The tangential but very relevant story that will seem like it has absolutely nothing to do with the main story until it does, so the reader will be excused from thinking, at least initially, that it is nothing but a transparent (and pathetic) ploy on the author’s part to flesh out a story that is moving too fast and might finish before some arbitrary word count has been met. Because it’s not. Really. You’ll see. Also, please see previous disclaimer about the author having zero knowledge about particle accelerators, generic or the Large Hadron Collider in specific, which this is most emphatically not about.
“Sarah, really?” Martha picked up her coffee cup and stirred in an equal measure of sugar and creamer. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am! Oh, come on, it will be exciting. And it’s perfectly safe.” Sarah sipped her own mug of tea, cupping the warmth in both hands.
“How can you say that? You don’t know.” Martha clicked her tongue disapprovingly. “It’s stupid.”
“It’s romantic.”
“It’s creepy. And dangerous.”
“It’s unusual and a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Sarah said stubbornly. “Just because you and Nathan never do anything interesting, doesn’t mean everyone else has to be boring.”
“Sarah!” Martha looked hurt. Sure, it was true she wasn’t the most exciting person ever, but she had her moments.
“I’m sorry. I’m sure you can be wild and exciting,” she said, but it didn’t sound like she meant it. “We will take every precaution, the place will be closed, and it’ll be fine. The worst I’ll end up with are some slide burns.” She laughed, her dimples showing.
“Having… intercourse… while sliding down the giant six story slide in a haunted house does not seem either fun or safe.” She picked up her muffin and tore off a small chunk.
“Listen to you. You can’t even say it,” Sarah scoffed. “I’m sorry, Martha, you know I love you, but you really are a fuddy-duddy. You need to live a little.”
“Nathan likes me just the way I am,” Martha said, but she wished her voice sounded more convincing. To be honest, she wasn’t even so sure of that anymore.
“Yes, well.”
“Look, I know you don’t like him, but you don’t have to be so hard on him. I know he’s not your type, that he’s not a cool as your friends, but he makes me happy. Why can’t you just be happy for me?” To her horror, Martha found herself on the verge of tears. This always seemed to happen when she met her younger sister for coffee. No matter how accomplished she became, she’d never be as good as Sarah. She wasn’t as pretty, or outgoing, or popular, or any of the things their mother thought was important. Her PhD and stable job meant nothing. No, she was a failure because she wasn’t the life of the party and boys didn’t throw themselves at her feet.
“Oh, Martha, don’t be like that. I would be very happy if he made you happy, but it sure doesn’t seem like he does.” Sarah reached out and put her hand on Martha’s. “You seem very down lately. Is something the matter?”
Martha shook her head through her tears. She wasn’t sure what was wrong with her, but she had a sneaking suspicion and she didn’t like it. It was entirely possible she was pregnant, which would explain the mood swings and erratic behavior. She’d be thrilled except she knew what Nathan would say. He’d be mad that it would take time out of their careers. He certainly wouldn’t be any help, and probably wouldn’t even marry her. Might even break up with her. And that would make her mother hate her even more. Poor Martha, so pathetic she can’t even get the father of her child to stay with her. She’s just doomed to never be loved, but can you really say you’re surprised, I mean, look at her. She cried even harder.
“Okay,” Sarah said slowly. “I’m pretty sure you’re lying, but I can’t make you tell me. But I’m here if you want to talk, you know that, right?”
Martha nodded through her sniffles. “I know, I’m sorry. It’s not you, it’s… Oh, I don’t even know what it is.”
“Well, when you feel like it, we’ll talk. In the meantime, I hate to say it, but I have to run. I can’t be late for work again or they’ll sack me. I’m already on probation.” She gave another dimpled smile, and Martha returned it weakly.
“No problem, I’ll be fine. Have fun, but be careful tonight, okay?”
Sarah leaned over and gave her a hug. “Of course I will. Don’t worry, nothing will happen, it’s not the end of the world.” She laughed and walked out of the coffee shop, leaving Martha to stare into her coffee and stew about how unfair life was.
If Sarah had ended up pregnant, Mother would have been pleased as punch about that. She’d be passing on the good Harksly genes, after all. And it wouldn’t be poor Sarah’s fault, no. Nothing was ever Sarah’s fault. Sarah got away with everything, and she had to admit a small part of her really hated her sister for that. She didn’t want to, because despite it all Sarah was very nice and didn’t seem to see the favoritism, but it was really hard not to. She sighed and finished off her coffee, leaving half the muffin on the table. She wasn’t as hungry as she’d thought she was, and she had a long day at work ahead of her. Plus, she had to admit that she was a little worried about her sister. Her escapades were getting bolder and bolder, and it was going to land her into trouble her pretty smile couldn’t get her out of one of these days.
