Page 103 of Chasing Infinity

“If energy is put off in a reaction, it must be exergonic. That’s right, isn’t it?” she asks me, peeking one eye open.

“You got it. Exergonic reaction. So then what’s the opposite of that?” I quiz.

“Endergonic. Energy goes into the reaction, so the products have more energy than the reactants.”

“Beautiful,” I tell her, placing that flashcard into the ‘know-it’ pile.

We’ve been studying together for the last hour or so. Parks has her last AP biology exam before the final next week, and she wants to ensure that she’s got everything down perfectly. I have no doubt in her, but ever the perfectionist, she roped me into being her study buddy.

“Okay,” I say, patting my hand on her leg. “We need to take a break now. Just for a minute or two.”

“Fine,” she mumbles, stretching her arms above her head and arching her back. Parks has her honey-brown hair curled today, and it splays out across the surface of her backpack. I try my hardest not to look at her, but she’s too beautiful that I can’t peel my eyes away from her. As soon as she relaxes, I move my eyes away.

“Have you heard back from any colleges?” I ask her. A slow smile forms on her lips, and she nods. I realize she’s waiting for me to ask further, so I nudge her leg. “Well?”

“I got into MITandCornell. My top two!” she exclaims, sitting up, so she’s face to face with me. Her eyes sparkle as she delivers her news, and I instantly pick up on her energy.

“Parks, that’s amazing! I’m so proud of you!”

“What about you? Have you heard back from any?”

A sour feeling settles in my stomach. I never actually told her that I haven’t applied anywhere yet. I’m not sure what I plan to do, so I’m sure as hell not wasting money until I have a better idea. “I haven’t yet.”

“That’s okay. There’s still time,” Parks chirps, smiling at me.

“Have you thought more about what you want to major in?”

Addison shakes her head. “No, I’m still leaning more towards chemistry so I can go into research. But I also started thinking that forensic science might be cool. Who knows, maybe if I do that, I could end up working at the FBI with my dad!”

“That sounds like a great gig for you,” I respond.

The mention of her dad has me thinking back to my conversation with him a few months ago. I’m suddenly aware of his business card sitting in my wallet in my back pocket. After I had walked into the café that morning and asked what he knew about my father, all hell came raining down.

“You better sit down,” Mr. Parks had said to me, a grim expression taking over his face.

He walked me over to one of the tables near the back of the café, and I sat across from him hesitantly. His first question was why I came to him. I told him about the ledger I had found on my father’s desk and how something about it didn’t sit right with me. He asked me a few more questions about what was in there, asking me to remember as much as possible about each line item and the price it was going for.

He told me I did the right thing, coming to him to talk about this, but he didn’t give me many answers. He reached in his back pocket and pulled out a business card, sliding it across the table towards me. “Noah, I want you to listen to me,” he started, looking at me gravely. “Your father is currently under investigation for some serious crimes. That’s partly why I’m here. There’s not much else I can tell you, but this is my department’s business card. If it ever comes to it, call my supervisor and tell him who you are and that you’ve spoken with me.”

I narrowed my eyes and took the card, the heavy cardstock weighing against my fingers.

“What you told me today might be able to help get this investigation rolling again, just as long as nothing compromises it. It’s imperative that you don’t tell anyone that we had this conversation, do you understand?” he asked me. I nodded, knowing I had no one I could talk to about this anyway.

After that, I left the café feeling only slightly better. At least someone in power knew about the ledger, so I didn’t have to worry about it anymore.

“Noah?” Addison’s soft voice brings me back to the present, and I look at her blankly. “You in there? I asked you a question.”

“Sorry,” I shake my head. “What was your question?”

“Are you going to prom?” Addison asks hesitantly. Her cheeks heat up a bit as she gauges my reaction.

“Are you?” I ask her, my brain still foggy from thoughts of my discussion with her father.

Obviously, that’s not quite what she’s hoping I would say. Her eyes become guarded, and I hate it. I hate it when she hides from me. “I’m not sure. No one’s asked me yet.”

I laugh under my breath. “That’s surprising.”

“Why’d you say it like that?”

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