Chapter 26 Betrayal, Understanding, Changed Mind
The Cliffhangers and Grizzly Bears are all sitting out by the Gazebo. Jeff and Tricia, A Grizzly-Bears counselor, hold in their hand eggs.
"This is a project to teach you about the consequences about having sex." Some of the students laugh. "These eggs represent your children."
"Where are the rest of the Cliffhangers?" Jesse asks looking around for her sister, Shelby.
"The ones who have already done this project are not required to do it again."
Jeff and Tricia begin to hand out the assignments and explanations to each group. They come to Taylor and Adam (Grizzly-Bear Boy).
"Taylor and Adam, you two are married with three children, a set of twins and a little boy. Plus you have one on the way. Both of you have well paying jobs and a combined salary of 100 thousand a year."
"Sweet." Adam takes two eggs from Tricia.
Jeff goes to hand Taylor the other egg. Taylor refuses to take it.
"You need to take an egg and participate Taylor."
"I'm not doing this. It's stupid."
"Then you will fail." Jeff lays an egg beside Taylor.
"Then I fail." Taylor puts her foot down on the egg and it breaks.
"You just killed our son."
"Shut up." Taylor's death look makes Adam quickly shut his mouth.
"To Peter's office now."
Taylor stands and Jeff escorts her to the administration building.
*********
Administration Building
Peter is sitting behind his desk; Sophie is in the chair in front of him.
"We had to report it Sophie, we are bound by law." Peter looks at his watch. "Where is she now?"
"She should be with Jeff and the Grizzly-Bears. They are doing that project with the eggs as children." Sophie grabs a piece of paper off Peter's desk. "Peter, she'll run. When she does, we may never find her again."
"Then maybe this isn't the place for her." Peter let's out a sigh of disappointment.
"You don't really believe that. . .do you?" Sophie questioning look makes Peter take a deep breath.
"I've never seen anyone resist help as much as she does. Even Shelby had the strength to eventually talk and now Walter's in jail. There's obviously more going on then what she's telling. I don't know if we are equipped to handle her."
"Peter, everyone has given up on her. I do not want to be a name on that long list she has."
Outside there is some yelling. Jeff drags Taylor into Peter's office.
"Gets your grubby hands off me."
"What's going on here?" Both Peter and Sophie stand.
"She has been disruptive in class. She refused to do the Family project and broke one of her eggs. I have tried everything."
"Thank you Jeff." Jeff leaves Taylor standing by the door. "Sit down Alexandra." Peter's angry stern tone even shocks Sophie. Taylor doesn't fight but sits down, Sophie sits next to her. "What's going on?"
"Jeff's the one with the problem. He needs Midol or something."
"Don't play games Taylor, Jeff isn't the only one with complaints about you not doing your school work."
"I want to go to public school. I don't belong with these half ass bunch of people."
"You're not ready for public school. At the rate you're going, you'll be repeating the 9th grade, for a the third time." Peter pulls out a file and begins to look over it.
"Third times a charm." Taylor smiles.
Taylor sits back and begins to look at Peter and Sophie. Since being on the streets, she has learned to read people well. Taylor takes one look at Sophie's face and knows that she has told Peter.
"You Bitch." Taylor yells at Sophie.
"Excuse me?"
"You told."
"I had too." Sophie protests, trying to get Taylor to understand.
"No you didn't." Taylor stands and quickly runs out of the room.
Peter and Sophie bolt out of their chairs and follow her.
*********
Cliffhanger's Girls Dorm
Shelby and Daisy are sitting on Daisy's bed. Daisy has her tarot cards out doing another reading.
"So when are you leaving for college?"
"This summer." Daisy lays down another card. "What are you going to do after graduation?" Daisy lays another card.
"I don't know. Peter and Sophie are pushing this college thing." Shelby looks down at the cards.
"You should go." Shelby gives Daisy a come on look. "Well at least don't shut that door all the way. What's Scott going to do?"
