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I looked down at the photographs pinned throughout the scrapbook. I ran my fingers throughout the pages, remembering everything about the boy in the pictures. I never thought in a million years Morgan Winters and I would have ever started something as exciting as we did. From the tennis practices to the video game sessions in our underwear, I was in love with every part of his life. I loved every minute I spent with him, and I never wanted to leave his side no matter what.

I looked down to see the first picture we ever took together… it was the first day of high school. Everyone was nervous to meet new people, start at a new school, and get new teachers, but Morgan seemed cool and collected with his camera in hand and a smile on his face. He had no worries. He wasn't interested in the future. He was only interested in what was happening right now, in the present.

It was a cool September day, and summer had left us behind as fall moved in quickly. It had gone from the blistering heat of the summer sun to the cool air of fall. I had a sweater hugged tightly to my body, and my fingers were getting slightly cold as I walked through the courtyard to the main doors. I looked up at the seven story building, not knowing how the hell this was a school and not an apartment block. I turned around to say goodbye to the open air of the world and say hello to the cramped hallways of Levitt High School. Sighing, I turned on my heels and went to open the door, only to touch the hand of someone beside me.

I quickly pulled away and turned to who the hand belonged to, and my heart stopped right there. I could feel my breath hitch, and my lungs wanted to burst. The boy standing beside me was gorgeous, well at least gorgeous in my eyes. His mousy brown hair clung tightly to the sides of his face, and he was wearing some ripped up skinny jeans and a red band tee-shirt. A small hoodie clung to his figure as headphones bounced with his movements. I found myself staring at this boy as a small smile danced across the thin lips of his face.

"S-sorry. I'm n-new here." I cursed at myself for stuttering. That's not how I normally talk, but I found it hard to find words with this boy staring at me. I quickly moved backwards, letting him open the door, but he just stood there and stared at me, that beautiful smile never leaving his face.

"It's all good. So you're in grade 10 are you? I'm in grade 12, so this will be my last year at Levitt." The way he talked seemed so effortless like he wasn't scared of anything. I was jealous. I wanted to be as carefree as that, but here I was, staring at this boy and trying to think of something cool to say.

"Oh. Out with the old and in with the new." I caught myself, and red started to form on my cheeks as his smile started to grow. "I mean, not that you're old. You're only in grade 12, but you know... I'm new to this school, and you're about to leave and that I guess makes you old. Not old as in grandpa old, because why would you be in school if you were as old as a grandpa? Why would you even be alive, y'know? Not saying nobody’s grandpa is alive..." I was rambling, and I really hated when this started happening. God dammit I probably sounded like an idiot.

"You're cute, did you know that? Here, I'm on the yearbook committee, let's get a picture of the new and the old, shall we?"

Without any further words, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and put the camera in front of our faces.  He quickly snapped a picture before I even had time to fix my hair. I stood there with a dumbfounded look on my face, trying to think of what to say next, "Do I get a copy of that?"

The smirk returned to his lips, "What are you going to do with it? Masturbate to my beautiful face?"

I was now all shades of red, trying my best to not giggle or something really stupid. I looked up at him, and I saw his eyes, they were dancing and glistening with amusement. I wanted so badly to look into his eyes as I kissed his lips and put my hand through his hair. It was at that moment, I think I fell in love with Morgan Winters. I think it was that moment that I wanted nothing more than to be with him every day of my life, until the end of my life.

"Hey, Morgan, who's the new kid?" I heard a boisterous and deep voice call from behind us, and I turned to see another boy jogging to us. I turned back to Morgan, who was not going to be taken away from me by one of his friends. What if I never got to see him ever again? Well, of course, I would see him, because we go to the same school, but would this be the last time I was ever able to talk to him? I didn't think I would ever get this close to him again.

"I never did get your name, kid. I'm Morgan Winters. You are?"

I thought for a second, trying to think of a cool name, but decided on my own, "Mattie."

He walked into the school, and I suddenly realized I never answered him. I swung open the door and yelled inside, "I'll only do that if you want me to, Morgan." I saw him turn around, the same devilish smirk on his face."I'll have one by the end of the day for you. Maybe I'll have to print an extra copy for you."

