HIGHER GROUND "The essay".
Summary :
They cut themselves, have bulimia/anorexia, run away, do drugs, are abused, betrayed, suicidal… … … but how do they feel deep inside? Wanna know? Then read about an essay Peter's giving them to understand how it's like for them! Things they never shared before! PLZ REVIEW!
As nobody knows that Juliette's cutting herself again Peter confronts them to their past through an assignment.
As always I don't own anything, bla bla blah
Author : Maryline aka Miss SMG DEPP ACKLES
Date: July 18th, 2006
CHAPTER 1
In his office Peter was looking for the next homework he would give the cliffhangers. He wanted something that would bring them to think. To think about their past life, their life now that they were at Horizon and their future. Something that would also help him understand them better, what they were going through, things that they had maybe never shared before, things that they might need to say now and share with their new friends. But it wasn't the only reason, he had noticed some change in Juliette's behavior and she didn't seem to want to share much with him or anyone else so he thought that this assignment would be a good thing to get to know what she was thinking and feeling.
Sophie was there looking at him, trying to figure out what he was thinking about.
"What's on your mind Peter ?" she softly asked.
"I'm thinking about their next homework. I'm not really inspired."
"C'mon mountain man, you always know what to give them" she said as she wrapped her arms around him, waiting for him to kiss her, which he did.
"You're amazing" he told her, "You really believe in me, don't you ?"
"If I didn't believe in you I wouldn't be here" she simply answered giving him a huge smile, "So what kind of homework are you thinking of this time ?"
"Well, I was thinking about something about their life, their past, now that they're here and maybe even their future. I don't know, maybe some kind of essay about what they've been going through, how it was like before they got here, how they feel now that they're here and how they think their future will be".
"Wow" Sophie said.
"What ? You think it's a bad idea ?" Peter asked her quite worried about his new idea.
"No, I think it's great. I think it's exactly what they need. They will share things that they might have never shared with us before, they will get to know even more about each other, their life and everything and we will perceive them better as well. Honestly, Peter, I think your idea's brilliant".
"Really ? Wow, thanks Soph. I'm so lucky to have you" He said kissing her once again.
"No… I'm the lucky one".
"Well, how about we're both lucky ?" he said smiling at her before getting up from his chair.
Sophie was now excited too. "Maybe you could even ask them a small poem about what they do or did and how they feel about it, how it makes them feel or how it was like. Like Auggie could write a poem about being in a gang, Scott about how it's like when he was on drugs or how he felt with his step-mother, Shelby could write one about how hard living in the streets is, Juliette about how it's like when she cuts herself or makes herself throw up after eating or lets herself starve… It's a bit delicate but it could be good for them.
"I hadn't thought of that but a poem is a great idea too", he said happy of their ideas, "I think it's group time" he added, "I'll tell them about the new assignment tonight… how many days do you think I should give them to do it ?"
"Well, it depends how long you want the essay to be" she said trying to picture them writing it, "They need time to think about what to write and then actually write. So maybe you should give them like three days.
He smiled at her as they left his office to go to the lounge where the cliffhangers were waiting for the new group session to begin before going to bed. They were wondering what the session would be about today. They also knew that they hadn't been given any assignments since last week and it was quite unusual so they were waiting for the time they'd have something else to do.
Shelby was resting her head on Scott's shoulder, Juliette playing with Auggie's hand which was in hers while they were starring into each other's eyes, Daisy was talking about tarot to Ezra, David was annoying Kat.
"I'm so tired and bored today" Shelby said sighing.
They all nodded thinking the same thing.
"I think Peter's trying to kill us" Ezra said laughing a bit before the other joined him in his laughs.
They didn't see Peter and Sophie enter.
"So I'm trying to kill you guys ?" He questioned smiling, "That's interesting, Ezra, I didn't think of that".
"Oh well, I thought so but still I'm sure we have a big place in your mind and it's killing you" Ezra said making everybody laugh once again.
He waited for them to stop laughing to start tonight's group therapy.
"So, first I want you all to tell me how you're feeling tonight" Peter said, "Who wants to go first ?" he asked knowing the answer already as Juliette raised her hand, "Ok Juliette you start".
"Tired, Auggie"
"Exhausted, Daisy"
"Bored, Ezra"
"Hurt, Scott"
"Tired, Shelby"
"Tired too, Kat"
"Confused, David"
"Don't know"
Peter would usually ask someone who would answer that to elaborate but as David was new and always about to start an argument or fight anytime he could he decided it'd be for another day. But he was concerned about Scott being mad. Something was up, he was sure of it.
"Good, thank you" Peter simply said, "I know this day wasn't that easy, we walked a lot, but I want you to know that I'm proud of you !".
"So it's been a while since your last assignment" Peter started to say before being interrupted".
"See, I told you something bad was about to happen tonight" Daisy said, "The cards told me about that".
"Daisy, please" Peter said.
She just shrugged.
…