The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments)

by Jacqueline Druga

  “I just wanted to um . . . spend some time with you.” Cal smiled.

  “Where’s Jake?”

  Cal shook her head. “Haven’t a clue. And I wanted to take advantage of the situation.”

  “Ah . . .” Carlos said. “So that’s it. He doesn’t like you around me.”

  “Sort of. No.” Cal grew a little nervous as Carlos moved closer and closer.

  “Cal. You follow me and drag me to your room. I’m flattered.”

  “As you should be, I think. Is that arrogant of me?” She giggled and tucked her hair. Come on Jake, hurry he has that look in his eye. And I just did that universal female flirting thing without thinking.

  “Cal? Are you and Jake a couple?” he asked.

  “No, we’re sort of partners in this experiment.”

  “There’s nothing romantic?”

  “No. Please.” Cal scoffed. “Jake and I? Really, he’s not my type.”

  “Could have fooled me,” Carlos said.

  “Does he leave me a choice?” Cal nervously laughed.

  “No.” Carlos shook his head with a smile. “So . . . I’m curious, if it’s not Jake, what is your type?”

  A month away from home perhaps? Cal couldn’t pinpoint what made her spew out the answer she did. She didn’t mean to. But when she saw Carlos with that tilted innocent look on his face, all she saw was David. “You are.”

  Another smile crossed Carlos’ face.

  ^^^^

  Carlos’ book lay on the bed and Jake had found it immediately. Yet he had spent his time in a totally frustrating attempt to find something, anything that would give him the proof that Carlos was the one in Cal’s room.

  Jake had lifted every piece of furniture and checked every drawer, not once, but three times. As he made his final sweep he saw that he had been gone twenty minutes. “Shit.” Figuring the hell with it, he picked up the book from the bed. “At least I have you.” Flipping through the pages he looked for Carlos’ section. When he got there, he turned a page, wide eyed. “Fuck.” He kept turning the pages. “Nothing, it’s the same as mine.” Slamming the cover he tossed it on the bed, not even caring that it wasn’t in the same place he found it. He left Carlos’ room to find Cal.

  Observation Room - Caldwell Research Institute, Atlanta, GA

  September 3 - 2:11 P.M.

  Stan made the entrance he was getting quite good at. Flinging the door open with a bang and making his announcement, “Ladies, we are here.”

  Tina held up her hand. “Shhh. This is good. Hurry, you’re going to miss it.”

  Stan and Lyle scooted to the chairs at the table next to Tina and Barb.

  Barb moved the bowl of popcorn to them. “Here’s the situation. Jake told Cal—monitor two—to keep Carlos occupied while he checked his room for the book. But he told her to stay in the gathering room. Carlos didn’t want to so Cal brought him to her room.”

  Tina zoomed in. “Monitor ten. Jake is heading into the gathering room. He’s looking for Cal. Check out guys what’s happening in Cal’s room. She had to keep him there.”

  Stan grabbed a handful of popcorn. “Did he find the book?”

  “Yep,” Tina answered. “Saw it was nothing, tossed it down. Then he went searching for Cal.”

  Barb pointed. “Check out Cal. And now . . . here comes Jake.”

  Stan extended his reach in the bowl. “Ten bucks says he flips and beats the hell out of Carlos.”

  Tina stuck her hand out to him. “You’re on, he’s going to put up a front, and he won’t tell Cal.”

  Lyle disagreed. “He’s going to know it’s a ploy. It won’t bother him.”

  Barb had her say so also. “All of you are wrong. He’s going to get pissed, not beat up Carlos, but verbally slam the hell out of Cal.”

  Stan stuck his ten dollars on the table. “Is everyone in?” He watched the other money come down, some in ones, some in fives. “Get ready. Here he goes.”

  With bated breath they watched Jake reach for Cal’s room door.

  I-S.E. Twelve - Seal River Complex, Manitoba, Canada

  September 3 - 2:12 P.M.

  Grabbing the door knob to Cal’s room, Jake opened it and stepped in. Stopping cold in his tracks, concern left him and anger and jealousy took over when he saw Cal. Jake’s eyes closed, his heart sank, and his head dropped.

