Chapter 3- Lies and Revelations

I'm 13 now and don't know how my friends could be so mean, I come home crying and you hold me tight, and grab the keys. And we drive and drive until we've found a town far enough away.

"Alright class, pay attention please," the teacher requested, uselessly. Jez and Morgead had turned the back of the classroom into a soccer field overnight, bringing in nets and soccer balls, all for April Fool's Day. The entire class was engaged in a soccer match. The school had quickly come to regret their decision to allow Jez to skip a grade and be in the same class as Morgead. Jez turned to Morgead and beamed at him, she loved high school. She didn't regret skipping ahead to be with her best friend.

"Yeah, I hear they're dating now," Jez heard the whisper before she saw the source, a human named Brenda, and her witch friend (though Brenda didn't know it) Tiana.

"I heard she let him sleep with her. She walks around all high and mighty but she's just a slut" Tiana laughed.

"Who are you talking about?" Jez asked, walking up to them. Brenda's eyes widened but Tiana's back was to Jez.

"Jez and Morgead," Tiana answered, turning around, eyes widening when she did. Jez felt something inside her break and crack.

"What?" she whispered, hurt.

"Oh... Jez," Tiana fumbled over her words, "I'm sorry..." she whispered, looking anywhere but at Jez

"You Bitch! You know that's not true!" Jez screamed, punching her in the face. She ran from the room, hoping to make it out the door without her classmates seeing her tears, without giving an explanation to the teacher.

"Jez," she heard her name being called but didn't stop. Jez knew she had to get away, others couldn't see her cry, and she knew she might rip those stupid humans to shreds if she went back.

"Jez," she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around only to find herself face to face with Morgy, the cause of the gossip. Jez felt the internal struggle: run from him, or let him comfort her. She chose the latter, throwing her arms around his neck. His arms instinctively wrapped around her, pulling her closer.

"What's wrong?" he whispered. Jez shook her head, not wanting to repeat it but instead, she opened her mind for him to view, showing him everything that had happened. Morgead growled and if possible pulled her closer.

"I'm glad you punched her, she deserved it," he muttered. Jez smiled slightly but didn't let go of him.

"Come on," Morgead instructed, struggling out of Jez's grasp.

"Where are we going?" she muttered, looking up at him with her beautiful eyes, which had gone completely blue. He loved her eyes, almost as much as he loved her, though she didn't know it... yet.

"For a ride," Morgead pulled out the keys to his motorcycle.

"But Morgy, you're not allowed to drive for another year." Morgead winced at the use of his nickname, but blew it off knowing Jez needed him right now. To this day, she was still the only one he allowed to call him that, though he had tried to convince her to stop. He continued, dragging her along behind him.

"And when have we EVER let that stop us before?" he asked, grinning wickedly. Jez flinched at the use of the word 'us' but followed anyways.

"Hop on," Morgead requested, passing Jez back a helmet. Jez put the helmet on and hesitantly got on the bike. Morgead took off and Jez felt the wind rushing around her, as if the wind parted just for her. It was such a wonderful, ecstatic feeling. She relaxed and leaned her head against Morgead's back and her arms wrapped lightly around his waist, guaranteeing that she remained on the bike.

Morgead felt her body against him and felt his heart beat faster in his chest. He really wanted to stop the bike, pull her into his arms, and kiss her, but after the day she'd had, she would probably punch him for even attempting such a thing. Still, the need remained no matter how much he tried to quench it. Morgead wished that Jez felt the same way; if she didn't, he knew he needed her in his life, even if it was just as a friend. Jez was his light in the darkness. Morgead had loved her since the first day they met, whether he realized what it was back then or not.

To Jez, it felt like they drove mere minutes when in fact they had driven for hours. They only stopped because Morgead's bike needed gas.

"Are you feeling any better?" Morgead asked carefully, not wanting to make her cry again.

"Yes," Jez sighed contentedly, "Thank you for taking me away from them, I would've regretted it if I went back there." He smiled at her and nodded, always happy to help her. Though he knew what she meant, if Jez had gone back there, she would've killed those idiots, and then the Night World council would've killed her for exposing vampire's existence to the humans. Once his tank was filled, Morgead hopped back on the bike and took off down a side road.

"Where are we going?" Jez called, arms around his waist.

"You'll see," he replied. After ten minutes of complex turns down multiple side streets, Morgead stopped the bike.

"Come on," he called, grabbing Jez's hands. He dragged her along behind him, and together they ran up the hill.

"Where are we?" Jez asked in awe. They were standing in a meadow with forget-me-nots all around them. Jez turned around and for the first time she was stunned by the beauty of nature, the beauty she had somehow missed.

"It's beautiful," she whispered. Morgead walked up beside her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she leaned her head back against his chest. Standing there, watching the sunset, with Jez in his arms, Morgead thought that maybe, just maybe, she loved him back.