December 16, 2005
Dear Journal –
Christmas is getting closer! I think I am more excited than Baylee is! Baylee and I are meeting up with Nick, in the morning, to do some more shopping. I need to get something nice for Leighanne, but I’m not sure what it will be. All of Baylee’s gifts are wrapped and hidden, already. I am so excited…I just can’t wait to watch my little man open his gifts!
Oh, remember how I was talking about the fan that found Baylee? Well, Nick did take her out, that night and they’ve been out every night since! I do declare, I think Nicky might have himself a girlfriend. Okay…let me see if I can remember her name…
Uh-oh…I’m being called…I better go.
-Brian
I set the journal down on the bed, beside me. Sighing, I rubbed my hands over my face, letting my fingers run through my hair and link behind my head. My eyes wandered around the room. Don’t get me wrong, I love reading my dad’s journal, but, it’s kind of depressing, too. I miss my family so much! Not that Nick, Kevin, Mason and everyone aren’t my family…it’s just that…well…you know what I mean.
It took me forever to get to sleep, and, before I knew it, my alarm was screeching. I slapped at it, without opening my eyes, trying to find the snooze button. Covering my head with my biggest pillow, only trying, to block out what I knew had to come. Maybe I dozed back off, or maybe I just zoned out, but I jumped at a loud know on my door. Before I could answer, the door flung open.
“Go away, Morgan.” I groaned, not bothering to open my eyes, or roll over.
“Yeah, wrong friend, Bay.”
“Sean?” I sat up, turning and looking over at him. “What are you doing here? You know if Morgan sees you here, she’ll make you go on the morning run, with us.”
“I don’t have anything to worry about, because I don’t think she’ll be coming.” Sean cleared his throat. Now, I knew something was up.
“What?!?” I bolted, from my covers, sitting up and scrunching my eyebrows. “What do you mean she’s not coming? She never misses our run!”
“Well…You know Matt, right?”
“Yeah…the sax player, in band.” I nodded, anxiously. Standing, I headed to my closet. Rummaging around, I grabbed a pair of baggy khakis, my dad’s old Buccaneers jersey…from a game that he and Nick went to…and a sweatshirt.
“He’s a trombone player,” Sean rolled his eyes. “Anyways, he lives in the same building as Morgan and he called me this morning. He told me, that there were paramedics, in Morgan’s apartment, really late, last night.”
“Parame…are you kidding me?!?” I finished pulling the jersey over my head. Sean just shook his head, verifying that he was not joking. “Come on.” I grabbed my phone and flipped off the light, heading downstairs. Sean followed closely, as I made my way into the kitchen. Sure enough, Mason and Nick were at the table, eating.
“Morning, boys,” Nick greeted, with a lopsided grin, milk trailing down his chin.
“Nick, I gotta skip school. Matt called Sean, and told him that paramedics were in Morgan’s apartment last night! We have to go to the hospital and find out what happened.” I rushed through the explanation, hoping Nick would understand. I knew I was supposed to be grounded, but didn’t this qualify as an emergency?
“How about you call? They might be home, by now.” Nick suggested, tilting his head, and getting up. He left to get ready for a meeting and Mason was close behind, so he could prepare for school. Maybe Nick was right. I flipped open my phone and hit the speed dial.
“Gooooood Mooooorniiiiing!” I jumped, at the voice, dropping my phone and spinning around.
“Morgan?!?” Sean and I both questioned, scrambling to the foyer. Sure enough, there she was, with light rain coat, draped over her shoulders.
“Hey guys!” She was chipper, yet kind of spacey looking. My eyes stayed glued, to her, watching her drop her backpack.
“What happened?!?” Sean asked, impatiently. I tried to hide my smile, as I saw the look on his face. Have I ever mentioned that Sean has the BIGGEST crush, on Morgan? He told me about it, years ago, but I can tell that it still exists. I don’t think Morgan has a clue…I’ve never brought it up, obviously.
“What are you talking about?” She just smiled, as she shrugged off the coat. She turned, to her right, and hung up the coat. When she turned back, we got our answer.
“What did you do?!?” My eyes widened, taking in the cast, on her right arm.
“Nothing major…I just broke my arm, is all,” she shrugged, as if it were no big deal. I knew that she must be on some good painkiller because she doesn’t tolerate pain very well. I’ve watched her cry over smaller injuries, than this.
“How?” Sean questioned, as we all headed into the kitchen. I began to rummage around in the kitchen drawer, as she explained her accident.
“I was climbing up, on a chair, to get mom’s crock pot down, for her. She’s making her famous pot roast, for tonight. I was told you are both invited! Anyways…I was trying to get it down, but the cord got stuck. I didn’t realize it was caught, so I went to get down and the cord stopped me. I lost my footing and fell.” She dazedly stared off, in front of her.
“You are always getting yourself hurt, Morgan. Isn’t this the third cast, of yours, that I’ve had to sign?” I asked, lifting a brow. I sat down, next to her, a red Sharpie marker in hand. I neatly wrote a little note, signing below it, and started to doodle on the pink cast. Just like the other times, I would end up doodling on it every day, until she got it removed.
“I want to sign too!” Sean piped up, giving me a look.
“There’s a blue one, in the drawer,” I responded, not looking up from the cast. “So…exactly how did your arm get broken, though? You said you fell but…”
“Oh…right…I landed on it. I probably would have been okay, but the chair broke my fall…and my arm. Luckily, the crock pot was okay.” She let out a small giggle.
“You scream?” I already knew the answer, but couldn’t resist asking. Morgan laughed at me and hit my arm, with her other hand.
“Of course, I did. I wailed, like a little baby.”
“Why didn’t you call us? I heard about the paramedics, from Matt! He called me this morning, to tell me about it. I was worried!” Sean sat across from us, and quickly jotted his name, on the cast.
“I didn’t think you guys would hear about it, before I saw you this morning. Sorry.” She looked down at the cast that ran, from her upper arm, down to her hand.
“It’s okay. We’re just happy it wasn’t anything more serious.” I smiled at her. Getting up from the table, I capped the marker and shoved it into my pocket…I would need it again later, when I was bored in class. “I gotta go grab my backpack. I’ll be right down.” I quickly made my way up the stairs and into my room. After grabbing me bag, I poked my head into Mason’s room.
“See ya, Mase. Have a good day.” I smiled, at my younger cousin, who was desperately combing his hair down.
“Bye, Bay!” I closed his door and headed downstairs. Picking up Morgan’s bag, I reentered the kitchen.
“You guys ready?”
“Yeah,” the both answered, getting up. Morgan walked towards me, and tried to take her bag…not like I let her.
“I got it. You’re injured.” I gave her a cheesy smile, as Sean draped the coat, back, over her shoulders. I slung Morgan’s bag over my shoulder and carried mine by the top handle. Sean closed the door, behind us, and we set off to school.
Author's Chapter Notes:
Thanks to everyone, that is still sticking with this story, I appreciate it! Thanks for all the feedback, too. ;-)