As I sifted through the box of old photos, I quickly noticed all the pictures of nature and bugs. Morgan was a free spirit, and he loved to take pictures of anything and everything he could see. He believed that everyone forgot the little things in life, and he always wanted to remind people of these things. He would take pictures of absolutely everything, down to the smallest moments of life. He always had his camera slung around his neck, and his memory card bursting with pictures.

I found the first picture he ever took of me and his little sister, Jenny. We were in the same math and science classes, and we soon made a bond I will never forget. I had come from a small school where I was not the most popular kid, but she took me under her wing and soon we were best friends. This was one of the good moments he caught, one of my favourite memories. He took it during lunch, when she dragged me to sit with her.

I was looking at the sheet of paper in my hand, which was difficult considering the shaking from my nervousness overtook me at points. Room 313 was written in bold letters next to the teacher’s name and the class she was teaching. I looked at the door and noticed the numbers, this was where I needed to be.

I walked inside, putting the paper safely in my back pocket. I noticed everyone sitting down, talking to people they had met, the friends they had gained. I found an open seat and turned to a boy talking about football. "Is this seat taken by anyone?"

He gave me a stink eye because, apparently, I had interrupted a very important conversation. "No," he spat at me and then turned back to his friend, the Saskatchewan Roughriders coming into the conversation. I held my breath but took a seat, before noticing the girl beside me engulfed in a book. I read the cover and immediately felt happy, she was reading something by David Levithan, one of my favourite authors.

"That's such a sad book, nobody ends up happy."

She turned to me with what looked like annoyance. Oh great, I had already made an enemy. She turned back to her book, "I know, this is my third time reading it. I find it sad that he couldn't end up with Walter. They were so made for each other, but I guess he needed his space... permanently." 

I nodded because I didn't know what else to say. I looked down at my own binder, tracing my fingers over the words I had written. I didn't think she wanted to talk, she seemed so immersed in the book.

"The name’s Jenny. I take it you're new to town. I know everyone else in this classroom, we all went to elementary together."

I nodded again, "Just moved from Humboldt. Small town north of here, my parents said something about opportunities or something. So here I am, Levitt high school."

"Smart choice, this school is renowned for it's Drama Club. The best in the country. Do you do a lot of acting?"

Not professionally, I thought to myself. I had pretended I was straight for a lot of years, did that count? "Not really, I wanted to be in Drama, but my old school only took paid students, something my parents could never afford. Is it free here or do you have to pay for everything?"

She smiled at me, putting her book down, "My father is really into the arts. He even managed to marry my mother, who is an actress in Vancouver. He gives millions of dollars to the school's drama club, so it's 100% free for everyone. You can even apply for Student Help, which pays for tours or trips we have to do. I'll take you there, I'm going to join this afternoon in my spare after lunch." She looked at her schedule, "Do you have fifth period spare? I guess that's the only way you can come with me."

I took my schedule from my pocket, looking at the times, "I think I do. How do you know if it's a spare?"

She giggled, taking it from my hands, "You do have a fifth period spare! See how it's completely blank? That means you got lucky this year. Most kids beg for their fifth period spare, seeing as it's right after lunch!" She handed the paper back to me, "That's what we'll see then. By the way, are you going anywhere for lunch? I think you'd like to meet my brother, he's big on photography."

I looked around, "Where is your brother, or should I be asking who is your brother?"

"Morgan Winters. He's in grade 12 this year so he'll be leaving next year, but he's a really great guy. You need more friends, and Morgan is one of the best guys I know!" She quickly flashed me a side grin as the teacher walked in and shushed us all. I felt my heart racing, the guy I had met earlier that day was her brother?

"Alright class. Where you are sitting now is where you will be for the rest of the year, so if you want to move, you'll have to do that now. I see a few open chairs of students that couldn't make the first day, so pick wisely." The teacher walked to the whiteboard, scribbling down her name, "I am Ms. Hangstoff."

As we went around the room, everyone seemed friendly enough. They all seemed to know each other though.

I was the new kid in town.

At least I have one friend. Looking over at Jenny, I smiled happily.

