Hi everyone who've I let down by not updating frequently. What can I say,
life has many curves and some things just need to take a back seat.
Unfortunately for me that was my hobbies for the time. Hopefully I can
figure out an ending and get the sequel going with more of the regular
characters and not just my two taking over the story lines. My main
characters, Trey and Taylor will continue to be there.
Chapter 34 Returning
Mt. Horizon Peter's Office 6AM
Peter and Sophie are trying to catch up on mountains of paper work. Before each of them, stands three stacks of paper, about 2 feet tall. The stacks contain teacher, counselor and student evaluations, student reports and other busy paper work to keep the school a float. Sophie puts her signature at the end of a page and lays down that file. She then pulls a rather thick file (2 inches thick) off the top of the next stack. She looks at the name and then looks at her husband. Peter just glances at her above one of the papers he's working on.
"You did this on purpose?" Sophie laughingly accuses. Peter just pretends not knowing.
"Did what on purpose?" Peter goes back to signing his paper and pulling another file.
"Gave me Taylor's file." Sophie laughs opening up the file. The reason for the thickness is that Taylor had been to several private schools and thrown out, before ending up at Horizon. At Horizon many negative reports and detentions have been given to Miss McPhearson. No schoolwork has been filed since Taylor continues to refuse to do it. Sophie reads over some more recent reports (about ΒΌ of the stack) and nothing seems to surprise her. "Still defiant and disruptive in group and school. Refusing to do the school work." Sophie mutters towards Peter. "What are we going to do?"
Usually when a student is defiant and refusing to do anything (for months on end), Peter has them thrown out. But in Taylor's case, Peter and Sophie had become her guardians and therefore she is unable to leave the school. Plus, Peter would hate to give Taylor the satisfaction of being thrown out of Horizon. It appeared to be Taylor's goal and Peter's goal was to keep her at Horizon until she graduated. A goal Peter knows will stretch he and his wife's patience like no other student has before. Even Shelby did her schoolwork and both Taylor and Shelby are like two lost sisters, with their similar backgrounds and choices they have made. Shelby decided to let go and move on. Taylor on the other hand has decided to hold onto her hatred and not move on. Jess was somewhere in the middle, even though she didn't make the exact same choices as Shelby and Taylor. Peter and Sophie became Shelby and Jess's guardians as well, ever since the car accident that took their mother. Peter glances over at his calendar where the days are crossed off with a big red 'Sharpie' marker. Today's date had been circled in red and reads 'Jess returns'.
"Jess comes back today." Peter says still looking at his calendar.
"Reports say she's doing fine. She's back to learning how to cope in appropriate ways."
Jess had been sent to inpatient counseling on a suggestion from Peter's good friend and school doctor. Jess had began to cut while Shelby was dealing with her own life and troublesomes. Jess didn't know how to handle her big sister seemingly separating, so she pulled a complete 180 in her personality and began to do things that they never thought she would.
"They've also said that's she's back to always trying to be the perfect child."
Peter and Sophie's conversation is interrupted when something slams against the window. Both get up and look out the window to find Scott, Trey and Adam (a Grizzly bear student) all playing catch with a football. Adam's throw got away from him. Scott is playing wide receiver and Trey corner back. Both are giving each other a hard time, but not fighting, more like pushing each other to get better. Taylor and Shelby are standing off to the side watching. Taylor is yelling something that Peter and Sophie cannot make out. Peter and Sophie decide to go outside for a little bit and see why they are up at 6AM.
Outside.
"Come on Adam, I can throw better than that." Taylor yells rather annoyed that she is not being allowed to play.
"Girls should cheer, not play." Trey yells back still defending against Scott.
"Adam's playing." Taylor sarcastically and angrily yells back.
Adam stops and looks at Taylor. By now, Peter and Sophie have made their way out to watch for a little bit before disrupting their 'game'.
"You do it then." Adam throws the ball a little off towards Taylor. Taylor quickly moves and catches the ball.
"Thank you."
Taylor takes the ball and goes out, Adam sits out for a little. Scott and Taylor stand in a little huddle as Taylor gives Scott his route.
"Go long and at the tree, fake right and go left. The ball will be there."
