it, he would have told you on his own time."
"Alright, that's the end of this group, lights out in 30." Sophie said, dismissing all of the kids.
They all slowly got up, and headed out, some to their dorms and others to common areas around the lodge. Cole remembered that Peter said he wanted to talk to him and he knew it couldn't be good, so he quickly hurried out.
Peter was about to call Cole over to talk, but he got caught up scolding David about his inappropriate comment in group, that he missed Cole slip out of the lodge.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Cole made his way to the gazebo, he saw a couple of students, maybe thee or four at the most walking around at night. They were all heading to their dorms.
The night air was cold; the temperature had dropped since this afternoon. As he stepped up and into the gazebo, he zipped up his jacket. He walked over to the railing that had the best view of the woods and the sky and got up on it.
This was his second best place to hang out, especially at night. His first favorite place was down at the docks. He knew that Peter would be looking for him soon, and if he were down by the docks, then Peter would have though he ran again.
It had been about five minutes of pure silence and tranquility before Cole heard the familiar voice of Peter coming towards him.
"Didn't I say I needed to talk to you after group?" Peter asked, knowing that Cole snuck out on purpose.
"Oops, musta' slipped my mind," Cole said in a semi-sarcastic voice, not as sarcastic as his usual sarcasm, he didn't want to get in trouble for 'mouthing off', "what's up?"
"Well, I talked to your mom earlier today and to be honest I recommended you taken out of Horizon." Peter said, hoping Cole wouldn't blow up at him.
Cole became alarmed, he turned and faced Peter, many things rushed through his mind, he was prepared to go off on Peter, but let out a sigh then said, "Betcha' I can guess what she said."
*************************
Hope I left you off on a cliffhanger. Please review and let me know what you think.
The third story in the NEWCOMER/Recurrent Past series (Don't worry it will be an eventful story that involves all of the Cliffhangers)
A story about Cole's life before Horizon, jeep in mind this wouldn't involve the Cliffhangers or Peter and Sophie, but there would be mentions about Horizon. If I can think of a good way to tie in the Cliffhangers I might involve them.
A re-write to NEWCOMER. I was planning on doing this, but if I do one (or both) of the story ideas above, this will have to wait awhile.
Those are my ideas, let me know which you would prefer, but keep in mind if you are interested in the first two I will write both of them just let me know which you would prefer first.
**********************************
After Cole walked out of the administration building, he decided to just head over to the lodge. He figured that by the time he went back to the dorm to put his coat away, and get into a conversation with Scott, Auggie, or Ezra or get into a fight with David, it would be time for group to start.
As he walked into the lodge, he felt the warmth of the fire hit his face. He shut the door and unzipped his coat. He headed over to the couch and plopped down onto it. He let out a sigh of tiredness.
He looked around the lodge at all of the other students, he watched the ones playing games, the ones who were by themselves either reading or thinking, and the ones who were in groups talking and laughing.
He became bored really fast and was about to get up and go walk around, but before he could Ezra came in and sat down beside Cole.
"Hey Ez." Cole said acknowledging his presence.
"Hey Cole, how was your night out." Ezra asked, looking to see if any of the other Cliffhangers were coming, a part of him felt awkward because he had never really sat down and talked with Cole without any of the other Cliffhangers with them.
"It was okay. I mean I found out a lot of stuff," Cole informed, then changing the subject "I had caffeine tonight, sure its no weed or booze, but damn how I've missed caffeine."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Ezra said waving to the other Cliffhangers, who all mingled in together.
Scott saw Cole and Ezra sitting on the couch so he unknowingly led the rest of the Cliffhangers to the couch. Kristen plopped on the couch next to Cole while Scott and Shelby sat in two arm chairs that were next to each other. Auggie and Juliette sat in the other armchairs that were next to each other.
Katherine and Katie sat down in front of the couch and sat back resting up against it. Daisy sat in the armchair that was by it's self. David was about to sit down next to Daisy, but she shook her head and pointed to the center of the group.
David put on a playful hurt face and slowly moved to the center of the couch and chairs and then got down and laid on his stomach.
There were small conversations going on, but they all came to cease when Peter and Sophie walked towards them. Peter looked like he had been under a lot of stress lately, but none of the Cliffhangers noticed.
"Okay guys, lets begin," Sophie instructed, "Tonight's topic is open, you can talk about how you feel, something good that happened to you, something bad that happened if you want, but you want but ALL of you have to say something."
There were no moans, but a couple of sighs. Only a couple of people had an idea on what to say. No one spoke up right away to volunteer to go first.
"Shel, why don't you start us off?" Peter volunteered.
Shelby wasn't happy about this, "Fine," Shelby said, then thought for a second and then continued, "Uh, I got a call from my sister today."
Shelby paused and looked around at the Cliffhangers, Peter, and Sophie, then continued talking, "She said that Walt, didn't make parole. This means that he won't be out of jail for a while. That's my major news."
"Congratulations, Shelby." Sophie said, the other Cliffhangers also said "congrats."
"Yeah, let's not make a party out of this, whose next?" Shelby said she still wasn't the type to show her happiness.
