SCHOOL OF LOVE
A/N: Firstly, I'm sorry my update didn't come any sooner. I don't know why, but I just couldn't get my chappy on the site... Well, I tried over and over again and it finally worked, now I just have a problem with the blue ruler to separate parts but I did find a way to do it, though! Okay, now with this chapter, we'll find out about Shelby's condition, Wendy's dealing with her hard feelings, Scott and Alice dealing with their pain...
Thanks for the reviews:
slimshadyzlady: Yes, Wendy is wrong blaming Shelby, the poor girl is so lost and unfair to her bestfriend uh? Well anyway, not need to be so angry about it, it's just a story and Wendy doesn't even exist so take the things lighter...(lol!)
Queen of Shadows: Thanks for your continuous support, and it's okay about rambling, I do it a lot too! I'm glad you're still loving that story, especially since it's my bigger project here. Hey, good luck with writing Memories, I know how it is to have some difficulties writing stories. Look at me, I have now 6 stories I have to update, and I keep on writing another that I promised myself I won't post until I end at least 2 of those 6... So here I will end Suicidal soon, I have the chapter 3 up and I plan on writing another one and then I'll probably be done with that one. I started writing in summer 2005, so it's been a whole year and I didn't progress a lot. I'll put The Family Life on hiatus because I just can't write another chapter and believe me when I say that I tried several times; and I'll keep Call It Fate and School of Love. Well, so much for being short... enjoy that new chapter!
poolidge366: Thanks thanks thanks thanks thanks! Wow, your review was...wonderful too! I'm just so sorry I didn't get the chapter soon... I apologize for that... What you said about School Of Love being one of the best fanfics you read really got me! I'm just so happy you think all of that positive things about my writing, especially since english is not my mother tongue! Thank you again and I really hope you're gonna love this chapter!
Ghostwriter: Thanks for your review, you're a great reviewer, you know? I think you're one of those who did review every chapter of this story and I love you for that. You're amazing! Enjoy this chapter and thanks for the support!
Cindy: Thanks for the review. You're right about Wendy, the girl is unfair and definitively have issues... hopefully, it will get better for her, uh? And don't worry, someone is gonna make her realize what she did was wrong and it's not gonna be pretty...
RATING: T (just to be sure)
CHARACTERS: Shelby, Scott, Wendy, Alice.
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…
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CHAPTER NINETEEN
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A Week Later - Thursday
A week had passed since Shelby, Wendy and Jill had been admitted to the Hospital. It had been a long, agonic week for every person who knew and cared for them. Scott had spent all of his time keeping company to his girlfriend, talking to her and making her listen to music she loved, hoping for her wake up. Apparently, she had been the more damaged because she didn't have her safety belt buckled and she was sitting in the back of the car. The doctor who was taking care of her had told him and her family that there was no reason she wouldn't wake up but that there could be some complications once she'd be awake, like a lost of memory or a paralysis.
Wendy had been released from the hospital two days ago but still hadn't told her father or Scott about what had happened to her before the motor accident, her pregnancy and her abortion. She knew Scott was angry at her and she was beginning to feel guilty about what she had done, especially to Shelby. It wasn't fair to put all the blame on her bestfriend who had done nothing but support her through this awful time of her life. She had learned by her mother that Shelby could have some damages due to the shock of the accident and really hoped she would wake up. Wendy was slowly recovering but what would make her doing it better would be to have her bestfriend with her… Luke had come visiting her during her stay at the hospital and she had told him she wanted them to take the things slower because of Brian. The last one had only called her to take news of her but hadn't dared coming, knowing it wouldn't be the best idea.
Alice entered the quiet hospital room and spotted a sleepy Scott, his head lying on her daughter's stomach. She knew he hadn't slept for days and didn't dare waking him up. She put her purse on a nearby chair and watched them. Scott had been devastated when he had learned about her coma. She had been too, just like the rest of the family. She didn't exactly know what had caused the accident but apparently Wendy was a part responsible. Scott wasn't talking to his sister anymore and didn't want anything to do with her until his girlfriend would wake up.
