Part 1
Chris looked out his bedroom window. He looked out across to the girls cabin. "Would Shelby ever know how I truly feel about her?" he asked himself. He sighed dropping his head back against the cold window.
The night passed and the morning came. Chris had not gotten much sleep, thinking of Shelby kept him alert and awake. He pushed himself out of bed dragging his bare feet across the wooden floor. Scott and Ezra were already up getting dressed. David and Auggie were already up and out the door. Chris walked over to Scott's bedside table picking up the picture of Shelby. He turned it this way and that looking into Shelby's beautiful face.
"Chris?" asked Scott. Chris spun around still holding the picture. He quickly sat it back on the desk walking over to the bathroom.
"Weird huh?" asked Ezra slipping his shirt over his head.
"Chris, man he's the new guy who thinks he's all that, he'll get what's coming for him in the long run." Scott pulled on his boots and tracked out the door.
"Scott, don't you remember you use to be that same guy. You know the guy who thinks he's all that, has all the girls after him?" Ezra called following behind.
Chris splashed cold water on his dazed face. He pulled his eyes up from the sink looking into the mirror hanging over the sink. His eyes looked tired and blood shot. His body felt weak and tired. He pulled on a pair of light blue jeans and a short sleeve green T-shirt. Then he headed out the door. He knew Shelby would still be getting ready, so he headed to the girls cabin.
"Shelby come on your going to be late if you don't move you slow butt." Called Daisy as she trailed after Juliet and Miranda.
"Daisy, I'll be out in a minute I'm taking a shower." Screamed Shelby as the shower water hit her face.
"Okay, see yea at breakfast." Called Daisy.
Chris watched as Juliet, Miranda and Daisy walked over to the lunchroom. He walked up the steps and slowly pushed open the door. He walked over to what he knew was Shelby's bed. Her bed was unmade and had tons of outfits thrown every where. He picked up her baby blue jacket holding it in his hands. He felt as though he was holding her in his arms. He walked over to her desk looking at the pictures of her sister Jess and Scott. He flipped the picture of Scott face down flopping back on her bed. Chris waited for about five minutes before he heard the bathroom door creak open. Shelby had a short pink towel wrapped around her body and a white one was twisted up in her hair. She looked up from the ground noticing Chris.
"What the hell are you doing in here? Chris get out." She yelled running back into the bathroom.
"Shelby, wait," he said walking over to her. She pulled herself back into the bathroom holding her towel with both her hands. "Shelby, it's okay, it's not like your naked or anything, I just thought we could talk."
"Chris, I like talking to you but…"
"But what?"
"I can't talk with you anymore because, I don't trust myself with you. Your sweet and cute but, I feel that if I start to spend more time with you, I'll ruin my relationship with Scott and fall madly in love with you." Her last few words faded out as she turned away from him.
"Your afraid you'll fall for me?" He walked closer to her. She looked up into his blue eyes.
"Yea, yea I'm."
"Okay, well here's a test. I'm going to kiss you and if you stop me then, you'll know Scott's the right guy for you and if you kiss me back then you'll know we should be together. I'm going to count down from 10. 10…9…8…7…"
"6…5…4…3…2…" Shelby said as she leaned closer to Chris.
"1." He said. Shelby closed her eyes and her hair that was twisted up in a towel fell down. She let Chris kiss her and she slowly kissed him back. He closed his arms around her small body and she pulled him into the bathroom closing the door behind them.
Scott sat waiting for Shelby. He walked over to Daisy tapping her on the shoulder. "Daisy, its almost lunch time and Shelby has not come to the lodge. Is she okay. Maybe I should go check on her." Scott said walking towards the exit. Daisy jogged after him.
"Scott, she told me she was taking a quick shower and would be out in a few minutes. I wonder what's up." Scott and Daisy walked up the steps to the girls cabin. They opened the door walking into the girl's cabin. "Shelby, you in here. Shelby are you going to come out for lunch?" called Daisy. She walked over to the bathroom door knocking on it, no answer. She knocked again. "Shelby."
"Shelby" called Scott as he walked over to her bedside table. He looked at her desk. The picture of him was flipped face down on the desk.
"Chris…." Shelby said under her breath.
"What? What's wrong is someone in the room?" he asked in a low voice as he pulled himself up from the cold tile floor. Shelby fixed her hair and looked around for something to change into. She noticed a pair of tan shorts of Miranda's and a pink shirt of Juliet's lieing on the self above the toilet. She pulled on a clean pair of underware. She then pulled the shirt quickly over her head and slipped the shorts on.
