Thin Bond between hate and love


Hey, I'm back! I'm still writing on Secrets but it took me time. For the moment I have a little writers' block. I'm not thinking of leaving it like this through.

I don't own the characters, the place or anything else about the show.


"So what? You're gonna punish us just because we can't stand each other breath? You are completely out of mind, believe me." Shelby Merrick was sitting in Peter Scarbrow's office after having another fight with Scott Barringer. He was there for almost two months and his behaviour hadn't changed since the first day and she was tired of his jerk attitude with everyone, especially her, the only one who wanted to be his friend.

"Who do you think you're talking with, Miss Merrick? I'm still your counselor, so I think a minimum respect is suggested here." Peter said, then added "And if you can't control your emotions back, I suggest you to think of a way to do it as you are on shuns from everyone for a week since now." He then handed her a diary and a pen. "Here, it'll be you only contact with me, you have to write at least two pages by day, but I don't think it'll cause you problems, since it'll be your only activity." He looked at her firmly, she smirked and got up.

"I simply hope that I won't be the only one, it wouldn't be fair, would it master?" She continued walking towards the door. He followed her and opened the door.

"Shut up and go now. Sophie will give you your diner at seven. Good week." He said smiling at her.


"Shelby looked particularly mad when she left your office. What did you give her?" Scott said grinning at Peter. Peter wasn't in the mood to play mind games with him.

"Just the same as you are going to have by now, Scott." He watched as Scott's face changed a little to make place to madness.

"No, no it's not fair!" He said quickly trying to regain composure. "I didn't do anything wrong this time. She started it; you can ask the others, they were there too." He tried; the truth was that everyone hated Shelby beside Daisy and she wasn't even there when all of this happened. So he wasn't risking anything by saying this, the others would covering him.

"Scott, stop thinking of me this little. I'm not completely stupid, and I know what you're trying to make me believe. So you give me another reason to make you regret what you did. The thing is that you know Shelby and how she can get you on the nerves, so I do think you can make effort to see beyond all of this and ignore her attempts to get to you. Is that clear?"

"I can't help it, every time she provokes me, I can't, sorry." Scott said putting his head in his head.

"Well, try to feel sorry for her, I mean, I don't think she likes what she is doing, she is suffering inside, just like you." Peter's voice softened as he saw Scott's walls beginning to fall.

"But how can I do this if she doesn't want me or the others to see the real her?" He said puzzled.

"Try to be nice with her."

"I already did this, it didn't work at all."

"Well, you have a whole week of shuns to think of a way to be friend with her. I give you this and this for the week." He said handing him a diary and a pen. "You'll have to give at least two pages every day at diner to Sophie. This is where you have to write everything you want about your feelings, or your questions. If you want to communicate with Sophie or me, you have to write and don't forget, you can't talk from the moment you quit this room." Peter got up and led Scott over to the door.

"Well, I'll see you in one week, Mr Barringer. Oh, and before I forgot, Sophie will give you diner at seven sharp. Have fun!" Peter grinned.

"You're enjoying torturing us, are you?" Scott said smiling slightly.

"You know it. Now go."

"Yes sir!" He said in a mocking tone before leaving towards the dorms to collect his things for his 'shuns trip' shall we say.


"So, what happened to them this time?" Sophie Becker asked Peter as they were walking around the buildings of Horizon.

"They fought again, just because there wasn't ketchup anymore. Just the same stupid things, as usual. But this time I'm not going soft with them, I'm really tired of those two. Why can't they just live in peace with each other?"

"I think they have too much problems right now. They need time. You remember Anna and Taylor? They hated each other at first, but they finished the year together and in love because they worked on their differences. And now, we are hearing that they're engaged with a baby in the way." Sophie reasoned, noticing after a moment that some of the students weren't inside after lights out. "Shush, don't move!" She heard whispering behind the trees. She stopped and motioned for Peter to do the same. They approached quietly and saw two of their students too close for Horizon and its rules.

"What are you two doing outside at this time? You know we don't tolerate that here. Got up and follow me in my office now. Sophie, I'll see you tomorrow, goodnight." Peter said, never leaving the students gazes.

"Okay, night."


"You know what?" Ezra said to Auggie as they were getting ready for the day.

"No."

"There is a newbie coming tomorrow, maybe it's a pretty girl."

Auggie smiled and replaced his hair. "Or maybe it's another Shelby Merrick." He said with a funny tone

"Well, she's pretty. Mean but pretty."

"I like her looks, but that's all, she's too rude for me."

"Okay, you're right, but imagine if the girl looks like her but is nice?"

"Girls like this don't come to Horizon, Ez, come back on earth Plus I think it will be a boy since the girls are already four."

"Yeah, but a boy can hope?"

"Sure. I think we should go now, the girls are waiting for us."

"Right, breakfast."


