32
The excitement of the trip to Denver for the finals of the National Science Contest should not have overcome Heather’s horror at the president’s announcement that the alien nanotechnology was on track for public release. But somehow, standing in the midst of the exhibit level of the Colorado Convention Center, it did. No matter how self-centered and shallow it seemed, she just couldn’t help herself. They had done it. Their cold fusion project was right up there on the national stage.
As for the other thing, she would just have to have some faith that the US government knew what the hell it was doing.
Heather had ridden up to Denver in the backseat of the family car, cheered by her mom’s and dad’s excited chatter as they drove. Mark and Jennifer had traveled with their own parents, but they had all linked up at the Country Inns and Suites where they were staying. This quick trip over to the convention center was merely to allow them all to get a look at where they would be setting up tomorrow, in preparation for the Saturday event. Standing here on a Thursday night, despite a number of other students scoping out their assigned spots, the exhibit hall felt like a tomb. Something about a huge hall, before it filled with people, equipment, and noise, just felt hollow.
“Dad, Mom, I’m going to grab Mark and Jen and check this place out.”
Gil McFarland smiled. “Okay, but let’s meet back here in a half hour. Everyone’s starting to get hungry, and tomorrow’s going to be a long day of setup and preparation. I want you to be in bed early.”
“Got it.”
Heather found Mark and Jennifer already heading toward her from the 14th Street lobby.
“I see you’re the early bird, as usual,” said Mark.
“My dad just drives faster than yours.”
“No joke.”
Jennifer looked around. “Have you found our designated spot yet?”
“Yes. They marked areas for each entry. We’ll be setting up right over there near the partition between exhibit halls A and F.” Heather pointed across the floor. “They said we’d get more instructions in the morning when we sign in.”
Something about Jennifer caused Heather to look at her more closely. She seemed nervous, her small hands clenching and unclenching as she moved around. “What’s up, Jen?”
Jennifer looked at her curiously. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. You just seem a little wired.”
Mark nodded. “Yeah, she’s been like that all evening.”
“I guess I’m just nervous about being out in front of all these people.”
Mark laughed. “We’re hardly in front of anybody. There must be spots for a hundred finalists.”
“Fifty-four,” Heather corrected. “One from each state, one from the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and Guam.”
“Well, let’s take a look around. What do you say we start from the outside and work our way in?”
“Lead on,” Heather said, falling in beside him. Jennifer followed a couple paces back, something that, again, struck Heather as odd. When she got a chance to chat with her friend privately, sans Mark, she’d dig a little deeper into what was going on with her.
The circuit around the outside of the building only reinforced her first impression. It was beautiful, all modern angles and glass, designed to bring the beauty of the Western skies inside. From the outside, the evening reflections in the glass were simply gorgeous.
14th Street, Champa Street, Spear Boulevard, Welton Street, and then back to 14th Street. Each side of the convention center featured its own lobby, although the two largest were off Spear and 14th since the parking areas occupied most of the space on the other two streets. The net effect on a small-town girl was breathtaking.
As they walked back into the 14th Street lobby, Mark clapped his hands together, rubbing them briskly. “Okay, I’m ready to kick a little booty.”
Heather laughed. “Okay, Coach. You know it’s not a sporting event, right?”
“Competition’s competition.”
“Whatever. We’d better link back up with our folks. I told Dad we’d be back fifteen minutes ago.”
Mark shook his head. “By now I’m sure he’s learned to mentally adjust for your time estimates. After all, you are a girl.”
“Ha-ha. You’re so funny.”
As they reached their parents, Jennifer bent to tie a loose shoelace. Seeing his chance, Mark leaned in close to Heather and whispered.
“I need to talk to you privately.” As he pulled back, a slight nod toward his sister indicated the subject of the desired conversation.
Just then, Anna McFarland interrupted. “Enough chitchat. We’re all starving, and you kids need to get some sleep tonight. Everyone back to the cars.”
By the time they finished eating dinner at the restaurant and made their way back to the hotel, it was after ten. As much as Heather wanted to meet with Mark, she was desperate to talk to Jennifer first. Since Jennifer was rooming with Heather, leaving Mark a solo room, the choice was easy. She’d catch up with Mark tomorrow.
When Heather stepped into her room and flipped on the light switch, she spotted Jennifer sitting on one of the double beds. As she started to say hi, the word froze in her throat. Jennifer sat fully clothed in the center of the bed, her arms hugging her knees tightly to her chest, slowly rocking herself backward and forward. And as she rocked, completely oblivious to Heather’s presence, her eyes stared off into the distance, focused on something that only she could see.
Heather turned to go get help, but Jennifer’s soft voice stopped her.
“Heather, wait.”
Heather turned back toward Jennifer, and as her eyes locked with her friend’s, a sudden calmness draped her like a blanket. Somehow, as she stared into those strangely active pupils, all her worries slowly melted away.