SCHOOL OF LOVE

A/N: Warning! Suicide subject broached. Oh, and Scott's confession to Shelby about Elaine. And a lot of unexpected things! And a big cliffhanger!

Thanks for the reviews! I'm really glad I got so much good feedback!

Lenee: Thanks, I really appreciate the fact you think that this story is great! You don't know how much your review was well welcome!

Danyu: Thank you for your really interesting and complete review. In this chapter, you'll see more of Scott's confession about his past and of course Wendy's downfall...guess you saw it coming! Are you gonna do another ff about Higher Ground? Because I really loved 'Just Breathe' and was kinda sad to find it complete...

poolidge366: I know, I know my last chapter took time to be updated, and I'm really sorry about it... That's why I decided to update this one quicker, that and the fact you wrote you were checking for a new update everyday. I kinda know what it's like because when I'm really hooked to a story, I do the same! So, you can congratulate yourself because that's your review that made me updating! I hope you'll like that chapter too anyway, and don't worry, you'll get a very long S&S scene here...

Ghostwriter: Hey, faithful reader, I'm glad you still like to read my story. Here's more of this story, and I hope you'll like the cliffhanger... I really think it's getting really interesting from this chapter because that's where the drama begins...

RATING: T (just to be sure)

CHARACTERS: Shelby, Scott, Wendy, Jill, Susan, Harmony.

SUMMARY: AU. Shelby, Wendy, Scott, Brian and the others are all in high school. Walt still exists, but is slightly different in comparison with the show. Elaine happened but is now out of the picture.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the original characters. The others are completely made up, unless my subconscious worked on things I saw on TV or something…

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Thursday

Scott laid in her arms finally asleep again after he had told her everything Elaine had done to him. She couldn't believe something like that would happen to him, the world wasn't fair. She hadn't dared telling him about Walt. It wasn't totally the same. Elaine had gone too far to go back…Walt had stopped where he had to. She would tell him through. She'd tell him she understands better than he thinks she does. And she promised herself she wouldn't judge him. She couldn't, and it wasn't his fault. Elaine was the sick woman who had abused of an innocent child; she was the only one to blame. If one day she met her again, Shelby would probably be willing to hurt her physically. Scott stirred in his sleep and Shelby ran a hand through his hair, trying to calm him down. He wasn't having a nightmare but it wasn't a dream either… She had realized something after he had told her everything…that he trusted her like any other girlfriend he had had. It definitively meant something. She loved him…maybe too much to let him face Elaine again. She didn't want him to forgive the woman. It wasn't selfish, but it was just the woman didn't deserve it. What she had done to him…that was disgusting.

Flashback

"She is a monster Shel…she used to come into my room at night, and she said that she was scared of the storm or stuff…I knew it was wrong, that I didn't love her, Damn it she was my father's wife!" He wiped his mouth angrily and continued talking, looking down at his trembling hands. "…but she'd forced herself on me, undressing me and climbing over me, attacking me and harassing me. You know dad wasn't here often…" He looked up and at that statement, Shelby nodded softly as in a sign he could keep going. "And she was taking advantage of that. And she also told me people wouldn't believe me, that I was a child and she an adult…" He sobbed in her arms and she slowly ran a hand through his hair, making him soft curls. "God, I hate her so much for what she's done to me! I'm such a wimp!" He exploded and Shelby wrapped him in a hug, which he reciprocated quickly. "I love you Shel, so much." He said with a muffled voice and she closed her eyes, letting the tears falling.

"Was she your…um, the first woman for you?" She quietly asked and he shook his head, not removing it from his spot.

"It was awful Shel; I told my dad after several months of abhorrence, and god, I was so relieved when he did believe me! I never thought he would." He quietly said and she smiled sadly, knowing that it had been the same when she had told her mother about Walt. Never in a million of years would she have thought Alice would believe her so quickly, unabatedly, and without doubting her words for a second. She was an amazing mother to her three children. Of course, she wasn't perfect, she had her few defaults, but she was just fantastic to them.

"Your father loves you Scott. Elaine was nothing in this family; she would have never taken a bigger place then you and your sisters." She reasoned him and he acquiesced, knowing she was right.

"But she was so convincing!"

"That what make her even more evil. Gosh, and I thought she was beautiful…" Shelby bitterly shook her head and continued. "She's just an ugly person with an even more ugly soul." She said with a disgusted face and he couldn't help but chuckle ever so slightly at the face she gave him. He kissed her cheek and closed his eyes again. "That's funny though." She finally said and Scott opened his eyes to look up at her.

