For The Sake of Science

Chapter 11: It's All Fun And Games

The next few days blurred together. Jenna was in and out of the testing room with Darius, leaving hazy and numb. She'd missed lunch both days which meant she hadn't seen Salem anywhere other than in the hall between classes. There was barely any time to speak, just a glance or a nod. Neither boy showed to dinner the night prior.

She'd sat with Mara and Zeke, but as always, struggled to stay engaged in the noisy conversation. Even in the noisy, busy room she found herself disassociating. With completely opposite testing schedules, she worried endlessly about Matt. Had he been stuck in the testing room? Sent back to the internship?

Her mind lingered, unable to stop replaying how Cole had held her in the laundry room of the motel. Her chest ached. She missed him–Star–it felt like a distant dream.

By the time she'd wrapped up her last session with Darius Friday night, she crawled her way into bed. Her body ached. It felt wrong to close her eyes, like if she drifted off she might not wake up the same person.

When her lashes fluttered open the next morning, she hadn't even realized she'd drifted off.

Sitting upright, her palms rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The heaviness from the night before still lingered in her body. The monotonous morning routine was a blur. The clock read 9AM, but the smell of breakfast hadn't filled the quad, and no dishes in the sink per usual.

Her white sneakers thumped against the concrete steps.

Emily didn't hear him before she saw him.

He stood just inside the cafeteria door, rumpled and tired but... breathing. Whole.

Emily threw her arms around him, harder than she meant to. Her face pressed against his chest. He felt her shoulders shake.

"I thought—" her voice cracked. "I thought they'd hurt you, or you'd left. I haven't seen you."

"I'm okay," he murmured, steadying her. "I promise. I'm fine."

But she didn't pull back. Not for a long moment.

Her fingers were curled tightly into his shirt like she didn't believe him. Like if she let go, he'd vanish.

Eventually, she pulled away, wiping her eyes.

"You're okay," she whispered again. "You're really okay."

Matt nodded, then gently steered her toward the table where Salem sat. "C'mon, Salem saved us a seat."

Salem gave Matt a nod and slid over. "Hey, welcome back. How's your brain?"

"Intact," Matt said. "I think."

He sat down beside Emily. She leaned into his side instinctively, her hand still gripping his hoodie sleeve.

Matt tried to ease the tension.

"So. I've decided I need to brush up on my ASL."

Salem raised a brow. "Oh yeah?"

Matt grinned. "Yeah. Because maybe I wouldn't have gotten kidnapped if I could sign 'I'm not deaf or clued in enough to be Emily's plus one to freaky experiment camp' fast enough."

Salem chuckled low, dry. "Could've at least Voulin-told one of your other friends."

Matt turned to Emily, teasing her. "I would have offered up Star, but someone didn't tell me we'd walked into a hostage situation."

He nudged her, but her face didn't move.

Emily tilted her head. Her brows lifted, like she was waiting for him to finish the story.

Matt's smile faltered. "Em?"

"No yeah, I would've rather've been stuck with her too." She blinked, voice quiet. "Sorry, I have a killer headache."

She brushed it off and even plastering on a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.

Salem stopped chewing.

The silence stretched just a beat too long. Matt glanced at him, then back to Emily.

Her hand was still curled in the fabric of his sleeve, but her eyes had gone glassy. Distant.

Like she was here, but not all the way.

Matt gently ran his finger over her hair.

"Emily?" he asked softly.

She blinked again, like surfacing from a dream. "Hm?"

"You good?"

She looked at him. And for half a second, she looked confused.

Then she smiled again. "Yeah. I'm fine."

But her grip had tightened.

Salem slowly leaned forward. His voice was quiet, measured. "I'm gonna grab an extra muffin. You two good for a sec?"

Matt nodded.

Salem stood, but his gaze lingered on Emily for a moment longer before turning.

Matt waited until he was out of his eyeline.

Then he faced her, "Em... you're drifting on me."

Emily blinked again. Something behind her eyes shifted. She let go of his sleeve, smoothing it out with her palm like nothing had happened.

"I didn't sleep great last night," she said lightly, picking up her fork. "I think I'm still a little out of it."

Matt stayed still. Watching her.

She stirred syrup into her bowl, then shoveled the gluten-free oatmeal into her mouth. She didn't look at him.

"You sure you're okay?" he asked again.

She nodded once. "Yeah. I'm here, aren't I?"

It was too automatic. Too easy.

But just as he started to glance away, he felt her hand brush against his again. Her pinky hooked his for half a second.

And then her voice, quiet. Softer. More her.

"You really are okay?" she whispered, like she'd just caught up to the conversation they were having five minutes ago.

Matt looked at her again. Something in her eyes was different now. Clearer. Sharper. Like someone had switched the lights back on inside her skull.

She was back.

He didn't know how or why, but he'd seen it happen. Felt it happen.

Emily blinked once more and looked down at their hands like she hadn't realized they'd touched.

Then she straightened her shoulders, pressed her lips together, and went back to quietly stirring her breakfast.

She was still pale. Still rattled. But present.

Matt exhaled, rubbing his hand against her back.

Salem reappeared, tray in hand, brow lifting slightly as he clocked the shift in the air. His gaze flicked between them, landing on Emily with a curious expression.

He had noticed it too.

"Hope I didn't miss anything," Salem said, sliding into his seat.

Emily looked up and offered him a small, real smile.

"No," she said. "We're good."