Experiment Zero

10. Sleepover

  I nod, holding up my duffel bag.

  "Nothing in there that could pose a threat for Zero or yourself, right?" She asks, and I hesitate a second, before nodding.

No threat....unless he tried to eat the deodorant, but I could just tell him no if it came to that.

She smiles. "Now the sooner you step into that room, the sooner the timer starts," She says, motioning to a large electronic clock with the time on it. All I have to do is stay with Zero until eight o'clock in the morning the next day.  It's so much easier said than done.

"I lost my key card," I admit sheepishly. Her expression goes sour.

   "Again?" I nod and she sighs, before following me to the door. 

I mean technically I didn't lose it again, since the first time it was crushed to pieces by Zero, but those are just semantics. 

 She swipes her key card in the slot angrily, before storming off, probably upset that she has to find another key card now. I resist the urge to stick my tongue out at her like a five year old.

 I sigh, taking a deep breath, before pushing the door open.

   Zero's sitting on his cot, staring at-

     I inhale sharply, and Zero's head whips towards me. 

On the other side of the room, they have another cot set up, but weirdly, it's pink. What a kind gesture for Mrs. Clark to get me a pink cot, but it's not like I'm staying here forever. It's just tonight. And why of all colors, did the bed have to be pink? 

Zero stands up, and I look at him, forcing a smile and trying to ignore the awkwardness of seeing him for the first time since he threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

      "Ready for a sleepover?" I ask, and his lips tug up in a smile,which stuns me for a second. 

I turn my head and quickly walk over to throw my duffel bag onto the bed. "You hungry?" I ask, taking two fruit cups out along with two spoons.

 I toss a fruit cup and spoon to Zero, who catches them in the air, and plop down on the bed, trying to act normal and like this is an everyday occurrence to be chilling in a cell with someone who's not human and eat fruit cups.

    The fruit is sweet and juicy, peaches, my absolute favorite type of fruit cup. I hum in happiness.

Zero, done with his food, gives me a strange look, which makes me regret humming that tune.

  I hear him chuckle, which surprises me. That's twice in two days! It's almost unbelievable how he can still chuckle in the situation he's in.

 He sees the small smile growing on my face and beams, coming over and plopping down beside me, making me catapult upwards from his weight before settling back down, my side pressed up against him. I freeze, but when he makes no other movement I relax, wondering if I should scoot over.

      I clear my throat, disposing of the silence. "So, Zero, do you have anything planned?"

      He cocks his head, thinking, before shaking it. Again I'm reminded that he can speak English, and although I'm burning to question him about it, I hold it in. mrs. Clark is no doubt watching and listening.

 I sigh, swinging my feet. We can't just sit around here all day. I go over to the glass and knock. A few seconds later, Mrs. Clark appears. She has head phones on that allow her to listen in, and she gestures for me to speak.

       "May Zero and I go to the arena?" I say out loud. She pauses a moment, before nodding. She disappears and Zero jumps up at the sound of the door opening.