Chapter 39 One week till Christmas Vacation

Friday

Taylor is sitting by herself outside on a rock near one of the buildings. She has a book and is reading it. Jeff and Rodger walk by her and see her reading.

"I've never seen her read?" Jeff replies looking at Rodger and back to Taylor.

"Me either." Rodger says amazed. "She's been going to classes all week.

"She may show up to class, but she doesn't participate or do her work." Jeff remarks.

"Getting her to class is a huge accomplishment in itself." Rodger reminds Jeff gently.

"When are Sophie and Peter coming back?" Jeff asks as the two continue to walk.

"Tomorrow night." Rodger replies. "They sounded rested and ready for finals week and then Christmas vacation."

"How many students are staying?"

"Including Taylor and Jess, about 15."

"It has been such a long year." Jeff isn't watching where he is going and trips over a root and falls. He tries to stand and finds he can't put any weight on his right ankle.

Rodger, Ezra, Trey and Scott run over to help Jeff up and to the infirmary. They get him there and the nurse takes care of him. Ezra, Trey and Scott leave the building.

"Go figure, a week before break and Jeff had to get hurt." Ezra says laughing.

"Expecting anything different?" Scott asks looking at Ezra.

"Nope." Ezra says with a smile.

"Are you coming with Shelby and Daisy to my house for the break?" Scott asks as the boys make their way to the dining hall.

"Can't." Ezra replies disappointed. "Parental figures are fighting over who gets me this year. Neither are letting me go any place else."

"Sorry man." Scott says opening the door for Ezra and Trey.

Juliette's eyes light up when she sees Trey enter. She runs over to talk to him.

"Where are you going on vacation?" Juliette gives Trey her flirting smile.

"I'm staying here." Trey replies.

"Oh?"

"Where are you going?"

"Home." Juliette looks down disappointed. "Peter wants a trial with my family. I'll be graduating this year and who knows where I'll be after that."

Shelby and Daisy enter the dining room. They are talking and laughing. Scott's face lights up when he sees Shelby.

"One more week." Scott says walking up to the two.

"Happy Happy Joy Joy." Daisy replies in a monotone voice. Shelby gives her a playful elbow. "Well at least I don't have to spend it with my loving father." Daisy voices sarcastically, but with a hint of relief.

"We are going to have such fun." Shelby replies. She looks over at Jess who is watching the group. Shelby walks over and puts her hand upon her sister's shoulder. Jess doesn't acknowledge she is there. "I tried to get Peter to let you come with us, but he wants you here." Shelby pleads with her younger sister. "After all that has happened, I agree with him."

"It'll be our first Christmas without mom." Jess's voice cracks as she tries to keep the tears from falling. Shelby doesn't say anything, but hugs her sister tight. Tears begin to form in her eyes. Shelby embraces her sister for about five minutes before releasing her and going to get her dinner.

Rodger and Jeff are sitting at the counselor table. Jeff has crutches lying next to him and his ankle is wrapped. They are watching all the students get their trays. Taylor enters the room and walks silently up to the trays. She picks out a piece of fruit and then leaves the building. Rodger stands up and follows her. He finds her sitting on the same rock as before, reading a book.

"Whatcha reading?" Rodger asks walking towards Taylor. Taylor does not answer him. "'Slaughter House Five' that's a good book." Rodger tries to get Taylor to even acknowledge that he's there. "Peter and Sophie are coming back tomorrow." Rodger informs Taylor.

Taylor gives him a quick glance of anger.

"Oh, so that's what's up." Rodger sits down on the edge of the rock. "You mad at them?"

Taylor doesn't answer.

"They didn't leave you." Rodger tells Taylor. "They just needed to collect themselves. It's been a draining semester." Rodger continues to talk even though Taylor pretends to ignore him. "You know, taking you, Shelby and Jess in really changed their lives."

"Well they didn't have too." Taylor finally lets out.

