The Olive Theory ~ Adam Reed

6. Looks That Could Kill

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Hailey watched as a platform come down from the jet. "Okay, you have to stay down here since the jet only allows my DNA." Older Adam says looking down at Hailey. "Oh, Okay," Hailey says as she takes a few steps back and watches as the two Adams step onto the platform, floating up towards the jet. Younger Adam looks down and waves mouthing the words "this is so cool!" causing Hailey to laugh and wave back.

Hailey stood in the kitchen of the Reed household as she made herself ramen. "You want some?" She asked as she turned around to look at Adam sitting on the couch. "No, I'm good." Hailey nodded her head as she turned back around. A few minutes went by and the front door to the house opened. "Oh, hey. I'm surprised you're still up." Ellie said noticing the two. "Well, this night's been full of surprises, mother," Adam said with an eerie voice.

"That's chilling. What happened?" Ellie asked as Hailey sat down at the table. "How was your not-a-date? Will you be seeing him again?" Hailey asked as she began eating. "No. I don't know. I don't think so." Ellie said just as the sound of knocking could be heard from the front door. The three of them made their way to the door, opening it and revealing Derek, Ellie's not-a-date. "Hi. Hi. Me again. Yes, it is." The two awkwardly greeted as Hailey and Adam glanced at each other.

"You left your scarf in my car," Derek said holding up her scarf. "I did. Gosh, thanks." Ellie said grabbing the scarf. "Oh, hey there, kiddos," Derek said looking at the two kids. "Oh. This is my son, Adam, and his friend Hailey. Adam, Hailey, this is Derek." Ellie said as Hailey and Adam walked up and stood beside Ellie. "Oh, hey, Adam and Hailey," Derek said looking down at them.

"Hello. You have a wonderful mouth mullet. You must be very proud." Adam said causing Hailey to cover her mouth, stopping her from laughing. "Oh my gosh, Adam," Ellie says chuckling nervously. "Never heard it called that before," Derek says with a confused face. "Well, thanks again," Ellie said changing the topic. "Sure. See you soon." Derek said awkwardly.

"Unlikely, but I'll put in a good word for you," Adam said, resulting in Ellie grabbing his arm and Hailey nudging him in the side. "Okay. Okay. I'll see you at work." Ellie said slowly closing the door. "Yeah," Derek said awkwardly looking at the kids and Ellie. "Bye," Ellie says finally coming to the door.

"He seems nice," Adam says looking at Hailey and then his mom. "What?" Adam asks as he sees his mom giving him a look. "You can be a real jerk sometimes. You know that?" Ellie sighs as she wakes away. Hailey patted Adam on the shoulder before walking off towards the kitchen to finish her food.

The next morning the two kids walk into the dining room and see Ellie going through bills. "Hey there. Good morning." Ellie greets, not looking up from the large stacks of paper. "Shouldn't you be at work?" Adam asks as he walks towards the kitchen.

"Yeah, I need to pay the insurance on the house today. Had it in the calendar, but I can't find the statement." Ellie said as she searches through the paper. "With that filing system? Shocking. It should all be online." Adam says as he pours himself and Hailey some orange juice. "The minute I find myself with a few extra hours, I will set up those accounts. Until then, this is how your dad did it." Ellie says grabbing a pile of papers from an expanding file. 

"Hey, grab a pile," Ellie said as Adam opened the fridge. "Sorry. We gotta get to my room to think about what I've done." Adam said causing Hailey to hit his arm for speaking for her. "What?" Adam mouths looking over at Hailey confused. "Okay. I gotta go. Call me if you need me." Ellie said as she grabbed her bag and got up from the table. "I won't," Adam said causing Ellie to stop walking. "We will," Hailey said smiling at Ellie.

"Mom's gone to work," Adam said as he walked into the shed where older Adam has been staying. "Dad's favorite song," Adam said as he heard the song playing over the radio. "Yeah, me too. See, we agreed on something. Maybe the only thing." Older Adam said as he cleaned around his wound. Adam stopped in the middle of the room looking at older Adam.

"What?" Older Adam asked annoyed as he looked at his younger self. "I just... You're... kinda ripped." Adam asked stuttering over his words. "Okay." Older Adam said quickly wanting to change the subject. "Do you work out?" Hailey asked while she looked between younger and older Adam.

"My genetics don't... Ever have a thought and not let it out? Could be fun to just keep it in." Hailey listened as the two Adam spoke over each other before Adam eventually gave up talking to his younger self. "Maybe in the future, there's, like... like, gene therapy or nanotechnology for..." Adam spoke as he walked up to his older self getting ready to poke his arm before getting interrupted. "Don't do it. Don't... don't do it." Adam said as younger Adam's finger was an inch away from his arm.

"So when does... all this happen," Hailey asked waving her finger and gesturing to his muscles. "Does everyone skip leg day in the future? Does it happen in college?" Adam asked as older Adam looked at him in disbelief. "Oh, wait. Do we get a lot of girls in college?" Adam asked resulting in Hailey glaring at older Adam waiting for him to say something.

"I..." Older Adam begins to say but stops taken back by the glare on Hailey's face. "Adam, time travel exists," Adam says ignoring Hailey's expression. "It exists. Isn't that crazy? Every conceptual idea you have about the universe has just been thrown out the window. Yet your big question is, "Do I get laid?" Adam said as he stands up and puts on his jacket.

"Do I?" Adam questions wanting an answer. "Jesus Christ," Adam says as he walks towards the door. "I was just wondering," Adam yells as he turns to look at his older self. "Wonder in silence," Adam yelled back as he walked out of the shed. "Oh my God! It's gonna happen!" Adam said excitedly. "You wish," Hailey scoffed as she brushed past Adam's shoulder.

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