A/N: Sorry! It's been a while. I'm here now. All mistakes are mine. Downside to writing from an iPad.
..
Just minutes after Tamsin caused her to spill hot coffee over her beloved shirt and precious classroom notation, Lauren huffed as her heels clacked against the sidewalk across the Berkeley campus. Her hands, sure and quick, smoothed the crinkles and wrinkles around the damp spots of brown on white. She plastered her practiced mask of indifference, ignoring inquisitive looks from scurrying people that trafficked along the infamous Telegraph Avenue.
It was her first day in her professional capacity at UC Berkeley, and already she was rattled, irritated that the 'tour guide' Dr. Warwick seemed only mildly apologetic and no doubt amused. She could only hope that she'd never cross her path again, professional or no.
Her day had been so meticulously scheduled only to have it stirred into a small, yet still annoying, chaos of catch-up and re-adjustments. So, after she entered Kenzi's residence and dug through her luggage to find a suitable replacement for her attire, she found herself reveling in the hush of her surroundings; only the slight hum of the ceiling fan was audible. A sense of peace, though mixed with the stale air of the apartment, entered and calmed her, and she closed her eyes to soak in this precious moment of nothingness for a good few minutes before committing to the rest of her day: paperwork.
Mountains and mountains of paper work and dozens of class syllabi to looked over and improve were at her approval and scrutination. She was the lead of the labs in the Molecular and Cell Biology department, and that involved in overlooking the department and making budgets and finding new equipment for the advanced medical and biochemical coursework.
And Lauren enjoyed this.
She enjoyed inputting her own knowledge that only her experience and brilliance could bring. Despite her happiness she found in what UC Berkeley had to offer, she longed to continue her own research the opportunities she had with Ashton Fareigh. After feeling the slow of her heartbeat and the racing thoughts, she pulled up the desired shirt, gathered the necessary belongings and headed toward her new office.
xx
Evony was certainly happy at Lauren's arrival in the university. Dr. Lauren Lewis created a buzz in the scientific community, and now she had her at her school.
"Suck it, Stanford," was one of the first things she mused after Lauren's confirmation.
So, that is how Dr. Evony Marquis found her newest addition to the department, her new educational chest piece of her territory- Smiling at her computer, typing with enthusiasm beside color-coded notes.
"I take it you like your office, Dr. Lewis?"
Lauren paused her typing and focused her eyes at the visitor. She smiled a practiced smile and rose to stand next to Evony, offering her hand in greeting.
"Hello, again Dr. Marquis."
Evony shook her hand and casually replied, " Please, call me Evony. No formality needed. Especially with you being highly regarded. Haven't you heard? Stanford is steaming at the ears that you're here," Evony said, her voice overlaid with dark enthusiasm much like how a lioness would show after killing a prey.
Lauren let out small laugh; yes Stanford was one of the other options, and they had offered a higher salary. It wasn't even that far from Berkeley, maybe an hour and a half during traffic.
"Ah, well. I have a feeling Berkeley is just where I need to be," Lauren offered in response with honest conviction.
Evony raised an eyebrow. "Oh, sweetie. I know you're most likely here because your sister. Mackenzie, right?"
"So you know I have a sister here," Lauren stated. Not that she was surprised, really. She was the Dean after all.
"Of course, dear. I know a lot of things. Plus, she named you her next of kin on the university insurance plan." Evony made a slow walk about the office, taking in the minor adjustments Lauren had managed to make in such a short about of time. "Well. It all works out for us to have such an esteemed scientist."
Lauren smiled, closed and controlled, and replied, "Right. Of course."
"At any rate, I came here to apologize for Dr. Warwicks unfortunately horrid meeting with you today. She can be a bit," Evony paused, tilted her head and continued with, "of an asshole."Lauren was taken aback and blinked a few times in silence while giving Evony, her new superior, an incredulous look.
"Oh, don't worry. She's been a pain in my ass for years," Evony stated, not caring if she came off as crass in front of her new employee. "And I encourage you to tell her I said that. I find that irritating her is quite entertaining."
With that, Evony turned around to walk toward the hall just outside Lauren's office. She stopped and looked over her shoulder and said, "Ta, dear."
Lauren sat back at her desk and whispered," Did that really just happen?"
xxxx
Beside a demolished pizza box on the grass, Kenzi splayed out on the ground, sunglasses back on to cover her eyes from the sun.
The shutter sounding from Nadia's direction earned a middle finger from Kenzi.
"This will be great for my photography collection of 'Things Kenzi Gets Herself Into," Nadia taunted.
"Can you add a 'Things That Kenzi Does to Nadia In Her Sleep'?"
"Change it to 'Things Dr. Hotpants Will Do to Nadia In Her Not Sleep' and you've got a deal," Nadia replied. "Now, get up; we have gotta go."
