Nate’s POV
I had chemistry after Calculus and Miss Allen had told us to come to the laboratory during the hour. So when the bell rang, I quickly shot up from my chair wanting to reach the chemistry lab as fast as possible and get a place in the front so that I can see everything clearly when Miss Allen shows the procedures of the experiment we are about to do today.
" Hey wait ! ", Ethan said grabbing my hands. " Why so hurry?", he asked picking his stuff with the other hand.
" I need to g..go to chemistry lab. ", I said.
" oh..I've physics this hour. We also have lab. Let's go together. ", he said smiling and sheepishly getting up from his chair. Chemistry and Physics lab are beside each other.
" oh..then let's hurry.", I said and tried to yank my hands out of his grip. But strangely he wasn't leaving. He held my hands more tightly and then started walking out of the class, holding my hands.
I was feeling a bit awkward. He kept on holding my hand even while we were walking through the corridor. I tried two three times to free my hands but he wouldn't leave.
Anyway at last he left my hand free when we reached in front of the lab.
" uhm..see you after this class.", Ethan smiled at me that charming boyish smile and then ran a hand through his long dark hair. I nodded and he turned and disappeared into the Physics lab. I couldn’t help but frown at his strange behaviour. Anyway then I quickly hurried into the chemistry lab.
Miss Allen was already inside there grabbing items for our today's experiment and a lot of students had already arrived. I quickly went and occupied a place in the front.
" Listen class, so we are gonna do the experiment we discussed in last class. I'll once again explain the procedures and then you'll do it yourself. First you all form pairs.", Miss Allen said, once all the students arrived.
I looked at the people near me. I didn't know any of their names and I felt reluctant to ask them to be my partner. And they all had already formed pairs. But then fortunately a girl came to my side. " Can I be your partner?", she asked me.
" oh..yeah..sure.", I said relieved.
" Hi, my name is Andrea.", She said smiling
" Nate.", I smiled back.
Soon Miss Allen started explaining the procedures and I started listening to it. But then suddenly I felt someone's gaze on me and I tilted my head to the window to see Ethan standing there at the window, staring at me. He smiled at me as he saw I caught him.
But why is he standing there ? Isn't he supposed to be inside the physics lab now ?
" Why are you here ?", I mouthed at him. He said something but I couldn't quite catch what he said. I averted my attention back to Miss Allen but I already missed a part of the procedures. Anyway Andrea is listening. She might hopefully know to do the experiment.
I again tilted my head to the window and again Ethan was there staring intently at me. I frowned at him and he motioned at me to listen to the teacher.
" Now you guys may start doing the experiment.", Miss Allen said as I again averted my attention to her. Everyone nodded to her and started going to pick beakers and test tubes.
" Nate..you go get HCl and two test tubes. I'll prepare the burette.", Andrea told giving me a small beaker. I nodded to her and went to grab the acid from the rack first. I could feel Ethan's eyes on me as I poured the HCl into my beaker. And he didn't takes his eyes off of me as I went to get the test tubes from the opposite shelf. I don't know why, but he is acting quite strange.
I rolled my eyes at him as I turned around with the test tubes and walked to Andrea. " What ?", he mouthed at me, clicking his tongue on his cheeks and then averted his attention to my lab partner, crossing his arms over his chest with great attitude.
So he is looking Andrea ?
" Thanks..", Andrea smiled at me as I reached near her. She then stretched her hands for the test tubes. I side eyed Ethan as I handed the test tubes to her and he was now looking at her. This time it was his chance to roll his eyes at me and I quickly looked away.
So he is indeed looking at Andrea. I thought he was looking at me. Oh why would he look at me ?
Andrea then passed a solution in a beaker to me. Then she started filling one of the test tubes with the HCl. Next she passed the test tube to me. Our fingers brushed against each other and I tilted my eyes to look at Ethan. He was now staring intently at our hands. Suddenly I got nervous and I accidentally tilted the test tube causing a little of the HCl to spill onto Andrea's hands.
Andrea quickly withdrew her hands in fear and started trembling it. " I'm sorry..are you..are you okay?", I asked quickly placing the beaker and test tube down in it's holder and grabbing her hands.
" That was HCl ! ", she Yelped
" D..don't worry. It's d..dilute. It's okay.", I said and dragged her to the nearby sink and made her hold her hands under the running water.
" What happened there ?", Miss Allen called out to us and came rushing to us.
" N..nothing. I accidentally s..spilled some HCl on her hand.", I said.
" Didn't I tell you to do it carefully ?", Miss Allen glared at me.
" I'm okay Ma'am.", Andrea said closing the tap.
" No...place your hands under water for some more time.", Miss Allen told her. " And you go and finish the experiment.", she said to me. I nodded to her and went back to my place. I took the test tube and beaker in my hands and chewed on my bottom lip, not knowing what to do next.
I tilted my head to the window and Ethan was now looking at me concerned. I then looked at the pair near me and they were doing the titration. I looked back at Ethan and he mouthed something to me. I couldn't again comprehend what he was saying. I think he said to pour the HCl into the solution. I was about to hesitantly pour it but then Andrea came rushing to me and took the beaker from my hands.
" Oh my God Nate ! What are you doing ? You didn't listen when Miss Allen explained ?", she asked and quickly took the test tube from me, placing it on the holder.
"Ahm...no..s..sorry.", I said.
"You would have created an explosion now.", she said sighing and went to the burette. I gasped. I'd have got myself a detention now. It's all Ethan's fault. Stupid Ethan !
"C'mere..", Andrea called me and then suddenly started laughing.
" Wh..what ?", I asked confused.
" Nothing..", she shook her head. " Just...you looked really cute when you pouted. ", she giggled and took the burette from it's stand. " Now we have to fill it with the solution we prepared. Take the beaker and pour it into this. ", She said.
" Oh..okay.", I nodded and took the beaker. She held the burette down and I started slowly pouring the solution into it. I might have been blushing, because she was giggling the whole time and she ruffled my hair as I bend up after I poured the whole liquid into the burette.
" Good job. Now let's do the titration. ", she said smiling at me.
" Okay..", I smiled. I tilted my face once again to the window and saw Ethan glaring at us. His expression was kind of scary and I quickly looked away. I caught him poking his tongue on his cheeks again through my side eyes.
Ahh...what's wrong with him ? Did I make him mad ? But I didn't do anything. Is he really interested in Andrea and did she just use me to make him jealous after knowing he is looking at her ?