It was a clear night and Frink had just come into the lab. He looked over to see how high the stack of glassware was tonight when he heard a rustling in the back room. For the first time in two months there was someone working with him. He checked into Dr. Oppenmeyer's office and picked up a rack of ten test tubes. Curiosity getting the better of him, and he walked into the back room to see who was there. He gasped and stood transfixed in the doorway at what he saw. There at the far counter stood a thin girl in a white lab coat. She had her auburn hair up in a bun. Could it be? Sensing someone walk in the room she turned to face the new comer. Frink dropped the test tube rack and all ten tubes shattered on the floor.
"Frink!! That's coming out of your pocket!!" yelled Dr.Oppenmeyer from the other room. To Frink he could have been a fly buzzing on the wall. The girl who had been carrying a flask also gasped and dropped what she was holding.
"Caroline!!!!" Yelled Frink as he ran to her with open arms. She let out a squeal of joy when she saw him and he embraced her hard. It felt so good to hold her again. It was such a release for the two of them. Nothing was more valuable than a treasure that's been lost and found again. Being apart had been Hell and at last they were reunited. A whole year they had lost, and a whole year that they had sought each other out, finally they had found what they were looking for. Caroline squeezed him back just as hard. He was so soft and warm that she didn't want to let him go.
"Oh my gosh, how I've missed you, John." She said shaking from the excitement.
"It's all my fault, glayvin. I was so stupid to not ask for your phone number."
"Let's take care of that right now!" She said pulling out a little notepad. They scribbled each other's numbers and exchanged. He hugged her again, and felt her hair against his face. It was soft and smelled of flowers.

"This is great! How did you end up in here?" He asked bubbling with energy.
"It's required that I put in time to a chem lab for my doctorate. I am so glad I ended up in this one then."
"I am too." He said as he ran his fingers gently through her bangs and looked at her pretty face.
"And what are you doing here?" She asked. He looked down disappointed.
"Dish duty. I'm supposed to be doing graduate chemistry studies, but well here I am."
"Oh, don't worry about it." She said reassuringly. "Dr. Oppenmeyer is always tough at first, and makes everyone do 'dish duty' for a few months. When I started I had to mop the floors for a semester, but once you prove yourself you end up doing really great things. You'll do fine. It's his undergrads he's a bear on." Frink smiled glad that this wouldn't be what he'd be doing forever. With Caroline at his side again, he felt there wasn't anything he couldn't do, and in time he did gain favors in the old man's eyes. He moved on to working with Caroline on his own projects and theories as well as helping her with her studies. Still he vowed that if he ever became a professor he would never be a jerk to his students like Oppenmeyer was.

Life was wonderful and he spent more time with her both on and off campus. It was a sunny day and the two were having lunch at their favorite hang out by the stream. Frink seemed unusually nervous and fidgety. Caroline noticed it and pulled out a sandwich from her bag and handed it to him trying to calm him down. Frink watched her eat her sandwich, but couldn't eat his at the moment. He had to ask her, it was now or never and he had waited long enough. More time passed and he still hadn't said anything. Good grief, you would think it wouldn't be so hard to ask a simple question. His palms were sweaty and he frantically twirled a plastic fork in his hand. He noticed that now she was staring at him. If he just asked the deed would be done.
"Caroline?" He said as his voice cracked.
"Yes?"
"Well, we've known each other a long time, and I, uh we've had lots of fun and gotten to know each other well, n'gey. Would…would…wouldn't you like to get to know each other better?"
"What do you mean?" she asked. ARG!! Why did she ask that, didn't she understand what he was trying to say?
"I'm trying to say, I'd like to get to know you better. More than just friends." She was looking at him now with a smile but still had a look of confusion.
"Caroline, would you be my girlfriend?" There! He said it. Oh my gosh. It felt like he'd been thrown into a vacuum. What if she said no? May-be he'd been too hasty with this. Yes they'd known each other a long time, but now he thought that perhaps he'd jumped the gun and asked too soon. He was ready, but perhaps she wasn't. How long had it been since he asked, an hour, two? Oh no, she was opening her mouth. Here it came.
"I thought you'd NEVER ask." She said happily.
"Wha…?" was all he could say.
"Of course I'll be your girl, John. There's nothing that would make me happier."
"Oh my sweet Caroline!" He said as he gave her a big hug. What a relief! He was so glad she accepted. He felt so triumphant.
"Oy my glayvin! I promise you, that you'll have fun and that I shall treat you right my dear." He paused a moment. "Thought I'd never ask? How long had you been waiting for me to ask?"
"Long enough." She said with a smile.
"I must warn you though." He said blushing. "I've never done this before so I don't know what I'm doing."
"That's ok, neither have I." She said.
"Well then in that case we won't know if we make mistakes and learn together."
"I'd like that." She responded getting closer to him. He gently stroked her soft hair with his hand then placed his arm around her. She looked up into his eyes dreamily. With his other hand he softly petted her cheek. A quick flick of his fingers and they were under her chin brining her closer still. He looked down on her and his hair fell forward onto her forehead. She let out a happy little squeak as she felt how soft it was. They closed their eyes and were enraptured as their lips met in their first kiss. For that moment they were the only two people in the world. Her lips were soft and warm, while his were sweet and tender. A gentle breeze swept through the trees, as the sound rang in their ears. They belonged to each other and that is all that mattered.

