Save Me

“I’ve missed you...so much,” I whispered.

I didn’t even know if Morgan heard what I said, because he just stayed silent. Morgan. My Morgan. I haven’t seen this boy in 9 years, and all of a sudden he turns up again? I don’t understand. He’s changed so much, that’s for sure. But then again, so have I. In worse ways too, probably. I snapped out of my thoughts as Morgan winced. His foot!

“Don’t worry, the glass will be out soon,” I murmured, pushing his black hair out of his eyes, noticing a white bandana.

“I’m gonna kill that brunette girl. She fucking distracted me,” Morgan grumbled.

Rachel? What does he mean? I looked up at the small crowd around us and frowned. Morgan needs space, not an audience.

“Okay, please give us some room - he’s injured his foot. Has anyone called an ambulance?” I asked loudly.

“Yeah Tryce, it should be here soon,” Javier nodded from my left.

“Thanks Jav,” I smiled.

At least someone is thinking clearly. I noticed the crowd were still around us and frowned a little more.

“Why are you frowning, Tee?” Morgan asked softly.

Tee. I haven’t been called that in so long. And the way it sounded coming from his lips...no, I can’t think about that right now. There are more important things to think about.

“Javier, can you get all these people to leave? Morgan needs space – he nearly drowned for Christ’s sake!” I asked quietly.

“Sure thing. Just tell me what’s going on later, okay?” Javier asked.

I just nodded. That’s what I like about Javier as a friend – he knows there’s a lot about my childhood that I haven’t told him, but he never pushes me for information. He respects my privacy, and I’m grateful for that. As my hispanic friend got the randomers to leave, I looked back down at Morgan. Wow, he really has changed so much.

“I can’t believe it’s actually you,” I mumbled, chewing my bottom lip.

“You know you never answered my question. Why were you frowning?” Morgan asked, raising a perfect eyebrow.

I sighed, running my hand through my wet curls.

“People have no sense of boundaries around here. They just want to know everything that’s going on and don’t go away unless forced to. It’s sickening,” I muttered.

Morgan stayed silent for a few seconds, just staring up at me with hisbeautiful dark eyes.

“You’ve changed. A lot,” Morgan said suddenly.

I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. Morgan has no idea of the hell I went through after he left. Of course I’ve changed.

“Uh, yeah, I have. Oh good, the paramedics are here!” I exclaimed.

I probably sounded a little too excited about that. I hope he doesn’t get the wrong impression. As the paramedics ran over, I helped them lift Morgan onto a stretcher.

“He’s got a fair amount of glass in his foot by the way. I don’t know how deep it’s gone in,” I warned them.

“Okay thanks. We’ll take care of your friend, don’t worry,” the female one said.

Can I really call Morgan my friend any more? He hasn’t contacted me in 9 years...should I still want to call him my friend?

“Tryce!” Morgan called desperately as the paramedics picked the stretcher up.

“Yeah?” I smiled softly.

“Can you pick me up from hospital after your shift? I, uh, don’t want my dad to know,” Morgan asked, as if ashamed.

I knew what my answer was without even having to think. This is Morgan after all.

“Sure. Uh, have you got a pen?” I asked the paramedic.

The male pulled one out of his pocket. I scrawled my cellphone number on the inside of Morgan’s arm and recapped the sharpie.

“I should finish in about two hours,” I told him, handing the paramedic his pen back.

“Thank you,” Morgan whispered.

“No problem,” I nodded.

“Oh, and can you pick up my t-shirt and flip-flops? I left them over there,” Morgan said, pointing to a small pile behind us.

“Yeah, will do,” I chuckled.

I squeezed Morgan’s shoulder before the paramedics carried him to the ambulance. With a groan, I picked my board up and walked back over to my station, only to see my boss Joe standing there.

“Is that kid alright?” he frowned.

“Yeah, he’ll be fine. A mixture of shock and swallowing water, I think. Oh, and he cut his foot on some glass,” I replied, glancing over my shoulder at the retreating ambulance.

“Do you know him?” Joe asked.

I chewed my bottom lip as I nodded.

“Yeah, he lived here until he was 6, and came back for two summers after that. He was my best friend,” I explained.

“He used to live in Florida, but he can’t swim?!” Joe said, confused.

“Morgan only cared about football, not anything else,” I chuckled.

“Well I don’t want him in the water unless he takes swimming lessons. We can’t afford accidents like that,” Joe warned.

I know that all too well.

*

I finished work a little early today, so I headed home first to get changed before Morgan called me. I’m still kinda in shock from seeing him, y’know? It’s like a ghost from the past has suddenly appeared to teach me a lesson. Hah, I think God has thrown enough lessons my way already. But you never know - I’m sure there’s a reason Morgan’s shown up after all these years. I opened my front door, only to frown at the sight of my parents sitting in the living room. Why the hell aren’t they at work?

“Why aren’t you at work?” I asked, shutting the front door.

“Hello to you too!” my dad laughed.

“My case finished early, and your father had no paperwork to do, so we thought we’d come home early to surprise you,” my mom explained, her blue eyes sparkling.

I should explain. My mom is a lawyer in a top firm in the city. Hell, she’s one of the best in the state, actually. And my dad is an accountant. He’s far too smart for his own good really. The thing is, although they spend so little time at home, we’re all really close. Carlie and I rarely argue with our parents, so it’s always great to spend time together. Doesn’t mean it’s not a surprise to see them home early.

“It’s a surprise alright. I finished early too, Joe let me off,” I smiled.

“Yes, we heard you saved someone’s life today,” my dad said proudly.

News travels fast in this beach town. Then I grinned.

“You wouldn’t believe who it was,” I said excitedly.

“Who?” my mom asked, curious.

“Morgan. Morgan Jones,”

It felt so good to be able to say his name again.

“No way!” my dad gasped.

“Yuh huh,” I nodded.

“I didn’t know he was back in town,” my mom frowned.

“Me neither. I think it’s been a couple of weeks now though,” I shrugged.

“It’s been 9 years since he left, hasn’t it?” my dad asked.

I swallowed heavily, just nodding. My parents’ mood automatically changed.

“Tryce...” my mom murmured.

“No, it’s okay mom. I mean, at least I could save one life, right?” I said with a weak smile.

There was a brief awkward silence as horrible memories flashed through our heads. I shook my head to clear it, and turned to walk up to my room when my dad stood up and stopped me with a hand on my shoulder.

“It would be good to see the Jones’ again. Invite the family over for dinner, yeah?” my dad said warmly.

“Will do,” I nodded.

I walked up the stairs to my bedroom as fast as I could. Every memory I have of Morgan is connected with Jensen, and I didn’t realise how much the old wounds would open up now that Morgan’s reappeared. But it can’t stay this way forever, right?