Amoeba (The Experiments) (40 page)

Still munching on the fried chicken leg from dinner, Greg walked down the steps to the monitor’s table. He stared up at the screen. “Nothing yet?”

“Nope.” Barb pointed to the black screen of Jake and Cal’s room. “Still black
, and we’re still hearing Reo Speedwagon.”

“What the hell are they doing
? Let me know when you figure it out.” Greg, chicken in hand, backed up, took a bite, and left.

Cutting his fork into the last of what was called ‘Uncle Lou’s marinated boar’ Jake looked up to Cal as they sat at the table in their bungalow. “How’s the headache?”

“Better. But still there.” Cal rubbed her temples.

“Did you have a good nap?” Jake asked as he ate his meat.

“Yeah, I just passed right out. I’ve been doing that lately.”

“Drugs will do that to you.”

Cal looked up to him with a snicker. “What?”

“Last two nights. You’ve been using illegal drugs and they’ve made you pass out.” Jake reached for his beer.

“No I haven’t.”

“Cal, you have.”

“Jake, when?”

“Doing that pass-the-peace-pipe ritual.” Jake set down his bottle.

“O
kay, so? I’m not doing drugs.”

Jake shook his head. “Babe, you’re getting stoned
, and I want it to stop. No more.”

“O
kay.” Cal shrugged. “Whatever you want.” She sat back in the chair.

Jake stopped in his reach for his fork. “No argument? I’m telling you I want it to stop and there’s no argument?”

“No. You’re right. Jake?” Cal’s finger ran across the rim of the plate. “Are we going to talk about us at all?”

“Not tonight.” Jake took the last bite of his food. “Tonight, I just want to enjoy making up with you.” He grabbed for his beer again.

“I would think that you would be upset about the pictures.”

“I don’t want to talk about the pictures.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Jake took a long drink. “Listen. Just know that, and don’t get me wrong, seeing them, it bothered me. I’m still a man Cal
, okay? But know they were the whole reason I drilled you about what happened. There was nothing there that surprised me. I told you that.”

Cal raised her eyebrows with a slumped demeanor while playing with her napkin. “I’m just glad you didn’t look at them.” She didn’t hear Jake say anything. She raised her eyes. “Jake? You didn’t look at them
, did you?”

“Well . . .” Jake took a drink. “Yeah.”

“All?”

“Well . . .” Another drink. “Yeah.”

“Oh my God.” Cal covered her face.

“Cal.” Jake pulled her hand down. “Right now, honestly, I couldn’t even tell you what I saw.”

“Are you sure you aren’t mad? You’re still being, I don’t know, distant like.”

“I am?” Jake shook his head. “Sorry. I guess my mind is still stuck on this afternoon.” He twitched his head in a fine remembrance while bringing the bottle to his lips.

“Jake, I have to tell you.” Cal leaned into the table. “This afternoon, I don’t know what got into me. We have a really good sex life you and I, but today, you were . . . you were unbelievable.”

Jake grinned while the bottle was still at his lips. “Oh yeah?” He took a drink and set the bottle down.

“Yes.” Cal nodded.

Jake chuckled as he stood up. “Just call me . . .” He winked. “The champ.” He got a laugh from Cal
, and he bent down and kissed her. “I love you.” He kissed her again. “Let me take our plates down to the dining hall, and I’ll be back.”

“I’ll help you.” Cal reached for the plates.

“No.” Jake stopped her. “Stay here. I’ll be back. There’s something I have to take care of.” He quickly cleared the table. “I won’t be long.”

After watching Jake leave, Cal stood. Even though she had
had her fill of drinking in the morning, she went to the fridge and got a beer.

^^^^

It was downright hysterical to Billy as he walked through the unity circle, so much so that he laughed. It could have been viewed as rude to do so, but Billy couldn’t help it. After all, it was totally innocent on Rickie’s part. He was just having fun. Rickie and Reed sitting on Reed’s porch singing the song by the Carpenters,
‘Sing, Sing, a Song.’
. And they did.

