Disclaimer: The following is a prequel to Choices The Freshman and The Sophomore stories. It is a fictional adaptation. I do not work for Pixelberry Studios, the game developer or own the rights to the characters Chris Powell, Jo, Kyle or Nicole. All of the characters, story line and events were originally developed by me, some areas in part with @maxattack-powell, in conjuction to her adaptation of The Freshman.
Chapter 16: Damaged
Schedule in hand, Morgan skims over her spring courses as she exits the line in front of the school office. There are four, long lines with strangely hushed students. The return from winter break meant play time was over and it was time to get back to work. Many are drowsy, having stayed up late in defiance of the impending return to school. Others are apprehensive about what teachers they will have. As Morgan walks between the line of juniors and seniors, she hears someone adamantly state they do not want Mrs. Stone for geometry. Morgan can relate. She had her in 11th grade and a glass of water balanced on top of a bouncing ball was more stable than that woman.
The start of the spring semester means a change in class schedules for the students in most areas except the core studies of English, math and some of the sciences. Morgan looks down the list. Her athletic period is now the last class of the day for her, drawing a smile. She no longer has to start her mornings covered in sweat from dance team rehearsals.
She continues to look over the list, noting that Mrs. McWhorter’s third period English Literature class is now fourth period. She wonders if there is any other change for the class and a small hope builds inside of her. Maybe he is in a different class period now, she thinks.
She was reluctant about returning to school from the holiday break. While most seniors were excited about the spring months which brought spring break trips, prom and graduation, Morgan felt a small dread inside about walking the halls and facing the school’s state champion quarterback again. His gesture at Christmas had been sweet; too sweet, she thought. There was a part of her that wanted to remain bitter and continued to whisper in her own ear that Chris was damaged goods, a manipulator, and an opportunist. Then there was the part of her that was still the little girl pinning for his affection and attention that saw the handsome, athletic boy and swore he was still selfless and kind. She was irritated with both aspects of her personality as the civil war raged within.
Chris had tried to tell her he was sorry and she had shut the moment down. Just when Morgan thought they had both moved forward, letting the dust settle as it may, he had looped back around with a such a heartwarming show of penance, it left her torn between condemnation or forgiveness.
As Morgan continues to walk through the line of students, she looks up as she hears a familiar voice and sees Chris, Ethan and Ryan standing together and waiting for their schedules. Chris is explaining something to the other two but as he glances to the side, he spots Morgan and stops speaking mid-sentence. Ryan and Ethan look over at her as well. Ryan’s eye lids are heavy and he looks tired. Lisa threatened his entire existence to get him up and out of bed that morning. Ethan gives Morgan a small smile and she returns it before locking eyes with Ryan. He gives a sleepy grin and a wink, making her cheeks color slightly. They have not spoken since the Christmas party at her home and now share a secret. Chris watches her every step but her eyes hasten away from his, her smile falling as she turns her head, looking at the ground as she strides away.
***
With a heavy sigh, Ethan takes a seat in the office. His schedule is screwed up because of course it is. Every school year it’s something. Last fall they forgot to put football on his schedule. He thought Coach Madison was going to burst an artery when he went to his office and showed him the error. This time, basketball was not on the schedule. For Ethan Clark to be one of the star athletes at Cherryfield High, someone sure didn’t seem to think it was important for him to actually have sports activities on his schedule each semester.
He looks at the school secretary, Mrs. Towns, who chews gum fervently as she answers the phone and taps buttons forwarding callers to various extensions. She lifts her eyes to Ethan, smiling before spinning in her chair and typing on her computer.
He’s been waiting for at least 10 minutes and is bored and despite his easy come, easy go mentality, at the moment he’s impatient. He looks around the office again, busy with other students either trying to fix jacked up schedules or trying to con their way out of a class they do not want to take.
A door from the teachers’ lounge opens and Mrs. Prescott, the theatre teacher, laughs loudly as she talks to someone walking behind her. She holds the door open and Ethan’s heart all but stops.
Behind Mrs. Prescott, smiling brightly and chuckling is Kendra Mortinson. She graduated two years ago from Cherryfield High and periodically popped up for a visit with her old teachers or at some of the local shops and restaurants around town.
