DISCLAIMER
Here's the next chapter. And wow, I've gotten a lot of reviews. I didn't think I was that good at chapter stories for HG. Glad you guys like this so far. As usual, I only own Belinda Jordan. Oh, just so you guys know, I have no idea what the legalities for a custody battle are, so please bear with me in later chapters. Another thing was that I figured Jess knew about Scott from Mended Fences. I know it didn't say that Scott and Shelby told Jess about Scott's step mom, but I assume they must've have, otherwise, she probably wouldn't have been comfortable talking about Walt in front of him.
Scott ran his fingers through his hair for the umpteenth time. He didn't know what to do. He supposed he should call CPS, but the last time he had talked to them, he had been completely humiliated. He didn't want to go through that again. He wasn't sure if he could bear it. Meanwhile, the other Cliffhangers were watching him in concern.
"Hey, Shelby, is Scott okay?" Jess asked quietly.
"He's just freaked. He's had a bad experience with CPS," Shelby answered in the same tone.
"Did it have to do with his stepmother?" Jess asked.
"Yes," Shelby responded. Sophie and Susan came up behind Scott.
"Scott, you need to make a decision," Sophie told him.
"I don't know, Sophie. Youyou weren't there when they asked all those questionsit made me feel" Scott trailed off. Susan put a comforting hand on his arm.
"Scott, we can't tell you what to do, but we will support you," she told him. Scott inhaled, then exhaled sharply.
"Make the call," he stated. Sophie smiled at him, then went into Peter's office.
