Chapter 7
**Scott**
I walked home, walking inside the house. I picked up the phone dialing Juliette’s number she left with me. I heard someone answer real quickly. “Hey Juliette?” I heard a guys voice “No she’s not here right now, how can I help ya?” he asked. I sighed “I called to talk to her about a reunion that’s coming up, she’d know what I’m talking about.”
“Who is this?” he asked me.
I shrug “My name is Scott Barringer.”
“Scott? Wow long time no talk, it’s me Auggusto.”
I chuckled “Wow, so you and Jules tied the knot.”
I heard him chuckle “Yeah well it took us a few years but we finally got here. So you’re coming to the reunion?”
I chuckle myself “Yeah I‘m coming to the reunion, Jules said she couldn’t find some people to contact. Did she find anyone yet?”
“Well I thought she had contacted everyone, nope she has a list right here. She hasn’t contacted Shelby or David.”
I sigh think of how I’m going to say this “I found her, Shelby I mean.”
“Really man? What her number and as soon as Jules walks in I’ll tell her to call her.”
I continued to give him her phone number then said bye hanging up.
I stretched out, I look around having nothing to do. Sitting back relaxing thinking of last years reunion.
**Flashback**
~May-2006~
I walked into the old school following the signs to where the reunion was being held. I looked around at people I knew I saw a tall figure walking towards me. I smiled at Peter shaking his hand.
“Scott it’s great that you’re here.”
“Yeah.”
I mingled for a little while with everyone. I leaned up against a table when Daisy walked over standing next to me. “Where’s Shelby?”
“You tell me.” I walked away from her. I stood next to Sophie talking to her when Daisy came up “Sophie did you call Shelby about this?”
“Oh yeah! I did I forgot to tell you, Shelby had her baby a little girl!” Sophie said excited a bit, her and Daisy talked about it. I sighed setting down my punch walking out of the room. Daisy followed me. I sighed falling to the floor she walked in sitting down next to me. I started rambling.
“She could’ve been mine Daisy. They should’ve been mine, but they’re not. I tried so hard to help her whenever I could and she just pushed me away.” I laid my head back.
“Scott, Shelby was always very independent. She probably thinks ‘Ok I can take care of this little girl all by myself I don’t need any help from anyone. You have to let her go and move on.”
I stood up raising my voice a bit. “I can’t move on! And I…I just let her go without going after her! I’m not just going to go ahead and forget her like nothing ever happened between us. She is the love of my life! I will get her back someday!” I then stormed out of the room.
A month later I wrote Shelby a letter but I was upset I never got anything back.
**End Of Flashback**
I sighed, wondering why she left. What went wrong? I walked upstairs packing up a bag for the reunion. I walked downstairs and outside checking my mail. I look around, it was now dark and the stars were out. I saw a car drive down the street parking in front of a house a ways down. The same woman from the park got out, I walked closer a bit to get a closer look. The little girl ran up to the door, they then vanished inside of the house. I didn’t know what to think? Was I going crazy? I shook my head walking back inside.
~Two Days Until The Reunion~
I chuckled on my afternoon walk I was actually pretty excited about the reunion. I walked by the park spotting the guy I had met before Bob. I smile at him waving a bit, he jogged over to me letting the two kids he was playing ball with play around a minute. “Hey there! Scott right?” I smiled a bit shaking his hand “Right.”
He chuckled “You’re new here aren’t ya?” he asked me I nodded.
“Yeah I moved here about two months ago.” I replied.
“I’ve seen ya around. What do you think of it so far?”
I shrugged “It’s nice a very friendly neighborhood.”
“Yeah it is a very great neighborhood, have you met any other neighbors yet?”
I shook my head “Not really, I’ve actually been working a lot. It wasn’t until a week ago that I started taking walks around. Those two of the Angels?” I heard him chuckle as I looked over at the kids throwing the ball back and forth.
“The best of them, my son Billy and that’s his best friend Stephanie. I’m watching her until her mom comes to pick her up.” I nodded. “Cute kids.”
We then heard a horn honk and Stephanie yelled at Bob.
“My mom’s here Bob! I’ll see you before I leave I promise!” She ran off towards the car hoping in. The car drove off.
I checked my mail when I got home I found a forwarded letter but no name on the return address not really paying much attention to it. I walked inside setting the rest of the mail down opening it I read the letter very quick. I sat down replying to the letter. I was going to send it the next day before I left.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 8
**Shelby**
I drove up to the park honking the horn I had been running around like a chicken getting packed for the trip. I heard Steph yell at Bob I chuckled waving at him out the window, I squinted my eyes to see whom he was talking to but didn’t get a good look they were too far away. Stephanie got in the car. “Do I really have to go?”