Scott woke up when he heard a soft voice calling for him. Still taken in his dream he thought it was Shelby that was talking to him, and that she had just awakened. He felt very disappointed when he met Alice's dark eyes. "Hi, morning."
"Noon actually." She offered him a small smile and he rubbed his sweaty forehead tiredly. "I'm sorry, Scott, but you need to eat something."
"I'm not hungry." He answered stubbornly and Alice smirked at him knowingly. They both knew not eating and taking care of himself wouldn't help Shelby's condition.
"Well, hungry or not, your body won't take it as an answer. I bought you Chinese food, I know you like it."
"I'm really not hungry." He insisted but knew she wouldn't take 'no' as an answer. "And besides we have no right to eat right in here, it's forbidden." He added and Alice shook her head disapprovingly.
"Just as stubborn as his mother, I can see." She teased him and he gave up, almost grabbing the dish from her. He looked inside and couldn't help but beginning to be a bit hungry.
"Thanks." He said and started eating immediately. Alice allowed a small smile to creep onto her face but it soon faded as she looked down at her daughter's figure. Scott's eyes followed hers and a tear escaped from his eye. "Alice…" He choked into his food and looked up at her. "Do you think she's gonna wake up soon?" He muttered and she nodded fervently.
"There isn't any reason why she shouldn't. Her constants are good, and really, the doctors are confident she is. If you want my opinion, she just needs to sleep profoundly."
"I miss her…I miss seeing and hearing her laugh or the sound of her voice. I can't believe my sister would do that to her, that's awful." He said bitterly and Alice frowned a little as he talked about Wendy.
"What did she do Scott? Why do you blame her that much?" She asked gently and Scott looked up at her with a scowl.
"Because it's her fault, she's the one who made Jill deviate from the road." He declared and Alice couldn't help but gasp at that revelation.
"How did it happen?"
"She was on a nervous break and took all of her anger on Shelby. She wanted to have the accident…I think she wanted to die." He explained and looked at Alice helplessly. "I'm sorry." He apologized for his sister's behaviour and Alice lifted a hand in the hair, stopping him.
"It's not your fault Scott; you don't have to feel guilty." Alice said sitting next to him and taking his left hand in hers. They both continued to eat, hoping for a gesture from Shelby, but that never came.
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Saturday
Wendy had decided to visit Shelby at the hospital. She still hadn't done it before but really need to do it. She needed to tell her bestfriend that she was sorry for putting her in this state and that she still loved her dearly. She walked ahead into the corridor and stopped right in front of the door. As she was about to enter, Alice walked out of the bedroom. Wendy bit her lip softly and smiled at her. A smile which wasn't returned at all. "What are you doing here Wendy? See the damage you caused to my daughter?"
"No, I came because I needed to tell I was sorry."
"Sorry? You feel sorry now? Why? Because you only wanted her to feel pain without killing her?" Alice scoffed and Wendy's eyes began watering.
"She's not dead!" She yelled and some heads turned to watch her.
"No, she's not. She just can't eat, talk, smile, laugh, read, see, but she's just fine!" Alice answered, yelling as loud as Wendy was. She couldn't believe what the girl had done to her precious daughter. She didn't deserve it; she was kind, generous, loving, and caring and she had a lot of people who loved her back, just as much.
"Why don't you stop being selfish! It's all about yourself and your feelings, uh?" At that, Alice couldn't help but slapping her…the nerve she had! Wendy held her cheek and began crying even more. She knew she had gone to far…she knew Alice was right about what she had done.
"Talk about selfishness, really Wendy! If someone is selfish, it's you. Just because you had small problems you decided everybody should benefit of them!"
"Small problems! You don't even know what you're talking about! Having an abortion is a small problem?" Wendy asked her talking more quietly and Alice's head shot up.
"W-what?" She asked disbelievingly looking at the petite girl.
"I was pregnant and your delicate and charming daughter helped me getting rid of it…isn't she just great?"