  The kiss, the long kiss, immediately stopped. Jake’s entrance was heard, his presence was felt.

  Cal stepped back immediately, bringing the back of her fingers to her mouth.

  Carlos quickly lifted his hands from Cal. “Does he always just barge in here?”

  Jake was going to justify his entrance and his appearance with a comment but instead he stood silently, staring down at Carlos through the tops of his eyes.

  Carlos backed up. There was something frightening about a big man with angry jealousy in his eyes. That was what he saw on Jake. Though he had never encountered someone in that state, he didn’t want to chance it. “I’d better go.” He walked to the door. “Cal . . . Jake.”

  Jake opened the door wider. Once he saw that Carlos was completely free from the door frame, Jake slammed it loudly.

  Cal looked at Jake. He couldn’t possibly be mad. She had to be imagining it. “Jake, what took you so long, I . . .”

  “What the fuck was that?” Jake asked loudly, barking her back a foot.

  “Excuse me?”

  “That shit.” Jake’s hand pointed to where they were at. “When I walked in here? I thought I told you to stay put in the gathering room.”

  “He didn’t want to stay.” Cal said.

  “So you brought him back here?”

  “Oh, you can’t possibly be upset about this.” Cal neared him. “You told me to keep him busy.”

  “I didn’t tell you to sleep with the guy.”

  “I wasn’t sleeping with him.”

  “Would you have?”

  “That’s none of your fuckin’ business.” Cal scolded.

  “You’re right.” Jake threw his hands up. “It isn’t any of my business. And you know what? I’m sorry I interrupted you.” He stormed to the bathroom door.

  Cal quickly snatched his arm. “Jake, stop this. Just stop. Let’s not fight, please. There’s no reason to fight or be jealous.”

  “I’m not jealous.” Jake argued. “Jealousy is an emotion not worth wasting your energy on.”

  “Then what is it?”

  Jake stopped before going into the bathroom. “I’m pissed. Pissed because I told you I don’t trust him. I told you to stay away from him.”

  “I know you told me that. But you have to remember, you have no right to . . .”

  “Bullshit!” Jake’s hand extended downward, then to the side of his face. “Don’t tell me that. I have spent every single moment with you this past month…every second. Don’t tell me I have no right, because I have every right to worry about you.” He turned back around. “I can’t talk right now.”

  “Jake. You are way too upset. Stop,” she said as she followed him in the bathroom, “stop!”

  “What?” He spun back around.

  “You needed time. I got . . . I just maybe went about it the wrong way.” She saw him turn. “Wait.” She called out in desperation. “Since we are standing here yelling at each other, was it worth it? Did you get the book?”

  “Yeah I got the book. It’s useless. It’s the same as ours. You were right all along. Happy?” He headed to his room.

  Cal stopped his door from shutting. “Jake, fine I was right. But you can’t be mad at me.”

  “I’m not mad at you, Cal. I’m mad at myself. Because this is the first time in my life I have ever felt this out of control and I can’t handle it.” He closed his door on her.

  ^^^^

  Jake was quiet, as quiet as he could be, when he entered Cal’s room. He saw her sitting on the floor, fixing the platform city. He knew she had to hear him. She probably was ignoring him. And rightfully so, he had been an asshole to h
er, and stewing for three hours in his room didn’t help much.

  Softly he walked up to her as she sat Indian style on the floor and squatted behind her. As he lowered himself, he lowered a bottle of beer in front of her. “Truce?”

  “Truce,” she said and took the beer. “Thanks.”

  “I missed our platform city time, huh? I like your church.” He stayed close behind her.

  “I felt inspired after today’s episode with Fr. Dan. Have you heard him all day?”

  “Yes. He keeps knocking on that door, knocking.” Jake shook his head. “Cal, listen.”

  Cal watched him slip his hand over hers and it made her smile. A smile he couldn’t see.

  “I’m sorry.” He gripped her hand. “I’m sorry I acted like that. I was wrong. And . . . I was jealous…very jealous.” Jake slipped his fingers comfortably in between hers. “It’s just when I saw you kissing him combined with the fact it was Carlos, it bothered me.”

  “I’m sorry, too, Jake. It shouldn’t have happened. I’m sorry it bothered you.”

