The Experiment

A few days before Thanksgiving, the air on campus seemed charged with anticipation. The leaves were falling slowly from the trees, covering the paths with golden and reddish tones, while conversations among students revolved around holiday plans. I was also excited to go home and see my family, but I couldn't help feeling a pang of nostalgia at the thought of temporarily leaving campus. This place had become a refuge for me, and Sack and Olivia were no longer just classmates; they were my closest friends. However, lately, something about the group dynamic was worrying me.

That morning, during Dr. Harris's General Biology class, we were assigned a group experiment on photosynthesis. Before letting us work, the professor reminded us of some key concepts in his usual technical tone:

"Remember, photosynthesis depends on factors like light, water, and carbon dioxide," he explained, walking between the tables while adjusting his glasses. "Any deviation in these elements can drastically alter the results. For example, using saltwater instead of distilled water could inhibit nutrient absorption due to osmotic pressure. Keep your variables controlled if you want reliable data."

Olivia raised her hand with a mischievous smile.

"And what if we want to explore what happens when plants face extreme conditions? Could we say we're pushing the boundaries of science?"

Dr. Harris looked at her with a mix of amusement and skepticism.

"You could say that, but remember, science requires precision. Innovating is fine, as long as you don't sacrifice the validity of your results."

With that, he left us to begin the experiment. The goal was simple: observe how different conditions affected the growth of small live plants we had brought to the lab. As we distributed the materials, I tried to keep us focused on the instructions. I knew that if we let Olivia take control, everything would end up being much more complicated than necessary.

"Why don't we use saltwater instead of distilled water?" Olivia suddenly suggested, holding up a jar with a mischievous smile. "It's better to innovate, don't you think?"

I looked at her incredulously as I adjusted my safety goggles.

"Olivia, that doesn't make sense. Saltwater will kill the plants. We need to follow the instructions."

"Exactly!" she replied, as if she'd said something deeply logical. "This way, we can see how they react under pressure. It's like an experiment within the experiment."

Sack, who until that moment had been quietly organizing the instruments, raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. Sometimes I felt like I was the glue holding our little friendship together. Olivia was pure creative and impulsive energy, while Sack tended to be more reserved and distant. As for me, I always tried to balance their extremes: calming Olivia when she got carried away and encouraging Sack when he retreated too far.

However, lately, I had noticed that Sack seemed more distant than usual. I didn't know if it was because of the upcoming holidays or something deeper, but something about his attitude worried me.

Before I could intervene, Olivia had already poured some saltwater into one of the pots. The plant, which had looked healthy just moments before, began to wilt almost instantly.

"Olivia!" I exclaimed, trying to fix the mistake. "This will ruin the results!"

"Relax, Lindsay," she said with a carefree smile. "It's experimental science. There's always room for chaos."

As we argued, I noticed that Sack remained silent, watching us from his usual distance. His eyes were fixed on the plants, but his expression seemed lost, as if he were thinking about something completely different. I wondered if something was bothering him, but I decided not to push him. I knew Sack needed time to open up, and though I wanted to help him, I also respected his boundaries.

We finished the experiment with a mix of expected results and self-inflicted disasters thanks to Olivia. When Dr. Harris approached to review our work, his expression was a combination of amusement and mild exasperation.

"Interesting approach," he commented, looking at the wilted plant with a raised eyebrow. "Creative, though perhaps you could have been a bit more careful."

Olivia took the comment as if it were a personal compliment.

"Thank you, Professor. It's always good to know one is at the forefront of scientific innovation."

Sack simply packed up his things in silence, saying nothing. I smiled with resignation, knowing that this kind of situation was typical when we worked together. However, as we cleaned up the materials, I couldn't help glancing at Sack out of the corner of my eye. There was something about his demeanor that unsettled me. I decided I would talk to him later, sensing that something wasn't right.

When we left the lab, the sun was shining faintly in the sky, illuminating the campus paths. Olivia walked ahead, humming a tune while animatedly talking about her Thanksgiving plans. Sack walked a few steps behind us, hands in his pockets and gaze lowered.

"Hey, Sack," I called softly, approaching him. "Everything okay?"

He looked up, surprised for a moment, but then nodded briefly.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about some things."

I didn't press him, knowing it wasn't the right time, but I decided I'd find an opportunity to talk to him before the holidays began. In the meantime, I kept walking beside him, feeling that even though our vacations were about to temporarily separate us, our friendship was as strong as ever.

Suddenly, Olivia stopped in the middle of the path and looked at us with a huge smile.

"Guys, get ready, because my Thanksgiving dinner is going to be epic this year," she announced, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "My whole family will be there: my parents, my uncles, my cousins, my grandparents, my second cousins, my distant uncles... Even my great-aunt Gladys, who always brings that pumpkin pie no one eats but everyone pretends to love!"

Sack looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Sounds like a family gathering worthy of a documentary. Are you going to record it for YouTube?"

"Exactly!" Olivia responded, as if that were the most logical answer in the world. "We could call it The Family Chaos Dinner . Imagine: my cousin Tommy trying to convince everyone that his cryptocurrency startup is the future, while my Uncle Bob insists on telling stories about how he used to hunt turkeys in his youth. And, of course, my grandma asking me when I'm going to stop 'playing artist' and get a real job after college."

I burst out laughing, unable to contain myself.

"Olivia, I think your family could star in their own comedy series."

"I know, right?" she said with a mischievous smile. "But the best part is that we always end up playing Trivial Pursuit after dinner. My Uncle Frank always cheats, and my cousin Jenny almost always wins because she knows absolutely EVERYTHING about medieval history. It's like an Olympic sport in our house."

Sack shook his head, though he couldn't hide a small smile.

"And what happens if someone loses? Do you have any special punishments?"

"Of course!" Olivia responded dramatically. "Last year, my cousin Robbie lost and had to sing the national anthem in front of the whole family. In pajamas. With Christmas socks on his head."

We laughed heartily, imagining the scene.

"That sounds humiliating," I commented, still laughing. "And what happens if you win?"

"If you win, you get to choose the dessert for next year," Olivia explained proudly. "Last year I won, and I chose a chocolate cake shaped like a pumpkin. It was an absolute hit."

Sack snorted softly.

"Sure, because combining two desserts into one isn't strange at all."

"Exactly!" Olivia responded, completely ignoring his sarcasm. "This year I plan to win again and choose something even more ambitious. Maybe a giant flan with built-in LED lights. Or a cake that glows in the dark."

I laughed, shaking my head.

"Olivia, I think you should leave the radioactive desserts for another day. We don't want your family glowing in the dark too."

"Don't worry, Lindsay," she retorted with a wink. "If anyone glows, we'll just say it's family magic. No one can blame magic."

We laughed as we continued walking, leaving the lab behind us.