"How dare you talking about her this way? She's lying in a coma since a week and all you can say about her is something negative and cruel! You are heartless Wendy Barringer, and you did well by having the abortion. You could never make a child happy." Alice said and left the corridor in tears. She knew what she had said wasn't nice but Wendy had gone too far too. Her daughter was in a coma and the doctors weren't even sure if she was going to wake up in a few days, or several weeks or even more. And again, what would happen next? Would she have lost her memory, or something else?
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A Little While Later
Scott burst out of the room with a big smile playing on his face. He noticed his sister leaning against the wall, crying warm tears. He ran over to her and pulled her into a hug. "She woke up!" He said happily and Wendy pulled back a little. He nodded and she let out a loud squeal.
"OMG, I'm so relieved!"
"I know! You know what word she pronounced when she woke up?" He said excitedly and Wendy just shook her head happy to see him brightening and talking to her again. She would never admit it out loud but she had missed him very much.
"What?"
"Ba-in-er. So I don't know if she was talking to you or me but I bet it was you since you're the last person she saw."
"I don't think she'll ever talk to me again. She must hate me." Wendy muttered and Scott nodded knowing she had wanted to hurt her bestfriend. He was still mad at her but knew she felt sorry for what she had done. He just needed to know why she had done it, what so bad could have happened. They knew each other since kindergarten, had been inseparable since that time, doing everything together, the same blunders… Their friendship had always come first…until they both found out that boys were there to play with them too.
"You'll find out soon enough. The doctors are looking her over right now. But as soon as they're done, we can go talking to her." He answered after a pause and he could see a sincere smile appearing on her tired face.
"That's great! Did they call Alice?" She asked him and he nodded. She wasn't really mad at what Alice had said to her because she knew she was just taking her anger on her.
"She was beside me when it happened. How long have you been here?" He questioned as he sat next to her on the bench. He rubbed her hand as she spoke up.
"Uh, almost 3 hours." She whispered and he frowned at her. Why didn't she come into Shelby's room to see her then? What was she waiting for?
"Why didn't you enter?"
"Alice, she wouldn't want to see me close to her." She muttered and Scott nodded before his curiosity got the bad of him.
"You don't wanna tell me what happened between you two before the accident?" He asked sternly and she shook her head. "You know, Shelby wanted to see you, she cares about you. She asked me about you as soon as she woke up and remembered what had happened to her." He reassured her and her face lit up.
"She did?"
"Uh, uh." He said with a small smile, remembering the kiss his girlfriend had gave him after a few minutes she had woken up…he had been so surprised when she had asked him to come closer and give her a hug…and even more stunned when she had pulled away a little and laid a huge kiss on his dry mouth…
"So, she remembers us at least." She said slightly relieved and Scott gave out a sigh.
"Yeah…"
"What's wrong Scott?" She frowned as she noticed the sad look he had on his face.
"Well, it seems she can't feel her legs. You know she was projected to the front of the car and that her legs suffered from the effects of the projection…she had bruises and all." He told her and she put her hand on his forearm.
"I know yeah. But-" She started but he cut her off quickly.
"Okay, well, the doctors said before she woke up that she could find herself paralyzed with her lower body…from the waist to her feet. But they didn't know if it would be for a short period or not." Wendy put her hand over her mouth, feeling even more awful. It is my fucking fault if she's in this state!
"You mean she could stay paralyzed definitively?"
"Yeah."
"Oh god, I caused this Scott, I caused all of this!" She said and began shockingly crying. Scott took her in his arms and brought her to his chest. He couldn't help but feel bad for his sister; even if he knew she was right about her guilt… He didn't know what had happened but was certain it was something big knowing Wendy wasn't the kind of hurting people on purpose.
"Hey Shel…" Scott greeted silently as he entered the quiet room, filled with sweet flowers scents. Wendy had decided to leave them alone for a while, not wanting another confrontation with Shelby's mother. She knew Alice had to go soon or later and preferred to wait for it. Scott smiled kindly at Alice who was writing something on a paper and went to sit next to her on a chair.
"Hi again." Shelby offered him a small smile and he watched as she sat up a little, leaning against her pillows.
"You feel better?" He asked, taking a hold of her fragile hand.
