"Order up!" I yell as I set the hot plate of food down on the counter. Monica comes over and grabs the plate, she throws me an unpleasant glare and walks in the opposite direction. We dated for a little bit but I decided to end it, she was a great girl but I just couldn't see a future with her. It's a shame how things work that way, It felt like our lives were going in separate directions. She had plans and had her life together. I barely knew what I was doing the next day. I'm just a writer, she had much bigger things ahead of her. My shift is almost over so I start wiping down the counter and continue the other mundane tasks of closing. I find it hard to concentrate at work, sometimes I wonder if that is really what I was meant to do. It feels like I am on autopilot, all i can do is think of new projects. When I finish I grab my jacket off of the hook and head out the door. I feel the rush of cold air as soon as I open the door, thankfully I'm not too far from home. The busiest part of the day starts to end. I am almost home now, right on time. I always know when I am on schedule because the bus stops at the same spot everyday at six. There is a large group at the bus stop today, so I just wait for them. A younger guy about my age scrambles to get his things together. Just as he gets on the bus I see his notebook hit the ground. "Hey! Wait!" I yell to him, but its too late  the bus accelerates down the busy street.I look at the notebook and think to myself; I bet he is a writer. I dont think too much about it though. I'm almost home now, good old Pilgrim Heights. There are so many stairs, I usually take the elevator but for some reason the stairs seem more appealing today. Once I get up the stairs I grab my keys out of my jacket pocket and fumble with the lock. Paul is not home yet, He must be running late tonight. Paul has been my best friend since we were two years old, I can honestly say he is my best friend, he has been there with me through all the good and bad times in my life.That guy definitely has his life together. He has a good job, a good woman, and makes good money. What more could a guy ever want? I wish I could say the same for myself. I throw my jacket over the recliner and turn on the television. there isn't much on other than the news.  I'm not into all of those reality shows  and such, I would much rather sit and read a good book. I take another look at the notebook, the pages are worn and the binding isn't in the best condition. I flip it open and begin to read. It looks as if it was just and idea book or a journal, I knew he looked like a writer.

November 9th, 2014

I'm sick of all of this noise! all my parents do is fight! I just want it to stop, is that too much to ask?

I know what its like, my parents split up five years ago. I was fourteen at the time, and I would just sit in my room and listen to them argue. Finally my mother built up the courage to divorce him. She said she couldn't live like that anymore and before I knew it I had a new life and new friends. I take a breath and flip to the next entry.

November 11th, 2014

Finally some peace and quiet, I haven't heard the house this quiet in a while. They are actually getting along. I failed my test yesterday at school. my teacher is such a dick, sometimes I wish he would just disappear.

I should probably get ready to go to bed, I have to be up early to get to school. I always try to get there around eight thirty. My creative writing class is first thing in the morning. It helps me keep my sanity when life gets to be overwhelming. I turn the television off and get out of the recliner, I'm surprised Paul isn't home yet, He must be over by Amy. Some nights he stays over by her. Its getting late i should probably get to sleep. I turn on my lamp and lay the notebook on my nightstand. You can definitely tell this room belongs to a writer. The garbage can by my desk is filled with empty coffee cups and crumpled up pieces of lined paper. I like to think of it as a place where all of my unused ideas go to die. My desk is scattered all over the place. I cant seem to find any inspiration, I have been having a bit of writers block lately. I need to go to sleep otherwise I will be up thinking about it all night. I reach over, turn off the light and hope that inspiration consumes my thoughts.

My alarm clock blares, I cant believe it is already time to wake up. I'm not really a morning person, especially not on a Monday. I sit up on my bed and check my phone, It's already seven thirty I have an hour until I need to be in class. A voice mail from Paul pops up on my screen, so I put the phone to my ear and listen. "Hey Will, I stayed over my Amy last night. I got an early shift  at work today so I will see you tonight, Talk to you later." Its getting late now so I set my clothes on the bed and get in the shower. There is just something about a hot shower that relaxes me. Thoughts race through my head, I really need some inspiration for this project. That is the struggle of being a writer, you can't force inspiration. You need to take the ideas as they come, and when they don't come it is very frustrating. I dry off and put some clothes on, I have to get going. I only live about fifteen minutes from the school though so it isn't that bad. The notebook is laying on my dresser, I grab it and put it in my backpack, you never know when you need to write an idea down. Once I grab my jacket and backpack I am out the door. It is cold outside but the view is great. One of the perks of living in the city is seeing the beautiful scenery in the morning. The roads are busy, people are commuting to their jobs and people like me are going to college. The bus is picking people up again this morning. I try to see if I can find the man I saw yesterday. Nobody's face looks familiar so I just keep walking up the road to the college. I only have about five minutes so I hurry through the door and take the elevator to the second floor. My class is the first door on the right as you exit the elevator. I quickly grab a seat and open my notebook, one minute to spare. Not too many people showed up today. We usually have about twelve but today we have six. It looks like we have a new girl too, she is sitting two seats to the right of me. I sit in the back of the classroom, its nice because when the discussion gets boring I just write. She just looks at me and smiles, she has a really nice smile. her eyes are really pretty too. I should talk to her but I am too shy to say anything. Professor Harris starts to talk about the papers we turned in the other day, he said they were fantastic. I know that is a lie, I didn't think it was my best work, but I am never completely satisfied with my work. We started a new project on Friday, we were asked to write a creative short story. He told us we would have the day to work today, but before we do anything he usually asks someone from the class to read something they have written to the class. "Good morning class! Today I am going to give you some time to work on your project, but as usual I would like for someone to come up and read a piece of their work to the class." Nobody volunteers as usual, I see the new girl jotting down notes in her notebook and apparently so does Professor Harris."Morgan, how about you? I'm sure the class would love to hear a piece of your work!" So her name is Morgan, that is a really pretty name. She looks up from her notebook and puts her pen down. "Sure, I would love too." Morgan rips out a piece of paper from her notebook and walks up to the front. She has a ton of confidence, she isn't scared of being in front of people. That is a very attractive trait. Morgan clears her throat and begins her poem.

