Double Helix Read Online Free PDF

the truth. You’re the one.”
    Finally I heard a muffled sort of agreeing noise. Slowly, she stopped shaking, and so did I. And then she gave a half-choke, half-laugh and lifted her head. I thought again about that condom—
    â€œActually,” Viv said, “you know something? If we hadn’t been going to school together all these years, if I didn’t remember meeting your parents back in grammar and middle school, I’d think you didn’t have any parents at all.”
    â€œOh,” I said. “I do have them. Believe me.”
    â€œI know. It’s just—I’ve had crazy thoughts, Eli, sometimes. That maybe they died, or they ran away. No one at school has seen them in years—they haven’t come to parents’ nights or college night or anything. I’ve wondered if maybe you’re living all alone and you don’t dare tell even me.”
    None of this was phrased as a question, but there was one there, nonetheless, and I wasn’t going to be fool enough to ignore it. Or to try to divert her with sex.
    â€œMy parents are alive,” I said carefully. “Both of them. I’m not living alone.”
    Viv rested her forehead on my chest again and her arms tightened. She whispered, “I love you so much. But this stuff . . .”
    â€œI never meant to hurt you,” I said.
    â€œI know. But at least you understand now. I’ve been trying and trying to think of a way to tell you how I was feeling. I’m so glad I finally had the courage.”
    She was, too. I could tell. She thought everything would be okay now.
    â€œViv . . .” I said awkwardly. “I don’t know if—we’ll have to talk about this again, okay? Some other time? My parents—it’s complicated. I don’t know if you can meet them, and it’s not anything to do with you.”
    She moved her head so that her cheek brushed my skin - gently. “I figured it must be complicated. But what I’m asking—what I’m really asking for here is for you to trust me. Do you see that?”
    I saw.
    â€œI love you, Eli,” she said earnestly. “And I believe you love me, but I need you to trust me. Even—especially—with the tough stuff. We have to have a relationship that’s honest and open. There should be nothing we can’t talk about.”
    I kissed her. What else could I do? “I love you very much, Viv Fadiman,” I said. And, for now anyway, it satisfied her. In a little while, she actually slept.
    I didn’t.

CHAPTER 6
    â€œI HAVE TO LEAVE NOW,” I said politely to my father on the morning of graduation. I was aware that I sounded a little tense. “They’re making us line up and rehearse marching a couple times before everybody gets there. I’ll find you after the diplomas are handed out, okay?”
    â€œAll right,” said my father, who was seated at the kitchen table. He looked at me over his bowl of cold cereal and I pretended to check something in my backpack. Cap. Gown. Disposable camera. Present for Viv.
    Maybe I wouldn’t find him afterward, I thought. Maybe instead I’d find somewhere to hide alone for a while. That might be the answer to the looming problem of Viv’s expectations. If after half an hour he couldn’t find me in the crowd, my father would probably walk home by himself from the ceremony. He might not even be surprised at my disappearance, with the way things had been between us.
    I was vaguely aware that if I’d been somebody else, I might have been worried about delivering the five-minute speech I was supposed to give today. Viv was extremely nervous about her speech. But I wasn’t. The speech was in my pocket. I’d read it. No big deal.
    I was worried about afterward. Viv expected to meet my parents today. I hadn’t had the guts to tell her that my mother wouldn’t be coming or that I simply didn’t want her to meet my