"So, as everyone one must know, two members of your group are on shuns for a week. That means no sharing group, no talking, no links with the other, anything. I want to know what you all think about that by giving only a word. Juliet, would you start please?" Sophie said handing her the stick.

"Okay, um, how may I do that Sophie? Should I say one word for each or a global?"

"As you want, it's up to you."

"Careless and sorry." She passed the stick to Ezra.

"Glad. Auggie, your turn."

"Um, surprised." He said giving the stick to Daisy

"Sorry and deserving." It was now Kat's turn.

"Strict."

"Okay, now tell me who are the words addressed to, and why."

"Okay, careless, it's for Shelby because she means nothing to me and she deserves everything that happens in her life. And sorry for Scott because it's not his fault, Shelby pushed him too much." Juliet said in a perky voice.

Daisy cringed at this and muttered "Bullshit."

"Daisy, one more word and you're on kitchen duty for two weeks." Sophie said as she had heard Daisy comment. Go on Ezra." She said nicely.

"Glad because I can't stand the two blondes anymore, so maybe that will calm their nerves, even if I strongly doubt it."

"Surprised because they didn't do anything so bad this time, I mean they did worse before."

"Sorry for Shelby because you guys don't know anything about her and judge her without knowing. And Scott deserves what he got. He pissed her so many times, he talked to her like shit, called her names and even if he didn't provoke her this time, Peter saw through this."

"Strict, I mean Peter's sentence. But I can understand. Since those two know each other, there has never been a nice conversation between them, and everyone is paying for this."

"Good, now I'm going to share with you too, to tell you what I think of this. Peter should have doing this long time before and I rejoin Daisy's point when she says that you all don't know Shelby and don't make efforts to do this. She's weaker than most of us, she's just wearing a mask. Scott is too, but it's not the same. I think that Scott and Shelby are closer than we think; they both don't want to share anything. So let them some time. Is that okay?"

Everyone nodded. "Well, well. Now I wanted to talk about something. I'm not sure if you're aware but we're going to have a new student here. His name is David Ruxton and he'll be here tomorrow in the morning. Ezra, you'll be his buddy, you know what that mean." Sophie said before dismissing group to join Peter in his office.


"Did you read their diaries?" Sophie asked as she entered the office. Peter nodded before motioning for her to sit in front of him.

"Nothing new from Shelby, sarcastic as usual. But Scott…" He shook his head smiling. "He actually asked me to give this to Shelby, it's for her. But I don't know if I should, it's not in the rules. But if I don't, I'm afraid for them."

"So go ahead." She said understanding.

"He said beautiful things. I wasn't supposed to read, he clearly said at the beginning that it was for her. But I did it anyway. He doesn't hate her at all, that's all I can say." He said still smiling, hoping for the best.


Pieces of Scott's diary

'Here we go, Shelby I'm sorry. I know I have been a royal jerk since the first time we met. I didn't want to. I don't and I never will hate you. When you think no one is looking, I see you. The real you, the 'you' I like. I hope it's not too late and that you'll forgive me.'


One week later.

"Shelby, can I see you in my office now?" Peter asked as she was walking towards her dorm. She sighed and followed him. When they entered they weren't alone. Scott and Sophie were waiting for them.

"Take a seat." He said firmly. Shelby sat on the couch next to Sophie.

"Okay, I read your dairies and I want to know what you two would think of a survival hike together?"

"Are you kidding? No!" Shelby said exasperated. Scott remained silent.

"Now, you don't have a choice. You're going tomorrow at seven a.m., is that clear?"

"Yes." Scott mumbled.

"Shelby?"

"As you said, I don't have a choice so why asking me?"

"Good. Now go eat something." Shelby got up and threw a glare to Scott; he ignored her and stood there.

"Peter?"

"Yes? You wanted to ask me something?"

Scott nodded. "Did you show what I wrote for Shelby last week?"

"No, I'm sorry, I couldn't. You have to talk to her; I know it's harder for you but you'll have time to do it on the hike. Okay?" Scott nodded and left the office slightly disappointed by Peter.


"So he sends you two on a hike?" Daisy said as she and Shelby were doing homework.

"Yeah, I think he won't let us, unless we make peace."

"I think you can do this."

"I don't know. He hates me so much."

"I'm not sure of that. You know there is a thin bond between hate and love."

"Yeah, right." Shelby muttered.


"Could we talk please, I'm really tired of this silence." Scott said after two hours of walking. Shelby was walking quickly in front of him.

"Look, I know you didn't want to be here with me, so the least we talk, the more we advance and arrive at Horizon faster." Shelby said as she continued walking fast. Scott stopped to think.

"Okay, why are you so rude?"

"What?" She asked in disbelief turning around to face him.

"I try to be nice here if you don't notice." He said his voice softening as he looked at her as she stopped right in front of him.

