He's Desperate

3-When Hope Conquers

The chemistry laboratory was filled with serious-faced students. All in lab coats and eye protections. Mr Mark,  the chemistry teacher, used to talk about Rainbow burettet in class, now in lab they had it practically. Justin clamped the burette securely to a stand. He carried the procedures while Mr. Mark directed.  He knew Justin was eligible. Justin closed the burette tap, added approximately ten-centimeter cube of sodium hydroxide, and a few drop of universal indicator solution. He inserted a bung into the end of the burette, turned the tube gently once to mix the two solutions.
    Mr Mark stood and watch him so as others. Gina also concentrated on what he was doing. Justin carefully read the procedure right on the script in front of him. He added an approximately twenty-centimetre cube of hydrochloric acid in the burette. He replaced the bung and turned the tube gently to mix the acid and the other solutions. He re-clamped the burette and waited, they all waited, expecting it to attain the magic so-called rainbow.
     Justin looked up at Gina, she caught his gaze and looked away. He wondered why she had been staring.
    In few seconds, a rainbow started to appear around the centre of the tube. The students yell happily clapping hands; Justin was sure they were clapping hands for him. He gave the cutest smile and stared back at Gina. She was not smiling and was not clapping. She just kept her eyes on the rainbow around the tube.
    “Excellent! Justin,” remarked Mr Mark. He shook him; was wearing hand gloves so he couldn't feel his hand.
    “I think, this is what the angels did when God said he wasn't going to destroy the world with rain. They'd did this experiment to construct a rainbow!” Dave quipped and everybody burst into a peal of historical laughter. He was a comedian, yeah, always making everybody expose their white teeth.     
   Gina didn't laugh, only chuckled,  took off her gloves and dawdled lackadaisically across the lab and used the hand sanitizer—she was ready to leave.
   After the practicals, they headed back to the class with lab coat still worn. On their way, Justin watched as Gina shuffled with her legs. Something was strange about her; even though she was fond of minding her business she rarely put up clumsy look or walk as though the walking dead. This could be an opportunity, he thought, opportunity to clasp her attention.  He moved a little closer, walk along side with her. 
    “Hi, Gina,” he said. He felt his heart beat punching down his ribs.
  She turned, stare down at him.  “What?” Her voice was arrogant. He'd expected that though.
  “Is everything ok with you?” He got more closer—he is risking chances of unpleasant attitudes expected from her.
  “Why are you asking?” She enquired. This fetched him hope, got him confident, he got closer by her side.
  “I noticed it, ” he spoke up, “your face tells it all, Gina” adding her name wasn't compulsory, just trying to be more comforting.
   “There's nothing wrong with me,” she told him.
   “I wish so, but if you tell me that I guess I would be fooled, ” he said, “ deciding to leave you all alone as you've wanted was right, you wanted it but I don't think I can get along anymore. I just——”
   “Look, I'm not interested in talking about this this morning,” she cut him off, “ leave or I do?”
   There was stillness, Justin gazing temporary at her and she starting back. Then, she made the decision, she left him standing all alone.
    “Wait,” his tone came out polite but commanding. She stood dead without facing him, still close to him. “I don't know why my heart hurts getting across with you...I...feel being with you was fate, ” by now others we're beginning to gather. He bent his head downwards, “I want to be your boyfriend, Gina.” He wasn't sure he just said those words, that was so close.
   “What?” There she goes, she rotate her neck gradually to have a look at him this time, her eyes were glowing, gasped in the open air, looked sideways and back to him. Her flushed face showed how embarrassed she was.
   “I'm sorry if that got you annoyed. But I don't think I'm that bad to be” He said timidly and gawked away.
   “You—?” she called rudely, “My boyfriend?" She chuckled, held up her hands on waist. "Can you just imaging this thing? How dear you?" She hissed, took few steps away but Justin slightly held her arm
   “Oh my gosh!!” She gasped “Did you just touch me?” She glowered of her hostility. Before he could say something, Gina rose up her arms and smacked him on his face. The echo attracted others, and they all gathered around, gazing at both of them. Some mimicking, some laughing but Jane's grimace was stagnant, she got furious as she did.
   Justin held his cheek and stared back at her—he wasn't expecting that.
   Dave walked up to him, he held his hand.
“Let's go,” he said and took him away across the field.