I chuckle “It’ll be fun, don’t you want to meet all of mommy’s old friends?”
She whined a little bit “But I’m gonna miss a game mom! I’m gonna miss the Phillips too!”
I giggled, “Want some cheese with that whine? It’s going to be fun Steph you’ll be back in time for playoffs, and Billy’s not going anywhere! You're missing today's game but we'll be back by tomorrows game okay?” I heard her giggle a bit.
“Okay fine!”
I had decided to send the letter to Scott after all, I sent it right after I wrote it. I wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do but I was going to see him anyway. When we got home I gave her a bath then we went to bed. I lay in bed worried about what was going to happen at the reunion anyway. I thought about the last time I saw him.
**Flashback**
~November-2005~
I walked up to his apartment knocking on the door he smiled opening it kissing me. How was I supposed to do this? I smiled kissing him back. He led me inside while he went to finish getting dressed to go out. I sat on his bed waiting for him but talking to him. “Scott?”
He called back out at me “Yeah?”
I sighed, “I need to talk to you.” I was holding my tears in the best I could. He walked out of the bathroom sitting behind me on the bed. I could tell he was worried “What’s wrong?”
I took a deep breath “I’m pregnant.” I then looked up at him surprisingly enough he was smiling a bit.
“Pregnant really?” He asked to be positive. I nodded my head feeling his hands rub over my stomach kissing my shoulder whispering in my ear. “That’s a baby inside of you!”
“Yeah.” I smiled a bit thinking maybe it could work, but my doubt got the best of me. I stood up walking out of the room he followed me, I frowned again.
“Shell what’s wrong? This is the greatest thing to happen to us! And to make it all official, Shelby I swear that I will never leave you. Will you marry me?”
I felt my tears pouring out now and just busted “It’s not your Scott!”
He backed away from me a bit “What?” I brushed my hair away from my face.
“The baby is not yours.” He started choking out his words a bit “What do you mean it’s not mine?”
I sighed saying the only thing I could say, “I’m sorry! It’s my ex’s.”
“I’m sorry too, ya know? I don’t care whose baby it is I can raise it as my own! I love you. I just swore that I wouldn’t leave you, please don’t push me away let me help.”
I shook my head looking up at him “I can’t I have to do this on my own.”
I headed out of the apartment hearing him one last time “I love you Shelby.”
I turned looking at him “I love you too believe me I do. Goodbye.” I walked out.
**End Of Flashback**
I turned off the alarm that was blaring with music getting out of bed. I got dressed walking downstairs loading up my mini-truck. I glanced around there was a mist this morning that felt good. I smiled a bit taking a deep breathe, something caught my eye down the street. I saw a guy throwing something in a jeep then jumping in himself, he drove off towards the other end of the street. I shrugged thinking it’s just a neighbor. I walked inside to wake up Stephanie for the trip, we walked over to Bob’s house saying goodbye, then left.
I got on the highway looking around at the trees I was surprised to see that it was only a 2 hour drive. I chuckled watching Stephanie look around she looked up at me “This is where you went to school?”
I chuckled nodding “Yup, see these mountains? I climbed some of them too, hiked over the forest a lot.”
“The forest is scary though! What if a bear had eaten you! What if you fell off the mountain?” she asked me showing her shock.
I laughed, “Well if I had fallen or got eaten by a bear would I or even you be here right now?”
She shook her head smiling “I guess not!”
I chuckled as I parked the truck looking around at the parked cars there. I grabbed Steph’s bags and mine we didn’t really pack much it was only for a weekend. I took her hand walking down the gravel path, I felt her tug on my hand “Look mom! I saw a chipmunk!” I chuckled.
I walked into the lobby looking around I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around to see whom it was I smiled a bit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 9
**Scott**
I got up early to leave I checked the oil in my jeep and threw my bag in the back. I hopped in the car pulling out of the driveway. I adjusted the mirror when something in it caught my eye. I turned my head to see her packing her car glancing in my direction I chuckled driving off in the other direction.
I arrived at Horizon walking in the lobby looking around. I heard my name being called “Scott?” I flipped my head around smiling at whom was walking towards me “Hey Ezra. Long time no see.”
He chuckled, giving me a quick hug. “Yeah it is how’ve you been?”
I sighed, “Good, I’ve been good. What about you?” He chuckled walking away a bit bringing a woman back over with him she was holding a baby. “Scott, I would like you to meet my wife Celine, and this little guy that she’s holding is Richard.”
I smiled at him “That’s great, I’m happy for you man.”
“Come on with us, I found out where the reunion is being held at.” I walked along with him.
