Chapter 13

Sam went out the front door to Chris' truck and opened the door, slouching in the passenger seat, her backpack between her feet on the floor.

"Seatbelt," Chris said.

Sam clicked her belt into place without looking at Chris. From the corner of her eye, she saw he wasn't looking at her either. He was staring straight ahead, hands tight on the wheel, jaw locked.

It would have been better if he just came out and told her he was angry. The look on his face without any words was more painful.

Sam leaned against the door and stared out the window at the trees passing by.

"If Morgan shows up to school, tell her to call Buck. She owes him that much," Chris finally said in the silence of the truck cab.

Sam had no intention of pushing Morgan to do anything. If she pushed, Morgan would just dig in her heels and do the opposite. And Chris knew that. What Chris didn't know was that Sam had pushed Morgan to talk to someone about the attack. When Morgan had shown up on the porch of Chris' house, sobbing, her clothing ripped, and Sam and brought her inside and tried to insist they call Buck or Chris—the police—Morgan had shook her head wildly, stripping off her clothes and throwing them angrily into the fireplace, destroying any evidence of her attacker.

Sam had grabbed a throw from the couch, draping it around Morgan's shaking shoulders and promising she wasn't calling anyone.

"Sam," Chris said, jolting Sam out of her memories. His tone suggested it wasn't the first time he had tried to get her attention.

"What?" Sam asked, blinking away the burn at the back of her eyes that came with thoughts of that terrible night.

"You need to steer clear of Standish."

"Who?" Sam asked, still seeing Morgan in her memories, Morgan trying to move past what had happened to her.

"Ezra," Chris said, barely contained frustration in the single word. "The con man you spent the weekend with."

Sam's chest squeezed at Ezra's name. She thought of Ezra's relaxed manner as Sam was trying to keep Morgan from going entirely off the rails over the weekend. How Ezra had stayed by her side, offering a distraction, casual words of reassurance, and keeping Sam from losing her head.

"I didn't spend the weekend with him," Sam grumbled. They had shared a cheap motel room, but it wasn't like they had shared a cheap motel room.

"You—" Chris started, but he clamped his jaw against whatever he was going to say. He sucked in a breath between his teeth and Sam watched it not calm him down even slightly. Chris tried again. "You met him and that's as much as you need to do with him. Nothing more."

He pulled the truck up in front of the high school. Sam opened the door before it came to a complete stop. "I don't even know the guy," she told Chris, grabbing her backpack. "There's nothing more," she parroted his words back to him.

She started to shut the door, but Chris stopped her.

"Sam!"

Sam paused, and raised her eyebrows impatiently.

"Tell Morgan…" Chris' jaw worked. "Tell her we just want her to be ok."

The sting pressed at the backs of Sam's eyes again. She swallowed hard and nodded. She just wanted Morgan to be ok, too.

#

"You goin' to school?"

Morgan scowled. She pushed her hair out of her face and rubbed a hand against the sleep lingering in her eyes. "Are you?" she countered.

Vin glanced over at her, still in bed, the mattress on the floor, and turned his attention back to pulling clothes from his dresser. "School and me ain't really a good fit," he said.

Morgan fell back against the pillow and closed her eyes. She knew the feeling. She heard Vin continue getting ready. She opened her eyes and rolled over on her side. "So what do you do? Instead of going to school?"

"I work," Vin said.

Morgan studied him. He pulled his shoulder length hair back with a tie and then pulled on a clean t-shirt. He looked back over at her, before going back to getting ready.

"I work over at a warehouse near here," he said. "Been there a few months."

"Are they hiring?" Morgan asked. She tried for a smile, to show she was joking, even as the thought of going to school kept the smile from joking, her joke falling flat.

Vin looked at her again, this time really looking at her. Morgan cringed at the attention she had drawn from him. She rolled her eyes and rolled back over in bed. "It was a joke," she said, making it sound like it didn't matter.

She fought the urge to pull the blanket over her head. She felt the mattress shift and Vin's voice was quiet.

"You told your friend you'd be at school today."

Morgan squeezed her eyes shut. She never should have promised Sam that.

"I can borrow a car. One of my roommates won't need his until later. Want to go get your things?"

The tightness in Morgan's chest that held her lungs closed loosened.

"You know your brother's schedule? Will he be there?" Vin asked.

That brought a slight smile to Morgan's lips. "You want to see him again?" She rolled back over to look at him.

Vin didn't answer her teasing smile. "If you want to," he said earnestly.

