Morgan's POV

"So how is the trip to Bend?" Jason spoke through the phone as I finished packing my bags.

"It was nice— great actually. I think I got it."

"You are the best at what you do Mor—that and your boss recommending you practically secured you the job."

I rolled my ass closing the bag, "Don't say it like that, dude."

"Why not?" He asked.

"Cause it make it sound like I got it handed over—make me feels awful." I put the bag on the floor and started to make sure I wasn't leaving anything on the hotel room.

"Okay, I understand you, sorry. You just had a slight advantage—let's be honest there."

"Screw you Jase." I grumbled exiting the room—Jason's mocking laugh was heard from the other side of the phone.

"You heading back to Chicago now?" I heard him ask.

"To Jerome actually—tomorrow is Matty's birthday and I promised him I would be there. And my mom will also kill me if I'm not." I entered the elevator and pressed the lobby button.

"And are you ready to come back and potentially see a certain blonde?"

I got out of the elevator and went to return the key and check out. "In all honesty... no. I'm not and I'm pretty that I will see her. My mom loves her."

"She wouldn't happen to be the reason for you wanting to move to a town two hours away from Jerome—would she?"

I scoffed as I waited for the valet to bring my car. "Of course not— maybe... it's a good proposal and I get to be closer to my family."

"Sure, like this has nothing to do with getting back together with Hayley?"

Partially yes it might have affected my decision on moving back to Oregon, but I wanted to be closer to my family as well—that part is a fact. It's been around four months since Hayley and I broke up—yet there hasn't been a moment where I haven't missed her.

I'm worried because even if I want us to give each other another chance... I don't know if she has moved on. A lot can happen in four months—she could be dating someone else, or fallen out of love with me. I don't know which is worse.

"Would you look at that my car is here, gotta go!"

"Way to avoid the question... sure drive safe Mor, text me when you're home."

"Will do, bye." I hung up and put my bags on the truck of the car.

This is going to be a long trip.

—

After a two long hours of driving I finally entered my home town... how exciting.

My parents don't know yet that I'm planning on moving from Chicago— well my dad kind of knows a bit, but my mom doesn't—she sucks at keeping secrets so I rather just wait a little while until I tell her.

Now when it comes to Hayley... I have no idea how I'm going to get her back, God knows she's difficult — knowing her she most likely even hates me... in her own Hayley way.

I sometimes think about the past and how I would have never imagined or even dreamed about dating Hayley—less of all fall in love with her, she was always the stone in my shoe since we were kids in kindergarten and now... now I see her as the love of my life.

It's funny how life works.

Pulling up at my parents driveway it didn't take more than a minute for my dad to come out of the house followed by my little brother. I exited the car and extended my arms towards Matty who was running my way.

"Morgan!"

"Hey there champ." I lifted him up briefly before putting back on the floor.

"You came!" He looked at me with excitement—happiness evident in his eyes, making me feel so as well.

"Of course I did. I promised you I would, didn't I?"

"You did!" He exclaimed—I winked at him and turned to look at my dad.

"Hi dad." I hugged him and he returned a bone crunching one.

"It's good to have you home sweetie, we missed."

I chuckled as we broke the hug, "It's been what? Six months since I last visited? Not that long."

"You are my daughter, six months feel like years." He pinched my cheek making me roll my eyes playfully.

"Where's mom?" I asked noticing that she's yet to come out to greet me—very unlike her, normally she would be out here smothering me with hugs and thousand questions.

"She's inside—" my dad got interrupted by Matty mid sentence.

"Mommy's inside, we got visit!" He jumped up and down—he's still way too energetic, I don't know how my mom and dad keep up with him sometimes.

"Visit?" I frowned in confusion looking at my dad.

He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, "It was kind of surprise and last minute really— and well you know your mom."

"Whose visiting? Don't tell me you all let little Tommy inside the house. We agreed that he was only allowed during family gatherings!" I complained to my dad as he silently took my bags out of the trunk of my car. "Thanks dad, I can carry them." I said and locked the car.

"Don't worry kid—I got them."

"So you are not gonna tell me who's inside?" I followed my dad while Matty ran pass us into the house.

"We are in front of the house Morgan, just go and see for yourself. I'm too old for this." He grumbled entering the house.

"I swear if it's Tommy I'm kicking him out." I hate that fucker—I can't stand my cousins but he for sure takes the prize of the one I can stand the less.

Maybe I'm just old now.

"Morgan..." my dad said but I ignored him and walked pass him.

"Mom? Mom, I better not see Tommy inside this house cause I swear to—"

"Morgan! Stop it with the yelling we are not in the fair." I saw my mom stand up from the couch—two cups of tea on the coffee table yet she was the only one in the living room.

Please don't let it be Hayley, please god, I'm not dressed up!

"Sorry mom." I mumbled.

"Now come here and give me a hug." She opened her arms and signaled with her hands for me to go to her.

I relented and went to hug my mom with a smile, "Hi mom."

"Hello honey, how was your trip?" I felt her kiss the side of my head before releasing me from the embrace.

"It was good, I'm kind of tired though." My mom caressed my face gently with her hand with a small smile on her face.

"I figured you would be, you should go get some rest."

"But dad said you guys had company?"

My mom's face told me that she had forgotten about that for a moment, "Oh yes! She went to the bathroom for a moment but you should wait— oh there she is!"

I turned around to finally greet our so called 'visitor' and to say I was shocked— unlike the other person who was instead just smiling at me.

"Kaden?"

-

A/N - Ouch cliffhanger.