Authors' note: This is going to be longer than planned. I'm getting the
middle stuff written. I've had the beginning and ending written, just not
how to get from point A to point B. Oh and for everyone whose wondering if
Shelby and Scott are going to break up, it's not gonna happen. Like one
reviewer said, it's been done a thousand times. That's not what I'm
intending to happen at all. Alexandra isn't interested in Scott in the
boyfriend way and this is not a slash story. Other things are going to
happen. Scott just has some issues that will come out later on, as to why
he's acting like an ass. I just haven't gotten to get Scott's issues from
my head to paper quite yet.
Chapter 5 To speak or not to speak
Sophie, Shelby, Daisy & Jules are all sitting around the fire. Off a little ways is the newsier, Alexandra. Sophie keeps glancing over in the direction of Alexandra with a real worried look on her face.
"Alexandra, why don't you come over by the fire." Sophie says in a more of a command tone than a question. "We're going to start group now."
Alexandra reluctantly gets up and walks over towards the fire. She takes a seat not by anyone.
"Peter sent up some journals in your backpacks. So if you would please get out these journals." Each girl opens their backpack and pulls out a journal along with a pen. "He has personalized these journals with questions at the top of the pages pertaining only to you. He would like you to answer them as honestly and openly. Peter and I will be the only ones that see the journals and your answers. It would be like a personal conversation between the three of us."
The girls begin their journaling. Alexandra opens up the front page. The question that Peter wrote for her on the first page is: 'why are you really here? I know what your father says, but what's you view point?' Alexandra not really satisfied with that question turns to the next page. The question at the top of this page is: 'what happened for you to get kicked out of all those boarding schools? What truly is the driving force behind your behavior? What are you trying to prove and who are you trying to control?' Alexandra turns a few more pages and finds some more questions. 'Why are you so angry? Why do you let this anger overcome you? What did you do out on the streets? What really happened with you and sports?' Alexandra turns to the final question 'What are you running from?' Alexandra stares at the question for a few minutes. She then stands up
"Bullshit!"
"So you can speak. . . Alexandra we don't swear here." Sophie informs remaining calm.
"I'm not doing it." Alexandra's tone is full of defiance and stubbornness. She throws the journal into the fire. Everyone looks at her like she's committed the greatest sin. Meanwhile the journal catches fire and goes up in a blaze.
"It's your lucky day." Sophie then pulls out another journal. "I've got a back up journal."
"Tshh, you've gotta be kidding me." Alexandra laughs.
"No I'm not." Sophie tries to hand it to Alexandra.
"And if I throw this one in the fire?" Alexandra just looks at the journal.
"I've got more back at the school." Sophie matches Alexandra's stubbornness.
"I'm not doing it." Alexandra sits back down not taking the journal.
"Okay, I'm not going to make you." Sophie sits back down and puts the journal back in her backpack. "Remember what Peter told you. . .for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
"I think I can handle whatever consequences this place throws my way."
Shelby starts to laugh. Sophie and Alexandra throw her the same look.
"Okay girls, enough with the writing." Sophie pulls out a stick. "Alexandra, we pass this around to each other. Whoever holds the stick, has the floor. Let's go around the circle and introduce ourselves and why we are here." Sophie hands the stick to Jules.
"I'm Juliette and I'm here for cutting and bulimia." Juliette passes the stick to Daisy.
"I'm Daisy and I'm here because I clubbed my father with a golf club."
"And you let her hold the stick." Alexandra says laughing. "I feel real safe now." Sophie gives her a look and Alexandra stops. Daisy passes the stick to Shelby.
"I'm Shelby and I'm here because of abuse." Shelby quickly tosses the stick towards Alexandra. It falls to the ground. Alexandra picks up the stick and looks at Shelby.
"Anytime you wanna a go at it, skank." Alexandra challenges Shelby.
Shelby quickly gets to her feet. Alexandra stands ready for Shelby. Daisy stands and gets in front of Shelby. Sophie stands in front of Alexandra.