I walked into the room looking around, noticing a few people I knew. I smiled at Sophie who was walking towards me she gave me a hug. “I’m so glad you came.”
I smiled a bit “Where’s Peter?” I heard him behind Sophie “Where do you think?”
I chuckled giving him a hug.
Peter chuckled “I’m going to go see who else is here.” Peter walked out of the room. I stayed there talking to people Sophie chuckled talking to everyone “Okay I know that this is a reunion thing and all that’s why there’s going to be a better one tonight in the gym. You don’t have to dress formal, but nice please.” Everyone chuckled at her.
**Shelby**
I smiled hugging her, “It’s good to see you Daisy.”
I heard her chuckle backing away looking at me “Look at you! All grown up and everything.”
I chuckled “I could say the same for you.”
We both chuckled and started talking she smiled “I got your letter, thank you for writing even though it’s been a long time. I would’ve wrote back, but I figured you would’ve come.”
I smiled “Thanks, well Daisy I would like you to meet my daughter Stephanie!” I motioned to Steph who blushed a bit. Daisy held out her hand “It’s a pleasure to meet you Stephanie, how old are you?”
She chuckled holding up six fingers. Stephanie went to sit down on the couch I kept an eye on her.
“My god Shell she looks exactly like you.” I chuckle “Thanks.” I never thought she looked like me she always looked like her father.
We continued to sit there and talk for a moment I smiled when I saw a familiar face stroll towards us. “Hey Peter.” I gave him a hug. “Can I talk to you?” he nodded.
Daisy offered to take Stephanie for a moment to let Peter and I talk. Stephanie smiled as Daisy sat down next to her, they started talking about who knows what. Peter chuckled as we walked into his old office “What’s up?” I sighed sitting down.
“I almost didn’t come.” Telling him. He sighed “Why?”
I chuckled “I don’t know, I haven’t seen some of these people in 10 years, others in 6 years. What do I say to them?”
“The truth would help. I don’t know what to tell you Shell you seem to be very happy. Your little girl is beautiful.”
“Thanks I was scared to bring her too, wondering how I tell my 6 year old about my past?”
He sat down at the desk “Well it seems like you told her that you were coming to see all of your old friends, isn’t that right?”
I nodded “Yeah I guess she can find out details when she’s older.” I smiled softly.
**Scott**
I had slipped out of the room walking back out in the lobby. I saw Daisy sitting on the couch talking to someone I walked over chuckling “Daisy?” She looked up smiling a bit “Hey Scott.”
She stood up giving me a small hug I looked down at whom she was talking to find Stephanie. I smile “Who’s your friend?” Daisy chuckled
“Her names Stephanie, she’s Shelby’s little girl.” The little girl looked up at me smiling. “Hey I know you! You’re Bob’s friend!"
I chuckled “You’re right I am, and you’re a very good ball player.”
I look over at Daisy to see her questioning face I shrugged “I live down the street from her.” I held my finger up to her lips for her to be quiet.
“What you mean Shelby doesn’t know that you live down the street from her?”
I nodded “Yes and I would prefer if you would keep quiet about it.”
Daisy sighed, I asked her a question “Where is she?”
“She’s off talking to Peter.”
I smile walking off after saying goodbye. It was now or never that I see her.
Walking up to Peter’s old office hearing part of their conversation, I sighed listening to it.
I walked back out to the lobby to find Daisy looking around. I chuckle “Lose something?”
“Yeah Stephanie, she was here one minute and gone the next.” I chuckled then helped her look around for the little girl. I turned the corner, bumping smack into her, I squat down. “Hi there.” She smiled “Hi!”
I chuckle at her “What’s your name again?”
She blushed and giggled she was definitely Shelby’s little girl. “Stephanie.” She said quietly.
“Well Stephanie, you know how I’m a friend of Bob’s? I’m also an old friend of your mom’s. But we can’t tell mommy that I’m a friend of Bob’s or that I live by you okay?”
She smiled nodding “Okay!”
I chuckled “Okay I’m going to take you to find your mom now.” She grabbed my hand walking with me.
**Shelby**
I smiled feeling better that I got it out in the open, Peter talked to me just like he used to when I was here. I walked out to the lobby with Peter looking for Daisy. She walked up to me I got worried a bit “Where’s Stephanie?”
Daisy shook her head “The sneak? We were sitting on the couch and I leaned over to the other side of the couch grabbing a piece of candy for her. When I went back she was gone.”
“Oh god. Don’t worry Daisy hide and seek is her favorite game.” I sighed. Daisy chuckled.
“Well she must’ve found a good hiding place because I can’t find her.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose when I heard a voice “Did someone lose this?” I turned around looking at him.
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