Morgan waited on one of the playground benches facing the Wintown's town hall. Other students were heading toward the parking lot to drive away while some grabbed their bikes and started riding; all to celebrate the end of school.
Finally, Jayden came around. "Sorry I kept you waiting, I hope you didn't wait long. The school committee was having one of those boring meetings even though it's the end of the school." He offered a cup of hot chocolate.
Morgan curved a tiny smile but didn't stand up. She let the cup wait and stare across the town hall. "I'm gonna stop here."
Something in her tone alarmed Jayden. "Morgan? Morgan, you don't mean to-" This is a different Morgan than what they both have seen before. She may have looked a little bit bleak on some occasion, but this is worse. "Morgan, please don't. Don't put such a notion in your head."
Jayden grasped her arm and attempted to hug her but she pulled away. "Can you believe it? Three times in succession! You've seen how the school treated me like garbage and aliens. You should be ashamed of me."
"Morgan-"
"The world doesn't need me anymore. Not long ago, I imagined myself at the bottom of a river."
"I care about you, Morgan."
Morgan froze. "I need to go. There are things I have to take care of. Please Jayden, don't make this difficult." she clutched her backpack tighter while looking down. And just like that, she left.
Jayden remembered he had a book to return, so he rushed towards the locker. He cast a glance towards Morgan's locker. Unlocked. He then took a last peek inside and studied the pictures hung on the door. There was their class picture from the third grade, a polaroid of Morgan, Jenna, Lou, and Jayden posing in front of a tall glass aquarium. A crumpled note on the corner caught his eyes. The handwriting was sloppy; it looked more like an angry scribble. But when he deciphered the last note, his heart skipped a beat. Quickly, he closed the locker and took off.