"Why that? We hate each other. And I don't plan on playing mind games with you."

"I don't hate you Shelby. I never did."

"Yeah, right. Do you want to know what I'm thinking? You're intending to sleep with me tonight in the woods because I'm pretty enough for you, so you're going to make me think that you like me and then use me like the others." She said smirking at him.

"You're crazy Shelby. I think we should set the camp here for the night. I'm going to take a walk. See you later." Scott said before storming into the woods. Shelby bit her lip as she watched him leave and prepared alone to set up the campsite.


"Scott, did you really think what you said tonight?" Shelby asked as they were eating in front of the fire.

"Shelby, I'm really sorry for everything, you have to believe me." He said pleading for her.

"Okay. Um, I think I'm going to sleep now, you come?" She got up and stretched her legs and arms.

"In a few minutes. I have to wash the dishes before." He said looking at her half smiling.

"Okay, goodnight then."

"Night Shelby."


"Scott!" Shelby said shocked as he entered the tent. She was half naked trying to change her clothes.

"Sorry, I thought you were ready." He said feeling his cheeks blush at the sight of her nakedness. As he was turning back outside, he felt a hand on his arm.

"You don't need to leave, you know?" She said seductively. He smiled in amazement and watch as she began to strip her clothes.

"Scott, Shelby, you're inside?" They heard Peter ask as Scott was slowly approaching her. "Shit!" Shelby muttered.


"Coming!" Scott yelled to Peter. "I'll cover for you." He whispered to Shelby.

"So, about earlier…" Scott began before Shelby cut him off.

"I'm sorry Scott; I don't know why I did that. That was totally stupid."

"You think?" He said trying to hide his disappointment.

"Yes, I don't think that sex will change our feelings towards each other. I know you hate me and even if it's not mutual, I understand."

"I don't hate you Shel." He said slowly reaching her. He took her face in his hands and brought his lips to hers. She was too shocked to react and let him doing this. He kissed her slowly as she let him slip his tongue into her mouth before kissing him back, then pulling away as quickly.

"Stop, Scott, we shouldn't and you know it. This isn't right." She said pushing him away, and moving away from his sweet embrace. He ran a hand in his hair and began to walk again.


"So how was your trip?" Peter asked the two exhausted teens who were sitting on the couch.

"We talked without fighting. That's what you wanted, no?" Shelby said smiling sarcastically.

"Would you stop doing this?" Scott said exasperated.

"Doing what?"

"Acting like everything doesn't matter. I hate this."

"Oh, and you think I care what you want?"

"No, you don't and that's why you have any friends."

"Oh, because you have friends you? I mean if you're talking about Juliet or Auggie, you're so wrong!"

"Why are you saying this?" He said a little confused

"Just because Juliet cheated on you when you two were still together, with Auggie for the matter."

"You're really heartless." Scott shouted before leaving the office.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Shelby asked Peter as she watched him looking disapprovingly at her.

"Here, I think you should read that." He handed her Scott's dairy at 'her page'.


"Could I talk to you?" Shelby said as she sat next to Scott at class.

"Why?" He said coldly.

"I read what you wrote in your dairy. I'm sorry for all the things I said and I like you too." She said before turning on heels to sit next to Ezra.

"Wait!" He said catching her wrist.

She smiled at this and looked up waiting for him to say something.

"So you read this?" She only nodded smiling a little, and then said.

"I forgive you for everything."

"Good. So we're cool now?" He said smiling back.

"I guess."


"So, you guys knew that Shelby attacked her step-dad this morning?" David asked the boys as they all were in their dorm, preparing themselves for bed.

"No. What happened?" Ezra said interested.

"Our resident whore is really a violent one! She beat him in his 'you know, Junior' and they took him to the hospital."

"She was probably pissed." Auggie said smiling as he pictured the scene in his head.

"No. I think it was more than that. Some guys told me that she had had sex with him in the past. And I though I had a chance! I suppose she prefers the elders." He said smiling stupidly at Scott in particularly knowing he had stuck a nerve.

"Leave her alone David!" Scott said taking him by the collar of his shirt.

"Why, you like that whore?" He continued smiling.

"Urg, I hate you!" He said letting him go before leaving to the docks.

"Believe me, the feeling is mutual!" He yelled before him.

"He's right you know. You're overprotective with her, always talking with her, you even slept with her." Ezra said quietly as he and Auggie rejoined him at the docks.

"I didn't sleep with her, okay!" Scott said becoming a little mad.

"So what happened yesterday? I mean you weren't there for a big part of the night." Auggie added.

"We didn't do anything. She needed a friend and I was there for her, that's all."

"I don't believe you, man!"

"Me neither."

"Well look after Jules, instead of interfering in my life!" Scott said before leaving for diner.


"Scott, you okay?" Shelby asked quietly as everyone was eating, talking about Christmas holiday.