Scott shakes his head and the two line up. Taylor hikes the ball and Scott takes off. Scott comes near the tree and Taylor launches a perfect spiraling ball towards where she told Scott to be. Scott fakes and goes left and the ball is right there for him. He catches it and then is tackled by Trey.
"Nice." Scott jumps up and runs back with the ball. "We should play two on two. I get Taylor." Scott tosses her the ball.
Trey looks at Taylor a bit amazed. Adam comes onto the field. Taylor makes her way over to Trey.
"Even high I can beat you." Taylor smiles and whispers to him.
"Girls should stay in the kitchen." Trey chastises.
"Excuse Me?" Taylor laughs at Trey's seriousness.
Before Trey can respond, Taylor tosses the ball back to Scott and then lines up like a receiver. Scott hikes the ball and Taylor takes off, with Trey close behind. Scott throws the ball and Taylor goes to catch it. Before the ball even reaches Taylor, Trey tackles Taylor and both end up on the ground. Trey is on top of Taylor, their faces not even an inch apart. Taylor quickly gives Trey a kiss. Adam watches with jealousy in his eyes.
"I don't date Mary Magdalene's." Trey whispers as he stands up. Taylor kicks Trey as he gets up and Trey just looks down at her.
"Alright you two." Peter and Sophie now make their presence known. "What are you all doing up so early?"
"Couldn't sleep." Shelby replies, Peter nods in understanding.
"On Christmas Vacation, scouts are still wanting to see me. Figured I'd get some practice in before then." Scott explains. "Trey is helping me."
"The rest of you?"
"I couldn't sleep either." Adam says still watching Taylor who remains on the ground staring up at the sky. "I heard them outside and decided to join in."
"Taylor?" Sophie asks looking over at her.
"Just decided I needed my daily high." Taylor laughs as she sits up.
Peter and Sophie look at each other unsure about whether to believe her or not. Sophie walks over and helps Taylor up. Sophie looks at Taylor's eyes. Taylor's eyes are a bit gazed over and dilated.
"What did you take?"
"God. . .Nothing." Taylor brushes herself off and goes to walk away. Sophie puts her hand on her shoulder. Taylor removes Sophie's hand from her shoulder. "Sophie, I didn't take anything." Taylor refuses to look Sophie in the eyes again.
"Don't the Cliffhangers have breakfast duty?" Peter asks stepping over to intervene a little. "Why don't you go wash up and get to the kitchen."
Scott, Trey and Adam all head off towards the boys dorm. Shelby and Taylor go to walk to the girl's dorm but are stopped by Peter and Sophie.
"Shelby, your sister will be here in the afternoon. Then the five of us are going to have a little meeting about things."
"Things?"
"Like where you'll be going next year and all that."
"Oh those things."
"Taylor," Peter turns his attention to the young lady, who in turn refuses to look at him. "As for you, your placement testing is going to begin after breakfast and will take all of the morning and most of the afternoon." Taylor goes to protest but Peter cuts her off. "You don't want to know what will happen if you do not complete this testing." Peter puts his hand under Taylor's chin. He forces her to look him in the eyes. Peter is looking at glazed over and dilated eyes. He says nothing. "You two wake up Juliet and Daisy for kitchen duty."
Shelby and Taylor make their way to one of the girl's dorms.
"She's taken something hasn't she?" Sophie walks up and puts her arm into Peter's arm.
"Yes, I'm not quit sure what it would be though. She seems to be functioning fine. We'll do another dorm check if necessary. I thought we got her stash the first time."
"There are ways of getting contraband into the school Peter. Remember Shelby and her cigarettes? She had deliveryman sneak them in. What if Taylor's doing the same thing?"
"We'll just have to keep an eye out on things."
"Ready to get back to that paper work?" Sophie says mockingly.
"It needs to be done before everyone leaves on Holiday."
"What fun."
Peter and Sophie make their way back to his office.
********* 9:30AM
Taylor is sitting at a table working on the math section of the test. She has a calculator out and is punching numbers when Sophie peaks in the room. Jeff is reading a book sitting in front of Taylor. He glances up and stands.
"How's she doing?" Sophie asks keeping an eye on Taylor.
