Tom Daley: Mr. Perfect

Chapter 11: The polluted city

I met Tom outside of class and was greeted with a kiss. It was a regular thing for us, kissing. And of course, I didn't mind.

"If you could have anything in the world right now what would you want?" He asked, grabbing my hand.

"Another kiss?" I said.

He pressed his lips to mine again.

"Anything else?"

"Lunch! A nice fancy sandwich in a little romantic cafe." I said, as he took me to his car.

Tom and I sat by the window in a small sandwich shop. It hadn't snowed in a couple of days so the pollution was building up in the city.

"Okay Tom, did you hear about the genetic engineering on the news last night?" I asked.

"Of course I did," he responded without making eye contact. "I don't really want to talk about that."

"But it's insane!" I said. "They can cure diseases and make people look perfect!! I mean... What do you think about that?"

"It is insane. I don't know.." He said.

"You don't have an opinion?" I asked.

"Well, I do, but I... It's complicated."

"Let's talk then!" I exclaimed. "I think it's amazing that they can cure cancer, but I don't want them to cure Olivia at all-" Tom was looking uncomfortable for some reason. "Okay, we can talk about something else."

"Do you ever think that they might new doing that illegally right now?" Tom asked. I hadn't thought of that. "Well they do. They do right here. In Utah."

"I... Do the police know?" I asked.

Tom shook his head.

"Why not? Why can't you tell them?" I asked, puzzled.

"I shouldn't have told you." Tom had his head in his hands. "Um, I don't know where it is... I just.. I know there's one here.... Because... Um.... Because my friend got an operation from them."

"You're lying to me," I could tell.

"I'm sorry Zoey," he muttered. "You wouldn't get it.

"I wouldn't get it?" I said rather loudly, "Me? The science major, who spent hours researching the Human Genome Project last night?!? You can tell me!"

Tom stood up and looked me in the eye for the first time that day. "I'm sorry," he whispered, and walked right out of the shop.

I sat in shock for a minute. Then I chased him outside. "TOM, WE CAN'T ARGUE ABOUT THIS! WE CAN WORK IT OUT! I'M SORRY IF I OFFENDED YOU!"

He didn't even look back at me. I ran in front of him and walked backwards as I continued to yell in his face. "Tom, why are we even arguing? WHY? WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THIS ANYMORE! WE CAN JUST HAVE A REGULAR DATE AND NOT DISCUSS THAT SUBJECT!"

He walked all the way to his car without saying a word. "TOM, LOOK AT ME!" I yelled as he opened the door.

He turned around and looked at me.

"Please stay here. Don't leave. I need you." He turned back and got in his car. Before he got in I whispered, "You're the best thing that ever happened to me." I doubt he heard anything I said, because the door closed and I coughed as the exhaust blew in my face, adding to the polluted city.

I was alone. Without a ride back to school. Without a boyfriend. And I was confused. I had no idea what we were even arguing about. It was him that wouldn't answer me and then he just... Walked off.