Finding Nora

by Ripley Proserpina

  The table erupted in laughter. She met Jessica’s wide smile. “Easy,” she agreed.

  “Does it make sense to you?” Dr. Murray asked.

  “The questions make sense,” she answered. “Yes. I’ll answer them as best I can.”

  She glanced at the sheet, and a question jumped out at her, one she glossed over earlier. “Are you in a romantic relationship? If so, describe how you met your significant other. How do you feel about him/her? What do you hope for in your relationship? Where will you be in a year?”

  For Nora, these were questions she had herself. How the hell was she supposed to answer them?

  * * *

  Grant threw Nils the keys to his car on their way out of the coffee shop. “I know you’ve been dying to drive it.”

  He made a sound of agreement, and unlocked the car, rushing a little ahead of everyone.

  Finally, she could breathe. In ten minutes, she'd meet Seok. Grant flung his arm around her shoulders as they walked, pulling her a little roughly into his side.

  The first time he’d done this, she thought he was trying to include her in their group, put her at ease.

  This time was different. Her body tensed, and she knew he could feel it because he squeezed harder the moment she did. She put her hand on his side, attempting to extricate herself, but he held her another moment before letting go. She didn’t like the implication of his touch, as if he was telling her he’d release her when he was good and ready, and not a second before.

  “The cappuccino was good, wasn’t it?” he asked, stepping away from her and opening the backdoor.

  She couldn’t finish the cup. The few sips she’d taken turned her stomach, and left her feeling dry-mouthed and twitchy. “I don’t know if cappuccino is for me,” she admitted.

  Chuckling, he waited for Jessica to get in. She held a hand out to Nora, who realized she wanted help getting into the car. Jessica's fingers wrapped around her hand, lingering on her wrist before she settled herself in place.

  “Thanks for joining us.” Dr. Murray turned around from the passenger seat.

  “You’re welcome,” she answered, even though she hadn’t had much of a choice.

  Nils stepped on the gas hard, and whipped out of the parking lot. The force slammed her into Jessica, who held onto her arm to steady herself. Nils squealed around another corner, blowing through a stop sign before accelerating up the hill.

  “Jesus, Nils,” Jessica scolded. “Ease up.”

  “I want to see what it can do.” He looked into the rearview mirror, smiling at them.

  He flew through the next stop sign as well, and Jessica held onto her arm even tighter.

  “The cops are always out here,” Nora warned, hoping to persuade Nils to slow down. “And you have out-of-state plates. You’ll get bagged.”

  “I never get caught.” He winked at her, and Dr. Murray laughed.

  Even Jessica chuckled. “He never does.”

  I’m gonna hurl all over these fancy leather seats.

  The street narrowed, parked cars lining both sides. Brownington College’s library was on this street, and students darted back and forth. Nils must have seen them, too, but he didn’t pause. In her mind, she could hear the sound someone’s body would make when it slammed into their windshield. Sweat rolled down her back, and her nails cut into her palms.

  The engine revved loudly, and her back pressed into the seat from the force of the acceleration. Her breath came faster, head dizzy, like she wasn’t getting enough oxygen. Nils headed right to the busiest part of the road.

  Was he trying to hit those kids?

  She cried out in warning. Her eyes shut instinctively and she turned her face away from the window shield. Throwing up her hands, her body suddenly slammed forward. Her seatbelt locked, digging into her stomach and sides so hard she yelped in pain.

  Slowly, the voices inside the car began to pierce her consciousness.

  “It’s okay,” Jessica repeated, her thumb pressed on Nora’s inner wrist. “It’s fine.”

  The engine idled. Nils had stopped well before the library, and kids crossed the street in front of them, no idea they’d been a second from death. Her heart still pounded in her chest. She'd been sure they were about to kill someone.

  Turning in his seat, Dr. Murray watched her with an unreadable expression.

  Nils and Grant chuckled at each other. “I knew you were going to do that.” He wagged his finger at Nils.