"Ahead of schedule." Jeff reports. "She's doing it correctly?"
"As far as I can tell. She's working hard and getting it done quickly."
"Do you need relieved?"
"No I'm good, we'll probably be done before lunch. Check back then."
"Okay, will do."
Jeff goes back in and takes his seat. Sophie pauses a little longer before she leaves. She runs into Peter who is coming to the same room.
"I was just about to check up on them."
"Jeff says that they are moving right along and should be done before lunch." Sophie reports to her husband.
"She's really taking the test?"
"Jeff says she's been working really hard."
"No matter how hard I try, I will never understand that girl."
"You and me both." Sophie pauses before gaining enough courage to ask. "So have you decided on what we are going to do when Shelby graduates and decides not to attend college?"
"I don't know yet." Peter looks out the window of the administration building and sees his kids outside walking to class and hanging out.
"I've got a history class to get to. We'll continue this later."
Sophie and Peter exchange quick kisses and she heads out of the building.
********* 1:30PM
Shelby is sitting right outside of the administration building. Roger is late in bringing her sister, Jess, back. Peter comes out and sits down next to her.
"Roger called, they're in town and will be here in a half an hour." Peter informs Shelby. Shelby just continues to watch the driveway to the school. Shelby even begins to bite her nails. "Nervous?" Peter asks noticing Shelby's behavior.
"I just don't understand." Shelby finally responds. "How did she get. . .?" Shelby cuts herself off.
"Some things just can't be explained by anybody but that person."
Peter and Shelby sit in silence for a few minutes. Scott approaches causiously. Shelby looks up at him with tears forming in her eyes. Without any hesitation, she stands up and runs over to Scott, burying her head in his chest. Although no sobs can be heard, Shelby's shoulders give off the clue that she is crying. Scott pulls her closer to his chest and holds her lovingly and understandingly. Sophie comes out of the building and sees the two. She sits down beside Peter and grabs his hand.
"I've missed you so much." Scott whispers into Shelby's ear. "No other girl has made me feel the way you make me feel."
"I'm so. . . ."
"You don't need to apologize." Scott pulls her closer. "Just understand, I'm here . . .no matter what."
Shelby puts her arms around him and the two hold each other. A car can be seen off in the distance. Jess is about to return.
*********
Chapter 34 Returning
Mt. Horizon Peter's Office 6AM
Peter and Sophie are trying to catch up on mountains of paper work. Before each of them, stands three stacks of paper, about 2 feet tall. The stacks contain teacher, counselor and student evaluations, student reports and other busy paper work to keep the school a float. Sophie puts her signature at the end of a page and lays down that file. She then pulls a rather thick file (2 inches thick) off the top of the next stack. She looks at the name and then looks at her husband. Peter just glances at her above one of the papers he's working on.
"You did this on purpose?" Sophie laughingly accuses. Peter just pretends not knowing.
"Did what on purpose?" Peter goes back to signing his paper and pulling another file.
"Gave me Taylor's file." Sophie laughs opening up the file. The reason for the thickness is that Taylor had been to several private schools and thrown out, before ending up at Horizon. At Horizon many negative reports and detentions have been given to Miss McPhearson. No schoolwork has been filed since Taylor continues to refuse to do it. Sophie reads over some more recent reports (about ΒΌ of the stack) and nothing seems to surprise her. "Still defiant and disruptive in group and school. Refusing to do the school work." Sophie mutters towards Peter. "What are we going to do?"
Usually when a student is defiant and refusing to do anything (for months on end), Peter has them thrown out. But in Taylor's case, Peter and Sophie had become her guardians and therefore she is unable to leave the school. Plus, Peter would hate to give Taylor the satisfaction of being thrown out of Horizon. It appeared to be Taylor's goal and Peter's goal was to keep her at Horizon until she graduated. A goal Peter knows will stretch he and his wife's patience like no other student has before. Even Shelby did her schoolwork and both Taylor and Shelby are like two lost sisters, with their similar backgrounds and choices they have made. Shelby decided to let go and move on. Taylor on the other hand has decided to hold onto her hatred and not move on. Jess was somewhere in the middle, even though she didn't make the exact same choices as Shelby and Taylor. Peter and Sophie became Shelby and Jess's guardians as well, ever since the car accident that took their mother. Peter glances over at his calendar where the days are crossed off with a big red 'Sharpie' marker. Today's date had been circled in red and reads 'Jess returns'.
