Free This Is My Brain on Boys by Sarah Strohmeyer Page A

lab to see for themselves if animals were actually being abused. If they had taken the trouble to do the original research, they would have found clean cages, plenty of food and water, and peacefully sleeping rodents.
    That’s what angered her the most—their assumptions, their quickness to judge, the joy they took in making her depressed. It was so unfair, especially since Addiecouldn’t undo the damage. Everywhere she went, people stared and whispered. Forget eating hamburger in public. That only proved she was a bloodthirsty murderer.
    â€œIgnore them,” Dex urged after she refused to leave her room for three days. “They’re beneath you.”
    But Addie wasn’t like him. She didn’t divide people into superior or inferior subspecies. Besides, somehow he’d completely escaped Kara’s radar outside of the lab.
    Her only regret was that she hadn’t had a chance to tell off Kara and her boyfriend and that smirking lackey of theirs, Mack or Max or whatever, before they disappeared. Mr. Foy saw to it that they were on a bus to Boston immediately after they were caught out of concern that they’d be targets for bullying if they stuck around.
    Ironic much?
    Dr. Brooks called Addie back to earth. “Go on. How did the exercise ball fit into your experiment?”
    Addie refocused on the presentation. “We rolled the ball down an inclined plane.” Shot of Will and Kate rolling down a board.
    â€œAs you can see,” Dex continued when Addie proceeded to the slide of the two gerbils happily munching on treats, “no attraction. However, when we chose a more treacherous route for a different pair of gerbils, Brad and Angelina”—slide of ball at the top of the back hallway stairs—“the results were more encouraging.”
    Dr. Brooks let out a small gasp. “You threw them down the stairs?”
    â€œNot threw,” Dex said. “More like gently bounced.”
    â€œThey were perfectly fine,” Addie added quickly. “I swear. Look!”
    Indeed, the next photo was of Brad and Angelina out of their ball and putting their newfound attraction to full and productive use.
    â€œOh,” Dr. Brooks said quietly. “Oh, my.”
    Addie felt her cheeks go warm. Dex seemed to have no problem discussing this outcome, which had led to several litters of baby gerbils. And, really, she shouldn’t have been embarrassed. This was science, after all. Biology!
    Still . . .
    Dr. Brooks switched on the lights, appearing rather flustered. “I will admit that your PowerPoint is more effective than the version you showed me in May, though it definitely needs polishing.”
    Dex groaned. “I think it’s fine.”
    â€œIt’ll get there,” Dr. Brooks said. “Do you think you can replicate this final part of the experiment with humans safely?”
    â€œWe won’t put anyone in danger,” Addie said, wishing Dex would chime in instead of standing there moping about having to do more polishing. “And since Lauren and Alex will act as controls, all they’ll haveto do is stare at each other for ten minutes each session and journal their thoughts before and after. That’s pretty safe.”
    â€œNot for Lauren and the other volunteer,” Dex said. “Especially at the end, when we strand them on Owl Island overnight.”
    Not helping,Addie thought . “Before that, we plan to check their progress by surreptitiously observing their social interactions at the Midsummer Night’s Dream Dance on Saturday. We will monitor which boy Lauren chooses, Alex or the other participant. If our thesis is on track, then she will choose the other participant and we will proceed with Owl Island. If not, then . . .”
    â€œBack to the whiteboard,” Dex finished.
    â€œI wonder,” Dr. Brooks said, getting up and opening the blinds. “Why not use a different girl and boy like you did with