High Score

[morg]

--open

So maybe loaning a portable video game system to a hyper-competitive girl was a bad idea. Really, the offer had been given in the best of intentions, but now it had gone a little out of control.

Morgan propped her feet up on a table in the corner of the antechamber, her thumbs busily darting over the controls of a borrowed PSP. She'd already bested Need for Speed, and had sense moved on to break most of the owner's records on other games.

Now, the Almasian hadn't forsaken her training regime to play games. She wasn't quite that addicted. In fact, she'd gone through her usual that morning, and then sparred in the afternoon. No, Morgan managed to balance her life, oddly enough.

Still, she was determined to beat all of the high scores on any game she could find.

She took a break from her thumb antics, leaning forward to take a sip from the bottle of juice she'd gotten. As she did, she scanned the room, noting the other students milling about. Lunch had been hours ago, and supper was hours away, so it was really just a handful of snackers or incredibly bored people.

Morgan returned to the game, smirking to herself.

[noah]

"Is my favorite brunette, not to mention Jock, playing video games?" Noah slid into the seat besides Morgan, his usually brilliant smile going strong as he sat sideways so that he could face the Almasian. Dressed in a brand new polo and dark jeans that had once belonged to his father, the Cavanite looked as effortlessly handsome as usual.

Looking over at Morgan, he tipped his head to the side, eying her game for a second then back to her concentrated expression. Noah had lacked the privilege of seeing the littlest Cavan for quite some time now, and so he was quite pleased to see her, and it showed in his jovial expression.

[morg]

One of Morgan's favorite guys in the entire Academy had just plunked down beside her, and she would be playing video games at the time. She quickly hit pause, turning a smirk on Noah.

"Can't be running around all the time," she shot back. "Girl's got to have fun every once in a while. Besides."

She held up the system. "It's not mine, I borrowed it from a friend of a friend. I'm trying to beat all his high scores before I give it back to him. Embarrass most guys, but I have a feeling this one will just be slightly annoyed. Maybe impressed."

She set the system down on the table, focusing on Noah. Clearly Morgan still had her priorities in order, high score or not.

"Now, am I really your favorite brunette?" she teased. "Because you're not my favorite blonde. Got a blonde sister-in-law, and she's probably my favoriteist sibling."

Morgan gave Noah a sly look, her lip just quirking upward. "But you're up there, that's for sure."

[noah]

"'Course you're my favorite gorgeous." Noah grinned, obviously in high-spirits. He pressed his palms against his seat, leaning forward a bit as he wiggled his eyebrows at the girl. "Sorry to hear I'm not yours," though he hardly looked disappointed.

He clicked his tongue, blue eyes lingering on the gaming console for just a moment before flicking back to Morgan. "Always the competitor. I keep telling you kid: to show off as much as you do, you've got to be secretly compensating for something." He leaned back now, scanning Morgan in her entirety as he attempted to find her flaw.

"Do you have a tail? Webbed feet maybe?" The Cavanite grinned wildly, obviously amused. "An evil twin perhaps?" He leaned forward, brow furrowed as he studied the girl's face with burning intensity for all of five seconds.

"I just can't imagine you having any sort of defect I guess." His grin melted into a simply charming smile as he leaned back in his seat again. Noah of course, had a decent idea of what kindled Morgan's competitive spirit, but that didn't stop him from teasing her; besides, ever since she had gotten a boyfriend, she seemed to take his compliments a little better, which only encouraged him to lay them on thicker.

[morg]

"Compensating?" Morgan arched her brows, sliding back in her seat. The very picture of offense. "How presumptuous of you, Noah Copeland!"

She chuckled, rolling her eyes. Then slid forward and smirked up at her friend. "It's just me, and you know it. Might be the youngest of five thing, at best.

"I do have a forked tongue, but they locked my evil twin the basement. She's allowed out on Halloween," Morgan winked. She had missed bantering with Noah, and was happy to see they'd fallen right back in step.

And having a cute guy complimenting her felt nice. Suddenly she was keenly aware of the lack of attention Jon had been giving her lately. Didn't hurt that she'd always liked Noah.

Morgan blinked, realizing that her hand had drifted to her hair. She quickly lowered both hands, folding them on the table.

"So, rescued any more girls lately? You're still as charming as ever, after all, so now I just have to see if you're still a valiant knight," yes, the teasing could go both ways, clearly.

[noah]

His smile came easy as he watched Morgan, glad to have run into her, and at her play-offense, Noah laughed, pressing a hand to his chest as his apologized. "Do forgive me darling."

"Ah ha! I knew it." The Cavanite leaned forward, eyebrows knitted together as his bright blue orbs fell on Morgan's mouth, presumably searching for some evidence that she really did indeed, have a forked tongue. Before long he gave up and leaned back again, running a hand through his tangled blond hair to keep it away from his field of vision.
"Is your twin as pretty as you?" Noah never missed the opportunity to compliment, and he would be lying if he said he didn't think the blush that crept into Morgan's cheeks wasn't downright cute.