"Going to try out for a football scholarship. He's pretty much open to whatever school will take him."
"Are you going to follow him?" Daisy bats her eyes and lays down another card.
"I don't know."
Their conversation is interrupted when Taylor comes busting into the dorm angrily. She goes over to her bed and pulls out her backpack. She begins to shove clothes into the bag. Daisy and Shelby stop to watch Taylor pack.
"Going somewhere?" Shelby asks sarcastically.
"Outta here."
"I can see that." Shelby gets up and walks over to Taylor's bed. "Why?"
"Because she told."
"What?" Shelby asks not really getting it.
"No time, need to leave now."
"Tell me." Shelby grabs hold of Taylor's arms.
"Sophie told Peter, Peter's going to tell Child Protective. I need to be gone. . ."
"Why?" Shelby challenges trying to get into the way of Taylor packing. By this time, Sophie and Peter come running into the girl's dorm.
"I don't have time to sit and talk, I need to get going." Taylor throws the rest of the clothes that wouldn't fit back on the bed. "Take what you want, I got all I need." She goes to leave, but Shelby pulls her back by grabbing the backpack. "What are you doing?"
"Stopping you from making a big mistake." Taylor drops her backpack and turns to Shelby. "You're stupid if you run from this place." Shelby gets into the Taylor's face. "They want you here, nobody else wanted you, they took you in. Stop fighting the people who care."
"Nobodies going to want me after they find out what I've done." Taylor yells back. Daisy begins to laugh. "What's so funny?"
"Do you forget where you are?" Daisy gets up to stand by Shelby. "You're not standing in a room full of saints."
"Don't you get it, whatever it is you're running from isn't going to be left here. It's going to follow you no matter how many times you run." Shelby looks compassionately into Taylor's eyes. "Trust me, I know."
"It'll bite you in the ass no matter where you go." Daisy puts it in her own words.
Peter goes to approach Taylor, but Sophie stops him.
"I got this one Peter."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Sophie goes over and sits on the bed in front of Taylor. She motions for Daisy and Shelby to leave, giving them a pride filled smile. Daisy and Shelby leave and Peter follows them outside.
"I am so proud of the two of you." Peter puts his arms around the two girls.
"Does this mean we get a night out on the town." Shelby brings it up.
"Don't push it. Your still suppose to be on shuns. Don't think I don't know that you and Daisy were talking."
*********
Girls Dorm
Sophie stands over Taylor.
"I'll give you five minutes to get some sweats on and meet me outside."
"What?"
"Five."
Sophie goes out and sits down on the porch. Two minutes later, Taylor comes out wearing sports gear.
"Keep up."
Sophie takes off running. Taylor's curiosity gets the best of her and she takes off after Sophie. Soon the two are running at the same pace on the trails around the campus. Taylor is keeping up even with the pain in her knee. The curiosity of where Sophie is taking her has taken over her mind. They soon arrive at Sophie & Peter's home. Sophie stops at the punching bag and picks up the gloves on the bench.
"Heads up." Sophie throws the gloves to Taylor. Taylor was not ready for the gloves, but quickness counts and she catches them. "Nice catch. How's the knee?"
"Still walking."
"I'm assuming you know how to use this?" Sophie hits the bag lightly.
Taylor gets a sly smile on her face. She drops the gloves and begins to hit the bag. At first she starts out slowly, but with each intense memory the punches become harder. Taylor then starts to pull some kicks out. She does a round house and smacks the bag right in the center. Sophie has to stand back by the door so she won't get hit. Taylor's knuckles soon begin to bleed from the speed and hardness of the punches. Sophie stands back a little amazed at the power that Taylor has the athletic ability she is displaying. After five minutes of this, Taylor stops.
"Feel better?" Sophie goes over to a fridge they had installed. She pulls out two ice packs.
"Yeah" Taylor holds her hands out and allows Sophie to put the ice packs her knuckles.
