Page 28 of Love, In Balance

I’m definitely not thinking of wearing Quins shirt, with nothing else on… I snap out of it almost instantly.

“I mean, the other women here look beautiful. I’m just not like them” I say laughing “It took me ages to figure out an outfit that was a balance of casual, smart, professional and appealing. I mean, I’ve turned up like this but seen countless younger students looking… I’m not really sure how to describe it” I say with a laugh under my breath.

I realise how much I’ve been speaking and how little I’ve come up for air. It’s time to let him get a word in.

Quin looks over my outfit, lingering a while longer than necessary, his hand still grazing my lower back. He leans in close to my ear.

“Well, I think you look great Lista. I’m not sure many others got the brief to be honest”. I can feel his stubble brush against my face before he pulls back. I shiver.

“Well Quin, you look great too. I’m partial to rolled up shirt sleeves and tattoos” I say, perhaps coming across a little too flirtatious.

“Well thank you. I’m glad to see your legs on full show. It’s breathtaking Lista.” he says whilst looking at me with hooded eyes. For a moment I wonder what he means, but then realise he’s talking about my prosthetic. That is until he continues.

“They both are” he says, smiling into his drink. He’s flirting back.

Now I feel a little flushed. And lost for words. That’s a rarity.

“Cheers to that” I say.

We stand around talking for a while, killing the time before attending the lecturers talks.

Quin stays with me, completely by choice it seems.

I give him multiple chances to go off and do as he pleases, but he chooses to be my companion throughout.

I’m definitely not complaining.

So far, I’ve done my own small talk and sat through Oli and Drew’s. They did a joint discussion about a collaboration they did recently, showing how STEM departments work alongside one another.

I’ve also just sat in on Si’s too.

I love Chemistry, but watching Si deliver on the topic isannoying. I love him, but he is a know it all, and I’m forever hearing about his research on the group chat and whenever we get together. It’s like I already know everything he’s discussed at his talk, because he’s run it by me before multiple times. Itisastonishing though.

After a difficult time in his life, he turned to Chemistry and now he's turned it into his career. He’s in the midst of a successful business start-up in drug development and I couldn’t be prouder.

I was forced into also enduring Pierce’s talk too. There’s only so long you can fake going to the toilet for. Drew definitely would’ve called me out on it.

Thankfully it’s over and I’m just standing around before meeting the guys. I feel a little strange and anxious when a group of younger students approach me. But I put on mywelcome face and am excited to discuss the different engineering pathways with them.

“Hey, are you part of engineering” a young woman asks me.

“Hello. Yes, I’m a PhD student in mechanical engineering. Is there anything I can help you with?” I say in response. Burnt out, but excited to potentially offer insight.

“Oh, no, we’re fine. We just thought you were a lecturer or professor. We noticed you with the other lecturers and Professors earlier and were intrigued. So, you’re a student who hangs out with teachers? I bet that’s fun” she says with a huge girly grin. Laughing with the other girls. Ok this conversation is just bizarre. It’s becoming quite obvious now, who’s here for the right and wrong reasons.

“Oh, I suppose yes. My group of friends happens to comprise of a few STEM academic staff. I’ve known them since beginning my studies at the university. They were fellow students of mine,prior to becoming staff, so I suppose I’ve never seen it like that”. Is all I can think to say. Not that I owe them an explanation at all.

“Maybe we should get all cosy with the lecturers” the woman who appears to lead her little group says, “It’s always been a fantasy of mine” They all laugh.

I do not laugh.

“Especially Dr Quin Russell. I wouldn’t mind being cosy with him” the other woman says.

As if on cue, Quin appears from behind me and lightly squeezes my arm.

“Sorry if I’m interrupting. Lista, your drink” he says as he hands me my well needed beverage. Now that discussions are over, it’s safe to have a cheeky tipple.

“Thanks Quin. I was just explaining my relationship with the lecturers to this group of students. They thought I was a fellow member of staff like you, Drew, Si, and Oli”.

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