Ethan’s back straightens and his stunned eyes blink as he focuses on her. Her pearly, white teeth seem to sparkle as she smiles, or maybe it’s just the filter through which Ethan sees her. Her cocoa-colored skin is as vibrant and rich as ever, and her hair is flat ironed bone straight and swings over her shoulders as she turns.
“It was great seeing you Mrs. Prescott,” she says and the teacher leans over and hugs her.
“Anytime Kendra! You are still one of my favorite and brightest students! It was such a pleasure to teach you and you keep me updated on how things are going at Yale, okay?” she says.
“Will do,” Kendra smiles as she hugs her teacher back. When she does she looks over her shoulder and her eyes fall to the red-haired young man sitting catatonically in a chair, eyes wide at the sight of her.
“Ethan!” Kendra exclaims.
A sheepish grin forms on his lips as he blinks. “Hi….”
“Oh my goodness!” Kendra beams. She lets Mrs. Prescott go, the teacher running and walking back into the teachers’ lounge. Kendra takes a few brisk steps towards Ethan who stands up. She embraces him swiftly and tightly. He is all smiles as his arms lift slowly and he returns her hug. She pulls back but keeps her hands on his arms as he holds her gently around the waist.
“It’s so good to see you,” she says with an unwavering smile.
“You too,” Ethan nods. He can feel the red burning up his neck and cheeks. He is blushing and the redness is rising like mercury in a thermometer up his skin. He looks away, feeling embarrassed, only making the red shade deeper.
Kendra Mortinson had been a senior during Ethan’s sophomore year. They were in speech class together, Ethan briefly competing in oratory contests before the weekend schedule began to clash with football conditioning and 7-on-7 football. Kendra was absolutely stunning in Ethan’s mind. Her conviction when she delivered her extemporaneous speeches as practice in class had intrigued him. She was smart, passionate about helping people and beautiful. Her deep brown eyes were almond shaped and she was naturally pretty, not requiring much makeup over her smooth brown skin.
Despite the two-year age difference between them, something only significant in high school, Kendra had always noticed Ethan. He was different from the other guys at school. She had always seen him walking the halls with his two friends: the one flashy, loud-mouth, girl chaser and the other, the quarterback—Mr.Everything—who always had his tongue down the same brunette’s throat. Ethan was so drastically different. He always seemed so carefree when it came to positioning in high school. He was popular without trying to be, although if no one ever knew his name, he would have been perfectly fine with that as well. He was also oblivious to the female response he evoked around him. Ethan would give his timid smile, almost as if he were afraid to show his own beautiful teeth, as girls would smile and greet him. Kendra never noticed a girl on his arm or even him flirting.
It had finally been during class one day during the fall that she decided to chat him up as they looked over newspaper articles, reading up on current events for their next speech assignment.
“So, here’s the thing,” Kendra said from her seat, putting her newspaper down, lacing her fingers together and leaning forward slightly as she rested her elbows on the desk.
Ethan who had been engaged in casual conversation with her most of the morning, barely lifted his eyes to hers as she spoke. He peaked up quizzically.
“Homecoming is in like two weeks,” Kendra shrugged. “I’ve decided it’s senior year, what the heck, I might as well do everything one last time, right?”
“Right…” Ethan said slowly wondering where she was headed.
“So, I was thinking, what if we went together?” Kendra asked and tucked her lips as she waited.
“Me and you? You want me to take you?” Ethan asked with raised eyebrows as his eye lids fluttered.
“Yeah,” Kendra nodded with a grin. “I do. So…do you want to go together?”
Ethan was a little old fashioned in some ways and believed he should be the one to ask her, so he was slightly taken aback by the question. He also realized he never would have worked up the nerve for that to happen, having assumed since she was older and beautiful she already had a date. He had also never taken a girl to a dance before.
“Yes,” he said with a shy smirk.
“Great,” She smiled brightly.
Ethan was on cloud nine for the next two weeks. A girl he liked wanted to go to the dance with him. He told his mom and they went out and purchased a brand new suit just for the occasion. He made sure his tie would coordinate with Kendra’s dress.
That night was a night of many firsts for the laidback and unassuming Ethan. His driver’s license was newly laminated and it was his first time to take the car out for a date. He held the car door open for her and jumped out to open it for her exit as well.
