Persona (7 page)

Moira turned three, two months ago, and still she shows no signs of turning. And she’s not the only one. There have been reports all over the United States of children being born to people infected. His team have been questioned a lot, about the possible outcome by the authorities. They seemed relieved that his specimen is normal. He is not. It’s been three years since Marshall escaped from this lab, and the infection rate goes up daily. About a quarter of the population is infected, and this has people worried. He’s heard talk of a special task force to be designed to deal with these abominations.

He’s just glad that he hasn’t lost funding, only because he leaked the story to the press that Marshal didn’t come from here. The story of him being sick and leaving a hospital worked out well for him so far. Thinking about Moira again, he knows he won’t be able to keep her here forever. Her father has already been talking about taking her home permanently. He contemplates stopping the serum doses, since they don’t do anything anyways.

***

October 2028

A month has finally passed, and Moira finds herself in a steady routine of things. She’s gotten used to her classes and the teachers instructing them, though she’s not looking forward to midterms. She finds herself immersing into the lives of her friends, not that they mind that. They seem happy enough to include her, not caring that she’s supposedly normal. Every day that goes by Moira has to remind herself that she can’t tell them the truth, but it’s getting harder to find a reason. She trusts them, and thinks they would be alright with her secret, but something holds her back, and she continues to keep it to herself. For now.

Her favorite parts of the day are always gym and chemistry now, even though she hates both. But that could have something to do with the fact that Spencer is in them. She looks forward to seeing him all the time, but it’s getting to the point where her persona is affected by him too. It doesn’t help that he’s always giving her that heartbreaking smile of his. Nothing has really happened between them, much to her dismay, since he’s still with Quinn. She’s trying to wear him down on that though. She and Quinn still don’t get along, and he always apologizes for her.

It’s the first Wednesday of the month, when she finds herself paired up with Spencer in Chemistry. And yes, she sees the irony in that. She’s just sitting down, and he’s already smiling at her. They listen as the teacher advises them on what liquids to mix with the reactant and what not to use, but Moira is only half listening. They each get handed an outline to follow with the experiment, and Moira is already having trouble remembering what they are supposed to do.

“Did you understand anything we’re supposed to do?” Spencer asks leaning to face her.

Shaking her head with a smile, she says, “Not really no, sorry.”

“That’s alright. More time for us to work on it together.” He says with a wink.

Her stomach flutters as she looks away to read the outline. Feeling his eyes on her, she turns in her seat to share the outline. Gratefully, he scoots closer and reads over her shoulder. Apparently, they have to mix something and see what it does, and add something else, to see what that on does. They have to keep mixing and adding to see what the final outcome will be. This all seems a little laughable to Moira, since she’s just as mixed up too.

Halfway through the elixir they are creating, Moira reaches for another vile the same time as Spencer and they’re hand touches. Her face burns in embarrassment, but he takes the opportunity to rub her fingers before pulling away. She’s blushing far worse now. She knows she must look like a tomato. But that’s not the problem. She can feel the stirrings of her persona under skin. It’s been like this the past week, every time Spencer would accidently touch her, it would flare up.

Usually she has no problem stomping her persona back to its hiding spot inside her, but he does something to her that gives her a hard time with control. She figures it’s because she likes him, but it doesn’t make for an easy time with him, if she’d busy thinking about something other than him. Closing her eyes, she concentrates on breathing to make it go away. Spencer takes this the wrong way though, and places his hand on her shoulder, to see if she’s alright. A rush of sensation flies up from her feet and into her head so fast, that she opens her eyes. The room is sharper than it was before and she knows that her eyes have changed.

She looks away from Spencer before he can see her eyes, and prays he’s stop and keep touching her at the same time. When her scalp starts to tingle, she knows she has to do something before her hair changes and she’s caught. Before she can push Spencer’s hand from her shoulder, the classroom door opens with a bang, making her jump and his hand to fall off her.

Everyone turns to the door, as a guy they’re age walks in, with a cocky swagger. Moira is just as surprised as all the other students, since he’s apparently new. He’s a tall guy, but looks well built under his dark jeans and black leather jacket. His hair is a little shaggy, but not that long either. It’s a brown so light, it looks blonde, but what makes Moira notice him, are his eyes. They are a light grey color, like the sky before a storm. He’s tanned, but his cheeks are lightly rosy, so Moira wonder’s where he’s from.