"Please put these on now." Sophie helps Taylor to lace up the gloves.
"What's your story?" Taylor asks hesitantly going back to punching the bag.
"What do you mean?"
"Why did you take me in? Was it because my father paid you too?" Taylor hits the bag a little harder.
"He tried. . .Peter and I turned down the money."
"You did?" Taylor stops her punching and looks at Sophie. "He told me that was the only way he could get ya'll to take me."
"And you believed him?"
"A little." Taylor shrugs her shoulders and begins to punch the bag again.
The only sound that can be heard for a few minutes is Taylor hitting the bag.
"So why did you take us, Shelby, Jess and me? Don't you and Peter want children of your own?"
"Because the three of you have already been crapped on in life. None of you should've had to go through what you did. All of you had to grow up at such a young age. None of what happened is you fault. Plus," Sophie takes a deep breath and lightly punches the bag. "I can't have children."
"I'm sorry," Taylor stops again.
"It's okay."
"You make me feel so ashamed." Taylor focuses on the bag again.
"Why?"
"Because I got rid of mine." Taylor begins to get into a rhythm of hard punches.
"Oh Taylor. . ."
"I didn't even know who the father was. I felt so dirty, embarrassed and ashamed. So I decided to run. I've been running ever since." Taylor's punches begin to slow down, as she gets frustrated with herself.
"Aren't you tired of running?" Sophie gently puts her hand on Taylor's shoulder. "Your past maybe full of spots, but your future is spotless."
"Did you get that from a fortune cookie?"
"No." Sophie smiles. "I saw it on a billboard once." Taylor let's out a slight laugh. "Will you stay? Work things out?"
"I can give it a try."
"That's all I'm asking."
"Okay."
"I feel like I need a hug, Can I give you a hug?"
"Sure."
Sophie hugs Taylor and then stands back smiling.
"Last one back to campus has to do kitchen duty."
Sophie takes off and Taylor runs behind her.
*********
The Cliffhangers and Grizzly Bears are all sitting out by the Gazebo. Jeff and Tricia, A Grizzly-Bears counselor, hold in their hand eggs.
"This is a project to teach you about the consequences about having sex." Some of the students laugh. "These eggs represent your children."
"Where are the rest of the Cliffhangers?" Jesse asks looking around for her sister, Shelby.
"The ones who have already done this project are not required to do it again."
Jeff and Tricia begin to hand out the assignments and explanations to each group. They come to Taylor and Adam (Grizzly-Bear Boy).
"Taylor and Adam, you two are married with three children, a set of twins and a little boy. Plus you have one on the way. Both of you have well paying jobs and a combined salary of 100 thousand a year."
"Sweet." Adam takes two eggs from Tricia.
Jeff goes to hand Taylor the other egg. Taylor refuses to take it.
"You need to take an egg and participate Taylor."
"I'm not doing this. It's stupid."
"Then you will fail." Jeff lays an egg beside Taylor.
"Then I fail." Taylor puts her foot down on the egg and it breaks.
"You just killed our son."
"Shut up." Taylor's death look makes Adam quickly shut his mouth.
"To Peter's office now."
Taylor stands and Jeff escorts her to the administration building.
*********
Administration Building
Peter is sitting behind his desk; Sophie is in the chair in front of him.
"We had to report it Sophie, we are bound by law." Peter looks at his watch. "Where is she now?"
"She should be with Jeff and the Grizzly-Bears. They are doing that project with the eggs as children." Sophie grabs a piece of paper off Peter's desk. "Peter, she'll run. When she does, we may never find her again."
"Then maybe this isn't the place for her." Peter let's out a sigh of disappointment.
"You don't really believe that. . .do you?" Sophie questioning look makes Peter take a deep breath.
"I've never seen anyone resist help as much as she does. Even Shelby had the strength to eventually talk and now Walter's in jail. There's obviously more going on then what she's telling. I don't know if we are equipped to handle her."
