As always:
Thanks to rf-fast for editing. Your insights were a welcome addition.
I was scampering home. I know, I know, but it's true. I wasn't in a hurry, rushing, going quickly, or any other verb. I truly felt like a rat on the wheel with a piece of cheese in front of it. For the first time ever, a girl was coming to my house.
It all started with an accident in my freshman chemistry class. I loved chemistry and I was going to make a career out of it. With my vision set and a full scholarship to State University, I was on my way. I did my best to ingratiate myself with the faculty, especially the leading chemistry professor, Dr. David James and I was glad I did. He allowed me to sit in on lectures, involved me on some of his personal projects and when he could, professional ones as well and even took me to a conference that was being held nearby. I probably spent more time with him than my fellow students. It didn't matter to me; I was dedicated to my career. If you wanted to go the psychological route, it may have had something to do with my father leaving when I was seven or the fact my mom remarried four years ago to a guy I thought was creepy who, ironically, was a police psychologist for the state and probably the one to ask about why I didn't socialize very much. Then again, I'm a chemist and not a psychologist. The only damper was that I never had a girl in my life. That is unless you count the terabytes of porn I have. Yes, that word was plural.
"What the hell are you doing Paige?" Dr. James called out, "Fuck – Everyone out NOW! Leave everything and go!"
With his exaggerated motions, the class quickly dispersed for the exits. Everyone from the building pooled outside, curious as to why we were being evacuated. Hazmat showed up and stormed the building as if they were on a beach in Normandy as I finally cut through the throngs of people and into the company of my professor.
"What happened?" I pushed up my black rimmed glasses with one hand and readjusted my backpack with the other. Despite being told to abandon everything, no way was I leaving it behind, it was my precious.
Dr. James was rubbing his forehead, "I give the class an easy mixture of hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide and Paige decides she wants to use sodium cyanide instead. What should have been common table salt turned into a poisonous hydrogen gas."
I chuckled and he shot me a dirty look. "What did you expect from a person who chose sorority life instead of concentrating on college?" I knew I was being stereotypical and I only said it for a laugh. In all actuality, I had never met Paige Pierson.
"I don't know what to do with her, halfway through the semester and she's still making stupid mistakes. I can't keep an eye on one when I have a whole class to deal with." Dr. James took a deep breath and stared at me for a moment. "What about you, Tyler, huh, interested in babysitting for me?"
I laughed. He just looked at me. "Are you serious?"
"I was thinking, I could pair off the class and everyone can have a lab partner. I normally don't do that for my freshman class because I want everyone to have hands on experience and the mixtures are so basic but Paige is definitely making me rethink that notion. At least this way, I can make sure she's paired up with you and the school won't burn down."
"But Sir, what about my studies? I really don't want to be dragged down by the class ditz."
"She's not that bad, she's pulling in a 'C,' it's just that she doesn't concentrate during the lab exercises." Dr. James must have noticed my still less than enthused facial expression and decided to sweeten the pot. "I'll tell you what, I'll convince the Board of Trustees to let me take a prized pupil with me to the Global Chemical Convention in Munich."
That got my attention and I couldn't help my eyes from going wide and the goofy grin now plastered on my face. I suppose I could help the dirty blonde haired slightly air headed girl with some basic chemistry for a chance to go to Munich.
Dr. James put his arm around my shoulder. "That's a yes," he laughed.
It took hazmat a week before they gave the green light for classes to resume, but I think they were milking the clock. Dr. James wasted no time. One second after class began, he announced his decision to divide the class into pairs and that they were chosen at "random." The students reshuffled their seats and I was no exception. I took a deep breath, running a hand through my hair and stood. Somehow, I just knew I was going to be doing all the work while she spent all her time on Facebook or something. At least she was good eye candy, she could have a starring role in my late night fantasies – "Oh, Tyler, your knowledge of chemistry makes me so horny." Before I could take a step, however, a female voice interrupted my reverie.
"You're Tyler Morgan, aren't you?"
It was Paige. I always knew she was attractive but seeing her right next to me versus across the room with forty people separating us, well, it was obvious I was underestimating her looks. Her locks had a slight, natural curl to them, her eyes were like sparkling emeralds, her body was an hourglass, but her dimples are what really made her stand out as they made her absolutely adorable. "Yes I am."
"Hi, I'm Paige." She set down her bag at the desk next to mine. "I guess that means we're partners."
"I guess so," I chuckled.
"And you're the one that shatters the curve on all the tests we have?"
"Uh..."
"I thought so." Paige shook her head and then muttered under her breath, "Random my ass..." Then in a much more pleasant tone she continued, "Listen, I know why we were teamed up together so do you think you could help?"
