Wings

should go get your mom. He wanted to talk to both of us. So I went to get her, and by the time we got back, he was packing his things up. He smiled and said you were in perfect health.”

“Then what was up?”

“That’s what I asked him. He said he didn’t know what I was talking about. Let’s just say that didn’t help your mom’s view of doctors. She railed about what a nut he was for weeks.”

“And you never did find out?”

Her dad shrugged. “I don’t think there was anything wrong with you. I think his stethoscope was broken, or he used it wrong or something. Then he realized his mistake, didn’t want to look incompetent, and tried to brush it all off. Doctors never like to admit they’re wrong.” He looked over at Laurel. “What is this about? Do you want us to take you to the doctor? We got you exempted from your school physical, but if it would make you feel better, we can take you now.”

Laurel shook her head. That was the last thing she wanted. “No. I really don’t.”

“Are you okay?”

Laurel smiled. “Yeah, I think I am.”

“You sure?” her dad pressed, his eyes soft but concerned.

She nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Good.” He stood and turned the knob on the door. “Oh, by the way, we got the offer from Barnes this morning.”

“That’s awesome,” Laurel said as she stared out at the darkening horizon. “I hope he buys it fast.” I don’t ever want to go back, she added in her head.

TEN

LAUREL WAS SITTING ON DAVID’S PORCH WHEN HE walked out for school the next morning. He stared down at her for a few seconds, then took a deep breath and locked the door.

“I’m sorry,” Laurel said before David could turn back around. “I had no reason to yell at you. You were so great and tried to help and I slapped you in the face for it.”

“It’s fine,” David mumbled, pocketing his key.

“No, it’s not,” Laurel said, falling into step beside him. “I was awful — I yelled at you. I never yell. I’ve just been so stressed.”

David shrugged. “I kinda deserved it. I pushed too hard. I should have backed off.”

“But I need that sometimes. I don’t like to face hard things. You’re way better at that than me.”

“That’s just because it’s not so personal for me. I’m not the one with a blossom.”

Laurel stopped and grabbed David’s hand to turn him around. When he did, she didn’t let go. It felt nice to have her hand in his. “I can’t do this without a friend. I’m really sorry.”

David shook his head, then lifted a hand slowly to her face and brushed some hair behind her ear, his thumb lightly caressing her cheek as he did. She held very still, loving the feeling of his hand against her face. “You’re impossible to stay mad at.”

“Good.” Standing so close, the warmth of his chest almost touching her, she had the sudden urge to kiss him. Without stopping to question it, she shifted her weight to the front of her toes and leaned forward. But a car flew by just at that moment and Laurel lost her nerve. She turned abruptly and started walking. “Don’t want to be late,” she said, laughing tensely.

David quickly caught up. “So, did you want to talk about it?” he asked.

“I don’t know what there is to talk about,” Laurel replied.

“What if he’s right?” David didn’t have to specify who he was.

Laurel shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense. I admit I’m a little different, and this flower on my back is seriously weird, but to actually be a plant? How could I even be alive?”

“Well, plant could mean a lot of things. There are plants with more capabilities than you could possibly imagine — and those are only the ones scientists have discovered. They suspect there are millions of species in the rain forests that no one has ever been able to study.”

“Sure, but have you ever seen a plant step out of the dirt and walk up the street?”

“No.” He shrugged. “But there are a lot of things I’ve never seen before. That doesn’t mean they don’t exist.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m learning that every day.”

“It doesn’t make sense,” she repeated.

“I thought about this a lot last night, actually. You know, on the odd chance that you were ever going to talk to me again. There’s actually a fairly easy way to prove or disprove it.”

“How?”

“Tissue samples.”

“What?”

“You give me various samples of cells from your body and we look at them under my microscope and see if they’re plant or animal cells. That should be pretty conclusive.”

Laurel wrinkled her nose. “How do I give you tissue samples?”

“We could get epithelial cells from your cheek like they do on CSI.”

Laurel laughed. “CSI? You’re going to investigate me now?”

“Not if you don’t want me to. But I figure you should at least test out what this guy — what was his name?”

“Tamani.” A small shiver traveled up her spine.

“Yeah. You should check out what Tamani said and find out if there’s any truth to it.”

“What if it is true?” Laurel had stopped walking.

He looked back at her, and her face was etched with fear. “Then you’d know.”

“But it would mean that my whole life would be this terrible lie. Where would I go? What would I do?”

“You wouldn’t have to leave. Everything could stay the same.”

“No, it couldn’t. People would find out and they’d want to…I don’t know, do stuff to me.”

“No one has to find out. You won’t tell; I won’t tell. You’ll have this amazing secret that sets you apart from everyone else. You would know that you were this…incredible thing, and no one else would ever suspect.”

Laurel kicked at the asphalt. “You make it sound exciting and glamorous.”

“Maybe it is.”

Laurel hesitated, and David stepped a little closer. “It’s your call,” he said softly, “but whatever you decide, I’ll help you.” He placed a soft, warm hand at the back of her neck and Laurel’s breath caught in her chest. “Whatever you need, I’ll be. If you need the science geek to give you answers from a textbook, I’m your guy; if you just want a friend to sit by you in bio and help you feel better when you’re sad, I’m still your guy.” His thumb slowly stroked across her earlobe and down her cheek. “And if you need someone to hold you and protect you from anyone in the world who might want to hurt you, then I am definitely your guy.” His pale-blue eyes bore into hers, and for a second she couldn’t breathe. “But it’s all up to you,” he whispered.

It was so tempting. Everything about his presence was so comforting. But Laurel knew it wouldn’t be fair. She liked him — a lot — but she wasn’t sure if her feelings were romantic or just needy. And until she was sure, she couldn’t commit to anything. “David, I think you’re right — I should get some answers. But right now all I need, all I can handle, is a friend.”

David’s smile was a little forced, but he squeezed her shoulder gently and said, “Then that’s what you’ll get.” He turned and started walking again, but he stayed close enough to her side that their shoulders brushed.

She liked that.

“These are definitely plant cells, Laurel,” David said, squinting at his microscope.

“Are you sure?” Laurel asked, taking her turn looking at the cells she had swabbed from the inside of her cheek. But even she recognized the thick-walled, square cells that dotted the brightly lit slide.

“Ninety-nine percent certain,” David said, stretching his arms above his head. “I think this Tamani guy’s on to something.”

Laurel sighed and rolled her eyes. “You weren’t there; he was seriously weird.” Yeah, keep telling yourself that; maybe you’ll believe it. She pushed the little voice away.

“All the more reason for him to be related to you.”

Laurel scrunched up her eyebrows and kicked David’s chair as he laughed. “I am incredibly offended,” she