Chapter 32: Teenagers

Morgan was standing at her locker, fearing shutting her locker because that meant she would have to go to her advisory. She took another sip of her coffee before setting the to-go cup on the top shelf of her locker. The teenager grabbed her books for the first half of the day and put back any books that were in her backpack that she didn't need till the second half of the day. She liked to only go to her locker in the mornings, at lunch, and in the afternoons when the day was done. It was one of the first days in a long time that she showed up to school actually somewhat trying. Morgan was wearing a fitted, black and white striped t-shirt tucked into her ripped, light wash jeans with a thin black belt and her slip-on black vans. Since it was somewhat warm outside but cold in the school, she had a black knit cardigan on. Her eyes were lined with as much dark winged eyeliner as she had started the year with but her mascara was even thicker and her dark red matte lipstick was nearing black. She had switched brands upon recommendation from Madison. Though there still wasn't any foundation, just like she started the year with. Foundation was only something she wore when she was a cheerleader. Nevertheless, Morgan was finally getting back into herself. Hanging out with her friends again and playing soccer was definitely helping. She was even done with physical therapy. Her physical therapist at Athletico cleared her. So not only had she been cleared from sports, but she didn't have to attend weekly therapy to get her body back on track after breaking her leg and her core muscles after having been stabbed.

It was when Morgan finally plucked up the courage to close her locker and head to her advisory that she heard it. Her name being called over the P.A. system, calling her into the High School office. She sighed before walking in the opposite direction of her advisory to make her way over to the office. It was cutting it a little close to 8:00 when advisory started, so she walked a little faster, her long tresses of mahogany colored hair slightly waiving behind her. A thought crossed her mind that she hadn't gotten a haircut since before her mom died, and they were nearing a year since it happened. Morgan hadn't even finished the eighth grade before her she met her father in that Hospital and he whisked her off to Kansas, to the life she had now. She was getting so deep into her thoughts that she almost walked right by the school office. Morgan snapped herself into attention and walked in with her head held high.

"Good Morning, Morgan," the school receptionist greeted her.

"Good Morning, Mrs. Smith," she greeted the woman. Before she could make conversation, the principal walked out of her office.

"Morgan, good, you're here," Mrs. Jeurgens greeted. "Since you were new this year-"

"Sorry, Mrs. Jeurgens, but technically everyone is new when you're a freshman at a high school-"

"Yes, I know. But, technically you were new because everyone already knew each other, being recruited from neighboring middle schools… Whatever, that's not the point. You are experienced in acclimating to a new school since you came from out of state. I'm assigning you to be the new kid's buddy. They transferred from out of state and I thought it'd be easier for him to acclimate mid second semester if you helped him," Mrs. Jeurgens explained. Morgan froze.

"Him?" She asked. Mrs. Jeurgens opened her office door and out walked maybe the most beautiful boy Morgan had ever seen. It was like slow motion as he walked out of that office and approached her and the principal. This boy sported a golden blonde military cut with a fade so pristine that Morgan desperately wanted to run her fingers through it in hopes that those golden locks would feel like silk in her fingers. His skin was flawless with a sun-kissed golden glow like he was from some island paradise. His eyes were captivating with the most striking color of sky blue that somehow looked vibrant like cyan. She didn't even know that blue eyes could be that color in real life. They were so electric. His physique was immaculately chiseled like he was a greek god, and she could see it. She would bet money that underneath his impeccably fitted black t-shirt was a shredded six pack. Even the way his blue jeans fit him was perfect. This boy wasn't even wearing gym shoes or boat shoes like every other guy. His jeans were rolled up slightly by his ankles to show off his dark brown, leather combat boots. If Morgan hadn't been wearing dark red lipstick and wanted it to stay perfect, she would be drooling over this boy.

"This is Liam James. Liam, this is Morgan Winchester," Mrs. Jeurgens introduced them. Morgan almost waited too long to respond she had been so distracted.

"Nice to meet you, Liam," Morgan said with a smile, reaching her hand out to be polite like her mom taught her.

"Nice to meet you too," he responded, shaking her hand. Even his smile had her weak in her knees. His pearly white smile made her want to smile, but she hid it like a champ. If she could hide her crippling depression and pretend like she was getting better faster than she actually was after Jonah died, this would be a cakewalk.

"Alright, Mrs. Smith," Morgan told the school receptionist. "I'm gonna need a note that excuses me from being late to class even though Liam is evidence enough. Mr. Greenstone is kind of a stickler when it comes to being late," Morgan said and Mrs. Smith smiled.

"Say no more," she told Morgan as she grabbed a green slip and filled it out before handing it to Morgan. "You two kids should probably get going. Don't forget, Liam. If you lose your schedule you can always come back here and get another copy."