Rickie sang loudly.
“Don’t worry that it’s not good enough, for anyone else to hear, dude.
You’re part guy . . .”

And Reed sang. “
Us in, ing a ong.
”

“Keep going.” Rickie bounced the small tape player adding the back drop music.

“
Wa-wa-wa-wa-wa. Wa-wa-wa-wa-wa-wa. . . .
”

Billy shook his head, lifting his hand in a wave to them.

“Dude.” Rickie stood up. “Hey, wait.” He jumped off the porch.

Billy stopped walking. “I don’t want to sing, thanks Rickie.”

Rickie snorted a laugh. “No, Guy. Did you talk to the Cal-babe yet?”

“No. Why?” Billy asked.

“Oh I know she’s wanting to tell you something. She didn’t tell you?”

Billy’s eyes moved to Cal’s bungalow. “No. She has something to tell me
?”

“Oh
, yeah, guy, and it’s good. You should go talk to her.”

“Rickie. Is
, uh, Jake there?” Billy asked.

“No. He’s down at the eating hole
. It’s cookie baking night. Lou’s like Chef Brocket. I’m going down there now. Want some cookies?”

“Yeah.” Billy moved toward Cal’s bungalow. “Yeah I do. I’m gonna go see what Cal wanted first.”

“Okay.” Rickie waved.

Billy, taking advantage that Jake was baking cookies with Lou, needed to speak to Cal. He had an opportunity., And after hearing she wanted to finally talk to him, Billy wanted to take that opportunity. His heart literally picked up a beating pace as he neared the bungalow, thumping near his throat when he knocked on the door and Cal yelled out ‘come in.”

Taking a breath, Billy opened the door. “Cal?” He stepped inside.

“Billy.” Her eyes widened and shifted. “What . . . what are you doing here?”

“Rickie said you had to talk to me.”

“He what?” Cal held back her hair nervous. “Rickie’s lying.”

“You don’t want to see me?” Billy asked, and the smile dropped from his face. “I’m sorry. I thought it had been a while and you just wanted to talk.”

“Billy.” Cal moved to him. “I’d love to talk to you. I would. But not yet
. Not now and certainly not here. Jake will be back any second.” Cal spoke with pleading to her voice.

“No
, Cal. Jake’s baking cookies.”

“Jake’s baking cookies?”

“Yeah.” Billy smiled. “So can I just talk to you for a second? Just a second. Please?”

Cal looked at him in debate.

Jake trotted, a chocolate chip cookie in his mouth, near the unity circle. He saw Rickie headed his way. “Rickie.”

“Sarge. Hey
, I haven’t seen you. So, like, did it work?”

“What?” Jake asked.

“The drug.”

Jake grinned.

“Sarge, you dog.”

“No, no.” Jake held up his hand. “My intention was not for that. I followed the instructions of what you heard and well . . .” Jake twitched his head. “Well.” He smiled again. “There was something in that Jack. Trust me, I know Cal.”

“So, like, what was her reaction?”

“I didn’t tell her yet. One of the side effects is that she cries.” Jake cringed. “I wanna tell her now
, but I need to find Billy. Do you know where he is?”

“You wanna tell them together?”

“Yes.” Jake nodded.

“Cool, you have your opportunity. I thought she knew. I thought for sure she’d want to tell him. But now
, dude, you get a double whammy and get to see both of their expressions. Can I watch?”

“No, just tell me where he is
,” Jake said.

Rickie pointed at his bungalow.

Billy let out a slow breath of relief through his slightly parted lips as he moved to Cal. “I just need to hear your voice.”

“Billy.” Cal closed her eyes.

“No.” Billy shook his head. “Don’t take that wrong. Do you realize I spoke to you every day for three years? Everyday.” Billy watched her nod. “You’re my friend. I need that friend in you more than I need anything. Cal, I miss talking to you so much. Just . . . talking.” Billy stepped to her. “Sharing stories, laughing, talking about our lives. I miss that. I miss my best friend. I miss . . .” Standing right before her, Billy reached out and laid his fingertips on her cheek. “. . .you.”

