Leah was crying. Tears dripping down her face with large gulping, gasping sobs crying. She couldn't seem to contain the cry. She had been sad but quiet for most of the trip to Horizon, but as they entered the parking lot and she seen the sign it hit her. This was truly happening and it was so unfair. The world was unfair of course, but never before had she felt it to be so cruel and cold.

As Peter walked down the stairs at the front of the main office building he seen the new student. He had seen the van that she had been transported in from Juvie. After greeting the two officers that were sent to accompany her on the trip he turned to Leah. She had stepped out of the van as the officers had instructed her but she was still crying steadily.

Peter frowned. It was rare that someone first arriving at Horizon would be crying. It happened every once in a while of course, but generally new students were angry or sulking. Over half the crying students were using one last ditch effort to get their parents to change their mind. He could tell this wasn't the case with Leah. She had after all arrived in the Juvie transportation van with no parents around. He felt bad for her. It was difficult to admit the criers. It was harder to find the words that would reach them.

Peter nodded to the two officers that he had this and they could go and led Leah to his office. As she walked there she was barely conscious of what was going on, so overwhelming was her distress. Peter let Leah sit in the chair for a while and didn't say anything. He hoped she might calm down a little before the admittance began. Leah was sixteen years old and overweight with pale skin and long hair that was a colour between blond and brown. She wore glasses and had on a floral dress that went down to just past her knees. She was wearing blue plastic flip flop shoes.

After a few minutes when it didn't seem like she was going to calm down by herself Peter decided to start her admit.

"Welcome to Mount Horizon High School. I am Peter Scarborough, the counselor for the Cliffhangers, which is the group you've been placed in." Leah took a few deep breaths as if trying to stop crying, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

"Do you know why you are here Leah?" Peter asked, prompting the girl to speak. Leah took a moment to find her words.

"Yeah and it's really unfair." Leah said.

"Why is that?" Peter asked, hoping to learn more about her mindset.

"I was sent here for violating probation, but I didn't do anything wrong with that. I didn't mean to miss my appointment with my probation officer. I worked really hard not to miss any of the appointments, but it didn't even matter anyway." The girl said through sobs. The facts she had said matched her file. She had been put on probation after being caught smoking pot and the violation of probation was that she had missed a meeting with her probation officer. She was sent to Horizon instead of Juvie because there had been no trace of drugs in her system since her original charge and they had drug tested her every week when she seen the probation officer.

Peter wondered about her side of the story though. Leah freely admitted to missing the meeting after all. Many new students would have claimed it to be a mix up or misunderstanding. He wondered if he should press for the information now or wait until it came out in an individual session or group. After all it was the judge's order she be sent to Horizon so it didn't matter what Peter though about her guilt or innocence in that matter. He decided to move on with her admit. There would be plenty of time to talk about the rest of her story later. Besides, even though she was still crying she had calmed down enough to be coherent at least.

"Well, the rules here are simple. There are no drugs, no alcohol, no sex, and no inappropriate touching. Horizon is a safe place. Which is why every student's bags are checked when they first come in." Peter explained starting the bag check. There wasn't much in the one duffle bag she had brought with her. The duffle itself was faded grey with stains on it and he guessed that it may have been used as a gym bag in the past. Inside were the regular toiletries, a disposable cell phone, a bottle of light pink nail polish, a bottle of peach nail polish, a bottle of light blue nail polish, and a few clothes. No drugs, alcohol, or even electronics other than a cell phone.

"Cellphones and make up aren't allowed." Peter told Leah as he set the items aside. "Otherwise everything is good."

"You expected me to smuggle in drugs didn't you?" Leah asked. She had stopped crying but was looking at him with red tear streamed eyes. Her eyes had a hint of anger to them as though she felt she had just been falsely accused.

"Many students attempt to." Peter stated simply. Leah didn't say another word as she went to the infirmary for her checkup and to have her clothing searched. After she left Peter went to his desk, took out her file, and added a few notes.