Chapter 16
Aisha taped up the last box containing the repacked dishes in the kitchen. She reached to lift the box from the floor and quickly realized it was much heavier than it appeared.
"No worries, let me help," Billy said, reaching down to pick up the box.
"Thanks. Kim is checking Kat's room for one of her earrings and I think everyone else is already downstairs," Aisha said, writing 'Plates' across the side of the box as he held it at her arm's level.
He looked down to meet Aisha's eyes. "From your observations, what do you think about Adam's sudden outpouring of emotions?"
Aisha shifted her weight to lean against the kitchen counter. She took a breath and looked away from Billy's piercing greyish green eyes. He always knew how to ask the questions that forced her to consider the obvious reality in front of her—no matter how much she wanted to look away. She had become his interpreter when Trini left, finishing his sentences and train of thought when his brain turned faster than his words could keep up. But now, he seemed to be the one secretly interpreting her undeniable expression of worry. And she was sure he knew her answer before she spoke.
"Billy, you know him as well as I do. This isn't like him. But, it felt familiar. It was too much like…," she allowed her words to trail into silence, unable to finish the sentence aloud.
"I am sure you are going to say Hate Master, but I don't want to assume," he said, as they walked towards the door and out of the apartment.
"What do you think could have caused an episode like that?" she asked, stopping just at the top of the staircase.
Billy sat the box down on the landing and surveyed the landscape. From the top of the stairs they could see the others engaged in conversation—quite engaged he noted.
"Aisha, I think the time disturbances may have caused an imbalance in the normal metabolic breakdown of neurotransmitters at the synapse. The imbalance would then result in overstimulation in the hippocampus and limbic system."
Aisha pursed her lips with a slight and playful eye roll, "Haven't had neuroscience yet."
Billy smiled and picked up the box, "I told you to take it this term," he continued down the stairs as she followed. "Anyway, I think this is only the beginning. Whatever is disturbing time is eventually going to affect us at a metabolic level."
As they reached the bottom of the landing, Aisha lowered her voice to a near whisper as she glanced around at her friends. Though they were visibly preoccupied with their conversations, she did not want the others to hear her next statement to Billy. "Those affects could be wildly unpredictable. Look at what's happening with your cell lines in the lab. I really think you need to get another pair of eyes on this—ASAP."
Billy turned just before they reached Rocky and Adam's Jeep. "I plan to do just that. Trini is coming in town tonight for a few days of her Fall break. If you don't mind, I wanted her to look over the data from the lab along with whatever results I get from the program I'm running on our computers—which reminds me—" he and Aisha walked over to the Jeep where Katherine and Rocky were still chatting as Adam looked on.
"…and I was the one who found out about your birthday before everyone else!" Rocky exclaimed in Katherine's direction. From the tone of his voice and slight redness in his face, Katherine said something to cause him to jump to his defenses.
"This appears to be the end of an emotionally charged conversation," Billy discerned as he handed the box off to Adam.
"Not really. Kat finished making Adam feel like a heel and decided that I was on probation as a friend. No emotion involved," Rocky scoffed.
"It wasn't that bad. He just seems to have a bit of a foot-in-mouth issue. I resolved it with probation," Katherine said without any hint of anger in her voice.
Aisha and Billy exchanged glances as she went over to Adam's side.
"Well, this was the last box upstairs," Billy said as he turned his attention to Katherine. "You mentioned something earlier about getting your computer set up at the new place."
"Right!" Katherine's face brightened as she seemed to remember another task. "Tanya's dad gave us a refurbished computer a few weeks ago. His office replaced the entire lot of systems and gave away all the old equipment. The only problem is the entire hard drive was wiped clear before he dropped it off."
"It would make sense, given his line of work," Billy cradled his chin in thought. "Was the operating system preserved?"
"Unfortunately, no. It turns on…but that is about it. Jason gave us a copy of Windows, but it doesn't seem to play nice with this system."
Billy clenched his belt loops as he worked out the details in his mind. "Do you know the type of computer this is—who is the manufacturer?"
Katherine thought for a few moments as everyone else looked on, curious for a change of pace to the conversation."If I am remembering this correctly, I think it is a Tandy."
Billy let out a low whistle. "Wow, Kat. I haven't used one of those in a few years."
"Tanya's dad mentioned it was originally purchased about six years ago, if that helps any," Katherine added.
"Hmm, if it is that old, the current version of Windows will not be compatible. I'll need to stop by Radio Shack and pick up a few parts. Depending on the year it was originally built, I should be able to install a new hard drive and update your memory. We can then install an updated copy of Windows and it should work great."
"That's excellent, Billy! I guess we should check with Tanya to be sure I have the details correct before you guys head over," Katherine said, as she and Billy turned to walk towards Tommy's car.
