SHOUTOUTS\ANSWERS
Kal's Gal: Glad you're enjoying the story.
Anonymous: Glad you're liking the story. I bet it's interesting not having Elaine as the evil one. Of course I'd add the other characters. Hope this is soon enough.
Queen of Shadows: Glad you're enjoying this. Thanks for the correction. I haven't read the play for awhile. Sorry.
2008ccampbell: Here's more.
Keke1: Thanks.
ShalBrenfan: Thanks. I will.
Melms213: Glad you're enjoying the fic.
Callie: Glad you're enjoying the story. Thanks for the correction.
JadeAlmasy: Thanks.
DISCLAIMER\DISCLAIMER
I only own Cecilia and the plot. Everything else belongs to Fox Family. And I know the intertwining phone conversations are a bit confusing, but it was the only way I could make it work.
After school that day, Scott headed out for the field for football practice. Shelby and the others convened on the bleachers to watch.
"Wow. He's really good," Shelby sighed.
"I think someone has a crush," Juliette teased.
"I think someone needs to shut their yap," Shelby tossed back good-naturedly. The others laughed.
"Come on, Shel. We've all seen how you look at him," Kat pointed out.
"I don't think the feeling's mutual," Shelby disagreed. "I mean, you saw how he flipped out in gym when Rachel tried to flirt with him," she continued.
"Yeah, that was weird," David agreed.
"What do you think it meant?" Ezra wondered. Shelby fell silent. Her mind went back to his freak out and then when Juliette had hugged him that one day after tryouts. Now that she thought about it, he had seemed kinda nervous at the contact. Could it be what she thought it was? Could it be happening to him? And if so, who? His stepmother? Shelby figured it made the most sense. She was pretty young. Shouting brought her out of her reverie.
"What? What happened?" she wondered.
"Where did you go, chica? You missed a great play," Auggie said.
"It's only practice. She's allowed to wander," Daisy defended.
"Who did what?" Shelby questioned.
"Scott just made an amazing tackle," Ezra responded. Shelby shook her head and forced herself to concentrate on the practice. However, the suspicion of what she thought Scott could be going through nagged her at the back of her mind. Finally, the players were dismissed. Everyone cheered. With a slight laugh and a shake of his head, Scott headed over to his friends.
"That was great, Scott," Juliette said, touching his arm. For a moment, Scott's eyes clouded, but then, he smiled.
"Thanks," he acknowledged.
"Yeah. Pretty good, Jocko," Daisy agreed.
"Kat, I hate to leave, but I'm gonna be late for my shift if I don't get a move on," Hank said. Kat let out a groan.
"Okay, see ya later," she said. He gave her a peck on the cheek, and then took off.
"Yeah, we better get going too," Juliette agreed, as and Auggie intertwined their fingers. Everybody began saying their goodbyes.
"Hey, Scott, you wanna come over to my house?" Shelby invited.
"Sure. Just let me ask my dad," Scott responded. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed his father's work number, just as Shelby did the same.
"Martin Barringer," a man announced. A few seconds later, Shelby's call made it through.
"Hey Mom, is it okay if I invite a friend over?" Shelby wondered.
"Is this friend a boy?" her mother, Alice Merrick, questioned.
"Well, yeah," Shelby admitted. "But I really want you to meet him, Mom," she continued.
"Okay, that's fine, Shelby," Alice responded.
"Thanks, Mom," Shelby said. She hung up the phone.
"Dad, Shelby invited me to her house. Is it all right if I go?" Scott asked at the same time.
"I suppose. Just don't stay out too late. It's supposed to storm later," Martin responded.
"Yes, sir," Scott replied. As he hung up, his stomach knotted. He hated storms. That was when Cecilia got worse. She used the gale as an excuse.
"You okay?" Shelby asked, hanging up.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Scott lied.
"Come on," she told Scott.
"Okay. But I'll have to follow you in the car," was his response. Shelby agreed to this and they left. About fifteen minutes later, they reached her house.
"Mom, I'm home," she called.
"Hi, honey," Mrs. Merrick greeted, coming to meet them. "This must be Scott," she noted.
"Hello, Mrs. Merrick. It's nice to meet you," Scott stated, offering a hand. Just then, fourteen-year old Jessica "Jess" Merrick came out.
"Hey, who's this?" Scott asked with a grin.
"This is Jess, my younger sister," Shelby replied.
"Hi," Scott greeted.
"Hi," Jess said. "So you're the one Shelby keeps talking about," she continued. It wasn't said teasingly, just matter-of-factly.
"Jess!" Shelby exclaimed in embarrassment. Scott stifled a laugh.
"I think I'll go see about dinner," Mrs. Merrick stated.
"Would you like some help, Mrs. Merrick?" Scott offered.
"Oh, no, Scott. You're the guest. We'll help Mom," Shelby said.
"Yeah," Jess agreed.
"You sure?" Scott asked.
"Yes. But thanks for the offer," Mrs. Merrick answered. With that, the three went into the kitchen. Scott blew out a breath and ran his fingers through his hair. What could he do? With another sigh, he went into the living room and sat down. A few minutes later, Shelby came in.
"Come on. Dinner's ready," she said.
"That was fast," he commented, standing up. He followed her to the dinner table.
"Mom just had to heat up the chicken. It took her half an hour to actually cook it yesterday," Shelby said.