He and Kendra slow danced several times that night. He remembered praying she would not feel his heart about to beat right out of his chest as she slid closely to him, laying her head on his shoulder as they swayed to the music. He held her closely, keeping a small margin of distance between their bodies out of respect.
When the night was over, they stopped to grab a bite at the North Street Café, sharing a banana split. He took her home and walked her to the front porch.
“I had an amazing time,” Ethan said. He smiled so big he felt like he looked like The Joker.
“I had a great time too, Ethan, thank you so much for tonight,” Kendra smiled at him.
“Well,” he cleared his throat. He felt his palms become sweaty. Giving himself a mental pep talk, he leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Goodnight.” He said pulling back with his usual, timid grin.
Kendra blinked and jerked her head back slightly, giving a small laugh.
“What?” he frowned, still grinning.
“A kiss on the cheek? Really?” Kendra cocked an eyebrow.
Ethan blushed. “Well I…I didn’t want to…you know…make you feel like….” He stammered.
“Ethan?” Kendra said with a smirk.
“Hm?”
She rose up onto her toes. Even in her heels she was still significantly shorter than the growing sophomore. She slid her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes. Ethan’s breathing quickened, as understanding came to him. He cleared his throat, glancing down between them before lifting his eyes back to hers. He slowly reached out, placing his hands on her hips. He tilted his head, leaning closer to her and she closed her eyes. Ethan placed a tender kiss on her lips, letting his mouth hover against hers for just a moment before he pulled back. She opened her eyes slowly and smiled at him. Ethan felt his heart race as he experienced his very first kiss.
“Wow,” Kendra said in a whisper. “Ethan Clark, you have no idea what you do to girls do you?”
He frowned slightly even though he was still smiling. “What I do to girls?” he asked confused.
She let out a soft chuckle. “Someday, you’ll understand,” she said. She leaned in and gave him his second kiss, this one lingering before they pulled away.
Ethan let go of her and watched as she strutted happily inside her home.
They never had any more dates or a relationship, becoming good friends in the wake of the Homecoming Dance and there remained a level of attraction and respect between them. The lack of a change in their status was in large part due to Ethan’s inability to conceive of a romantic relationship between him and any girl. He liked Kendra greatly, but dating and chasing girls was not much of a priority for him. That was more Ryan and Chris’s thing. The kisses between them were never discussed with his best friends.
Then, Kendra graduated and their lives went different directions with that fork in the road.
Now as a senior, hugging Kendra, Ethan has regrets.
“Look at you!” Kendra chuckled. “You got even taller and….” She trails off as she looks at his broad shoulders. She could feel the solidness of his muscled frame when she hugged him.
“Football,” Ethan nods. He slowly drops his arms from around his waist.
“Yeah, football,” she says with a raised brow. She gulps. “Uh…congratulations by the way, my dad was at the state championship game, told me all about it,” she nods. “I would have loved to be there but, school.”
“Thank you,” Ethan nods. “I understand. Are you still prelaw?” he asks remembering that she had been determined to become an attorney someday.
“Yes,” she smiles. “It’s kicking my butt but I’m still at it.”
“You’ll be fine,” Ethan encourages. “You have always been brilliant. Yale is probably like kindergarten and tracing numbers for you.”
Kendra lets out a hardy laugh. “Not exactly, but thanks for the vote of confidence. So, what is new with you other than winning football championships and taking names?”
“Actually got an offer from Boston College,” Ethan says. “I’m planning to sign there for school and football.”
“That’s awesome! You know, it’s only like two hours from Yale, maybe we can get together one weekend when you are school,” Kendra offers.
Ethan blinks. “I’d like that a lot.”
“So, have you finally figured out girls or have they finally figured you out around here yet?” Kendra teases.
“I still don’t get what you mean by that,” Ethan sighs and shakes his head. She laughs harder.
“Girlfriend? Dating?” She asks.
“Nope, no girlfriend, not dating. Been too busy with football and some other things,” Ethan says. He pause. “Are you seeing someone?”
Kendra pauses a moment as well then nods. “Yeah, for a few months now,” she says and looks up to him for his reaction.
Ethan pushes out a smile but feels his hopes fall. “That’s great Kendra. I’m sure he’s a good guy.”
