Author's Note: I'm not entirely happy with this chapter. It contains a lot of setup for the story and minimal Cophine... so be warned. Full Disclosure: I've been a tad uninspired as of late, but will try my best to continue with the story.
Friday night, with our frenzied kissing and dating declarations, was a far cry from how I spent the rest of my weekend – Alone. That Friday night, as I slipped blissfully into sleep, my mind had started making plans for the weekend, plans that involved Cosima. But none of it ever became reality, because I never heard from the woman. Any texts I sent went unanswered; any phone calls I made went straight to voicemail. And as the weekend came to a close, I couldn't wipe the images of Cosima and Aynsley that danced through my mind.
Needless to say, this morning as I walk toward my office I'm more than a little irked with the dreadlocked woman. For the umpteenth time I find myself scrolling through the list of unanswered texts on my phone, so consumed that I hardly notice the figure waiting outside my office door.
"Good morning, Doctor Cormier."
The voice slices through my thoughts, making me stop dead in my tracks. Her bright eyes meet my narrowed ones. She's all smiles, I'm all scowls. And as her eyes begin their descent down my body, I cross my arms over my chest.
"You're looking lovely today," she whispers, leaning in just enough so that her breath tickles the shell of my ear.
She pulls back, waiting for me to say something, anything, but I just stand there. Despite all the speeches I've prepared for this very moment, despite all the anger fueling me, I say and do nothing. Instead I turn with a 'hmph' and brush past her into my office.
Immediately she's following behind me, her fingertips lightly dancing at my hips. She tries turning me around, but I push her hands away and take a seat in my chair. I don't look at Cosima. Instead I take the time to do some useless paper shuffling, arranging my desk so it's cleaner than it's ever been. Finally, after what seems like forever, I turn my eyes up to Cosima and raise my eyebrows.
"Is everything okay?" she asks, slipping into the chair opposite me. An amused smile dances across her lips, but her brows are furrowed in confusion. When she reaches for my hand, I pull it away.
"Busy weekend?" The words leave my mouth as a bitter hiss and I watch as Cosima furrows her brows even more. Either she's legitimately confused, or a really good actress.
"Delphine are you mad about something?" she asks. Leaning forward she adds, "Did I do something?"
"How's Aynsley?" I ask. The question sounds childish even to me, but I can't help it. The thoughts of Cosima and Aynsley are back and I can't shake the feeling of anger bubbling up inside me once more. "You two so busy you couldn't answer your phone?"
At this point Cosima is beyond confused. My first question had her chuckling, but now she's looking at me as if I'm some creature from outer space. Finally after a minute of silence she rummages through her bag and pulls out her phone.
"My phone," she says, pressing the device's power button, "has been off all weekend."
As soon as she finishes the sentence her cell erupts in a series of buzzes and chimes. Buzzes and chimes that I can only assume mean she has new messages waiting. I watch as she scrolls through them one by one, typing things here and there until finally she sets the phone on my desk. Her face is expressionless.
"Cosima, I'm so sorr—" I start, but I'm interrupted by my own phone buzzing in my lab coat pocket. When I retrieve the device I find I have a text from Cosima.
"Would LOVE to see you this weekend,
but I have to work on my dissertation.
I'll explain Monday. x"
She must've just typed this. A response to my many texts. I start to apologize again, but my phone buzzes once more.
"Don't worry about it. I forgive you. x.
PS: Aynsley?!
PPS: How did you get my number?"
It's as if she's read my mind. Her message has me laughing and when I muster the courage to look at her, I find she's smiling too.
"I'm sorry," I mutter. The least I could do is actually say the words out loud. But Cosima is waving me off, ready to move on from what I suppose could be considered our first fight.
"I've got news, Delphine," she says, bouncing excitedly in her chair. "Bad news: you'll no longer be having an affair with a student. Good news: you'll be having an affair with an employee!"
She smiles brightly as she tells me about a meeting she had with Leekie only days ago. How he had called her into his office and guaranteed her an early graduation from the University of Minnesota despite her having a semester of studies left. How he had extended her an employment offer to join the Dyad Institute because she showed great promise. From the very beginning I had known of Leekie's interest in hiring Cosima, but this – pulling strings for early graduations and premature employment offers – this was weird. Not only that, but it was unheard of.
"Doctor Leekie said he needed my dissertation ASAP, that's why my phone was off," Cosima explains even further. "I couldn't have any distractions this weekend. Not even you."
"It's just... unorthodox," I finally manage. My mind is swirling and my brain seems unable to process the information fast enough.
"I thought so too, but this is good news for us," she says, reaching across the desk to grab my hand. "It means I won't be going back to Minnesota when summer is over. I'll be staying right here. With you."
I smile and squeeze her hand. I hadn't even thought of that. The end of summer means the end of this fellowship. For once it appeared as if luck was on our side.