"And no, I can't say that there's been much rescuing lately. Which I would assume is a good thing because it means there hasn't been any poor ladies in distress that require rescuing." He sighed, resting an elbow on the table as his eyes landed on Morgan once more.

"What about yourself? I doubt you've eased up on causing trouble, but I honestly hope you haven't run into anything that called for the need for a dashing knight-" he pointed to himself, grinning "- while I wasn't around to be one." He was teasing, fishing to see how she had been, but there was also a touch of sincerity in his eyes. The Cavanite had been racked with worry over Morgan's incident that day, and he was hoping to hear that she had been nothing but wonderful in the days since they'd last spoken.

[morg]

"Actually, the evil twin is prettier. comes from being evil, you're allowed to wear all these trashy outfits," Morgan waved a hand dismissively. "Don't worry though, she's probably still jetting around Illinois. Might want to watch your back in Chicago."

The longer this conversation went, the more Morgan remembered why she liked Noah. He was simply too charming, and she loved being on the receiving end. It made her wonder for a few moments, was what she had with Jon exclusive?

"Shame, your armor's going to get rusted," she teased. Against her will her hand went to her hair, and she simply ignored it this time. Noah already knew she liked him, so why bother fighting the obvious? Besides, it made her feel better. "I've done more or less alright. Did have to deal with an a**, but I had some help with him. Kenneth Lorne, actually."

Yes, not her boyfriend, but a random friend who she cared about deeply. Morgan made a mental note to hang out again with Kenneth sometime. Maybe a party or something.

"Doesn't mean I haven't missed you though. We should catch up. Maybe another little triathlon. I'm all healed up now, so I'd totally kick your a**."

[noah]

"I don't see cheap clothes doing much for an appearances." It was true that Noah sometimes slipped up and found himself chasing the trashier girls on summer nights, but he was usually too drunk to be smart and even though the 80's were long gone, the best of clubs were still packed with Stella's on the weekends and sometimes he just needed someone to scratch an all to familiar itch; but outside of his occasional and forgivable indiscretions, Noah always had a thing for the classiest of girls, and morals almsot always won over a lack of them. Honor was actually desirable quality number eleven.

"Well, rusted armor is a small problem, and hardly one at all compared to you being safe." He smiled with all the honesty in the world, somehow managing to convey the most serious of things with a lighthearted quality in his eyes that was uniquely Noah. The Cavanite watched as Morgan's hand went to her hair and he couldn't resist chuckling as she tucked away a brunette tress that probably wasn't the least in her way.

At the mention of Kenneth, his grin returned, reminded of the half-djinn and the brotherly soft-spot Noah held for him. "Yeah, well Kenneth's good for stuff like that." Shifting in his seat, the blonde ran a hand through his hair again, unable to quell his persistent fidgets.

"Miss you too girlie," he leaned back, pressing his palms against his seat behind him and stretching, his muscled torso straining against the polo for half a second. "And you're always welcome to a rematch gorgeous, just means another free dinner out of it for me." Even though they both knew that if the situation arose, Noah would play it just as he had the last time around and stubbornly refuse to let Morgan pay for anything.

[morg]

"Gah, you're too d**m good," murmured Morgan. Her hand played with a curl, eventually tucking it behind her ear. Meanwhile her eyes played over Noah, thoroughly enjoying the experience. Noah had always been too good to be true. Even more remarkably, he seemed genuinely interested in Morgan. She never understood why, but was willing to accept the delusion if it earned her the affections of a boy like Noah.

"And it's about the only thing Kenneth's good for, except maybe for a laugh," joked Morgan. Her smile sucked the sting from the words. Yes, she was quite fond of Lorne, and probably always would be.

"You're so on," agreed Morgan. Her eyes twinkled with barely suppressed mischief. "How about we keep it simple this time: standard triathlon? Swimming, biking, and running. Unless you've got a better idea?"

Morgan raised her eyebrows, shifting back in her seat. Unfortunately, she did not have muscles to bulge through her t-shirt, nor breasts either for that matter. No, Morgan's more appealing features were hidden at this point, unless your eyes went to hers, especially with that sparkle therein.

[noah]

"Alright, but I can't imagine getting a good swim in this weather." Noah frowned, a comedic darkness overtaking his stunning blue eyes. It wasn't snowing, so he couldn't even have a proper snowball fight - it was just cold and icy as all hell, save for the part where Hell is far from chilly.

"How about we just skip past the triathlon and go out to dinner?" The Cavanite shrugged, looking incredibly nonchalant about the whole thing, probably because that's just how Noah was about everything. There were no real big deals or calamities, save for damsels in distress and last summer when someone had t-boned his gorgeous car outside of Denny's, leaving a phenomenal dent in it's side.