He doesn’t even pay any attention the class, that have stopped working and talking so they can all stare at him. He just walks over to the teacher and thrusts a piece of paper at him.

“I need that signed. For the office, so they said.” He says in a deep drawl, which makes Moira think, he’s from the south somewhere.

The teacher reads over the paper, and signs it before returning it to him.

“Alright, Liam Morgan, welcome to Wilmington. Lab is just about over, so sit wherever you like. We’ll figure out something for you tomorrow.”

The boy, Liam, just nods his head and looks around the room. Spying an empty table in the back, he heads for it, and all eyes follow him as he does. As he passes, Moira smells cinnamon in the air, but it fades as he goes by. He deftly pulls out a chair and slumps in the seat, only then does he look around the room with annoyance. This sends everyone looking away and going back to work.

His eyes pass her before she looks away and Moira can’t stop the feeling like she’s seen him before, but she knows that can’t be true. One thing she does know is that since he walked in, her persona went away. Out of the corner of her eyes, she sees Spencer watching her. Is she imagining things, or does he look kind of jealous of her watching the new guy.

“He looks like a weirdo huh?” Spencer says as he goes back to reading they’re lab outline.

Smirking, Moira thinks, yup definitely jealous.

***

June 2015

Peter Fletcher sits at his desk, and tries not to glare at the man sitting across from him. It’s Moira’s father, and he’s been trying to convince him to let him take her home permanently. It’s not something he wants to agree too, but he can’t tell him no legally. He has no reason to keep Moira any longer. She appears to be just a little girl, a very smart and talented little girl, but just a normal one.

Her father Daniel Warner has been telling him that his new wife and son are moving out of state, and would like Moira to join them. He repeats that Moira is his, and deserves to be with her family. Peter knows this is all true, but he doesn’t want to lose her. Over the past three years he hasn’t just been studying her and hoping she’s developing. He’s also grown attached to her in some way, and looks forward to seeing her smiling face every morning. He shouldn’t feel this way he knows, since he’s not the girl’s father.

Knowing he’s crossed the line, that’s what, lets him decide to let her go. Daniel is pleased, but Fletcher makes him sign a waiver that if she were to develop any symptoms then she had to be brought back. He signs it without pause, just so delighted to take his daughter home finally. Peter walks Daniel out of his office, and joins him to Moira’s room. Her step mother Caroline, and baby brother Damon are in the room with her. Moira and Damon were coloring when the men walk into the room.

Peter watches Daniel tell them the good news, and sees how happy they all are. Moira jumps up and runs into her father’s arms, making her strawberry curls bounce. He thinks back to when she used to be happy to see just him, and he hopes she comes back to him one day.

Chapter Five

As soon as Moira crosses the threshold of the cafeteria that day, she notices the new level of activity inside. She realizes that everyone is in a flurry over the new guy, and she can’t believe how juvenile they all are. She took interest in him too sure, but it’s not like she doesn’t have other things to occupy her thoughts. With an eye roll, she makes her way to the table in the back of the room.

Reaching the table she sees that she is the last one to arrive. They are all in deep conversation and don’t even notice her when she sits down between Raven and Marty.

“I heard he was in reform school or something, and now here on probation.” Raven says in excited, while pulling up her dark hair into a knot.

“That’s not what I heard. He was at a private school, and got kicked out. This was the only place that would take him.” Ray replies.

Marty laughs then, “Why would they send him here? We’re not really known for reforming criminals.”

“Those could be all lies you know. Maybe his parents just moved.” Daisy says optimistically.

Moira looks around at them all with a pout, she doesn’t remember anyone getting this excited about her when she moved here a month ago. Though, she doesn’t exactly have that mysterious air about he either.

“You know, no one was this interested in me. Maybe he’s less exciting than me, so you shouldn’t tell tall tales.” Moira says with a sigh.

This makes them all laugh and feel bad for her at the same time. Not exactly making her feel any better.