Once ensconced in the familiar drab grey walls of her office, Martha relaxed and concentrated on her job. It was easier not to think about anything person. Work was her rock. And maybe that’s what had first attracted her to Nathan. In a lot of ways, he was like work. Unemotional, uncomplicated, and most of all, predictable. At least, he used to be. Nowadays, ever since that bitch Tracy had started working over in the main office, he’d been… distracted. Annoyed with her. Unhappy with what had been, for a very long time now, a very bland but mutually satisfying relationship.
The day dragged as Martha kept getting distracted by her thoughts of Nathan. Times she’d thought she’d heard his voice and Tracy’s giggles in the hallway. The vague noises he’d been making about being bored, needing more. How uninterested he’d seemed in her in bed lately. It couldn’t just be hormones making her paranoid. There was something going on. There had to be.
After work, she caught up with Nathan in the break room. He was chatting with some of his pals about the latest software upgrade, and when she saw the expression on his face at her appearance, she knew she was right. He jumped up and took her arm, leading her over to a corner.
“What’s up, Martha? You look like hell.” He said the words, but he didn’t really sound like he cared.
“I was just…” Her voice broke and she blinked back tears.
“Just what? What has gotten into you lately? What’s with all this emotional crap? Just spit it out, what’s wrong?” He seemed angry, and kept looking over her shoulder out the break room door. Trying to make sure he knew when Tracy walked by, most likely.
“I think I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.
He was silent for a long time. Then he looked at her coldly. “I thought you were on the pill.”
“I am,” she said. “But it’s not 100% effective, you know.”
“Mostly due to user error,” he said. “Your mistake, you deal with it.”
She stared at him. This was worse than she expected. “You… you’re breaking up with me?”
“Look, I think what we had has run its course. I’m bored, you seem bored, it’s not going anywhere. I need more excitement in my life. Excuse me.” He pushed past her and hurried out the door, after Tracy.
“Martha, are you okay?” Greg put an arm around her. “He’s an ass. You know that. I don’t know what you ever saw in him.”
“He… he paid attention to me,” she said softly. “He was one of the only guys to ever do that.”
Greg sighed and reached into his bag. “Here, I think you need this right now. Go home, have a nip, take a long, hot bath, and things really will seem better in the morning.” He handed her a silver flask, and she took it.
She left the break room, but instead of going home, she locked herself in her office and drank every drop of the whiskey in the flask. It was bad, but she didn’t care. It also didn’t make her feel any better, but she hadn’t expected it would. It did, however, make her feel bolder than she ever had in her life. If she was ever going to do anything crazy, now was definitely the time.
She cracked her office door open, and heard voices. She almost pulled the door shut, but something made her pause. She recognized those voices. Nathan and Tracy. Nathan murmuring explanations of the equipment that she was sure Tracy couldn’t understand, and Tracy giggling that annoying, high-pitched giggle of hers.
They moved out through the corridors, and when she heard the door to the ladies room open and close, she slipped down the hall and came face-to-face with Nathan standing there waiting for Tracy.
“Martha,” he said, surprised and a little nervous.
“Nathan,” she said mildly. “Can I talk to you about something? It will just take a minute.” She was proud of herself for not slurring any words, and she managed to not sway too much.
“Um…”
“Relax, it’s work related,” she said. “C’mon.”
She stumbled off down the hall towards the access door, him following her with a frown.
“What is it?” he asked again.
“You’ll see,” she said, opening the door.
“Martha, you can’t do that! They’ve sterilized the area! They’re running a test tomorrow! You can’t just…”
“C’mon, Nathan, haven’t you ever wanted to do it in there? I bet Tracy wouldn’t be willing to, probably thinks it’s radioactive and she’ll grow a thirst breast or something.” She giggled. “You know you want to…”
“Martha, you’re drunk,” he said, reaching out to firmly close the door, but the damage had been done. Dust, hair, and skin cells had drifted in through the opening, and made their way into the inner chamber. They shouldn’t have, but they did.
“Yes, and you’re an ass, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do it one more time,” she said. “For old time’s sake. And something exciting.”
“Something exciting, you say? Anything I want?” There was a speculative gleam in his eye.
“Anything at all,” she said.
He leaned over and whispered in her ear. She turned bright red, but didn’t say anything. When he finished, she nodded slowly.
“Okay, but I really don’t know where we’ll be able to find a giant inflatable dolphin at this hour…”
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