A/N: I may be a biology major, but I have never taken an immunology course. I don't like to make assumptions, so I'm going to keep the actual science fairly vague. I don't like to be wrong. Plus, what are we really here for science or science girlfriends, eh? Also, I changed my pen name from "Jandee" To "Emilie Mae" in celebration of my name change which should be made official tomorrow (hopefully).
As Tuesday rolled around, Cosima found that office hours came faster than expected. At the start of the day, she had expected to be impatiently waiting, but her busy schedule (and the fact she was perpetually late) meant there wasn't much time to sit around bored. After her classes came to a close, she met up with Delphine in her office. She then followed her through the corridors down to the lab. She hadn't been paying that much attention to where she was following the woman. Cosima was sure that next Tuesday she would need Delphine to show her where the lab was again. The graduate student had left a written note on her desk to let other students know where she was.
"I will be assisting you today as I want to make sure you know everything that's in the lab," she said as she opened the door into the lab entryway. Hanging in the small hall were lab coats and other supplies to keep experiments from becoming contaminated. Delphine took off her coat then started to put on a lab coat. Swallowing hard, Cosima noticed how the woman's shirt dipped down just enough to show her cleavage. She pushed her glasses up on her nose a bit then took a coat for herself – followed by gloves. The French student quickly went over the basic lab procedures and rules that were on a wall placard.
"All ready?" Delphine asked with a warm smile when she finished.
"Mmhmm," the dreadlocked student said with a nod.
The pair walked through the next door and into the lab. Cosima took a deep breath as air hit her face. The air had that familiar sanitized smell that she had come to associate with laboratories. The smell was both comforting and exhilarating. Even her heart started to pound a little faster at the idea of being able to work on her immunology lab. Or maybe it was because Delphine decided to stand awfully close to her in order to speak and not disturb the man that was stationed at a microscope a few yards away.
"Cosima," she said softly. "Would you like me to show you around the lab before we get started?"
"I'd like that," she said with a small shudder at the feel of Delphine's breath against her bare neck.
The graduate student took her time showing Cosima around the lab. During their conversing, the brunette would occasionally start excitedly rambling about the history of certain pieces of equipment and there use in the lab. The blonde found this enthralling and often matched Cosima's level of exuberance. Then the dreadlocked girl started to get to work. The lab was basic, and the main purpose of it was to introduce the students to the different equipment they would be using throughout the semester. It was always good for one to be comfortable with their equipment and know proper use. Delphine had decided to stay and observed her student. As her office hours came to a close, she made a point of continuing talking to the brunette. Throughout the last hour, they had been chatting occasionally and made some jokes, but as their time came to a close neither one wanted to stop talking to one another even after the brunette student had already cleaned up her station.
"Okay, okay, I have one," Cosima said as she thought up a joke. "What did the zero say to the eight?"
"I do not know, what?" the blonde asked.
"Nice belt!" she said as her wide smile turned into a grin. Delphine thought for a moment then started laughing and put her hands over her face.
"Wait, wait," she said putting a finger up to stop her own laughing more so than stop Cosima from doing anything. "Why do chemists prefer nitrates? They are cheaper than day rates!"
"Oh my god." She laughed with a familiar scratchiness. "I can't believe you just- wow. That was good, Delphine."
The pair nodded and tried to stop from laughing. Delphine reached over and put her hand on Cosima's when her laughing ceased.
"We need to stop laughing, I have to go TA another class. I cannot be late." As she said this, another laugh escaped her chest at the sight of Cosima's bright red, still laughing face.
"I will, I will, just give me, give me a moment," she said as she inhaled deeply to calm herself. Just as she was about to stop laughing, Delphine burst out in another fit of laughter. "W-What?!" the brunette asked as she found herself doing the exact same thing as the French woman.
"I am – quite – quite sorry," she said between laughs. "I just – your face –" She stopped at the sight of the brunette doubling over in laughter. "Arrêtez! Arrêtez! I cannot take it, Cosima!" She reached over and put her hand on the dreadlocked student's shoulder. "Please get up, we must stop before I am late."
Cosima nodded and slowly uncurled herself and sat up straight. Delphine stood up and reached for her student's hand. Without hesitation, Cosima took it and the French woman helped lift her to her feet before letting go.
"I almost died of laughter, and you're worried about being late?" the brunette asked with a joking smile.
"Come on, you cheeky girl," Delphine said. As they started to make her exit, she stopped and turned to the younger student. "I- You are very intelligent and fun to be around. We should, maybe we could hang out after you are finished with classes one night?"
"I'd um, I'd really like that, Delphine. Uh. You have my number, so just… you can just call me or whatever," she said with a small smile to hide the nervous excitement bubbling in her chest.
"I will do just that," she said. "I had a wonderful time with you today in the lab." Bending down slightly, she touched her lips to each of Cosima's cheeks and made her way to class with a quick "farewell".
Thursday was the day Cosima's phone rang. Her heart leapt with the prospect, and she was not disappointed as a lightly accented "Cosima" came through on the other end.
"Delphine," she said.
She almost couldn't believe that the woman had called her. It was just after four, and the sun was still high. Cosima had gotten to her apartment not too much earlier, and she was sprawled out across her bed with textbooks open all around her. She had been going from one book to the other in order to drill the information into her head. Not only was she trying to study, but her laptop was up with several tabs of scientific journals open. Keeping up to date on scientific research in her future field of work was very important (despite her tendency to be late to class, she was very devoted to her work inside and outside the classroom).
"Uh, I was calling to see what you are doing tomorrow? I mean, would you like to do something tomorrow with me? We could go to a bar. Anywhere you know of really, if you want that is." Delphine's voice was hesitant as though she expected the girl to reject her offer.
"I-I would- yes. That sounds awesome. I know of a bar we can go to. They have a dance floor- if you like that sort of thing," she said probably quicker than she should have.
"Oui, oui, where should we meet? My last class- it gets out at five."
"Why don't we meet in the commons around five? We can maybe get some food then head downtown?" Her voice became more hesitant at the suggestion of dinner.
"That sounds perfect, Cosima. I will meet you then. You have my number if necessary."
"Okay, yeah, I will see you tomorrow."
"Salut," Delphine said and hung up the phone.
Cosima's heart was pounding at an uncomfortably fast pace as the line went dead. She held the phone against her chest for a minute then placed it down on her bed. With a soft squeal, she fell backwards against her pillow.
A/N: I would like to thank everyone who has favorited and followed my story. (48 followers!) I am both shocked and amazed. You all are absolutely wonderful. In case any of you are wondering, I still am having some issues from my concussion, but hopefully everything will be figured out. I have been writing during my free time (which seems short these days), but I am super exciting for the coming chapters! I hope you all are too!