NOTE: I'm not dead. I know it's been awhile since I've last updated
(atleast a while for my normal every week updates.) To be honest I've had
writers block and am unsure of which path I want to take with this story
in, I've gotten a couple of chapter 25's written, just unsure which I want
to go with. Hopefully I'll be able to settle into a path again (damn
writers block). PLUS: I'm gonna be outta state for the first two weeks in
July, so there won't be any updates for another long stretch. Sorry to
disappoint ya'll, but life and work make busy.
PSS: Look for a new character to arrive as well with in the next few chapters. He'll be one of my own, that will help bring out Scott's worst side and best side. (hopefully)
Chapter 24 Hiking to Clear the Mind
Two Weeks Later. . .
Peter and Sophie have taken the Cliffhangers out for a three-day hike. Peter is leading with Daisy and Ezra walking behind him. Following them are Scott and Shelby who are not talking, but walking side by side. Scott keeps glances at Shelby wanting to say something, but can't find the right words. Juliette is walking beside Sophie and dragging behind them is Taylor. Taylor is trying to mask the fact that she is in great pain with her knee. However, Sophie glances back when Taylor's not really focused and sees the grimacing pain on her face. Sophie also notices that Taylor is limping and favoring her left knee.
"Okay, well stop here and rest for fifteen." Peter yells as they come into a clearing.
All the Cliffhangers drop their bags and welcome the rest. Sophie approaches Peter and pulls him aside. Taylor sits away from the group.
"I've been watching Taylor and she's in pain."
"Has she said anything?" Peter looks at Taylor sitting under a tree holding her knee.
"No, she's to stubborn to say anything. . .like someone else I know." She playfully nudges Peter's arm and he gives her a smile.
Peter goes over to Taylor and bends down.
"Let me see your knee."
"No."
"Taylor." Peter says in a concerned tone.
"Peter." Taylor mocks back. Taylor stands up slowly and limbs to a place further away from the group. Shelby just rolls her eyes watching her.
"You know, this tough girl act is getting old." Shelby says under her breath but purposely loud enough for Taylor and other's to hear. Taylor spins around and glares at Shelby. "We're all sick and tired of your attitude, so why don't you just. . ."
"Shelby." Peter warns.
"What you want to do compare notes?" Taylor spits out.
"Stop it you two." Juliette yells.
"Shut up twig." Shelby and Taylor yell at the same time.
"That's enough." Sophie steps in front of Taylor.
"What you gonna do? Ground us?" Taylor challenges.
"Worse." Peter steps forward. "You two are on shuns for a week. It starts when we get back."
Shelby sits back down on the log. Scott sits next to her.
"Why won't you talk to me?" Scott pleads.
"I'm on shuns." Shelby replies.
"Not until we get back."
"There's nothing to talk about Scott." Shelby says annoyed.
"What do you mean there's nothing? What happened when you left?"
"Scott, I don't want to talk. Can't you get that through your head."
Scott stands dejected and goes and sits by Juliette. Peter and Sophie walk a little ways away from camp.
"Have either of them talked?"
"Not about the abuse."
Peter looks over at Taylor, who is holding her knee. Then he glances at Shelby who has her head in her hands, staring at the ground.
"Every time I feel we get somewhere with those two, something happens that makes us take twenty steps back from the few we made."
"Yep" Peter agrees watching Scott with Juliette. "Everyone has no idea how to handle this."
******* Later that night the group is sitting at the campfire. They've decided to start telling 'Urban Legends'. Ezra just finished up the story of the babysitter and the man in the house.
"It's true, it happened to a friend of a friend."
"A friend of a friend eh? That's why it's called a myth Ezra." Everyone laughs. Peter looks at his watch. "Sorry gang, but it's time to get some sleep. Juliette, Daisy and Shelby can share a tent over there. Sophie and Taylor share a tent there. Ezra and Scott can share a tent there, points to the tent that is the furthest from camp. I'll be staying there, points to a tent that is in between Ezra's and Scott's and the girl's tent. Taylor is the only one who is not going to their perspective areas. Sophie lays a hand on Peter's shoulder and gives a look that she'll take care of it. Peter follows the boys to their tents. Shelby and Juliette have gone to theirs.
"Why are you and Taylor always fighting?" Juliette looks at Shelby curiously. Shelby doesn't say anything. "I asked. . ."
"I heard you and I'm ignoring you."
"Must be hard to be attached to an enemy?" Daisy puts in her wise words. Shelby glances at her questioning. "There is a saying that the people who we don't like and are our enemies are the one's that reflect what we do not like about ourselves." Daisy says looking into Shelby's eyes. "So what's eating you?" Shelby looks out of the tent doorway. She sees Sophie and Taylor sitting at the fire still. "Is the stubbornness eating away at you? Keep it bottled up longer and you won't recognize yourself."
