She just wished she could rewind and erase all the events of that past week. It had been four days since she last talked to Apolo, and she missed him to say the least. He was suppose to meet her there in the park in a half hour or so after he took care of some radio interview across the street. Apolo. Ever since he waltzed back into her life, she felt fresh and invigorated. There was nothing she needed to hide around him; he knew her inside and out. He made her laugh, and smile, and she just�well�she just felt special around him, as if she were his one and only. But with Sarah in the picture, Morgan didn�t know if the fire would still burn. Were the sparks she ignored between herself and Apolo just figments of her imagination, or worse, a reflection of his love for Sarah? Knowing about her, seeing her cuddling up against his skin, not even hearing her name, but just reading it bothered Morgan to no extent.
�I�m a home wrecker. Sort of,� she muttered, slowing down to catch her breath. Morgan turned up the volume; the sultry voice of John Mayer blasted into her ears as she took a seat on a vacant bench. It wasn�t like Sarah and Apolo were married or engaged, but it was the principle of the matter that she took to heart. And although Morgan felt guilty for sleeping with Apolo, she couldn�t help but also be jealous. Sarah Adams, so petite with her little figure skating body, tiny breasts, and perky voice. She was the type of girl that Morgan always rolled her eyes at, the prudish, goody-two-shoed, Prada-sporting bake sale diva.
It wasn�t the pricey clothes she donned or the fact that she proudly sponsored Britney Spears aerobics tapes, but just her whole �Look At Me!� attitude that pissed Morgan off. She remembered watching her compete in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. Dear god, she whined and squeaked about the refs to any and every interviewer with at least one functioning ear. Blah, blah, blah. Something about the event being rigged and how the ice was made with imperfections on purpose. Sure, like the Olympics committee would do all that for you.
Morgan picked at the crusts of mud outlining her shoes. She is such an egotistical airhead. What the hell does Apolo see in her? She wiped the sweat off her face with the back of her arm. Okay, so I can�t skate for crap and I have to work my ass off to stay in shape and I�d rather jab a long stick in my eye than be homecoming queen, but what does she have over me? Morgan lifted herself off the bench and began to aimlessly jog around and between the swaying trees.
As light sheets of rain started to drift over the lush park, a similar gloom clouded over Morgan�s insides. It felt as if her stomach was tied into gigantic knots, and she knew this pain wasn�t the result of PMS. She had been judgmental, one of her stronger qualities that she definitely did not care for. Perhaps she should just let the whole Sarah thing go. It would save her the tears and pain and inevitable future fights. Besides, girls like Sarah never lost to the ones of Morgan�s caliber. But Morgan was tired of obsessing over Sarah�s thoughts. She was sick of placing her worth over her own. She had always been second place when it came to any opportunity that swung her way. Why should she give in this time? With grades, jobs, and other guys, Morgan figured that she could prove herself later. Friends like Apolo only came around once in a lifetime, if even that, and if Sarah wanted him as badly as Morgan did, she�d have to fight for him, tooth and nail.
Morgan smiled to herself as she wiped her hands on her now drenched hoodie. What a sight for sore eyes, she chuckled, realizing that she was not only wet, but covered in bigger blotches of mud and grime. The park had quickly emptied except for her and some teenage girls waiting by the entrance. As Morgan jogged closer to them, she saw that they were listening to a radio and chatting incessantly. They couldn�t have been more than thirteen or fourteen, and Morgan stifled an impending laugh when she noticed that all five of them were sporting �I heart Apolo!� glitter tattoos on their rosy cheeks.
�Are you girls waiting out here to see Apolo?� she asked, removing her headphones.
The girls stared at each other, then back at Morgan, exchanging smirks all the while.
�Yeah, and we�re listening to his radio interview. What is it to you?� replied the tallest of the bunch. She was obviously the leader of the pack with her platforms, tech vest, and poorly applied makeup. Somehow, she reminded Morgan of a string bean.
�Well, I love Apolo too,� she uttered, now desperately trying not to burst out laughing. �Can I listen for awhile?�
�Aren�t you a little old to be liking Apolo?� answered String Bean as she and her posse giggled.
Morgan smiled. She liked this girl�s spunky attitude. It gave her a challenge. �At least with me, it�s not statutory, my dear. Now, can I listen?�
String Bean stared at Morgan, then toward the radio. �Yeah, sure,� she replied, sounding satisfied with Morgan�s response.
�Thanks.