"Daisy? Is that you?" she asked
"Yea me and Scott, are you okay?"
"Yea, great I'm just cleaning the bathroom up a little." She called back.
"Okay do you want us to wait on you?" asked Scott.
"No, no that's okay, I'll be out in about five minutes.
"Okay, Shel see yea in a few, love you." Scott called as he started towards the door.
"Love, Love you to." She slowly said back. She heard the door shut as her friends left the room. Chris let out a long breath, sitting down on the side of the tub. Shelby looked at him with sad eyes.
"What have we just done?"
"Made out, It's not like we had sex Shelby. And…"
"I can't do this to him. I can't hurt him like this, I don't want this." Screamed Shelby.
"Shelby calm down, it's okay." Chris sat down next to her holding her against his chest. She cried softly into his shirt, as the sound of rain hit soflty on the roof.
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Part 2
The cliffhangers followed Peter down the long dirt path. Sophie and Peter had decided to take them all out to the challenge course. Scott watched Shelby. She seemed distant, more distant than usual. She completely avoided Chris and kept as far as she could from Scott. Scott slipped on his helmet walking over to Shelby as he clasp on his gear. He walked up behind her wrapping his arms around her tiny body. He kissed the top of her head and leaned close to her ear.
"Shelby, you okay?" He rested his chin on the top of her head.
"Yea, I'm fine, I just don't feel all that great." Shelby turned around to face him. She stood on her tiptoes so her lips would reach his. She gave him a soft kiss and then pulled away, slipping on her gear.
"Shelby?" Scott said as he followed behind her.
"Scott? I'm sorry; I can't talk right now it's my turn. We'll talk later okay?" Shelby smiled at him holding his hand for a second, then letting go as she made her way up the course.
"Shelby, once second," called Peter.
"Yea?" Shelby said as she dropped to the ground, landing safely on her feet.
"Is everything okay? You were not at breakfast this morning. Do you need to talk?"
"No, I was just taking a shower and then I decided to clean up our very messy bathroom." Laughed Shelby as she smiled a fake smile at Peter then starting back up the course.
All the cliffhangers watched as Shelby made her way slowly up the course. She stopped at the beam. Shelby looked down at Chris. His eyes were on her. She could tell he knew what she was thinking, what she was afraid of at that very moment. She was afraid that her life with Scott would be over and that she would soon start to slowly circle the drain yet again.
"Is there a problem Shelby? Is everything okay up there?" called Sophie.
"Yea, um everything's fine." Shelby continued on the course taking deep breaths. She remembered when Scott first came here. Shelby hated the course she hated having to face her fears of highest, but she did when she saved Gracie and she's doing it again. Shelby smiled to herself as she looked down at her friends and the one she loved. Was the one she really loved Scott or was it Chris? She asked herself. Shelby finished the course and slid down the robe landing on the ground.
"Great job Shel." Yelled Auggie.
"You did it Shelby. Congratulations," beamed Juliet and Miranda.
"Very nice." Called Peter.
"Thanks guys. Um I got to go you know… In the woods." Shelby said.
"Oh yea sure, but be back don't get lost." Peter said as he helped Ezra get set up for the course. Shelby took off her gear and started back on the trail towards a spot she knew she could be alone. She knew the bathroom excuse would work with Peter. She kept hearing footsteps behind her. She spun around looking for Chris or Scott. No one. Shelby kept walking till she reached a clearing in the woods. She sat down in the dry leaves thinking to herself.
"Shelby?" called Daisy.
"Daisy, is that you?" Shelby called back.
"Yea, are you know using the john or what?" Daisy called.
"I'm sitting in the leaves Dais, all's safe and clear." Shelby laughed back.
"What's going on with you and Scott, I know something's up?" Daisy said as she sat down next to her best friend.
"Nothing, I. Nothing, It's just." Shelby started.
"What? Did something happen with you and someone of the unknown?"
"If you also call the unknown, Chris!" Shelby muttered.
"What? Chris? Are you serious?" Daisy grabbed her friend by the shoulders. "What happened, did he hurt you? I'll kill him if he did."
"No, it's nothing like that. It's just he likes me." Shelby spat out.
"So, he has a crush on you. Are other GUYS not allowed to look at Miss Shelby Merrick?"
"You're right. It's just a crush." Shelby said to Daisy. She toyed with her shoelaces.
"Did you kiss him Shelby?" Daisy asked.
