DISCLAIMER
Higher Ground belongs to Fox Family and Kyle Hunter belongs to Universal Pictures.
The next morning, Auggie awoke to birds chirping. He moaned and rolled over.
"Okay, guys. Up and at 'em," Sophie called. For an answer, she received a chorus of groaned.
"Yeah, I know it's early. But we got a lot of ground to cover," she told the kids.
"We always got a lot of ground to cover," Auggie complained.
"You all right, Muchacho?" Scott asked in concern.
"Yeah. I'm fine, Meat," Auggie assured. One-by-one, the teens got up and repacked their things. Then, they started hiking. Auggie followed his friends, but his mind wasn't on his task. He was thinking about the previous night.
"Bad step!" he heard Sophie call suddenly. The cry was picked up as they continued on and they were soon pass the hurdle. Hours later, they stopped.
"Okay, guys. We'll stop here," Sophie declared. The kids sighed in relief.
"Hey, you've all been doing great," she assured them. The kids sat down and made themselves comfortable.
"Does anybody have anything they want to say?" the woman questioned.
"Well...this has been my first hike," Kyle stated.
"Yeah, that's right," Ezra recalled.
"How do you feel about it, man?" Scott queried.
"It's been hard. But I like it," Kyle admitted.
"Yeah. That's the spirit," Ezra encouraged. He and the others clapped.
"Anybody else?" Sophie wondered. Auggie sighed heavily.
"Auggie? Are you okay?" Juliette asked gently.
"I just---I miss him. He's my brother," Auggie said. "Yeah, he made some bad choices, but...he's familia. And that bond is stronger than anything," he continued.
"I know how you feel," Shelby agreed, putting an arm around Jess.
"What would you say---if you could talk to him?" Jess wondered.
"I'd ask him why he was out. Why he didn't just stay home? Stuff like that," Auggie answered. He sighed again. "But most of all, I'd just tell him that no matter what, I love him," he continued. Feeling a lump in his throat, Auggie ducked his head just as he felt something brimming past his eyelids. Juliette placed a hand on his shoulder and he turned to her, letting his tears pour out. She didn't say word. Just held him.