"What?"

"I'm not meaning that what happened was funny…it was a funny-strange, it's just…" She hesitated as she didn't know how to tell him her sentiment about the situation he had been living in.

"What?" Scott asked again watching her closely.

"Please, don't be mad at my statement. I just thought those sorts of things were only happening to girls."

"I wanna go back to sleep…" He stated ignoring her last comment and she apologized quietly, mouthing a 'sorry' to him. He nodded and yawned as he looked at the digital clock. They had still some hours of sleep to use.

"I'm not going anywhere." She reassured him and he couldn't help but smile at her.

"Thank you Shel, for being so understanding. I know you possibly can't know what I felt or still feel, but really, I'm glad you're here, standing up for me." He thanked her and she smiled honestly at him. She was feeling sorry they both had to leave things like this, but was happy to know that when she would talk to him about Walt, he would understand her feelings better than anyone.

End Flashback

"Shelby?" Scott mumbled hoarsely, wrapping his arm tighter around her waist. She had just got back from her breakfast with Susan and the coldness of her body had awakened him as she had pressed it against his. He cleared his throat and took in her morning beauty.

"Um?" She asked, breathing softly into his chest. He smelt so good, even after a night of eventful and restless sleep. He moved a little to rest his back on the pillow and watched as she placed her head in the fold of his arm. He brought a hand to her soft blonde vanilla smelling hair and began stroking it gently. "Morning." She whispered timidly with a small yawl and he couldn't help but smile at her innocent face.

"Morning…you've been awake for a long time?" He asked and she just shook her head softly.

"No…it's just I heard your mother telling Harmony to go out of the bathroom early."

"Telling?" He asked with a chuckle and she smiled.

"No, more like yelling, but this isn't the point. Waking up gave me the need to pee, so I got up and met your mom in the corridor. And she asked me if you were still sleeping, and if I wanted to eat breakfast with her." She explained and he nodded looking at her playfully.

"Which you did, right?" He asked her expectantly.

"It was nine and I was hungry, okay?" She retorted with a small giggle and he leaned his face down and pulled her into a small kiss. She moaned as he pulled back but smiled up as she saw his face brightening.

"Thanks again for yesterday and this morning, you were really great." He mumbled and she bit her lip softly as she was embarrassed.

"It's my job as a good girlfriend." She smirked at him and he nodded smiling down at her cute face.

"I really love you Shelby Merrick." He said seriously and she tittered softly.

"Well, the feeling's not quite mutual." She teased him, before pulling him to her and kissing him again. They gazed into each other eyes and Shelby's breath caught in her throat. "I love you too Scott." She murmured silently and caressed his cheek with her fingers and her stomach tightened in anticipation of what was to come. "I love you." She added even quieter before letting him capturing her mouth in his again. Their tongues danced together, gently exploring each other's mouths, not adding any pressure on the kiss. She was sure of her love for him, she didn't even know why she had doubt her feelings the night before…maybe yes… She had thought he didn't trust her enough to tell her everything about him. She had been so wrong. Of course, he was her first love and she would probably question herself again…but what she felt for him, it was indescribable, magic, and she knew it was deep love. And he perfectly knew it too.

"Shelby, Bestfriend, whatever isyour name, c'mon here, I need to talk to you, it's urgent!" Wendy yelled into the phone with an anxious voice and Shelby panicked slightly.

"What's wrong? Are you okay? Is it something wrong with…?" Shelby started but was cut off quickly.

"Nothing's wrong with anything, I'm fine. But I need to talk to you, so where are you?" Wendy asked impatiently and Shelby giggled a little at her frustrated state.

"Outside, taking a sandwich for lunch."

"Why didn't you take something from your kitchen this morning?" This morning? This morning I was at your house with your brother… Shelby thought, smiling to herself as she thought of the steps they had made in their relationship with talking about Elaine.

"Um, I forgot." She lied and was glad Wendy wasn't standing in front of her at that particular moment. "Where are you?"

"Coming, are you seeing me?" Wendy asked and waved her hand as she crossed Shelby's gaze. Shelby waved back and waited for her to catch up with her. They kissed each other's cheeks and Wendy smiled, slightly reassured. At least, she wouldn't be the only one to ponder about her problem this afternoon. "Hi!" She said then took Shelby's hand in hers, leading her away from the crowd.

"Okay, you're acting slightly weird, what's up with you?" Shelby questioned as they sat in front of each other at a picnic table. Wendy looked around to be sure no one of their friends was coming.