"No, kiss Chris, no way. I, I love Scott. I could, I would never kiss Chris." Shelby said a little bit of sadness slipping into her voice.
"Shelby, as your friend, if you did kiss Chris out of sadness or longing for someone to hold. You can lie to me, but you can't lie to Scott. He'll see right though your lies, and in the end you'll get caught in the act if you don't tell him sooner or later." Daisy started to get up.
"Daisy, I don't know what to do." Shelby started to cry. Tears dropped from her blue eyes, running down her pale cheeks. Daisy sat back down hugging Shelby. She rocked her back-and-forth for comfort.
"All you can do is follow your heart. It will lead you the right way, and it will lead you to the one you love."
All the cliffhangers had finished the course and were now heading back to Horizon's. Scott caught up with Shelby in the back of the line.
"Shelby, Shelby wait," he called. Shelby glanced behind her to see Scott running towards her. She quickly calmed her nerves and spun around to face him smashing right into him. They both hit the ground with a thud. "You okay?" Scott asked from him position on top of Shelby. She moved uncomfortabley under him trying to squirm away.
"Yea, but my body's numb," she giggled.
"Why? I'm sorry Shelby what's wrong?" asked Scott with concern in his voice.
"Because your on top of me." She giggled again, pushing him off and climbing to her feet. Scott got up from the ground wrapping Shelby up in a hug. She slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. They stood in silence for a few moments, enjoying each other's company. Scott pressed his forehead against Shelby's looking into her blue eyes. Shelby gazed into Scott's eyes, wishing she knew what he was thinking. She knew he was most likely thinking of her at this moment, he had no clue what she had done earlier that day. She put her hands on his chest pushing him softly away. "Come on, we'll get in trouble if we get to far behind." Shelby said grabbing Scott's hand and pulling him along the trail.
Later in the lodge, all the kids were sitting around the fireplace. They enjoyed the warmth and the small chitchat they shared with one another. Shelby collapsed into Scott's lap as she leaned her head on his shoulder. Ezra was sitting next to Daisy. He moved a little closer to her every second but as he moved closer she moved farther away.
"Ezra?" said Miranda as she walked up to him and Daisy.
"Miranda, what do you want?" Ezra said in a gruff tone.
"Um, I can't really talk about it right here…" She stopped and looked at Daisy. "Can we go some were private?" Miranda smiled at Ezra as she watched him.
"Yea, yea, um, sss,uu,re, sure," Ezra glanced at Daisy and then followed Miranda up the stairs. Daisy watched Miranda take away her friend, the boy she knew someday she could possiblely love. David flopped down next to her.
"Hey, Daiz. What's up?"
"Nothing. I just want to be alone right now. I'm sorry David. I have a lot of stuff on my mind."
"Ezra? I knew it, I knew you broke up with me for him." David snarled.
"David! Don't pick a fight with me, you have no clue what it's about and you have no reason to know." Daisy said walking off towards the kitchen.
"Daisy wait, Daisy come back." David called.
Chris sat on the porch on the front of the main building. He dropped his head into his hands. How was he to fix things between Shelby and him? He wondered. Has she told Scott about the kiss they shared? Chris heard the front door open; he turned around to see Juliet. She beamed a huge smile in his direction and sat down next to him.
"Hey, Chris are you okay? Something seems to be bothering you, I'm great with talking to people so you know, if you want to talk I'm here." Juliet looked Chris in the eyes and then placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Thanks Juliet! I'm not one to really share how I feel, but I can tell you one thing love is so touff to understand." Chris laughed to himself.
"Tell me about it. I dated so many different guys before I came to Horizon they were all the same. Smart, rich, athletic and totally clue less. When I came here I thought I would never find a boyfriend. I went out with Scott when he first came here, and then Shelby got the best of him. She's so, so, ruff and mean I don't see what he sees in her. Scott was the one to break it off with me because Auggie kissed me then…"
"Wait a second, Auggie kissed you so Scott broke up with you. That's stupid, did you want to kiss Auggie?" Chris knew the triangle was starting between him, Shelby and Scott and would sooner or later end up like the Scott, Juliet and Auggie triangle.
"Yea, I wanted to kiss Auggie. He just was so sweet, and he's still very sweet. Scott sure was cute and kind of like the usual kind of guy I would have dated but Auggie was just so much more."
"Does Scott really love Shelby?" Chris knew he should never be asking this question but he just had to know if he had the slightest chance.
