The Cracks in Perfection

The Kid in the Tub

Chapter 26

Seth

In study hall the next day, I planned the next prank. Liz blew up at me the minute I walked into the house, but she really couldn't be all that mad because she was the one who got to do the first prank this year.

That morning she put hot sauce in the toothpaste. That was more like the pranks we usually did: small ones that no one can actually see.

I was sitting with Morgan when she got a text from her Dad. She looked up at me and then quickly got up from her seat.

"Can I go to guidance?" She asked the teacher, who nodded and wrote her a pass.

"You look shaken up. Should I send someone with you?" The teacher said once he got a good look at Morgan's face.

"Um..." She looked hesitant, but then we locked eyes and she nodded at me.

"Uh, yeah I'll go with you," I said. Mr. Delvroy added my name to the pass and we headed down the hall.

"I need to call my dad," she said, pointing to her phone. She looked stressed out and it worried me.

"Go ahead." She called him from her phone.

"Dad? What happened?... What do you mean?... okay I'll be in guidance... yeah Seth's with me... okay see you soon."

"What happened?" I asked her.

"Something that has to do with Graham. My dad says it's something he wants to tell me in person..." She looked really worried, so I took her hand in mine. Her hand was sweating and shaking slightly.

She smiled at me before sliding her phone in her back pocket and turning the corner into the guidance room.

"Morgan? Seth? Is everything alright?" My mom asked.

"Uh, I'm not really sure Mrs. H." Morgan said before explaining the phone call. We waited in my mom's office, where I made slow circle motions on Morgan's back in attempt to calm her down until her dad got there. My mom told the office to let him in and he walked in two minutes after that.

"Is everything okay?" My mom asked. Morgan's dad looked grave. That put me on edge. He took a deep breath before looking up from the ground at the three of us.

"Can I talk to Morgan alone for a minute please?" He asked. I could already see the tears in Morgan's eyes.

"Of course." My mom and I left the room and closed the door behind us.

"I hope her brother is okay. Not just for him, but for the whole family," Mom said.

"She really cares about her brother... I'd hate to think what would happen..." My sentence trailed off, I didn't dare finish it.

Morgan

My dad sat down next to me and took my hands in his.

"Morgan, your mom and I received an email from Graham's general." My heart had been beating a million miles per second, but at this sentence it seemed to stop altogether.

"And?" My anticipation made me feel like I was going to jump out of my skin. In truth, I was scared.

"He was sent on a special OP with a small band of other recruits, that was what he was talking about for no contact for three weeks." He went silent. My pulse was nonexistent at this point. I had no idea whether I was breathing or not.

"Dad-"

"Their Humvee flipped, and they have no idea where three of the recruits went. The other two are dead." My heart sank into my stomach and a few tears rolled down my cheek.