"That's right, they didn't have too. They could've rejected your application and left you with your father and Grant, but they didn't." Rodger takes a deep breath to calm down. "Do you know why?" Taylor looks at him with interest. "Because they actually care about what you amount to Taylor." Rodger takes another breath and continues. "They didn't try to pond you off onto another school, they knew that you could not get the education you needed here. It was a heart breaking decision for them because they like having you around." Taylor rolls her eyes at that one. Rodger laughs. "Who else is going to challenge every thing or break the rules in new and inventive ways?" Rodger gets a smirk with that comment. He lets everything he has said sink in for a minute. He stands and looks down at Taylor. "Even though you don't think it they actually give a damn and you are pushing them farther and farther away. Taylor, a person can only take so much before they crack. Peter and Sophie are human and if you continue to push, they'll crack and give up. If you continue to push people away who want to help, you let everyone who has ever hurt you win." Rodger pauses. "It's all up to you, no one else can make these choices for you. I would choose sometime soon before you push everyone away that cares about you." Rodger pauses again. "Scary isn't it?" Taylor looks at him questioningly. "To think people actually care."

Rodger leaves Taylor sitting there in silence. He goes back into the dining room and takes his seat next to Jeff.

"Where'd you go?" Jeff asks playing with his fork.

"To talk to a student." Rodger says laying a hand on Jeff's fork before someone gets stabbed.

The Next Day

Saturday

The Cliffhangers and Grizzly Bears have challenged the Ridge Runners in playing a pick up game of flag football. Rodger, Jeff and the other counselors stand in the crowd watching. Peter and Sophie pull their jeep up and quietly get out of it. They walk up and great the counselor's quietly. They stand in the crowd to watch the game.

Playing for the Cliffhangers are: Scott and Trey at wide-receiver and cornerback, Adam (Grizzly Bear) playing running back and tackle, Shelby and Daisy are playing tackles along with a few other grizzly bear boys and girls. Taylor is at the quarterback/tackle. Juliet and Jess are the cheerleaders.

Playing for the Ridge Runners are: Andrew at quarterback/tackle, Mitchell at wide-receiver/cornerback, along with a few other Ridge Runners filling in where needed.

The Cliffhangers have the ball first. They are in the huddle and Taylor calls a slant play. Scott and Trey line up at the wide receiver position. Adam is standing behind Taylor. Shelby hikes the ball to Taylor and Taylor takes a three-step drop and launches a beautiful spiral pass that Scott catches and then is able to run into the end zone untouched.

"Lucky." Mitchell who was guarding him says.

"Talent." Scott replies back talking smack.

Mitchell and Scott run back to their respective positions. Scott pulls his team together and decides on a two-point conversion play. The gang lines up in their spots and Taylor calls the play. Shelby hikes the ball and Taylor does a quick two-step drop and launches the ball to the corner of the end zone. Trey is there and catches the ball. Most of the students on the sidelines cheer for the Cliffhangers/Grizzly Bear team.

The Ridge Runners line their offense up. A quick toss by Andrew gets them near the end zone. Andrew calls a play in the red zone. He goes back to pass to Mitchell. Trey intercepts the ball and runs it half way down the yard. Everyone cheers again. Taylor and Scott pull their team together to play offense. One the first play, Taylor hands the ball off to Adam who is stopped not long after. Scott comes up with another play. The team lines up. Shelby hikes the ball. A Ridge Runner manages to get in the back line and knocks Taylor to the ground. Taylor hits the round really hard and needs help to get back up. Andrew walks up to the Ridge Runner and pushes him.

"What the hell are you doing?" Andrew walks up to Taylor. "Should you really be playing in your condition?" Andrew asks rather loudly.

"Mind your own business." Taylor turns her back on Andrew.

"This is my business." Andrew grabs a hold of Taylor's arm.

"Leave me alone." Taylor pulls her arm out of Andrew's grasp.

Andrew looks over at the sidelines to where the counselor's are standing.

"She shouldn't be playing this game!" Andrew yells loud enough for everyone to hear. "She's pregnant!"

