Page 69 of Fly's Path

Thought about it…many times.

Interesting.

Fly

And why didn’t you?

The almost instant responses stop.

Did she get distracted by something?

Or did I touch on a hard topic?

Not Invited

Vandal

LynnLeigh dips her fry into a mixture of barbecue sauce, mayonnaise, and hot sauce. “So, what is everyone doing tomorrow night?”

Kerri sets down her fork. “I have to do a night in the library. I’ve fallen so far behind I’m never going to pass my classes.”

“Getting a B isn’t failing.” Lola reaches over and takes a grape off of my plate with a wink.

“It feels like it. Especially in my family.”

“Well, your family is nuts.” Lola turns to me. “Does your family push you to get good grades?”

My brother was required to maintain a perfect grade point average, but when it came to me, they couldn't care in the least. “Nope.”

“Not at all?” Kerri gapes at me. “Wild.”

Two girls I thought were walking past stop in front of our table.

“What’s wild?” the shorter one asks as she slides into the seat next to Kerri.

“Van’s parents don’t care about his grades.”

The taller one shrugs from the seat next to Lola. “At this point, our parents don’t determine our future. We do.”

“Maia believes hard work is the answer to every problem in the world.” LynnLeigh points her fry at the taller one.

“I’ve got to take life seriously if I’m going to find a cure for heart disease.” Maia takes a bite of salmon. “Just because you and Suzie want to party all the time, doesn’t mean the rest of us do.”

The food court in the school is decent, but who trusts it enough to eat fish from it? At least she didn’t get the sushi they make here. Those platters always scare me.

“Hey, now. Leave me out of that. I like the proper balance between work and fun, which the both of you seem to be lacking.” Suzie made the smart choice of burgers and fries, something they do get right around here.

“Life should be filled with fun. Why else would we want to live it?” LynnLeigh has a point.

One I almost agree with.

“Because fun doesn’t run hospitals. Fun doesn’t run fire departments. Fun doesn’t run police stations. Fun doesn’t make sure you have food on the table. Fun doesn’t make sure your bills are paid. And fun certainly won’t get me that internship I want.” Maia glares at her.

“Genevieve Labs would be foolish not picking you. Isn’t your interview coming up soon?” Kerri reaches out and grabs Maia’s hand.

“In two weeks, and if she studies any more, her mind is going to explode,” Suzie answers instead of Maia. “It’s all she talks about.”

“Do you understand how amazing that would be...Genevieve Labs. The Kentworths have basically given those researchers a blank check and all the freedom they need within the confines of the law. I heard one of them wanted the juice of a specific berry only found in one spot on the earth and the next week, Kentworth arranged for an expedition team to head out and acquire samples on their private jets. Just like that.” Kerri snaps her fingers. “They’re the gold standard of research. They make working at a government-funded lab seem like the projects.”