Chapter 161 *
Scarlett’s POV
Dr. Patterson's eyes lit up. Actual interest. The kind of expression a researcher got when they found something unexpected.
"Is that so?" He started walking toward my station.
I grabbed the brim of my baseball cap and pulled it lower. Turned my face away. Stared very intently at my glassware like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
This was a disaster. An absolute catastrophe.
Dr. Patterson stopped right next to my station. "May I see your results?"
"No." The word came out too fast. Too panicked.
He raised an eyebrow. "No?"
I grabbed my flask and tried to hide it behind my back. Like a five-year-old hiding stolen cookies.
Brett let out a laugh. "See? She's totally bluffing. She probably messed up the extraction and now she's embarrassed."
"I did mess it up." I nodded vigorously. "It's terrible. Complete failure. Not worth looking at."
Dr. Patterson didn't move. He just stood there watching me with that curious expression.
"If it's a failure, there's no harm in showing me." His voice was gentle. "I can help you understand what went wrong."
"That's really not necessary." I kept my back to him. "I already know what I did wrong. I'll do better next time."
"Scarlett." Dr. Patterson's tone shifted slightly. More firm. "I'd like to see your work."
I shook my head. Clutched the flask tighter.
Brett crossed his arms. "You were talking shit about Zelda's results a minute ago. Now you won't even show yours?"
"I wasn't talking shit." I tried to sound defensive. "I was just thinking out loud."
"About how Zelda's work wasn't good enough?" Brett's voice got louder. "That's pretty insulting coming from someone who can't even do the extraction properly."
A few other guys near Zelda's station started nodding. One of them spoke up.
"Classic jealous sister behavior."
Another one added, "She's been trying to compete with Zelda since day one. It's pathetic."
Oh my God.
These idiots actually thought this was some kind of sibling rivalry drama.
I wanted to laugh. Or maybe cry. I couldn't decide which.
"I'm not jealous." I kept my voice quiet. "Zelda is amazing. Her results are perfect. The best in the entire class."
That should have been enough. That should have ended it.
But no.
Brett stepped closer. "Then why did you say that thing about talent?"
"I didn't mean anything by it." I was still facing away from Dr. Patterson. "I was just being stupid. I'm sorry."
Zelda finally spoke up. Her voice was soft. Hurt. "It's okay, Scarlett. I know you didn't mean it."
The performance was flawless. She sounded like the gracious sister forgiving her jealous sibling.
I felt Dr. Patterson move closer behind me.
My entire body went rigid.
"Miss Romano." His voice was right behind my shoulder. "I'm going to have to insist."
"Please don't." My voice came out small. "I really don't want to show anyone."
"It's just a lab exercise." Dr. Patterson sounded confused now. "There's nothing to be embarrassed about."
Think, Scarlett. Think.
I could drop the flask. Pretend it was an accident. The evidence would be destroyed.
But that would create an even bigger scene. And Dr. Patterson would definitely remember me then.
"Scarlett." Lily's voice cut through my panic. "What are you doing?"
I turned my head slightly. Lily was staring at me with wide eyes.
"Just drop it," I whispered. "Please."
"Drop what? You did the extraction perfectly. I watched you do it." Lily looked genuinely confused. "Why are you acting like this?"
"Because I don't want—"
Lily reached over and grabbed the flask from my hands.
"Hey!" I tried to get it back.
But she was already holding it up. Walking toward Dr. Patterson.
"Here." Lily handed him the flask. "Scarlett's just being weird for some reason."
I closed my eyes.
This was it. Everything was about to fall apart.
There was a long silence.
Then Dr. Patterson made a sound. Something between a gasp and a laugh.
"Good Lord."
I opened my eyes. Dr. Patterson was holding my flask up to the light. His expression was one of complete shock.
The teaching assistant walked over. Looked at the crystals. Her mouth fell open.
"Those are..." The TA blinked. "Those are perfect."
Dr. Patterson set the flask down carefully on my station. "There are no impurities at all." His voice was quiet. Reverent almost. "The crystalline structure is completely uniform. The color saturation indicates near one-hundred percent purity."
He turned to look at me. "This could be used directly in pharmaceutical production. No additional purification needed."
The TA nodded. "I've been teaching this lab for three years. I've never seen results like this from a freshman."
"And this is some of the finest work I've ever seen. Period." Dr. Patterson picked up the flask again.
The entire lab had gone completely silent.
I could feel everyone staring at me.
Brett's mouth was hanging open. The other guys who'd been defending Zelda looked like they'd been slapped.
And Zelda. Zelda's face had gone pale. Her perfect smile was frozen in place but her eyes were burning.
"Is this your first time doing this extraction?" Dr. Patterson asked me.
I still had my face turned away. My cap pulled low.
"No."
"How many times have you done it?"
I raised my hand to cover more of my face. "I started working in a lab when I was seven. I've done this type of extraction hundreds of times."
"Seven years old?" The TA sounded incredulous.
Brett found his voice. "That's bullshit. You grew up on a ranch in Montana. What kind of lab would let a seven-year-old—"
"Miss Romano." Dr. Patterson's voice cut him off. "Please turn around. I'd like to talk to you properly."
"I'd really rather not." I kept my back to him.
"Why not?"
Because you might recognize me. Because this whole thing is about to get so much more complicated.
"My results are embarrassing." I tried to sound humble. "I don't want to talk about them."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Someone in the back of the room let out a strangled laugh. "Did she just call perfect pharmaceutical-grade crystals embarrassing?"
"That's the biggest humble-brag I've ever seen," another student muttered.
Lily grabbed my arm. "Scarlett, what is wrong with you? Dr. Patterson is trying to give you feedback."
"I don't need feedback." I pulled my arm away. "I already know what I did. It's fine."
"It's more than fine." The TA was still staring at my flask. "This is exceptional work."
Dr. Patterson stepped closer. "Miss Romano, I really must insist you turn around."
Emma, one of my roommates, appeared on my other side. "Scarlett, this is a huge opportunity. Dr. Patterson is one of the top pharmaceutical researchers in the country."
"I know who he is." My voice came out sharper than I meant it to.
"Then why are you hiding from him?" Lily sounded frustrated now.
Jessica joined them. Three girls surrounding me. All looking at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Just turn around," Jessica said. "Stop being weird."
"I'm not being weird. I just—"
Lily grabbed my shoulders and physically turned me around.