  “I couldn’t help it,” he replied, his eyes flashed to hers in the rearview mirror. “I’m sorry, Nora. I have to do it to everyone.”

  Her entire body shook and her teeth chattered. “You’re a jerk,” she replied without thought. “I’ll walk from here.” The car door was locked when she pulled the handle, her clumsy fingers slipping over the button.

  “Child safety locks must be engaged?” Nils asked Grant.

  “I can’t have kids jumping out the back now, can I?” he laughed. He reached past Jessica, to tap her knee. “Relax. Now you’re really part of the team, we do it to everyone.”

  “They really do,” Jessica added. “They’re such boys.”

  All she wanted was to leave. Jessica’s explanation didn't excuse them. Her guys would never do pull this sort of prank on her, or on each other. Their team made a full-on, no question, douchebag move.

  “Let me out,” she pushed through gritted teeth.

  Nils rolled through the stop sign, traveling up the hill at a much more reasonable speed. “We’re almost there. Relax.”

  The grip on her wrist started to feel constricting and she took her arm back, crossing it in front of her chest.

  “I’m sorry, Nora. I should have warned you,” Jessica said. “You should have seen the prank they pulled on me when I first met them.”

  Why couldn’t they shut up? Their apologies were worthless.

  “Nora,” Nils called as he drove. “Nora.”

  Reluctantly, she met his gaze in the rearview mirror.

  “I’m sorry, really. I’m a younger brother, and teasing is in my genes. I apologize.” He may have been sincere, but the damage was done. If he wanted to apologize, fine. But he’d have to work a lot harder before she trusted him.

  They’d arrived at the parking lot behind the counseling center, and she was compelled to wait for him to open the door. Her attempt to ignore him as she got out was thwarted when he stopped her with a hand on the arm. “Friends?”

  “I don’t know you, Mr. Gunderson,” she answered, unwilling to be forced into accepting his apology.

  “Nora!” Seok’s voice washed over her like a cool breeze.

  She strode toward him, sudden tears choking her. He narrowed his eyes, gaze raking her from head to toe. Jogging toward her, he caught her up and wrapped her in his arms. Relief made her tremble, and she let out a deep, shaky breath.

  “What happened, are you okay?”

  She shook her head; she was most definitely not okay.

  “What happened?” His voice deepened, his accent thickening, rounding out certain sounds.

  “Hi.”

  She didn’t care who spoke, she kept her face buried in Seok’s jacket.

  “I’m Jessica Chase. I’m sorry. The knucklehead over there, the blonde one who looks like the bad guy in Die Hard? He decided to initiate Nora into our team by scaring the bejesus out of her.”

  His hold tightened, and in response she embraced him even harder.

  “Are you insane?” His voice rumbled through her. “She saw one of your other “team” members throw themselves out a window yesterday.”

  “I apologized. I am sorry. I teased. Went too far.”

  “Look—” Dr. Murray interjected.

  “She doesn’t have to do this,” Seok growled, ignoring Dr. Murray completely. “She signed your paperwork yesterday. There is no reason she can’t tear it up.” He pushed at her shoulders, forcing her away to stare into her eyes. His voic
e was fierce. “You don’t have to deal with these assholes, Nora.”

  “She has a required participation period of thirty-days,” Dr. Murray replied, embarrassed. “Remember?” he asked when she stared at him in confusion.

  She shook her head.

  “You’re nuts if you think I’m letting her work with you after this.” Red-faced, he clenched and unclenched his fists like he was a second from smashing them into someone’s face.

  “I’ll be working with Nora in the beginning,” Jessica said quickly. “That’s okay, isn’t it, Nora?”

  Her brain was mush; she didn’t know what she thought. “I guess,” she whispered.

  “I am so so sorry, Nora,” she said kindly. “I promise to make Nils suffer.”

  She was too overwhelmed to do more than nod.

  “Let’s go.” Glowering at the men, Seok wrapped his arm around her, leading her down the street. She gave a little squeal when he brushed against one of the wounds on her side. The seatbelt had dug into her with such force her blood pulsed beneath the older injury. She’d have a hell of a bruise later.