“He is….” She trails off.
The door to the counselor’s office flies open. “Ethan Clark!” Mrs. Novotny yells.
“I’m up,” Ethan says looking at Kendra. He feels the regret again as he looks down into her smiling eyes. He wants to ask for her number, maybe they can keep in touch more this time. They are Facebook friends but he’s rarely ever on the site. He exhales deeply. “Well, it was good to see you and…you take care.”
She nods. “You too Ethan and…if you are homesick for any reminders of Cherryfield when you are at BC next year, you know how you can get a hold of me.” She gives a tiny smile but as she looks into Ethan’s face, she knows the fact that she has mentioned a boyfriend changed everything.
He gives a nod and smile, turning and heading towards the counselor. As he sits down in front of Mrs. Novotny’s desk, he rubs his forehead and takes a deep breath.
***
Ryan balances as he kneels next to the motorcycle. He has taken off his coat and his hoodie, building up a slight sweat as they have worked. A line of wetness circles the neck of his t-shirt and there are a few beads of sweat on his forehead.
“We can probably turn that heater down by a few thousand degrees now,” He says to Tay as he winces and grunts slightly, trying to pull a tube free on the motorcycle. His forearms and biceps flex from the effort.
Tay had finally brought a heater out to the garage the last time they worked on the old bike the week prior. It is a welcomed and needed addition for January in Maine. She bends down and turns the blower down a few settings.
Tay slipped into a pair of old jeans and an old sweatshirt after school, pulling her hair back into a ponytail to keep it out of her face as they continued their repair efforts. Her blonde bangs still lay flat against her forehead. She waited for Ryan for two hours to finish basketball practice before he arrived at her home. Both of her parents are still at work. They have had a few questions about the young man who has popped up to help her fix her brother Avery’s old motorcycle, but kept the line of questioning to a minimum. They honestly are just happy she has made a friend at Cherryfield High School.
“I think the fuel line might be clogged,” Ryan says.
“Really?” She asks. She was leaned up against a shelf in the garage but steps away from it and kneels beside him.
“Yeah. That noise it made when we cranked up earlier, doesn’t sound like fuel is getting pushed through all the way,” Ryan explains. “Sounds like something is stalling somewhere. My mom had that problem with one of her bikes once.”
Ryan had installed the repaired carburetor a week ago but the bike was still not running smoothly. He thanked Ethan for his handy work in fixing the part and returned to Tay’s home to put it back on the bike last Tuesday.
“That’s so awesome that you fixed it, thank you,” Tay had said.
Ryan looked into her eyes. “Oh, no problem. It’s what I do,” he replied with a shrug.
Now he was realizing he might need to recruit Ethan’s help again.
“That piece there,” Ryan points. Tay leans over, close to his side as she studies where he is directing her. “The Y-connector, we will need to take that off but, if there’s a lot of fuel clogged in it, it could spew everywhere so….maybe step back for a second,” he directs. He looks up at her and realizes how close they are to one another.
“Yeah, not really feeling like an ethanol shower right now,” Tay nods and stands up straight to step back.
“I wouldn’t think you would, unless you just…you know…want to be close to me,” Ryan smirks.
“No, thank you,” Tay retorts.
“Sure,” Ryan grins.
“I appreciate you for doing this Ryan but, that’s like all, you know that right?” Tay says.
“What else would there be to it?” He frowns reaching for a pair of pliers in the tool box on the floor next to him.
“I don’t know you tell me,” Tay says and puts her hands on her hips.
Ryan stops and puts the pliers down. He moves off his knees, giving them a respite from the hard concrete floor and sits down. He pulls his knees up towards his chest, resting his elbows on them as he looks up at her.
“I offered to help you fix the bike because it was your brother’s and he’s gone now and I know it means something to you,” Ryan says. Tay looks away from him and at her hands. “Plus, I like working on motorcycles. I used to help my mom with them when I was younger. So, I like doing this. I also wanted to thank you for helping me pass physics.”
“You already thanked me with the gift card,” she says looking at him.
“I wasn’t aware there was a limit on thanks,” Ryan says pointedly.
“There isn’t. It’s just, I didn’t take you for the kind of guy that does stuff for other people without getting something else in return,” Tay admits.
