The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments) (26 page)

“Fuck you.”

“OK. What the hell did I do now?”

Cal gasped. “Out there, why did you do that? Why do you take the tone that a woman is less than a man?”

“Oh, you’re nuts. I didn’t do any such thing. That is so female of you to say that.”

“See.” She pointed at him and limped to the desk chair sliding it to the smoke detector.

“Don’t. I’ll get that. You’re going to get hurt.”

“Fine.” Cal walked away from the chair. She moved to the platform city, and then sat on the floor beside it.

“We were in the middle of something, Cal. Or didn’t you notice?”

“I’m a little aggravated with you, Jake. Or haven’t
you
noticed?”

“Why are you giving me attitude?” Jake asked with an edge to his voice. “I think I was well within my rights to ask that question.”

“If you were normal,” Cal snapped.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?’

“I mean, if you were a normal man.” She stood back up. “You aren’t. You ask. I tried to tell you, but before I can explain . . .”

“Explain what? What is there to explain?”

“See! See! You do that!” Cal readied to say more, but frustrated she only made a snarling sound.

“Oh. What? Are we growling at me now?
 
It is so attractive.” Jake shook his head.

“You know Jake, you ought to grow up.”

“Me?” Jake taunted. “No, I should just go to my room.” He turned.

“Yes and while you’re at it, why don’t you just try to think of more reasons to end this thing between us.”

Jake stopped cold and turned around. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” Cal barked and then deepened her voice. “I’m losing my edge. I’m thinking with my heart. What if I screw up? Am I too close to you to see clearly? What if I miss something? Do you love David? That trap, I should have seen the
fuckin
’ trap!” She blasted.

Jake blinked. “Are you done?”

Cal just stared at him.

“I think, right now, you are too far under the influence of alcohol and drugs for you to even be rational. I’m going to my room.” He shot up his hand to silence her from speaking. “I have no intentions whatsoever of breaking this thing off, unless . . . that’s what you want.” He stepped to her. “Is that what you want, Cal?”

Slowly Cal looked up at him. “No.” She tossed her hand out in defeat. “I’m just . . . I’m upset. You’re upset. I’m in pain and premenstrual.”

Jake cringed. “Did I need to hear that?”

“Oh, absolutely.” Cal cracked a partial smile. “And I don’t love him anymore, other than as a friend.”

Jake took in a breath and asked, “Why didn’t you say that before?”

Cal chuckled and lifted her finger. “Don’t. Don’t. I tried. You wouldn’t let me.”

“You’re right. So . . . no more breakup talk?”

“No.” She shook her head. “Thinking about it, breaking up would be pretty dumb. I mean you really only have to deal with me for what? Four and a half months.”

“Wait a second.” Jake moved closer to her. “Did you just imply that we wouldn’t be together after the experiment?”

“Did you think we would?”

“Well . . .” Jake flubbed through his words. “Yes. I’m sorry, I did. What Cal, were we just going to go our separate ways after it was over with? What about all those dinners we planned to have? The trip we want to take? Your being there when I get promoted? Were they lies?”

“No they weren’t. I fully intended on staying close to you. I want to be friends. But realistically speaking, Jake . . .”

“No. I don’t want to hear realistically speaking. Was this your attitude all along?” Jake questioned.

“Yes it was. But . . .”

“If that was your attitude, why did you sleep with me?”

“Oh, stop it, Jake; I’m afraid to answer you. You won’t let me finish my sentences. I slept with you for the same reason you slept with me.”

“I don’t think so, Cal.” Jake stepped back. “I slept with you because I was falling in love with you. I mean . . . I was . . . I . . . never mind.” Jake ran his hand over his head to his neck.

Cal tried to hide the smile that crept on her face, she moved closer to him. “That was nice.”

Jake only grunted. “I didn’t say that.”

“I didn’t hear anything. How about this for a better reason not to break up . . .” Cal softened her voice. “You’d never be able to handle it. You may be too dependent on this. Two weeks.” Cal walked to the platform city. “If that?”

“Two weeks?” Jake followed her, sitting next to her on the floor. “Two weeks before what?”

“Before you’ll fold.”

“Ha.” Jake scoffed. “I lived a long, lonely life, Cal. I highly doubt it.”

“But you’re like a crack addict with sex. I’m telling you. Two weeks. You would be begging.” Cal shrugged. “I’d feel sorry for you . . .” She smiled. “It would be pitiful.”

Jake laughed. “Listen to you. I can go longer than two weeks.”

“I’m telling you. You’ll break.”

“You think?” Jake placed his hand on the floor behind her back, leaning to her.

“I know.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Care to take it . . .” Cal turned her head to him. He was right there. She spoke softly. “Major Graison.”

Jake moved his eyes up and down, looking at her, his face so close to hers. He smiled. “You’re on.”

Cal moved even closer, sliding her hand slowly up his inner thigh as she brought her lips so close to his. “Then it’s a bet.” She brought her lips just to the point of kissing his, waited for him to be ready to respond, and then backed up a foot. “A bet you’ll lose.”