"God, I'm so confused!" She exploded and Shelby couldn't help but chuckle at her. She ripped off her sandwich packing and looked up at her bestfriend.

"Why?" She asked with good interest.

"You know I kissed Brian the other day in the janitor's closet?" Shelby nodded at this and she continued. "Well now it's all I can think about." She said with a sigh and Shelby's lips pressed together.

"What about Luke?" Shelby liked the boy…she didn't know him much but he was treating her bestfriend with respect and seemed to really care about her.

"I don't know…" She whined and Shelby smiled at her.

"It was only a kiss…what did you feel?"

"His lips on mine." She joked and Shelby couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.

"Very funny."

"I felt something incredible…but it was purely physical…I have no other desire than have him in a bed…" Wendy said dreamingly and Shelby shook her head disapprovingly.

"I think you should stay away from guys for a short period after what happened." Shelby stated with her motherly tone and Wendy didn't appreciate it.

"Okay, it's not your life okay, so if I want to have fun I can do whatever I feel like doing without you being my consciousness, it's my choice!" She said mad but trying to contain her anger a maximum. She didn't want to make a scene in front of the whole school.

"Okay, you don't need to relieve all your feelings on me! I'm not the one who slept with a guy without protection and certainly not am the one who got rid of my own baby!" Shelby let it slipping and before she could say something else, Wendy beat her at it.

"You think I'm not regretting everything that happened? You think I wanted to have an abortion? Not once you told me I shouldn't do it the day of the operation, not you and neither Jill did! I was so scared it was awful, but no, you never told me I would feel this way!" She exploded and threw her pen and notebook at her face. Shelby couldn't believe her violence of gesture.

"How dare you say that to me? All I ever did was to support you and your issues! Don't you think I have a life besides our friendship?" Oh, and for your information Wendy, I'm dating your brother! She yelled inside but couldn't bring Scott right now. Wendy seemed close to tears but she miraculously kept them to herself. She hated fighting with Shelby but she did need to find someone to blame and Shelby was this person.

"Why did you bring me to that clinic, why?" Wendy shouted and several heads turned to watch them fighting.

"Because you pleaded to go Wendy!" Shelby said sternly, thinking it would calm her a little.

"But…you should have prevented me from doing it! You knew I would feel sick after! All I want now is to be as dead as it is!"

"I'm really sorry Wendy…I don't know what I can do for you." Shelby said, placing her hand over hers. Wendy freed herself of her and shook her head bitterly.

"I have a better plan, don't do anything, do not come near me and don't talk to me ever again!" Wendy got up and gathered her things together.

"Wendy!"

"I hate you Shelby Merrick. I really do." She said one last time before turning on her heals.

"Wendy!" Shelby called but Wendy didn't even acknowledge her and continued walking to the parking lot. "Wendy!" Shelby yelled after her and decided she couldn't let her leave like this. Wendy's steps fastened as she spotted Jill in her car, making out with a guy she didn't know. She opened the car door and took the guy arm in her hand tightly and pulled him out with an exceptional strength. Jill looked up stunned at her and a little dazed due to her after her make-out.

"What do you think you're doing exactly?"

"Sorry, I just need to get out of her, I can't stand the atmosphere."

"Are you kidding me? I have class in like…uh" Jill looked at her watch and thought for a second. "I have biology in 20 minutes."

"Well, screw class; I really need to go and quick." Wendy said stressed as she saw a crying Shelby walking to the car. She shouldn't be the one to cry, she hadn't been the one to wake up knowing her baby was gone forever and that she had been the one to decide of its fate. Shelby climbed in the backseat of the car and leaned forward.

"Wendy, please talk to me!"

"Start the car Jill." Wendy ordered and Shelby closed her door before glancing at Jill through the driving mirror.

"Is any one of you two going to explain what happened?" Jill said and Wendy glared at her. Jill rolled her eyes but started the car, heading to the beach. At least she would go where she wanted to.

"Wendy, I'm sorry, but you know that's not true." Shelby started and Wendy rolled her eyes, obviously annoyed.

"You wanna know what's true? I am a slut who doesn't deserve to live after what I have done! First I let Scott suffer from Elaine and now I kill my child!" Wendy blurted out and Shelby looked taken aback at her outburst. She unbuckled her safety belt and leaned close to Wendy's seat.

"What? Elaine? You…you knew?" She asked quietly and Wendy nodded softly, letting the tears falling.

"What did she know? Okay girls, I'm lost, care someone to explain?" Jill asked, handing her a tissue.

