A DANGEROUS EXPERIMENT
1129 Words
The science laboratory was unusually quiet that afternoon.
Most of the students had already left, leaving only a few groups behind to complete their projects. The faint smell of chemicals lingered in the air, mixing with the sound of glass containers being moved across the worktables.
Ava stood beside Noah, carefully studying the instructions their professor had given them.
She glanced at the materials arranged in front of them before looking at Noah.
“Are you sure this is the right amount?”
Noah leaned closer to the table and checked their notes.
“Yeah. At least, I think so.”
Ava raised an eyebrow.
“You think so?”
Noah broke into a grin.
“Relax. I’m joking.”
Ava shook her head, fighting back a smile.
“You’re impossible.”
They continued working.
For the first time since they had met, Ava felt completely comfortable around him. The awkwardness and misunderstandings between them seemed almost ridiculous now. Working together had somehow made it easier to see the person behind the rumors and assumptions.
Noah glanced at her.
“You’ve been quiet for a while.”
“I’m concentrating.”
“You always look this serious when you’re concentrating?”
Ava looked at him.
“Yes.”
Noah smiled.
“Good to know.”
She rolled her eyes and returned her attention to the experiment.
A few minutes later, Noah stretched his arms and leaned back in his chair.
“I’m exhausted.”
Ava looked at him in disbelief.
“We’ve barely been here for an hour.”
“Exactly. An entire hour.”
Ava couldn't help laughing.
Noah smiled at the sound.
Then his eyes shifted toward the laboratory door.
“I’m going to get us something to drink. You want anything?”
Ava hesitated.
“Maybe water.”
“Water? That’s boring.”
“Then don’t ask me.”
He chuckled.
“Fine. Water it is.”
Noah picked up his wallet and started toward the door. Before leaving, he turned around.
“Don’t finish the whole project without me.”
Ava smiled faintly.
“I won’t.”
“Good.”
With one last smile, Noah disappeared through the doorway.
Ava watched him leave for a moment before turning back to their project.
She didn't notice the figure standing at the other end of the laboratory.
Chloe.
She had been watching them the entire time.
Her eyes followed the doorway Noah had disappeared through before slowly settling on Ava.
Her expression darkened.
So this was where Ava had been spending her time.
Chloe tightened her grip around the notebook in her hand and walked toward the table.
“So this is where you’ve been hiding.”
Ava looked up.
“Chloe?”
Chloe crossed her arms.
“You seem to be spending a lot of time with Noah lately.”
Ava frowned.
“We’re working on a project together.”
“Of course.”
Something about Chloe’s tone made Ava uncomfortable.
“If you don’t mind, I have work to finish.”
Chloe stepped closer.
“You really think I don’t see what you’re doing?”
Ava looked confused.
“What am I doing?”
Chloe gave a bitter laugh.
“Throwing yourself at Noah.”
Ava’s eyes widened.
“What?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”
Ava slowly stood.
“Noah and I are friends. That’s all.”
“Friends?”
Chloe glanced toward the door.
Noah still hadn't returned.
Her gaze moved toward the laboratory equipment on the table.
A dangerous idea began forming in her mind.
Then she looked back at Ava.
“We’ll see about that.”
Ava frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Chloe said nothing.
Instead, she stepped closer to the worktable.
Ava turned back toward the experiment, unaware of what Chloe was about to do.
For a few seconds, the laboratory fell completely silent.
Then Chloe deliberately reached toward one of the containers.
Her fingers nudged it.
The container tipped.
A small amount of the chemical mixture splashed directly onto Ava’s unprotected palm.
“Aah!”
Ava immediately pulled her hand away.
A sharp pain shot through her palm.
“What did you do?!”
Chloe stepped backward, quickly pretending to be shocked.
“Oh my God!”
Ava stared at her in disbelief.
“You did that on purpose!”
“I didn't!”
Ava clutched her injured hand against her chest. Tears quickly filled her eyes as the burning sensation intensified.
Then the laboratory door swung open.
Noah walked inside carrying two bottles of water.
He stopped the moment he saw Ava.
The smile disappeared from his face.
“Ava?”
He dropped the bottles onto the nearest table and rushed toward her.
“What happened?”
Ava struggled to speak through the pain.
“My hand…”
Noah carefully reached for her wrist, making sure not to touch the injured area.
“What happened to your hand?”
His eyes moved from Ava to Chloe.
His expression immediately hardened.
“What happened?”
Chloe shook her head quickly.
“It was an accident.”
Noah stared at her.
“An accident?”
“Yes. I was just talking to her when it happened.”
Ava looked at Chloe through her tears.
“She’s lying.”
Noah turned toward Ava.
“Are you sure?”
Ava nodded.
“She did it deliberately.”
Chloe's expression changed.
“Why would I do that?”
Noah didn't respond.
Instead, he carefully helped Ava away from the table.
“We’re going to the nurse.”
Ava glanced at the unfinished project.
“But our project—”
“Forget the project.”
There was something firm in Noah’s voice.
Her safety mattered more.
He helped her toward the door, then stopped and looked back at Chloe.
His voice was calm, but the anger beneath it was unmistakable.
“We’ll deal with this later.”
Chloe stood frozen as she watched them leave.
The moment the door closed behind them, her hands curled into fists.
She had expected Ava to be frightened.
She had expected Noah to blame her.
What she hadn't expected was the way Noah had immediately rushed to Ava's side.
The concern in his eyes.
The way he had held her carefully.
The way he had forgotten everything else the moment he saw her in pain.
Jealousy burned through Chloe.
Her eyes remained fixed on the doorway.
“This isn't over, Ava.”
A slow smile appeared on her face.
“Not even close.”
She glanced toward the laboratory table.
If one little accident wasn't enough to separate Ava and Noah, she would simply have to find another way.
And next time, she wouldn't make the mistake of getting caught.
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