  “It’s behind us.” He removed his fingers from hers.

  “Jake, it’s time for dinner. Do you want to go with me?”

  “Cal.” He brought his mouth close to her ear. “Can we not go to the dining room tonight? I don’t feel like being around anyone.” He spoke softly in her ear, not realizing that his warm words caused her body to tingle. “Can we have dinner here tonight? Just me and you? Alone?”

  Cal rested her head back on his chest. “Yeah, we can.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Observation Room - Caldwell Research Institute, Atlanta, GA

  September 3 - 9:10 P.M.

  “Yes, Barb . . .” Stan held the phone tightly to his ear, his head resting back as he made faces. “Yes, Barb, he apologized . . . that’s what we think . . . no, no.” He stuck his tongue out and pressed his middle finger to the mouth piece. “I’ll call. We’re here to midnight. Tonight’s the night.” He handed the phone to Lyle. “You tell her.”

  “Hey, Barb.” Lyle moved his mouth making a bitchy face, imitating Barb. “They had dinner, alone in her room . . . right now? Battleships.” He pulled the phone away from his ear. “No, it’s not romantic, but they’ve been drinking.” Lyle smiled. “Goodbye.” He stood up and hung up the phone. “God is she such a bitch. She is so worried about this bet. If they do it tonight before midnight, she gets it. After that, the Jake and Cal poll is Aldo’s.”

  “That’s the breaks.” Stan pulled out his notebook. “What’s the beer and shot count?”

  “Um . . .” Lyle reviewed. “Post dinner, four beers Jake, one shot, Cal two beers, two shots. If they keep going they’ll be slamming by eleven. Barb said she’s giving us a tip.”

  “We’re winners either way,” Stan said, “so let’s root them on.”

  I-S.E. Twelve - Seal River Complex, Manitoba, Canada

  September 3 - 9:15 P.M.

  “Miss,” Cal said and smiled at Jake who sat on her floor across from her, their Battleship boards between their legs as they played their own ‘back and forth’ version. “B-14.”

  “Hit.” Jake grunted and brought his bottle of beer to his lips. “J-9.”

  “Miss.” Cal picked up her bottle and brought it slowly to her lips. She saw Jake watch her. Maybe she was a bit more pronounced then she needed to be, but she had to do something. Jake certainly wasn’t going over the edge. It had been a month already and the closest thing they had to being intimate is when he chickened out on kissing her. Cal thought for sure he’d make his move after dinner. He was so quiet, staring. He had that look in his eyes. But she knew she really misinterpreted his offer to let loose when he retrieved the Battleship and beers for the evening. “All right, Jake. C-14.”

  “Ah . . . hit.” He bent and slid his leg inward towards his body brushing against Cal’s thigh as he did. “J-7.”

  “Miss.”

  “No. Cal, what the fuck is going on?” Jake slammed his hand down. “I have fuckin’ pegs all over this place and you’re going to tell me I haven’t hit you yet?”

  “Nope.” Cal closed her mouth tightly and shook her head.

  “Oh, bullshit, you can’t tell me this whole entire time you’ve sunk three of my ships and I haven’t even hit one of yours. You’re cheating. Let me see your board.” Jake reached out his hand to it. “There is no way I’ve missed every single turn.”

  “Sore loser.” She closed the lid of the game as he reached for it and clutched it to her chest.

  “I cannot believe how immature you are that you would sink to the level of cheating in Battleship. And . . . you won’t even own up to it.”

  “Fine.” She handed him the board.

  Jake lifted the lid and his mouth dropped open. “This can’t be. How could I have missed every time? Cal, I apologize for calling you a cheater. I guess I am a sore loser.”

  “No.” Cal scooted closer to him, grabbing the board and setting it on the floor. “I’m a cheater. I kept moving my boats.”

  “Ships . . . and I knew it.” He reached over and shut the lid on the game again. “Well, I just refuse to play Battleship with you again.”

  “You know, there are other things that we can do.” She moved closer, letting the slight effect of alcohol give her nerve. “You do know that.”

  “Oh, sure.” Jake swallowed as he watched her inch her face closer.