"Um, Adam, just be sure to take a dose of Benadryl in the next few hours," Billy said.
Adam looked up from a side conversation with Aisha, perplexed. "Benadryl?"
"Yeah," Billy wedged his hands in his pockets, hesitating on his next words, "Um, I don't want to alarm you guys but Adam's experience could be related to the time loss we had earlier today."
"How? You think we could all be affected the same way?" Rocky spoke up, alarmed.
"Well, it just depends. With the loss of hours, we could all be experiencing a build-up of acetylcholine at our chemical synapses, along with other neurotransmitters."
The group looked to Billy, awaiting his translation. Billy sighed and looked to Aisha.
"What he's saying is that because of the time disturbance, we may have disruptions to how our brains communicate with the rest of our body…including how we recall memories," Aisha translated.
"And one more thing," Billy turned back to Adam, "would there have been something in the last twenty-four hours that could have triggered a strong emotional response? That could be one reason why you were more susceptible."
Adam looked quickly to Aisha then back to Billy, each glance carrying an unspoken confirmation.
"Just try to stay calm over the next few days," Billy said, with a look of understanding.
"With midterms next week, that may be easier said than done," Adam said, leaning back into the car.
"Well, do the best you can. It will also help temper the headache," Billy turned back to Katherine, "I guess we should ask Tanya about the computer before Tommy and I leave. Before I forget, I may need to run a program on your computer this weekend once we get set up."
"Sure. Rocky, you guys have the directions to our new place. But, if you get lost, remember we are in the same neighborhood as Tommy and Jason. See you guys later."
Katherine and Billy walked over to Tommy's car across the parking lot. Rocky waited until they were just out of earshot to finally let his thoughts be heard.
"I think the three of us should dip out and grab a bite to eat. There are more than enough people to help Kat and Tan. I doubt they want the three of us around anyway," Rocky said, closing the hatch.
"To be honest, I'm not sure I'm gonna feel comfortable there myself. But…we did promise," Adam said.
Rocky gave Adam a sympathetic glance and a quick look back towards Tommy and the others. "Aisha, are you sure you don't want to ride with us?"
Aisha watched as Tommy and Billy drove away with a roar from the Mustang's engine. She folded her arms into her sweater as a cool breeze passed over her. "You guys go ahead. I'll ride back with Kim. Besides, I think I should try to patch things up with Tanya," she said, casting a forgiving look towards Adam.
"Suit yourself. But after we finish up over there, the three of us are out," Rocky disappeared into the car and started the engine.
"So, second thoughts about that date later?" Adam's voice barely audible above the hum of the engine.
"No way," she said, matching his volume. "Please don't beat yourself up over this. I'm not. You should probably get some rest later, though. We can always reschedule."
"Since it was your pick…I'll do whatever you say at this point."
Aisha caught a glimpse of Rocky preoccupied with the radio presets in the car, then wrapped her arms around Adam's waist to bury her head in his chest. "Promise me you won't dwell on this the rest of the day."
Adam rested his cheek on the top of her head, knowing they could only have but a brief moment this way. "I promise."
They detached from their embrace, hearing the scan of the radio abruptly stop.
"See you tonight?" Adam said.
Aisha smiled "Definitely. Even if it's just a movie and a nap for you."
She watched as they cleared the exit of the complex leading to the main street before realizing she was not quite alone.
"Hey, they're gone?" Kim said, stepping down to the grass to meet Aisha.
"Yeah, they were worried about me sticking around after earlier," Aisha said, folding her arms back into her sweater.
Kim fixed her gaze on Aisha, eager to ask her next question.
"What do you think sparked all of that anger? According to Jason, they broke up on good terms," Kim asked
"Well," Aisha started slowly, "last night, he and I were talking, and I mentioned something about my conversations with Tanya."
"You mean the ones about her asking you for advice about him?"
Aisha looked down and raised an eyebrow in agreement.
"See, this is why you should have told him how you felt then."
Aisha rolled her eyes at Kim's statement and sighed. "Kim, it wasn't the same between us as it was between you and Tommy. Adam and I were just friends. I couldn't ask him to stay single and wait for me while I was half-way around the world. I never knew how he felt about me."
"How could you not know?" Kim scoffed. "By the way, what were you guys talking about to bring up Tanya and phone calls from three years ago?"
"Just…um…well, mostly how the last three years have been for us."
"What else?"
"That's it. We watched a movie, too."
"What movie?"
"Kim! Where are you going with this?" Aisha then remembered, "and why was Adam at our apartment on Wednesday?"
"He wanted to ask about Rocky's dance."
Aisha glared at Kim knowing she was only telling half of the truth. Tired and mentally worn, she decided to wait for either food or caffeine to tackle the conversation further.