(REWRITING) The Skylar Experiment : Coveting

Chapter Twenty-Four - Highway To Columbus

Maybe I landed with the social services or something. Dad might have found me that way. Weird scenes of Switched At Birth played in my head. 

After a moment, he gave me back my phone and started devouring his burger with an enthusiasm that made me queasy.

"I have a proposition for you," Luc prompted. "Unless you don't want to miss school?"

Lunch hour was almost over at school. I had Chemistry period next. "I'm not keen on seeing Spencer's face. The answer would be no."

"I know someone who lives in Columbus, Ohio. He's a crack at data processing and computer science. He has a lot of contacts. I think it's time we pay him a visit."

"By someone you mean..."

"He's like us only older. His name is Michael."

"You want him to do forensics on my phone?"

Luc pushed his empty plate to the center of the table. God, he was fast. I'd barely eaten halfway through my lunch.

"But that's, like, a couple of hours on the road just to get there. Are you sure he'll see us on such short notice?"

He checked the clock above the bar top the lady was cleaning. "Nah, he'll make time. If we leave now, we have time to get back by tonight—maybe even before your father gets home."

I agreed and hurried to finish my food. I was as curious to unveil this stranger as he was. We split the bill and directed ourselves toward the exit. Before we hit the door, he stopped at a beverage menu, and it was obvious that the smoothies tempted him. 

I shuffled under the chalkboard. "Your daily dose of diabetes?"

"Could go for some hyperglycemia for the road. You know you want to."

Since I hesitated, we argued a little, then chose to get each other something instead. The waitress waved us goodbye as she handed us the cups and not-so-subtly left Luc her phone number.

My choice won as the tastiest. Which means I lost, because the orange-vanilla twist goodness was in Luc's possession. He let me dip my straw as a consolation. 

But the ride was just so quiet, and it would be a long one. I took a draw from the berry cream; it was more acidic than I would have preferred, then I had an idea. 

"Let's play a game."

"Okay?" he said. "It better not be I Spy."

I searched on my phone, shaking the remainders of my drink. "It's a get-to-know-me thingy. You answer my questions and that's it."

Luc frowned. "What's in it for me if I tell you anything?"

"Come on," I insisted. "You know almost everything about my life and I really don't know you that much. We're stuck in this car for hours. What else am I supposed to do?"

"Find another game. You have hours ahead of you."

I pouted. "Please? Luc, it's not fair."

He glanced over the wheel and scanned me for a second. He picked up the orange-vanilla. "Fine, whatever. Have at it, Sunshine. There's not a lot to uncover."

I rubbed my hands and found a bunch of questions ideas. "All right, so where do you come from? You know, before moving to Oakwood."

"Crestone, Colorado. It's my hometown."

"Favorite color?"

"Blue and green," he replied blandly.

And it rolled down from there. We both agreed that hot chocolate was the best drink, and I discovered his favorite ice cream flavor was strawberry. He liked reading to an extent.