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"That's a nasty cough you got there, are you sure you're okay?"
I nod at the lab demonstrator, stifling another one, despite its prominence in my throat. "Yeah, it's nothing a Strepsil can't handle!" I flip a blue-gloved thumbs up at him, and he smiles.
"That's a mighty spirit you have!" he then continues to the next person, checking that they were performing the titration correctly. I can't help smiling to myself as I pour out the last conical flask, marking the values in my lab manual. Now all that is left is to write up a quick report, and since I finished earlier than everyone else, I have a good forty minutes remaining.
I am in a good mood.
Despite my chest cough and the fact that I just ran out of Strepsils; despite being on my feet for two hours straight with no food or water; despite the early morning start, I am happy, because in just forty minutes, I'll be out of here.
In just forty minutes, I'll see him.
"All done! Thanks, Tim," I beam at my lab demonstrator, who raises his eyebrows, clearly not used to my perky mood.
"Awesome, thanks Aria," he is in a state of bemusement as he places my hard copy report on the bench, the first in my class.
There is no better feeling than stripping off my lab coat and pulling my hair out of its taut high ponytail, massaging my fingers over my scalp and closing my eyes. I have a slight headache, especially since I haven't drank water in three hours, and I couldn't be bothered leaving the lab just for a sip. Damn chemistry and their strict lab rules.
I decide to let my hair stay down, trailing down over my denim jacket. As I step out into the spring sunshine, a temperate breeze blows my hair back, and I feel so...exposed.
It is the first time I am not wearing my hoodie since last semester.
Instead, I'm wearing an oversized faded denim jacket over a black t-shirt and white jeans. On my feet are my favourite black and white vans, and after stuffing my lab coat into my backpack I decide to pull out something I haven't worn since I was a kid.
A black baseball cap.
Ah, that's better. I immediately feel more comfortable with the cap on my head, blocking the sun from my face and giving me a type of security that only my beloved hoodie could provide.
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