Page 58 of The Scientist
I thought about brushing it off and telling him it was nothing, but I really wanted the truth. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” he said curiously.
“Why are you only nice to me when we’re alone?”
His smile faded, and I could almost see the conflicting thoughts warring around in his mind. I expected him to play dumb or deny that it was true, but he didn’t.
“I don’t mean to,” he said, his shoulders hunched. “I promise I’ll do better.”
I wanted more of an explanation but didn’t want to push too hard. “So, we’re good? Friends, even?”
He wrinkled his nose a bit like the thought was distasteful, but then he smiled and said, “Yeah… We’re friends.”
I smiled back, thinking how silly it seemed to need a declaration of friendship, but with him, I could never be sure.
“Great, because we’re going to have to get really close to each other very soon.”
A flash of intrigue played across his features. “Why’s that?”
“Closeness is essential when friends are engaged in the ancient and noble art of piggyback rides.”
He looked at me for a beat before his head fell back in laughter. It was such a beautiful thing to witness. His laughter had the same velvety richness to it that any bass singer would be jealous of.
He stood up, extending a hand to me, and I took it as he pulled me up.
“I may be able to manage on my own two feet if you can stand my snail’s pace for the rest of the way home,” I said, limping along.
“Kind of an insult to snails, don’t you think?”
I swatted his arm playfully. When we made it back to the townhomes, I saw Stuart sitting on the front porch of their home, drinking coffee. The second he spotted us walking back together, a huge smile spread across his face.
“And what are you two up to at this early morning hour?” he called out as we approached.
“Engaging in multiple forms of torture, apparently,” I answered.
“How so?”
“First off, I was attacked by a giant bird in my own home. Then Lex decides the best way for me to shake off the unfortunate incident is to take part in a grueling five-mile hike around Stanford.”
“It was an innocent baby robin,” Lex stated. “And we maybe made it a mile before she collapsed.”
I opened my mouth wide, pretending to be shocked. “Innocent?! That lunatic of a bird would have given even Edgar Allen Poe nightmares.”
Stuart laughed, while Lex just smiled and shook his head.
“Sounds like you’re having a rough morning,” Stuart said.
“I am,” I said, pouting a bit.
“Would coffee help?”
I perked up. “Coffee always helps.”
“I just made some,” he said, walking up the steps.
Just as we were about to follow him inside, I spotted pink hair flying down the center walkway. She was looking between Lex and me with a scowl on her face.
“God, it’s too early for Satan’s spawn,” Stuart groaned.