Amoeba (The Experiments) (39 page)

Like a banshee, Rickie screamed as he made his way down the path toward the Bungalows. He would have run there sooner, but in his excitement he forgot his Pop Tart. So after running back to the Control center, Rickie put his excitement on pause, ate the Pop Tart, and then continued on again.

“Saaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrge!” Rickie called out long and loud. “Saaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrge!” He hit the unity circle, stopped cold, snapped his finger, spun
, and ran to Billy’s bungalow. He knocked once and blasted in.

Billy
, shocked, jumped up from lying on his bed. “Rickie, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Rickie tried to act calm. “Hey uh . . .” Rickie’s eyes shifted to the bottle of Jack Daniels. “How long has that been there
?”

“A week or so
,” Billy answered. “I haven’t drank much since it got me in trouble.”

Rickie snickered “Thanks.” He snatched up the bottle and bolted to the door.

“Rickie, what are you doing!” Billy chased him.

“I’ll be back. Thanks.” Holding the bottle of Jack, Rickie ran outside
, leaped off the porch, and screamed again. “Saaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrge!”

Jake emerged from the bathroom to hear Rickie’s screaming outside. “What the fuck is he screaming about?” And just as he asked himself that question, his door flung open.

“Saaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrge!” Rickie shrieked, shutting the door.

“Rickie!” Jake screamed. “Knock it off.”

“Sarge, if you ever loved me, you’re gonna love me now.”

“I doubt it.” Jake marched to him. “And why are you drinking in the morning.” Jake snatched up the bottle of Jack and set it on the counter. “And speaking of drinking
, have you seen Cal?”

“No. I was at the toot.”

“I have to find her.” Jake moved to the door.

“Yeah
, you do. Sarge, listen to me.”

“Not now Rickie. I have to talk to her.” Jake reached for the knob.

“Sarge, it’s important. Listen.”

“Rickie . . .”

“Sarge, they drugged them.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Jake spun from the door.

Rickie caught his breath. “The toot. It’s all making sense to me now.” Rickie smacked himself in the forehead. “Ow. Anyway. Like, listen.”

Jake tossed his hands up. “Go on. Tell me what you’re talking about. Make it fast because I have to find Cal.” Jake folded his arms.

“It didn’t make sense. No way. Cal loves you. And like her and Billy have been bonding for three years. I certainly think if they were gonna do a little rocking it would have been before, not now.”

Jake’s facial muscles clenched. “This better have a point.”

“Oh it does. So, like, she confessed right away. She feels bad. Billy feels bad. Neither of them knows what the hell happened . . .”

“Rickie.”

“Sarge, listen.” Rickie held up his hand. “Neither knows how they got to that point that they were, well, you know. And . . . what was the biggest thing we forgot about?”

“What?”

“This is the experiment. What are the rules of the game, dude?”

“There are none.”

“Nope.” Rickie shook his head. “There are some when it comes to you and Cal-babe. In order to finish the experiment successfully, you have to either both be alive and?”

“Still a couple
,” Jake answered, growing more annoyed.

“Guy. You still don’t see? If they can’t kill you
, they can surely break you up. And what’s the best way to do that? Toss a little old fashioned, extramarital activity at ya’. And you fell for it. You fell for it.” Rickie pointed. “They controlled it, guy. I overheard the whole thing.” Rickie walked over to the dresser. “Who drinks this?” He held up the bottle of Jack.

“Cal and Billy.”

“And the toot knows this. So . . . what better place to put a drug than in something the toot knows they are gonna drink.”

“Drugged.” Jake almost laughed. “They weren’t drugged
, Rickie.”

“Sarge
, they were.” Rickie grew serious. “I heard them breaking down the time table of the drug, how long it took to work and everything.”

Jake snatched up the bottle and stared at it. He then looked
at Rickie. “Tell me everything you heard.”

“Classic bully syndrome,” Greg commented as he peered over Lyle’s shoulder to the monitor of Larry and Billy fighting. “He’s got it going with Cal, Jake steps in. Larry needs to show he’s tough and he goes after the weaker one. Jot that down.”

“On it
,” Lyle answered.

“And keep an eye on him, I have a feeling he’ll be provoking someone else before to . . .”

“Dr. Haynes.” Annabelle, a monitor, called his attention. “Something is happening in the Graison Bungalow.”

Holding on to the back of Lyle’s chair, Greg raised his eyes. “What is he up to?” He watched as Jake’s face grew closer to the camera
, and then the screen went black. A few seconds later, through the speaker that picked up the microphone in his room, Greg and the monitors heard music.

The brown colored liquor poured into the small glass on the table in Jake and Cal’s room.

