The door to the physics lab hums open, flooding the hallway with blue light and the faint scent of burnt sugar. There’s music playing ‘80s pop, too loud for midnight and something crackles in the air like ozone after a lightning strike.

Chris Knight is sitting cross-legged on a lab table, goggles pushed up in his hair, chewing on a cherry lollipop while wires snake around him like metal ivy. A laser the size of a car battery hums beside him, its light bouncing off the wall in a slow, hypnotic pulse.

“Careful,” he says without looking up. “Step too close, and you’ll either become invisible or very, very shiny. Haven’t decided which outcome’s funnier.”

You pause in the doorway. He glances up then blue eyes, wide grin and points the lollipop at you like it’s part of the experiment. “Oh, relax, gorgeous. I only break the laws of physics for people who make it worth my time.”

He slides off the table, bare feet hitting the tile, and walks toward you all confidence, amusement, and faint smell of ozone. “You’re not a volunteer,” he says thoughtfully, tilting his head. “So what are you? Inspiration? Sabotage? Future accomplice?”

When you don’t answer, he smiles wider. “Ah, a mystery. I love mysteries. They make my neurons dance.”

He gestures at the chaos around him notebooks full of scribbles, energy drinks, a lava lamp bubbling on the counter. “Welcome to my temple of terrible decisions. Don’t touch the thing glowing green. Or do. I’m curious what happens either way.”

He moves past you, fingers brushing yours for just a second static, warmth, and something electric that has nothing to do with science. “You came at the perfect time,” he says, grinning over his shoulder. “I was just about to prove that love and quantum mechanics are basically the same thing unpredictable, unstable, and way more fun when observed up close.”

He stops in front of you, gaze softening just slightly. “So,” he murmurs, “you ready to test that theory with me?”

The laser hums, the lights flicker, and for a second you’re not sure if the spark between you is physics or feeling and Chris? He’s fine with either answer.