SYNERGY

Experiment 17.

Fosters room looked exactly like ours except there wasn't art strewn everywhere. There was only a single poster of the periodic table of elements above his bed. His roommate was seated on top of a wooden stool in the corner with a striped shirt on, which I have no idea how he got and a blindfold over his eyes. His hair was buzzing and spiky all over.

"Guys, this is Chuck. Chuck, this is Violet and Astrid."

Chuck lifted a corner of his blind fold looking at us. "Nice to meet you," his voice sounded croaky.

I stared at him and noticed from the kneecap down he was missing his right calf and foot.

"What happened to your leg?" I asked

The corners of fosters lips quirked up at my curiosity.

Pulling the blindfold off he stared at me with bulging blue eyes, "dog fight."

"A dog did that to you?!" I asked.

"No, I was in a dog fight."

Suddenly, he began to shrink down transforming into a dog. I said some colorful words my mom wouldn't have appreciated.

"Isn't it gnarly!" Foster exclaimed in boyish excitement.

"Uh, well if you want to call it that!" I managed to get out while clasping my hand over my mouth.

I began to feel uneasy staring at the white Pitbull. This poor kid I wondered what his story was. He changed back, put his blindfold back on, and sat back on the stool obviously done with our conversation.

"Okay guys check this out," Foster exclaimed walking over to his desk. There were bottles and beakers with different ingredients in them. It looked like a meth lab.

It was Violet this time who asked, "what is this?"

"This my friends is the real future, not that genocide Ms. Kaepernick was going on about."

I glanced at his roommate to see if he was eaves dropping.

"Don't worry he's not going to say anything," Foster said coolly.
He began levitating different ingredients into the air and mixing them together. I watched in amazement as he lifted a silver powder next and swirled it in.

"This substance can make you completely invisible by tricking your third eye into bending light around you!"

"How do you know it works?" Violet asked.

"Remember that day I didn't show up to class and told you guys I was puking my brains out?"

I nodded.

"Well, I was there! I had to know if it worked or not and it did!" He exclaimed looking back and forth between us to gauge our reactions. He started to look disappointed when we didn't say anything.

"That's amazing!" I chimed in trying to match his excitement.

"But to be honest, if you can create this. it makes me think you can create other things.... you know addicting things." He looked confused at first, then it clicked.

He grabbed my hands. "Astrid, I promised you that day you healed me that I wouldn't touch opiates again."

"I know you did, and I believe you, I really do.... I'm just worried!"

"I know, but I can assure you I never break promises."

I observed his face. He was cute, one blue eye was dilated, and the other was dark and soft.

I let out a breath and said, "Foster what you've created is truly amazing."

He beamed.

I heard someone clear their throat at the door. Looking up Kip was leaning against the door frame. His eyes were lasered into the back of fosters head. I pulled my hands out of Fosters feeling my cheeks warm.

"I didn't mean to interrupt," he said chillingly. "Astrid, I need you to come with me," he said harshly while glancing between Foster and I.

"Up to her." Violet replied, disdain coating her usually honeyed voice.

I looked between them, it felt I could cut the tension with a knife.
I shivered before pm grabbing onto Kips arm to try and drag him in the direction of the door. "It's okay, I'll catch up with you guys later. Foster I'm excited to learn more about what you've been creating," I said with a smile before making my way to the door. I couldn't wait to get out of there.

Kip gave Foster another glare before following me out. Foster, seeming not to notice returned to his desk putting some magnifying glasses on to observe his work.

"Astrid's boyfriend doesn't like me," he commented.

Violet scoffed, "what? He's not her boyfriend."

"Oh, I just thought he was," he gave a lazy shrug.

"Yes, I guess it appears that way, he's so possessive of her. I don't know about you, but I don't trust him."

This was the most Foster had heard Violet speak.

"And if I were you I would watch your back. I don't like the way he was looking at you."

He let out an uneasy laugh, "you don't have to worry about me."

She lowered her voice, "look I know Astrid says he's not that bad, but I know he's killed people under Mr. Walston's orders before," she shuddered.

Foster stopped what he was doing and looked at her. "Hey, it's okay. You don't have to tell me these things. You've been here a lot longer than I or Astrid and if you say he's bad news bears I believe you, but if that's the case then we need to keep a better eye on her."

She nodded in agreement; she was happy Foster had her back with this one.