Morbid

Amy led them by the other, less showy displays, and to the back of the building to an office. The door was open. “Sir? Arnold is here to see you.”

“Hm?” A man looked up from his desk that was covered in papers. “Ah!” He said and stood when he saw Arnold. “Yes, yes.” He said and walked around his desk and came over to him. “Even though this is only orientation, you still dressed for work. Good. Good.” He said and crossed his arms behind his back. “Amy, if you would.”

“Yes, professor.” Amy said and walked around to face Arnold, then held a hand out for him to shake. “Professor Crenslav would like to welcome you to the department.”

Arnold shook her hand and looked at the professor.

“My apologies for not offering to shake your hand myself. I have a bit of a phobia about such things.” Hamil smiled. “You know, shake a man's hand, shake the thousand hands he's touched and all that nonsense.” He chuckled. “I know it's silly; but, that's what my brain tells me, so I have to live with it.”

Annie and Kelly weren't sure what to make of that.

“Amy has told me what she told you and I've spoken to your high school biology teacher as well. I know what he's told you about your duties and that you didn't seem to automatically hate them.” Hamil let out a short laugh. “So, do you have any questions about the job?”

“Yes.” Arnold said. “Do you want to instruct me on how you want things to be done properly, or do I only do what Amy instructs me to do, which I'm told is the bare minimum required for completion?”

Amy, Annie, and Kelly took in sharp breaths at his words.

Hamil gave Arnold a particularly stern expression. “Are you saying I have been lax in instructing her?”

“No, sir.” Arnold said. “I want to do the best job I can and only you can be the proper judge of that.” He said. “If I do things the way she does them, why would you need me to do them, too?”

Hamil's face lost the stern expression. “I think I understand.” He said. “If Amy has developed any bad habits, you don't want to pick them up as well.”

“If I learn things the wrong way, then all my future work with be tainted.” Arnold said. “After I took the college test that the biology teacher gave me, my mother said that she didn't want to throw up on my work any more than I wanted her to throw up on it.”

Hamil had a surprised look on his face for a moment, then he let out a short laugh. “Yes, that is a valid point. A valid point indeed.” He said and looked at Amy. “Please don't be insulted by what he said.”

“How can I not be insulted?” Amy asked, anger in her voice. “He just said that I mess up your work!”

Hamil smiled. “No, Amy. He specifically said that if he learns things second hand, it reflects badly on the whole department and myself if he doesn't perform well.”

“He would blame me for that.” Amy said.

“Would you be at fault if something is lost in the translation from me to you and you to him?”

Amy didn't have to think about that. “I would be the link, so yes.”

“Do you want to accept that responsibility?” Hamil asked.

Amy actually had to think about that one. “I would normally want to, just to prove that I could.” She said and looked at Arnold. “I don't think I can accept it, not when it was stated so blatantly that I am only at a standard level with my work.”

Hamil chuckled. “I don't think he said you were quite that low, only that you will do exactly what I tell you to do and nothing more.”

Amy thought back to the pictures of Arnold's test specimen and all of the extra things he had labelled that she would have skipped. “I still feel insulted.”

“Put yourself in my place and then put your friend Cissily in yours.” Hamil said. “A promising student came to you to learn and you had Cissily teach them instead.”

Amy opened her mouth to defend her friend's integrity and Hamil put up a hand to stop her.

“Answer academically and not as a friend or a colleague.” He corrected.

Amy had to think about it. “I guess... if someone wanted to learn what I know... and had to do it through Cissily...” Her eyes went to Arnold and she sighed. “...then, yes. Her interpretation of my knowledge would be different.”

“Good girl!” Hamil said proudly. “Even though we are all in the same department and have access to the same knowledge base, namely me, we are different people.”

Amy was glad she had dark skin, because it hid her blush from the compliment.

“I will have Amy instruct you in the proper cleaning procedures and the placement of both equipment and items, since those things are stagnant and won't change.” Hamil said. “When it comes to other things that tie into our work, then I will teach you directly.”

“Thank you, sir.” Arnold said and smiled briefly.

Hamil heard the eagerness in his voice and smiled as well. “I'll have Amy take you into the main lab to meet the rest of the department.” He said. “Today is an orientation day for them as well. Some new course material will be starting on Monday for them and they need the introduction.” He chuckled. “Of course, they weren't very happy to have to come in on their own time.”

“I'll tell them you'll be in to talk in twenty minutes, professor.” Amy said.

Hamil looked at his watch and nodded. “Excellent.” He said and looked at the two women behind Arnold. “I suppose you are here as moral support for Arnold.”

Annie nodded. “I'm his mother.”

