Something new. It's a little short, but then again so are all of my chapters. LoL. I think you'll all enjoy this one though. Read on and you'll see why. Please let me know if you are loving or hating it. Either is fine as long as you do comment! I love feedback. And I need to to continue on. Thanks and Enjoy!

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Chapter Nine: Pleasant Surprises

The sun above her was no more as she entered the forest, the tall, dense trees blocking it from her reach. Shelby crossed her arms as she shivered, the cool breeze that the sun normally heated finding her quickly. Her curious gaze traveled around the small area, suddenly realizing that in 10 years, the spot hadn't changed a bit. "This is a surprise," the familiar voice shocked her as she turned quickly to meet its owner.

Scott sat up from where he laid the loose leaves and branches clinging to him as he stood. Shelby could only pull her arms tighter around her as he neared, the awkwardness finding her within seconds. "Scott," She breathed, her eyes darting to anywhere but him. "What are you doing here?" Shelby asked, finally willing herself to meet his entrancing gaze. Scott took another step toward her only to have her take a step away from him. Sighing, he ran a hand through his blonde curls, trying his best to overcome the disappointment that flooded him.

"Do you remember what it was like when we came out here?" Scott ignored her previous question, countering with one of his own. "I remember that we'd always sneak here to get away from Peter and Sophia. It was the only place we could actually go to have the peace and tranquility of just being together without being punished for it." He laughed as the memories clouded him, but his smile fell quickly. "But you've moved on." Scott echoed her previous words. "I doubt you remember any of this."

In a burst of anger, Shelby growled as she threw her hands up in a sudden fit. "I remember everything, Scott. You were a huge part of my life back then. Just because I've moved on doesn't mean that I've forgotten anything."

Scott smiled victoriously. "I think that's the only time you've opened up to me since we've been at Horizon." And for Shelby, it was opening up.

Shelby scoffed, a smile turning up her lips before she quickly wiped it away. "Was that your mission the entire time, Scott?" She didn't pause long enough for him to answer. "To get me to open up?" Her laugh was bitter and it resounded throughout the hollowness of the forest. "Well, how is this for opening up?" Suddenly, Shelby turned back to Scott, her eyebrow raised. "Ten years ago, I lost the love of my life. For two years after that, I tried and tried to live my life without him. Finally, I learned how to." Scott's face fell. "Then, out of the blue, and after I've tried so hard to move on, that boy comes crashing back into my life, wanting to me to drop all of the pain that I've went through over him and reunite." Again, Shelby sighed. "It didn't work last time, Scott. It won't this time either."

"How do you know?" he asked. "You can't tell me that it can't work. You can't know that until we've tried it."

"History repeats itself," Shelby shrugged, turning to walk away from him. "Or didn't you know?"

"That's a load of crap, Shelby, and you know that." He stepped closer to her again, taking her arms in his hands gently to prevent her from once again stepping away from him. "You can't tell me that you don't feel it." He freed one of her arms to brush stray strands of hair from her face. "You can't tell me that when I touch you like this," He let his fingertips linger on the tip of her ear before dropping to trace her jaw line. "You can't tell me that you don't feel it, Shel. You'd be lying if you did."

As her breathing became shaky, Scott knew that he had affected her. He knew that, though, she tried to keep her distance, tried to convince herself that she hadn't moved on, she really hadn't. He could see her walls as they crumbled before him and he knew that this was the one moment that he might be able to get through to her. "Shelby," She closed her eyes to him as he trailed the pad of his thumb along her swollen lips, his eyes following his actions with longing. "Shel, look at me." Another part of her crumbled as she unwillingly met his gaze and he cupped her face in his hands to keep it locked on him. "Can you tell me that you can't feel it?" He paused. "Better yet, can you tell me that you can't feel this?"

With his hands still cradling her face, Scott was careful to bring her lips to his. He had expected Shelby to fight him and pull away, but was pleasantly surprised to see that she wasn't resisting in the least bit. She wanted to kiss him too. Though she tried to be tough, and though she tried to convince him that she had overcome their past, it was more than obvious now that Shelby still dwelled on it just as much as he had. He was now more certain then ever that subconsciously she had come to Horizon in the simple hope of reuniting with him, though he was sure she'd deny it he approached her about it. He wasn't going to do that. Scott didn't need her to audibly voice her answer. All of the answers to all of his questions were in their kiss as the electricity flowed through his body at mere feel of her lips against his. It was still there. And he was sure that it would always be.