Lost and Found

Adventures in High School

(Eloise's POV)

When I walked into the high school, I felt like I didn't belong. Maybe it was because I was from a different dimension, but it probably more-so due to the fact that everyone was staring at me. Morty and Summer looked at each other nervously.

I rolled my eyes, trying to act like it didn't bother me as I walked to class. Girls leaned in and whispered to each other as the guys snickered. I'd never felt more insecure in my life.

I was stopped in my tracks by a group of girls. (Honestly, did all girls in this dimension walk in a posse?) The one in the front had red hair and was looking at me up and down. The second thing I noticed was that Morty was blushing red.

"Hey, sweetheart, I think you're in the wrong place," she sneered, leaning down to me in a condescending way. "The place for steampunk freaks is down the street."

Oh, heck no. This jerk was not about talk down to me. 

"Thanks, why don't you take your own advice and go back to the hole you crawled out of?" I retorted. A resounding "OOOHHH" traveled throughout the school halls. The girl narrowed her eyes as an athletic-looking guy walked up and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Hey, babe, is this girl bugging ya?" he asked, glaring daggers at me.

The redhead immediately switched from an angry glare to bursting into tears. "S-she just came up to me and started calling me names!"

The jock (is that what they're called on Earth?) smirked down at me before delivering a punch to my stomach that was so hard, it literally knocked the wind out of me. I doubled over in pain as Summer and Morty rushed to my side.

"H-hey, what the h-heck, man?! Not c-cool!" Morty shouted before gently sitting me up. "You okay, El?"

"Y-yeah, I'm good," I muttered breathlessly. The jock laughed as Morty and Summer helped me to my feet. "What's so funny, jerk-wad?" I moaned.

"Oh, looks like Morty Smith finally someone DUMB enough to date him! I mean, seriously! HE'S the best you can do?" the athletic teenager gloated. The rest of the hallway erupted into hysteric laughter and Morty's face flushed red. Poor guy looked like he was about to break down.

A knot twisted in my stomach as blood pounded in my ears. 

"Leave him out of this, you moron," I warned, "or you'll be sorry."

"Yeah, right."

I felt my fist clench and....POW!

That jerk was knocked flat on his back, bloody nose and everything. But the weird thing was...I hadn't laid a hand on him.

I squinted my eyes open and gasped. 

Morty was standing there, breathing heavily as he rubbed his bruised fist. 

"Should've listened to her, butthole."

________________________________________________________________________________

(Eloise's POV)

I drummed my fingers nervously on the sides of chair I was sitting in and glanced at Morty, who looked ten times as anxious. 

"Why'd you do that for me?" I asked, tilting my head to better meet my friend's gaze. 

"T-they were making fun of you; did you just want me to sit and watch?" Morty all but snapped.

I placed my hand on top of his. "It was because of that dating jab, wasn't it?"

Morty blushed red and scratched the back of his head. "I dunno-I just...saw red. It's one thing to make fun of my friend....but, you seem so close to Rick and-"

I gently lifted his chin up so that we were looking eye-to-eye. "Morty, you don't have to put yourself in dangerous situations for me. I can hold my own in a fight, believe me."

"You would've done the same for me," he laughed.

I held back a giggle and rolled my eyes. "Whatever, dude."

It was silent for a little bit before Morty broke the silence once more.

"Do--do you have a family, Elly?"

My throat closed up a little as I quickly wiped the tears dotting my lashes away. "I have an older sister like you do, she's just....a lot older than me. Nine years, if you can believe it. But...we don't really talk anymore."

"Why not?" Morty asked.

I let a sigh out. "I-"

The door to the principal's office opened. "Morty? Eloise? Your father is here to pick you two up."

________________________________________________________________________________

(Morty's POV)

The car ride was unbearably silent. I sat passenger and El sat in the back as Dad drove, eyebrows furrowed in an unpleasant glare at the road ahead of him. It was when we reached the house and he put the car in park that he turned to me.

"So, Morty, do you mind telling me what the heck you were thinking, giving some kid a bloody nose for no reason?!" Dad suddenly exploded.

"Dad, it wasn't for no reason!" I defended.

"Yeah, Mr. Smith. That jerk was making fun of Morty and I!" El added. "And, for the record, the bully punched me first!"

There was a beat of silence. "Morty, step out of the car for a moment. I need to talk to Elly, alone," Dad growled.

"But-" 

"NOW."

I unbuckled my seatbelt, slid out of the seat and shut the car door behind me. I walked over to the porch and sat down on the front steps, hands holding my head up.

Even from 10 feet away, I could hear my dad yelling at El. I couldn't catch all the words he said, but the few that I could hear didn't sound good.

After the yelling subsided, El came out of the car, one hand hugging her arm to her side. I ran over to her.

"Are you okay?" I asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. She quickly yanked it away.

"I'd think it'd be better if it was just you and Summer who went to school," El said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You guys have enough things to deal with without me causing trouble."

"Elly, what are you saying?"

Tears leaked from her eyes. "I-I won't bother you anymore. You're better off without me."

She ran into the house, not even bothering to explain further. I looked to my dad, who had his hands on his hips.

"Welp, that takes care of that problem, son," he declared with a smile. "All wrapped up."

I pushed him aside. "A-are you KIDDING me right now?! What'd you say to her?"

Dad shrugged. "Just the truth, Morty. That she's a visitor and that she doesn't belong here. If she wants to live here, that's fine, but it can't affect you or any of our lives."

"WHAT?!" I nearly screeched. "Do you have any idea how that would affect HER?!"

Dad chuckled. "Son, she's a friend of your grandfather. I'd doubt she's sensitive."

I shook my head. "Whatever, I'm going to talk to her. Something tells me you just made the mess bigger than it already was!"