The Smell of the Ocean

I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

Chapter 5

Shelby walked into her apartment; she was carrying two big paper bags full of groceries and struggled to get the door open. It was 7:00pm and she had had a rough day at her job. When the door finally swung open, she was met with a completely dark room.

"Scott? Scott could you help me with these please?" She called, knowing he hadn't gone anywhere

When there was no answer, she sighed and trudged through the apartment, kicking the door closed behind her. Half way to the kitchen counter, Shelby tripped over something, she fell and her groceries went flying. Her knee soar, she stud up and turned on the lights, staring menacingly at Scott's sneaker on the floor where she had stood.

Walking over the sneaker and the fallen food, she quickly walked to her guest room and turned on the light finding Scott in the exact position she had left him in when she left that morning.

"Scott! Are you kidding me, didn't you hear me calling you? Or how about didn't you hear me fall over you damn shoe?"

When she didn't get a reaction from him, she pulled back the blanket that was covering his face. Scott just stared straight ahead and Shelby knew that he hadn't been sleeping, only lying there all day for the past week.

"Come on, this is ridiculous! You need to get up, I know your upset, but Scott this is totally unhealthy," He still said nothing, "That's it!"

Shelby walked out of the room, leaving the light on; she grabbed the cordless phone and dialed while picking up the bags and food. After her phone conversation Shelby felt better; she turned on the TV and watched it waiting patiently hoping for the best.

An hour and a half later, the buzzer from the outside rang into Shelby's apartment. She walked over the box, sighing and she passed Scott's room, and pressed the unlock button, already knowing who was there. When she opened the door, Shelby was met with the concern of Peter's eyes.

Shelby hugged him quickly, when she backed away she said, "Thanks for coming, I don't know what to do anymore, he's been in there for a week now, hardly moving, hardly eating the food I leave in there for him." She said sadly

"I'll go talk to him, it's going to be alright Shelby."

She nodded, and walked to Scott's room, Peter following, "Scott," She waited but unsurprisingly when there was no reply she just continued, "Peter's here to talk to you." She looked for one last moment and then walked away leaving Peter to snap Scott out of it.

Peter walked over to Scott and sat on the side of the bed, "What are you doing?" With no surprise he continued, "Do you know how much your hurting her?" He knew Scott was depressed, but Peter knew making him realize that the way he was dealing with it was affecting other people could help him.

Scott didn't even flinch so Peter continued, "You know she won't give up on you and the longer you do this, the more she's going to try. That's not good for her, and if you continue this way, I'm going to tell her that she can't help you." Peter was surprised when Scott still didn't react, "Is that what you want? To hurt Shelby?"

"What does it matter, I hurt everyone I come into contact with anyway." His voice was dry, apparent that his throat was dry.

Peter walked out of the room, then returned with a glass of water, "Scott sit up," When he didn't move Peter repeated himself, his voice more stern, "Sit up." Scott looked at him then did as he was told.

Peter handed him the glass and Scott slowly drank it, "I understand that you're upset, but this is just self pity. You have to think of all the good things in you life right now."

Scott looked up annoyed, "Good things? What good things?"

"How about that the people in the other car were alright? Do you know that you could have killed them? Or how about the fact that you have that girl in the other room who like I said before would do anything for you. I think that's pretty good."

Scott looked away ashamed, "I don't deserve her doing all this for me, don't you think I know that?"

"Scott you do deserve to have someone help you right now, you're upset and you have every right to be, but right now you need to help to be helped. Shelby can only do so much for you, if you don't want the help, then Shelby or I or anyone else can't help you."

"I know, it's just…"

Peter looked at him sadly, "What? It's just what?"

"I don't want to hurt her." He looked down

"The only way you can hurt her is by not letting her in."

Scott nodded not saying anything.

Peter stood up, "Come on." He walked to the door and stood there waiting for Scott to follow. At first he just sat on the bed, but Peter could see that he was thinking, then, very slowly, Scott stood up, grabbed his crutches and walked to Peter who patted his back in support as he passed him. Peter stood back as he watched Scott walk over to Shelby who was sitting on the couch.

Shelby turned off the TV and stood up. Scott moved his crutches to lean against the couch and the two stood in the middle of the small living room just staring at each other.

Scott looked into her eyes and finally decided to break the silence, "Shelby I…" She walked quickly into his arms. Scott hugged her back after the shock wore off. He held her tightly and whispered into her hair, "I'm sorry."

"Shh, it's ok; everything's going to be ok."

Scott closed his eyes, somehow when she said it, it sounded so right.

Peter smiled to himself and knew things were going to get better. No matter how long of a road Scott had, he was going to make it as long as he wasn't stubborn. Peter quietly left the apartment, knowing his job there was done and needing to get back to the school that still held so many others in desperate need of help.

A half an hour later, sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in both their hands, Scott and Shelby sat staring at each other.

"Scott I know it's hard, but you need to talk about how your feeling. It's only me you know you can tell me anything."

"I know, it's just…it's so hard."

She took his hand and squeezed it lightly, "I know it is, but it's something you need to do."

"I know…" He said hesitantly

"Scott how many times have we had this conversation while at Horizon?"

"Hundreds." He smiled

"And why is it that each time you still don't want to just remember that it worked every time?"

"Because I like seeing you determined." He laughed this time

She laughed also, "Well how do you know that I'm determined this time?"

"Because it you weren't you would have kicked me out like you should have already."

"How do you know I don't just feel bad for you?"

Scott looked down for a split second then back up at her, "Because I know you better than that, if you felt bad for me, you think it would just give me a reason to feel bad for myself and that is totally out of the question."

"Well I'm glad you think you know me so well." She smirked

Scott looked at her and suddenly he missed her even though she was sitting right in front of him. Scott missed everything about her and suddenly he wanted to be closer to her, so he leaned closer and pulled her into a hug.

Shelby hugged him back and smiled, "I miss this." She smiled to herself, not even realizing that she was speaking what Scott was thinking.

Scott pulled away slowly, and their faces were only inches away from each other, "Me too." Scott said softly, and they stared into each others eyes.

Slowly and without notice, their faces moved closer and closer together.

a/n I know this took ridiculously long to post and I'm SOOOO SORRY! I'll definitely get the next chapter up sooner! Please review! Hope you liked it!