Ryan chews the inside of his cheek silently. When she looks into his eyes she sees frown lines at the corner, his temper surfacing.
“Maybe I should get going,” Ryan says. He thinks for a minute then stands. “Yeah, I am actually going to go.” He wipes his hands on the back of his jeans and reaches for his hoodie thrown over a box.
“I wasn’t trying to piss you off,” Tay says defensively.
“Try harder next time,” Ryan snaps.
“Oh come on,” Tay throws her hands up. “You really can’t blame me for being a little suspicious, can you? I don’t even talk to anyone at school and I still hear all about you with like a hundred different girls!”
He slides the hoodie on and reaches for his coat and glares at her. “Didn’t take you for the type to listen to what other people say.”
“So it’s not true?” She folds her arms across her chest, her head jerks slightly as she throws the question at him.
He huffs and tosses his head back, looking up at the ceiling. He closes his eyes and holds his coat in one hand. He lowers his head and looks at her.
“Some of it’s true, yes,” he says. He shrugs and licks his lips. “Is that what you think this is all about? That I’m over here trying to work my way into your pants or something?” He frowns and cocks an eyebrow.
“No,” she shakes her head rapidly. “No, I mean, I wouldn’t think that I was like…I mean…I’ve seen the girls that you, ya know, like talk to or whatever so…I wouldn’t think that you would like…be interested in somebody like me or anything,” she says in a rush of anxious words.
Ryan says nothing but watches her as she fidgets. He thinks for a minute and then slides his coat on an arm.
“You’re seriously going?” She asks exasperated.
“I need to, yeah,” he says and looks at her directly. From his stern expression she can tell he is serious and she backs off a bit. They are silent as he puts an arm through the other sleeve of his coat.
“Ryan look…I really wasn’t trying to pick a fight. I do appreciate what you are doing. It’s actually really sweet and nice and-“
“I’m not the type to do sweet and nice things unless there’s a payoff at the end like hooking up. That’s what you said earlier. That’s what you think, right?”
She is quiet as he scowls at her. He grabs his car keys off the box where he sat them.
“Yes, I was a little defensive,” Tay admits softly. “I mean, when we worked together in the lab that was one thing. This is something else, you’re here.”
“Then if it bothers you so much, I won’t be,” he says matter-of-factly.
“Ryan….”
“What, Tay? You talk about people at our school and how they all look at you like you are some kind of outsider and freak and say you don’t have friends because of how people see you, but then you pop-off just now about how many girls I’ve been with like it’s some huge crime. Maybe you need to watch how you swing that gavel there judge,” he says.
“I am just looking out for myself!” She shouts.
“Against me? You think that’s what you have to do? Protect yourself from me?” He frowns. His voice reflects both astonishment and hurt. “I’m not some fucking predator. Damn…what do you really think of me then?” He shakes his head and steps towards the garage door button, pressing it and watching as it rises, avoiding looking in her direction.
Tay freezes. She wants to tell him she is looking out for herself because what she feels when she is around him now makes her uncomfortable. It started weeks ago. One day she looked at him and she felt the tickle of attraction towards him. It had grown slowly ever since and now she thought about him at all times of the day. It scares her to feel what she feels for Ryan when she is away from him, more so when he is near.
“Ryan,” she walks over to the garage door button and presses it twice and the door begins to lower.
“Tay, I swear it. Right now the best thing you can do is let me leave,” he says through clenched teeth.
“Would you wait a goddamn second!” She shouts. His head tosses back at her words. “Ugh! Just…just let me think!” She puts her hands over her face and takes deep breaths.
Ryan watches her and sighs. He jingles the car keys in his hand. He is just as irritated as he is disappointed. The disappointment is not entirely with Tay, part of it is with himself because he knows he only has himself to blame. Still, he had begun to connect with her. There was a part of him that had begun to look forward to their time working on the bike together, a part that missed seeing her to start his day. She now had categorized him like so many other people had. He thought they were beginning to see past the facades and high school status levels but he had been wrong.
“I’m sorry, alright? But you have got to cut me some slack here okay?” Tay says. “I don’t know really anyone here but you and…I apparently don’t even know you as well as I think I do.”
“No you don’t,” he rolls his eyes and looks at her.
