Disclaimer: I don't own Higher Ground or any of it's original characters. I do own Carla.
Queen of Shadows: Thank you for your review! I hope you soonupdate your stories, especially Memories (but I can understand if you're too busy...)
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When Sophie entered Peter's office, he was already there, reading in some files. She watched him for a little while. Was Carla right? Did he love her enough to marry her although she couldn't get kids? She was still afraid of what his reaction would be, but slowly her resolve to talk to him got stronger.
While Sophie was lost in thought, Peter looked up, wondering why whoever had come into the office didn't do or say anything. "Morning, Sophie. Where's Carla?"
"Gone for a run." Sophie tried to see whose file Peter was reading. "Kat? Is there a problem with her? I thought everything was going fine."
"Everything is going fine with her. It's just that she leaves soon and I have to write a final evaluation. And recommendation letters for her college applications. But why has Carla gone for a run? I thought I saw you two running together this morning."
"She said she needed to be alone right now, only surrounded by trees. Apparently that's her way of dealing with emotional stress." She wasn't sure if she should talk to Peter about what she had accidentally listened in on.
But of course, Peter didn't leave it at that. Who would? "Emotional stress?", he asked.
Sophie sighed. "She called her son this morning. I told you she was a widow, right? Well, today her son wanted to know exactly how his father had died. I accidentally came in when she was still on the phone. She was weeping all the time and she had clenched her hand into such a tight fist, her palm was bleeding when she finally opened it."
Peter furrowed his brow and finally asked: "Do you think she's okay?"
"I think she'll handle it. But she definitely didn't like the fact that I saw her like that."
"Alright…. I didn't ask you yesterday…what was the matter with Ezra?"
"Parents. Both of them sent letters explaining they wouldn't have time this summer and he couldn't stay with them. Maybe he will call them, explain the situation, try to work something out. But after I told him that Daisy would stay here during summer break, he started to seriously consider that option, too." The last part she said with a slight grin.
"Sophie! We're not supposed to – "
"We're not supposed to encourage romantic relationships, I know. But it doesn't really seem like that's what they have."
Peter considered that. "True."
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Carla had been running for a while now, at the fastest pace she could endure for a longer time. She needed to really exhaust herself now. When she felt the endorphins kicking in, a little voice in the back of her head started to talk to her. You should feel ashamed, you know! That's not much better than an addiction! The body's own drugs, runner's high, however you want to call it. These thoughts were enough to make her lose her rhythm, stop and cough. Dammit, what am I supposed to do otherwise? Suddenly, the image of her bleeding hand this morning jumped into her head but she was quick to put it back into a dark corner of her mind. Trying not to think too much, she looked around. Not far from where she was standing, the trees seemed to stop. She went into that direction and soon realized that she was close to a cliff.
Standing at the very edge of the cliff, looking down the steep wall of rock. Trying to imagine the sensation of falling. Such a small step between life and death… Footsteps. DANGER! Standing at the edge of a cliff plus footsteps behind you equals someone might push you down! Still she didn't move, didn't turn around. It was beautiful here…
"You know, contrary to what most people think, death is not a transitional stage to something else. When you die, that's it. The end. Nothing more."
Carla still didn't turn around, but let out a small laugh. "Daisy, right?"
"You looked like you thought about jumping. I never go that close to the edge." Daisy was shuddering.
"I thought about jumping, right. But I didn't plan on killing myself."
"Do you think you can jump down here without killing yourself?" That was another voice. Carla finally turned around to see Shelby next to Daisy. She also took a step away from the cliff just to be safe.
"I may have some illusions, but that's not one of them. I said I thought about jumping; I didn't plan on doing it. Just imagining what the falling would feel like."
Daisy had to grin at that. "Morbid, much?"
"Isn't everyone, every now and then?"
Shelby rolled her eyes. "Do you have to talk about suicide? Never thought I would say this, but right now, I'd rather listen to Juliette at her most perky than to this."
Better not drive any students here crazy, or Peter will kick your butt out of here faster that you can say sorry. "Of course we don't have to. I think I'll head back to campus. You coming?"
Daisy grimaced. "We'd really like to, but we have to do this assignment for our biology class. Finding edible plants. - Wait a minute, isn't that something you could help us with? I don't know what to do."
Carla wagged her finger at them. "Now, that would be cheating, wouldn't it? Besides, it's unfair to your classmates, who don't have any help."
Daisy and Shelby looked at each other. Then Shelby spoke. "Uhh, we're the only ones having to do that. We were caught swapping private notes during class…"
"Well, in that case… Why not. As long as you don't tell Peter…"
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Meanwhile, Scott was looking for Shelby. Today they were allowed to have contact again, and she was nowhere to be found. He didn't understand. Maybe she didn't want to see him? Maybe these to days had been a welcome opportunity for her to get out of their…relationship? Now that he thought about it, he realized that yesterday, she hadn't seemed angry at all about their situation. While he had glared at Sophie, Shelby had just sat there…even smiling, he remembered now. With his thoughts running that way, he became almost panicky. That's why he jumped when someone suddenly tapped on his shoulder.
"Don't get an heart attack because of me, Scott."
When he turned around, he saw Kat. "If you're looking for Shelby, don't waste your time here. She and Daisy went into the woods."
"What? Why?"
"Peter reminded them that they'd better get their biology assignment done if they don't want to be in trouble."
Scott's relief was visible. "Thanks, Kat!", he called over his shoulder, already heading towards the woods. So, she wasn't avoiding him. But she could have come to see him and tell him where she was going. Why didn't she? Similar thoughts were running through his head while his feet took him through the forest and he listened for the girls' voices.
Finally Scott thought that he could hear Shelby's voice. As he came closer, he realized that there were three voices, not two. Who was with them? Now he caught sight of them and instantly recognized Sophie's friend. But he couldn't remember her name. He decided to move closer quietly and surprise them.
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Carla and the girls were standing by a bush with small, dark green leafs and beautiful red berries. "This one, never eat the berries. They won't kill you, but the stomach cramps you'll get aren't exactly pleasant. The leafs on the other hand, are very nutritious. They are a bit hard, though; so you have to chew them for – " There was movement behind them.
Quickly, Carla turned around, but relaxed when she saw who it was. "Hi, Scott. Wanna join this little lecture?", she asked with a smile.
"Sure, why not. But I gotta admit, I forgot your name."
Carla barely had a chance to answer: "It's Carla.", when Shelby went to Scott for a kiss, a huge smile on her face. To her surprise, Scott took a step back and held out his hands to stop her.
"What's the matter?", she asked, unsuccessfully trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
"You want some more restrictions?" Scott cast a meaningful glance towards Carla.
Carla realized that she posed a problem for the young couple. Wait, yesterday, they didn't seem like a couple. Oh, maybe these 'restrictions', whatever they are… "Daisy, I saw the next plant I want to show you over there. Let's go." And she turned her back to Scott and Shelby.
Scott wore a look on his face that clearly said 'What the hell…?'.
Shelby just grinned. "She's cool."
Then she finally got her kiss.