"Not really…except for the mouth being less slushy… where is Wendy?" She asked looking behind him if her bestfriend was following him. Her mother had told her that she had been the worse injured in the accident and that Jill was resting home with a broken arm and that Wendy only had a few bruises that should be gone quickly.
"Uh, she's gonna come later…" He whispered and she nodded. She didn't know what had happened between her mother and her bestfriend but knew it wasn't something good at the way Alice talked about Wendy. When she had asked her about her earlier, Alice had said that she was finer than she should have been. Shelby perfectly knew Wendy wasn't that kind of selfish, and was sure she cared… "So, what's the diagnostic of the doctor?" Scott asked as he noticed she was slightly dazing. He brought a hand to her face and slowly stroked her cheek.
"They know I have a paralysis…" She mumbled and Alice decided she should leave them alone to discuss things over. Besides, she had to give the sickness benefit paper back to the reception desk.
"And, do they know if it's definitive or just momentary?" Scott asked as soon as Alice closed the door. He looked back at his girlfriend and she shrugged, becoming slightly tense.
"I don't know, they don't know! They keep running tests and all but none of them fucking know Scott!" She exploded, pulling away from his gentle embrace and moved her hand in her hair, frustrated. She calmed down as she noticed his worried glance and began weeping. "What's gonna happen to me?"
"I don't know Shel…but don't lose faith, okay?" He said gently and they knew it was available for the both of them. He couldn't lose faith either because if he did, she would give up too.
"I don't know Scott; I'm so confused right now!" She told him frustrated and he long-drawn sighed, placing a hand on her cheek, stoking it softly with the back of it with his knuckles. She leaned against his touch but without loosening her resentment.
"I know that…but don't worry, I'll be here with you, I won't let you down, I promise. And I'm positive that you won't stay this way. Besides, you can't even think of staying like this…we have a prom ball to come together in a few months, and I'm not going without you." She bit her lip softly at the thought…that would be impossible for her…and what if she stayed in a wheeling chair? Would he still want her to come to that stupid ball? Of course not, who was she kidding herself?
"I can't feel my legs or my feet, hell I can't feel anything! I won't be able to dance with you or anything. How are you expecting me to even walk?" She stated angrily as he took a step back, afraid she might become violent in her gestures.
"Shel…" He started but she stopped him by lifting a hand in the air, clearly annoyed.
"We didn't even make love once. I am a fucking virgin and I'll stay this way all my life!" She yelled as she realized all the implications of her state…how could a boy like him stay with a girl like her? Already before the accident, it was a kind of miracle they had gotten together because they belonged to opposite crowds, but now? She being invalid and he being a football player…just imagine the picture…
"Shel, even in the worst case, we'll still be able to be together. There are ways to make love even for people who are paralyzed." He tried reasoning her, unsuccessfully, of course.
"Don't you understand that I won't feel anything?"
"What about your heart? It was enough before so why not now?"
"Because, because I wanted to be with you like this, and I know you won't be able to stay with a girl who can't give you everything you need to satisfy you." She said bitterly and crossed her arms in front of her chest, glaring angrily at him.
"You think that I won't be able to remain with you because of the sex? How can you think so little of me? You know that I love you and would do anything to make you happy!" He exclaimed not believing his ears. After all they had been through together! Shelby scraped her throat looking down at her weak hands. She was still hooked to the electrocardiogram and flexed were going from her body to other machines she didn't even know the utilities.
"I just don't want you to be miserable…" She mumbled and he nodded, leaning closer to her.
"The only way I would feel miserable would be to be apart from you…" He said softly and though it was a cheesy line, she didn't say anything because she was feeling too overwhelmed at the moment.
"I love you Scott." She cried and pulled him to her by wrapping her arms firmly around his neck. He welcomed to hug and tightly wrapped his arms around her back. "I just don't want to lose you!"
"You won't, I swear." He whispered in her ear and kissed her cheek softly wiping her tears away. He started trailing kisses all over her face and she giggled softly as they tickled a little but stopped when they heard a loud knock. Wendy poked her head inside and noticed the closeness of their beings.