"If your boyfriends okay with that, of course." Despite how he flirted, Noah wasn't one to steal another guy's girl, and he had intended on a more casual dinner than their last, just a chance to catch up over some good food, honestly.
"I promise I'll behave."

[morg]

Hmm... give up the actual competition? Honestly, Morgan liked competing, period, with Noah in particular. But, on the other hand, just going out to dinner with a sweet guy had its appeal. Chances are Jon wouldn't mind too much, and she could always explain it away if he did.

Just so long as she didn't do anything regrettable at said dinner.

"Dinner it is then," replied Morgan, nodding. "This time you should let me pay. Then there's no way that it could possibly be seen as a date."

She winked, popping up from her chair. Again she smiled at Noah; she just loved his attitude. If nothing else, she was certainly glad that she had him for a friend.

Maybe you're just playing the field a bit too. Jon a bit too much of a pushover for you? I might be letting all this attention get to my head. I'm still a jock, and I should be thankful that I've got Jon.

But...

Noah is so cute!

Her hand had begun twirling with a curl of its own will, again, and Morgan, again, didn't bother to do anything about it.

[noah]

Noah chuckled, leaning back in his chair as Morgan stood up. He promised himself that he would be the very picture of a gentleman at their dinner, as well as completely platonic in all of his flirtations. It was one thing to tease and compliment and such while they were sitting here in school, but in the context of a dinner for two, the words took on a bit more weight.

"It's not happening girlie. It's my treat again, because otherwise I would be a terrible gentleman. Plus," he tipped his head back, a laugh lingering his eyes "my mother would disown me if she found out I let a girl pay, especially because it's going to be an impressive tab, considering my appetite." The Cavanite chuckled, looking amused as he briefly pictured his mother smacking him upside the head for acting like a deadbeat and leaving his friend to pick up a bill.

"How's tonight sound?"
Noah had the memory, not to mention the attention span, of a goldfish with ADHD, and the last thing he wanted was to forget or screw up their plans, and the easiest was to do that, was to make sure they were as soon as possible; plus, he would have been lying if he said he wasn't looking forward to it.

[morg]

"You never let me pay for anything," protested Morgan. It had little vigor though. Noah's mother would get along well with Morgan's father. Eoin had always insisted that if Morgan were going to spend any time with a boy, God forbid, said male should be paying for the privilege.

"You don't waste any time," she added. Tonight? Morgan had to think for a few moments. The girl wasn't incredibly busy, but she did occasionally feign at having a life outside of school and exercise. Not surprisingly, there was little on her schedule for the night. But wouldn't she look too eager if she just accepted like that? No, better to be coy, right?

"Tonight's not going to work," offered Morgan. "Tomorrow okay though?"

That would give her some time to consult friends and family, figure out what exactly this classified as and how she should dress. Besides, anticipation was supposed to make the event sweeter, or some such nonsense.

[noah]

"What can I say?" He winked, looking charming and even a bit debonair, obviously channeling James Bond or someone of the like. "I can't wait to spend time with you." Noah's ability and habit when it came to flirting was surely going to get him in trouble someday - not to say that it hadn't already - but that never seemed to stop him. No, he was charming to a fault and was hardly ever able to find a reason why he shouldn't be.

"Tomorrow works too," Standing up, the Cavanite stretched, his nose wrinkling as his muscles sighed in relief. He wasn't an incredibly busy boy, quite the opposite considering that he wasted all of his time either with Draco, Kenneth or Elliot, asleep, flirting shamelessly, running or pretending to be doing school work, and therefore, any night that Morgan could have suggested would have worked out just fine for him. Besides, they both knew that he would have more than likely canceled plans, had he made any on a night she wanted to go to dinner.

"But when it gets nicer out, I'll definitely take you up on some competition." Beaming, Noah always looked forward to a little healthy rivalry, and he had yet to meet someone who was as up to his standards athletically, as Morgan.

[morg]

Good, things were going smoothly enough. Then again, they often did around Noah, for some reason.

I really need to stop smiling and acting all mooney over him. He's not my boyfriend. That's Jon. Not Noah.

Still, Morgan's hand was absently playing with an errant curl.

"Tomorrow's great," she repeated, grinning, "and I wouldn't be too eager to go up against me again. I'm not all weak and wobbly now: you'd be in for an a**-kicking."

Chuckling, Morgan rocked back on her heels, raising her eyebrows. It was then that she remember the borrowed PSP, and scooped it off the table.

"You have a place in mind? I kinda need to know how to dress. You know, dress or slacks. Classy or casual," Morgan shrugged. "You don't tell me anything, and I'm likely to show up in sweats."

and he'd still compliment her, she knew it. Then again, so would Jon.

Both those ideas made her smile.