The Art of Being a Gentleman

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

David Potosky was absolutely, one hundred percent, most definitely, going to throw up.

    "Wow. Can you believe that's what we looked like when we were in the womb? That's amazing!" Alyssa stared, mouth open in wonder.

    David did not think it was amazing. He was not in awe. He was keeping his eyes glued to the floor because this was the worst decision he had ever made.

    And he allowed Mack to try to wax his legs with duct tape once.

    "Isn't the human body incredible?"

    At this very moment, David just might actually think that the human body was the most disgusting thing in the world.

    "Yeah. I'm going to go to the washroom," he said already starting to walk away.

    It was really hard finding the men's room when you didn't look up from the ground, but he eventually managed it. Luckily it was empty, and he rushed to lean over the sink, turning on the cold water, splashing it onto his face. He took a few deep breaths, begging his stomach to stop churning.

    This was awful. Why had he agreed? He'd paid a bunch of money for their tickets and he wasn't even having a good time. Would Alyssa notice if he stayed in here the rest for the rest of the afternoon?

    He could practically hear Ricky telling him that would be rude and un-gentlemanlike.

Ugh. Was it bad that he was kind over the whole thing? He just wanted to wear his sweatpants and a t-shirt and get milkshakes with Hannah and Mack and everyone else instead of being here pretending to be—

He sighed.

He was just being grumpy because he felt sick, and this place was making him really weirded out by his own organs. He could go back out there and man-up for Alyssa. He could do it. He really could.

    Glancing up in the mirror, he checked to see if his face looked normal enough to make his reappearance, but the minute he caught his brown eyes and tanned skin in the reflection, the images from the science displays flashed in front of is mind and he had to look away.

    Determined to not be grossed out, David marched out of the bathroom and back to the area he had left Alyssa in. Thankfully she was still there, reading the little information signs beside the display.

    "Hey," she glanced over with a smile when he came up beside her.

    "Learning anything new?" he asked, focusing his attention on her and not the intestines displayed for all to see.

    People brought their kids here for goodness sake!

    "So much," she answered excitedly. "Like, how when you blush, your stomach lining also turns red, which is crazy. And also, that babies start dreaming before they're born, and—"

    "What?" he blinked. "Seriously?"

    "I know! It's amazing. We are so intricately designed. I also found out that the human heart keeps on beating for five seconds even after you take it out of the body!"

    "Okay, that's a little gross."

    She giggled and hooked her arm through his leading him off to the next area, talking animatedly. David was still stuck on the babies having dreams thing.

They came to a stop at another display and she leaned closer to get a better look, 'ooh-ing' and 'ahh-ing'.  Keeping his chin down, he peeked a little at the display. He wanted to seem like he was interested, and... well, he wanted to prove to himself that he could do this. He wouldn't faint at the sight of something gross. It was his body, too, dang it!