Morgan's smile dimmed, her gut clenching. She had no idea how she was supposed to see Buck again after this. After she had found a way to shove him aside. She had seen the anger in his face, heard it in his voice, when he had come to the bed and breakfast and found her with Vin. But she knew her brother. She knew that when the anger bled out, there would be hurt left. Hurt and betrayal that she would make a decision like this without telling him. Worse, that the decision she made was intentional to get her out of his life.

"He'll be at work today," she said, kicking off the blankets. Keep moving. Don't think about the sucker punch she had dealt Buck. Don't think about why Vin had been the best option. Don't think about the pregnancy. Just move.

Vin was watching her and she could see his concern at her sudden change in demeanor. Morgan ignored that and went to get the same pair of jeans she'd been wearing since she and Sam had shown up at The Den three days earlier. She ignored the skimpy top she had worn and kept on Vin's t-shirt he had given her to sleep in. She didn't bother with her hair. She was grateful Vin didn't have a mirror in his room.

"I don't have to be to work until 3," Vin said. "I can borrow a car to get your stuff and drop you at school before then. You won't have to be there a full day, then."

Morgan's shoulders sagged in appreciation. Just show up to school for the afternoon. Assure Sam that she was fine, everything was going well with Vin and he hadn't murdered her in her sleep, and cut out of the rest of the school day. She didn't mention that last part to Vin.

She followed Vin downstairs, through the empty living room and kitchen. She had heard the other up until late last night and figured they were still asleep.

Vin opened the dated fridge and looked at the nearly empty shelves. He closed it and went to a cabinet and pulled out the last of a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. He set about toasting some slices.

"I'll get some food later today," he said quietly.

"It's fine," Morgan said, even as she thought about how Buck always made sure there was plenty of food, fruits and vegetables whether she liked them or not, in the fridge. Buck had tried to make sure she was provided for. "I don't always eat breakfast anyway."

Vin looked at her. "Is that ok for the…the…" he nodded his head toward her stomach. "The baby?"

It was a jolt, hearing him refer to her pregnancy by the one word she had avoided at all costs.

"We should get going," she said, taking a couple steps away, gaining some distance. Moving. "I don't want to bet there if Buck stops home for lunch."

Vin didn't say anything more, just pulled the toast from the toaster and spread it with peanut butter. He silently handed the sandwich to Morgan.

She took it without a word, looking at him from the corner of her eye. He was someone she could count on. Someone who wouldn't push or make her talk.

He was turning into someone she needed.

#

Vin carefully placed whatever tubes and bottles of lotions and make up he found into the bag Morgan had handed him. She was busy tossing clothes into a garbage bag, having already filled one.

The house she lived in with Buck was welcoming. Cozy. Not much for matching décor, and there was a ping pong table in place of a dining room table, but it was clearly a home. Not just a place where people slept.

Morgan tied the last bag shut. "That's enough," she said.

"You sure?" Vin asked. "We can take whatever you want."

He noticed Morgan didn't look around the room to make sure she wasn't missing anything she may want to add to the bag. She hadn't looked at the pictures on the mirror—Vin was pretty sure she had gone out of her way to avoid looking at them. She had just started taking the things she needed. Clothes, shoes, toiletries. Nothing more. Nothing personal.

"Alright," he said. He wasn't going to push and probe, not knowing what memories might be triggered by something in the room.

She started to pick up one of the heavy bags, but Vin handed her the smaller grocery bag with her cosmetics and took the two oversized bags.

He loaded them into the trunk of his roommate's car and got behind the wheel.

Morgan didn't say anything. She stared straight ahead, out the windshield, not looking at the house on the outskirts of Denver, hills rolling out from the backyard, no neighbors planted on either side. It was peaceful.

"You ok?" he said.

"I'm good," Morgan scoffed.

Vin gave a nod and started the car. He turned in the direction of the high school.

He pretended not to notice the way Morgan's posture changed the closer they got to the high school. How her shoulders tensed, her hands clenched, her jaw set.

He bypassed the drop off zone at the front of the school and turned into the parking lot.

"What are you doing?" Morgan asked.

Vin found a space and pulled in. He turned off the car and pocketed the key. "Thought maybe I'd show up for a class or two today."

Relief softened Morgan's eyes, but she didn't say anything. She got out of the car with the backpack she had taken from her home.

Vin didn't have a notebook or pencil. He had a locker in the school, but he didn't keep anything in it. He hadn't been to his afternoon classes yet this semester. He had managed a few morning classes up until a few weeks ago.

