The Skylar Experiment : The "X" in Apex

Chapter Twenty - How to Sneak Out a Boy

There was still blood on the floor... The food on the table... And not to mention three mutants in the house. We looked at each other, and for once Luc froze against the door. I almost shoved him aside.

"Stay here," I whispered.

I got out of the bathroom just as Dad was taking off his jacket. The mini heart attack waiting to happen transformed into confusion as I beheld clean floorboards and the absence of the chair Ben had been resting on.

The array of snacks remained on display. I figured they were tidying up and didn't get to finish. They scurried without warning.

Now, it was my job to sneak him out.

"Hey kiddo," he greeted. His puzzled expression mirrored mine. "Did you do an experiment or something?"

I snatched a brown shawl hanging on the living room chair and slid it over the fresh scar.

"I got hungry."

"I can see that!"

He paced into the hallway, ruffling my hair in his path. I hurried to replace my ponytail.

"How was your day?" I asked, facing him.

"Productive. New guy is coming along. You? You've been going out last week and all of a sudden, you've transformed into a hermit. Everything all right at school?"

"I scored an A on my first quiz in bio."

"That's my girl." Dad peered up from his cup of water. "And your new friends? Still nice?"

"It's all fine. You don't have to worry about that."

"Listen, Riles," he said. "I've been leaving you alone in the house until now, but seeing what you're eating... I'm starting to notice you don't eat cooked meals."

"It's fine, really..."

"I'm going to try coming home earlier, I promise. And you can tell me about this."

Half of me was glad to hear him say that even if I could cook basics, the other half couldn't stop thinking of a way to get Luc out of the bathroom. He must be on the verge of kicking the door down.

Dad set his cup on the counter and walked toward the bathroom. I jumped, blocking the door with my arms spread out.

"What are you doing?"

His nose crinkled. "Going to the bathroom, what are you doing?"

"You can't," I blurted out.

"What?"

"I just washed it. Completely. With bleach and all. It's not dry yet."

My dad gazed incredulously. "I just need to wash my hands, Suzy Homemaker. And since when do you do bathroom chores?"

"I told you it's wet. That includes the handles, so you're going to have to take the one in the basement," I said, mentally crossing my fingers he would let this go.

"You're acting weirder than usual, kid. I'll be going downstairs."

I threw my head back against the door as he went down the staircase, and I waited almost a full minute before swinging it open. Luc gave the kitchen a circular glance and passed me a clean towel crunched into a ball.

"I put the dirty one inside," he informed me, and over his shoulder the sink was spotless. "Now's my cue?"

I nodded, dropping the bundle in the basket and noting to myself to do the laundry tonight before Dad beat me to it. I walked him to the entrance, then stopped him halfway.