The Cliffhanger group walked into the kitchen and started to make breakfast. None of them wanted cook that morning but it was the Cliffhangers turn so they had no choice. Everyone had their own job to do and none of them were liking them. Scott especially, who was making the bacon.
"Ow!" he nearly screamed as a bubble of grease popped and shot up at him, burning him.
Shelby looked over at Scott, who was giving the bacon a cold glare, and laughed. She grabbed a piece of her hair and pulled it behind her ear. She to Scott and couldn't help but begin to laugh again.
"Glad I could be so amusing to you," Scott said with a sarcastic tone. "Ow!"
"Don't be such a baby," Shelby said and walked over by him with a smile still on her face.
"I'm not being a baby," Scott stated. "It hurts."
Shelby shook her head and took the utensil from Scott's hand. She moved the bacon around in the pan. The grease popped up her and burned her arm as well but she wasn't fazed by it. Years of making bacon at home before Horizon had made her used to the small burns.
"How come it's not burning you? What are you doing differently?" Scott asked.
"It is burning m. I'm just not screaming like a girl when it happens," Shelby teased.
"Doesn't it hurt though?"
"Not really," She replied with a shrug. "It doesn't bother me much anymore."
Shelby handed Scott the utensil back and walked back over to the pancakes she had been working on. She grabbed the spatula and started to flip them, seeing that she had come back just in time before they burned. She was beginning to be thankful for her Mom's lack of cooking skills which caused her to learn how to cook on her own.
Scott walked over to Shelby, saw her making the pancakes with a simple ease and asked, "How can you do that so easily?"
"Years of practice," Shelby replied, flipped the last pancake and looked to Scott. "Why?"
"Just wondering," Scott replied with a shrug. "Plus, it will come in handy when we're living together after Horizon 'cause as you can tell, I can't cook to save my life."
Shelby smiled and looked down as her cheeks grew hot. She was blushing at Scott's comment of them living together after Horizon. That meant that he wanted them to last past Horizon which was a comforting though to her for she, too, wanted them to last past Horizon.
"Scott, I think your bacon's done," Rachel said from behind Scott and Shelby.
"Shit!" He said, ran to the stove and turned the heat off. "I hate cooking."
Rachel and Shelby laughed at him. They couldn't help it. It was ironic that they were laughing together for they didn't really like each other but they both found Scott's hatred and horrible skill for cooking was amusing. Scott, however, wasn't amused like Shelby and Rachel.
"I don't know why Peter makes me do this," Scott said.
"What do I make you do?" Peter asked.
"Cook," Scott answered. "I always screw up."
Peter looked at the bacon and said, "They look fine."
"That's 'cause Shelby and Rachel came to my rescue."
"Yes. I defended him from the evil bacon," Shelby teased with a grin.
Peter smiled.
"Well, kids are starting to show up so let's get a move on with getting everything done," He said.
"Already ahead of you, Peter," Shelby said and grabbed the plate full of pancakes she had just taken off the burner.
"Same here," Rachel said and grabbed the bacon.
The Cliffhanger group served everyone willingly but they were obviously not happy about it and it showed on their faces.
By the time the cliffhangers had finished eating and cleaning the dished, it was time for group. They didn't seem to mind group that day as long as they were out of the kitchen. Scott seemed particularly anxious to leave the kitchen. Everyone hung their aprons up on the appropriate hook and walked out of the kitchen.
They walked into the lodge for group and all sat down in chairs that were arranged for them. The Cliffhangers were almost instantly joined by Peter and Sophie. They all knew that group had some sort of surprise in store for them because they never had both Peter and Sophie if there wasn't some type of surprise. None of the youths were anticipating what the surprise could be.
"Okay, Cliffhangers, you guys are getting someone new added to the group today," Peter said.
"Another?" David asked and said what everyone was thinking. "This is, what, our third this year?"
"Well, one of them isn't here anymore," Peter replied.
"And thank God for that," Shelby said under her breath. "If only we could loose the other so easily.
Peter smiled and pretended not to hear Shelby's words even though he could clearly for he was standing right next to her. Peter gave Shelby a look with raised eyebrows and a smile. Shelby replied to his look with an innocent smile, clearly asking, 'what?'
Peter shook his head lightly and went back to the group.