"Why can't she just tell?" Shelby gets frustrated.
"Tell what?" Shelby just continues to look out at the fire. "Why can't you tell?" Compassion fills Daisy's question.
"Because it's not my place. If she tells then I feel I can tell."
*********
PSS: Look for a new character to arrive as well with in the next few chapters. He'll be one of my own, that will help bring out Scott's worst side and best side. (hopefully)
Chapter 24 Hiking to Clear the Mind
Two Weeks Later. . .
Peter and Sophie have taken the Cliffhangers out for a three-day hike. Peter is leading with Daisy and Ezra walking behind him. Following them are Scott and Shelby who are not talking, but walking side by side. Scott keeps glances at Shelby wanting to say something, but can't find the right words. Juliette is walking beside Sophie and dragging behind them is Taylor. Taylor is trying to mask the fact that she is in great pain with her knee. However, Sophie glances back when Taylor's not really focused and sees the grimacing pain on her face. Sophie also notices that Taylor is limping and favoring her left knee.
"Okay, well stop here and rest for fifteen." Peter yells as they come into a clearing.
All the Cliffhangers drop their bags and welcome the rest. Sophie approaches Peter and pulls him aside. Taylor sits away from the group.
"I've been watching Taylor and she's in pain."
"Has she said anything?" Peter looks at Taylor sitting under a tree holding her knee.
"No, she's to stubborn to say anything. . .like someone else I know." She playfully nudges Peter's arm and he gives her a smile.
Peter goes over to Taylor and bends down.
"Let me see your knee."
"No."
"Taylor." Peter says in a concerned tone.
"Peter." Taylor mocks back. Taylor stands up slowly and limbs to a place further away from the group. Shelby just rolls her eyes watching her.
"You know, this tough girl act is getting old." Shelby says under her breath but purposely loud enough for Taylor and other's to hear. Taylor spins around and glares at Shelby. "We're all sick and tired of your attitude, so why don't you just. . ."
"Shelby." Peter warns.
"What you want to do compare notes?" Taylor spits out.
"Stop it you two." Juliette yells.
"Shut up twig." Shelby and Taylor yell at the same time.
"That's enough." Sophie steps in front of Taylor.
"What you gonna do? Ground us?" Taylor challenges.
"Worse." Peter steps forward. "You two are on shuns for a week. It starts when we get back."
Shelby sits back down on the log. Scott sits next to her.
"Why won't you talk to me?" Scott pleads.
"I'm on shuns." Shelby replies.
"Not until we get back."
"There's nothing to talk about Scott." Shelby says annoyed.
"What do you mean there's nothing? What happened when you left?"
"Scott, I don't want to talk. Can't you get that through your head."
Scott stands dejected and goes and sits by Juliette. Peter and Sophie walk a little ways away from camp.
"Have either of them talked?"
"Not about the abuse."
Peter looks over at Taylor, who is holding her knee. Then he glances at Shelby who has her head in her hands, staring at the ground.
"Every time I feel we get somewhere with those two, something happens that makes us take twenty steps back from the few we made."
"Yep" Peter agrees watching Scott with Juliette. "Everyone has no idea how to handle this."
******* Later that night the group is sitting at the campfire. They've decided to start telling 'Urban Legends'. Ezra just finished up the story of the babysitter and the man in the house.
"It's true, it happened to a friend of a friend."
"A friend of a friend eh? That's why it's called a myth Ezra." Everyone laughs. Peter looks at his watch. "Sorry gang, but it's time to get some sleep. Juliette, Daisy and Shelby can share a tent over there. Sophie and Taylor share a tent there. Ezra and Scott can share a tent there, points to the tent that is the furthest from camp. I'll be staying there, points to a tent that is in between Ezra's and Scott's and the girl's tent. Taylor is the only one who is not going to their perspective areas. Sophie lays a hand on Peter's shoulder and gives a look that she'll take care of it. Peter follows the boys to their tents. Shelby and Juliette have gone to theirs.
"Why are you and Taylor always fighting?" Juliette looks at Shelby curiously. Shelby doesn't say anything. "I asked. . ."
"I heard you and I'm ignoring you."
"Must be hard to be attached to an enemy?" Daisy puts in her wise words. Shelby glances at her questioning. "There is a saying that the people who we don't like and are our enemies are the one's that reflect what we do not like about ourselves." Daisy says looking into Shelby's eyes. "So what's eating you?" Shelby looks out of the tent doorway. She sees Sophie and Taylor sitting at the fire still. "Is the stubbornness eating away at you? Keep it bottled up longer and you won't recognize yourself."
"Why can't she just tell?" Shelby gets frustrated.
"Tell what?" Shelby just continues to look out at the fire. "Why can't you tell?" Compassion fills Daisy's question.
"Because it's not my place. If she tells then I feel I can tell."
*********