"Yeah, sure I'm fine, why?" He said forcing a smile.

"Nothing, I was just wondering." She said smiling back. She looked at him and saw a look of disgust crossing his face.

"I though you liked this?"

"What?" He asked puzzled.

"What we're eating."

"Oh, yes I guess." He said quietly looking down at the Horizon 'food'

"Ok, what's wrong with you?" She said, putting down her fork, becoming a little mad at him.

"I said I was ok."

"Yeah, right. If you have a problem, tell me, I can help you!"

"No, you can't because the problem here, you can't handle it, you see the problem I have it's you!" He said yelling the last words before storming outside the room. Shelby let a tear drop on her cheek, put her plate and ran behind him.

"Why did you that?" Shelby asked as she sat next to Scott on their bench.

"Leave me alone whore." He said quietly looking right in her eyes, and then he did a thing unexpected, he spited on her face.

She stood taken aback and glared at him. She slowly wiped away what she has been thrown in the face and took off his sweat he had given her last night to throw it on his face. "I hate you Scott Barringer. I will NEVER forgive you for what you just did to me!" She then ran to her dorm and locked herself in the bathroom, the only place where she was allowing herself to cry.


"I don't understand Scott. You two were doing great, what happened?"

"Nothing, beside she's nothing more than a bitch." Shelby cringed at his choice of words and she prepared herself to leave but Sophie took her arm.

"Let me go!" She said as she began to cry. "Why is everyone forcing me to do things? You all hate me for what I have done with my life, please let me go!" Scott looked at the girl and saw tears running down her cheeks and then came back to reality. He also realised he has been heartless and all above stupid with her.

"We don't hate you Shelby." Peter said slowly reaching towards her.

"He does hate me, the entire group do hate me, my mother hates me, and even my sister does. Shit, the world hates me! She said as she let her body dropping on the floor. She looked up and saw Scott looking back at her tears in the eyes; he reached her and wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm so sorry Shel." He said sweetly, his voice breaking by so much emotion. He leaned down and found himself lost in a kiss as they embraced each other.

"Cough, cough." It was Peter's voice which broke their kiss. Those PDA weren't allowed at Horizon, and he needed all of his students to apply the rules.

"Sorry Peter, I guess we got a little carried away." Scott mumbled his voice still hoarse, due to the emotion of the kiss.

"It's okay. So, um, what about you bring Shelby in the infirmary and then come back here. I need to talk to you." Peter said nicely opening the door for the two teens.

"Sure." Scott said only paying attention on Shelby who was leaning against him weakly.


"You are sure that you don't need anything?" Scott asked for the billionth time. He was still in the infirmary with Shelby and didn't seem to be ready to leave.

"Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry. And if I need anything, there is always Mrs Connery to take care of me." She said smiling up at him. She brought her right hand to his cheek and stroked it slightly. He leaned down as he noticed he lips impatiently waiting for a kiss. As their kiss became deeper, Scott entered his tongue between her lips and truly kissed her. He soon felt obliged to sit down next to her on her bed and leaned more into her. As they were getting a little steamy, they heard a knock on the door and pulled away quickly. They smiled at each other and Scott sat back on the chair near the bed. Peter entered with Sophie by his side and smiled at them.

"Scott, you've been here for quite a moment now. I know you'd like to stay but I have to talk with you. It's rather important." Peter said nicely. Scott nodded and got up in order to follow him. Shelby pouted at Sophie as they both watched them leave the room.

"You're okay Shelby?" Sophie asked as she sat at the end of the bed.

"I'm a little tired; I guess it's due to the stress." She said closing her eyes.

"Okay. So, I'll let you sleep here tonight. If you need anything, ask Mrs Connery if she's still here. And I'll ask from Roger or Jeff to keep an eye on you this night." Sophie said gently.

"Could Scott stay with me tonight?" Shelby said pouting a little. "Please?" Sophie only shook her head. "We won't do anything; I just need to know he's here."

"I'll talk to Peter about this, but I don't promise you anything."

"Thank you." She said smiling in victory.

"Hey! I never said he'd agree." She said smiling back a little, getting up to leave.


"So, Scott, you can sit here." Peter said to the teenager, who was waiting impatiently to rejoin his friend, motioning a chair in front of the office. Scott sat down and bit his lip nervously.

"Am I in trouble?"

"No, not at all." Peter reassured him smiling. "I kind of wanted to talk about something important through. I know you do not really want to see your parents but they are coming soon. I wanted to know if it was okay for them to visit or if it was early."

Scott looked at Peter completely shocked by the news and feared the worst. "I, uh, don't know. I would like to think of it before answering if that's okay with you."

"Sure." Peter said understanding.


Well that was the end of the first part. I'm still not sure if I will write more, but probably, if you like it. Just let me know what you think about this story.