Chapter 3

The following day Amy didn't even greet her mother at breakfast like she normally does. She felt like a total badass. She would have hopped on her Harley with a sleeveless man but motorcycles were dangerous and she couldn't drive. When her mother told her goodbye she responded with a simple shrug. Barbara Fowler was going to learn today. None of her mother's shenanigans could ruin her time at the lab. She was finally in her sanctuary. To Amy, nothing in the lab looked like gross bacteria, dead animals, or nerdy people. To her it was possibility, new discoveries and hope. It was the only place she fit in.

"Hazah!" She exclaimed racing to her petri dishes. She was overjoyed to see the bacteria population had almost doubled in size, she had a slew of data to experiment on. Without any hesitation she pulled her hair in a ponytail, grabbed her notebook and pen and begin recording.

Although worn, she loved her notebook and pen. She'd bought the notebook at a garage sale for only 10 cents and her father gifted her the pen when she was 10. Amy actually wanted her 10th birthday gift to be a green vest and a badge initiating her into the Girl Scouts but her mother didn't approve of the organization and forbade it. So her father bought them lab coats with 'F.A.S.' embroidered on the pocket and a white and navy blue pen. They called themselves 'Fowlers- About-Science'. It was just the club Amy needed and its sole member was her best friend, her father. She would accompany him on experiments at other universities and laboratories, on Wednesdays they would go on dates to local restaurants or to the movies, and on the weekends he would take her to concerts in the neighboring cities varying from classical orchestras to Neil Diamond performances. He filled in the empty spots where friends would be, and he did it without making her compromise who she was.

Once, there was a replica of a traditional Victorian castle built in the next town over. It was equipped with a museum giving you thorough information about the middle ages. There was a restaurant that served traditional Victorian food, and a band that played period music, but the real reason Amy begged her father to take her was because of their costume contest. She wanted to come dressed as princess Victoria. She picked a beautiful creme dressed detailed with Tulle, lace and beautiful beads from a specialty shop in Austin. Her mother even promised she could go to a hair salon to get her hair done. It was the night Amy had waited for.

Her father drove all the way to the dress shop to pick up the dress in time for Amy to have finished her hair appointment so they could head to the festival. Amy jumped in anticipation for his arrival. Every minute past 7:00 Amy's anticipation increased. He called informing her he had a flat tire and was on the side of the highway fixing it.

Amy imagined that when the accident happened the other cars put their best efforts into avoiding her father. Or that the other drivers on the road ran to his rescue trying to unpin him from the two vehicles. Anything was more hopeful than a car of drunken teenagers striking her father who was trying to make it to his daughter.

His death became so difficult it broke what was left of their family. Her mother's hold on Amy's life became stronger, trying to hold onto the only family member she had left. So she made decisions about where Amy could go and how long she could be there. Who she gave her permission to befriend and who and what she permitted her from doing. While Amy understood that was a part of her mother's grieving she couldn't help but feel her life was suddenly taken too. The only place Amy could live was in the lab. The familiar sound of heels clicking against the floor caught her attention.

"Mrs. Gephart, ! Do you have a minute?" Amy called as the University's dean walked pass.

"Mrs. Fowler, you're here early." Her lush voice beamed into the room: Mrs. Gephart was magnificent. She was the dean of the top science department in Texas, she was published in numerous science journals and spoke at every major university in the world. She had two beautiful daughters and a sexy husband whom she parades around. And she was Amy's fathers' closest friend at the university. "You know, we've already accepted you into our dual enrollment program you don't have to show off anymore."

"I know, it's just the lab is… way better than being home, right now" Amy didn't continue. She'd already spoken too much. Mrs. Gephart was spectacular but she was like a mockingjay. If anything gossip worthy landed in the hands of Mrs. Gephart it would surely reach everyone in the southwest by the weekend. "L-look!" Amy said changing the subject "The cells we implanted with the disease have doubled. It's at a perfect amount to see if the antivirus will either kill the cells or destroy the virus." Amy gushed to the professor. She didn't wanted to seem too excited, but she couldn't help it. When it came to science Amy was like her mother at a garage sale. "I came across an article in Neuron about how Dr. Mackenzie, you know the psychological neurobiologist at Harvard, is the first scientist to safely use pigs for his addictive experiments. I'm really interested in addictive tendencies in smokers but I am curious to use monkeys instead. They're peculiar little creatures and I love them! In fact, it seems every scientist at Harvard is doing groundbreaking work, maybe I could study there someday!" She rambled "Although, I love Eastern Texas, it's my father's alma mater but going to Harvard would be a dream!"

All Mrs. Gephart could do was laugh. Amy thought so rapidly it was hard to keep up. She inherited that trait from her father. He could talk about science for hours and wouldn't let the other person get in a fraction of a word before he'd changed to the next subject. She was glad Amy still carried part of him in her.

"You're so much like your father." She started remembering back on her old friend.

"I know. I have his eyes, his stubbornness, and his families generous hips. My mother reminds me constantly." Amy sighed.

"I meant you have his love for science. I was afraid after his death your mother would pull you from science because of the memories. But I'm glad you continued. You have a promising future in this field." She opened her arms and hugged Amy tight just like her father. "Just don't forget, while science is your love, family is your life. Don't spend all of your time here, spend time with your mother, your friends and your boyfriend."

Amy wanted to burst into obnoxious cackles at her obscene comment, but laughing in her face would be rude. Unless it was to eat, Amy rarely found herself in her mother company and she certainly didn't enjoy the moments she was. Unless her cat and her schools' janitor could be considered friends, she was friendless. And a boyfriend, impossible. But Mrs. Gephart didn't need to be privy to Amy's pathetic life so she politely smiled and allowed for the professor to get on her way.