“Then help me to know you better,” Tay says. She puts her hands back on her hips. “You said that some of it was true about you and all the girls around school, why is just part of that true?”
He licks his lips. “Because…I haven’t been with anyone or gone out with anyone in a little over two months now,” he says and looks at the floor, wincing some. He braces himself knowing she’s going to interrogate him.
“Why is that?” she inquires. She scratches at her shoulder and she studies him. He is avoiding her gaze.
He parts his lips to speak but then stops himself.
Tay looks at him and thinks as they stand in silence. She thinks back to their conversations in the early mornings and the obvious change she saw in him the last few weeks they worked. Then she recalls one moment in particular. “That day,” she thinks out loud. “When you were really upset and you said that day, you had a friend that hurt someone else that you cared about…” she blinks as her mind puts it all together. “It was a girl. It’s someone, someone you like? That’s why, isn’t it?”
Ryan gulps and exhales, giving only a faint head nod.
“So…did that get worked out? I mean, you said you haven’t dated…so….”
He shakes his head no. “That’s over with,” he says.
Tay sympathizes with him but she can’t say she’s totally sad that it didn’t work out with him and whoever this other girl is. “Oh….Well, I’m sorry but…it’s good though maybe that…that you actually liked someone.”
“You mean that I actually showed that I am capable of liking a girl for more than her bra size?” Ryan frowns.
“I didn’t say that,” Tay defends.
“Didn’t have to,” Ryan turns and slams his hand against the garage door button. He waits for it to rise and Tay stares at his profile. He keeps his focus on the door and then when it stops overhead, he walks towards his car.
“I’ll finish the bike,” he says. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll finish and get it fixed. Just may not be as soon as we thought,” he throws over his shoulder.
Tay’s mouth hangs open slightly as she watches him climb up into his Bronco and drive away.
The wind gusts outside and the cold, wintery air blows into the garage. She sighs when she realizes it somehow feels even colder to her now than it did before.
***
Chris pulls away from the church and waves at his mother, Jo and Kyle. The children’s department is having a back to school event to inspire and uplift the kids for the spring semester. Mrs. Powell had asked her eldest child to bring the other two to the church to meet her after she got off work. Chris explained he had homework to get to and he was leaving them with their mother to head home and get started. He is mildly relieved his two siblings are away from the house and out of the car. After weeks together at home over the break, they have been at each other’s throats over the smallest of things.
As he pulls out of the parking lot and turns onto the highway, he reflects back on the events of his first day back at school. There were still congratulatory remarks from teachers and other students on the state championship win. Banners in the hallway still hang declaring the Clippers as the state champions. A community-wide celebration of the title win was scheduled for the next week.
He had so much to feel good about. He had achieved one of his life’s biggest dreams and that was winning state for his small hometown. He had done so with his three of his very best friends, two of them his brothers. Now his attention was turning to college football next fall and hoping he had not completely blown his chances with Hartfeld. There were some rumblings and questions after he was benched for that one game in October.
He drives along, thinking back to that night and the dismay he felt that week. The days that had followed his breakup with Nicole had been some of the darkest in his life. He was glad things were getting better. He was starting to feel better and return a little more each day to the Chris everyone knew and loved.
That night of the game, at Ryan’s party, he remembers his first misstep in a series of bad decisions and he sighs. It was the first time he kissed Morgan. The last time he had felt lost and unsure of him, he had committed a stupid stunt as a freshman that had landed him in the Sheriff’s office with the district attorney having a conversation with him and Mrs. Powell. Thanks to Coach Madison, Ethan and Ryan he had moved past acting out in idiotic manners that were of the criminal kind. This time, he had been foolhardy in matters of the heart, which in some cases, was just as criminal.
Now he was still paying for it and earlier in the day he learned he would continue to for at least another six weeks.
When Chris arrived to Mrs. McWhorter’s English Literature class, now his fourth period class instead of his third period, Morgan was seated in the same spot she had occupied all fall.
“Good morning Christopher! Welcome back,” Mrs. McWhorter greeted happily as he entered the room. This caused Morgan to look up. She had been doodling on her notebook as she waited for class to begin. When she walked in and saw most of the same faces from the previous semester, she knew Chris would be back as well. She began to feel antsy as she waited for the bell and his arrival, doodling to keep her fidgety hands busy.
