A/N: Glad you guys like this story so far! This chapter doesn't have Jason or Liz in it, but I promise they will both be in the next one!
Aiden Spencer had hated history as long as he could remember. What was the purpose of it anyway? Why did teachers feel the need to rehash the same stuff over and over again every year? It was almost impossible to pay attention. And he considered himself to be pretty smart. Definitely no genius, but not dumb either. That is how he managed to pass most of these pointless tests. But most days, he would find himself drifting off. His body was there, but his mind was somewhere completely different.
On some days, he would be thinking about what kind of trouble he and his friends would manage to get themselves into over the weekend. Other days, he would be thinking about the big game on Friday night. Being a sixteen-year-old boy, girls were a topic that also crossed his mind pretty regularly. Then, there were those times when he would find himself wondering what he had done wrong. Wondering why his father didn't want him.
He knew everything there was to know about Lucky Spencer. Apparently, everyone loved him. He was an upstanding guy and had a heart of gold, according to his grandpa, Luke. Luke was the only member of the Spencers that had even attempted to have a relationship with Aiden. He had gotten the impression long ago that Lucky was Luke's "favorite" child. But if his dad was so amazing, why had he never bothered to come visit his only son? Thinking of Lucky made Aiden feel angry and hurt at the same time. Without his mom, he didn't know what he would do.
Aiden was sure that he had the greatest mom in the world. He could not think of a single moment in his life when she put herself before him or Cameron. They were always her first priority. At times, he had felt guilty that his mother didn't have a social life. Like maybe he was the reason. There were a couple guys who would take her to dinner every once in a while, but never anything serious. He had often wondered why she was so afraid to fall in love. Had his father hurt her that badly?
"Aiden?", he heard Mrs. Williams annoyed voice command him back to reality.
"I'm sorry. What?"
"Have you been paying the least bit of attention?", she demanded as the bell rang.
"Saved by the bell", he whispered gratefully before getting out of there as quickly as he could. While walking out into the crowded hallway, he felt himself violently collide with someone who was apparently walking as fast as he was. Notebooks and papers went flying onto the floor.
"Oh, I'm so sorry", he quickly apologized as he and the unfamiliar blonde both bent down to pick up their things.
"No, I am. I totally wasn't paying attention to where I was going. I'm new here", she explained as they both stood up.
"I didn't think I had seen you don't usually see new people transfer right before school's out. Anyway, I'm Aiden Spencer. It's nice to meet you", he smiled as he stared into her baby blue eyes for the first time.
"Marissa Morgan. It's nice to meet you too", she said shyly.
"Marissa. So, did you just move here?", he asked curiously as they walked outside where everyone was gathered for the brief break they were allowed.
"Yeah. Well, I was born here actually. But my parents moved to California when I was a baby. But I guess it wasn't meant to be, so they divorced and I moved back here with my dad."
"Sorry about the divorce. That must have been hard for you", he said sincerely.
"It sucks, but I mean it happens all the time. It isn't like I'm the only one whose mom and dad didn't want to stay together", she shrugged.
"Yeah, I know how that feels. I mean my parents aren't divorced or anything. Well, actually they are. But they were married and divorced way before I was born. Wow, this sounds pretty bad, doesn't it?"
"Hey, we can't help the things our parents do. They still get along, don't they?"
"I don't know. My dad left when I was really little and I haven't seen him since. He still calls sometimes like Christmas or my birthday, but I don't really know him that well", Aiden admitted.
"That's horrible. You don't have a step dad or anything?", Marissa wondered.
"No. I think my mom has just totally abandoned the whole concept of love. I wish I could help her. But I guess when your heart has been broken so badly…"
"It can't be repaired", she finished exactly what he was thinking.
"I'm sorry. I barely know you and I'm just burdening you with all my problems", he said with a slight laugh.
"It's ok. If you ever need to talk to someone, I'm totally there. And you're pretty much the only person at this school that I know", she added.
"Not for long. I'm sure a girl as pretty as you won't have any trouble making friends."
Marissa felt herself blush at the compliment. She started to speak when they were approached by two tall athletic-looking guys. One had blond hair like her own. The other's was jet black. They were both attractive, though not even close to Aiden.
"Hey man. Who is this lovely lady?", the dark-haired one asked Aiden with a teasing grin.
"This is Marissa Morgan. Marissa, these guys are my friends. Brennan Paulk and Miles Dixon", he introduced them.
"Hi. It's nice to meet you", she said quietly as the bell rang.
"Wonderful. You would think they would give us a longer break", Brennan complained before walking off with Miles.
"Yeah. So, I guess I'll see you around", Aiden smiled at Marissa.
"Ok", she said softly as she watched him walk away.
Marissa went on to her next class, but she wasn't really there. At least her mind wasn't. She kept replaying her conversation with Aiden over and over again in her head. She didn't even know him and yet he had opened up to her so completely. She felt horrible for everything he must have gone through. She couldn't imagine what life would be without her own dad.
He was the best father that she could have ever asked for. He had been living in a toxic marriage for years, and still put up with her mother's crap for Marissa's sake. He had tried so hard to make that marriage work. But the love had just gone away. Or maybe it was never really there to start with. Marissa didn't know. She had often wondered what it would be like to be a part of a real family. A family who just simply loved each other. While both of her parents loved her, they fought with each other constantly. And then one day, her father couldn't take it anymore and moved out.
When it became clear that she would have to choose which parent she wanted to live with, she knew right away that she was going to choose her dad. Marissa had always been closer to her father, even as a child. It wasn't that she didn't love her mother. She did, though she found her to be quite annoying at times. But she couldn't imagine life without her father. So, she left her old life behind and made the move to Port Charles. She was suddenly more sure than ever that she had done the right thing.