"Yea, last year at the MORP, it was like a PROM, anyway, Scott was going home to stay with his father. As you know Scott was molested by his stepmother and that's why he was sent here. Scott and his dad had a disagreement and Scott came back the night of the MORP. Shelby was so angry for him leaving, we all thought she would never be happy again. The night of the MORP, we were all standing out look up at the stars. Shelby looked towards the driveway and saw Scott walking towards her. They embraced each other and then Shelby asked why he decided to come back. His response was because he loves her." Juliet smiled at the memories of the wonderful night and then looked back at Chris.
"Wow, they have a past, that's for sure." Chris sighed to himself.
"Yea, there so perfect for each other it's like a total Max and Liz from Roswell type thing or Dawson and Joey from Dawson's Creek romance." Juliet stood up continuing to talk to Chris.
"What's the sudden interest with Scott and Shelby's love life?" Juliet asked.
"Just wondering how two people that sound so in love, don't seem in love at all." Chris said standing up next to Juliet.
Shelby and Scott settled themselves down on the sofa; Shelby rested on top of Scott. He wrapped his arms around her body holding her close to him. Scott soon fell a sleep still holding Shelby. Shelby lay away thinking of the current situation. Chris and Juliet walked into the room, Chris gazed at Shelby. She gazed back at him. Juliet watched them and then pulled Chris to the side.
"Chris? What's up with you and Shelby?" Juliet held tight to his shoulders.
"More then you know." Chris said starting to walk away from Juliet.
"You have to tell me if you did anything to mess up Scott and Shelby's relationship!" Juliet stated grabbing Chris.
"What if I did?"
"Then, Scott will kill you."
"Shelby kissed me, and then I kiss her so what!" Chris looked away. He could not believe he just let that slip out.
"What? Shelby kissed you?" Juliet stomped over to Scott and Shelby.
"Shelby, what the heck are you trying to do to him?"
"What? I did not do anything what are you talking about princess?"
"You kissed Chris, do you know what this could do to Scott? Think about it Shelby, have you told him?"
"No, butt out queenie."
"Shelby! We should tell him." Chris said walking towards the sofa.
"No, I can't." Shelby started to cry. "I can't hurt someone I love." She looked at Chris. He seemed hurt by her last comment.
"Shelby? Shelby are you okay?" Scott said as he whipped sleep out of his eyes. He only heard the last sentence of the conversation. "Shelby what's going on? Scott looked at Chris and then back at Shelby.
"Scott, I'm so sorry. I did not mean for this to happen, you can't hate me please don't. I love you to much don't break up with me you can't." Shelby cried out as more tears poured from her eyes.
"Shelby?" Scott asked holding her by the face. "Shelby I'll never hate you."
"Okay, um well, Scott, I, I, kissed Chris this morning while you were eating breakfast. It all happened so fast he was in my room then we were kissing and after it happened I regretted it. I'm so sorry, please don't hate me I love you Scott." Shelby softy said.
"What? You kissed him. Shelby, you lied to me and you kissed another guy. How could you, Shelby how the hell could you do this to me? I know I said I'd never hate you but I'll also never love you again." Scott said pushing her away from him.
"Scott no, Scott please don't do this to me!" Shelby cried.
"I did not do this to you, you did it to your self. Shelby I loved you,but now all I want to do is take back all the nice things I said to you because you hurt me more than you'll ever know. You did this to us, you broke us up when you kissed him." Scott glared at Chris. "You just stay away from me. I knew something was going on but I never thought you'd take my girlfriend." Tears started forming in his eyes.
"Scott, please I'm sorry." Shelby ran towards him. He pushed her down. She hit the wood floor crying even more. Scott walked over to Chris punching him in the face. Chris jabbed Scott in the stomach, he fell to the ground. Chris started to walk away and Scott grabbed Chris by the ankles, pulling him to the ground. He punched him several times in the face brining blood to his nose, and mouth. Chris finally was able to push Scott away from him, whipping the blood off his mouth. "Scott, why did you do that?" Shelby yelled slapping him in the face.
"Shelby, don't touch me." Scott yelled pushing past her and walking out the front door.
Juliet ran over to Chris holding a rag to his busted up lip. Shelby started rocking back in forth. She felt hot and dizzy. She grabbed a kitchen knife from one of the empty foot plates holding it to her wrist. She closed her eyes, taking in deep breathes. Juliet and Chris watched as Shelby hit the floor, the knife dropping next to her, blood running from both her wrists. "Shelby!" Screamed Juliet as she and Chris ran to her side. Juliet held Shelby close to her as Chris dialed 911.
