Chapter 4
**Scott**
I jogged downstairs grabbing the phone to shut it up. “Hello?” I didn’t recognize the voice.
“Is this Scott Barringer?”
“Yes, may I ask who this is?”
“Oh my god Scott hi! It’s Juliette, Juliette Wayborne?” She said excited on the phone. Scott chuckled “Wow, never thought I’d hear from you in a million years, how’s it going?” I heard her giggle a bit. “Oh well I’m trying to find everyone from Horizon, It’s another reunion.” I shrugged.
“Yeah the last one was what almost six years ago? Yeah I can make it, when?” She answered quickly “It’s in about a week, it’s being held at Horizon even though there’s new people running it now.”
“Okay I’ll be there, who else have you contacted?”
She chuckled again “Well so far I’ve contacted Daisy, Ezra, Auggusto, Sophie, Peter and you of course. I still have David, Kate, and Shelby. I know the phone number for David and Kate but Shelby I haven’t found yet, would you know?”
I sighed “No I don’t, thanks for letting me know about this Jules. It’s nice talking to you, I’ll see ya at the reunion okay.”
“Okay bye Scott!”
I hung up the phone walking to the kitchen, I couldn’t help thinking something bad happened to her. I took a soda out of the fridge opening it taking a drink. I leaned on the counter thinking more about her.
**Flash Back**
~2004-March~
I hadn’t seen her for three months it killed me inside when I wasn’t with her. I heard a knock on my door walking over to open it. I found Shelby on the other side she was crying out her words. “I’m sorry.”
I didn’t know what went on in her life the past three months but I was ready to find out. I lead her inside sitting her down on the couch with me. I asked her “What happened?”
She looked at me “I need you Scott, before I lose you forever, before you go off and marry Corinne.” I shook my head.
“What? Where did you get it that I was marrying her? I love you!” I sat next to her holding her toll she calmed down.
She sat up a bit “I love you, you know that right?”
I nodded “Of coarse I do! I love you too. I would never marry someone like Corinne I don’t know where she got the idea. You are the one I want to be with you and only you.” I leaned over kissing her. She leaned back after the kiss ended “That’s not the only thing Scott…I can’t be with you.”
I stood up off the couch “What? What do you mean?” She was crying again.
“I just can’t! I wish I could.” I sigh pacing now.
“Why not?” I asked her yelling a bit. She stood up screaming “Because I’m scared! I’m scared to be with you, I’m scared to be with anyone! The worst thing is, I don’t know why I’m so scared to be with someone, to be alone.” She quieted down sitting back down on the couch. I walked over sitting next to her. After we were both calm I spoke up.
“Does this mean we’re…over?”
Shelby cried a bit more and just nodded her head mumbling, “Yes.” She stood up grabbing her stuff real quick, she looked back at me “I’ll always love you Scott, goodbye.”
**End Of Flashback**
I sighed remembering that day. Walking out to the study I picked up the phone book looking for her name. I had no work to do today so why not have a little fun. I looked around for her name, finding about 4 of the same last name two with first initial ‘S’. I picked up the phone dialing the first number I saw, a man answered it “Hello?” he sounded like a gruffly man. I cleared my voice “Is Shelby there?” “No Shelby here, wrong number.” The guy hung up before I could even say sorry. I shook my head chuckling trying the second number there. No one picked up the phone I was ready to hang up when I heard a voice. I pulled the phone to my ear quickly to hear a little girl’s voice “Hello you have reached the Merrick's, that’s me and my mommy! Please leave a message after the beep!” The girls voice sped up at the end then was interrupted by someone else’s I continued to listen “What are you doing Steph? Get over here!” The little girl started laughing along with what seemed to be her mom. I then heard the beep hanging up the phone immediately it was her I found Shelby.
She seemed to be very happy she was so close yet I didn’t even know where to look, there wasn’t an address in the phone book. I sighed contemplating whether I should call her back, what would I say? Damn do I wish I could see her I got up walking outside to go for my walk, the walk really help me think. I thought about Shelby, she’s living in the same city as him and I didn’t know it until now. I wonder if I should call Juliette back letting her know I found her let her call her.
I walked through the park spotting what seemed to be a T-ball game going on. I walked past the game chuckling. I saw a dad near by rooting on his son I chuckled “Which team is the good one?” he chuckled “The Angels are for this neighborhood and the Chipmunks are for the neighborhood across the intersection up there. See him?” He said pointing to a little boy on second base I nodded. “That’s my son Billy.” I chuckled “Natural Athlete?” the guy chuckled “Yeah he is. The names Bob Phillips.” I chuckled shaking his hand “Scott Barringer. Nice meeting ya, go angels!” I walked a ways down passing by the Angels players. One of the kids got a good hit so everyone was screaming for her she got a home run which won the game. Her teammates ran over to her cheering for the victory. I chuckled walking away, looking back once more before leaving the park. I saw a woman run to the little girl picking her up twirling around. I looked closer to see her, shocked at whom I saw.
