Free Laboratory Love by Chrystal Wynd

 
    Chapter
1
     
    The
explosion was sudden.
    Simon
and I dove for cover as the detonation blew razor-sharp shrapnel in all
directions. I hit the ground and rolled, heart beating in my throat. Heads
down, we waited as the patter of landing debris slowed, then finally stopped.
    After
several heartbeats of silence, we cautiously raised our heads. All clear. Simon
and I slowly got to our feet.
    I
was not happy.
    “How
difficult can it be,” I said, looking at the smoking remains of the shattered
beaker, “to make the perfect anti-wrinkle cream?”
    My
lab partner and fellow cosmetic chemist Simon Cormick brushed debris from his
dark, shaggy hair. “If it was that easy, Corine,” he said, reaching for the
tiny fire extinguisher clamped to the lab table, “it would already be done. That’s
why Blonde Concepts pays us the big bucks.”
    “Hmmpphh,”
I said, making sure the ends of my shoulder-length black hair were unsinged.
“Fine. Whatever. And you can put away that fire extinguisher, buster. There’s
no fire. Well, not anymore.”
    “I’m
just being cautious,” said Simon, holding up his hands defensively. He had
great pecs for a scientist. “I did recommend against you adding the zinc.”
    “It
seemed like a good idea at the time,” I said, waving smoke from my face.
    “Maybe,”
said Simon, “but then you added the rest of the periodic table.”
    “That
was for flavor.”
    “It’s
a topical ointment.”
    “Maybe
they want a tasty topical ointment for those more romantic moments.”
    Simon
chuckled, his brown eyes rolling. “Look, Corine, you have to be patient, okay?
You’re a good chemist. Super creative. But you really need to learn patience.”
    I
scowled at the multitude of chemicals and beakers. Patience was for those with
nothing better to do than wait around for something to happen.
    “Whatever,”
I said.
    “Anyway,
let’s get this mess cleaned up and get back to work,” said Simon, wiping soot
from his cheek. “After all, the Blonde Concepts spring line isn’t going to
produce itself.”
     
    *****
     
    Twenty
minutes later, we had cleared the debris and were working on our actual
assignment…the Blonde Concepts spring line of cosmetics.
    Or
at least Simon was. I was busy trying to figure out a way to get Simon to ask
me out this weekend. Or any weekend. But Doctor Brainiac was too busy playing
with his chemicals to notice me. Whatever.
    I
switched my attention back to the liquid lipstick we were discussing.
    “Let’s
try adding a little more Eosin,” he said.
    “Eosin?”
I said. “We’re going for cutting edge fashion here, not last summer.”
    Simon
glanced at me, eyebrows raised. “You didn’t strike me as a fashionista,
Corine.”
    I
snorted. “I couldn’t care less about fashion,” I said. “That’s for vapid
socialites. But I’m all for raising the bar on cosmetic innovation. Let’s add
some chrystalmic-based pigment.”
    Simon
laughed. “Those vapid socialites help pay our salary, Corine. And you’re out of
your mind if you think I’m going to start experimenting with chrystalmic
anything
,” he said.
“Nobody’s used that plant for cosmetic pigment before. Or for anything, for
that matter. You don’t just start tossing in stuff to see what color it turns
into.”
    I
rolled my eyes. “I know they’re still poking it with sticks, but that stuff’s
perfect for lipstick. Heck, perfect for a lot of cosmetics. Good consistency,
handles heat extremes well, non-acidic…”
    “Non-combustible?”
    “C’mon,
Simon,” I said, grinning. “Live a little! Besides, we need something new and
innovative for the spring line.”
    “I
agree,” said Simon, “but we’ll stick to the more traditional collection of
polymers, oils, pigments and chemicals, okay?”
    “Fine,”
I said. “Play it safe. Whatever.”
    Simon
shook his head. “You’re awfully cynical for someone barely out of college,
Corine.”
    “I’ve
been out of college for over three years,” I