                                                                            I can choose to fall

                                                                                or will it away

                                                                               to open myself up

                                                                        or run scared from you 

                                                            but maybe it's the light in your eyes

                                                                            that keeps me here

                                                                                that lets me fall.

She looks up from the paper and the class begins to clap for her. That poem was amazing, there was so much emotion. Morgan walks back to her desk  and glances over at me. I look at her and look away, I cant help it, there is just something about her that makes me happy. I just feel like I smile the goofiest smile. I open the notebook again and start to jot down ideas. Before I  can write anything down my eyes go to the journal entries again. One in particular catches my eye.

November 12th 2014

Just got out of class, my teacher didn't show up today. I guess he must be out sick, they didn't tell us too much.

That seems wierd, but before I can think more about it Professor Harris starts to talk again. "Alright class, we only have about ten minutes left. You can either work on your story or discuss ideas and brainstorm. I will walk around and see where you are at." Okay now is my chance, she is only two desks away. I should go over there and say something. She is still jotting things down in her notebook, so I get up and make my way over there. I sit down in the desk next to her. "Hey I really liked the poem you read, it was very well written."  Morgan looks up from her notebook and gives me a smile. that smile makes me melt. "Thank you, I worked really hard on it. My name is Morgan by the way, I didn't get your name." I smile back at her and introduce myself. "I'm Will, so what is the idea for your story?" She looks back at me "I dont really know, I like adventure so that is always an option. It takes me awhile to think of an idea I want to hang on to. what about you do you have an idea?"  I laugh a little bit "Well I haven't really found my inspiration yet but hopefully I find it soon." Class ends and everyone starts to gather up their things. Morgan starts to write something down on her notebook. she rips it out and gives it to me.  " Here, maybe you can text me or call me and we can chat some more. you seem like a really nice guy. I hope you find your inspiration soon." She smiles and walks out the door. "You got yourself a girlfriend there Will?" Professor Harris exclaims. I just look over at him, my face turns a little red. "How much of that did you hear?" I say. "Oh only all of it. She is a great girl Will, talk to her. She is nothing like Monica." I look back at him and smile. "I'll give it some thought, Thank you Harris" I pack up the notebook and walk out the door.

She has been on my mind ever since I walked out of the classroom. I should text her, but is it too soon. She will think i'm weird if I just text her out of the blue. I know what i'll do, I will ask Paul tonight. Right now I just need to focus on the story, I am going to go home and jot some ideas down and maybe even have a drink. That sounds like heaven right now. I continue my walk home, screw it I am just going to text her. I pull out my phone and start a new message. I save her contact under my contacts. Her name is "Morgan :)." I start typing the message, "Hey this is Will, I talked to you during class today." That should be good enough, right? I send it anyway, I find myself sending more impulse texts than I should. Sometimes it benefits me but sometimes it doesn't. I keep walking down Kennedy until I reach the bus stop. I'm still looking for the guy who dropped the notebook, he just doesn't seem to be around anymore. I don't have time to think about this, I need to go home and get to work. I finally reach my apartment, I grab my keys and unlock the door. I throw my things on the chair and turn on the television. The twelve o clock news is on, it doesn't matter it is just going to be background noise. I am just about ready to sit down and I see the words "breaking news" flash across the screen. "An area school teacher has gone missing, He was last seen leaving Kennedy High School. He is about six foot tall with brown hair. He has a medium build and his name is Phil Erickson. If you see or have any information on the case please call the police"  This can't be right, I go over and take a look in the notebook again. I am shocked by what I see, this has to be a coincidence.

November 12th, 2014

Just got out of class, my teacher didn't show up today. I guess he must be out sick, they didn't tell us too much.

This could be anybody, I'm not going to worry about this. My phone went off, It's Morgan. I start to get this giddy feeling in my stomach. I have never felt like this about anyone. "Hey! :) I was hoping you would text me. I thought you forgot." A huge sigh of relief comes over me.