“Jake.” Cal’s eyes looked to the glass. “It’s morning.”

“Pretend it isn’t.” Jake set the bottle down.

“Why?”

“Cause we’re gonna talk like we used to in the evening after dinner.” Jake pointed to the glass. “Drink.”

Cal picked it up. “Aren’t you having one.”

“Um . . . not right now. Drink.”

Slowly Cal sipped. “What are we talking about? The pictures?”

“No. We, Cal, are gonna talk about anything that has nothing to do with our situation.” As soon as Jake saw her set the glass down, he picked up the bottle and put some more in. “Let’s talk about . . .” Jake shrugged. “I don’t know. That stupid fuckin garden you want to make.”

“The garden?”

“In our backyard. Drink.”

“Why are you wanting me drunk? Is there something you want me to tell you?” Cal asked.

“Drunk?” Jake shook his head. “No. I promise no more than three drinks and that won’t phase you. Drink.” He pointed. “I need you
, uh . . . relaxed.”

“I can’t relax.” Cal played with her glass.

“Down it,” Jake told her.

“Jake
, I don’t want to . . .”

“Down it!”

Cal lifted the glass, downed the Jack, and set it down. “What’s going on?”

Jake looked at his watch. “I told you I need you relaxed.” Jake filled her glass again.

Cal’s eyes widened. “Are you wanting me to down this one too?” She asked sarcastically.

“If you don’t mind.”

“You’re right. Maybe I do need to relax.” She grabbed the glass, brought it to her lips, and tossed her head back when she consumed what was in there. She gasped and set down the glass.

“Good girl.” Jake poured some more. “You can sip this one if you want.”

“Thanks.” Cal reached for the glass.

“The garden.”

“What about it.”

“Build it.”

“No. You don’t want one. We’ll put up the small basketball court for you and Chuck.” Cal brought the drink to her mouth.

“I think you should have the garden.”

“No.” Cal sadly looked at the glass she had just drank from.

“Cal
, I’ll have it built.” Jake suggested.

“Jake
, don’t do anything for me, okay? Really.”

“Why?” He asked.

“I don’t want you to.” Cal sipped. “I really don’t want you to. I make you give me what I want all the time. When we get back, that will change. You get what you want.”

Jake laughed. “Right. Drink.”

Cal drank. “Whatever.”

“This is pitiful. Look at you. What the fuck is up with this down attitude
?”

“I think you know.”

“Get over it.”

“Yeah
, right, Jake.” Cal slammed her glass. “How? You tell me how? I lost you.”

“Cal, we aren’t talking about us so . . .”

“I want to talk about us.”

“Cal
, we are talking about the garden.”

“See.” Cal pointed. “You don’t even want to discuss us. I lost you Jake. I live my life for you. You are my life.” Cal’s head dropped. “And it’s over.”

“I’m here.”

“Physically. But you’ll never be any other way to me again. Or at least the same.” She brought her hand to her face and wiped a tear that ran down her cheek. She stood up. “Talking to me. Touching me. Speaking with care. I miss that.”

“And I miss the Cal who didn’t cry at the drop of a pin.”

Cal spun to him. “I can’t help it.” Harshly she wiped away another tear. “I hurt you
, Jake.” she stepped to him. “And I never meant to do . . .”

“Cal
, I would prefer we steer clear of any subject that deals with us.”

“You said yesterday we’ll get through this. How can we get through this if we talk only about the garden?”

“We’ll talk about us at a later time. Right now, we can’t get into anything emotional.” Jake’s head flung back in defeat when Cal moved to him and dropped down to the floor. She buried the top of her head against his chest. “Cal.”

“I’m sorry
, Jake. I am so sorry. I swear to God I will never do it again. I’ll never hurt you like that.” Her hands grabbed his arms. “If you can just tell me you know I’m sorry. Just tell me you know.”

“Cal.” Jake lifted her head. “Stop crying
,” he instructed. “Come here.” Jake took a deep breath lifting Cal up some. “Sit down.” He spoke softly, pulling Cal onto his lap. He swung her legs over his and wrapped his arms around her. When his face met hers, he felt against his ear her emotional breath, “Hey.” He spoke in a near whisper. Holding her tight, feeling her arms tight around him. “I love you.” He moved his lips and kissed her on the cheek. “I love you very much. You know that?” He kissed her again, feeling her nod. Jake closed his eyes and enjoyed Cal in his arms. His hand tightly gripped her head, his fingers moving a little through her hair. “And we’re . . .” Jake stopped to catch the rush of emotions that crept up on him. He kissed her cheek again. “You and I, we’re gonna be okay. We’re gonna be just fine.”