"I can come back later if you two are…busy" She suggested looking down at her feet as it was a little awkward seeing her brother with her bestfriend…
"Don't be stupid Wendy. Scott was leaving anyway." Shelby said quickly avoiding Scott's pleading eyes. She knew he hadn't planned leaving her side that soon, but she needed to talk to her bestfriend in private.
"Oh really, I was?" Scott pouted with a stubborn voice, and turned to send a cold glare to his sister. He couldn't believe Shelby was throwing him out of her room when all he expected was to be with her! That was so unfair she had to choice his sister over him! Who had spent a whole week, keeping an eye on her?
"Yes, you were." She said and giggled as he leaned down and kissed her lips softly, in front of Wendy. So much for telling her about us…I guess it was time anyway. She smiled to herself but couldn't help but notice the glare Wendy shot her brother as he walked past her. Shelby bit her bottom lip softly and took in her bestfriend's appearance. "You look great." She stated and Wendy chuckled at her comment.
"Thanks, better than you anyway." Wendy retorted with a teasingly voice and Shelby pouted a little. Of course she wasn't looking good…her complexion was pale, her eyes were bloodshot, she had bags under them and she didn't need to talk about her hair…it was matted and dirty…so much for a beauty sleep of 8 days!
"Hey!" Shelby interjected with a smirk and Wendy smirked back before regaining her seriousness.
"I'm glad you woke up." Wendy said quietly and Shelby nodded, patting a place beside her on the bed. Wendy sat quietly and looked down at her shaking hands. She didn't know who to start…she had been so worried but couldn't bring herself to come over and visit her…
"Thanks."
"I am so sorry, Shelby! All of this is my fault!" She began aggravatingly apologizing and Shelby lifted a hand to stop her from going any further.
"Look, stop blaming yourself. Of course what you did wasn't cool or anything." She started and took her hand in her weak one. "But seriously Wendy, you were having a hard time dealing with everything you kept from everybody. And I'm not blaming you, okay?" Shelby said softly and Wendy shook her head not wanting to hear what she had to tell her. Shelby hadn't done anything wrong except being her bestfriend and they both knew it.
"But I almost killed you Shel! And at first, I didn't even have an ounce of regret! All I wanted was for you to feel my pain! And now you can't even walk!"
"But it won't last. I'm sure of it." Shelby added and Wendy frowned at her confidence. The girl was lying in a bed, the doctors had told her it was a possibility she wouldn't walk anymore and she still had the conviction everything would go back in order.
"How can you be so optimistic about it?"
"Because…look I didn't tell Scott because I didn't want to give him false hope, but when he wrapped his arms around me when we kissed, they were particularly low and I would have sworn that when the doctors checked me earlier, I couldn't feel what I felt when Scott did touch me." She explained to her and they both started to smile.
"So it could mean that you're slowly recovering?" Wendy asked hopefully and Shelby smiled happily.
"I think. The doctor told me that maybe my members were just numb and needed time to be functional." She added and Wendy's smile grew even bigger.
"That's awesome Shel!" She exclaimed with a small squeal and Shelby acquiesced with a big nod. She threw her arms around Shelby's neck, pulling her into a tight hug.
"Yeah, but they also told me I wouldn't walk for a few weeks, even if I wasn't lifelong paralyzed."
"Why that?"
"Well, apparently, I got my legs hurt really bad and some of my bones are broken. So, after the wheeling chair, I'm gonna need crutches and physiotherapy and re-education." Shelby said already wincing at the idea of all the efforts she would have to furnish.
"I'll help you with everything, don't worry. And if you need to stay home for a while, I'll take care of your school work…that'll give me a reason to not screw class." Wendy said excitedly and Shelby chuckled at her enthusiasm…it was easy for her; she wasn't the one who were going to suffer from not moving…
"Great…at least, there is one positive point in all of this." She said with a sigh and Wendy grinned down at her with a funny smile.
"Do you think I can lay in bed with you?" She asked shyly and Shelby shrugged with a nod.