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Chapter 5
**Shelby**
I was sitting in the bleachers cheering, I chuckled watching Billy trip on the base instead of slide. I glanced over at Bob just as a man was walking away from him, I didn’t see who he was though, and I waved at Bob. I started cheering for Stephanie, as she was up to bat. “Come on Steph! You can do it baby!” She hit the ball hard making it fly across the field I started screaming as she ran a home run. I ran down the bleachers as fast as I could get to her, swooping her up in my arms. “Yeah! You won!” She was smiling and laughing. I set her down as she started running around with her friends, right after I set her down I saw the man again, he was walking towards the field a bit.
I shook my head not knowing who he was, I walked over to Bob giving him a hug. “That little girl of yours is sure a prize!” I chuckled “Well I’ve been practicing with her for quite some time now! Looks like the work paid off.” He chuckled, I smiled couldn’t help but asking. “Who was that guy I saw you talking to?” Bob shrugged “His name was Scott something. He must’ve been new to the neighborhood or something, he asked me what team was good.” I smiled shrugging “Hmm…well what do you say we take our winners to Peter Pipers for the victory party?” Bob sighed “Sorry Shell, Can’t tonight. Susan is making a big dinner, you know how she’s into that psychic stuff? She predicted this win tonight.” I chuckled “Well then next time we’ll have to have a gamble! Hope it’s good!” We then said our goodbyes.
Stephanie ran over to me grabbing my hand. She smiled up at me “I kicked butt today didn’t I!” I chuckled at her “Yeah you sure did. What a big shot you are huh?” She nodded “Yup.” I laugh “Well where would little miss big shot like to eat?” She thought a moment jumping up and down. “Peter Pipers!” I unlock the door opening it for her walking around to my side getting in starting the car driving off.
We were having a fun time eating pizza, playing games. She sighed when she asked me the question I dreaded. “Mommy where’s my daddy?” I sighed afraid she was going to ask this question some day. “Why do you ask hunny?”
She finished chewing her bite of pizza “Well Billy has a mommy and a daddy. But I only have a mommy, where’s my daddy?”
I didn’t know how to answer her “Well hunny, your daddy is somewhere out there. Mommy just got scared and left him.”
“Why did you get scared mommy?” The little girl asked me I sighed. “I just did baby, I still don’t know why I got scared.”
“Will I ever meet my daddy?”
I smile slightly at her “I really don’t know hun, I really don’t know. I hope so though babe, I really do hope so.”
I was so happy when she dropped the subject. We soon left Peter Pipers.
I walk into the house, Steph right in front of me. “Okay why don’t you go get dressed for bed.” She ran upstairs. I sighed walking over to the answering machine pressing the play button. First I heard a click then I heard a voice I never thought I’d hear again. “Hi I was wondering if this was the phone number for Shelby Merrick? If it is I was wondering if you could call me, my name is Juliette Wayborne and my number is 555-3957. Thanks!” I sighed why would Juliette be calling me? How did she get my number? I looked at the clock it’s not too late to call her back. I picked up the phone dialing the number it rang a few minutes until someone answered the phone.
“Cicero residence!” The kid talked in to the phone, I chuckled hearing a lot of noise on the other end. “Hi, can I speak to Juliette please?” the kid got off the phone, I heard a woman’s voice then “Hello?” “Juliette? It’s Shelby.” I smiled a bit when she was cheering slightly. “Oh my gosh I’m so glad I finally found you!” I chuckled
“Yeah calm down Jules what did you want to talk to me about?”
“The reunion in a week, it’s almost been ten years since the last one. I wish I would’ve seen you there, hope your little girl is doing good.” I chuckled “Yeah she’s great, she’s six now.”
“Why did you move so suddenly? Without even leaving an address.”
I sighed “I just had to go, listen I think I’m going to come to this reunion. I’ve been thinking about Horizon a lot lately.”
I heard her cheer a bit “Thank you, you’re the second person today who said they’ll come!” I got curious for some reason. “Who else have you converted so far?”
I heard her chuckle “Oh I’ve basically converted everyone, except for David. He’s the last one.”
“Oh, well I’ll be there Jules. You can count me in this time.”
“Oh that’s great! I’ll see you then!”
We then hung up I walked upstairs to check on Stephanie. She was passed out in her bed I walked over covering her up a bit more. What an angel I had, I was so blessed when she was born.
I walked outside to get a breath of fresh air, sitting down on the front steps. I sighed looking up at the sky think of the reunion, what would I say to them? So much has happened in my life that I don’t know where to start. Why did I tell her I would come? And Stephanie? How would I explain my past to her? I wish I knew the answers to all of my questions. I was pulled away from my thoughts when I heard a voice behind me “Nice night for star gazing.” I flip my head around to see him.
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Chapter 6
**Shelby**
I sighed “How you doing Bob? Have a nice dinner?” He sat down next to me, we were good friends and our children played together. He was a decent 35 year old man, his wife Susan was nuts though. “Yeah it was nice. What brings you out here?” he asked me, I sighed, “Just thinking. What about you?” he chuckled “Susan is playing her yoga music through out the house. I don’t really care for it so I came out for some peace and quiet. Nice night though, this neighborhood has sure gone somewhere.” I chuckled “Yeah I guess.”