"Katherine, go ahead." Sophie said.
"Well, I have sent out the last of my collage applications," She told, everyone could tell that she had in her voice, extreme happiness and extreme relief.
"Well, we are all proud of you Kat." Peter said he knew how hard she worked at filling out her collage applications.
"I just want to thank all of you for not letting me quit when I wanted to." Katherine added.
As the group went on, Kristen, Daisy, Ezra, Katie, and Auggie all made stuff up, so they had something to say in group. David tried to be the clown, as always, and said something that got laughs from everyone, everyone except Sophie and Peter. They decided to give him a very stern look and kitchens duty.
Peter suggested that Cole should go; Cole thought for a couple of minutes and finally said, "I really don't have anything to talk about."
"What about your night out?" Ezra piped up.
Cole elbowed Ezra in the ribs, not wanting to bear what he learned earlier tonight to the Cliffhangers quite yet.
"Hey!" Ezra yelped.
"That's a good idea, go on Cole, unless you don't feel comfortable." Peter said.
"Fine," Cole said, and reluctantly began, "Well, I first found out that my best friend from back home managed to land himself in jail for the next two years because he was stupid enough to attempt robbing a gas station. My guess is that he was high."
Nobody said anything, they all paid close attention to Cole, wondering if he had anything else to say.
"On the better side, I found out my dad was sentenced to twelve years in prison," Cole added, "well, I guess that was the highlight of my night."
After Cole finished telling his information filled night, he dropped the toothpick he was fiddling with in his fingers. He bent over to pick it up Scott caught a glance at Cole's left shoulder blade when the neck of his shirt rose up and saw something he couldn't make out.
"Didn't know that I would stop group." Cole sarcastically said, snapping everyone out of their trance.
"Scott, you're up." Peter informed.
"Well, I got nothing that can compete with that." Scott said, referring to Cole's information. There were chuckles from everyone except Peter and Sophie. Cole just gave a half cocked smile.
"Uh, I don't feel comfortable asking this in front of everyone, so hold on." Scott said. He got up and walked across the circle, stepping over David, and made his way to Cole. He leaned over and whispered something in his ear.
All the Cliffhangers as well as Peter and Sophie all looked confused, Peter was about to ask what was going on but he heard Cole say, "I don't care."
"K, Cole, what's on your shoulder?" Scott asked. "I couldn't think of anything else to say. Sorry"
Peter and Sophie weren't happy about Scott's question. They were hoping that the kids would have shared about how they were feeling. The only ones who had done so were Shelby, Katherine, and Cole. Even though the rest of the Cliffhangers didn't know, Peter and Sophie knew that they were just saying what they thought Peter and Sophie wanted to hear.
Both Peter and Sophie knew that this would be the last "open topic" group for a while. They would just go back to normal group sessions.
Cole looked at everyone and then simply told everyone, "It's just a tattoo."
Everyone looked at each other, none of them, not even the guy Cliffhangers who lived with him, knew he had a tattoo.
"Did you guys know about it?" Juliette asked.
Peter looked at Cole to see if it were all right that the other Cliffhangers knew. He normally liked the kids to tell about their things, but this time Peter and Sophie were asked.
"I don't care, you can tell them. It's no big deal." Cole told Peter, picking up that Peter was looking for permission.
"Yes, it was found when Cole first arrived and got his physical," Peter informed, "and to be honest, I am disappointed in you guys, if Cole wanted to tell you about it, he would have told you on his own time."
"Alright, that's the end of this group, lights out in 30." Sophie said, dismissing all of the kids.
They all slowly got up, and headed out, some to their dorms and others to common areas around the lodge. Cole remembered that Peter said he wanted to talk to him and he knew it couldn't be good, so he quickly hurried out.
Peter was about to call Cole over to talk, but he got caught up scolding David about his inappropriate comment in group, that he missed Cole slip out of the lodge.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Cole made his way to the gazebo, he saw a couple of students, maybe thee or four at the most walking around at night. They were all heading to their dorms.
The night air was cold; the temperature had dropped since this afternoon. As he stepped up and into the gazebo, he zipped up his jacket. He walked over to the railing that had the best view of the woods and the sky and got up on it.
This was his second best place to hang out, especially at night. His first favorite place was down at the docks. He knew that Peter would be looking for him soon, and if he were down by the docks, then Peter would have though he ran again.
It had been about five minutes of pure silence and tranquility before Cole heard the familiar voice of Peter coming towards him.
"Didn't I say I needed to talk to you after group?" Peter asked, knowing that Cole snuck out on purpose.
"Oops, musta' slipped my mind," Cole said in a semi-sarcastic voice, not as sarcastic as his usual sarcasm, he didn't want to get in trouble for 'mouthing off', "what's up?"
"Well, I talked to your mom earlier today and to be honest I recommended you taken out of Horizon." Peter said, hoping Cole wouldn't blow up at him.
Cole became alarmed, he turned and faced Peter, many things rushed through his mind, he was prepared to go off on Peter, but let out a sigh then said, "Betcha' I can guess what she said."
*************************
Hope I left you off on a cliffhanger. Please review and let me know what you think.