“Don’t feel bad Warner, we just liked you from the start is all.” Marty says as he pats her back.

“Yeah, don’t feel bad babe. You’re just more open that this guys is. I can hear his secrets calling to me.” Raven says with a sigh.

“Oh boy, you in heat again Raven?” Ray says with a laugh.

They all laugh at this, since Raven has the tendency to take interest in any member of the opposite sex. Which is why she always gets into trouble, she likes her boys normal and not like her.

“Shut up, I am not.” Raven is the one to pout now.

“Don’t worry girls, we all love you no matter your quirks.” Daisy says sweetly.

Ray and Marty agree with a smile and nod, but Raven can’t get off the idea that the new guy is more interesting than he probably is.

“What if he’s like us? That would be hot.”

We all groan, and push away our already forgotten food. Moira wonders what it would be like to have another one like them around. It would take the focus off of her, if they’re was. With her persona problems lately, she’s had a couple close calls. She knows Daisy means it when she said Moira had quirks. They probably think other things about her worse than that, but she tries to reassure them that she’s normal.

Whatever that means.

“Speaking of hot, Spencer was my lab partner today. The new guy Liam actually came in late to our class.” Moira offers her own gossip to add to the mix.

She doesn’t notice that Marty scoots a little away from her then, and focus on his lunch.

“Are there any other juicy adulterous activities for today?” Raven asks as she leans closer to her.

“Other than our hands touching? No.”

“You naughty girl. That’s almost G rated.” Raven laughs out.

“He’s still seeing Quinn right?” Daisy asks.

“Yeah he is, I just don’t see why he’s with her.” Moira says in disappointment.

“That’s because he’s an ass, and is trying to get something on the side.” Marty grumbles under his breath that the others almost miss it.

“That is pretty much true Moira. The guy has been with Quinn for as long as I can remember. He’s just as vindictive as she is.” Ray agrees.

“He’s been nothing but nice to me though, and I’ve never seen him bad to anyone else.”

“I wouldn’t put it past him, to trying to get at you because Quinn doesn’t like you.” Marty says.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence guys.” Moira pouts.

“She’s right, maybe he’s changed.” Daisy says, giving her a smile.

“Yeah, he’s probably breaking up with Quinn right now, so he can have Moira all to himself.” Raven says with a note of teasing in her voice.

Moira ignores them, and looks around the cafeteria until she spy’s Spencer. He’s sitting with his friends across the room, and as if he feels her eyes on him he looks up at her. Smiling he waves and she feels a relief to know that he must really like her. She smiles back at him before he looks away, and wonders if he’s ever break up with Quinn for her.

“Wow, you were right Daisy, he is cute.” Raven says, as she points to the new guy Liam striding into the cafeteria.

Moira shifts her attention to him and away from Spencer, and once again is surprised with his lack of interest with anything around him. The activity in the room dims down and everyone is gawking at him again, but he doesn’t even notice. He just walks between the tables, gazing at the people sitting, as if weighing the option if they are worthy of his company. He doesn’t stop at any of them, and he gets closer to her table.

When he gets a foot away, Moira picks up on a new scent in the air. It smells like warm spicy cinnamon and her mouth waters as if tasting fresh baked cinnamon rolls. The scent gets stronger the closer gets to they’re table, and with it is the feeling of her persona teasing her senses. Looking around at the others to see if they notice anything, but they aren’t acting as if they do. He gets so close to the table now that her skin feels like a million bugs are crawling inside. She thinks he’s going to stop at they’re table to sit down, but he walks past.

As he does, the scent slowly fades and she can no longer taste anything. Her skin stops tingling and returns to normal. He goes to the other side of the cafeteria and reaches an empty hardly ever used table, and pulls out a chair and slouches into it. Slowly, the activity picks back up in the room, and everyone goes back to what they were doing. Moira doesn’t take her eyes off him though, and he looks right up at her again. Her skin tingles for a split second and her vision sharpens, indicating they changed. His grey eyes go wide, and they flash violet, before he quickly looks away. When he does, her skin and vision go back to normal. She hopes no one saw her, but wonders in anyone saw him.