She's one of the Manning-Niehaus children seemed to be on repeat in my head the whole day, I couldn't believe the fact that I was dating one of my projects and had no idea. Delphine, you suck at noticing things I mentally chided myself .
Aldous would love to know… No. You cant think about him, not again, not in relation to Cosima.
My Professor still seemed to haunt me, even though he was out of my life now and was never coming back into it, you still can't tell Cosima about him, she wouldn't understand, nobody would understand. I shivered and got back to marking a pop quiz I'd set my sophomore class, putting the sins of my past into a drawer in the back of my mind.
The bell rang for the end of school and I began to pack away my things when I heard a gentle knock at the door, followed by the sweet sound of an American accent.
"Hey," Cosima said, giving a sort of half wave, "I was going to wait by the car like you said, but it was cold, so I figured I'd keep you company until you were ready to go."
I smiled at her cuteness, "Thank you mon mignon, here, sit down whilst I pack." I stood from my chair, leaving it free for her and gathered up my files.
She practically threw herself into my seat, and nearly flew across the classroom upon discovering it had wheels, only to grab at my desk and slam to a halt, causing her to bang her elbow and yelp. I spun around to see what had happened and burst into laughter seeing her sat like a scolded toddler rubbing her elbow pathetically.
"Ow ow ow!" she cried, "I'm meant to be a PhD student, what am I doing?" I clapped my hand over my mouth in an attempt to stop giggling.
"What did that hurt more?" I cackled, "Your elbow? Or your pride?" I grinned at her stupidity.
"Both." She said stubbornly and I trotted back over to the her smiling.
"You know, when you smile like that, with your eyes all wide, you look like a puppy." She chuckled and I frowned.
"What sort of puppy?" Cynicism crept into my voice, "A pug?" She glided right over my snarky comment.
"No… I think… a cocker spaniel actually." Her eyes studied me in that unnerving way again, and again I felt like she was reading my mind. I walked over to her and rubbed her elbow like a mother would a child, and put on my best maternal voice.
"Pouvre petite chou." I smiled at her.
"No, I told you, you're the puppy." I smirked at her mistake.
"'Chou' means cabbage, not puppy, a puppy is a 'chiot' my love."
"Oh" she went bright red, "well I don't speak French."
I chuckled, "I know, A for effort though, you tried and it was adorable." After that, I returned to my tasks and quickly finished organising my things then picked up my coat, slung it over my shoulder and looked at her to find her fiddling with a pencil on the desk.
"Ready?" I asked quietly, going down on my haunches in front of her so I could see her eyes which were full of indescribable anxiety with a cause of which I was unaware. "Cosima," I tried again, "are you okay?"
"You want to meet my family," she whispered, "It's been what? Two weeks? And you want to meet my family." I couldn't understand her point.
"I…" I stuttered. "Should I not want to?" I stared at her confused, but she averted my gaze.
"Nobody's ever wanted to meet them Delphine, you don't understand, nobody's ever wanted to meet them because they were my family. They want to meet them because of who we are. The six identical freaks," then she looked at me, cold blooded, "and you're a scientist Delphine, I know you must have studied us, to be in your field, and I don't know If you want to meet them because of who we are, or because of you and I." she hunched forwards, and I watched her shoulders move up and down as her breathing became irregular.
I couldn't move, so I just stared at her, then I kicked myself into gear and scurried around the desk, falling to my knees between her legs.
"Cosima," I begged. "Yes, I know who you are, but I didn't until you said so today. Yes, your family were a topic I studied back in France, and yes, your science intrigues me. But we're together, and we were together before I knew any of it, and the knowledge makes no difference to my feelings. When we went out for dinner the other night did I or did I not say I wanted to meet the people who raised someone like you, because they must have been incredible?" Recognition flickered in her eyes, so I kept on, saying whatever I could to convince her I'd never use her. "I didn't lie, and when you told me about your sisters and Felix, I said I wanted to meet them because I saw how talking about them affected you. I want to meet the people you love, not the science, not the manning-niehaus children, I want to meet Sarah, Helena, Alison, Beth and Rachel, the people."
