Free Verita by Tracy Rozzlynn

I’ve just started to turn my computer on when I hear a voice, barely audible, behind me.
    “Of course,” he mutters, sounding slightly annoyed.
    I easily recognize the voice; I have met so few people here so far. I’m immediately annoyed by his tone, but choose not to respond. Instead, I continue busying myself, as if I’m unaware of his presence. I catch myself absentmindedly trying to push the nonexistent bridge of my glasses. They had a habit of sliding down my nose, and I’m still getting used to not wearing them. It’s kind of like that phantom limb effect – just minus actually suffering a physical loss.
    “I hope I won’t have to constantly remind you not to touch unknown plants.” He chuckles, amused by himself. I turn around and see that Ryan’s eyes are twinkling, as if he had just made the world’s funniest joke.
    “I certainly hope you won’t go around scaring my subjects away anymore,” I smirk back at him. It figures of all the possible botanists, I’d get him. I manage to keep my annoyance out of my tone. After all, we will have to work together, and truthfully I had overreacted – just a bit – the other day.
    “Truce?” he asks with one eyebrow raised and his head cocked to the side. He’s obviously attempting to be cute.
    “Fine, truce,” I reply, trying not to look too miffed. I bet he’s used to using his charming, good looks to endear him to anyone and bend them to his will, but I’m not so easily swayed. I learned my lesson with Brad.
    “Oh come on, don’t be that way.” He bumps his shoulder against mine and manages to make me smile.
    I roll my eyes. “Better get to work,” I say, then refocus my attention on my computer to make it obvious that play time is over.
    I’m disappointed by the lack of information gathered during the construction phase. It’s clear the construction workers were only concerned about what they were building. I look around the room. I guess I can’t fault them for that; it’s better to have less wildlife information but a roof that won’t fall in on my head. I was just so hoping to have more information to work with this first week.
    I stay behind while everyone goes to lunch. I want to take advantage of the time to look at the hairs I collected more closely.
    Under the microscope, they resemble human hair follicles. They’re mostly white, with small deposits of purple at the end. I’m tempted to start a DNA analysis on the hair, but before I can Ryan returns to the room.
    “Forgot my handbook. Are you planning to eat?” he asks curiously.
    “I’m just familiarizing myself with the lab.” I try to sound nonchalant, but the frustration I’m feeling because he came back bleeds through.
    “Don’t forget to pace yourself. You don’t want to get burned out in the first week.” He gives a feigned look of concern. I roll my eyes. Is he seriously trying to lecture me again?
    “Are you intentionally irritating me, or is it just your personality?” I grumble back.
    “Are you always so touchy when people are concerned for your well-being, or is it just me?” He has a crooked smile on his face, being cute again.
    “Must be just you.” I smile back at him. At least he won’t be a boring teammate. I just wish he didn’t bug me so easily.
    “Well my personality aside, do you want to have lunch?”
    “Fine.” I sound overly exasperated as I give in. My test will have to wait. “I need to eat anyway,” I admit.
    “It’s a date then.” He jokingly holds out his arm for me. Feeling silly, I start to blush. I give a hip bump to move him out of the way, and continue towards the door, making sure he doesn’t get a good look at my red cheeks and misinterpret them.
    “Don’t push your luck,” I warn him, and remind myself that I really don’t need any distractions at work.
    Ryan isn’t bad company for lunch. We use the time to get to know each other. He, like Andi and I, had ended up here after foster care. He’d recently lost his