  Cal stared at him. He looked scared. She moved her lips so close to his, speaking softly as she did. “Tell me what you want to do, Jake. Anything you want to do.”

  Jake couldn’t take his eyes off her and he knew his nervousness was showing. How could he answer that question? With a deep breath, reaching his hand up, he slipped it behind her neck. “Cal I . . .”

  “Dudes,” Rickie yelled from outside of her door. “Dudes, can I come in?”

  Cal pulled back and gave a ‘sorry’ smile. As she stood up, she felt Jake run his hand down her arm when she walked from him.

  Fuck! Jake rubbed his eyes and knew he’d have to wait—again—for Cal to make the move.

  “Dudes . . . whoa it smells like a brewery in here.” Rickie held his nose, like he had nerve to complain about any smell. “You guys having your own private party. I got some weed if you . . .”

  “No!” Jake stood up, he just wanted Rickie out. The longer he stood there, the more what almost happened would slip form Cal’s mind. “We don’t do drugs. But thanks.” He gave a snarling look.

  “Just asking, dude, just asking,” Rickie said as he held up his hands. “Hey, are you two like done with the Battleship yet. There are others who want to play. I’m afraid if I don’t bring it back someone else might go for my throat.”

  Hurriedly Jake bent down to the floor, grabbed the boxes and handed them to Rickie. “Here. Pegs are inside. Bye.” He reached for the door.

  “Excellent.” Rickie lifted the lid up on the one. “Whoa. Whose box was this?”

  Cal smiled. “Mine.”

  Rickie shook his head at Jake. “Dude, you suck at this game. You didn’t hit one of her boats. Man for a big military guy, Sergeant and all, you really have no strategy.” He closed the lid and backed out. “Remind me not to go into war with you. I’d be dead.”

  His ears began to burn in annoyance. Rickie’s rambling. Cal’s laughing. All tested Jake. “Rickie!”

  “I’m leaving.” Rickie tried to imitate a fake intellectual voice. “Perhaps something a tad easier would be better for you. Something on the teenage level like Truth or Dare?”

  “Out!” Jake shut the door cutting off the laughing wave Rickie was giving Cal. He grunted loudly and leaned on the door. “I’m getting another beer. You want one?”

  “Jake.” Cal folded her arms. “We were . . . yes, a beer will be fine.” She listened to him bitch about Rickie the whole time he was in his room.

  Jake stopped in his stride in the bathroom. He stared at the beers he had in his hand. He knew he shouldn’t be drinking. Jake took a deep breath b
efore stepping into Cal’s room. He wanted to hand her the beer and asked her where they let off. But what were the chances that Cal would drop down to the floor and say ‘here’? “Anyway . . .” He stepped in the room and handed Cal her beer. “Why didn’t you tell Rickie you cheated?”

  “What? And ruin my reputation, please. I’d rather have you look bad.” She took a drink. “So, where . . .”

  “And what is that about Rickie telling me to play Truth or Dare? Like I couldn’t kick your ass in that one?”

  “Excuse me?” Cal nearly choked on her drink.

  “Of course I can’t figure out how you would cheat in that. The trick would be to make it something that would force you to talk or lose.”

  “I would answer anything. You on the other hand, would not.”

  “Right.” Jake brought his bottle to his lips. “You game?”

  “Truth or Dare? Jake, what the hell are you going to dare me to do? There would have to be an ending. We could dare each other all night. Something like, maybe truth or . . . shot.”

  “Nah.” Jake folded his arms and looked up. “You drink like a fish. That would be no threat for you to answer the question.”

  “I’d answer them anyhow and you’d end up smashed. What about, truth or . . .” she looked up at Jake and then eyed him up and down, “. . . strip?”

  “Strip?” Jake wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You mean like take off an article of clothing if won’t answer the question?”

  “Yes. Are you afraid?”

  “Who me? No. It’s just that I’m wearing a tee shirt, shorts and boxers. You have much more clothing on.”

  “Yeah but Jake, according to you, you’d answer anything. So why worry?”

  “OK.” He nodded. “You’re on. Truth or strip it is.” Jake, in a nervous twinge, raised his eyebrows as he took another drink of his beer. God why am I putting myself in this position?