She leant forwards and kissed me desperately, I could taste the salt from her tears on her lips, and I held her for a few seconds before gently pushing her away.
"We're at work, we can't here, as much as I want to." I whispered, regret apparent in my voice, so I stood, and took her hand in mine, causing her to stand also and we walked side by side to my car with our fingers occasionally brushing.
An hour later we fell through her apartment door with her dry cleaning now done and me with a bag of clean clothes from my place. We both entered her bedroom and set about getting our things in their places, mine on her armchair, hers in her wardrobe, no words were said, the weight of our last conversation hung in the air, so apart from the odd niceties, what do you want for dinner? – I'm not sure, what do you fancy? – I don't know, I'll check the fridge, the apartment stayed silent.
I pulled my laptop out and set to work organising tomorrows classes, and she sat next to me working on her thesis, when her doorbell rang and she jumped up fast, closing her laptop and throwing into the space next to her on the sofa.
I looked at her confused.
"Are you okay? Who is it?" I asked and she stared at me and shrugged, apparently unsure herself. Then I heard a thick British accent booming from the other side of the door.
"Oi Cos! It's Fee! Open up alright?!" and instantly she pulled it open, and a man fell in, straight into her arms, where they hugged fiercely for a long few seconds. He was dressed in skinny jeans and a tight vest, his huge sunglasses hid most of his face, but his black hair was combed back almost professionally. When she spoke I heard the shock in her voice.
"What the hell are you doing here? You're meant to be in the UK, WORKING."
"Yeah well, I sold a painting or two or three and decided I'd come back to town to see my geeky big sister and her crazy clones." Cosima smiled at him, and pulled him in for another hug, I found myself smiling at the display.
Then the man looked at me and grinned knowingly.
"Oh shit Cos, I didn't realise you had company." He smiled at me, his movements erratic and almost effeminate, he spoke with his hands too, but not like Cosima. Her movements were filled with passion and love and sensuality, his seemed dramatic and slightly camp, I instantly decided I liked him, a lot. Then Cosima looked at me, and she went on tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
"Felix, be kind, this is Delphine… she's my…" she seemed lost for words.
"Girlfriend" I finished for her, extending my hand out to her adopted brother, who took it enthusiastically.
"You're the reason Cos didn't go home this weekend? Well now I get it, but I've not heard the last of it from the girls! They're mildly annoyed to say the least, even Alison skyped them this weekend from surburbia, but you went MIA." He winked and she flushed bright red.
"Which is why I'm here as well, they wanted me to come and convince you to go round tonight, Helena and I just flew in to surprise mum for her birthday next weekend, so an impromptu celebration is being held." He grinned, "Bring Delphine, she might as well meet the clone club." Cosima swatted him.
"We are not the clone club, Rachel and Ali would kill you If they'd heard you say that" she laughed.
"But you wouldn't."
"Obvs. But I'm not sure we can tonight, I mean, work." She tried to excuse us.
"Well, have you cooked yet?" Felix demanded and when Cosima didn't answer he turned to me, giving me the same stare I'd had from Cosima many times.
I stuttered awkwardly, my gaze shifting from him to her.
"No." I said lamely, worried about Cosima's reaction, but Felix grinned and span her round.
"Great! Now grab your coat, I'm not leaving without you!" she laughed awkwardly.
"Fine, FINE, we'll come! Let us just get sorted." And she grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the bedroom.
"Delphine," she whispered, "I didn't want you to meet them so soon for a reason, they're protective, and I don't want them being harsh and scaring you off." I giggled at her, nerves building in my stomach, but I put on a brave face.
"Cosima Niehaus, I will be the oldest woman there tonight, except for your mother, your sisters do not worry me." And I bent down to kiss her gently, my hands lingering on her jaw when we parted. "Now, lets go, before he comes in and drags us out."