Cal walked a little further, side by side with Rickie. Stopped and then walked again. She could actually smell the fall briskness in the air. “It’s really great out here.” She looked back at the buildings and stopped before the wooded hillside. “I expected it to be much colder.”

“Cal-babe.” Rickie walked, hands in his front pockets of his baggy Levi’s. “Hey like, I really appreciate you guys letting me hang out with you so much. Everyone else is starting to give me the creeps. Besides, Sarge is like my big hero for saving my life.”

“He appreciates that Rickie.”

“So like, am I cramping the comfort time between you two? I know he’s always trying to kick me out.”

“No, you aren’t cramping anything. The Ma . . . Sarge and I are no longer having, comfort time as you put it.”

“Whoa.” Rickie brought his shoulders up. “What happened? Don’t you like the Sarge anymore?’

“Actually I’m crazy about the Sarge. It’s a temporary break up. I told him he couldn’t handle it if we did, he said he could, and now I’m trying to get him to fold.” Cal shrugged. “It’s not working.”

“Have to get tough. He’s a dude. And how can he refuse you? You’re pretty cool, Cal-babe. I like you.”

Cal smiled. “I like you, too, Rickie. In fact . . . I’ve enjoyed your company.” She turned and faced the woods again. “It keeps my mind off killing Jake. But I’m sure watching us is boring.”

“Nah, I wish the Sarge would let me play with you when you guys mess with the Lego sticks. But it’s like better than hanging with the rest of those people. They make me all weird in side. Carlos is no longer sociable.
 
Griff . . .” Rickie laughed. “He doesn’t speak at all . . . sorry . . . but he like never comes out of his room. John, all he does is tap away and he’s not writing anything. Jennifer, she’s like . . . a crowd.”

“Well, that leaves you Fr. Dan.” Cal noticed Rickie, stopped smiling and turned away. “What’s wrong with Fr. Dan?”

“Don’t think I’m like all smoked out OK? But he looks at me strange. He has this look in his eye when he stares at me.”

“What kind of look Rickie? Hatred, mistrust . . .”

“Lust.”

Cal broke into a loud laughter. “Oh, Rickie, he does not . . .”

Rickie turned away.

Cal pulled him back. “You’re serious. Just don’t worry about it, Rickie. If you’re really feeling that from him, I’m sure you will set him straight so to speak.” Cal smiled.

“I appreciate it . . .” Rickie screamed loudly and fell to the ground covering his head. “No! Don’t shoot me! No!”

Jake had walked up carrying two rifles, shook his head in disgust, his eyes rolling as he did. “Rickie, get up!”

“Chill, Sarge.” Rickie lifted himself off the ground. “I’m teasing.”

“Cal, I thought I told you to wait inside for me.”

Cal looked down at her fingernails. “You did. Rickie and I wanted to take a walk.”

“Dude, I know you won’t mind since you and her aren’t being nightly anymore. I thought I’d try for her myself.” He threw his arm around Cal’s shoulder. “You know what they say about us young guys.”

Jake, throwing the rifles over his shoulders, glared at Rickie. “Leave. I want to be alone with Cal.”

Rickie shook his head. “So do I, guy. Man you are tense. Cal-babe, the Sarge is tense.”

“It’s because he hasn’t had sex in a week.”

Jake’s mouth dropped open.

“Dude, that, like really sucks. Hey my offer for those magazines still stands.”

“Go!” Jake pointed, Rickie ignored him, and Cal laughed. “Cal, I’m glad you think this is so funny.” He stepped closer to Rickie. “Remove your arm and go.” He placed his face close to his. “Go!” He moved closer. “Go!”

“I’m leaving.” Rickie, smiling, raised his hands and headed back to the buildings.

Jake, grunting, roughly rubbed his hand on his face. “Let’s go.”

“Where?” Cal asked.

“Up the hill.” Jake laid his hand on her back. Cal scooted away. “I’m going to teach you how to shoot, and shoot well.”

“But Jake . . .”

“No buts about it.” He spoke very seriously. “You have to learn to shoot. Winters coming, anything, wild animals, are going to start to smell us and you have to be able to hit your target.”

“Fine.” Cal shrugged and continued to walk up with him

Once at the clearing on the top, Jake pointed at a distance away. “I set some targets up for you this morning.”

Cal peered out. “What are they, beer bottles? They’re so far away.”

“There are ten of them. And I know it sounds tough, but it’s great practice.” Jake slid a rifle off his shoulder and handed it to Cal. “This is an M-16.”

“Really?” Cal felt it as it lay in her hands. “Wow, it’s heavy.”

“OK, hold it like this.” Jake set it correctly in her arms and stepped behind her. He brought his arms around, placing his hands over hers. “Here is where you put the ammo.” He moved closer, sliding his cheek across hers as he looked over her shoulder. He stopped moving and gripped her hands.

“Jake.” Cal called softly. “Back up. I think I can figure it out.”

“Go ahead.” Jake stepped back, giving her room to turn around and face him.

“Give me the bullets.”

“Clip.” He handed it to her. “Now it goes . . .”