"Jess comes back today." Peter says still looking at his calendar.
"Reports say she's doing fine. She's back to learning how to cope in appropriate ways."
Jess had been sent to inpatient counseling on a suggestion from Peter's good friend and school doctor. Jess had began to cut while Shelby was dealing with her own life and troublesomes. Jess didn't know how to handle her big sister seemingly separating, so she pulled a complete 180 in her personality and began to do things that they never thought she would.
"They've also said that's she's back to always trying to be the perfect child."
Peter and Sophie's conversation is interrupted when something slams against the window. Both get up and look out the window to find Scott, Trey and Adam (a Grizzly bear student) all playing catch with a football. Adam's throw got away from him. Scott is playing wide receiver and Trey corner back. Both are giving each other a hard time, but not fighting, more like pushing each other to get better. Taylor and Shelby are standing off to the side watching. Taylor is yelling something that Peter and Sophie cannot make out. Peter and Sophie decide to go outside for a little bit and see why they are up at 6AM.
Outside.
"Come on Adam, I can throw better than that." Taylor yells rather annoyed that she is not being allowed to play.
"Girls should cheer, not play." Trey yells back still defending against Scott.
"Adam's playing." Taylor sarcastically and angrily yells back.
Adam stops and looks at Taylor. By now, Peter and Sophie have made their way out to watch for a little bit before disrupting their 'game'.
"You do it then." Adam throws the ball a little off towards Taylor. Taylor quickly moves and catches the ball.
"Thank you."
Taylor takes the ball and goes out, Adam sits out for a little. Scott and Taylor stand in a little huddle as Taylor gives Scott his route.
"Go long and at the tree, fake right and go left. The ball will be there."
Scott shakes his head and the two line up. Taylor hikes the ball and Scott takes off. Scott comes near the tree and Taylor launches a perfect spiraling ball towards where she told Scott to be. Scott fakes and goes left and the ball is right there for him. He catches it and then is tackled by Trey.
"Nice." Scott jumps up and runs back with the ball. "We should play two on two. I get Taylor." Scott tosses her the ball.
Trey looks at Taylor a bit amazed. Adam comes onto the field. Taylor makes her way over to Trey.
"Even high I can beat you." Taylor smiles and whispers to him.
"Girls should stay in the kitchen." Trey chastises.
"Excuse Me?" Taylor laughs at Trey's seriousness.
Before Trey can respond, Taylor tosses the ball back to Scott and then lines up like a receiver. Scott hikes the ball and Taylor takes off, with Trey close behind. Scott throws the ball and Taylor goes to catch it. Before the ball even reaches Taylor, Trey tackles Taylor and both end up on the ground. Trey is on top of Taylor, their faces not even an inch apart. Taylor quickly gives Trey a kiss. Adam watches with jealousy in his eyes.
"I don't date Mary Magdalene's." Trey whispers as he stands up. Taylor kicks Trey as he gets up and Trey just looks down at her.
"Alright you two." Peter and Sophie now make their presence known. "What are you all doing up so early?"
"Couldn't sleep." Shelby replies, Peter nods in understanding.
"On Christmas Vacation, scouts are still wanting to see me. Figured I'd get some practice in before then." Scott explains. "Trey is helping me."
"The rest of you?"
"I couldn't sleep either." Adam says still watching Taylor who remains on the ground staring up at the sky. "I heard them outside and decided to join in."
"Taylor?" Sophie asks looking over at her.
"Just decided I needed my daily high." Taylor laughs as she sits up.
Peter and Sophie look at each other unsure about whether to believe her or not. Sophie walks over and helps Taylor up. Sophie looks at Taylor's eyes. Taylor's eyes are a bit gazed over and dilated.
"What did you take?"
"God. . .Nothing." Taylor brushes herself off and goes to walk away. Sophie puts her hand on her shoulder. Taylor removes Sophie's hand from her shoulder. "Sophie, I didn't take anything." Taylor refuses to look Sophie in the eyes again.