With a click-click the door opened, and in walked Jake. He stopped cold at the same time that Cal and Billy in a guilt
y jump separated.

Billy’s heart pounded in nervousness
, and he knew his eyes surely showed it. It was bad enough that he got busted talking to Cal, but did he have to be touching her when Jake walked in?

Cal stepped to Jake as he closed to the door. “Jake
, listen . . .”

“Cal.” Jake held up his hand.

“Jake,” Billy tried. “I just came to talk to her. Rickie said . . .”

“Rickie said for him to come over.” Cal continued it for him. “So he did and . . .”

“And . . . and . . . “ Billy inched his way to the door. “I’ll leave.”

Jake stepped in front of him. “Sit down.” He motioned his head to the table. “Cal
, you too.”

“Oh
, God.” Cal rushed to Jake. “Please. It was a big misunderstanding. He wasn’t supposed to be here.”

“Jake
, I’m sorry I was here.”

“Sit down
,” Jake said calmly again.

With hands raised in surrender, Billy s
hook his head. “Don’t take it out on her, Jake. I came in here.”

“No, Billy
,” Cal argued. “I told you that you can stay and talk. It’s not all your fault.”

“Cal.” Billy faced her. “Don’t. Why would you want Jake mad at you for something that’s my fault
?”

“I could have said for you to get out when you came . . .”

“Hey!” Jake shouted his loudest., “Sit down!” Jake’s hand came pummeling down, pointing to the table, and Cal and Billy flew over and sat down. “Now.” Jake saw their mouths opened. “Don’t.” He shut them up. “Cal, why are you acting so guilty right now?”

“I am Jake. I am.” Her head dropped. “I’m just trying to make things right with you
, and I let him in the room to talk. I’m trying and I screwed up.”

“No you didn’t
,” Jake told her. “And I know you’re trying, so knock it off.”

“O
kay.” Cal nervously shook her head.

Jake took a breath and looked at Billy. “I was looking for you.”

“I was only here a minute, Jake, I swear.” Billy defended himself.

Jake cringed. “I know. There’s something I have to tell you both. Something you need to know. Now before I begin, Billy, this is the first I have spoken to you at all.”

“And I appreciate this, Jake. I really do,” Billy said nervously.

“Yeah.” Jake winced. “All right. First . . .” Jake stepped to him. “Let’s get one thing straight and out in the open. I hate,
hate
the fuckin fact that you slept with my wife.” Jake glared at him.

“Oh God.” Billy swallowed. “Jake, listen . . .”

“Shut up. I hate it. It burns me inside and out to know you shared things with her and did things with her that only I have the right to do. And pardon the terminology, but you ate from my field, pal, and that will always, always be in the back of my mind. But . . . “ Jake moved away from Billy. “The back of my mind. Not forefront. It can’t be forefront. For more reasons than you are aware of right now. See . . .” Jake brought his hand to his eyes. “I liked you. I liked you a lot, Billy. I trusted you with my wife. I saw you as no threat, because even though I knew you had feelings for her, I knew what kind of man you were. And it really didn’t dawn on me until a surfer birdie spoke in my ear why on the island, during the experiment, all of the sudden you crossed a line you would have never thought of crossing before.” Jake spun his head to Cal. “And you, too. I trusted you, Cal. And I’m sure both of you were baffled as well.”

Cal nodded rapidly. “Yes, I didn’t . . .”

“Cal.” Jake tried to stop her.

Billy tried to interject. “Jake, look, I want you to . . .”

“Both of you!” Jake raised his voice. “Let me finish. All right? Fuck.” He walked to the closet. “Both of you deserve this.”

Turning to each other as they sat at that table, both Billy and Cal’s eyes filled with horror.

“Cal?” Billy spoke her name with concern. “Is he . . . is he killing us?”

“I think so.” Cal’s eyes shifted to the closet. “I knew his whole attitude changed too fast.”

“He can get away with it, too, can’t he?”

“No rules.” Cal swallowed
, then sighed in relief when Jake walked out of the closet not with a gun, but a bottle of Jack Daniels.