"You're aware of the story?" Wendy asked Shelby, ignoring Jill's question.

"Scott, well…he kinda told me."

"He did? When?" Wendy was quite surprised that Scott had confided in Shelby about it since he had never talked to his own sister about it and even if Shelby and he were friends, it didn't mean they had to be that close to talk to things like that together.

"Uh, it's been not that long…"

"You wanna know why I didn't say anything? Because I was just as afraid as he was, if even more…and at first…I thought he wanted it. I mean, look at Elaine, she's quite a body. And he's a boy; I thought they all liked it." Wendy replied and Shelby nodded, swallowing hard. She had thought the same about it before Scott told her about his own situation.

"How did you discover?"

"I witnessed it! I witnessed his complaints, his cries, his pleads, every night she was in his bedroom." Wendy said closing her eyes in pain. She remembered every whisper of her brother pleading the woman to stop, and she saying she was afraid and that she loved him… The nickname she used, now banished from the family vocabulary.

"Why did you come back after the first time?"

"I couldn't help myself; I was so shocked but didn't know what to do… I know that's sick."

"You never tried to talk with Scott about it?"

"No, and he doesn't know I am aware of what happened. It's like the big secret in the family. No one ever talks about it and no one knows that I know." Wendy said her anger against her beginning to build inside of her.

"I'm sorry." She said sympathetically and placed her hand on her shoulder. Wendy couldn't take her support anymore. She didn't deserve it.

"Stop! Stop saying you're sorry every five seconds!" She shouted harshly and Shelby just closed her eyes, letting the tears falling freely.

"Calm down Wendy, whatever your problem is, just calm down!" Jill yelled after her and Wendy shot her and angry look before pushing her hardly against the window. Jill's hands lost their grip on the steering wheel and Shelby screamed as she saw that they were driving right in front of a big empty space as they had left the road. Wendy was uncontrollable. She continued crying, hitting Jill with her hands and Jill closed her eyes knowing they would die. The car rolled over several times before stopping its crazy course. The car was fuming but none of the girls noticed as they were all unconscious.

Scott pulled his sweatshirt off and threw it in the laundry linen. He had been playing football with Martin for hours and it had been great. His father was working a lot and didn't have a lot of time to consecrate to his children, but did his best. Besides, it wasn't like they were on their own; Susan was there to take care of them. He heard a ringing and ran to the phone before Harmony could answer. He grinned at her and she rolled her eyes at him, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Barringer's residence?" Scott greeted and a masculine voice answered him. Scott first frowned, wondering what the guy wanted. "Okay, what happened?" He questioned slightly anxious and sat on the stool, as the man began telling him the news. "Is she okay?" Harmony sat next to him and looked at him with question. She didn't know what had happened but it didn't seem good at all. "Was she alone?" "No, they're both at work. I'll call them as soon as we hang up." "Can I have the names of the persons who were with her?" "Okay, thank you. Goodbye." Scott hung up and looked at his sister with an aggravated glance. "It's Wendy. She had an accident."

"What?"

"She was with Jill and Shelby… I don't even know if she's okay…" He whispered, talking more about Shelby than Jill. He didn't really know Jill…

"Is she okay?"

"Yeah, just a few broken ribs and a contusion. But Jill and Shelby, I don't know…" He repeated himself and Harmony nodded softly. At least, Wendy was okay…

"We have to go to the hospital. Can you think you can drive or you prefer asking someone else?" She asked him and he shook his head, swallowing hard.

"No, I'll be fine. C'mon." He urged and Harmony followed him outside, and locked the door behind them. "Call dad and mom and tell them about it while I drive." He ordered and she nodded, buckling her safety belt. Scott started the car, a million things in his head…and Shelby. Once they arrived, they both rushed inside and stopped at the reception desk. "Uh, good morning, we're searching for someone that was admitted in the ER a little while ago."

"His or her name? And an id, please" The reception woman asked and Scott pulled off his driving license to show her his name.

"Wendy Barringer." The woman nodded and gave him back his driving license.

"She's resting in a room. Number 613." She announced once she had tapped the name on her computer.

"Okay, uh, can you tell us how the other persons that were with her are?" Scott asked before leaving and Harmony stood up, anxiously biting her lip and hoping that the two others were okay. She was good friends with Shelby and liked Jill too. She thought the girl was really funny.

"I guess. Uh, there is one in Intensive Care Unit doing surgery and the other is in the wake-up room." She answered and Scott smiled tiredly at her, hoping Shelby was the one to be okay.

