Last Girls by Demetra Brodsky

Author:Demetra Brodsky
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

BOHICA

BEND OVER, HERE IT COMES AGAIN

MR. WHITLOCK HAS me paired with Rémy for today’s lab experiment. Chemical bonding. I glance at my last lab partner and see Shawna paired with Brian Sharazi this time. It’s hard not to wonder if my prepper-slash-map-giving chemistry teacher is messing with me or if that’s just today’s lesson. He does jump around the textbook rather than following the chapters in order. I’m either thinking about it too hard, or the paranoia surrounding everyone on the compound is becoming a contagion.

The prelab was part of our homework, defining terms and answering a few questions on ionic and covalent compounds. My weekend was packed with making up chores, so I had to finish the assignment in the parking lot this morning before school. It’s what we have to do sometimes. Usually when Dieter Ackerman shows up in the morning to “talk” to Mother, and we want to get out of the house before it gets uncomfortable. This morning Birdie had that stubborn look, ripe to ask him about Daniel. I rushed her out the door to avoid any potential meltdowns that might have come from his answers. Apparently, preventing Birdie from incriminating herself is now my biggest responsibility.

Brian beans Rémy in the head with a crumbled piece of paper. I’m astounded by how dumb that is, considering we’re dealing with open flames.

“Is he trying to start a fire?” I ask.

Rémy opens the paper, but it’s blank. “It might take the chill out of the room.”

I’m not sure what that’s supposed to mean.

The six beakers on our table contain small amounts of different chemical compounds: sugar, salt, oxalic acid, cobalt (II) sulfate, nickel (II) sulfate, and starch. I use a Sharpie to mark the pie tin we’re using with the numbers one through six, clockwise, to keep track of the chemicals left to right. I scan the lab sheet and read the procedure for Part I: Melting Point. Easy. We just have to place a small amount of each compound on the pie tin. I pick up the metal scoop and get to work.

Rémy leans closer to examine the lab sheet and bumps my injured shoulder. “Looks pretty straightforward.”

“Yep. Pretty simple.”

“Doesn’t seem like there’s any undisclosed information.”

“Shouldn’t be. We just have to follow the steps.”

He’s crowding my personal space, pressing against my arm with his shoulder. It takes all of my willpower to not react. I casually lean away and place the small sectioned aluminum pie tin on an iron ring positioned above our Bunsen burner.

“Do you want to light it?”

“Sure.”

Rémy claps me on the deltoid and squeezes, the way you would with a buddy. Only this time, I wince. My breath catches in my throat and he looks me dead in the eye and tips his head, but I give nothing away.

I don’t know why everyone is acting like there’s some prize being awarded to whoever can outweird the weirds this week. I put it out of my mind and watch Rémy twist the ring at the bottom of the Bunsen stand.

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