  “Are you okay?” he stopped, putting his hands on her shoulders, and bending his knees a little bit to see her face.

  “My side,” she whispered. “The seatbelt dug into it.”

  “Can I look?”

  She glanced back over her shoulder where Dr. Murray’s team still stood, but nodded.

  Slowly, he lifted her sweatshirt and t-shirt, hissing in a breath when he saw the clear contact abrasion of the seatbelt against her skin. The healing bullet graze looked okay, it wasn’t bleeding, but the abrasion went right across it.

  “He did this?” he asked, voice shaking with anger.

  “I didn’t realize.”

  He lowered her shirt gently, and placing his hand on her cheek, leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead. One moment he held her, then he took off like a shot. A blur of movement, he sprinted down the road and leapt at Nils.

  The man let out a soft, “Omph,” when Seok tackled him. He managed to land one blow before Grant and Dr. Murray wrestled him off Nils.

  “You fucking asshole,” he said, shaking out his fist.

  Shock kept her in place, but now she rushed to him, holding his arm, putting her body between him and the team.

  “She’s fucking injured. What is wrong with you?” He was genuinely confused. “Is this how you run your lab?” he asked Dr. Murray. “Because I’m sure the college is going to wonder about this. You want her to trust you? To work with you? Maybe you should try a little goddamned compassion.””

  The doctor shook his head, while Nora kept her eye on Nils. A dark bruise formed on the man’s cheek, and she waited for him to retaliate. Seok packed a punch, but he didn’t seem bothered. It was weird.

  “I’m sorry, Seok. Honestly.”

  “I really am sorry as well, Seok,” Nils added. “Look, if punching me makes you feel better. Do it again. I was wrong. It wasn’t funny.”

  “You’re goddamn right it’s not funny.” Turning his back on the others, he strode to her. Her body jerked when she tried to go to him. Jessica held her arm. Distracted by the fight, she hadn’t realized the woman’s hands were on her. When she tried to move again, Jessica let her go.

  “I want to go home,” she told him. “Can we please go?”

  Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, he held her to his chest. “You okay?” His voice was calm, but she knew him well enough now to catch the fury.

  “I’m pissed and my side hurts.”

  He stepped away from her, tracing her face with his gaze. It dropped to her lips, and he leaned in, kissing her. He wrapped his arms around her before burying his face in her neck, and giving her a soft kiss. “Let’s go.” As they got out of earshot, he took her hand. “Will you tell me what happened?”

  Leaning her head on his arm, and squeezing his hand tightly, she nodded. Seok, she could trust. She’d tell him anything he wanted to know.

  five

  Decisions

  SEOK WAS MAD about Nils’ practical joke, but Ryan was ready to lose his mind. After she described what happened, they all wanted to look at her side. One look and Ryan paced around the living room. Nothing anyone said calmed him down.

  “I need a copy of your contract,” he demanded on one of his rotations around the room. “What the hell is this thirty-day thing?”

  There wasn’t much Nora could say. She dissected the entire event over and over, wondering if she overreacted. It was her fault the guys were so upset, and Seok had punched Nils and hurt his hand. This was one more piece of unnecessary drama she brought into their lives.

  Objectively, she recognized how crazy the whole thing was. A team of Ph.Ds playing chicken all to scare or initiate a study participant?

  “Put this on.” Matisse handed her an icepack and flung another one at Seok before sitting next to her on the couch. Reaching for her hand, he entwined his fingers with hers.

  “Thanks.” She placed it over her side and leaned into him.

  “How are you doing?” he whispered, watching Ryan stop his pacing and speak hurriedly with Cai.

  “I don’t get it.” She shrugged. “Was it a mean prank? Do you really think they do it to everyone?”

  “I don’t know.” Cai waved Matisse over to him and Ryan. “Hold on.”

  “Did Seok punch him really hard?” Apollo asked, leaning forward in his chair, hand gripping his knees. “Tell me he laid the guy out.”