"Thank you." He didn't bother asking who was where as he knew she couldn't tell him.

"You're welcome."

"C'mon Harm, let's see Di first."

"Okay." She whispered and they both took the elevator to the sixth floor. They quietly walked to Wendy's room and were surprised when they saw their mother already there with her.

"Hey mom, you were quick." Harmony said with a smile and glanced at her sister. She was bruised all over the face and Harmony bet it was the same for her body.

"I was close to the hospital when you called me." Susan answered her gently and got up to walk to her children.

"How are you doing Wendy?" Scott asked and Wendy narrowed her eyes at him before answering sarcastically.

"Fine." She muttered and turned in her bed, facing the wall. Susan took Scott by the arm and titled her head to the door and led the two outside.

"What's up mom? Why is she barely talking?" Scott asked and feared the worst.

"Something happened…Shelby is in the coma." Susan announced and Scott felt his knees giving up. Susan held him in her arms and he began whimpering.

"Mom…"

"The doctor is positive that she will wake up quickly though." Susan added, not wanting him to fall apart any more.

"How did it happen?" Harmony spoke up and Susan looked at her with a sad expression.

"We don't know yet. Wendy doesn't want to tell but according to the shrink, she did something on purpose." Susan said and Scott's head shot up at her declaration.

"What do you mean?"

"She would have provoked the accident." Susan replied and Scott pulled away, angrily wiping his tears.

"What?" Scott cried, and then stormed into Wendy's room while Susan and Harmony followed him, hoping he wouldn't do anything to his sister. "Why Wendy?" He harshly asked her as he looked at her with pity.

"She didn't persuade me." She whispered, closing her eyes as she thought he was going to hit her.

"What?" He asked again, not understanding but she refused to tell him, she couldn't.

"Drop it, you wouldn't understand."

"You destroyed her life Wendy!"

"She's not dead Scott! She's just in a coma, and she's gonna wake up soon."

"Do you realize what you're even saying? She's in a coma and you perfectly know there is a possibility she won't ever wake up."

"I refuse to believe she won't. She's a fighter and she'll make it." Wendy said as she began panicking. Her brother looked like he was going to kill her and the cold glare in his eyes frightened her.

"I hope you're right because if it doesn't happen, I'll blame you for everything."

"You already are. But the thing is that you know nothing of what I'm living right now. You just assume things without even knowing the truth."

"Then tell me, what happened?"

"She's not my friend anymore, okay?"

"Wendy, listen to me carefully: the girl I'm in love with is in a coma by your fault, so I think the least I deserve is to know why you are mad at her." Scott yelled then stormed out of the room angry, slapping the door behind him in rage. He hit his fist in the wall and began crying, sliding against the wall. He had to be strong for Shelby…why did it have to happen to her?

"The girl he's in love with let me kill my child! So much for a caring person!" Wendy exploded glancing at the slammed door.

"What child?" Susan asked carefully while Harmony sat back on the chair dumbfounded. She now understood why Wendy was always feeling ill or throwing her meals… Wendy began crying and Susan approached her. "Wendy, what are you talking about?"

"I was pregnant mom…and Shelby destroyed it" She proclaimed and Susan's eyes grew big.

"What?"

"I thought I couldn't keep up and Shelby and Jill took me to this clinic. I had a…an abortion…and they let me doing it. I thought I wouldn't regret it, that it was the best solution for my future."

"Who was the father?" Was Susan's next question and Wendy closed her eyes, anxiously thinking of a way out…her mother couldn't see her as a slut…not knowing with whom she was…but she couldn't tell her who it was, she didn't want anyone to blame him. It wouldn't be fair to him.

"Mom…I don't know." Susan gasped at her daughter but didn't say anything. Wendy bit her bottom lip then looked down at their hands intertwined. "Mom, don't tell Scott, or dad for the matter." She requested and Susan frowned. She couldn't keep the secret to them, it wouldn't be fair.

"I won't do it Wendy, but I warn you: if they ask me, I won't lie, I'll tell them I know but that you don't want them to. Is that clear?" Susan said and Wendy nodded at her mother. She knew her mother had been quite calm about the revelations and she wondered if she would hold it against her later.

"Yeah…Harm?"

"I promise Wendy…I'm sorry for what happened to you…you could have come to me."

"Thanks." Wendy tried to smile but was unsuccessful. She was devastated inside and felt like she had done only bad things in her life…it was time for her to make amends.

Next Chapter:

more of Jill's and Shelby's conditions

Scott/Alice

Alice blaming Wendy

Wendy's pain and guilt

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