Someone I never got to know very well was Morgan's best friend, Julian. He seemed like a nice enough fellow at first, but as I got to know his real character, his hard exterior was all for show, and none of it was real. He was like a big, soft teddy bear that just wanted friends. I was his friend, and his support for me and Morgan was insane. He always knew we'd be together.

I didn't know that Julian was planning on getting us to date for the longest time. I think it just took longer than he would have liked. I found a picture with a date on it. September 4, 2005. As I looked at the picture, I realized it was taken just hours after the lunch one with Jenny. We were talking and walking home when they caught up with us. I took one look at Morgan, and both Jenny and Julian knew I was smitten.

"So tell me about yourself?" she asked as we rounded the corner of the school. Jenny had decided to ask me to come over and meet her parents. "What was your other school like?"

I took a deep breath because I hated when people asked me about my old school. It was like being hit in the stomach with a bat. I hated talking about my old school. "Oh, you know, the regular junior high. Kids being kids I suppose." I looked down at the ground, kicking a pebble I had stumbled upon. I was trying not to make eye contact with her, fearing the tears would start pouring out.

"You got treated pretty badly, didn't you? I'm sorry to see that in your face, I know what bullying is like. The junior high I had was supported greatly by the Windsor Family, who own a lot of small businesses in this town. Their daughter went to school with me, and she was cruel as could be, especially because my family had money but not as much as her." She sighed, reaching into her pockets as we walked.

"I came from a very homophobic school, and at the time, I started questioning some stuff. Eventually, they all found out, and I was bullied relentlessly. It was a terrible experience. I moved here hoping all would be better."

She gave me a half-cocked grin, "Are you gay?"

I was about to answer her question when two boys walked out in front of us, with stupid smiles on both their faces. I looked up and recognized Morgan and his friend. They looked down at us and smirked, Morgan holding his camera up to my face.

"Looks like we meet again, Mattie. I see you're with my sister. Were you thinking of getting into her pants and making a baby!?" I couldn't tell if he was joking, I just stood there with a dumb look on my face.

"I-I... no... friends..." I couldn't even talk properly. Part of it was the fact he was accusing me of using a girl to have sex and have a baby with, and the other half was looking into those eyes. I just wanted to look into them all day. "We... walk... parents."

His friend started laughing, "I think he's got a thing for you, Morgie, he can barely keep his sentences together!" A soft punch to Morgan's arm made him start laughing as well, his eyes lighting up slightly.

"Shut up, Julian, you're such an ass. Your first time meeting the poor boy, and you accuse him of liking Morgan! Who would like Morgan anyways, he's a stinky bunch of stinky cheese." Jenny held her hand over her nose to act like a clothespin.

I couldn't help but laugh, my mouth dropping open with her attitude. "Stinky like stinky cheese?" I started laughing harder, trying to stop myself from crying.

Morgan gave us a fake hurt look, his bottom lip trembling slightly, "Well I never! I do not smell like stinky cheese and people like me... I have a fan page! People like what I do, little sis. Try and stop being the lime green jello and deal with it."

I stopped laughing as Jenny pulled me away, "I think it's about time we left these two stinky cheese losers alone. They have things to take pictures of, and we're obviously more important than them! Come on, loverboy, we've got some cookies to eat. I smelt them this morning!"

As we walked away, I could swear I heard Julian and Morgan talking about us, so I walked slower, trying to hear their conversation. "He is really cute, actually. Did you see those adorable dimples? That butt is so cute. I could cuddle that butt."

"You could cuddle anything with a dick, Morgan. Come on, we gotta get to practice before the coach kills us. You can catch up with him later tonight, I'm sure your sister will want him to spend the night or something. What if he isn't even gay? What if we just THINK we saw something, but really... there was nothing."

We walked inside, kicking off our shoes and walking into her bedroom, which looked like a mini apartment.

"I have some Nintendo games if you want to play, but before we do I have a question for you... and you have to be completely honest, okay?"

"Okay...?" I nervously looked at her, trying to see if she was being serious about something or not.

"Mattie, do you think my brother is cute? Would you date him?"