Hi all. Let's just say I suck and leave it at that, shall we? I appreciate everyone's kind words urging me to go on. No lies, I didn't edit or reread this chapter. Not my best, but I really wanted to get it up. I'll hopefully go through and edit tomorrow.

"You can't look back - you just have to put the past behind you, and find something better in your future."

-Jodi Picoult

Awkward.

That was honestly the only word to describe life after spilling her guts out in the woods. Peter, who really did try to seem as if nothing had happened, didn't hide his looks of pity and worry well at all.

Scott on the other hand hadn't spoken a word since "you busted your stitches open." He and Daisy walked with Shelby to the infirmary, but it was complete silence from Scott. She almost preferred him to be angry, at least then he was acknowledging her existence.

Daisy of course was Daisy. Supportive, not overbearing, but just there.

Shelby avoided eye contact with everyone at all costs. She knew the group didn't know her deep, dark secrets, but she felt like it was written all over the walls. She felt so naked and vulnerable, everyone able to read her every thought and feeling.

Days became long, nights became longer. Classes were a constant blur, and life at Horizon felt like a constant high. Not a euphoric, can't stop smiling a high, but a drugged, barely able to function throughout the day high.

Some days, Shelby couldn't remember what she had for breakfast, or what they discussed in group. If anyone noticed, they didn't voice their concerns, and kept a good distance, which she was thankful for.

Currently, they had down time, and her and Daisy were lounging in the bunks being the unsocial, "works in progress" they weren't supposed to be.

Shelby was lying upside down on her bed, her hair barely brushing against the floor. She was starting to get a slight headache from the blood rushing to her head, but she didn't feel like moving. She liked looking at her surroundings upside down. Anything was better than real life.

"I'm scared."

Shelby's breath hitched at Daisy's words. Daisy very rarely spoke about feelings, and if she didn't, it was angry or something morbid, never fear. Daisy was fearless.

"Why?"

Daisy slipped her tarot cards back into their velvet purple pouch and slid them into her desk drawer.

"In nine months, I'm eighteen. Horizon will no longer be a place to call home, and I'll be on my own. I have no idea where I'm going, how I'm getting there, or how I'll make it on my own."

Shelby sat up on her bed, realizing this was one of those moments she needed to be a friend. She knew she was slacking in the friend department lately, Daisy being there for her, but her not really being there for Daisy. Shelby had been so wrapped up in her own problems, she hadn't really talked to Daisy about hers.

"College? Your Dad's? Knitting central with Grandma?"

Daisy shook her head, not staring directly at Shelby. "None of those are appealing in the slightest."

"Yeah, if I was you, I would pass on options A, B, and C."

Daisy nodded, feeling a bit discouraged. She knew Shelby really wasn't up for chatting, but life after Horizon was something that had been weighing heavily on her mind for the past couple weeks and she needed to talk. Maybe she'd wait when Shelby was more herself, if that would ever happen.

Daisy stood up, feeling the need to get away from Shelby for a minute. She gave Shelby a brief smile and headed to the door.

"I'm going to go for a walk, I'll be back later."

"Okay." Shelby said, feeling like the shittiest person in the world. She wanted to say something, anything, to make Daisy feel the slightest bit better. What was wrong with her? Would she ever feel like a real person again? She couldn't even comfort one of the people she cared for most.

Daisy was almost out the door, when Shelby finally found her voice and a little bit of courage.

"Daisy."

Daisy stopped, but didn't turn around. "Yeah?"

"I don't know where I'm going or how I'm getting there either, but I'd feel better if I was lost with you, than lost without you."

Daisy closed her eyes in relief, incredibly comforted by Shelby's short, yet kind words. She shook her head, still never turning around, but leaving the cabin with a slight smile on her face. Her and Shelby would be okay, they had each other, and together, they could take on the world.

"Alright, well, it looks like everything checked out. I know it seems like a lot to take in now, but Horizon is a place for you to feel safe and comfortable. We don't pass judgment here and we're a family. I'm glad that you're going to be apart of that family, Caleb.

The boy standing next to Peter had his bag slung over his shoulder, and snorted, obviously thinking that Peter and Horizon was a joke.

Peter could tell this boy was not going to be a walk in the park, but he accepted the challenge. He was just another pained kid who needed someone to listen and care.

"You're going to be a Cliffhanger, which has a great set of kids you'll be lucky to know. This is Auggie and Ezra," Peter said, stopping at one of the mess tables in front of the two boys eating watermelon.

"Ah, fresh meat," Auggie said, clapping his hands together like he was already planning something evil in his head.

"I'm not someone to mess with, cholo."

"Who you calling cholo?!" Auggie said, standing up suddenly, his chair falling to the floor with force.

Ezra stood up to, already putting himself in the middle.

"That kind of behavior is not tolerated here, Caleb. This will be your only warning."

Caleb smirked, giving Auggie a nonchalant shrug.

"Well, I'm Ezra," he said, putting a hand out to shake, while giving Caleb his signature goofy grin.

The new Cliffhanger didn't smile or hold is hand out, instead he stared at Ezra as if he was a foreign object, one he didn't want to get to know.

"Or not," Ezra said, slyly running his hand through his hair.

"Boys, would you to be so kind to show Caleb here to the Cliffhanger cabin? This is Auggie and Ezra." Peter said, hoping this front Caleb was putting up wouldn't last long. "They can tell you all you need to know about being a Cliffhanger and get you settled in."

"I don't really give a fuck about being a Cliffhanger or getting settled in."

Peter sucked in a quick breath, praying for patience. "Language like that is not accepted either, Caleb. That's your final warning on that front as well."

Auggie picked up his chair and shoved it under the table.

"Let's go, we got better things to do than show you around all night."

Caleb let out a small chuckle and followed behind Auggie and Ezra.

Peter watched them until they were out of the mess hall and groaned in frustration. Caleb Maxwell was going to be a serious issue, he could already tell. He wasn't doing much yet, but he had enough experience to know the ones that were going to be hell to get to, and he was one of them.

He didn't have much on him except he was fond of alcohol and pill popping, but nothing much else. His parents didn't offer much information, stating they just needed help.

"Hey Mountain Man."

Peter visibly relaxed at the sound of Sophie's voice.

"Hey there." He said, still looking at the empty door the three boys just left out of. "Where have you been all night?"

"Trying to get through to Scott," Sophie replied, frustration written all over her face. "I'm worried about him, he can't go on walking around here like a zombie. It's not healthy."

Peter nodded. "Maybe we should stop trying, I think this is something he may just have to get through on his own. He needs to work out everything that's bothering him, which I'm sure a lot to do with Shelby."

"Well, she isn't going to be much help to him either, they both go through the day like the walking dead. Something needs to be done, Peter."

Peter gave Sophie's hand a gentle squeeze.

"I know, but they need to work it out. We can only do so much for them, Soph. This is their last year, they're going to need to learn how to do things on their own."

"They aren't ready."

Peter gave her a small smile. "That's the maternal side in you coming out, which I like," he said, giving her a wink. "Maybe it's time we start thinking about mountain babies?"

Sophie's heart nearly stopped. "Peter, we've had this talk—you know, I mean, you know I can't—that we can't."

"I know," he said, wrapping an arm around her. "We don't have to have a baby to have kids, Soph. Just something to think about."