Experiment #5// The Library/An iPhone that loves its owner

“This anatomy test is going to kill me.”

Jade said as she took the steps two at a time up to the library.

“You’re so dramatic.” Ally said, pushing Jade’s shoulder. “You have gotten an A on every test so far and all you ever do is study!”

“Not true!” Jade defended.

Ally continued on, ignoring her friend. “And, Dr. G loves you, so he’ll grade easy.”

“Whatever.” Jade huffed.

The Library was quiet as usual. Students sat at tables and in cubicles, studying away for their next exams. The librarians here were strict, keeping everyone quiet and in line with only a glare at most. They had hawk-like senses and Jade could only hope that Benny wouldn’t make a scene.

Jade and Ally sat down at a table in the corner of the room, far enough from the door so that they wouldn’t catch the draft. The tall shelves housing many books put Jade slightly at ease that any sounds Benny made would be buffered by the structures. The girls pulled out their notes and textbooks, laying them all out on the table. Jade held her breath and reached her hand down into her bag.

The moment her fingers touched Benny’s smooth screen, he was happy as a clam.

The loudest clam in the world.

“OH JADE I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!”

Jade quickly folded her hands around the small device and slammed it into her chest, hoping that the fabric of her shirt would muffle Benny’s cries. Everyone had their eyes on her and Ally as she gave the crowd an apologetic smile.

“Turn him down!” Ally whispered to her.

“I’m sorry,” Jade whispered back, “his volume is still broken.”

Benny’s volume had been broken for the past week, and it was driving her crazy. Everyone’s iPhone was prone to missing their owner’s touch after a few hours, but Benny was a very sensitive device. After a few minutes of putting him down in class, he would be buzzing himself to tears in her backpack. Jade often had to keep him on her lap just to keep him mildly calm. Things were easier when she could just put him on vibrate and let him cry himself down to 5%, but with his volume broken, it was much harder to console him.

Jade tilted her head down until her chin was touching her chest.

“Benny, you know I love you lots, but this is a library. People are trying to study and get work done, so you have to be really quiet. Do you think you could do that for me?”

Two short vibrations tickled her chest, letting her know that Benny had gotten the message. She slowly took Benny form her chest, and gently set him on the table in front of her.

All of four seconds went by before the entire room knew of Benny’s feelings once more.

“OH JADE PLEASE DON’T PUT ME DOWN I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!”

Once again Jade snatched Benny form the table, shushing him as she tried to ignore all of the eyes on her.

“Jade…” Ally whined.

“I know, I’m sorry.” She apologized again to her friend.

Jade carefully placed Benny on her lap, hoping the warmth of her skin would be enough to soothe him and keep any other outbursts at bay. It worked for a few minutes, but after that Benny was back to vibrating away. Jade continued to ignore him, knowing that he was just being clingy, and focused on her work. Just as she started to get lost in the world of blood cells and bone structure, Benny’s shrill ringing tossed her right out of it.

She flipped the device over and clicked his home button, revealing two bright blue orbs that represented his eyes.

“Benny…” she growled.

“I’M SORRY JADE I JUST REALLY REALLY MISSED YOU TODAY AND I FEEL LIKE WE ARE DRIFTING APART! I DON’T WANT TO DRIFT APART BECAUSE I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!”

Many people got up to leave as Benny’s shrill cries filled the air. Jade desperately tried to calm Benny down so they wouldn’t get thrown out of the library.

“Benny, listen to me, I’m just trying to-“

“YOU ARE ALWAYS STUDYING AND YOU DON’T HAVE TIME FOR ME ANYMORE!” Benny cried cutting her off. His ring tone jumped up a few more octaves as vibrations wracked his little body. There was no consoling him now.

“Excuse me.”

Jade and Ally looked up to see one of the librarians at their table. Her eyes were narrowed and focused in on Benny so harshly, Jade feared he might break from her glare.

“Your device is disrupting the other students, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Jade and Ally silently packed up their things as Benny continued to wail hysterically.

“Sorry our study session was ruined.” Jade apologized as she and Ally left the library.

Ally shrugged it off.

“Technology; can’t live with it, can’t live without it.”

“Agreed.”