"Get out of my way Daisy." Shelby warns.
"No" Daisy folds her arms and stands in front of Shelby.
"Sit down Alexandra." Sophie commands.
"Your not worth it trailer trash." Alexandra takes her seat.
"Bitch." Shelby sits down with the help of Sophie and Daisy.
"Please, is that the best you can do?" Alexandra mocks. "I was called that last week."
"Finish up" Sophie takes the stick and hands it to Alexandra.
"By the way losers, I go by Taylor, not Alexandra." Taylor begins to twirl the stick.
"Why are you here?" Sophie asks.
"None of ya'lls business."
"What did daddy make you mad by cutting off your allowance?" Shelby mutters underneath her breath.
"Look I'll give you that one, but don't look for anymore charities." Alexandra points the stick towards Shelby and brushes off Shelby's mutter.
"Okay, you know what, it's time to go back." Sophie takes the stick from Alexandra. "You with me." Sophie tells Alexandra. Sophie walks over to Shelby and Daisy. "You three can start back. Daisy, please keep Shelby with you. We'll be right behind you."
"Will do." Daisy says.
Juliette, Daisy and Shelby begin to walk back the same direction that they came.
"Help me put out the fire." Sophie says to Alexandra handing her a bucket of water. Alexandra puts the water on the fire. Sophie then puts sand over the water. Sophie smothers the sand around making sure the fires out. Then the two follow behind the three.
* * * Peter's office. Half an hour before curfew.
Peter is sitting at his desk. Sophie is sitting in the chair next to him. In front of him sit Shelby and Alexandra Taylor.
"What is it with you two?" Peter asks a bit disappointed. He gives the biggest disappointed look when he glances at Shelby. Shelby lowers her head. "You know, you two are going to be buddies for the week, so I suggest that whatever is between you two. Get over it. I think I know exactly what will help you two get over it. Tomorrow you are going to start a two day buddy hike back."
"A what?"
"No Peter." Shelby shakes her head.
"A buddy hike back is where you two will be tied together and have to hike your way back. You'll have to find your own food, set up your own camp and find your own way back. Sophie will follow behind you only to help when necessary."
"Ya'll are really nuts up here you know that." Taylor protests.
"Shelby, you may leave. Taylor, I still have something I need to talk to you about."
Shelby leaves. Taylor remains seated. Peter takes a deep breath and pulls out another journal. He lays it on the desk.
"Sophie tells me that you refused to do the journal assignment. As a matter of fact, she told me that you threw your journal into the fire." Taylor laughs at that. "Well, here is another journal." Taylor goes to say something and Peter cuts her off. "Before you say anything let me tell you. You will not be allowed to join the other students or have privileges until you do the assignment.
"Ya'll are relentless."
"We can be just as stubborn as you." Peter pushes the journal more towards Taylor. Taylor takes it. "We want to help you Taylor," Peter gets a softer tone to his voice. Taylor doesn't reply. Peter looks at his watch. "but we can only do that if you allow us too. Now, go back to the dorm, it's time for curfew."
Taylor gets up carrying the journal. Peter looks at Sophie and smiles. Sophie stands and sits on Peter's lap.
"I think I liked it better when she didn't talk." Sophie lays her head on his shoulder.
"I know what your saying."
"Are you sending them out to kill each other?" Sophie asks.
"I'm not sending you out alone. I'll join you when I get things settled down here. If I can't join you then I'll send Roger or another counselor."
Sophie kisses him and then stands.
"I better get to bed, it's going to be a long day these next two days."
"I'll do curfew check on the boys, you get the girls?"
The two stand and grab two flashlights that are sitting on the desk. They head outside to do their rounds.
Meanwhile at the girls dorm.
Taylor is lying on top of her sheets. Daisy and Jules are asleep. Shelby is wide-awake as well. Taylor sits up in her bed. She puts her shoes on. Shelby sees her and sits up as well.
"Where are you going?"
"What do you care?"
"I don't."