“I got it.” Fumbling with the rifle, Cal dropped the clip and it fell to the ground. “Whoops. I dropped my bullets.”

“Clip.” Jake, hands on hips, stared down at her.

“I’ll just . . .” She stepped within an inch of his body. “Go down.” Placing the butt of the rifle to the ground, and staying so close to him, she lowered herself to her knees. “I can’t believe how clumsy I am.”

Jake tried not to look down, but seeing Cal like that, so many thoughts raced through his mind. Still standing strong, Jake looked up. He bit his bottom lip. Yes, he could handle her down there, and he could even handle what she was trying to instigate. But what he couldn’t handle was the fact that she used his leg for support. Her hand kept moving further and further up, slowly and softly. “Cal.” He reached down and grabbed her arm lifting her. “Enough.” Tired of waiting, Jake took the rifle and loaded it in for her. “
Here.
Now, can I show you?”

Holding the M-16 awkwardly, Cal peered up at him. “Are you going to stand behind me?
 
I bet the men you train love when you do that.”

“All right, mouth.” Jake lifted his hands up. “I won’t say anything. Just don’t shoot me.”

“What do you want me to hit?”

Jake laughed. “Anything, if you can.” He stepped back further and placed one finger to his ear. “Whenever you’re ready, you can fire away.”

“How about I hit all ten?”

“Sure, Cal, you go right ahead.”

“OK.” She shrugged, shifted the clip on the M-16, lifted it and fired. That one moment, that first aim was the only hesitation she made. Without stopping, Cal fired and fired again. Ten times she shot off her weapon, each time hitting her target dead on. When she had finished, she cleared her throat and handed the rifle to Jake. “How about we try something a little more difficult, Major Graison?”

“Cal . . . holy shit. Where’d you learn to shoot like that?”

“My stepfather taught me well.”

“I’d say.” Jake stared at what was left of the targets.

She saw the stunned look on Jake’s face. “Jealous?”

“No, turned on.”

Cal smiled and chuckled once at his very serious remark. “Are we done? You can see I don’t need to learn.”

“Oh, you are just so cocky.” He handed back the rifle. “Get ready.” He started walking across the clearing.

“Where are you going?”

“Setting it up again and then I’ll show you shooting.”

“Ha!” Cal laughed. “You just have to beat me in everything. Line ‘
em
up, you’re about to meet your match.”

Jake marched back to her. “Sweetheart.” He poked his index finger on her forehead. “You’re on. And you’ll pay.” He backed up. “Big time.”

“What are we shooting for?” She watched him walk further away. “Jake? Jake!”

^^^^

“No. Jake, no.” Cal held her hands up as she stood center of her room.

“Cal. You lost.” Holding a bottle of beer, he pulled out the desk chair and sat down.

“I am not stripping for you. You said you wouldn’t fold.”

“I’m not. I’m watching.” Jake took a drink. “A bet is a bet. You ran your mouth and you lost.”

“You just want me to take off my clothes, pervert.”

“Cal, please.” Jake held his hand up. “It’s guy thing. Look, Rickie even lent me his player. Press play. Go ahead.”

“You want me to strip for you. That’s it?” She raised her eyebrow. “And you can handle it?”

“Sure.” Jake raised the beer bottle to the smoke alarm. “I even blocked their view. It’s just you and me, whenever you’re ready.” He adjusted himself comfortably in the chair, beer bottle between his legs.

“Fine, this won’t take very long.” Cal walked to the cassette player and pressed play. “This Rickie music sucks.”

“Feel the music.” Jake smiled, lifting the bottle to his mouth, never taking his eyes off her.

Cal walked behind his chair, preventing Jake from looking back at her. She kept placing her hands on his face and turning his stare forward. She dropped her shorts, then lifted her left leg, her bare leg and placed her foot on his thigh. She swung herself around to the front of him, standing before him, her legs straddled over his as she lifted off her shirt.

Jake held tighter to the beer bottle, staring at her flat stomach. He took a deep breath.

Cal moved closer, reached down and undid his belt. Slowly she pulled it from the loops and hung it over her neck. “Can you handle it, Jake?” She moved her hands behind her back to undo her bra. “You know, you can fold at any time.” She brought her lips down, grabbing his hands and placing them to the clasp on her bra. “I won’t . . .” she said, breathing softly on his lips, “think any less of you.”

“Stop!” Jake slid his chair backwards out of her range. “Bad idea, really bad idea. He stood up, took another drink and shut off the music. “How about we do something else instead?”

“OK.” Cal bent down and picked up her clothes, immediately putting them on. “Chess?”

“Sounds safe.”

^^^^

Fr. Dan stared down at the photograph of Rickie. He sat in his chair, rocking back and forth in confusion. Another picture had shown up, another one. Where did they come from? It had to be Rickie. Fr. Dan had noticed the looks lately. The long stares. It wasn’t his imagination. Fr. Dan was always aware of those things. He had been in the past. But he was certain it was an invitation. It had to be.

The shower, the sound of running water started. It was his signal. It was his daily routine. Fr. Dan hurried to the bathroom door, listening. He waited for his time and he opened the door.