"Don't the Cliffhangers have breakfast duty?" Peter asks stepping over to intervene a little. "Why don't you go wash up and get to the kitchen."
Scott, Trey and Adam all head off towards the boys dorm. Shelby and Taylor go to walk to the girl's dorm but are stopped by Peter and Sophie.
"Shelby, your sister will be here in the afternoon. Then the five of us are going to have a little meeting about things."
"Things?"
"Like where you'll be going next year and all that."
"Oh those things."
"Taylor," Peter turns his attention to the young lady, who in turn refuses to look at him. "As for you, your placement testing is going to begin after breakfast and will take all of the morning and most of the afternoon." Taylor goes to protest but Peter cuts her off. "You don't want to know what will happen if you do not complete this testing." Peter puts his hand under Taylor's chin. He forces her to look him in the eyes. Peter is looking at glazed over and dilated eyes. He says nothing. "You two wake up Juliet and Daisy for kitchen duty."
Shelby and Taylor make their way to one of the girl's dorms.
"She's taken something hasn't she?" Sophie walks up and puts her arm into Peter's arm.
"Yes, I'm not quit sure what it would be though. She seems to be functioning fine. We'll do another dorm check if necessary. I thought we got her stash the first time."
"There are ways of getting contraband into the school Peter. Remember Shelby and her cigarettes? She had deliveryman sneak them in. What if Taylor's doing the same thing?"
"We'll just have to keep an eye out on things."
"Ready to get back to that paper work?" Sophie says mockingly.
"It needs to be done before everyone leaves on Holiday."
"What fun."
Peter and Sophie make their way back to his office.
********* 9:30AM
Taylor is sitting at a table working on the math section of the test. She has a calculator out and is punching numbers when Sophie peaks in the room. Jeff is reading a book sitting in front of Taylor. He glances up and stands.
"How's she doing?" Sophie asks keeping an eye on Taylor.
"Ahead of schedule." Jeff reports. "She's doing it correctly?"
"As far as I can tell. She's working hard and getting it done quickly."
"Do you need relieved?"
"No I'm good, we'll probably be done before lunch. Check back then."
"Okay, will do."
Jeff goes back in and takes his seat. Sophie pauses a little longer before she leaves. She runs into Peter who is coming to the same room.
"I was just about to check up on them."
"Jeff says that they are moving right along and should be done before lunch." Sophie reports to her husband.
"She's really taking the test?"
"Jeff says she's been working really hard."
"No matter how hard I try, I will never understand that girl."
"You and me both." Sophie pauses before gaining enough courage to ask. "So have you decided on what we are going to do when Shelby graduates and decides not to attend college?"
"I don't know yet." Peter looks out the window of the administration building and sees his kids outside walking to class and hanging out.
"I've got a history class to get to. We'll continue this later."
Sophie and Peter exchange quick kisses and she heads out of the building.
********* 1:30PM
Shelby is sitting right outside of the administration building. Roger is late in bringing her sister, Jess, back. Peter comes out and sits down next to her.
"Roger called, they're in town and will be here in a half an hour." Peter informs Shelby. Shelby just continues to watch the driveway to the school. Shelby even begins to bite her nails. "Nervous?" Peter asks noticing Shelby's behavior.
"I just don't understand." Shelby finally responds. "How did she get. . .?" Shelby cuts herself off.
"Some things just can't be explained by anybody but that person."
Peter and Shelby sit in silence for a few minutes. Scott approaches causiously. Shelby looks up at him with tears forming in her eyes. Without any hesitation, she stands up and runs over to Scott, burying her head in his chest. Although no sobs can be heard, Shelby's shoulders give off the clue that she is crying. Scott pulls her closer to his chest and holds her lovingly and understandingly. Sophie comes out of the building and sees the two. She sits down beside Peter and grabs his hand.
"I've missed you so much." Scott whispers into Shelby's ear. "No other girl has made me feel the way you make me feel."
"I'm so. . . ."
"You don't need to apologize." Scott pulls her closer. "Just understand, I'm here . . .no matter what."
Shelby puts her arms around him and the two hold each other. A car can be seen off in the distance. Jess is about to return.
*********