"So, when's the new student coming?" Juliet asked with a giddy tone.
"Right now," Peter answered.
Sophie walked to the entrance and re-emerged with a very attractive girl. She had blonde hair and brown eyes. The girl had a tan complexion which stood out even more with the plain white T-shirt and jeans she was wearing. She was skinny yet still managed to have boobs and a butt which was rare. There was no doubt that the girl was attractive.
The girl scanned the group quickly and looked very unimpressed. Then, her eyes stopped on Scott and she gave him a smile that was almost seductive. Scott had definitely caught her eye but it didn't seem like Scott, on the other hand, barely knew she even existed.
"Everyone, this is Shannon," Sophie said. "Since there's another new student to the group, Peter and I decided to cut you guys some slack and cancel group today. We're just going to give you guys a chance to get to know each other."
"Scott, Shelby," Peter said in a stern voice which caught their attention. "Try to be nice to this one."
"Hey, you have to admit, mike deserved what I have him," Scott said and glanced briefly to Shelby.
"Off the record, I agree with you," Peter said with a smile. "Off the record."
"Come on, mountain man, leave the kids alone," Sophie said, winked at the Cliffhangers and practically dragged Peter out of the lodge.
Small chuckled left all of the old Cliffhanger's mouths while Shannon stood there unaffected by Sophie and Peter's movements. Shannon clearly wasn't enjoying her first day there. Then again, none of the student ever enjoyed their first days. First day, for students, was hell.
All the Cliffhangers, save for Shannon, started talking. They were oblivious to Shannon's existence.
"I thought you guys are suppose to be trying to get to know me," Shannon commented after several moments of being sick of being ignored.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that," Shelby said with false sweetness and chuckled.
"Don't worry about it," Shannon replied. "Your not one of the people I really care about getting to know."
"Meow!" Juliet said with a grin.
"So, how about it, hottie?" Shannon asked and cast a look in Scott's direction with raised eyebrows.
Before Scott could respond, Rachel said, "You're wasting your time, sweetie. He's taken."
"By who?" Shannon asked.
"By me," Shelby answered. "Look, new girl, we've already been through this act once this year and I'm not in the mood to do it again so just forget whatever you had in mind."
"What are you, his keep or his girlfriend?"
"Just his girlfriend. Scott makes up his own mind about girls, trust me," Juliet answered.
Shannon smiled to herself and looked back to Scott. She leaned down by him and glanced at Shelby with another smile before bringing her attention back to Scott.
"What do you say, Scott?" Shannon asked quietly and seductively. "How about we go somewhere else and you can get to know me close and personal?"
"I don't believe this," Scott said, stood up from the chair and looked at Shannon. "You haven't even known me for an hour and you expect me to just leave with you so we can go fuck? No way."
Shannon looked almost taken aback but she quickly recovered and made her face blank again.
"There's your answer. It was 'no'," Shelby said. "Sorry, Shan, but you lost this one."
"Well, you know what they say," Shannon said. "All is fair…"
"…In love and war," Shelby finished for her with an almost tired tone. "Damn. When if your type gonna get a new line?"
Everyone chuckled at Shelby's comment but Shelby and Shannon looked un-amused. It was obvious that Shannon wasn't planning on giving up that easy which had the rest of the group worried. Shelby, on the other hand, could do nothing but think: not again!
(A/N)- First off, thanks for all the the reviews: Melms213, ScottandShelby334, OliverWoodsGurl4life, Link, Many, Hdrox, Ashlyn Alexis, ami-c, this-is-me8907, Leanne, Delia, Kal's Gal, HCLvr, Ghostwriter, CracKHeaDwitskillz, Ms. Kitty
and Lucky. I'm happy you all enjoyed this story. Thank you all so much for keeping me writing.
This story is finally done! I know this wasn't a long chapter but it was short and(in my opinion) sweet. I brought it back to the beginning a little bit. I hope everyone enjoyed it. I had this story going for over a year and it's finally over. This is also my first Higher Ground fanfic so I hope everyone enjoyed it for that reason as well.
Also, FYI, I'm finshing The Truth Comes Out next! It's the next chapter I'm writing so I hope everyone enjoys that one too.
Please review and let me know how I ended my first story!