“I'm his exclusive girlfriend.” Kelly said.

Hamil nodded. “Good, good. A stable home life is essential for the growth of a healthy mind.” He saw their slight surprise and smiled. “There are minimal distractions in a stable environment.”

Annie nodded. “That's pretty much how I raised him.”

“I'm glad that he has such a wonderful mother to take care of him.” Hamil said. “It must be hard for you to see him come here.”

“Unbelievably so... except that he has Kelly and she has his back. And mine.” Annie said with a smile and Kelly blushed.

Hamil nodded. “Then you both have my permission to enter the lab. I won't restrict my people from having visitors, as long as you don't touch anything or cause problems.”

“We wouldn't do that to Arnold.” Annie said. “We love him.”

“Good!” Hamil said. “Amy, if you would.”

“This way, please.” Amy said and waved at the doorway, then led the three of them out into the hallway and most of the way back to the lobby. She stopped at a large door and put her hand on the handle, then looked at Arnold. “I won't forget the way you treated me today in front of the professor.”

Arnold reached out and put a hand on her hand on the handle. “You are a bad influence and you weren't going to treat me the way I need to be treated.”

Amy took in a sharp breath and looked angry. “I would never...”

“You wanted to have sex with me and you are angry that you can't.” Arnold said and cut her off, and she closed her mouth. “You were not going to treat me like a colleague. I was going to be your errand boy and you were going to take advantage of me.”

Amy grit her teeth and glared at him, which meant she missed Annie's sigh at her son.

“You can't use me for your own gain.” Arnold said and let her hand go.

“Do you really think that I would do that?” Amy asked and barely held onto her anger and didn't shout.

“Yes.” Arnold said, to her surprise. “You are just like Heather. You are nice only when you have to be.”

“I am nice all the time!” Amy spat.

“Arnold.” Kelly said in a stern voice and he turned his head to look at her. “You are causing a scene.”

Arnold looked at his mother's sad face and then looked through the window in the door to see six pairs of women's eyes as they looked back at him.

“Things like this shouldn't be spoken of in public.” Kelly said in a normal voice and took his hand. “We have to put this aside for now and we can deal with it later.”

“Okay.” Arnold said.

“Yes. We will deal with this later.” Amy said angrily and then took a deep breath to calm down. She put on a happy smile and opened the door to the lab, which literally proved Arnold's point. “Hi, everyone. Thanks for coming in today.”

“You're quite welcome.” Cissily said sarcastically from the edge of the group of women. “I only planned to sleep in this morning, considering it's the fucking weekend!”

“Cissily!” Amy exclaimed as she stepped into the classroom. “We have visitors!”

“They know it's the weekend, too!” Cissily said and looked at Arnold, Kelly, and Annie. “You can't expect me to be chipper after drinking all damn night.”

“The best relief for a hangover is to have another drink.” Annie said, to everyone's surprise. “You're drying out too fast and that causes withdrawal. A bit more inebriation eases the symptoms.”

“Are... are you shitting me?” Cissily asked. “Will that work?”

“It always did for me when I was younger.” Annie said. “I gave it up when I had Arnold, though.”

“No fucking way! You're his mother?!?” Cissily asked, completely surprised. “How old were you when you had him? Twelve?”

Annie laughed. “No, I was twenty five.”

Everyone except Kelly and Arnold gasped, because they did the math in their head instantly.

“There is no goddamn way you're forty-three! No goddamn way!” Cissily exclaimed. “You're too hot!”

Annie laughed again and this time her face flushed a little red. She didn't notice Kelly whispering in Arnold's ear and his nod.

“Are you seeing anyone?” One of the women asked.

“E-excuse me?” Annie turned her head and looked at the bleach blonde young woman that had spoken.

“Do you want to get a coffee or something?” She asked with a very friendly smile and flipped her hair to the side to reveal expensive earrings and that her shoulder-length hair had been styled professionally.

“Um... well... I like tea, but...”

“Are you staying for the whole orientation?” She asked. “Maybe we can grab a tea and talk afterwards?” She held out a delicate hand for Annie to shake. “I'm Dianne.”

“Hi, Dianne. I'm Annie.” Annie said and took the hand gently, because it looked like it might break if she held it too hard.

Dianne's smile grew wider at her tenderness. “I'm twenty-two and I think you look very pretty.”

Annie's face turned slightly red and let her hand go. “Thank you.” She said and looked a little flustered. “Just to make sure, you're actually hitting on me, aren't you?”

Dianne let out the girliest laugh that Annie had ever heard. “I'm usually a bit more subtle about it; but, yes, I am hitting on you.” She admitted. “I hope that's okay. It's not freaking you out or anything, is it?”

