Highly Illogical Behavior(42)

He stepped outside. And then he kept going, until he was walking down the pool steps and into the deep end. When he got there, where the drain sat brand-new and ready, he lay down on the faux-pebble surface and looked up at the stars.

And that’s where they found him sleeping the next morning.





TWENTY


    LISA PRAYTOR


Most people her age wouldn’t have been awake at eight thirty a.m. when Solomon called the next day, but Lisa wasn’t like most people. She’d already showered, gotten dressed, straightened her hair, and had a bagel with cream cheese. Sleeping in was for the unmotivated.

“You’re up early,” she answered.

“Guess where I am.”

“Very funny.”

“No, really. Guess.”

“Your bedroom?”

“I’m in the backyard, Lisa.”

“Shut your mouth.”

“I won’t. I can’t. I’m outside. It’s nice out here, right?”

“Oh my God, Sol.”

“Listen to me. I’m okay. Why aren’t you over here yet? Where’s Clark?”

“Is there even any water in the pool?”

“They just started filling it up. Said we could swim at five or six. I’m not sure I can make it that long.”

“Wait, you’re outside right now?”

“Yeah, sitting in the grass. I didn’t realize I missed doing this.”

“Wow . . . this is . . .”

“It was weird. I couldn’t sleep. At all. So in the middle of the night, I just opened the door and walked out here.”

“Amazing.”

“I fell asleep in the pool.”

“You what?”

“Dad found me before he left for work. I’ve never seen him so happy.”

“I can imagine,” she said. “I bet your mom cried.”

“She was already at work. But I’m sure she’ll attack me when she gets home.”

“This is so great, Sol. How do you feel right now?”

“Like I passed the entrance exam for Starfleet Academy.”

“I’m going to guess that means good.”

“I feel awesome. Did you know you can hear the freeway from my backyard?”

“Mine too,” she said. “I’m going to call and wake Clark up and then head over. Don’t get tired of being outside before we get there.”

“Yeah, right.”

Lisa couldn’t get Clark on the phone, so she drove over to his mom’s and banged on the door until someone answered. It was Drew and she was not happy to be awake.

“Lisa?” she said, sleepy-eyed.

“Hey, sorry. Is he here?” She stepped around her and walked down the hallway toward his room. She thought about knocking, but she didn’t. She walked right in and found him asleep with one leg hanging over the side of the bed and his face completely covered by a blanket.

“Clark?” she whispered loudly. He didn’t move. “Clark!”

He shot up and out of the bed so fast that Lisa jumped back, afraid he’d start swinging his fists or something. Then she laughed and looked him up and down.

“Clark, you’re naked.”

“Shit. Sorry.” He grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around himself. Then he sat down on the bed.

“This I did not know about you,” she said. “Must get cold.”

“What time is it?”

“Eight forty-five. I know it’s early, but Sol went outside.”

“What?”

“Yeah. He just called me. We have to go see this.”

“Okay. Right. Umm . . . don’t look.”

He quickly stood up and slid on a pair of boxers that was lying on the floor. Lisa pretended not to look, but it had been a while since she’d been alone with him and even longer since she’d seen this much of his body.

“I mean, we could wait fifteen minutes or so,” she said suggestively, reaching over to grab his wrist.

“Are you kidding me?” He pulled his arm away. “He’s outside. We’ve gotta get over there.”

With a defeated look on her face, Lisa watched as he threw on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Then, just as she stood up to follow him out, he turned back and gave her a huge smile.

“I need swim trunks, don’t I?”

“Yeah,” she said. “And sunscreen.”

On the drive over, Clark couldn’t stop talking about how proud he was of their friend. He used words like pumped and psyched and every time he said Solomon’s name, Lisa felt a little pang of jealousy. He’d just had the chance to sleep with his girlfriend and instead he was going on and on about someone else. Lisa had created this monster, but she no longer had any control over it.

“I told you it would work,” she said.

“You’re joking, right?” Clark asked, rolling his eyes.

“But, look what it’s done,” she defended. “He’s outside. It’s only a matter of time before he goes even farther.”

“Okay, Dr. Praytor,” he said with sarcasm.

Lisa thought he was joking, but the second she went to speak again, she noticed the serious look on his face and stopped herself. The rest of the ride was silent, with Lisa staring straight ahead at the road and Clark looking down at his phone. When they pulled up in the driveway, she turned to him and didn’t have to say anything for him to respond.