"World's worst idea ever!"
"You know, you do eventually have to..I don't know...learn?"
"I'm tooo full to move! Don't tell me what to do," Kenzi whined while she tapped her stomach lightly.
"I told you to stop eating that much pizza. And what did you tell me after your first bite?"
"That you hate me?"
"You said, "I could eat this entire thing by myself, but whatever I say, do not let me eat more than four slices..'"
"You obviously failed to stop me from this oh-so-bittersweet heavenly goodness."
"Then, you just licked the rest of the slices to 'claim' them so I wouldn't eat it," Nadia accused as she scrunched her nose in disgust.
"Lies and slander," Kenzi said through a sigh.
"Yes, I am a horrible liar. Come on, we class in like half an hour." Nadia poked her stomach.
"No need. I'm gonna die here," Kenzi whined. "Plus, do you know what we have to do in our next class? Math. Math, Nadia. It's torture. When am I ever gonna try to calculate when some dude rows a boat at whatever speed while another dude on a jet to find when they collide?"
"That example is elementary."
"And why are there letters in Math? Why?!"
"Do you even pay attention in your courses?"
"You know I usually play fruit ninja in the back row."
"How in the world did you get accepted to this place?"
"Ugh. Grandma gave a donation. I have to do this or I don't get my inheritance."
"I kind of hate you right now."
"Rude."
Kenzi sat up and used Nadia for support, and there was a slight bulge from her full stomach that Kenzi touched in agony.
"Alright. Let's go," Nadia announced.
They walked, and when they covered around one hundred paces, Kenzi stopped and bent over, her hands places in her knees. She gasped and managed to say, through broken breaths, "I. Cant. Move. I can't.. I can't breathe. I think I just got asthma. Can you...can you just get asthma?"
Nadia just looked at Kenzi, blinked, and pinched her the bridge of her nose. "No, you doofus. You're out of shape and full. Maybe you should throw up or something."
"No, I am not wasting the pizza!"
They both took a minute, waiting for Kenzi to gather her breath when they heard a slight hum behind them.
"Well, I see you've stayed on campus rather then sleeping off your intoxication," they both froze at the voice. Nadia deduced the words enough to know this was the evil blonde from Kenzi's class, the new professor.
"Oh, hammer and tongs, this is really happening," Kenzi whispered to herself. She turned around and looked at Doctor What's-Her-Face.
"Um, hey, um professor.. "Kenzi sputtered and cleared her throat to continue, "New professor?"
Now in a more coherent state of mind, Kenzi took in the form of her new professor. She was blonde and gorgeous in a biting sort of way.
Tamsin just smiled, and she kind of looked evil, at least to Kenzi, and fired back,"Listen, kid, I kinda forgot your name. Had you been on time and not drunk, you would have caught my name. It's Doctor Warwick."
"Right. I'm Kenzi. It's technically 'Mackenzie,' but three syllable names creep me out." Nadia elbowed Kenzi's side, earning a surprised grunt." So, just Kenzi, and my friend here is Nadia. Na-Di-Ah."
"Wish I could say it's a pleasure but no," Tamsin sighed impatiently. "When you stop by my office, Kenzi, you will receive your new coursework." Tamsin turned, eager to leave the exchange, lest she say something crude, and walked a few steps before -
"Well, fuck me," Kenzi muttered and puffed her cheeks to blow out a breath.
"What did you just say?" Tamsin asked, her eyebrows up in amusement.
"That was audible?"
Tamsin lifted an eyebrow and just turned and walked away with in overly confident strut.
...
"So..Am I in trouble?" Kenzi asked, her eyes wide and hands fidgetting on hands fidgeting on he lap.. "Because, I am so sorry. My eyes are bigger than my stomach when it comes to alcohol."
Tamsin leaned back in her chair and raised her eyebrows. "Are you even legal to drink?"
"Um.. You know what? Maybe it was just the flu?"
As she leaned back into her chair, she snorted and folded her arms across her chest. "I really don't give a shit about that. I'm just wondering how in the world you got accepted into this place. I mean, your SAT scores are amazing, but your...intelligence doesn't show in your grades.
"Well, in my defence, I took a bunch of shrooms...totes by accident...like... a few hours before and made me suddenly super mart," Kenzi huffed. Then she hurried to explain, "I mean..shit. Foot in mouth always comes out at the wrong times."
To Kenzi's surprise, Tamsin burst out laughing.
"You are a fucking trip shrimp."
"Hey!"
"Look. I just wanted to scare the shit out of you... you know, make an example out of you in front of the others. But, I gotta say, I think you kinda scare yourself."
