The Skylar Experiment : Dead Ending (second draft)

91. Not The Same Person

LUC

BY THE LOOKS OF IT, Lauren had waited all morning to tell me about this new stunt, and was eager to start practicing soon after. She hovered around as Riley and I downed some food into our stomachs, brooding and not at all obvious. My bloodied tissues were chilling in the trash can, and I was feeling normal again.

Ray made conversation. A boring one about his work and lessons at Carnegie Mellon and what their labs looked like. Riley seemed to truly listen, but I checked out, focusing on my omelet.

"I don't doubt I could slip Lauren inside with me if we need tech that is readily available in the labs. I still got my student pass," he mentioned, but where I expected him to smile, he passed a wistful look in her direction.

That did take her attention off the yard through the back door glass. She nodded his way, shoulders drawn back.

Riley chewed absently as she sat on the stool next to mine. A shred of worry twisted her lips, and she asked about how we were going to meet her father. Nerd One and Nerd Two bailed to answer.

"Who's going?" she prodded, her eyes flashing against the whiteness of the kitchen.

I cleared my throat. "Me and Lauren. The location is two hours away. We'll get there earlier to spot anything possibly weird. I take a car, she makes it on foot and plays lookout." I'd arrive first. If something seemed fishy, it was important to keep my sister away from it.

I was beginning to tell her it would go smoothly—because frankly, what can these government goons do in public to the both of us together? But Riley's cheeks were stained a subtle pink as she placed her hands on her lap.

"What if something goes wrong and we're too far to come help? What do we do in the meantime?" She jerked her chin at Ray, and the little wobble in her voice squeezed my chest.

I wasn't trying to be a dick and make her feel helpless—or like some useless sidekick. I didn't give a flying rainbow if she was as strong as the rest of us. That wasn't the problem. It made me sweat that she didn't see that, because I knew how stubborn she was.

"It won't. Lauren will be in top shape and so will I. It won't be like back home where they caught us while we were weak."

If something did go wrong, her ass needed to be here. Safe.

My sister turned away from the glass, arms loose at her sides. "There needs to be some trust here," she spoke to her intention. "We're a team now, whether we like it or not. It's going to be easier if you can trust us to get through it without a hitch."

Riley took her hands off her lap, meeting her eyes with a twitch in one eyebrow. The flush in her cheeks deepened. I knew what her voice was going to sound like before she opened her mouth.

"Trust? You ask me to trust this when you can't trust me to hold my own if I come with you? Why can't you trust me to be there and help if NIO really followed my dad?"

Ray looked like he wanted to blow a whistle. I dropped my elbows on the table, cursing inwardly.

"That's not why you're not coming," I said, drawing her gaze to mine. I wouldn't normally say this out in the open for everyone to witness, but she was twisting my arm here. "You're not a liability. I don't want to risk you."

She inhaled softly, those eyes of hers churning. I silently pleaded with her, hoping she'd let this go for once. Her expression was conflicted like she wanted to kiss me and smack me at the same time. I wouldn't mind both in whatever order.