I don't own any of the characters (except Nick & Xan), I'm going to use this for money, Higher Ground belongs to the FOX FAMILY channel, yatsa, yatsa, yatsa.
Background:
16-year old Nickolas Francisco Noellesen and his twin sister, Xan (pronounced Zan) Aleeza Noellesen, are brought to Mt. Horizon after their foster mother catches the two getting high in the backyard of their school. They are not happy. They usually don't talk to anyone but each other – a habit from when they were seven and a half.
To Begin a New Life
April 19th 2000
6:15 am
Emily, her husband Robert, and their two daughters – Sadie and Zillah – were sitting a table watching the campus.
"We shouldn't have sent them here. We should just kept them at home and tried something else." Emily said, hopeing that at any moment Xan and Nickolas would appear.
"There was nothing we could have done, Em." Bob said, wishing for the same thing Emily was.
Emily watched one of the students get up and walk over to Peter, who was wearily walking toward Emily and Robert.
"Why didn't you tell us when we asked if anyone knew?" Peter asked Scott.
"We didn't want them to get in trouble."
"We? This was a unanounous decision?"
Scott nodded his head.
"We're going to talk about this after we find them."
Peter turned around and ran back to the search and rescue team standing at the gate.
Nick looked at his sister, "Not until we reach the river. If we can get there, then we'll sit down for a couple minutes."
Xan nodded and followed her brother.
"Do you think they're looking for us?" She asked.
"Probably."
"Do you think they'll find us?"
"Maybe – if the guys squealed about the plans, they could be twenty feet behind us or two hours behind us. If not, we're home free."
Xan looked behind her – no one was there.
"I wish Dad and Sammy and Mommy had never died." Nick said, tired of walking. He stopped for a moment, and stopped Xan. He could hear the river, and his last statement was washed out of his head by the sound, "Come on, Xannie!"
The twins ran to the edge of the river.
"How are we going to go down this? We seem to have forgotten the boat." Xan said, crestfallen.
Nick pointed to the boat stuck in the rocks, "I put rocks in it to slow it down, then put in the water when we left. I hoped it would be here the way I planned."
Xan hugged her brother, "And you say I'm the genius."
Nick jumped into the water and dragged the boat to his sister. He threw their gear inside it, threw out all the rocks, then helped Xan into the boat.
Xan looked around her. She had that feeling of being watched. Then she saw him. Scarbrow was sitting on a dirtbike or something watching the two of them, talking into a walkie-talkie. Xan hit her brother in the arm, and pointed.
Nick jumped and began to paddle. Xan watched Peter follow the small boat on his bike on the hill, "Nicky."
"Shut up, Xan. I know."
As they hit the rapids, Xan held on to the boat as tight as she could.
"Xan, hold on." Nick said, as they hit a rock and the boat tilted on to it side.
Xan let go to grab onto Nick, and was thrown into the water.
"Xan! Dear God, no!" Nick screamed, watching the water. Xan finally came to the top, but she was unconsious. 'Okay, Nickolas Francisco. Xan needs you to help her. She knows you're afriad of water, but you have to help her.' Nick thought to himself, then looked up. Peter was running down the hill.
'Now or lose Xan, Nick.' He thought. He looked at his sister, who was about to be pulled under again. He dove in, and swam towards Xan, hopeing he would reach her before both of them were sucked under.
Peter pulled off his shirt, and dove in after the two teenagers. Nick had reached Xan, but they would never be able to reach the boat – it was too far ahead. He reached them and began to pull them towards the river bank, but Nick was still pulling Xan towards the boat. Peter grabbed Nick's free hand and pulled him and Xan out of the water.
Nick sat down next to his sister, "Xan. Xannie, come on, wake up. Come on." He pleaded, "Come on, Xan. I can't lose you. Wake up."
Peter took Xan's pulse – it was weak, extremly weak. "Stay here." He said to Nick.
Nick nodded – as long as Xan was there, he would be too.
Nick rubbed his eyes as he sat up, "Hey, there." He smiled at his sister.
"What happened?" Xan asked, pulling the blanket around her.
Nick sighed, "You got thrown from the boat. Peter dragged both of us out of the water."
Xan blinked – now she remembered. She settled back into the bed, "So what's the punishment?"
"Aside from still being confined to campus for the week, nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
"So are we going to stay?"
"We have to. I'm not happy about it, and this withdrawal could kill a horse, but we're stuck here."
Xan yawned, "Uh huh." She closed her eyes, "I'm still not going to talk to them."
"Neither will I." Nick said, settling his head on her pillow and closing his eyes.
"I love you, Nicky."
"I love you too, Xannie."
Peter watched from the doorway. It was going to be a long and hard road, but they would be okay one day.
I know it was a weird ending, but it's what I can think of.
I'm thinking of doing more stories on Xan and Nick. If anyone thinks I can do some good stories on them, please e-mail me or tell in a review.
Cassie Jamie
[email protected]