“No. I just... I'm not gay.” Annie said, a bit starkly.

Dianne laughed her girlie laugh again. “That's okay, neither am I.”

“Huh?” Annie blinked her eyes at her.

“I'm an equal opportunity dater.” Dianne said.

“She really is.” The woman next to her said. “She was with a really tall guy last week and all they talked about was his major and how he could function with arms and legs so long.”

Dianne laughed again. “He was a handsome devil and after talking to him for an hour, I discovered something.”

“What was that? Annie asked.

“He was as dumb as a brick! Ha ha!” Dianne laughed. “He's taking the Arts degree, because that was all he could qualify for.” She said. “He was interesting, though. He loves to paint and asked me to pose nude, and we had just met!”

“That's pretty bold.” Annie said.

“I refused, of course, and nothing happened between us. I just like meeting interesting people.” Dianne said.

The lab door opened and Professor Crenslav strode in with purpose.

“Seats!” Amy said.

Dianne took Annie's hand and led her to the first seat behind the closest lab table, then she sat beside her. Everyone else found seats at the other tables and sat down.

“Good morning everyone.” Hamil said and made eye contact with each person, even Amy. “Thank you all for coming today, even though some of you are suffering the after effects of Friday night.”

“You know it!” Cissily let out a laugh and then stopped herself.

“Case in point.” Hamil said with a smile. “So, the new materials are going to be quite significant to your studies progress this year.” He said and turned to the whiteboard behind him and started to write on it in a black marker. “First of all, the preparation for each of these special specimens is absolutely paramount.” He said. “We only have a limited number, so any mistake will not only ruin the specimen's viability for use later in the year, it will also...”

Most of them sat there and listened intently, except for Kelly, Amy, and Annie. Kelly didn't really have to listen, because she wasn't very interested and only needed the general outline to help Arnold. Amy didn't really listen, because she had already heard the speech. Annie wasn't paying attention, because Dianne hadn't let go of her hand when they sat down.

It wasn't the first time that someone had made a pass at Annie and had asked her out; but, it was the first time in years that it had been successful. She was quite surprised that she actually did want to have a talk with the young woman over a cup of tea. She just wasn't sure about the hand-holding thing. She didn't say anything about it or try to pull her hand away, though.

They stayed there for two hours as the professor explained everything that needed to be done for that year and what they would be expected to do. Afterwards, he thanked them again for coming in and then left the room with purpose, just like he had when he came into the room.

“I'll repeat the professors words and thank you all for coming in today.” Amy said with a sweet smile. “I hope you all enjoy the rest of the weekend off.”

“I'm glad that's over!” Cissily said and rubbed her head. “My brain can't take another long-winded speech from that arrogant little prick.”

Amy chuckled. “You need to stop calling him that where he can hear you.”

“Why? I say it to his face.” Cissily said with a smile, despite her headache. “He just laughs at me.”

“We all laugh at you.” Dianne said and the other four women laughed.

“Up yours sideways, dixie chick!” Cissily said, and they laughed again.

“Let's get out of here and grab something to eat.” One of the women said.

“Sure, I could eat.”

“There's a nice place just off campus that serves great tea.” Dianne said.

“I really should help Arnold unpack.” Annie said.

“We'll only be half an hour.” Dianne said and looked at Arnold and Kelly. “Do you mind if I borrow your mother for a little while? You have to stay here and work anyway, right?”

Arnold nodded.

“There.” Dianne said with a sweet smile and started to walk towards the door with Annie, whose hand she still held. “We're just going to talk and nothing's going to happen.”

“I guess I'll meet you back at the dorm room.” Annie said to them and then left.

“Wow.” Cissily said. “That white chick works fast.”

“I better get back to the dorm room.” Kelly said. “Our stuff isn't going to unpack itself.”

Arnold gave her a four second kiss. “Thank you.”

“I'll see you at lunch.” Kelly said with a smile and left.

“That's your girlfriend?” Cissily asked and Arnold nodded. “Is it serious?”

“We're exclusive.” Arnold said. “I can't kiss or have sex with anyone else.”

“Well, fuck.” Cissily said. “How am I supposed to seduce you if you're not even allowed to kiss me?”

“Cissily!” Amy exclaimed and the other women chuckled.

“What? He's sexy and I want him to lick my kitty.” Cissily said.

“Your kitty?” Arnold asked, slightly confused.

“My pussy.” Cissily said. “You know, that thing between my legs that's just crying out for pleasure.”

“Jesus Christ.” One of the other women laughed. “We better get out of here before she strips off again.”

“Good idea.” The other two said and the three women left in fits of laughter.