"Look, I don't know you. I don't want to get to know you. I don't want to get to know your issues. So just let me be."
Taylor finishes putting on her shoes. She gets up and looks out the window. Seeing no one in sight, she sneaks out the door. Shelby just lays back down and stares at the ceiling. She is unable to sleep for fear of what she'll see when she closes her eyes.
Chapter 5 To speak or not to speak
Sophie, Shelby, Daisy & Jules are all sitting around the fire. Off a little ways is the newsier, Alexandra. Sophie keeps glancing over in the direction of Alexandra with a real worried look on her face.
"Alexandra, why don't you come over by the fire." Sophie says in a more of a command tone than a question. "We're going to start group now."
Alexandra reluctantly gets up and walks over towards the fire. She takes a seat not by anyone.
"Peter sent up some journals in your backpacks. So if you would please get out these journals." Each girl opens their backpack and pulls out a journal along with a pen. "He has personalized these journals with questions at the top of the pages pertaining only to you. He would like you to answer them as honestly and openly. Peter and I will be the only ones that see the journals and your answers. It would be like a personal conversation between the three of us."
The girls begin their journaling. Alexandra opens up the front page. The question that Peter wrote for her on the first page is: 'why are you really here? I know what your father says, but what's you view point?' Alexandra not really satisfied with that question turns to the next page. The question at the top of this page is: 'what happened for you to get kicked out of all those boarding schools? What truly is the driving force behind your behavior? What are you trying to prove and who are you trying to control?' Alexandra turns a few more pages and finds some more questions. 'Why are you so angry? Why do you let this anger overcome you? What did you do out on the streets? What really happened with you and sports?' Alexandra turns to the final question 'What are you running from?' Alexandra stares at the question for a few minutes. She then stands up
"Bullshit!"
"So you can speak. . . Alexandra we don't swear here." Sophie informs remaining calm.
"I'm not doing it." Alexandra's tone is full of defiance and stubbornness. She throws the journal into the fire. Everyone looks at her like she's committed the greatest sin. Meanwhile the journal catches fire and goes up in a blaze.
"It's your lucky day." Sophie then pulls out another journal. "I've got a back up journal."
"Tshh, you've gotta be kidding me." Alexandra laughs.
"No I'm not." Sophie tries to hand it to Alexandra.
"And if I throw this one in the fire?" Alexandra just looks at the journal.
"I've got more back at the school." Sophie matches Alexandra's stubbornness.
"I'm not doing it." Alexandra sits back down not taking the journal.
"Okay, I'm not going to make you." Sophie sits back down and puts the journal back in her backpack. "Remember what Peter told you. . .for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction."
"I think I can handle whatever consequences this place throws my way."
Shelby starts to laugh. Sophie and Alexandra throw her the same look.
"Okay girls, enough with the writing." Sophie pulls out a stick. "Alexandra, we pass this around to each other. Whoever holds the stick, has the floor. Let's go around the circle and introduce ourselves and why we are here." Sophie hands the stick to Jules.
"I'm Juliette and I'm here for cutting and bulimia." Juliette passes the stick to Daisy.
"I'm Daisy and I'm here because I clubbed my father with a golf club."
"And you let her hold the stick." Alexandra says laughing. "I feel real safe now." Sophie gives her a look and Alexandra stops. Daisy passes the stick to Shelby.
"I'm Shelby and I'm here because of abuse." Shelby quickly tosses the stick towards Alexandra. It falls to the ground. Alexandra picks up the stick and looks at Shelby.
"Anytime you wanna a go at it, skank." Alexandra challenges Shelby.
Shelby quickly gets to her feet. Alexandra stands ready for Shelby. Daisy stands and gets in front of Shelby. Sophie stands in front of Alexandra.
"Get out of my way Daisy." Shelby warns.
"No" Daisy folds her arms and stands in front of Shelby.
"Sit down Alexandra." Sophie commands.
"Your not worth it trailer trash." Alexandra takes her seat.
"Bitch." Shelby sits down with the help of Sophie and Daisy.
