The lab was bustling with confused voices. Ari and Cecily were busy following the instructions word by word but the puzzling terms were causing problems for them as well. Professor Allis was busy talking to the students at back and Cecily looked around to see no one was near Mitch. He was sitting in a chair in front of them and he was looking at her too.
"You guys need any help?", he saw Cecily look at him and walked towards her.
"Yeah! What exactly do we have to do after centrifuging?", Cecily asked pointing towards the manual.
"Let me see.", he said and took the manual from her hand.
Cecily looked around awkwardly and to keep herself busy she was placing the pipettes in descending order of volume. She could feel his eyes on her so she looked up and saw him watching her all confused and amused. His eyes were very expressive.
"You just have to flick the column in the bin and repeat the step.", he explained giving the manual back to her.
"Like remove the supernatant?", she asked and he nodded.
Ari came back with the columns and it was the first time they were using these columns instead of the normal centrifuge tubes.
"Did you ask him?", Ari asked and Cecily nodded.
"Why is he still standing here though?", Ari whispered in Cecily's ear while giving her the columns. Cecily shrugged her shoulder and walked towards the bin followed by Mitchell.
She opened the cap of the column and was about to turn it upside down when a hand took the column from her. She was startled.
"Not like this. Let me show you.", Mitch said and removed the upper portion of the column and then flicked the tube.
"If you don't remove this the pellet will be lost too.", he explained and Cecily nodded watching him carefully.
"Here, now you put the filter back and do the wash again.", he said and smiled. Cecily carefully took the column murmured a soft thanks and went back to her bench.
"Did he just smile?", Ari asked.
"How am I supposed to know? He is wearing a mask!", Cecily replied casually as she showed Ari how the supernatant is discarded.
"Cecily!", Mitch's voice made her turn again.
"Yes.", she asked.
"Do you have a pen?", he asked out of nowhere.
"Here!", Cecily handed him the pen.
"Thank you, Cecily!", he replied and the way her name rolled out of his mouth did make Cecily feel a little uneasy but in a good way. Mitch just kept the pen in his lab coat's pocket and walked away.
"What did he need a pen for?", Ari asked confused.
"How am I supposed to know? But that was my only pen.", Cecily complained.
"Here take me sharpie.", Ari gave her an extra one.
"Let us just finish this stupid experiment fast. I am already hungry!", Ari said and took the columns for the second round of centrifugation.
Professor Allis was now explaining how to fill the lab journal and other assessment rules. Cecily was trying her best to focus but she could not help but get distracted by Mitch, who was sitting in front of her. Not only was he blocking the board but also constantly flipping her pen around his fingers while using his phone with his other hand.
"Why did he even take my pen?", Cecily whispered to herself annoyed.
While jotting down every word her professor said, Cecily felt overwhelmed looking at the amount of work she was expected to do in the first semester. She was already dealing with the feeling of homesickness and with this much workload, she was sure about burn-out.
"Finally, our break starts in half hour!", Ari exclaimed looking at the clock.
"Yes, but we first have to add the details of today's first half in the lab journal.", Cecily was already exhausted.
Both the girls were silently working on their laptops and were busy typing furiously. Cecily was so lost in her practical manual that she didn't notice someone's presence behind her.
"Cecily!", a voice made her jump.
"Thank you for the pen!", Mitch said, kept the pen next to her laptop, and left even before Cecily could register who said her name.
"Okay! This guy is rude.", Ari said watching him walk away.
"Maybe he is.", Cecily agreed. She was startled by his sudden presence but the way he just left made her a little furious.
"Nope! We will find you a better man. He is not for you.", Ari said with a tone that could not be mistaken for a suggestion. It was a decision, a final decision.
"And what makes you think I was even getting him in the first place!", Cecily laughed.
"Yes, but now you are not even going to try!", Ari was stubborn.
"I guess I am fine in staying single. With all the stuff to do, I don't think I have time for a boyfriend.", Cecily replied and went back to typing furiously and still stealing a glance or two of her newfound distraction.
Cecily was confused. She wanted someone in her life too, but she had never felt this attracted to anyone. She had no idea what Mitch looked like; his half-face was covered with a mask. He was rude and people were avoiding him but she was attracted. She did not admire his arrogance, but his confidence was pulling her in. something she lacked. Somehow it was just her admiration for something she wished she had.
It had been three years since her last breakup and she could not open up after that. She was afraid and always thought the worst about the person. She knew she is not easy to love or admire, and that is the other thing holding her back. And now suddenly she was attracted to someone she has not even seen properly. Combined with the pressure of starting a new life in a new country, she was losing it. Was it even possible to be this infatuated with someone in mere few hours with almost nil interaction? Was she crazy? She couldn't help but think, she is acting desperate and Cecily needs to close this door forever.