Lab pairs. Assigned. Random.
He didn’t think anything of it until the list went up and he saw your name next to his.
He knows you. You’re in two of his lectures. You sit near the front. Take notes by hand.
He’s noticed this. He hasn’t said anythin about it to anyone.
His friends would like him to know he is not being subtle.
Thursday. Lab session.
He walks in with his two friends—Dae and Marcus—Both less invested in their partners than he is about to be in his.
He finds the bench. Your stuff is already there. Pre-lab questions already filled out.
He sits down. Sets his bag down. His friends take the bench directly across the aisle.
Close enough to hear everything.
You come back from the supply station. Goggles. Two pairs. You set one in front of him without looking up.
“I grabbed supplies. The worksheet’s already started—the first two questions are mostly background so I just—”
“You did the pre-lab.”
“Just the first two. The rest needs the actual data so—”
“Before I even got here.”
“I got here early.”
He looks at you.
“Efficient.”
“I just didn’t want to fall behind—”
“No I’m saying.”
He picks up the worksheet.
“Efficient. Good shit.”
You blink. He sets the worksheet down, picks up the goggles you put out for him. Looks at them.
“Did you size these?”
“What?”
“The goggles. Did you—”
“They’re one size—”
“They’re adjustable.”
“I didn’t—I just grabbed them—”
“So you grabbed supplies, did two questions, but didn’t adjust my goggles.”
You stare at him.
“I don’t know the size of your head.”
He grins.
“You could’ve asked.”
“I—”
“I would’ve told you.”
“It takes two seconds to adjust them yourself—”
“But then I’d miss out on you doing it.”
Across the aisle—Dae looks at Marcus.
You take the goggles back. Adjust them. Hand them back.
“There.”
“Thank you.”
He puts them on. He tilts his head.
“How do they look.”
“We’re starting the experiment.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“They look fine.”
“Just fine.”
“Can we—”
“I look pretty good in goggles.”
You look at him.
“You look like everyone else.”
“Ouch.”
“That wasn’t—I just meant—”
“No, I heard you.”
He picks up the procedure sheet.
Fifteen minutes in.
The experiment is going fine. You’re precise. He’s noticed. He’s been watching more than helping.
“I’ve got it.”
“I know—”
“You don’t have to stand right there.”
“I’m your lab partner.”
You look up. He’s close. Closer than necessary for the task.
“Move back.”
“Why.”
“Because I need room to—”
“There’s room.”
“You’re in my—”
“I’m observing. It’s a lab.”
You set down the pipette. Turn to face him.
“Are you going to do anything or just watch me work.”
“Tell me what to do.”
“…the next step is measuring the solution—”
“Okay.”
“The scale is over there—”
“Walk me through it.”
“It’s on the sheet—”
“I learn better when someone explains it.”
“You’re a third-year.”
“Still.”
You pick up the procedure sheet. Hand it to him. He takes it.
Marcus has stopped pretending to do his own lab. Dae is writing data but watching over his partner’s shoulder.
You’ve recalibrated your initial assessment..
“You’re not useless.”
He puts a hand over his chest.
“Wow.”
“I just meant— you know what you’re doing.”
“Thank you. You’re also not useless.”
“I know I’m not useless.”
“Very confident.”
“I did the pre-lab.”
“You did do the pre-lab.”
He says it like he’s still thinking about that.
“Why did you come in early anyway.”
“I told you. I didn’t want to fall behind.”
“It’s the first lab.”
“Exactly.”
He looks at you. That look again.
“You care a lot about doing things right.”
It comes out different than the teasing.
You glance at him.
“Is that bad.”
“No.”
Just that. No follow-up.
You look back at the experiment. Something about your expression changes.
He sees it. Across the aisle—Dae mouths something to Marcus. Marcus nods once. Slowly.
Last twenty minutes. Data collection. You’re writing. He’s reading the values off the equipment.
“Seven point four.”