"But," Cosima starts, that playful smile back on her lips, "that means I'll need some help packing. Are you up for a road trip to Minnesota?"
Knock! Knock!
Immediately I pull from Cosima's grasp. And not a second too soon, because when I peer over Cosima's shoulder I find Doctor Leekie and Doctor Clark entering my office. I sit up in my chair and follow the two men with my eyes until they're standing next to my desk.
"I'd like to see you two in my office," Leekie says, his tone flat and monotonous. "We need to talk."
The walk to Doctor's Leekie is a quiet one, and as we enter his office everyone remains just as silent. I can't read Leekie's expression, but Doctor Clark looks at ease, as if he already knows what this meeting is about. I fear I know too, but I'm not about to admit to anything. When we're all seated, it's only then that Doctor Leekie begins to speak.
"As you know the Neolution Seminar is this week."
As soon as the words leave his lips I know I can rest easy. Of course – the Neolution Seminar! We need to go over the details of the Neolution Seminar, the seminar I had completely forgot about. The seminar where I'd be sharing a hotel room with Cosima.
Doctor Leekie jumps into his speech, taking his time to describe the 2-day event and the all activities we'd find there. For the most part we're given free rein to explore the seminar's offerings, but Leekie requires us to attend his panel on Neolutionism, no ifs ands or buts about it. And finally he tells us the biggest news – the Neolution Seminar mixer. It's tomorrow, the same night we arrive to the hotel, and it's where we'll be able to mingle with some of the best and brightest minds in the field. It's an incredible opportunity for all of us and one I'm very excited about. Though when I glance at Cosima, she looks positively unimpressed by the information.
"And don't forget," Leekie adds with a cheeky smile. "What happens at the Neolution Seminar stays at the Neolution Seminar."
And it's only then that I see Cosima visibly perk up.
We arrive at the hotel promptly the next day joining the other scientific intellectuals in town for the seminar.
"So we have Ms. Cormier and Ms. Niehaus in room 305," the hotel clerk says, handing over two key cards, "And Mr. Clark and Mr. Leekie in room 307." She passes out the other two cards and then points to young man standing nearby. "Follow him, he'll show you to your rooms."
On the way to the room I watch as people gape and stare at Doctor Leekie. I'm not surprised; the man is well-known in his field, some might even say he's a bit of a celebrity.
My eyes, however, are on Cosima. I can't help but watch the woman, who seems so entirely fascinated by this whole event. She stands on her tippy toes, her head whipping every which way to read the banners hanging around the hotel. It reminds me of the first time she stepped into my office, like a kid in a candy story admiring all its offerings. I take the moment to grab Cosima's hand and plant a quick kiss on it. I just can't help it.
Finally the bellboy takes us down a hall, up an elevator and then twisting and turning down some more hallways until we're standing in front of room 307. And with the slide of the key and a click of the lock we're in.
The hotel room is beautiful, elegant and modern. In the center of the room sits a giant king sized bed. The best part, however, is the balcony that overlooks the hotel's stunning swimming pool.
"One bed," mutters Doctor Clark. I'm thinking the same thing, but it's Neal who actually says the words aloud. With his voice rising he adds, "One bed. This must be some kind of mistake."
Clark turns toward the bellboy who just shrugs.
"We're booked solid, man," the kid says, giving another shrug. "No other rooms. Unless you two would like to switch rooms?"
Doctor Clark looks at Doctor Leekie, who in turn shakes his head with a very adamant 'no'. Clark opens his mouth to protest some more, but Leekie raises his hand.
"Ladies do you mind sharing?" Leekie asks.
The answer is a very obvious no. And, with tiny smiles playing at our lips, Cosima and I tell him so.
"Good, that settles it then," Leekie says, turning from the room. Just as he's out the door he adds, "Don't forget, seminar mixer tonight!"
Doctor Clark doesn't budge though. He steps further into the room, lightly tapping on the wall and placing his ear against it.
"These walls are very thin and we're right next door," Clark warns. He waits in the room glancing between Cosima and me before adding, "Remember that ladies."
I spend the next hour preparing myself for the Neolution Seminar mixer. It's a big deal and I take my time getting ready. With hair and makeup done, I only have one task left – finding the perfect outfit. I'm just about the dig through my suitcase when I hear Cosima calling my name. She sounds distant, and when I poke my head out from the bathroom, I find her standing on the balcony.
"Yes, Cosima?"
"Come here," she says. The way she says it is so coy and flirty.
I step out further, finally noticing the way she's standing. She has her hands hidden behind her back, and her expression is one of… smugness? Whatever she's hiding, she's very pleased with herself. Needless to say, I'm intrigued.
I step closer to her until I'm about three feet away. That's when she finally adjusts her position. I watch as she moves her hands from behind her back, raising them until they're directly in front of her. And then I see it – in one hand she holds a lighter and in the other a joint.
"Let's make this mixer a little more interesting, shall we?"