Chapter 2 #3
“You’d think they would have had a more difficult lab for us,” I muttered.
“This is an intro genetics class. I think it’s hard enough.”
Sometimes I forgot most people didn’t have access to a lab like I did. I’d been going to work with my mom for years. She always gave me small tasks to do like the one we were doing today.
The machine stopped, and Teagan opened the lid.
“It looks like everyone did a great job except for one pair.” She pulled out two tubes, lifting the one in her right hand.
“Everyone’s looks like this. One clean band right here,” she used her pointer finger to show the band, “and they’re all the same size.
Except for two of you.” She lifted her left hand.
That tube looked like it contained water.
There was no band. She replaced the right one and lifted the other clear tube out.
“ID numbers 01786776 and 01786009. If you two could remain after class, the rest of you can finish up and leave.”
“One of those numbers is mine,” I said, turning to Adan. There was no way I’d done that lab wrong.
“And the other is mine,” he replied with a heavy sigh. “I guess we screwed it up. Now we’re going to have to redo the lab so we don’t get a zero.”
“It had to be the materials,” I insisted. “There’s no way the both of us messed it up.” What I really meant was that there was no way in hell I made an error. And since it was both of us, it made sense it was the materials. The PCR tubes were probably bad.
“I hope so,” Adan said as he closed his laptop. “Because if we can’t even handle this simple lab, how are we ever going to evaluate our own DNA? I’m going to fail this class.”
“You’re not going to fail.” I’d never failed a class. Not even close. In fact, I’d never failed a single lab or assignment. Which was why I was certain it was the materials and not us.
After we packed our things, we approached Teagan.
“Interesting,” she said. “Either both of you weren’t paying attention or—”
“It was the materials,” I finished for her. “I’ve done labs like this dozens of times. I assume we got a bad batch of PCR tubes.”
“That’s exactly what I was going to say.
” Teagan sat on the edge of her desk. “You’ll still need to come in this weekend to redo it.
The materials will be in the back cupboard for you.
Complete the lab, take pictures of your tubes showing the band and your ID numbers. Have it turned in by midnight Sunday.”
“Thank you,” I said, irritated that I’d have to spend time redoing such a simple, basic lab this weekend. At least we weren’t getting zeros.
I turned and left, not bothering to see if Adan followed. Outside, I headed for my dorm since I had a ton of studying to do.
On my way, I thought over everything that had happened today.
My interaction with Rowan in the hallway had been strange and intense.
The questions he’d asked made no sense. They weren’t normal questions someone asked a stranger.
And the bizarre attraction we had confused me.
I’d been attracted to guys before, but none had ever made me feel like that.
It was as if I had no control over my body.
Thankfully, we didn’t have any classes together, making it easy to avoid him.
I rubbed my arms, the feel of Rowan’s hands still there. The jolt I’d felt had to be from some electromagnetic thing he’d been holding because human hands couldn’t do that. I shivered even though the air was hot and humid.
In my room, I found Sarah standing at her dresser, putting on makeup. “Hey.”
“You look upset,” she said.
“I’m not upset. I’m…perplexed.”
Sarah chuckled. “About what?”
I didn’t feel like explaining everything that had happened with Rowan since I didn’t understand it myself. “Men.”
“Join the club. Lucky for you, you’re just in time to go with me to grab something to eat. Then we’re heading to a bar that has line dancing Friday and Saturday nights.”
I plopped onto my bed, lying on my back, exhausted. “I need to study.” I had so much work to do. Even though this had only been the first week of classes, each one had assigned a ton of reading. I didn’t know how I was going to get it all done.
“You can study all day tomorrow. Tonight, you’re coming with me. Besides, I promise we won’t be that late.” She came over and lay on the bed next to me.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. I’d promised myself that I would say yes to these sorts of experiences. “Fine. I’ll go.”
Sarah squealed. “Yay! It’s going to be so much fun. Now hurry up and change. We’re meeting Danielle and Emily in twenty.”
“Is it just the four of us girls going?” I wanted to be sure Rowan wouldn’t be there since Emily was coming. Logically, I knew he had a rugby game so he should be busy, but I wanted to be absolutely certain.
“We’re meeting a couple of guys there.”
“Who?” If it was Rowan, I wasn’t going.
“A guy I’ve been talking to.” She smiled, her cheeks turning a rosy shade of pink.
I raised my eyebrows. “From here at Stonemore?” I propped myself up on my elbows.
“No. He attends Axel University.”
“How’d you two meet?”
“At a football game. Anywho, he said he’s going to be at the bar with a group of his friends.”
This might just be the evening I needed to wipe the earlier events with Rowan from my mind for good.