"Thank you, ma'am," Liam responded. He didn't sound like everyone else here. His voice had something different to it, different from the kansas accent everyone else had and different from her kentucky twang. She watched Liam wave to Mrs. Smith with the hand that was holding the copy of his schedule that she no doubt handed to him the second he walked in. Morgan and Liam walked out.

"So, who's your advisor?" Morgan asked him as they strolled down the empty hallway towards the classrooms.

"Uh, seems I have Mr. Greenstone. Hey do you think they gave me Mr. Greenstone because they wanted us to be in the same homeroom?" Liam asked her. At first she was taken aback, realizing that he paid attention and remembered which teacher she was going to next, and that the teacher would be her advisor. But instead of asking him about it she laughed.

"Probably. I think they thought it would be helpful," She told him. The teenage girl kept sneaking glances at the flawless human being next to her. As much as she disliked being given extra work that she didn't want to do, this was something she was really enjoying. The only negative part was that she kept getting these feelings of guilt. Even though he was dead and he was possessed by a demon for part of the relationship, Morgan felt like she was betraying the memory of Jonah. But then she would make the feeling go away by telling herself that he wouldn't want her to put her life on hold for someone who's dead.

"Morgan, you're late," Mr. Greenstone said as she walked into her advisory classroom. The teenage girl rolled her eyes.

"For good reason, Mr. Greenstone. I come bearing a green slip excusing me from being late and the new kid," She sidestepped and showcased Liam with her hands to be dramatic.

"Oh, good," Mr. Greenstone relaxed. He then took the green slip from Morgan and she went to sit down at her desk in the back of the classroom since she didn't particularly like Mr. Greenstone. "Alright Advisory," Mr. Greenstone began, "this is our newest Advisee, Liam James. Liam why don't you tell the class where you're from and a fun fact about yourself," Mr. Greenstone introduced.

"Uh, hi. I'm Liam. I'm from Santa Barbara, California… and a fun fact… this summer I was a camp counselor slash surfing instructor," He told them. The fact that he was from California, a surfer no less, made him even more attractive. Even the whole idea of him being a camp counselor and running fun activities with kids had her loving it even more. But then Morgan snapped back into reality as Liam drifted to the back of the classroom with her as the Morning announcements began.

"California, huh?" Morgan asked quietly while the vice principal went over what's on the menu for lunch. Liam flashed her another smile.

"Yeah, moved here with my dad," he told her. "What about you? Mrs. Jeurgens said you were out of state too while I was getting my stuff together in her office," Liam asked her. Once again, Morgan was surprised he cared enough to ask about it, let alone pay attention to anything about her. She returned the smile.

"Moved here with my dad and uncle from Kentucky," Morgan told him. "Came here with your dad, huh? What about your mom?" the teenage girl wondered.

"She's still in California with her boyfriend and my little brother," Liam sighed. It seemed he didn't much like something about it. Morgan couldn't quite decide if it was the distance from his little brother or the fact that his mother lived with some boyfriend, or both. "What about you? Is your mom still in Kentucky?"

"Sort of," Morgan told him. Technically it wasn't a lie. Her body was still there.

"What do you mean sort of?"

"Oh, she died nearly a year ago next month. Mother's day actually…" Morgan was quick to change the subject. "Hey, hand me your schedule. I need to make sure I can get you to all your classes and still be on time to mine," She said and he wordlessly handed her the paper. She was in the middle of reading through his classes when Liam finally broke their stalemate of awkward silence.

"Sorry about your mom," Liam told her, grabbing her hand in an attempt to console her. Morgan looked up at him, nearly overpowered by the way it felt to have him touching her hand. Not only did it feel like her skin was on fire at his touch, she could feel all of his emotions coursing through her. Ever since that night at the soccer game, she had been trying to avoid physical contact as much as she could. She was afraid of overstepping if she happened to feel a negative emotion. But this was different. With Liam, she could feel his wariness from being the new kid, not knowing anyone. She could feel his contentment that he was making friends with her. But the most alarming emotion that she couldn't let go of was the fact that he was conflicted about her too. There was an attraction that they both felt, but neither knew what to do with. He removed his hand from hers, severing the connection.

"Thanks," Morgan told him as she went through his classes one last time. "Alright, so the good thing about your schedule is that since we're freshman, they put you in nearly all the same classes as me. Homeroom with Mr. Greenstone, Latin I with Mr. Carver, World Literature: Across the Genres with Mrs. Seebold, you're in a higher math than i am so that's different, then we have lunch, Freshman Biology with Mrs. Druger, World History with Mr. Greenstone, I'm in a higher level art class than you so that's different, and then we both have gym with Mr. McHale and this week it's volleyball," Morgan told him. He raised his eyebrows.

"We only have two classes separate from each other? Really?" He seemed slightly confused and surprised. Morgan shrugged.

"Maybe the office is trying to play matchmaker," Morgan joked, feuling her voice with sarcasm as she heard the school bell ring. The two of them got up from their desks and made their way to their first class, Latin.