“If that isn’t the most enthusiastic'yes'I’ve ever heard!”
“Consider it done. We’re going out to celebrate,” Sutton cheers before it fades into a purse of her lips. “Actually, I have that engineering event later this evening, and Evelyn’s been summoned to yet another family dinner, but come nine o’clock tomorrow night, we’ll be on our way to tearing up the dance floor!”
“Perfect! Does that work for you, Vivienne?” Evelyn turns in my direction.
I stay quiet, guilt washing over me for feeling like a bad friend.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve turned those girls down more times than I can count—all due to the dread of leaving my work behind.
I want to go out. I want to be the carefree twenty-six-year-old who leaps at the chance to live life. ButI can’t—not whenI’ll be in my head thinking about wasted time and the things I’ll have to do once the night is over.
“Guys…” Their excitement fizzles at my matter-of-fact tone. “I don’t know if that’s such a great idea.”
The girls trade a knowing look as though they already saw this coming.
Lab. Coffee shop. Home. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
I’ve been tearing myself down trying to make my chemistry work for the better part of the past year. And out of everyone in my life, they know that best. They’ll listen to my occasional rants. They see me make a beeline for my bed after a long day. We live together, but I’m so absent that they question if I’m ever home at all.
“Onenight off isn’t going to kill you, Vivienne. In fact, it might help you,” Evelyn declares, her eyes soft with concern. “I know you feel this pressure to dedicate all your time to your research, but breaks are a necessity. The best remedy to a problem you can’t solve is timeawayfrom it.”
My gaze drops to the table, the wavy grain of the wood serving as a good enough distraction. Deep down inside, I know she’s right, but her solution seems counterintuitive.
“Just think about it, okay? It’s a doctor’s order.”
A small smile tugs at my lips at the double meaning, and I somehow find myself making her that promise.
“Good.” A satisfied beam crosses her face. “Otherwise, I wasn’t going to give you this.” My hand catches the navy-blue notebook as it glides across the table. “Is that the one you wanted?”
I nod in approval, taking in the circled number four on the right-hand corner of the hard exterior.
Over the years, I’ve gone through one too many of these lab notebooks, documenting each and every one of myexperiments. Whether they were successful is questionable at best, but that’s what all research boils down to—trial and error.
The familiar whiff of chemicals hits my nose as I crack the pages open.I flip to the latest entry, trying my hardest to ignore the jab to my heart at the sight of my 2-percent reaction yield. It might have been an epic fail, but with a little troubleshooting, this step could be successful.
I know it.
Ifeelit.
Okay, that’s a lie—but I’m hoping that if I put positive energy into the chemistry, I’ll get the same in return. So far, that’s been mostly unsuccessful. At this point, I’m just grateful Evelyn saved me a trip to the university by bringing this over.
“Thank you guys—for everything.The notebook. The coffee. Your patience with me.” I emphasize that last point.
Sutton waves her hand dismissively, an understanding smile softening her features. “Don’t worry about it. We’re all students—we’ve been there. Plus, that’s what friends are for.”
Two flashes of light go off, dragging our attention toward Evelyn’s phone. She flips it over, lips pressing into a thin line at her most recent notification. “Looks like it’s time for me to go.”
“I should head out as well.” Sutton slides out of the booth, allowing Evelyn to follow suit. “I have a fitting withtheLoren Virelli for that event later tonight.” She squeals a tad too loudly, attracting the attention of nearby patrons. “What have I done to deserve this?”
“Worked your ass off,” Evelyn states the obvious with a wide grin.
And I couldn’t agree with that more.
Mechanical engineering student by day and social media content creator by night, Sutton has been dedicated to producing engaging science content for the past three years. She’s only now reaping the rewards of her hard work with branddeals, events, and fittings with some of the mostprominent fashion designers in the industry.
“Stop it, you guys! There’s no need for flattery.” Sutton brushes her amber hair over her shoulder before whispering, “That’s a joke. Please keep it coming.”
I sink into my seat at her absurdity, laughing as the girls exit the coffee shop, giggling just as hard.
