Counterfactual

30 | paradigm shift

CHAPTER THIRTY

PARADIGM SHIFT

( — a dramatic change in the paradigm of a scientific community, or a change from one scientific to another. )

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          THEY DON'T SPEAK.

          Rhiannon doesn't open her mouth, staring at him like he has just said something totally out of this world, and the situation would be almost comical if she didn't look mere moments away from collapsing thanks to the cold. Her eyes keep scanning his face, even though he thought his sunglasses would be a strong enough shield from this type of thing, and she always focuses on the bruise.

          That damn bruise. He wonders how long it will take for it to finally heal.

          Most of the people who stare at it have seen him almost every day since he got it, and he expected them to have gotten used to it by now, but there's something about a bruise that won't heal that catches people's attention.

          Thinking about that is what reminds Rowan Rhiannon hadn't set her eyes on him since her birthday . . . two weeks ago. She bolted out of the apartment right before dinner, after drinking an entire bottle of red wine on her own—and taking the other bottle with her—and he's guessing Isla hasn't opened her mouth about what happened at the gas station.

          When he thinks the silence has dragged on for too long, leaving him feeling way too exposed, he snaps his fingers in front of her eyes, accidentally startling her. "Earth to walking Fleetwood Mac reference."

          Her eyebrows furrow, and he almost takes a step back. "What?"

          "Rhiannon. That's a Fleetwood Mac song." She stays perfectly immobile, with her facial expression completely blank. He swallows, and forces himself to remember this is her general attitude towards mostly everyone and doesn't necessarily mean anything negative. She said it herself, which has to count for something, or so he's hoping. "You know Fleetwood Mac . . . right? Landslide? Go Your Own Way?"

          "I know who they are. They're my sister's favorite band, but my name is definitely not a reference. My parents must have . . . looked all over for the most random name they could find."

          Memories from January 14 return to his consciousness. He remembers nearly getting punched in the face by Stephanie Ford when he tried to talk to her, per Isla's request, much like he remembers everything he has heard about that family. Even though he doesn't know the circumstances behind Rhiannon getting disowned and completely cut off by her family, he's still siding with her.

          There are some things that are unforgivable and could potentially justify everything they did to her, but he highly doubts that was the case. For starters, she'd probably be in jail if that had happened, and, from what he has heard from Isla, it had to do with some scandal that went down with Rhiannon's parents' company and someone else stealing their products because they had perfectly legal access to all the information they needed.

          "Your sister. Stephanie . . . Stevie—"

          "We're not Fleetwood Mac references," Rhiannon intervenes, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Get to the point or let me leave. Some of us are freezing and want to go back to bed. If this is about Isla's birthday, you don't have to get her anything fancy, but make sure to not miss it. She and Jude always celebrate their birthdays together. Can I go now?"