Tom Daley: Mr. Perfect

Chapter 13: The scent of human brains

"Please leave a message after the beep."

I sighed. Then I took a deep breath. Then I started, "Hey Tom, it's Zoey. You probably know what I'm calling about already. I'm sorry. Whatever I did, I'm sorry. And that was a lame thing to be arguing about." I thought for a minute. Tears were welling up in my eyes. "And if we are breaking up... I just want to let you know that I love you. Even if you don't love me, thank you for being in my life and making me feel happy, confident, and beautiful. You brought me out of a tough time where I was really insecure. We've had such good times together, and I'll miss you. Just call me if you want to talk."

I just sat there for a minute. That was so lame. I bet I sounded so desperate.

Then I called Olivia. She would be happy to give me advice.

"Hi Zoey!" She answered.

"Hey Liv!" I said. "Guess what?"

"Chicken butt!!!" She yelled.

"Tom broke up with me."

Olivia gasped. "NO!!!!"

"What should I do?" I asked.

"You should... You should.... Oh! I know!! You should go to his house and ring the doorbell and when he answers you should kiss him."

I laughed, "You think that will make him want to talk to me?"

"Of course!"

"Anything else?"

"Make him cookies." She decided.

"Okay! I'll do that."

"Okay! Bye Zoey!"

"Bye Olivia!!"

The next day I was listening to a lecture in calculus when I got a text.

"Meet me outside your dorm at 8?" It was from Tom.

I nearly jumped out of my seat. "Okay!" I answered.

At exactly 7:59 I went outside and stood on the curb, waiting for that familiar car to pull up. I entertained myself by watching my breath turn to fog.

At exactly 8:03 Tom arrived and I got in his car.

I didn't say anything. He didn't either. He just drove.

Then at exactly 8:08 we pulled up in a parking lot.

He got out and I followed. He grabbed both of my hands, looked at me and said, "I'm sorry."

I leaned in and kissed him. "Me too."

"Okay, come with me," he said quietly. "I didn't know how to tell you this. I knew you'd be so mad at me when you found out."

"Found out what?" I asked.

"I don't know what to say. You're not going to believe me..."

"Just say it," I said. "I promise I'll be okay."

"No, you can't promise that."

We walked down some stairs,and then through a door into a cold dark room.

"Where are we going?" I couldn't see anything. "This is weird! Why are you being so mysterious?"

He didn't say anything.

"I'm scared Tom!" I whispered. He squeezed my hand tighter.

We went through another door. This room was warm. But it was also dark. The air felt moist. And there was a strange smell... Something I'd smelled before... It smelled like... No! It smelled like the liquid you keep human organs in before you dissect them. Just a couple weeks ago we watched our professor dissect a human brain!

Tom and I walked along the wall until he turned on the light. I could not believe what I saw.