Morphine

Chapter Nine

Mercedes Catherine yawned and stretched before sitting up in bed. That was the best sleep she'd gotten in years. She looked and saw her phone was in the bed with her.

Snatches of the night before ambushed her brain and she quickly snatched it up and pressed it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hi." Came Michael's sleepy tone.

"We fell asleep."

"Yeah."

She blushed. "It was fun. I hope my phone can charge enough by the time I leave for school."

"Mine too." Sheets rustled. She pictured him sitting up and her blush worsened. "My battery's about to die."

"Okay. I'll see you... around-"

"Wait!" His voice had energy in it now. "Um... I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me? ‪Saturday afternoon‬?"

She almost started screaming. As it was, she had to swallow thickly. She responded slowly. "Yes. That sounds lovely."

He blew out a breath and she smiled. "Okay. Great. I'll pick you up at two."

"I'll be ready."

"See you tomorrow, Mercedes Catherine."

"See you tomorrow, Michael." She told him softly before hanging up. She stared at her phone in awe before falling face forward into her pillows and screaming.

When she'd exhausted her voice, she sat up and brushed her flyaway hair away from her face. It was time to get ready but she couldn't wait to tell Marceline Anne and Santana!

M-

Marceline Anne saw Malcolm walking down the hallway and almost lifted her hand in a wave. That was weird. She didn't do that type of stuff. This boy was making her lose her mind.

He stopped in front of her. "Hey?"

"Are you ready?" She stepped around him.

"Yes."

She nodded and strode off.

He wondered at her attitude as he followed her outside. "Are you mad at me? Did I do something?"

She stopped and blinked up at him with a confused frown. "What?"

"You seem angry with me."

"I'm angry with myself."

"Oh." He didn't expect that. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

He tried not to take it personally. "I'm pretty good at listening. My patients say I'm a good listener."

"I can see that."

"Think about it." He tapped her arm with a grin.

She didn't look amused as she turned and hurried across the shoveled parking lot to her car.

He really hoped he hadn't overstepped. He hurried after her and slid in after she'd already dove inside. He shut the door behind himself as he set his backpack beside him. He turned around only to find her in his space and kissing him less than a second later.

He kissed her back until the need to breathe became too great. They broke apart, breathing heavily, sharing breath.

He swallowed. "What was that for? I thought I made you mad?"

She frowned and cocked her head slightly. "Why?"

"Because you walked off." Was he reading her wrong?