This Modern Love

Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Cameron

I kept my goggles on in case of any chemical fogging. I stared at her as she poured in the beaker for the required measurements. I rested my hands on the black table, watching with an eyebrow raise. She was pouring it too close to the beaker. I winced when it splashed on top of the table. She was pouring way too much. She stopped her motion and turned to me with an eyebrow raise. "What?"

"You're supposed to pour 2 ml of sulfur," I told her, trying not to seethe.

"I did. I read the paper." I tossed the paper in front of me, it almost sliced my finger.

"Hey, I could get a paper cut like that!" I caught it on time to avoid the sharp edges. Paper cuts freaking hurt!

"Baby." She went eye level to see the measurements.

"It's too much, let me do it." I attempted to get in front of the beaker.

"I got it. I did it right."

"You didn't, let me do it."

"I already poured it, we have to mix it with the vinegar."

"Wrong, it's the hydrogen peroxide."

"No, wait let me see it." She took the paper from the blacktop table, rereading it. I rolled my eyes, taking the tube for the measurements. "No, it's not that one."

"Yes it is," I told her. "I have photographic memory."

"Oh, my god, you're such a genius! I should just let you do everything!"

"You should."

"No, it's this one. Let me do it."

"No, I got it!" I tried to pull the tube away from her, she gripped it tight. The tube dropped on the floor and she gasped.

"Look what you did!" The shards shattered into pieces on the classroom floor. She went to the floor.

"Don't pick it up with your bare hands, there's a broom and dustpan at the corner. Go get it."

"This was your fault, you clean it." She stood up, meeting my gaze with a hard stare. I watched her nose flare twice.

"Stop being so dramatic, you're making a scene," I told her in a hushed tone.

"You're making a scene, I was doing it right."

The sound of whoops broke from my memory as I recounted that day, it was her fault, she should have listened to me. I wouldn't be here. I made sure my room was tidy before she arrived. I mean, it's always tidy. I still straightened up. I cleaned my frames, took out my laptop and a coding file I've been working on for a few months. I found it calming. I did some sessions, waiting for her to arrive. If I was lucky she would say something came up and I could write the paper by myself. I already made my own outline from my food diary, dating the meal times for extra credit. A soft knock hits my door, "Shit." I placed my laptop on the side of the bed, standing up to answer. I opened the door with a crack. It wasn't Caroline. It was Kat from the party. Her hair was down and straight, her skin was red and fiery. "Kat, what are you doing here?" I asked with a frown.

"Really? Really?" Her voice raised up. She let herself in, pushing past me and she crossed her arms over her chest, frowning.

"Is there a problem?" I asked, shutting my door halfway. I had plans of studying.

"You haven't called me, in like two weeks!" She shrieked, throwing her hands in the air.

"Yes I did."