Phrase III: Lab Partner

  Sunlight stabbed into Kai's eyes.

  His alarm was blaring.

  His mouth was dry.

  "Ughhh..."

  It didn't feel like Friday.

  Kai opened his eyes.

  He blinked—his eyelashes stuck.

  Kai's thoughts started racing.

  That guy...

  Why did he...

  Why does he—

  Kai heard his phone buzz.

  He forgot where he left it.

  He didn’t move, his limbs felt too heavy.

  He groaned and sunk his face into his pillow.

  Warm.

  Soft.

  ...

  Slightly damp.

  Three lectures today.

  Math...

  Biology...

  Something else....

  Kai took a deep breath.

  Then exhaled through his nose.

  Lunch with Eli…

  Kai needed to meet his partner for their Biology lab.

  He could feel the weight of in his chest—

  ugh...

  He closed his eyes again.

  And his thoughts washed away.

  Kai missed his first class.

  He was held hostage by his bed.

  By the time he made it out the door, the campus was active.

  It was humming in his head.

  His second class was a blur.

  Something about mitochondria.

  Or was it blood flow?

  Kai took two notes and drew a turtle.

  It said, "end me."

  His last class was lit.

  He almost didn’t go.

  But he remembered his lunch plans.

  He needed to meet his Bio Lab partner, Eli.

  "I'm not gonna hurt ya," she said yesterday.

  She had a half-smirk.

  It seemed genuine.

  "Unless ya earn it."

  Kai felt his ears burn.

  He could only look down.

  "Okay..."

  The cafeteria was... chaotic.

  Chairs scraped tile.

  A soda machine was groaning.

  Someone dropped a fork.

  And a knife.

  Kai looked around, ignoring the pull in his stomach.

  Each step was like walking through pudding.

  He spotted Eli.

  She was near the back, already sitting.

  Her eyes were slowly scanning the room.

  She waved the moment she saw him.

  "Hey, Sleeper Agent," she called.

  "Surprised you’re upright."

  Kai blinked at her. "What are you—?"

  She grinned.

  "Your hair."

  Kai felt his face warm.

  He couldn't make an excuse.

  "I was tired... I woke up late."

  He set his tray down—grilled cheese and a cookie.

  The sandwich still smelled warm.

  And cheesy.

  He took his seat.

  Across from Eli, with plenty of space.

  Eli nudged her tablet toward him. "So. Our project."

  "Oh... yeah."

  Kai remembered why he was having lunch with Eli.

  "Fungal interactions," she said, tapping through something.

  "We’ve got those sample kits coming in Tuesday."

  Kai nodded, already half-lost.

  He stared at the screen.

  "Are ya more of a write-it or test-it kinda guy?" she asked.

  She leaned back slightly, looking bored.

  Kai shrugged. "I can write. I guess."

  "Cool. I’ll be the mad nerd here."

  He half-smiled.

  He had no idea what she meant.

  Eli sipped her drink again, watching him. "You good?"

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  Kai blinked. "Huh?"

  "Ya keep zonin'. Like, full glass-eye."

  He paused.

  Kai swallowed, "I'm fine."

  He felt Eli staring.

  He felt restless.

  "There’s this guy..."

  Eli’s eyebrows lifted.

  "Oh boy...!"

  She smiled.

  "Go on!"

  Kai looked down.

  He peeled the crust off his sandwich.

  "I didn’t do anything. I think?"

  "But he keeps looking at me... pissed"

  "Like I stole his dog, or..."

  Kai sighed, and then heard a giggle.

  "Yikes."

  He looked at Eli.

  She was smirking.

  "What’d ya do?"

  Kai could feel the tension in his face.

  "I don't even know!"

  "I just—" Kai frowned.

  "I was in the café yesterday, and he was working the counter, and I didn’t recognize him."

  "I finally noticed him and then he just looked pis—"

  PING

  Eli looked at her laptop.

  "Shit."

  She grabbed her face.

  "Hey. Uhm. Kai... That TA sent us some—"

  Eli looked ready to throw her laptop across the cafeteria.

  "We got new instructions..."

  Kai let out a deep sigh.

  He was still thinking about yesterday.

  He caught himself. "Oh great."

  Kai moved over to Eli.

  They both stared at the blinding screen.

  Kai glanced at the corner of the laptop's screen.

  He felt his whole body tense up.

  "Two hours!" —he stood up— "We've been here two hours!"

  Eli just looked at Kai, one eyebrow raised.

  "Calm down," she laughed.

  Kai sat back down—

  He fell like a limp noodle.

  Eli, for the first time, had a look of thought on her face.

  "Must've been misread vibes."

  Kai's thoughts reeled.

  His mind stuttered.

  "What...!?"

  She snickered. "Your guy problem. Ya must've done somethin'."

  Kai wanted to sigh, but didn't.

  "No. I literally just ordered coffee. Maybe too cheerfully?"

  Kai leaned in, his voice softened.

  "I literally don't know."

  "Hm." She nodded slowly, both eyebrows raised. "Describe 'im."

  Kai felt antsy.

  He stood up and took a deep breath.

  "...always wears a hoodie. Kinda quiet..."

  Eli squinted "What else?"

  She tapped her fingers lightly.

  Her expression expectant.

  "Oh. I guess he is like, very tall?"

  "Very tall." —she said unimpressed.

  "I don't know. Like over six feet... maybe seven?"

  Kai was looking at Eli.

  She was staring back.

  Then he saw her eyes open wide.

  Eli started to smirk. "Oh my god. You’re the one he keeps glarin' at!"

  Kai’s face heated instantly. "Wait, what?"

  "He works mornin's sometimes. I’ve seen 'im. He always looks like someone just insulted his soul. But yeah—he’s looked _real_ touchy lately."

  Kai buried his face in his hands. "I didn’t do anything!"

  "Maybe he thinks you did."

  "That doesn’t make it true."

  "No, but it makes it _real_ to him."

  She paused. "You’re worse than me, y’know."

  Kai peeked out from his fingers.

  His cheeks were burning.

  "What?"

  Eli shrugged. "I’d say something. Just to clear it."

  Kai frowned. "Like what? ‘Hey, sorry I existed near you?’"

  She grinned. "Yeah. That’d probably work."

  He sighed.

  The pit in his stomach was gone.

  "Okay. Fine."

  "I'll try talking to him."

  Eli leaned back, "Good. 'Cause we ain't leavin' till we finish plannin'."

  This was going to be a long afternoon.