"Yeah, just help me moving to the side…"
"Of course." She said kindly and pushed Shelby's body to the side the softer she could. She knew she had bruises everywhere. Shelby tried not to wince and Wendy apologized silently as their eyes met. "What do you think your mother is gonna say to me?"
"Nothing, because she has nothing to say…I know you two had a fight."
"Yeah, she was particularly harsh but I'm not blaming her behaviour. I just wish she wouldn't have said that thing about selfishness and how I wouldn't be able to take care of my own child." Wendy said bitterly and Shelby titled her head to look at her.
"You told her about it?"
"I didn't want to…it just got out…and I told my mom and Harmony too. Scott and dad don't know and I'm not sure I want to tell them." Wendy straightened her shirt and Shelby titled her head to look over at her.
"You should, it's eating you inside." Shelby stated and Wendy bit her lip, knowing she was right.
"I know, I'm just afraid of their reaction. They're both so overprotective with me and once they'll know, they will want to know who is the guy who did that to me and blame him. And they won't let me live my life anymore." She said softly whimpering as Shelby took the remote control of the TV and began trying to find something good. They both needed to see something that would keep their minds off the touchy subjects. Wendy smiled at her through her tears and Shelby looked at her oddly, wondering what had caused that change of mood.
"What? Why are you looking at me weirdly?"
"You and Scott…it's just hard to imagine you've been playing behind my back for weeks…" Wendy trailed off, a smile playing on her lips…they looked quite good together, she had to admit…and even if that bothered her a little, she wouldn't tell a word to Shelby. It was obvious they were happy.
"Uh, rather months, sorry." Shelby mumbled with a small smirk.
"What?"
"Yeah, we're together since almost four months." She announced and Wendy broke into a laugh. How could they have fooled her and everybody else for that long? Had she been really blind or obsessed with her own issues?
"Okay, just…tell me everything. I wanna know everything!" She said excitedly and took the remote control from Shelby's hand, snatching it quickly. Shelby laughed a little as her bestfriend pulled the TV on mute.
"Okay, well it all began a few days after you took me to that club where we found ourselves in front of him…you remember?" At that Wendy nodded…they really had had no luck. "So, we were on the bench when you shared your first kiss with Darryl, you see which I'm talking about? Okay, so, I asked him about what his plans for college were, and he kinda got angry, then apologized and kissed me…I kissed back at first then pulled away, remembering my promise to you."
"Aw…I'm sorry about it, it was kinda stupid." Wendy interjected and Shelby smiled at her, knowing the girl couldn't keep it quiet more than a minute.
"Well, anyway, that kiss helped me to realize that I wanted to be with him…so I started getting jealous everytime I saw him with other girls and the day of the Halloween Party I drank a lot and apparently told him about my feelings, thing I don't even remember." She said with a chuckle and Wendy nodded, moving her hand from right to left. She wanted to know the real facts, not the whole story…they would have time for that later.
"Well, okay, all of this is nice, but please, skip the details and come to the real facts. When did you two, you know, hook up?" She asked excitedly and Shelby giggled softly. She loved her so much, and didn't know what she would have done if she hadn't accept the relationship between her and her big brother.
"Uh, a day, every one of your family was out after we played basketball, he led me to his room because I needed to change my clothes. So I went to your room, trying to find something suitable and when I came back into his bedroom, I kinda got angry because he had my cell into his hands. I thought he was checking my messages. We got into a fight and then he kissed me and I kissed back, and he told me he loved me. And I told him I did too and we decided to be together in secret until we could tell you." She finished and could see the smile creeping onto her bestfriend's face. She was happy for her, she just could easily tell.
"I just regret you didn't dare telling me before." And she was afraid of one thing…what if something bad happened between them? What if for example, Scott cheated on her or vice versa? Would she have to take one's side? Her brother's or her bestfriend's? Tough choice, uh?
"We both know you wouldn't have accepted it that easily. You're just doing me a favour because you still feel guilty." She said and they both shared a laugh. Wendy remote the mute and they began watching a cheesy soap opera that wasn't that bad…the actors were particularly hot after all.
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