"Just because I dress like this doesn't mean that-"
"Yeah... bored now," Tamsin draweled. "Now, get out of my office. I have one episode left of Dexter."
xx
"What a day from the Twilight Zone, man," Kenzi grunted, her face contorted in a grimace. She was alone in her apartment, but the need to verbalize her thoughts didn't hold her back from talking to the air.
She sprawled across her worn couch, suddenly feeling a little sorry that her sister had been subjected to it for sleep. It was dirty, sure, but it was also comfortable as she could afford. That fact that she found it on the curb would remain a secret from her older sister. She febreezed the shit out of it just hours before Lauren's arrival. The days always took a large toll on her energy level. Kenzi wasn't surprised seeing as she tended to eat junk food six days out of the week.
The clock indicated that she had three hours until she had to head to the seminar in Emeryville that required a ten minute drive with the car that she borrowed from Nadia.
"You can use it whenever. I don't like driving anyway. The drive from Toronto to here totally turned me off of cars," Nadia had said. She pays Nadia in pizza and meatballs from little hole-in-the-wall place on telegraph. It works out perfectly. She also plays wingman on a few weekends. It's harder than she thought since she had to remain somewhat sober to attract attention enough to introduce her 'French Friend' Nadia who somehow convinces that she is from France with her poorly-disguised Quebecois French. Probably the alcohol.
Her rest was interrupted by her phone buzzing on her table. She lolled her head to the phone she had placed on the coffee table. With a sigh, she picked up, not bothering to look at the caller ID.
"Nadia, I can't play poonani catcher tonight. Seminar, remember?"
"What?" She heard Lauren ask. She could just imagine the furrowed brows on her sister.
"Ugh. It's just you. What can I do for you, Miss Buzzkill."
She heard Lauren sigh.
"Kenzi, I'm going to be late tonight. I know I promised a family dinner, but I am swamped in my work. Can we reschedule for tomorrow?"
"Oh shit, we were gonna have family dinner, tonight?"
"You forgot?"
"Kinda forgot about it after I puked all over campus."
"What?! Are you okay? Do you need me to come home now?"
"Noooo, Lo. I'm a big girl now. I can wipe my ass and everything. I just had a monster hangover from last night."
"Speaking of, we are gonna have a talk about your failed test."
"How do you know that," Kenzi asked with a shrill. She looked around the room, wondering if Lauren was just hiding about in her apartment. "I'm a freakin' adult! You're not my mom!"
Silence and a breath, and a hint of resignation, she heard Lauren say, "No, but I'm the closest one you have right now."
"Shit, sorry. I...look, I'm sorry, okay? I have a seminar tonight, so don't wait up."
"Please don't make it a repeat of last night."
"I don't even remember most of last night," Kenzi defended.
"Exactly. I'd hate to see then state of your liver right now. Please, just be careful."
"Roger that, Lo. I am gonna march myself into a nice, hot bath. Love you."
"I love you too, Kenzi."
xxx
Lauren was woken for the second night in a row by a not-so-sneaky Kenzi who poorly hid her slight intoxication. Lauren was thankful at least for the fact that Bo had yet again brought her sister home safely, and she had offered yet another awkward thanks.
"She, uh.. she kinda went overboard on the vodka," Bo admitted. "Then, she tried to soak it up with hot dogs and sliders."
Lauren ran a hand through her messy blonde locks. "Kenzi?"
"Yep. I'm kinda busy spinning with the room right now. Shhh," Kenzi slurred. "I can't afford to spend anymore money on this merry-go-round-and-and-round. Lauren, can you please help me off? This isn't... this isn't.. Bo?.. What's the word I'm thinking?"
"Uh.. I think you wanted to get off the ride because it's...I don't know.. Fun?"
"Yes! That's it. It's not fun."
Lauren helped Kenzi to the couch and walked to the kitchen to get a cup of water. "Here. Drink some and go to bed."
"You are so mean!"
Lauren sighed, slightly annoyed. "Are you okay? Do you need anything?"
Bo shifted from foot to foot, watching the exchange at the front of the door. "I'm gonna head out. Tell Kenzi she owes Nadia meatballs for puking in her car."
"What?! Did you let her drive?"
"No, of course not. We took a cab. The car is still at the hotel."
"Hotel?"
"Oh... oh damn. I guess she didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what exactly?"
"She is so gonna kill me.. I do this seminar."
"Go on."
"It's a 'I'm a lady beast: Hear My Lady Bits Roar."
Lauren coughed after inhaling her own pit and sputtered, "Excuse me?"
"Um. Yeah, Kenzi.. she's my assistant. She's actually pretty great at it. Anyway, please remember to tell Kenz.. Car, Puke, Meatballs."
Lauren watched Bo turn to walk away. She was confused more than ever.