Morgan glanced at the clock in the hallway as the bell rang. She heaved a sigh and started down the hall as it filled with students pouring out of doorways.

Vin watched a couple guys from the football team give Morgan grins that she didn't seem to notice then turn their sights on Vin, eyes narrowing. Vin ignored them.

"I'm going to my locker," Morgan said. "You don't have to walk me there."

Vin could see how hard she was trying to look like things were normal. She had changed her clothes and brushed her hair while they were at her brother's house. Having Vin alongside her at school wasn't normal.

Vin saw a couple of the jocks say something to each other and look at him again.

He understood. Morgan didn't want to be seen with the loner who barely showed up to school. The one who fueled new rumors every time he was bounced to a new foster home. The one who always ended up in a fight.

He gave a nod and started to go.

"Vin," Morgan called after him.

She jogged after him, catching him by the sleeve of his shirt. She put her free hand at the back of his head, tangling her fingers in his hair, pulling him toward her and met his lips. Her own lips parted and she slid her tongue into his mouth, moving her body closer to him.

"Miss Wilmington."

Vin heard the voice from a distance, but it was fuzzy. Everything was fuzzy except for the searing heat of Morgan against him.

"Miss Wilmington."

Morgan moved away, just barely, leaving Vin's head spinning.

"Did you need something, Mrs. Travis?" Morgan asked innocently. One of her hands stayed on Vin's chest. Vin wondered if she could feel his heart thumping from her touch.

The school principal's mouth twitched slightly at Morgan's casual question. Vin caught a glint of humor in her eyes. He liked the principal. He had ended up in Mary Travis' office on a regular basis on the days he did show up to school. She was always kind. But firm. Insisting he tell her what she could do to help him graduate. Even though Vin knew that was a lost cause.

"The school hallway is not the place for that kind of display," Mary said.

Morgan nodded in agreement. "We'll find a janitor's closet next time."

Mary pressed her lips together and Vin thought she might be holding back a laugh. She turned from Morgan to him.

"It's good to see you, Vin. And it looks like you've made a new…friend."

"Somethin' like that," Vin said.

"You two get to class," Mary said. "And Morgan?" she called after them.

Morgan lifted an eyebrow in question.

"We keep the janitors closets locked." Mary turned to continue down the hallway of her school, heels clicking against the linoleum floor.

"I'll see you later," Morgan said. Vin saw her eyes shift over to the jocks who were staring openly after their public embrace. She leaned in closer to Vin and brushed her lips over his and pulled away with a smile meant just for him. "Later."

Vin didn't miss the dismissive glance she gave the jocks as she walked past them.

Vin realized she had known exactly what message she was sending.

He ducked his head to hide his grin and headed toward his class. He hadn't shown up to this class yet this semester. English. It would be the one class he would gladly never show up to and take the failing grade.

He heaved a sigh. But that would leave Morgan alone at school. He knew Sam was supposed to be here and Morgan would find her. But he also had seen how uncomfortable Sam was, coming back to school after everything that had happened over the weekend. He hadn't ever had family that he could remember, but Morgan was his family now. He didn't take it lightly that it fell to him to look out for her.

He found the right class and went in, ignoring the open stares of a couple of students and the whispers of another. He went to the back of the class and slid his long frame into the metal chair.

The teacher entered the classroom, setting a water bottle on her desk. She saw Vin as the bell rang.

"Nice to see you here, Vin," the teacher said with a smile.

Vin shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

Footsteps sounded in the hall and the door was yanked open. Sam came in with a clatter and shut the door behind her.

"Thanks for joining us, Sam," the teacher said.

"I aim to please," Sam muttered. She looked over the desks and saw the empty one next to Vin. Her lips thinned at the sight of him. She walked down the aisle and fell into the seat next to his with a huff.

"I assume this means Morgan finally showed up?" Sam whispered to him.

Vin nodded. "She's here."

"Vin, Sam, quiet down," the teacher said.

Sam's jaw clenched. She waited until the teacher turned back towards the board.

"She's ok?" Sam asked, staring straight ahead.

Vin doubted Morgan was ok. But she was holding it together. He slid a look over to Sam and she looked his way. She grimaced in understanding.

With a sigh, Sam opened her book and turned her attention back up to the board.

Vin leaned back in his seat and made himself comfortable. He'd get a solid 45 minutes of sleep before the bell rang.

#