One (One Universe)

I reach over to smack him. Mom rolls her eyes.
    “The other reason,” Dad raises his volume, and I know he wants the boys to hear this one, “is for subtlety’s sake. There’s been a lot of money and time poured into this place, and we’ve come up with some amazing discoveries. But we’re not here to brag. Gifted individuals are no more important or valuable than anyone else. It’s important that we all remember that.”
    I try to imagine what kind of building the Hub must be that, if it were built above ground on the Nebraska plains, would intimidate anyone enough for them to get angry.
    A security booth at the entrance scans our cuffs, electronically bleating out “Verified: Grey” or “Verified: VanDyne” for each of the tickets that have been programmed there.
    When we park, the garage is just that — a garage, like in the airport or the hospital or any other place. I itch at the button on my cuff, impatient to get out and see the Hub. And hopefully see Elias, sooner rather than later.
    We squeeze into an elevator and lurch up a few floors. I brush some lint off the black suit pants Mom made me wear and roll my ankle toward the outside of the black, pointy-toed pumps she handed me to go with it. The elevator dings, and we step out into the hugest, whitest, most glowing room I’ve ever seen.
    Everything shines with its slickness, from the tiles to the walls. A solid white ceiling stretches down the wide corridor almost as far as I can see, and it’s tiled with rectangular fluorescent lights lined up in perfect diagonal rows.
    “Welcome to the Biotech Hub Symposium,” a Hub worker greets us. “This is the center room, where we’ll be having the resources fair. Check out what’s available for the average Super and our scientists out there.” He turns and motions toward the stages. “On either end, we’ll have demonstrations.
    “The Symposium schedule is programmed into your cuffs, and you’ll need to scan into each section of the building. Different clearance levels for each participant. You understand. They’re on high alert with so many non-personnel here.”
    My heart sinks. I knew, of course, I wouldn’t be seeing the whole Hub. I guess I just didn’t think about it. But something in me knows that this might be the last chance I get, especially since I ditched Mr. Hoffman and haven’t heard from him since. All the formulas and equations and experiments of this place have been calling me since I was little. Ever since I wanted to be more than a One.
    “Thank you,” Dad says to the worker and turns back to us. “Now, go anywhere, do anything you want. Anything you’re allowed to do, which I think…” He checks his schedule. “…is pretty much just the resources fair today. And a few demos.”
    He clears his throat. “No leaving the Hub without us, obviously. You can text us as you normally would, so no excuses for anything. Meet back here at 4:00, boys, so we can take you home before the dinner, and so Merrin can go with Mom to change.”
    Dad turns to me. “Merrin? You are staying here until the end of the dinner. You can ride home with Elias, but you must let us know if that’s what you’re doing, and you must go straight home. So you let us know when you’re getting in the car and when you arrive at the front door.”
    I roll my eyes, thinking how if Elias and I really wanted to spend some alone time in the house, a requirement for texting wouldn’t prevent that. At all.
    But I smile and say, “Sure, Dad.”
    Mom gives us all hugs, seeming even more distant than usual, and hurries off to wherever she needs to be. Dad gives me a hug and walks off, too, and the boys start buzzing around the tables, checking everything out.
    I stand by myself, Supers spilling in all around me, and the energy of this place is so intense, I want to close my eyes and breathe it all in. So I do. I must look like an idiot, but I don’t care.
    A hand rests on either side of my waist. Elias.
    I turn, and he’s in a dark gray suit with a white shirt, no tie, the top button undone. My heart drops into my stomach. I thought he looked good in his hoodies and jeans, but clearly I hadn’t imagined all the possibilities thoroughly enough.
    “Uh,” I manage before he sweeps me into a bear hug.
    “Excited?” he asks, grinning down at me, clearly just as charged as I am.
    “I guess.” I let loose a small smile. That’s the understatement of my life.
     
    Elias squeezes my hand as he walks me