"Please, is that the best you can do?" Alexandra mocks. "I was called that last week."
"Finish up" Sophie takes the stick and hands it to Alexandra.
"By the way losers, I go by Taylor, not Alexandra." Taylor begins to twirl the stick.
"Why are you here?" Sophie asks.
"None of ya'lls business."
"What did daddy make you mad by cutting off your allowance?" Shelby mutters underneath her breath.
"Look I'll give you that one, but don't look for anymore charities." Alexandra points the stick towards Shelby and brushes off Shelby's mutter.
"Okay, you know what, it's time to go back." Sophie takes the stick from Alexandra. "You with me." Sophie tells Alexandra. Sophie walks over to Shelby and Daisy. "You three can start back. Daisy, please keep Shelby with you. We'll be right behind you."
"Will do." Daisy says.
Juliette, Daisy and Shelby begin to walk back the same direction that they came.
"Help me put out the fire." Sophie says to Alexandra handing her a bucket of water. Alexandra puts the water on the fire. Sophie then puts sand over the water. Sophie smothers the sand around making sure the fires out. Then the two follow behind the three.
* * * Peter's office. Half an hour before curfew.
Peter is sitting at his desk. Sophie is sitting in the chair next to him. In front of him sit Shelby and Alexandra Taylor.
"What is it with you two?" Peter asks a bit disappointed. He gives the biggest disappointed look when he glances at Shelby. Shelby lowers her head. "You know, you two are going to be buddies for the week, so I suggest that whatever is between you two. Get over it. I think I know exactly what will help you two get over it. Tomorrow you are going to start a two day buddy hike back."
"A what?"
"No Peter." Shelby shakes her head.
"A buddy hike back is where you two will be tied together and have to hike your way back. You'll have to find your own food, set up your own camp and find your own way back. Sophie will follow behind you only to help when necessary."
"Ya'll are really nuts up here you know that." Taylor protests.
"Shelby, you may leave. Taylor, I still have something I need to talk to you about."
Shelby leaves. Taylor remains seated. Peter takes a deep breath and pulls out another journal. He lays it on the desk.
"Sophie tells me that you refused to do the journal assignment. As a matter of fact, she told me that you threw your journal into the fire." Taylor laughs at that. "Well, here is another journal." Taylor goes to say something and Peter cuts her off. "Before you say anything let me tell you. You will not be allowed to join the other students or have privileges until you do the assignment.
"Ya'll are relentless."
"We can be just as stubborn as you." Peter pushes the journal more towards Taylor. Taylor takes it. "We want to help you Taylor," Peter gets a softer tone to his voice. Taylor doesn't reply. Peter looks at his watch. "but we can only do that if you allow us too. Now, go back to the dorm, it's time for curfew."
Taylor gets up carrying the journal. Peter looks at Sophie and smiles. Sophie stands and sits on Peter's lap.
"I think I liked it better when she didn't talk." Sophie lays her head on his shoulder.
"I know what your saying."
"Are you sending them out to kill each other?" Sophie asks.
"I'm not sending you out alone. I'll join you when I get things settled down here. If I can't join you then I'll send Roger or another counselor."
Sophie kisses him and then stands.
"I better get to bed, it's going to be a long day these next two days."
"I'll do curfew check on the boys, you get the girls?"
The two stand and grab two flashlights that are sitting on the desk. They head outside to do their rounds.
Meanwhile at the girls dorm.
Taylor is lying on top of her sheets. Daisy and Jules are asleep. Shelby is wide-awake as well. Taylor sits up in her bed. She puts her shoes on. Shelby sees her and sits up as well.
"Where are you going?"
"What do you care?"
"I don't."
"Look, I don't know you. I don't want to get to know you. I don't want to get to know your issues. So just let me be."
Taylor finishes putting on her shoes. She gets up and looks out the window. Seeing no one in sight, she sneaks out the door. Shelby just lays back down and stares at the ceiling. She is unable to sleep for fear of what she'll see when she closes her eyes.