Subjects

8- Ben Langley's Day Off

"Leo, I've been thinking. How did we even get these genes in the first place?" Emily asks him.

It's been four days since they started experimenting with the influence, as they learned to call it. No progress has been made, no answer has been found. Unless you count the answer to if Ben and Eva can go on a full day without getting in an argument. Which in that case, the answer is no.

"You were genetically engineered," Leo answers. "Before you were even born."

At this point, you'd probably think that nothing can surprise them anymore. No, they are just as shaken discovering this as they were when they first heard the truth.

"How?" asks Eva. "Who would do that?"

"Do you really want to know?" There are certain things Leo will never be able to forget, Those horrible experiments he witnessed. Till this day, he still wakes up at night with cold sweat, hearing the screams he did nothing to stop.

Eva sees the look on Leo's face and regrets asking, "No."

"We can't keep doing this," Ben suddenly says. "It's been days of trying and failing over and over again. We're all exhausted. I don't know about you, but if I have to pick up another leaf I'll go insane."

"I agree," Eva says.

Emily smiles, "If you two finally agree on something that must mean things are really bad."

Ben and Eva smile at each other. "I think we need to take a day off," Ben says. "Have some fun, see the island. Maybe I'll even agree to go to the beach."

I know what you're thinking, this is not the time for those kinds of things, but just bear with me for a while. They deserve a little vacation too. All of these failures have completely discouraged them and they need to take time off. They need hope.

The next morning they wake up and already feel better. Just the thought of not having to be influenced over and over again all day is lifting their spirits.

They meet up after breakfast to plan their day.

"Bikes first, then the beach," Ben says. "We'll want to cool off after riding around the island all day."

"Hold on, who said we're doing bikes?" Eva protests.

"This again?" Ben sighs. "If I go to the beach, you ride a bike."

"Maybe you should go without me," Eva mumbles.

The other three all reject the idea immediately. "Come on, Eva. It could be fun," Emily says.

"No... I'll just meet you guys later," Eva turns around and starts walking away at an impressive speed.

Ben runs up to her and stops her, "Wait up, Eva. I didn't know you hate bikes that much."

"I don't... I don't hate them," she looks down at her hands with an untypical embarrassment. "I just don't know how to ride a bike, okay?" Ben smiles at her uncontrollably. "Great, now you're going to laugh at me for the rest of my days," Eva pouts. "Maybe it's not such a bad thing that the world is going to end."

"No, no. I won't laugh at you," but then he does just that. "I know a lot of people who don't ride bikes," when he sees Eva's skeptical expression he corrects himself. "Maybe just one, but still."

"And that one is me?"

Ben does not deny, "promise I won't laugh at you. It's not even that embarrassing. I have way more embarrassing secrets."

Eva tries to resist the urge to smile herself, "you're smiling like you just hit the jackpot of blackmail material."

"Is that what you really think of me? I am hurt," Ben pretends to wipe away a tear.

Eva can't hold it anymore and she starts laughing. Soon enough Ben joins her too. Emily and Roger now come to find out what this is all about.

"What's so funny?" asks Emily.

"I am going to teach Eva how to ride a bike!" Ben states.

"That is a good joke," Eva shakes her head.

"Trust me, I'm a very good teacher," Ben says.

"Trust me, I'm a very bad student," Eva differs.

Ben stretches his neck, "bring it on."

Two hours and three bruises later, Eva managed to ride on a straight surface without help. She still can't make any turns or use the brakes but that is left for the next class.

"See? That wasn't so hard," Ben says as they pack up the gear.

"Tell that to my hand, leg, and back," Eva points out all of the scratches she got.

"Okay, maybe not that easy, but you will get better," Ben says.

Eva sure isn't looking forward to 'getting better' if it includes more bruises, "now that we got that part covered, I'm ready to go to the beach."

"I really hope Leo brought that picnic he promised us," Emily says.

And what could be better than a picnic at the beach? I truly don't know. With little sandwiches, some fruit and juice, it really is the best.

"Can you please pass me the juice, Eva?" Leo asks. Eva is staring into the void and doesn't notice him. Leo waves his hand in front of her face.

"What did you say?" Eva looks back at Leo.

"Pass me the juice, please."

I'll pass. Funny word, pass. What does it even mean? Pass.

Pass.

P-A-S-S.

P

A

S

S

Wait, what did he say? Oh right, he wanted the juice. Fine.

Eva takes the bottle of juice and hands it to Leo, but snatches it away just before he can reach it. She starts laughing but then realizes that everyone became speechless and is now staring at her. "What?" she asks.

"Did you look him in the eyes just now?" Emily questions her.

"I guess, I don't know..." Eva freezes when she realizes what has just happened. "Did I just...?"

"Resist the influence?" Leo asks. "I think you did."