“Hi Mrs. McWhorter,” Chris returned, he looked around and recognized the seating arrangement and sighed.
“We’re still sitting in alpha order, no changes, so just take a seat,” Mrs. McWhorter explained.
Chris nodded and walked down the row. Morgan returned to doodling, shifting in her seat. Chris slid into the desk beside her, putting his backpack down on the floor.
He bit a nail and leaned back, mustering the nerve to speak.
“Hi,” he said and looked over at her.
She waited for a moment but to his surprise, spoke in return. “Hi,” she returned softly, continuing to sketch.
He took a deep breath. He was uneasy about the question he wanted to pose to her. He knows she received the snow globe he bought for her at Christmas. He had watched her retrieve the gift box as he was parked in his car. He had sprinted across the street and hurried inside his jeep after ringing the doorbell to the Price home, waiting nervously for her to open the door. He watched as she looked around and did not see him in the darkness.
The idea had come innocently enough to him when he stopped by his mom’s work to bring her lunch over the break. As he entered the boutique, he noticed the display in the window.
“Chris!” Mrs. Powell greeted. She smiled and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Hey Mah, here you go,” he said passing along the hot sandwich, chips and soda from the café up the street.
“Thank you, I left the house in such a hurry, didn’t have time to pack something and we have been steadily busy today, can’t leave for even five minutes it seems!”
Chris looked around and there were three ladies milling about, looking at some of the clothing and home décor items. Mrs. Powell took the bag and drink and put them under the counter behind the register.
Chris walked over to the window display and looked at the snow globes lined up. “What’s this?” he asked his mother pointing to them.
“Oh! Sarah from the historical society came by. They had those made and the proceeds from sales will help with the upkeep of those old homes. She asked if the boutique would mind selling them and I didn’t see the harm. They are lovely and represent our community. It would make a nice keepsake for those who love Cherryfield.”
“Yeah, it’s…perfect,” Chris thought. He inspected a few of the different designs before find the one for the Archibald-Adams home. He remembered Morgan that night in the car, before he had screwed everything up. She had looked up at the old home, in the glow of the street lanterns and covered in snow. Her eyes were bright and excited as she shared with him her dream to one day own one of those old properties.
He had told her then that one day she would. Now, he could make sure of it for her. He smiled and grabbed the snow globe sitting it on the counter. He took out his wallet.
Mrs. Powell turned from behind the register surprised. “You’re getting one?” She asked.
He nodded, hoping she wouldn’t ask any more questions. He should have known better.
“Who’s it for?” Mrs. Powell asked taking the snow globe carefully in her hands and ringing it up.
“Just…someone who loves those old houses….” Chris says pulling out the cash for the gift.
“Do you want me to wrap it for her?” Mrs. Powell asked.
“I didn’t say it was a her,” Chris defended.
“You don’t have to, you’re my son,” Mrs. Powell said taking the money from Chris and giving him change. “I’m sure she will love it.”
“Mah!” Chris let out a laugh and was about to protest.
She waves him off. “Do you want me to wrap it?” she asks, putting paper around it to protect the glass.
“No, I’ll do it myself,” he said.
He had gone home and gotten the wrapping paper out of the closet and cussed a few times as he tried to cut and tape the paper around the box. It wasn’t perfect but it worked.
He put the note inside before sealing it all together and hoped that she might see it as a peace offering. It was his olive branch to her. She would not talk to him to let him say he was sorry directly to her, so maybe, through this gesture, he could bridge the gap between them.
“Did you have a good Christmas?” he asked as he watched her draw.
She lifted her head and looked at him. She knew the question is not just about the time off from school but a certain gift placed in stealth on her porch.
“Yes…” She said cautiously. “It…it was nice,” she nodded.
Chris smiled some but Morgan tore her eyes away from him and looked down at her work as the class bell rang.
“Welcome back!” Mrs. McWhorter said to the class. “I’m sure you all have had wonderful holiday celebrations and time with friends and family, but we are going to get back to work. We are going to start the new year with a new project!” She said squealing excitedly. There were several groans from around the room. Chris looked at his teacher and shook his head with a small laugh. She gets way too excited for this stuff.
He would not be laughing in just a few minutes.