  Despite the pit in her stomach, she smiled. When she reached for his hand, he gave it to her, and she tugged him toward her. He let her, moving out of the chair and snuggling next to her on the couch. Resting her head on his arm, she rubbed her cheek against his shirt. “You should have seen him, Apollo. I didn’t realize he could run so fast. He was a blur of blue hair.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “Yeah?”

  “Mmhm. He flew through the air, and I don’t think he even touched the ground before he punched the guy.”

  “And the guy didn’t try to punch him back?” he asked thoughtfully.

  “No. He told Seok to hit him again. Said he deserved it.”

  “Huh. He did? But if he’s offering, maybe I’ll punch him.”

  “I would like to arrange that.” Matisse sat next to them again.

  Searching for the other three, she found Cai, Ryan, and Seok deep in discussion.

  “Cai called Tyler. Seems they did the same thing to him. Tyler thought it was hilarious, of course, but said it was bad form considering your other injuries and what happened with the girl.” Matisse’s face flushed with color.

  “I don’t get it,” she said again, wrapping her arm around Apollo’s and hugging it closer to her.

  “Tyler said he can’t explain it, but there’s more to it than a prank.” Matisse sat back into the couch, looking exhausted. “Ryan’s calling Dr. Murray about the contract. He wants you out of it before the thirty days.”

  “No,” she interrupted quickly.

  “What? Why not?”

  “Nora.” Apollo turned to face her. “You can’t be part of this. You can’t trust these people.”

  “Let me hear why.” What Dr. Murray offered: a place to live, food, a degree; it was everything she needed to make something of herself.

  Without a doubt, the guys would step in to help her. They would give her money, they’d clothe her, they’d feed her. Maybe she’d find another minimum wage job and she’d contribute a little, but it wouldn’t be enough. Each one of these guys would make an impact on the world. They were good people, and they would do good things. If she wanted them, wanted to be a part of their family, she needed to hold her own.

  Dr. Murray was giving her the opportunity to make something of herself.

  “If it’s them being assholes, I’m done. I’ll see out the thirty days and I’ll walk away. But if there was a purpose to it, and I can accept what it was, then I want to stay.” />
  Apollo’s face darkened as she spoke, and when she glanced at Matisse, he had the same look reflected on his face.

  “There’s no reason good enough for me, Nora.” Apollo stood, raking his hand up and down the back of his head. Opening his mouth, he shook his head, and walked away, slamming a door on his way through the house.

  Matisse met her gaze and shrugged. “You can’t expect us to be okay with this, chère. If the roles were reversed how would you feel?”

  Unconsciously she rubbed her side, only becoming aware of it when Matisse raised an eyebrow. “Keep the ice on it, please.” He went to the other guys, whispering something before going upstairs.

  Whatever it was had them glaring at her in disbelief.

  She needed their support. It was fine if they disagreed with her, but she needed them to tell her it was okay. She wanted to hear them say they didn’t agree with her decision, but they understood.

  Would they love her even if she did something they didn’t like?

  If their positions were reversed, she'd be angry. No. She’d lose her mind, if someone took Matisse on a Fast and Furious ride through side streets. She’d never ever want Matisse to see them again, and every time he worked with them, she’d worry.

  It was asking a lot of the guys. Her heart constricted and worry bloomed in her chest. Maybe she was asking too much.

  “What happened?” Cai walked over to her.

  Adjusting the icepack a little lower to rest on the sorest spot, Nora said, “I told them I wanted to hear Dr. Murray’s reasons.”

  Cai’s flashed pale and then flushed red. “Damnit, Nora. Why?”

  “Because I want to go to college,” she countered. “I couldn’t afford it on my own. I can’t get a loan, don’t you think I’ve tried?”

  “Then get another job in the meantime. Live here, rent free, and save. Let us help you. You would do it for any one of us. If Seok needed us to cover his portion of the mortgage, would you do it? Wouldn’t you figure out a way to do it?”

  “Yes,” she answered without hesitation. “Of course.”