Owen sat at his workstation and pieced together parts of machinery. He was busy doing his own research in physics and mechanics. He couldn't concentrate today, his thoughts kept straying elsewhere. Word had reached him that Caroline was still attending the university, and that she was working on projects with Frink in the chemistry department. All he'd done throughout the last year was to think about her and how he was the one that truly deserved her. To him there was nothing unusual about it and she needed someone like him to take care of her and treat her the way she deserved to be treated. She certainly didn't need someone like that walking freak show. Owen tinkered with the cylinders he had out before him a moment more then shoved them aside completely clearing off his counter top. He stood and looked toward the door. He had time to take off. He was way ahead of his schedule anyway. These thoughts had plagued him long enough and it was time he did something about them.

Caroline walked down the quite hallway of the building. The walls were bear and there was nothing to look at. Occasionally she'd walk past one of the professor's offices. They usually had their latest research tacked up on the outside wall, a few pictures or test scores from their exams. Caroline had moved on to using the lab for studying Mendelian genetics on snakes. She was fascinated by color phases as well as behavior in the serpents and several terrariums set up for her lab work. This far into the game, they were allowed to pursue their own research as well as assist their mentor with his. She'd been working on a study for several hours and needed sometime away and a little refreshment. There was a beverage machine at the end of the hall and she made her way toward it. She pulled a coin out from one of her pockets then another for one on the other side. She shoved them into the slot and searched for more. She popped in two more then found herself staring at the machine. She was one coin short. Caroline searched her other pocket in vain and stared at the machine like a sad puppy dog. Just then an arm breezed past her head and placed the final coin into the slot. A can popped out after the fact.
"There you go." Said a familiar voice.
Caroline turned around to see Owen standing tall behind her a huge smirk on his face.
"Owen? What are you doing here?"
"I was on this side of campus and figured I'd check out this floor of the chemistry building." She looked at him with unbelieving eyes. "Alright," he said, "I actually came by to see you."
"Me? Why?"
"Caroline, there hasn't been a moment that's passed that I haven't once thought about you. I have missed you since last we were together and I would like for you to give me another chance. Please Caroline, I still want you as my girl. There is no one else. I love you."
She looked at him through pained eyes and responded. "I'm sorry Owen, but I can't."
"You can't? Why not?"
"I'm already going out with, John."
"Frink again! I hate that creep! How can you go out with him?"
"How can I not? You just don't get it Owen, do you?"
"No I don't get it. I don't understand how you can love a man of lesser value. The better choice stands right before you. Don't be a fool choosing him over me." A frown came over her face.
"Now I remember why I wouldn't go out with you. John has all the qualities that you lack. He's a gentle caring soul and not a stuck up jerk like you. If you truly love me like you say then why can't you be happy for me? Why can't you accept that I love Jonathan Frink? Just how strong is that hatred you carry, Owen?"
"Our hatred goes extremely far back, long before you ever came on the scene, Caroline."
"What do you mean 'our' hatred? You mean your hatred. Perhaps you do not know this, but John does not hate you. That's because he's better than you. He's a very trusting and forgiving individual, and unfortunately people like you take advantage of him. Well let me tell you something, Owen Marsh! I'm going to tell you what John can not tell you. I hate you. I hate you for hating him! John can't express hate for you, but I can do it for him. Now tell me Owen, do you still love me? Is your hatred for John Frink stronger your love for me?"
"So it would seem, my dear. So it would seem." He said putting his arms up against the walls blocking her path.
"Let me through." She said a little nervous. "Let me through, Owen!!!" She yelled.
"You heard the lady." Came a voice from behind them. Owen wheeled around to see who it was.
"Dr. Oppenmeyer?" He said shocked and wide eyed.
"Sir! How long have you been standing there?" Asked Caroline relieved.
"Long enough." Said the old professor. His brow wrinkled as he gave Owen a withering look. "No one insults MY students. That privilege is strictly mine. You have no right to come in here and start harassing my researchers. Both Caroline and John are two wonderful and brilliant kids. How they ever let bums and scum like you into universities blows my mind." He said as he grabbed Owen by the shoulders. Owen couldn't believe what was happening. Dr. Oppenmeyer had been scary enough in class, but now he was on his grounds and the old man had him in his grasp.
"Sir I assure you that I wasn't going to…"
"Owen Marsh, I remember you. You were tardy on several occasions and didn't pay that much attention. I'm going to do now what I should have done with you in class. Now GET out of MY building!" He said as he shoved Owen into an elevator. He hit the wall with his head hard and it nearly knocked him out. As he slid to the floor holding the gash on the side of his head, Dr. Oppenmeyer pressed the button for ground level. The doors closed on the dazed young man and he was carried away off of Dr. Oppenmeyer's floor.
"Oh, gosh. Thank you so much Professor." Said Caroline breathing a sigh of relief.
"Don't mention it my dear. Next time you go out for a break, don't go alone. There's all sorts of crazys out there. Go with Frinky, I'm sure he'll be more than willing to escort you." Said the old man with a naughty smile.
"Yes, Sir." Responded Caroline happily.

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