"Peter, everyone has given up on her. I do not want to be a name on that long list she has."
Outside there is some yelling. Jeff drags Taylor into Peter's office.
"Gets your grubby hands off me."
"What's going on here?" Both Peter and Sophie stand.
"She has been disruptive in class. She refused to do the Family project and broke one of her eggs. I have tried everything."
"Thank you Jeff." Jeff leaves Taylor standing by the door. "Sit down Alexandra." Peter's angry stern tone even shocks Sophie. Taylor doesn't fight but sits down, Sophie sits next to her. "What's going on?"
"Jeff's the one with the problem. He needs Midol or something."
"Don't play games Taylor, Jeff isn't the only one with complaints about you not doing your school work."
"I want to go to public school. I don't belong with these half ass bunch of people."
"You're not ready for public school. At the rate you're going, you'll be repeating the 9th grade, for a the third time." Peter pulls out a file and begins to look over it.
"Third times a charm." Taylor smiles.
Taylor sits back and begins to look at Peter and Sophie. Since being on the streets, she has learned to read people well. Taylor takes one look at Sophie's face and knows that she has told Peter.
"You Bitch." Taylor yells at Sophie.
"Excuse me?"
"You told."
"I had too." Sophie protests, trying to get Taylor to understand.
"No you didn't." Taylor stands and quickly runs out of the room.
Peter and Sophie bolt out of their chairs and follow her.
*********
Cliffhanger's Girls Dorm
Shelby and Daisy are sitting on Daisy's bed. Daisy has her tarot cards out doing another reading.
"So when are you leaving for college?"
"This summer." Daisy lays down another card. "What are you going to do after graduation?" Daisy lays another card.
"I don't know. Peter and Sophie are pushing this college thing." Shelby looks down at the cards.
"You should go." Shelby gives Daisy a come on look. "Well at least don't shut that door all the way. What's Scott going to do?"
"Going to try out for a football scholarship. He's pretty much open to whatever school will take him."
"Are you going to follow him?" Daisy bats her eyes and lays down another card.
"I don't know."
Their conversation is interrupted when Taylor comes busting into the dorm angrily. She goes over to her bed and pulls out her backpack. She begins to shove clothes into the bag. Daisy and Shelby stop to watch Taylor pack.
"Going somewhere?" Shelby asks sarcastically.
"Outta here."
"I can see that." Shelby gets up and walks over to Taylor's bed. "Why?"
"Because she told."
"What?" Shelby asks not really getting it.
"No time, need to leave now."
"Tell me." Shelby grabs hold of Taylor's arms.
"Sophie told Peter, Peter's going to tell Child Protective. I need to be gone. . ."
"Why?" Shelby challenges trying to get into the way of Taylor packing. By this time, Sophie and Peter come running into the girl's dorm.
"I don't have time to sit and talk, I need to get going." Taylor throws the rest of the clothes that wouldn't fit back on the bed. "Take what you want, I got all I need." She goes to leave, but Shelby pulls her back by grabbing the backpack. "What are you doing?"
"Stopping you from making a big mistake." Taylor drops her backpack and turns to Shelby. "You're stupid if you run from this place." Shelby gets into the Taylor's face. "They want you here, nobody else wanted you, they took you in. Stop fighting the people who care."
"Nobodies going to want me after they find out what I've done." Taylor yells back. Daisy begins to laugh. "What's so funny?"
"Do you forget where you are?" Daisy gets up to stand by Shelby. "You're not standing in a room full of saints."
"Don't you get it, whatever it is you're running from isn't going to be left here. It's going to follow you no matter how many times you run." Shelby looks compassionately into Taylor's eyes. "Trust me, I know."
"It'll bite you in the ass no matter where you go." Daisy puts it in her own words.
Peter goes to approach Taylor, but Sophie stops him.