“When an author sits down to create a character,” Mrs. McWhorter said, putting her hands behind her back and pacing dramatically, “they are not just creating a name and a few ticks and emotions to go along with that character. They are creating in some ways a being that has their own world. The author creates their surroundings, their wardrobe, even the foods they eat to paint the picture of who that character is.”
“We are going to look at some of the literary world’s most famous characters as the authors did, painting the picture of who they are, where they eat, sleep, live, love and breathe!” Mrs. McWhorter explained. “This project will require you to research the era in which the characters lived and create a list of their favorite foods, the type of clothes they wear and even for your presentations dress the part!”
The entire class groaned at this, even Morgan and Chris.
“Now, now, this is going to be fun! First you will need to read the assigned book. The great news? You will not have to do this alone, I’m assigning partners for the project and you will spend the next six weeks completing this assignment, ready to present in costume as the primary portion of your grade.”
At the word partners, Morgan froze. If any spirit anywhere was listening to her prayers, she would not be assigned to work with Chris. He scooted around in his chair, also anxious to find out the pairing.
Mrs. McWhorter grabbed her clipboard of fate and began reading off the pairings, “Jessica Mowbry and Danielle Brooks…Gabby Pointer and Michael Penny…” she continued to read off the pairings. Around the room, there are smiles or further groans as either happiness or disappointment with the assignments set in. “Chase Douglas and Jeffrey Novak…” She continued. “Chris Powell and Morgan Price….Briana-“
Morgan didn’t hear the rest. She felt like she has been sucker-punched in the stomach. She gripped her pen tightly in her hand, her jaw clenched. Mrs. McWhorter continued to read names from the front of the room and she swore the woman is Satan in a teacher’s shell.
Chris closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “What the hell,” he said under his breath. He opened his eyes slowly and looked over at Morgan. Her entire body was rigid and her eyes were fixed to something at the front of the room. For a minute he swore he saw a vein in her neck.
“Okay that’s everyone!” Mrs. McWhorter said. “You can move around the room to get with your partner and I will bring you the books at let you know your characters,” she explained.
Morgan exhaled for the first time in three minutes and slowly looked over at Chris. He cannot read her expression. Her face is blank.
Around them, the sound of wood and metal scrapping over linoleum in a chaotic blend filled the room for a minute as desk and chairs were pulled together. Morgan and Chris silently looked around them and with only brief eye contact, stood and did the same, turning their desks to face directly towards each other.
Morgan sat back down and refused to look at him, going back to her artwork. She flipped her notebook open and began to draw a horned figure that in her head was Mrs. McWhorter.
Chris watched her face as she angrily scribbled, feeling it best to leave a lapse in dialogue.
“Morgan and Chris,” Mrs. McWhorter said approaching them with a stack of books in hand. The teenagers looked up at her apprehensively. “You two may just have my favorite assignment,” she giggled. “One of history’s greatest love stories!”
Morgan’s face goes pale and she racks her fingers through her hair, rolling her eyes. Chris glanced over at her again and sighed.
“Your assignment is Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare!” Mrs. McWhorter said and placed a copy of the play down in front of each of them. “Morgan, Cleopatra was a queen and ruler was born into her reign. You’ll need to study palace life and fine cuisines in ancient Egypt. She was also known for her elaborate costumes, wigs and she early on toyed with make-up, so you can have a lot of fun with that costume!” Mrs. McWhorter beamed.
“Right,” Morgan said dryly. She took the book and with a heavy sigh and flipped through it.
“And Christopher, I thought Antony was perfect for you. He was a strong, soldier and a leader, like you out on the football field. Antony’s only downfall was he fell for a beautiful young queen and that led to his demise!” McWhorter explained and Chris’s eyes widened as his mouth fell open.
“Wait, what?”
“So you will need to look at the life of a Roman leader…maybe study the senate and what men of Roman wealth wore. The foods of Cesar and his men are the stuff of legends. You can also have some fun with your costume. There’s always the option of a toga and a laurel wreath or you could dress as a roman general, up to you! I can’t wait to see what you two come up with. Here is a detail of the assignment.” The teacher laid the sheet down on Chris’s desk. He and Morgan stared at the paper like some sort of toxic material before, with a long slow exhale, Chris took the paper in his hands.