“So, are you going to tell me what the doctors said about your appointment this morning?” I asked Jason as we walked to therapy together. I shifted my backpack from one shoulder to the other. We were walking more slowly than any other day. We wanted to spend as much time together as we possibly could.
He looked off towards the street, away from my face. “They told me they found something odd with my DNA, that it looks as though it’s been mixed with some other DNA. They took some hair to continue testing it to figure it out,” he replied.
I frowned. “You know what it is the other DNA is, don’t you?” I asked. When he didn’t say anything, I stopped him, pulling on arm so he would face me. “Jason, talk to me. You remember everything that was done to you in that lab, don’t you. It’s okay. You can tell me anything, you know that.”
“I don’t want it to affect how you see me,” he admitted finally looking into my eyes. The uncertainty hurt so hard that I wasn’t sure if I could start breathing again.
“Jason, nothing you say to me will make me change how I see you. You’re my only friend in this shitty world. It’s okay,” I reassured him, giving him a smile.
He frowned, sighing. “It’s probably a bunch of different DNA. They did a lot of tests on me. The most recent was cat DNA. It’s why my hair changed colors, or it’s why I assume it changed colors. I guess I don’t actually know for sure. Just a hunch.”
“Cat DNA? They’ve put other stuff in your system other than that before?” I asked, baffled.
He nodded. “Yes. They wanted to see how a human body would react, if it would start taking on the abilities and mannerisms of the DNA put into the human body. A few times it worked, other times it didn’t. They were really pushing this one, giving me bonding serums to make the DNA really bond. I haven’t noticed anything other than the hair, though.”
“I bet your health also has something to do with it. I mean, you were as healthy as a horse, and no one who was kidnapped and experiment on would have perfect health. It just wouldn’t make sense. But, if you had animal DNA in you, it would probably boost your health a bit,” I concluded, walking again and thinking about what I should do with the information presented to me.
“Don’t tell anyone, though,” he told me. When I asked why, he continued, “They’ll figure it out on their own, but until then, I don’t want them to put me back in a lab somewhere to do more experiments. I can’t do that again. It was why I ran away. I am done being a guinea pig. Especially now that I’ve found someone so important to me.”
I smiled at that last statement. I always knew I meant a lot to him, but it was good to hear it, to get reassurance. “I won’t let them take you. I’ll always protect you, Jason. I’d do anything for you. You know that.”
“I do know that, and that’s why I don’t want you to do anything about this. I just want to go to homecoming and enjoy this weekend and deal with the appointment and doctors stuff next week. This weekend is our weekend,” Jason replied just as we arrived at the rehab center. “Go knock ‘em dead. I’ll wait for you as per usual.” He smiled at me, kissing me lightly on the cheek.
I grinned as I headed inside to Megan. “Someone’s in a good mood today,” she commented as I got closer. “Good day today?”
“Homecoming week, so we did games and whatnot today,” I told her as I took my place on the bike and Megan set the timer for ten minutes. This was the warm-up, the easiest workout of the day. It’d get harder from here.
“And did a certain orange top ask you out, yet?” Megan asked with a wink. She was setting up the cones, the next exercise I’d be doing.
“He did, actually. I have to go look for a dress after this before tomorrow so I have something to wear,” I admitted. I didn’t usually wait until the last minute to shop, but I hadn’t really expected to get real dressy, and I was just going to wear something I had worn awhile ago, but for Jason, I wanted to look extra special.
“You two are good for each other,” Megan told me. “You two should have a great time. I’m really envious of you two.”
“Why is that?”
“I’ve never been with someone who so clearly loves me.”
~.~.~.~.~.~.~
I stared at myself in the mirror. I wasn’t sure I was satisfied with myself. Would Jason like it? He was due to arrive any moment. Jason had only ever seen me in jeans and nice shirt, maybe. Or, basketball shorts and T-shirts. My hair wasn’t usually done, and I didn’t usually wear lots of make-up or anything, let alone jewelry. I was so out of my element right now.
The dress I wore was a dark blue. The top was haltered and there were pieces of jeweled fabric that criss-crossed the bodice. On the sides, from below my boobs to above my hips were bare. And there was a slit in the dress from near my hip down. I wore high heeled gold gladiator heels. My hair was curled and half pulled back and trailed down my back with bangs straight and framing my face. My make-up was done to bring out my eyes as my mother had said. I felt very much out of my comfort zone at the moment.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and I froze. Jason was here. This was it. The moment he’d get to see me all done up. Would he think I looked awkward? Taking a deep breath, I headed to the door. My mother was calling up the stairs for me, but I was at the top in no time. I was taking deep breaths hoping I wouldn’t fall down the stairs when my father turned and caught sight of me.
“Honey, you look stunning,” he remarked, tapping Jason on the shoulder so he’d turn around and see me. Jason’s parents were there as well, and his mother was also taking pictures. My mother was off on the side taking a million pictures. It was odd that at this moment, I felt more a part of this family than I ever had before. Jason just brought us closer together. He made us a family.
My brother, Kale came out of the living room upon hearing the commotion. He and his girlfriend Lana stood in the entry way to admire as well. The two had arrived late last night and were staying for the weekend. When I looked over at him, he made a funny face to make me laugh and break the awkwardness.
After what felt like an eternity, I got to the bottom and waltzed over to Jason, who was donned in a clean black suit with a vest that matched the color of my dress. He cleaned up pretty well, too, and I told him as much. “You look beautiful,” he told me, smiling down at me. I was suddenly very shy, and all I could do was look down.
“I want to get a picture of you two,” my mother called out and she shooed us over to the fireplace for a nice backdrop. And the pictures commenced. Pictures with each other, with the parents, by ourselves. You name it and the picture was taken. I wasn’t used to so much attention from my family, and I just wanted to vanish. But, a part of me was enjoying this, too.
My dad gave us a ride to the school, and as the two of us got out of the car, my dad told me to be careful. My parents were going away for the weekend with my brother and his girlfriend to some Casino not too far away. So, I’d have the house to myself. I think my dad was worried what Jason and I could do alone in the house.. A part of me hoped we did take advantage of it. But, I could never push Jason into it. He was so naïve when it came to those things, and I doubt he even really understood what he was feeling. I’d need to teach him as we went, which I didn’t mind so much. It wasn’t much different than anything else we did.
