Bubble

Chapter 19

In the few days after Will had come over for dinner, I was already working away in the lab on a new project.

"Emma, can you grab me specimen 834 from the main lab, please?" Dr. Truman asked. I nodded, jumping up and running down the hall to fetch the plant. Glancing at my watch, I smiled, excited that I only had a few minutes left until my lunch break. It had become Will and I's little routine to eat lunch in the park together, and I grew more and more fond of him every time we saw each other.

I found the little plant in a glass case on one of the many shelves, and carefully lifted it to take it back to Dr. Truman. I peered at the flower-type plant through the case, trying getting a better look at it's styrofoam-like petals and vibrant colors. I wasn't paying attention to where I was walking and suddenly bumped into something, falling backwards to the ground. I heard the plant's case shatter with a crash, and lifted my head to see a girl who looked to be around my age standing in front of me, a scowl on her face.

"Watch where you're going, freak!" she shouted, and walked away. I clenched my jaw and tears stung at the edges of my eyes. Suddenly, I was no longer in the science labs of Eos, but rather in the hallways of my old high school. The shards of glass had transformed into papers and books, the girl's words rang in may head, cutting into my heart like a knife. I scrambled to my feet, breaking out of the memory and racing towards the door, not bothering to clean up the mess or bring the plant back to Dr. Truman. I thought I heard Tina call something after me, but I ignored it.

I ran as fast as she could to the park, never stopping to catch my breath, tears streaking down my face the entire way. I curled up next to a tree and began to sob, hoping that Will wouldn't come to meet me. I could taste the salty tears on my lips, and cursed myself for being stupid enough to believe that people were going to be different in Eos: me or anyone else. My bawling was beginning to slow to sniffles when I heard the crunch of footsteps behind me.

"Emma?" His voice was thick with worry as he bent down to see me. "Emma, what happened? Are you hurt?"

I looked up at him with red eyes, shaking her head. "I'm fine. You should go." I waved her hand to tell him it was fine to leave.

"No. Emma, what wrong?"

"It was just me being stupid," I sniffed, throwing my head back into her hands. Will sat down beside me and put his arm around my shoulder. After a moment of hesitation, I leaned into his chest and my hot tears dampened his shirt.

He waited until I calmed down again before asking, "Do you want to talk about it?"

I looked up at him and furrowed my brows. "You want to hear about my problems?" I questioned in disbelief, and he nodded.

"I don't know. I was just stupid to assume that things would be different here. People are all the same," I began. I didn't know what happened. Stories of things that had happened back on Earth began spilling out of my mouth. I felt so safe around Will, and he listened intently the entire time I talked. When I told him about the time some kids pushed me onto the ground that was covered with glass and showed him the little scars that dotted my palms, I thought I saw his jaw clench in anger. And after I finished explaining what had just happened in the lab, he looked at me with a firm expression on his face, his normally electric eyes a stormy gray.

"Emma, I will never let anyone hurt you ever again," he told me, a solemn tone in his voice.

A tear slipped down my cheek as I looked back at him. At least one person was different.

I nodded, and hugged him tightly, whispering a thank you. We were silent for a moment, but I soon spoke up again.

"Will?"

"Hmm?"

I looked up at him, watching the way he was scanning the area around them. "You're the best friend I've ever had," I told him, biting my lip.

He looked down at me, a small smile tugging at his lips. "And you, Miss Scott, are mine."