The Iso-Stasis Experiment (The Experiments) (52 page)

“Jake. Do your work. I’m keeping them.”

“Are you always going to be so argumentative?”

“Yes. Are you always going to be so anal?”

The steward cleared his throat as an introduction to his interruption. He seemed polite, quiet and feminine. “Excuse me, Ma’am, Sir. Can I get you a beverage?”

Cal smiled and adjusted herself in her seat. “You know what? I’d love a bourbon on the rocks.”

“Cal.” Jake spoke firmly, eyes never leaving what he was reading. “It’s ten in the morning.”

“So, I need a drink.”

“So . . .” Jake continued reading. “It’s too early for alcohol. It won’t set right with you.”

Cal rolled her eyes at him, “Steward, I’ll have an orange juice.” When she saw his acknowledgment she mouthed to word to him ‘with vodka’ and she reclined her chair.

Jake, while he continued working, reached down and grabbed her hand. “I’ve been thinking. Do you know what I want to do? I want us to take a cruise this summer. God, I haven’t taken a vacation in forever. What do you think, Cal, a cruise this summer?”

“Jake.” She spoke in a pacifying manner. “We’re just coming home. Can we not talk about going away just yet?”

“But you have to plan ahead. A cruise would be nice.” Jake leaned over and kissed her. “You’re so tense. You want to talk about it?”

“No. Why don’t you finish your work? We’ll talk when you’re done.”

“I’ll hurry. We need to talk.”

That we do
, Cal thought as she shifted her attention back out the window again.

^^^^

Throughout the flight, and even during the times they talked, Cal’s mind kept drifting. She wondered if she was being neurotic or if she was watching a different Jake. He looked so excited when he was told they were over American airspace. He was so proud with so many other things on his mind. But maybe it wasn’t Jake that she was afraid of.
 
Maybe it was who she was. Cal felt different. She felt like the old Cal.

“Jake, what’s wrong?” She noticed him fidgeting.

His fingers slipped down into his collar, giving his neck more room. “It’s been so long since I wore this.”

“It’s been since we first stepped on this plane. But somehow . . . somehow you look better to me now.” Cal smiled. “You know, when you walked on the plane today and I saw you, my heart skipped a beat. It literally skipped a beat.”

“Why is that?”

“You look so handsome.” She ran her hand down his face. “You take my breath away.”

“Wow. That’s one hell of a compliment. Thank you for that.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it.

“Jake, I want you to know something. I want you to know how very proud I am to have known you, to have stood beside you, to have been with you.”

“Thanks, Cal. I’m proud to know you, too. In fact, a part of me can’t wait to show you off. I mean as soon as I get back, I want to show you off to . . .”

“Jake, don’t.”

“What? You can give me compliments but I can’t compliment you?” He saw he didn’t get a smile. “Hey, you want to go out for dinner tonight or stay in? I was thinking about that. I don’t have any food. We could shop, but are you going to feel like it?” He sounded like he was rambling, and he was, with excitement. “Oh, shit, we have a problem you and I need to talk about it. How do you want to do this? I feel really bad you can’t fly with me, but, you know how that goes. I have to go to that meeting. I can send Chuck for you and he can take you to my house. Unless you would just rather wait at the airport and I’ll pick you up. I won’t be late.” He raised his eyebrows waiting for his answer.

“Jake . . . I’m, uh, I’m going home.”

Jake laughed. “Cal, we can send for your things. In fact, you have a hundred, no a hundred and fifty grand. Buy new things.”

“Jake, listen to me.” She rested her hand on his. “I’m going home. OK? I’m not going to Fort Bragg with you. I can’t.”

“What do you mean, can’t? Are you coming down in a few days? Are there things you have to take care of? What?”

“I think we should be apart.”

“Like a long distance relationship? Cal, we’ve been living together for . . .”

“Jake.” Cal just wanted this moment over with. She wished the plane would land and she could run off. “Please understand what I’m saying. I think you and I should be apart. I’ll go home to Pittsburgh and you go home to Fort Bragg and your life there.”

“Where is this coming from? What do you mean
my
life there? I want it to be our life there.”

“It can’t.”

“Explain to me why.”

Cal took a deep breath. “Things are different now. Our lives are different. We’re not the same people. Jake, I don’t even know you outside of the project. Who you are, what you do . . .”

“Then you’ll learn.”

“How can we be like we were if we’re learning who we are? Jake, I didn’t even realize you had curly hair.”

“So what, Cal? No one knows I have curly hair. I’ve shaved my head for years. So you’re breaking up with me because you didn’t know I had curly hair?”

“No, Jake, I’m breaking up with you because I don’t think what we were during the project can survive in the real world.”

“Bull shit!” Jake’s words were harsh. “You’re copping out.”

“No, Jake. You aren’t making this easy.”

“Did you think I would? Did you? I can’t believe you’re doing this. Your mind can’t possibly be made up.”

“It is.” Cal lowered her head.

“And when were you planning on telling me you didn’t want to see me again? When you never showed up in North Carolina?”

“I never said I was.”