"Great. I love leftovers," Scott joked. Shelby laughed. They sat down and began to eat. As dinner progressed, everyone talked and laughed. Jess told them of a classmate spilling her lunch all over herself when another classmate had scared her with a rubber frog.
"Oh, that's terrible," Scott said with sympathetic laughter.
"Yeah, she was pretty ticked," Jess agreed. However, she was unable to hide the small smile. After dinner, everyone stood up.
"You don't have to do that," Shelby said, when she noticed Scott gathering up the dishes.
"Come on. You wouldn't let me help set the table. At least let me help with the dishes," Scott said.
"Okay," Shelby agreed with a resigned sigh. The two teens went into the kitchen.
"I think I like this boy," Mrs. Merrick whispered to her younger daughter. They laughed. As they were doing the dishes, they all heard a fierce pitter-pattering.
"Sounds like the storm's starting," Shelby stated.
"Yeah," Scott said softly. I hate storms, he thought. However, he didn't voice this, but merely scrubbed the plate in his hands even harder. Minutes later, they were done.
"Well, I guess I better get going," Scott said.
"But, Scott---" Shelby began to protest.
"I think Dad would prefer that I got home before the storm gets out of control," Scott interrupted. Just then, a burst of lightning filled the sky! Scott jumped.
"Oh, you can't drive out in that," Alice stated. "I'm going to call your parents," she declared. With that, she dialed the number and waited a few minutes. Then, "Is this Martin Barringer?" When she learned that it was, she continued. "This is Alice Merrick, Shelby's mother. Listen, the storm has gotten pretty bad and now there's lighting. I don't really think Scott would be safe driving through it."
"You're absolutely right," Martin agreed. "Send him home as soon as the storm ends," he continued.
"Of course," Alice responded. She hung up. "Scott, you're going to stay here until this blows over," she reported.
"Great," Scott said. And he meant it. This way, he wouldn't have to worry about Cecilia.
"Hey, is anybody up for Monopoly?" Jess queried.
"I love that game," Scott answered.
"Great. I'll get the board," Jess said.
"Want help?" Scott offered. For a moment, the young girl hesitated.
"Uh…that's okay. You're our guest," she finally answered. Sure the thing with Walt was over and done with, but she was still nervous about being alone with a guy. She went out into the hall to retrieve the game. Confused, Scott looked at Shelby.
"Was it something I said?" he asked.
"Don't take it personally," she answered. "She's still trying to deal with some stuff," she told him.
"Oh," Scott said softly. He wondered what kind of stuff. She had looked pretty nervous when he had offered to go with her. Had she gone through the same thing he was currently experiencing? Man, he hoped not. She was just a little girl. Merely fourteen. Minutes later, she came out with the game.
"Okay, let's play," the girl announced.
"All right," the others approved. They sat down and set everything up. Then, they began to play. For several minutes, Scott even forgot about the storm. But then, a loud crack of thunder was heard and lightning lit the sky! With a gasp, Scott looked up.
"Scott?" Jess asked.
"Scotty?" Cecilia asked.
"Hey, are you okay?" Shelby queried.
"Scotty?" Cecilia asked again. Scott let out a shaky breath.
"Scott? Are…you okay?" Mrs. Merrick asked in concern.
"Scotty," Cecilia called.
"Um, excuse me. I---I---I---I---excuse me," Scott stammered. Without waiting for an answer, he rushed away.
"Be right back," Shelby stated. With that, she ran after Scott. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Scott was pacing back and forth, trying not to remember.
"Scotty? Scotty, are you up?" Cecilia asked.
"Go away. Leave me alone," Scott muttered to himself.
"But Scotty, I'm so scared," Cecilia whined.
"No you're not, witch," Scott snapped darkly.
"Scotty," Cecilia whined.
"Scott?" a voice asked, breaking into his reverie. Scott whirled around.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"Uh---"
"Ssssshhh," Cecilia warned, a finger to her lips.
"What is it?" Shelby asked. Lightning flashed again and Scott's face became pained.
"Scotty, please. I'm scared," Cecilia whined.
"Get….OUT!" Scott shrieked. Instinctively, Shelby knew she had been right. Someone was abusing him.
"Who is it, Scott?" Shelby asked.
"What are you talking about?" Scott questioned.
"Who's abusing you?" Shelby asked again. It's probably his step mom, I'll bet anything it's her, she thought to herself.
"A---abusing?" Scott repeated. "N---I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered.
"Scott, it's okay. Just let it out," Shelby urged.
"They'll never believe you," Cecilia smirked.
"Is it Elaine? Is she the one---"
"No! Elaine's got nothing to do with it!" Scott exclaimed. Not his step mom? Shelby asked herself in surprise. Then, who? she wondered.
"Who do you think they'll believe? A sixteen-year old brat or a grown woman?" Cecilia queried smugly.
"Then, who?" Shelby prompted.
"I can't!" Scott shouted, as tears began to fall.
"Why not?" Shelby asked.
"She's her best friend!" Scott exclaimed again. Sobbing, Scott fell to the ground. Shelby knelt down beside him.
"Sssssh, sssssh, ssssssh. It's okay," she whispered.
"I can't---I can't tell Elaine. Cecilia's her best friend," Scott cried.
"It's okay. You're safe tonight," Shelby comforted.
"She comes into my room, says she's scared and stuff. And then she---" he stopped with a rasping sob. Whispering comforts into his ear, Shelby held him.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Does anyone know what happened to the Hayden site http/ It seems to have disappeared on me. So