The Physics of Falling: Study Buddies #1

Chapter Seven

Crick was preceded into the room by a squeaky-wheeled cart laden with glass beakers of various colored fluids. "Today, we'll be doing a simple, but lengthy experiment with thin layer chromatography, or TLC for short."

As Connor had promised, Dr. Crick went over each step. But he had a surprise. "Now, one tricky thing that I didn't mention was the preparation of the capillary tubes. Before we start the lab, you will need to stretch your own glass tubes. It's a very simple procedure, but it takes a bit of finesse."

Sidney's heart sank. Dr. Crick lit a Bunsen burner and began to melt a thin tube of glass in it. The glass bent and sank a little in the middle. "You'll want to soften the glass as close to the inner blue flame as possible. Be sure to heat the tube evenly. Once it sags, pull it out and..." Dr. Crick swiftly pulled the now malleable tube into a very thin needle of glass. "Wait for it to cool, and snap it in half like so..."

Crick continued his demonstration, and Sidney began scribbling notes as quickly as she could.

Connor leaned towards her. "Don't worry, I'll do the capillary tubes."

Sidney glared at him. "I can do it."

Connor raised his hands in surrender and backed up. "Okay. No problem."

She hadn't meant to be mean about it, but she was determined that she would never slip into the habit of letting her lab partner carry her. If anyone was going to do any carrying, it would be her.

Connor pulled out some hose for the Bunsen burner, and a little flint lighter from the drawer. "May I light the burner?"He asked with a barely concealed smirk.

"Yes." Sidney assented after only a small hesitation.

Connor lit the gas and literally bowed his way out, extending his arms in a gesture for her to proceed. Sidney would have thought his attitude was a sign of irritation, but there was a sort of merriment in his eyes. He was just teasing her. Sidney would have preferred if he had been angry. Then perhaps he would give up on getting her to chat with him.

They each took turns preparing their own capillary tubes. Connor was admittedly skilled, easily producing enough tubes for their experiment. Sidney was determined to make her own, however. She completely ruined the first two, but learned quickly from her mistakes. Soon, she had a pile of her own cooling tubes and was feeling quite proud of herself.

Connor leaned over to inspect her work. "Good job, kid. Now you just have to snap them... Hey, watch out!"

Sidney felt a sharp sting as she placed her hand on the lab counter, right over a pile of broken glass. She snatched her hand back with a gasp and held it up to inspect the damage. "I can't believe I just did that." Most of the glass had simply stuck to her skin harmlessly, but a few shards had broken the surface causing beads of blood to well up.

Connor turned a faucet on in the nearest sink and pulled Sidney to it. He held her hand under the flowing water and the little pieces of glass all washed away.

"I shouldn't have left my broken glass on the counter." He shook his head, sheepishly.

"I'm the idiot who high-fived a pile of glass. You had nothing to do with it."

Connor turned off the water and they both bent close, looking for any stray shards.

"It's not that bad." Sidney noted. Of course, she had a unique perspective when it came to what should be considered "not that bad." Her thoughts flitted to the scars hidden beneath her clothes. The cuts on her palm really weren't that bad.

Connor turned her hand in his, looking it over. A shiver ran up her spine as it sank in that a guy was holding her hand. The shiver had more to do with the complete invasion of personal space, and less to do with how good looking he was. Or so she told herself.