Morphine

Chapter Fifty Six

Marceline Anne curled up in a ball as she laid out on a large blanket. She was under a large umbrella and wore a thick layer of sunscreen and a sarong to keep her safe from the sun but she was cold.

Malcolm pulled her into his arms and rocked with her.

She couldn't help but to fall asleep on him.

He panicked at first but was reassured when he felt air being pushed out from her nose. She was still alive. So he just held her as she slept, music from her phone and the bright, clear day lulling him into a semi-sleep himself.

M-

Mercedes Catherine tapped her pen against her desk. Work was nearly over for her. She had until June then her residency would be over until late August. Then it'd be her last year and she'd be out of school- both high school and university.

She'd always dreamt of going away like Marc but with her sister- leaving them, she didn't want to leave her niece and nephew. They'd need her.

Plus, working at the hospital was nice. Although maybe she should open up her own practice? She didn't know and was upset that she was thinking about the future like this. She was sixteen!

But the situation with her sister made her realize that life was not promised and you had to make plans.

So she picked up her phone to call Michael the Fourth so they could plan their future together.

M-

Artie rubbed Santana's back as she studied her French work and he listened to music on his headphones for the upcoming jazz concert they had in band.

Santana flipped a page in her book and highlighted a passage. She had to read a (French) book and write a report (in French). She was highlighting different passages that meant something to her. Unfortunately the book had clear messages of death...

Artie felt the change in the air and looked into her face as she cried. "Hey, hey? Come on."

She let him wipe her tears and she cuddled up to him. "I'm not trying to cry."

He moved his headphones so he could hear her. "She's not going nowhere. I'm telling you. She's strong."

"Promise?" She looked up at him with heartbreak in her brown eyes and on her trembling lips.

"I promise."

M-

"Your parents are going to kill you. You need to stop skipping." Karen was thrilled to have Chase with her though.

Chase frowned. His parents always found fault with him. "I don't care. You need me."

She cooed at him before snuggling up to him. "You're so sweet!"

He smiled. "Only for you."

A librarian came by to look at them suspiciously.

The teens waited for the woman to leave before chuckling.

M-

Malcolm shook his head with a frown and a smile. "What is this?"

"It's a way of connecting." Marceline Anne swore. "Our energies are syncing up and we're supposed to be opening up."

He understood energy but it still seemed like they were being weird on the beach. "If you say so."

"It's a Cheyenne thing." She assured him. "Just follow my hands until your hands do it on their own."

He didn't have high hopes of it working but he made his open palms follow hers as she moved slowly.