"I got this one Peter."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Sophie goes over and sits on the bed in front of Taylor. She motions for Daisy and Shelby to leave, giving them a pride filled smile. Daisy and Shelby leave and Peter follows them outside.
"I am so proud of the two of you." Peter puts his arms around the two girls.
"Does this mean we get a night out on the town." Shelby brings it up.
"Don't push it. Your still suppose to be on shuns. Don't think I don't know that you and Daisy were talking."
*********
Girls Dorm
Sophie stands over Taylor.
"I'll give you five minutes to get some sweats on and meet me outside."
"What?"
"Five."
Sophie goes out and sits down on the porch. Two minutes later, Taylor comes out wearing sports gear.
"Keep up."
Sophie takes off running. Taylor's curiosity gets the best of her and she takes off after Sophie. Soon the two are running at the same pace on the trails around the campus. Taylor is keeping up even with the pain in her knee. The curiosity of where Sophie is taking her has taken over her mind. They soon arrive at Sophie & Peter's home. Sophie stops at the punching bag and picks up the gloves on the bench.
"Heads up." Sophie throws the gloves to Taylor. Taylor was not ready for the gloves, but quickness counts and she catches them. "Nice catch. How's the knee?"
"Still walking."
"I'm assuming you know how to use this?" Sophie hits the bag lightly.
Taylor gets a sly smile on her face. She drops the gloves and begins to hit the bag. At first she starts out slowly, but with each intense memory the punches become harder. Taylor then starts to pull some kicks out. She does a round house and smacks the bag right in the center. Sophie has to stand back by the door so she won't get hit. Taylor's knuckles soon begin to bleed from the speed and hardness of the punches. Sophie stands back a little amazed at the power that Taylor has the athletic ability she is displaying. After five minutes of this, Taylor stops.
"Feel better?" Sophie goes over to a fridge they had installed. She pulls out two ice packs.
"Yeah" Taylor holds her hands out and allows Sophie to put the ice packs her knuckles.
"Please put these on now." Sophie helps Taylor to lace up the gloves.
"What's your story?" Taylor asks hesitantly going back to punching the bag.
"What do you mean?"
"Why did you take me in? Was it because my father paid you too?" Taylor hits the bag a little harder.
"He tried. . .Peter and I turned down the money."
"You did?" Taylor stops her punching and looks at Sophie. "He told me that was the only way he could get ya'll to take me."
"And you believed him?"
"A little." Taylor shrugs her shoulders and begins to punch the bag again.
The only sound that can be heard for a few minutes is Taylor hitting the bag.
"So why did you take us, Shelby, Jess and me? Don't you and Peter want children of your own?"
"Because the three of you have already been crapped on in life. None of you should've had to go through what you did. All of you had to grow up at such a young age. None of what happened is you fault. Plus," Sophie takes a deep breath and lightly punches the bag. "I can't have children."
"I'm sorry," Taylor stops again.
"It's okay."
"You make me feel so ashamed." Taylor focuses on the bag again.
"Why?"
"Because I got rid of mine." Taylor begins to get into a rhythm of hard punches.
"Oh Taylor. . ."
"I didn't even know who the father was. I felt so dirty, embarrassed and ashamed. So I decided to run. I've been running ever since." Taylor's punches begin to slow down, as she gets frustrated with herself.
"Aren't you tired of running?" Sophie gently puts her hand on Taylor's shoulder. "Your past maybe full of spots, but your future is spotless."
"Did you get that from a fortune cookie?"
"No." Sophie smiles. "I saw it on a billboard once." Taylor let's out a slight laugh. "Will you stay? Work things out?"
"I can give it a try."
"That's all I'm asking."
"Okay."
"I feel like I need a hug, Can I give you a hug?"
"Sure."
Sophie hugs Taylor and then stands back smiling.
"Last one back to campus has to do kitchen duty."
Sophie takes off and Taylor runs behind her.
*********