Cal pulled back and looked at him. “Thank you.”
She slowly brought her lips to his.

Jake was a second into the kiss when he realized he
had jumped the gun. “Cal.” He pulled her away. “Listen we have to wait at . . .” His words were stopped when Cal pressed her lips again to his. “Cal.” He tried to speak through the kiss. “Cal, listen . . .”

Wider and harder her mouth pressed against his. Kissing him. Searching his mouth with hers. Cal’s hands clung to his face as she stood up and adjusted herself to straddle his lap. “Jake.” She moaned his name. “Kiss me.”

“Cal I . . .” Jake grunted and his eyes widened when she moved tighter against him. “Cal.” With force, Jake pulled her mouth from his. “Hold it.” He switched his eyes to look at his watch and Jake smiled. “Okay, we can . . .” Another kiss silenced him and Jake stopped fighting. In his giving in, he returned the kisses with the same intensity Cal delivered them. Then holding her, never breaking the kiss, Jake stood up and reached to the table for the Jack Daniels. As he bent over to set the bottle gently to the floor out of harm’s way, he also brought Cal to the table, laying her down and himself on top of her.

^^^^

In shape and fit, Jake was trained to withstand any physical element thrown his way. But even years of practice didn’t gear him up for what he embarked on. His body, strong and lean, was ill prepared. “Cal.” He weakly moaned her name, slowly removing the sheet. Then, unable to bring his wobbling body to stand, Jake toppled with a roll out of bed onto the floor bringing the sheet with him. His eyes rolled as he laid on his back.

“Jake.” Cal giggled his name. “Come on.”

“Oh my God.” He barely opened his eyes when he felt her grab his arm. “Cal.”

“Jake.” She laid on her stomach hanging off the bed gripping for his arm
. Her hands inched up his forearm as she tugged him.

“I can’t . . .” Jake tried to lift up but he plopped back down. “Move.”

“Come on.” Cal reached again for him.

Groaning, and using Cal’s strength for leverage, Jake brought himself to a sitting position and then to
his knees. After receiving a quick kiss from Cal before she scooted back, Jake, in a slow crawling movement, climbed back into bed, but not before grabbing that tube of nipple cream that had been sitting on his night stand and bringing that with him.

^^^^

Because it was ‘the husband’ thing to do, Jake placed the special bottle of Jack Daniels in his duffel bag, tucking it away so as not to forget it when they left. He walked over to the bed and finished making it. His eyes caught a glimpse of the nipple cream, and Jake smiled. He had to tell Rickie that his curiosity on whether the cream worked to stimulate other parts of the anatomy was satisfied. He looked down at his watch and to the bathroom. “Cal.” He knocked on the door. “You all right in there?” He yelled so as to be heard over the running shower water.

“Yes.” There was a whimper to her answer.

Jake looked annoyed. “Is she crying again?” He opened the door. “Cal.” He could have been more compassionate. “Are you crying again?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I can’t help it.”

“What do you mean you can’t help it? Are you sad?”

“No
,” Cal cried out.

“Did I hurt you
?” Jake dropped his voice to a mumble. “I don’t see how.”

“No.”

“Cal. Trust me. We’re made up now, honey. Okay? It’s over.”

“I know.” Cal sobbed.

“Then why are you crying?” Jake leaned against the wall.

“I can’t . . . I can’t stop. The tears keep coming.”

“What started it?”

“I was just thinking how happy I was.” Her words
were drawn out.

Jake rolled his
eyes. “Well, be happy. Cal. Don’t be happy or sad.”

“O
kay.”

“Stop crying.”

“Okay.”

“God.” Jake shook his head. “Must be a side effect.” He paused to think out loud. “Yeah, it magnifies one thing, it probably magnifies the other.”

“What?” Cal called out.

“Nothing. Hey
, Cal?”

“Yes?”

Jake opened the shower door and peeked in. “Do you wanna take a walk with me?”

“O
kay.” Cal lifted her head from rinsing her hair.

“I wanna talk to you about something and move my legs some. You killed me.”

Cal burst into tears. “I’m sorry.”

“Cal
, please, just stop crying.” Jake held his temples in annoyance and closed the shower door. “Goddamn it.” He walked from the bathroom. He had to calm himself. Getting upset at Cal would only make her worse, and he didn’t want to deal with that. As with any really good thing, there was a drawback. And if the crying was indeed a side effect of the drug, it definitely was a drawback. And Jake decided, though he still needed that walk, he wasn’t going to tell her on the walk, as planned, about the drug. Not yet. He’d save telling her for later when his tear tolerance level was up and she’d be less likely to have a happy outburst moment.