Chapter 8-

Lucy finally chose a pair of khakis, a white tank top and a pink and white over shirt for her dinner with Peter. But once they got to the resteraunt she completley forgot about clothes becuse she and Peter were having a great time,. Talking, laughing, joking around. The relationship was forming into what Lucy hoped was what she wanted it to be. When their burgers got there Peter asked, "How are things going with the kids at Horizon? Are you guys getting along?"

"Funny you should ask." Lucy smiled thinking how quickly she became friends with the female Cliffhangers, "Shelby sort of was mad at me for something when she first got back but things are good now. Jules and I are sort of close. I mean, as close as you can be after knowing each other for, like, four days. Daisy and I are the same . . . so, yeah. Things are good." Lucy started thinking and before she could stop herself she blurted out, "I actually like living now that I'm here." Suddenly her eyes grew wide as she realized she had said that.

"What do you mean?" Peter asked, "You didn't like living before?" Lucy shook her head no, "Your profile didn't say anything about that."

Lucy sighed. Peter knew everything about her from her profile. It probably even said what her favorite color was! "Does that stupid profile have everything I've ever done in it?"

"No," Peter smiled at her, "Not everything."

Lucy got back to eating her burger. She was starting feel depressed having to talk about what got her into Horizon and she didn't want to feel depressed. She just stared at her food and waited for Peter to say something. When he didn't she asked something she had been wondering for a while, "What's the deal with you and Sophie? Are you guys together or what?"

Peter swallowed what was in his mouth and pushed back against his chair, "It's a long story. I'll tell you what. You elaborate on your comment before and I'll tell it to you."

Lucy silently cursed to herself. So that's where she got her reasoning from. "Fine. Everything was just so bad . . . like mom and Jack. Not knowing you. You know, that crap. My friend killed herself a few months ago and I started thinking about it." She was silent for a minute and Peter didn't know if she was done. But then she spoke again, "I thought it was such a good idea I tried it. I was just too scared, though. I didn't have the nerve to kill myself. I did get a trip to the hospital and psych ward, though. What an adventure." She rolled her eyes then almost laughed when she saw the look in his eyes. He was seriously worried and he dealt with this stuff everyday. Lucy figured it was different for him since she was his daughter, "So, you and Soph?"

Peter was quiet for a while trying to compose himself after hearing what Lucy told him but eventually he said, "We have our moments. I love her but I don't know if she feels the same way."

"Why don't you ask her? That's always the best way to find out. . . and that wasn't a long story!"

Peter laughed and said, "Maybe I will." He looked down at their plates and saw they were both empty so he said, "Come on, I have to get you back."

Three weeks later Lucy and Peter were like those fathers and daughters from movies that make you want to throw up from how cute it is. And Shelby and Daisy didn't waste any time in telling them that but they just laughed and went about what they were doing. One prticuarly hot day Lucy was in her Math class trying to figure out geomotry when Peter walked and said, "Umm . . . I need to see Lucy for a minute." Everyone stared at Lucy while she timidly got up, grabbed her stuff, and left the room. Peter was quiet for a minute while they walked down the hallway. Lucy got sick of wiating for him to talk so she said impatiently, "What's up?"

Peter cleared his throat as they stepped outside into the sunlight, "Your mother wants to take you home." He nodded towards a car in the driveway where Lucy's mom, step dad, and Sophie were talking.

After getting closer Lucy saw how angry the two women looked, "Luce, get your things we're leaving." Karen told her daughter. She put her arm around Lucy's shoulders but Lucy wiggled out.

"I'm not going anywhere!" Lucy said but Karen ignored her and walked towards the car talking about how great it would be once Lucy was back home, "Mom, you didn't hear me! I'm not leaving."

Jack took an angry tone and practially yelled, "Don't speak to your mother with that tone. Get in the car." Lucy was so afraid of Jack that she started walking towards the SUV.

Peter took her wrist and held on tight,"Don't get in the car. Karen, Jack- I need to talk to you in the office first."

"We'd like to get home by night so if you don't mind I think we'll pass." Karen said.

Peter didn't look fazed at Karen's cruelty, "If Lucy's leaving you need to sign some papers." Lucy quickly looked at Peter not understanding why he was leting them take her. She suddenly got mad at all of them. Peter was a jerk. He didn't really care about her. He was faking the whole time.

When they reached Peter's office Peter, Jack, and Karen sat down in chairs, Sophie sat on a table against the far wall and Lucy stood right next to the door. Peter grabbed some papers from his desk and layed them on top, "Just these and you can go."

Lucy stared at Peter in disgust. He looked up at her and winked, "I can't believe you!" She screamed, "All you of you! I hate you! I'm not going home but I'm sure as hell not staying here!" She opened the door and ran as fast as she could out of the building. She ran through the woods, following the path Peter took on that very first hike. She could hear Peter and Jack running after her and shouting her name but she wouldn't stop. She knew they were right behind her and could probably reach out and tackle her to stop her so she made a quick turn right and Jack ran into Peter making them fall to the ground.

Lucy knew this was her only chance to get away without them seeing which way she went so she ran off the path and into the overgrowth. She kept running, Peter and Jack getting farther and farther away. She felt like she had been running for hours when she ran out of the woods and found herself at a lake. It was the one close to Horizon. "I ran in a circle!" Lucy thought. She cursed to herself and carefully walked around the edge of the lake to the dock. The way she was going most of the dock was blocked by trees so she was somewhat surprised when she stepped onto it and saw Scott.