"Don't give me that look." Sawyer chuckled slightly. "I'll be back in less than a month for Christmas."
"I know. It's just seeing you made me realize how much I missed you."
Sawyer wrapped his arms around me and drew me close to him. My arms went around his middle. I guess it didn't matter if Ricky was watching us.
"I know. I love you."
"I love you too," I whispered.
Sawyer leaned down and lightly pressed his lips against mine. This time I leaned more into it; his arms tightened around me. Sawyer, little by little, unwrapped himself and went around the car to the driver's side. I watched him get in, and Ricky drove down the street. I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as I hugged myself. When Sawyer left for school, he had done so in the dark so that no one knew we were together. This time I got to see him go. I was not sure which one was worse.
My head hung low, and I shuffled back into the house. As I was closing the front door, Dr. Vodola marched down the last couple of steps. His face was red as he snatched my elbow in his grip. I yelped. Dr. Vodola dragged me through the dining room and kitchen. I stumbled with every step that he forced me to take. We got into the garage.
"Get into the car." Dr. Vodola growled.
I didn't ask questions as I got into the passenger's seat. The car roared on, and he zipped out of the driveway. My fingers curled tighter around the door handle.
"I'm the only one who takes these experiments seriously. Dr. Green is taking Adam home for Thanksgiving like a houseguest, and then there is you. You and Sawyer are kissing, and God only knows what else like it's not a big deal. You're going back on lockdown."
My stomach dropped.
"What?"
Dr. Vodola glanced at me then back at the road.
"I saw you two kissing just moments ago. I saw you going into Sawyer's room the night he got home. You two must think I'm the dumbest person on the Earth."
"We don't-"
He laughed. "Really? You two were kissing outside in my driveway."
My face warmed. "Please, don't put me back in that room."
"Would you rather go back to sleeping on my lab floor at the house?"
My eyes started to sting. My voice was gone as a lump started to grow. Dr. Vodola scanned his badge at the parking lot and parked in his spot. We got out of the car, and he grabbed my elbow once again. My eyes stayed on the floor as we went through the halls. My heart raced as I mentally went back to that room that had been my prison all those months. I was alone except for the tutoring. I wasn't allowed to go anywhere. We stood outside the room once again, and it didn't change. It still had my name on it. Dr. Vodola opened the door and shoved me in. I stumbled over a couple of steps and turned around to face him. I watched as he closed the door then I heard a click.
I leaned against the wall with my knees pressed to my chest. My chin rested on the tops of my legs. I sat outside the door, hoping that this was only a scare tactic and that I would be allowed home soon. Or that Dr. Green would come to my rescue once again. My ears perked up as I heard footsteps headed towards my door.
"Have you lost it?" I heard Dr. Green hiss.
"No, I haven't, but she needs constant monitoring. If we lose her, we lose so much."
They were closer to my door now as their voices were louder.
"I'm monitoring her and her health. Her menstrual cycle is on track too." Dr. Green's voice stayed strong.
"I saw the files; you lied to me about her immune system levels."
I lifted my head and looked over my shoulder. Dr. Green lied about that? Dr. Green has always been meticulous about everything. Why would he falsify records?
"You accessed my files without my permission?"
"I wouldn't have to if you didn't put about seventeen years of research at risk. We worked for two years before she was a success. Then it took fifteen years to get to Adam. Her immune system is rocky at best, and she's been going to school plus is hanging around Sawyer, who is also at school. She is exposed to so many germs. Plus, I've caught her and Sawyer kissing. God only knows what their relationship could do to her. We don't even know if she can produce kids as a clone. Is that fair to set my son up for a relationship like that?"
My stomach dropped. I didn't think of that. I might not be able to have kids; we weren't sure about the reproductive system and how well it worked. I was still getting looks and talked about as being a clone. Did I want to drag Sawyer into that mess for the rest of his life? He didn't deserve that. He had a chance to escape all of this situation with his dad and me.
I pushed myself up and slowly made my way to the window. My fingertips pressed against the glass. The door opened behind me, but I didn't even turn around.
"I heard you two. My immune system is still weak, and you're worried about what kind of life Sawyer could have with me. What do you need from me?"
Part Five
Two years later
17
Sawyer
