Integrate by Adele Jones

Author:Adele Jones [Jones, Adele]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: young adult, Christian, GMO, medical, mystery, Brisbane, gene therapy, science
Publisher: Rhiza Press
Published: 2014-09-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Blaine hunched down into his jacket and shivered. A cool breeze crept from the river and harassed him, making it impossible to get warm. Despite the half-portion of Ramer’s Cure he’d taken earlier, he was cold yet hot. Even eating the sandwich he’d purchased from a local café had made little difference. Whenever he stood up, he felt dizzy and nauseous. It seemed his condition was growing increasingly unstable.

The sun hung low in the sky and he knew Riverwalk and the bridges would soon light up in brightly-coloured hues. The Wheel of Brisbane would also be illuminated, its huge spokes glowing like part of a giant, iridescent bicycle wheel turning high above the ground.

New Year’s Eves of the past ran through his mind. He mentally retraced his steps from that wonderfully mad evening last year with Jett and Sophie. Their laughter still rang in his ears; their talk about hopes and dreams echoing in his mind. He could still feel the music that pulsed through the crowd, demanding they move in sync with the rhythm—and Sophie’s arms around him as they’d screamed, ‘Happy New Year,’ so loud it made his throat hurt.

It was the last time he’d hung out with both Sophie and Jett together.

Sophie.

A smile spilled effortlessly across his mouth. The way she’d grabbed his hand yesterday had reminded him of when they were children. Sophie and Jett had taken him on many walks, one on either side of his chair like a guard of honour. They’d held tightly to his hands and walked as if it was the best thing in the world to know him.

Blaine snorted. ‘Best thing—right ...’

Dream on, rat boy. He knew he had to stop thinking about her. It could never be. His genes were messed up. That’s what had landed him in this fix in the first place. But of its own accord, his brain reminded him of their perfect night. And the amazing day that followed ...

They had eaten breakfast at a café, taken a bird’s eye view of the city through a Wheel of Brisbane gondola—three sweaty, over-excited teenagers amidst the eclectic group of passengers—then ambled about the waterfront. With such a warm day, they had lingered under the arches of the twisted metal pylons lining The Arbour. These ornamental features always reminded Blaine of giant silver leeches. Coiling vines of leafy bougainvilleas snaked about the overhead structures, adding magenta highlights to the greenery.

Jett had, unsurprisingly, decided ice cream would provide the perfect end to their outing. Blaine and Sophie were left alone on a footbridge near the Formal Gardens. It seemed they could never talk enough to make up for the lost years that had held Blaine captive. As he made a joke about something inane, Sophie had grown silent and rested her head against his shoulder.

The booming fireworks that had died away just after midnight seemed to start again within him. Blaine could still remember the warmth of her body as she had leaned into him and tilted up her face.

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