“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 thickwalled, 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 said, widening her eyes dramatically.

“Still,” David said, “it looks like he’s right. At least about this.”

Laurel shook her head. “There’s got to be something else.”

David paused. “There is one thing, but—no, it’s dumb.”

“What?”

David studied her for a minute. “I—I could look at a blood sample.”

“Oh.” Laurel’s heart sank.

“What’s the matter?”

“How would you get the blood?”

David shrugged. “A finger prick should do it easy.”

Laurel shook her head. “I can’t do needles. They terrify me.”

“Really?”

Laurel nodded, her face pinched. “I’ve never been stuck with a needle.”

“Never?”

Laurel shook her head. “No doctors. Remember?”

“What about shots?”

“I didn’t have any. My mom had to fill out a special form to get me into school.”

“No stitches?”

“Oh, gosh,” she said, covering her mouth. “I don’t even want to think about that.”

“Okay, forget it then.”

They sat in silence for quite a while.

“I wouldn’t have to look?” Laurel asked.

“I promise. And it doesn’t really hurt.”

Laurel’s breath caught in her throat, but this seemed important. “Okay. I’ll try.”

“My mom’s diabetic, so she’s got lancets in her room for testing her blood.

That’s probably the easiest way. I’ll be right back.”

Laurel forced her breathing to even out while David was out of the room. He walked back in, hands empty.

“Where is it?” she asked.

“I’m not telling you. I’m not even going to let you see it. Scoot over. I have an idea.” He sat on the bed just in front of her. “Okay, sit behind me and put your arms around my waist. You can keep your head down against my back and squeeze me if you get scared.”

Laurel scooted behind him. She pressed her face against his back and squeezed his waist as hard as she could.

“I do need one hand,” David said, his voice a little strained.

Laurel forced herself to loosen her hold and relinquished one hand. David rubbed her palm softly as she started to squeeze him again. “Ready?” he asked.

“Surprise me,” she said, her voice breathless.

He rubbed her hand a little longer, then she let out a squeak as a sensation like a static shock erupted on her finger. “Okay, it’s over,” David said calmly.