Everyone stops what they are doing and all eyes are on Taylor. Taylor face is getting red with anger and embarrassment. The silence breaks with everyone whispering to them selves. Peter and Sophie have a disbelieving look on their faces as they look at Taylor.

Taylor takes off in a dead sprint away from everyone. Sophie takes off after Taylor.

"Welcome back." Rodger says to Peter.

"Thanks." Peter says sarcastically and takes off after Taylor.

Shelby and Daisy walk up to Andrew.

"Why do you have to be such an ass?" Shelby asks getting into Andrew's face.

"Slut!" Andrew yells at Shelby.

Scott hears this and is instantly by Shelby's side.

"Have a problem?" Scott gets right into Andrew's face.

The Ridge Runners all come up behind Andrew. The rest of the Cliffhangers with Adam and Jess come up behind Scott. Rodger and a most of the other counselors rush over before anything major happens. Jeff limps over struggling with his crutches. He gives up and decides to stand with the rest of the students on the sidelines.

"Everyone to their dorms!" Rodger yells to the Cliffhangers and Ridge Runners then to the rest of the students still standing around.

"You heard him!" Jeff doesn't move from his crutches.

"You don't want to do anything to blow your chances." Rodger reminds Scott.

"You're not worth it." Scott looks Andrew up and down and then turns and walks away hand and hand with Shelby.

"Let's get out of here." Andrew says to his buddies.

Everyone goes off towards the dorms. Counselors are getting the rest of the stragglers to where they are supposed to bed.

"That could've been bad." Jeff says to Rodger as he struggles to get use to using the crutches.

"Yes it could've. Thank goodness a break is coming up. I think everyone will benefit from this break." Rodger looks at the struggling Jeff. "As many times as you've been on those things you'd think you'd be a master at them." Rodger laughs and then looks in the direction Taylor, Sophie and Peter had gone.

Taylor has finally stopped near the school exit. She finds a rock and sits down putting her head between her hands and stares at the ground. Sophie and Peter soon join her. Sophie sits down next to Taylor on the rock.

"Is what Andrew said true?" Peter asks sounding very disappointed.

"I don't know." Taylor doesn't look at Peter and Sophie. "The test results were inconclusive."

Sophie looks up at Peter and mouths the words 'what are we going to do?'

"Taylor, you need to come back with us to the infirmary." Peter gives the order. Taylor doesn't move. "Taylor, let's go." Peter tone gives way that she shouldn't play games now.

Sophie and Taylor stand. Peter and Sophie escort Taylor back to the school and straight to the infirmary. Rodger meets them there.

"Bring Andrew to my office right now."

"Yes Peter."

Rodger takes off and heads towards the Ridge Runners dorm.

Cliffhanger Girl's Dorm

Shelby is sitting on Daisy's bed. Juliet is reading a magazine.

"Do you think she really is?" Juliet asks looking up from her magazine.

"It really wouldn't surprise me." Daisy says.

"I hope she's not." Shelby says remember her scare she had a few months ago.

"They've probably taking her to the infirmary and going to give her a test." Daisy says standing up and looking out the window.

"What is going to happen to her? Peter and Sophie are her legal guardians." Shelby asks no one in particular.

"They'll probably kick her out and send her some place else." Juliet replies to the question.

"That will defiantly scare her again." Daisy says. "She's been pushed from school to school."

"Some people just don't want help." Shelby says worried.

"Taylor's defiantly one that doesn't accept it without fear." Daisy agrees with Shelby.

"I like her." Juliet says out of the blue. "Even though she's really screwed up, she's just easy to like."

"I like her too." Daisy laughs. "She has this little fire in her and when she laughs, which is a rarity, her laugh is so contagious."

"We had our problems, but she's so like me." Shelby says standing and looking out the window that has the view of the infirmary. "She's still at that point where she thinks she's worthless." Shelby sits down on her bed.

Daisy and Juliet just shake their head in agreement. The rest of the time, the girls just sit in silence.

11