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Claire looked up from the chart she just finished updating, at the group of doctors surrounding the nurse’s station. Her eyes caught on the back of a head of blonde hair that she didn’t recognize as one of them. She stepped forwards to join them just before Melendez started talking. Then the blonde woman turned slightly, so she was more or less facing her.
Oh my god.
-
Claire was lying on her stomach on her classmate's bed, flipping through a textbook and looking up every now and then to google something on the computer in front of her.
Morgan was leaning against the bed on the ground, scribbling notes in her notebook for their science project.
"So, St. Claire, you doing anything this weekend? It’s almost summer, it’s going to be infuriatingly hot." Morgan asked, not looking up from her notebook. The girl on the bed scowled at this nickname.
"Why do you care? It's not like we're friends." She questioned instead of responding to the question. Morgan rolled her eyes, in a classic 15 year old style, and pulled her blonde hair into a ponytail.
"Yet you are here every afternoon to work on our science final. Sure, we may not be friends, but that at least earns the acquaintance label. I was curious." The taller girl argued. Claire chuckled at this, before shutting the computer and scooting off the bed so she was sitting besides Morgan.
"James from History asked me out." Claire admitted, looking up to Morgan and biting her lip, awaiting some sort of advice. Morgan's eyes widened.
She wasn't expecting that. Or rather, why it made her stomach hurt a little.
"Well, are you excited?" She shoved the feeling aside and focused on getting more info about this. Claire furrowed her eyebrows in thought before shrugging.
"I don't know. I'm not sure if I like him, but I mean it's just one date right? I'm actually kind of nervous." The brunette spoke, and Morgan nodded.
"Well, what do you have to be worried about? You're smart, infuriatingly kind." Morgan reassured her, and Claire glared playfully.
"You suck." Morgan was confused for a second before realizing Claire must have thought she was being sarcastic. Meanwhile Claire was panicking at this comment. And a little hurt at how nonchalant Morgan seemed about the prospect of her going out with someone. It’s not like she had any reason to believe that her impossible crush on the blonde was requited, but still.
"Okay, but seriously, it's just a date right? With James-from-history?" Claire pursed her lips at Morgan’s words.
"I don't know, what if it's awkward? What if he wants to kiss me???" Claire rambled, eyes widening at her last sentence. Morgan laughed at this.
"Well he is pretty cute, you can just kiss him back?" She suggested half sarcastically.
"I have no clue how to do that." Claire stated as if it were obvious. Now it was Morgan's turn to be surprised.
"You've never kissed anyone?" She inquired, tilting her head slightly. Claire shook her head no. "Well that's crazy, you're in 10th grade now."
“Please, how many people have you kissed?” Claire raised her eyebrows, leaning back against the side of the bed. Morgan smiled smugly.
“That’s for me to know and you NOT to find out.” She answered, before a mischievous smile crossed her face.
"What?" Claire laughed, face screwing up in confusion.
"You need to learn to kiss." She stated obviously. Claire nodded reluctantly in agreement.
Morgan turned slightly to face her, leaning forwards with her elbows on her knees.
"Put your hands on my hips." She instructed. Claire's eyebrows shot up.
"Wait, WHAT?" Her voice was higher than she wanted it to be. That was not what she expected. Morgan rolled her eyes.
"Come on, a little gratitude, this is a favor I'm doing you." Claire shook her head as if to clear it, willing her face to cool down. She turned slightly and rested her hands on Morgan's waist.
Morgan smirked at the semi-panicked look in Claire's eyes.
"Calm down, you need to focus so you don't screw up with James." Claire glared at her for this, but relaxed her hands where they were still on Morgan.
"Okay, make sure you tilt your head. You do not need to bang noses. Now, he'll probably do this." Morgan said, bringing a hand up to hold Claire's cheek and draped the other arm over her shoulder.
Claire nodded, a shiver going down her spine as Morgan's fingers brushed over her jawline.
Morgan tried to ignore how the small expanse of her skin touching Claire’s felt like it was electric.
"So, finally, you just have to close your eyes once you are close. But make sure you wait until you are sure you won't miss." Morgan finished, stopping and looking at Claire expectantly. Claire realized after a second that she was actually supposed to kiss Morgan. This was certainly not how she expected today to go.
She was prepared for an afternoon of studying and putting together a project. Lighthearted teasing. Maybe those good snacks that were always in the house when she was over. Not the butterflies that seemed to be released in her stomach at Morgan's proximity, or the newfound knowledge of how the green-blue of Morgan's eyes seemed to glow at this distance.
Claire needed to move now or she never would. She took Morgan by surprise by simply leaning forwards and tilting her head, pressing her lips to the other girl's.
Morgan froze for a second in shock before responding, kissing her back. Holy shit, this felt new. She refused to believe Claire had never kissed anyone, she was unfairly good at it. It didn’t help that even the sight of Claire made Morgan’s heart twist, though.
She slid her hand a little further back into Claire's hair, pulling her a little closer to deepen the kiss.
Claire sighed into it and curled her fingers almost painfully into Morgan where they were holding her waist.
Morgan felt a surge of warmth low in her stomach and pushed Claire back.
"What's wrong?" Claire caught her breath and asked, eyebrows furrowed in concern. Morgan just shook her head and turned back so she wasn’t facing Claire.
"Nothing, we should get back to working though." She answered, voice tight, face bright pink.
Claire tilted her head. She thought the kiss wasn’t bad. In fact, she thought it was great. “Wait, how was that? I need feedback, I’m so sorry, did it suck? It was my first time I’m sorry-” Morgan interrupted her.
“No, you’ll be fine, don't worry.” Morgan answered, running her hands through her ponytail instinctively. Claire narrowed her eyebrows.
"Reznick, you're blushing." She called teasingly at Morgan, who in turn just glared back.
"You wish." Claire chuckled at this and Morgan rolled her eyes. But she kept watching the blonde.
“Your face is still red.” She observed, now smirking.
“Shut up.” Morgan stopped her there. But Claire just grinned smugly.
“Make me.” Her unusual forwardness shocked the both of them. Morgan’s jaw dropped at this.
“Depends, are you still going out with that idiot this weekend?” She asked, pissed at how badly she wanted the other girl to say no.
“I’d much rather spend it with you.” Claire answered honestly, taking a leap. Morgan grinned and brought her hand back up to Claire’s face before leaning in again.
-
They both had countless memories of that summer the two of them spent together once. But that afternoon was the only thing that Claire could think of.
She forced herself to stop replaying that memory and unpause time, not able to drag her eyes from the all too familiar face.
“Dr. Reznick was orphaned once Dr. Coyle was transferred, so she'll be joining our team.” She heard Melendez introduce her, introduce the girl that she definitely already knew.
The doctor she hadn’t spoken to or seen since that fight at the end of the summer, as she was moving away.
Nevertheless, Claire held out her hand and greeted Morgan.
“Hi, I’m Claire, nice to meet you.” Morgan took her hand and shook it, taking in every detail of this Dr. Claire Browne. Her Claire.
Gazing into the green eyes she had committed to memory years ago.
Claire forced herself to look away from the first smile that ever made her heart flutter. To let go of the hand that used to spend hours memorizing her.
Morgan nodded almost imperceptibly at the shorter doctor, and Claire did the same, an unspoken acknowledgment of recognition between the two of them.
This was going to be interesting.