“You never said you weren’t!” His voice was loud and carried in the empty plane. “How can you do this? How can you just walk away from it and never look back? Never see each other again?”

“I want to stay in touch with you, Jake. You’ve become my friend.” She handed him a slip of paper she had in her hand. “I wrote down my number, my address, call me or write . . .”

“You want to be
fuckin
’ pen pals? I don’t want your address, Cal . . .” He crinkled the paper and threw it down. “I want you. You! You said you loved me, was that a lie?”

“No, Jake . . .”

“Then what are you doing? Come on.” His hands went up in the air and fell hard to the seat. “I love you. I took very seriously what happened between us. Call me old fashioned, but I thought when we said how we felt, when we slept together, that all but said that we would make it work.” He reached over and grabbed her hand. “You’re breaking my heart, Cal, breaking my heart. Don’t do this to me.”

“I’m sorry, Jake. Maybe if we take some time. Maybe after some time apart and we see this was wrong then we can try again. It’s not like I don’t want to ever talk to you again.”

“I cannot accept this. I won’t.” Jake looked up as the landing bells sounded. “Cal, let’s not get off this plane like this. Let’s settle it.”

“It is settled, Jake. There’s nothing you can do. My mind is made up.”

“Just tell me what brought you to this. What? I deserve to know.”

“I’m afraid of who you are. I’m afraid of what you are outside of the experiment. I knew
that
Jake.”

“Then you know this one. I’m the same man. If you don’t believe that then you have to find out. You have to give it a chance.”

“And what, find out it doesn’t work? I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Too late, you already have.” Jake sat back in his seat as the plane came to a stop. Cal wasted no time. She stood up quickly and before he knew it she had climbed over him and into the aisle.

 
Cal took one more look at Jake who began to follow her. She wanted to stop, run back to him and tell him she changed her mind, but the truth was she knew she had to go home alone.

Stepping into the airport she faced the scary sight of the awaiting military. They were there for Jake, getting ready to snatch him up, quickly and without any questions.

“Cal Reynolds?” A voice called to her, very close to her.

“Yes?” Her eyes moved to the voice and saw a suited dark haired gentleman standing next to her.

“I’m here to take you to the plane, Ma’am.”

“Thank you.” She paused before she walked with him to watch Jake. He had barely stepped into the airport before he was approached by the four uniformed men that awaited him. Her eyes never left his as he walked with them, almost being dragged away. “Let’s go.” She lowered her head and moved with the man to the other corridor just inside the private waiting room.

Jake watched her hit the edge of the hallway and knew she was leaving. He felt helpless as he felt himself being tugged at a speed he fought to slow down. “Wait a second.” He told his escorts. “Wait a second.” Abruptly he pulled from them, left the pack and stormed to Cal. “Stop.” He snatched her back by her arm. “Hold up. Please.” Jake looked to the man who stood beside Cal. “Can you give us a second?” He waited for the man to step away. “Cal, don’t just walk away without even saying goodbye to me. I deserve more than that. I have spent seven months of my life with you. Every waking moment was with you. I’m not ready to give that up.”

“Jake, they’re waiting for you.”

“I don’t give a shit.” He tried, he tried his best to stay calm but Jake came off as angry as he felt. “They can wait. Don’t do this.” He hunched down to her level, placing his hand on her face, brushing his lips against hers. “Don’t walk away from me. Change your mind. Tell me you’re coming home with me.” Again he kissed her, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks.

Cal grabbed his hands softly and slid them from her face. “I
will
call you.” She brought herself up to him and kissed him. “Goodbye.” She released his hands, walked backwards a few steps, and then moved down the corridor with the man.

Jake stood there watching Cal until he couldn’t see her anymore. Before facing the men who awaited him, Jake took a long breath through his nose, stood tall, shoulders back. He put on his hat, turned about face and walked in perfect stride to his escort with an emotionless look on his face. Jake didn’t look back. He held his head high as he walked from O’Hara airport.

^^^^

“We’ll be taking off momentarily, Ms. Reynolds. We’re second to go.” The man who took her on the plane spoke to her. “Have a seat, make yourself comfortable.”

Cal gave a sad smile. Before she looked around the private plane, before she noticed anything, she saw the military plane adjacent to them on the runway. She saw Jake walking quickly and so strongly with his escorts. The military wasted no time. Within seconds of Jake stepping on that plane, the plane began to back up. Cal watched Jake’s plane head to a runway as she stood in center of the plane. An immediate empty feeling hit her. They had reached their furthest distance apart in seven months.

Cal swallowed and finally looked at the plane she had boarded. “Wow.” She commented aloud and she took her seat on the black leather bench seat against the window.

Cal rested her head back in the moment directly after they hit the air. She closed her eyes, mind never far from Jake. She snapped to attention when she heard the click-click of a door. She turned her head to the sound to see a different man walk from the back of the plane. An immediate warm feeling told her she knew him. Cal smiled at him.

“Cal.” He called her name like it was a sign of relief and walked up to her. “You don’t know who I am.” He extended his hand warmly, when hers met his, he cupped his other hand over hers. “I apologize for the intrusion on your privacy but I just had to meet you. You don’t mind, do you?”