Moral Chemicals

Chapter 2: Burgeoning

Burgeoning: Beginning to grow or increase rapidly; flourishing.
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I stared blankly at Dr. Serris and considered shutting the door in his face, before sighing and letting him in. With a bounce in his step, he quickly made himself at home, hanging his lab coat on the back of a desk chair. The young man then swiftly entered my bathroom almost completely ignoring that I was there.

Following closely behind I blocked the doorway and watched as he inspected himself in the mirror.

“What are you doing?”  

His green eyes stared into his reflection, inspecting every inch of his dark amber skin. Turning his head to the right he ran a hand over his chin and grimaced.

“Man, I gotta shave.”

Serris turned back to me with a grin.

“Y’know K, you are not going to believe me, but the shaving cream Thunder Science provided? Terrible. Doesn't help one bit.”

It takes everything to not just slam my face into my palm. Serris must notice this as his grin widens.

“C’mon K. You know I’m only messing with you.”

He walks right back out of the bathroom and sits in the chair.

Who does this guy think he is?

“On a more serious note, how have you been?”

“Fine.”

Why does he care? He’s so light-hearted in this situation it feels insulting,

Serris stares up at me quizzically.

“This is your room you do realize you can sit right?”

My nostrils flared at the audacity. 

“Enough of this!”

Serris looked taken back by the suddenness of me raising my voice. I quickly shake my head and sit on my bed.

“Sorry. I just. Today is not the day for this.”

Looking back at Serris, I see the guilt written on his face. 

Shit. I didn’t mean to…god damn it!

I sigh and let my shoulders hang low, ashamed of myself, my mannerisms, everything as of late. I’ve been on edge ever since I woke up clearly. Now I’ve let my emotions affect others.

So unprofessional. I need to get a hold of myself.

Slowly I sit up straight and take a deep breath.

I force a smile and half-heartedly joke, “I just…haven’t had my coffee yet.”

What I thought was a sad attempt at humor manages to make Serris smile a little.

“You and me both. C’mon, let’s go to the break room.”

He stands and offers me his lab coat.

“And here. Have this. You’re taller than me so it will fit you. The thing is massive on me and I’m not even that short!”

Holding it in my hands, I rub the slick fabric between my index finger and my thumb. An odd feeling comes over me as I stare down at the coat. 

Deja vu…or something along those lines.

Slipping my arms through the sleeves, it’s surprisingly a nice fit. The edge of the coat stops perfectly before the tiled ground. Something about wearing it makes me feel more reserved. Not as open or vulnerable as I was before.