He looked at me worried “Shelby you know how you’re like a sister to me right? I’ve been you next door neighbor for 5 years now, you can tell me anything.”
I chuckle a bit “I’ve just been thinking about my past a lot lately. You remember when I told you about a school I went to called Horizon?”
He nodded “Yeah I helped you while you frantically searched for all your stuff from it.”
I smiled “I found it all cleaning out the basement.”
“That’s very good, I’m happy for you! But there’s something else to it isn’t there?”
I smile a bit “You’ve been hanging around me too long. I went through the stuff reading old letters and looking at pictures. Thinking of these people, and then out of the blue today someone called me. Inviting me to a reunion, it’s like been 10 years since I’ve been back there. I am just trying to think of what I will say to them, what do I say to Stephanie? She asked about her father today.”
“What did you tell her about her father?” he asked.
“I told her that mommy got scared of her father and ran away. That’s the best way I could explain it, but how do I tell her about my past?” I laid my head in my hands crying a bit.
He patted my back “Shelby, you’re doing the right thing. The best way to explain your past to Steph is when you go to the reunion tell her that you’re going to your old school to see your old friends. How long haven’t you talked to them?”
I sighed looking straight out into thin air “Besides the girl who called me today, I last talked to them 6 years ago, in letters. And I wrote a letter to my friend Daisy last night. I tried to write a letter to my ex-boyfriend but didn’t know what to say.” He sighed “I don’t know what to tell you Shell, do you want to talk to your ex? How did it end with him?”
I chuckle “Well he was the love of my life. My rock, my everything.” I chuckled at my own words.
“One time he just looked at me and said ‘I swear that I will never leave you’ the bad thing is I left him.”
“That bites. Why did you leave him?” I chuckled at him ignoring the question changing the subject. “You’re starting to sound like the kids!” we both laughed.
“I think you should maybe look him up, it wouldn’t hurt would it?”
We started standing up to go home “I don’t know he probably wouldn’t be listed here.”
Bob chuckled “Worth a try! What was his name again?”
I smiled “Always fiddling with the computer. His name’s Scott…Scott Barringer.”
Bob smiled shrugging “I’ll see what I can do!” He then walked home.
I sighed walking inside and going up to bed.
**Flashback**
~October-2005~
It had been over a year since I had seen him not very happy about it. Throwing myself in my work at becoming a lawyer. I got up to leave the little donut shop I was at walking straight into someone. I back up a bit “I’m sorry.” I heard him then.
“Don’t be.” I look up to see Scott I smile slightly. “Hey”
He sighed “Hey”
I sigh not knowing what to say, “Do you want to sit down and talk?” I asked him. I could tell he was contemplating whether or not too. He sighed “Sure why not.”
We were sitting down, I sighed. “How are you?”
He chuckled “I’m doing alright I guess. What about you?”
“I’m fine, did you hear about the reunion coming up? It’s like next year in May or something.” I took a sip of my coffee then hearing his question.
“You going?”
I stir my coffee around a bit “I was sure planning on it, figured it would be fun to see everyone. You and Daisy are the only ones I talk to really.”
“Yeah, well I have to get going Shell. I’ll see you at the reunion.” He said getting up. I got up minutes after he did and followed him home.
He wasn’t far ahead of me I got to his apartment following him up to his apartment. Minutes after he closed the door I knocked on it. He opened it.
I walked in a bit “Scott, please don’t run from me.”
He opened the door a little more letting me in. He turned to look at me. “Who said I was running?”
“I thought we could be friends again, what we break up and it’s goodbye forever? We’re never supposed to be friends again?” I asked simply, trying not to let it get to me.
“I can’t Shell! It might be easy for you but it’s not for me. How am I supposed to look at you without missing what we had.”
I walked closer to him “I can’t do it either! It’s killing me inside Scott every time I see you I miss you even more. No matter how hard I try to forget you I can’t, I love you too much.”
He looked down at me “Shell, I can’t fight the way I feel for you. That’s why I can’t be around you, every time I look at you I see what we had, what we could still have.” He leaned down kissing me I kissed him back. He then led me into the bedroom.
**End Of Flashback**
I had woken myself up early the next morning I looked at the clock 5:30. I sighed sitting down at my desk writing a letter.
Scott,
I’m sorry you haven’t heard from me in awhile. I moved, in the move I thought I lost all my memories. Spring-cleaning paid off I guess when it turned out I didn’t. I hope you’re doing well. I have a little girl she’s a beautiful, energetic 6 year old. Did you hear about the reunion? I’m definitely coming to this one bringing Stephanie with me that am what I named her, Steph for short.
I don’t know how to say this Scott I know for well that our last confrontation was terrible also. I miss you I know that Stephanie was a shock to everyone including myself. I’m glad you understood though. Please don’t hold it against me for not writing I had a good reason for it all. I love you always.
Shelby
I sat there looking at the letter I have no idea whether or not to send it. I sighed walking out into the kitchen, then upstairs to get dressed and start the day.
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