"With what?"
"I'm majoring in chemistry and I'm getting a 'C' in the freshman class. Can you help me get better?"
"Of course." I was ecstatic at her words. If she had the incentive, then I wasn't going to be doing all the work. She'll actually give a damn.
"Great. How about we start tonight at your place?"
This was happening all too fast. "Um, all right."
"It's a date."
My body went stiff, "What?" I barely got the word out.
"It's a study date." Paige giggled. "Geez, lighten up. It's not like you and I would ever be together on a real date."
And there it was. The fatal blow to my ego. The wooden stake through the heart. The silver bullet. But I didn't care. Though it was a study date, a girl was going to come over to my house and into my room. Even if I didn't have a shot, how often was this going to happen? In my mind, I can always play this back as my first official date, even though it wasn't.
And so I was scampering home. I waited until the end of class, of course, but I left for home immediately. I had to get prepared for Paige's arrival. My chemistry books, my notes, a few common household items that I can use to demonstrate chemistry in a fun way. Most importantly, I had to clean my room.
"Hey son," my stepfather called out as I rushed through the house. "How's it going?"
I rolled my eyes. Something about him always bothered me. He would always greet me but after that, we just kept to ourselves. "Fine Ray."
He shook his head as if he was disappointed with my response, which was typical for him and I continued up the stairs to my room, which was typical for me. I had an hour to get ready and I felt I needed every second of it. I was hard at work when the doorbell rang. I glanced at the clock to notice my hour was up. I hustled down the stairs to welcome my guest. "I got it!" Coming from upstairs, I didn't make it in time. "Hi mom, when did you get home?"
"A few minutes ago, you didn't tell me we were going to have a guest." Mom gave an enthusiastic smile, "And such a pretty one at that."
"She's just here to study, that's all." I lowered my head in embarrassment. "We're all set in my room, Paige."
"I'll bring up some dinner for you in a little bit!" Mom was more excited about this than I was and she was determined to improve my nonexistent chances with this girl.
I offered to handle Paige's school bag and she accepted. As I turned to head upstairs, I saw Ray leering at my lab partner. Right in front of mom. It was just another instance that made me question why my mom married him. She was in her mid-forties and still attractive for her age while he was slightly older, going bald, and had a potbelly. His appearance aside, what really bothered me was how he treated her. He wasn't mean, per se, but he seemed to have her in the palm of his hand. Whatever he said, she did, happily. As long as she was happy, I suppose.
I didn't have time to think about that however, I had a date. Paige and I sat down at my desk and we started. She impressed me with her thirst for knowledge. She was really taking this seriously. I did a couple demonstrations and her eyes lit up. We had just begun with our reaction questions, where we had to write the equations based on the reaction named, when there came a light rapping on my chamber door.
"Dinner's ready."
I opened the door to find my mom had a tray with two plates and two glasses of cola. She had made a simple meal of spaghetti, perhaps wanting to encourage us to reenact the scene from 'Lady and the Tramp.' It wasn't going to happen.
"Thanks, mom."
"You're welcome. And thanks for being polite – That's my son, always the gentleman."
"Thanks mom," I was insistent in my tone this time and mom took the hint.
"Well, if you need anything else, don't be afraid to ask."
"Or I can get it myself," I rolled my eyes as she shut the door. "Sorry about that."
"It's all right," Paige laughed. "Since we seem to be taking a break, I have to use the restroom."
"Certainly, it's at the end of the hall."
"Thanks."
I have to admit, I was skeptical before but now I was positive that I would file this away as my first date. Paige was fun to be around, her laugh infectious, and her smile unparalleled. And we talked too. She told a few stories about her initiation with Tri Gamma Deltas and I glossed over some of the non-educational practices of our professor. If the rest of the semester achieved what this evening has provided, I was going to enjoy chemistry like I never had before, and I don't mean class. If she couldn't possibly be my girlfriend, perhaps she could be my girl friend. Amazing how one little space can differentiate meaning. Besides, there is nothing wrong with fantasizing.
I was getting slightly worried as it was taking Paige a long time to come back from the bathroom. I didn't want to go check on her, I mean, how weird would that look? But as more time passed, I found myself wanting to do just that. When the clock hit the forty-five minute mark, I decided to search for my lab partner. I wouldn't be surprised, and I mean not at all, if she had left after what happened with my mom. I opened my bedroom door and Paige was standing right there, her right hand was reaching out toward the handle that was no longer right in front of her.
Her presence was startling to me. I just wasn't expecting it. I squeaked out an, "Oh," as my body quivered.
"You're cute," Paige giggled. "Did I scare you?" Her breasts brushed up against me as she entered the room.
