Jess collapsed on to her bunk, grabbing her teddy bear, and clutching it hard as she cried. That was the good thing about Saturdays, her group had a weekly basketball game with the Trackers, and she was left alone.
She stared at the photo by her bed. It had been taken at Disney World when she was about nine years old, and Shelby around thirteen. Jess looked so happy, as did her mother. However Shelby looked very unhappy. "Oh Shelby. I never realised the real reason you were so sad. I was nine, I was so clueless. I still remember the day you ran away from home, I was so lost. My big sister, who had promised she'd always be there for me. You were gone, and I was alone."
She picked the photo up, and put it next to her on the bed. "I wish I could forgive you Shelby, I really do. For not being there when I needed you, for running away and letting me suffer the same fate you had. But I can't...because you did leave me. You knew what he was and you still left."
Shelby Merrick looked around again for the zillionth time, and sighed. She sat down on the bench beside Daisy.
"What's gotten you so weird?" Daisy asked, frowning. "You seem really anxious. It's kinda scary."
"It's nothing," she sighed. She had hoped Jess would show up before they had left. She wanted to try and work things out, or at least tell her how she felt. She would have gone to see Jess but she hadn't been able to get away from Jeff, who was not going on this hike but was helping them prepare. Apparently, he was the only counsellor that didn't know about the new Horizon 'let's get Jess and Shelby talking' initiative.
"Okay, whatever," Daisy shrugged. Peter and Sophie walked down the path and smiled. "This is gonna be so much fun," she added grimly.
Jessica put the photo back on the table, wiped her eyes and slipped on her sandals. She then ran out of the cabin, and down the path to the equipment shed. She hoped Shelby and her group were still there.
She arrived to find only Jeff. "Hi Jessica," he greeted her merrily. "Something wrong?"
"No. I was just going to say goodbye to Shelby is all," She forced a smile. "Need any help?"
"No thanks, I've got it," he replied. "You go and relax, you deserve a break."
"Thanks."
Sorry it's short...