Chapter Eleven - Not My Department Bud

The meteor shower had stopped, and the Northern Lights dimmed. Some of the college students headed back to the bonfire while others began packing up their equipment and something dawned on Samantha. She felt the urge to let 'it' out, to tell the truth about June 30th. A daunting day in Samantha's past that made the girl who she is today. She wanted to open up to Nicole because she felt safe and comfortable, despite only a day of actually being together around her. This is a secret she's even failed to share with Bridgette.

Samantha inherited part of her father's observation and discernment skills and felt sure it was the right thing to do to move forward in life. However, she was still inexperienced in how to use such skills consistently, especially when her emotions got the better of her.

"Nicole, there's something I want to te-" Samantha was interrupted. Nicole grabbed Samantha and led her toward the shoreline.

"Where're you taking me?" Samantha asked, perplexed.

"Let's check out the equipment for a bit," Nicole replied, heading toward a case.

"Please don't touch any of those! They were expensive for my department to buy!" A man said walking told the girls. He passed them and closed the cases with the equipment aggressively.

"No, we weren't gonna touch anything. We were just curious about what they were. Sorry." Nicole replied, startled.

The man stared at the girls. "You're not one of my students. You look like you're in high school. Who are you two?" The man asked.

The man's build and voice reminded Samantha of her dad, though in a younger version. His voice was investigatory, deep, audible, and intimidating. His face was like that of a young Caucasian man in his late 20s with black hair and green ears.

"Y-yes, we aren't students. No wait, I mean we are high school students and not one of your students. We're just here for the light show with my friends. Sir." Nicole said nervously while Samantha kept staring at the equipment cases.

"Okay 'high school students? What are your names? I'm Dr. Kurt Lambert, Professor from the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and chaperone of these bunch of misfits." Dr. Lambert said discontentedly.

Samantha's eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. Here was someone who was in the program of her dreams and she was lucky to meet him on this beach. Is it fate that she encountered this man?

"I'm Samantha and this is Nicole. Let me just say that it's my dream to be in your department." Samantha asked.

"Good to see there young women interested in our department." Dr. Lambert said. "And you?" He continued and asked Nicole.

"Not my department, bud. I mean, that's not where my interests lie. Sir," Nicole replied with an awkward smile.

"Okay. Samantha, do you want to see some of the equipment?" Dr. Lambert asked.

"Yes!" she replied excitedly.

Dr. Lambert opened the cases one by one, each revealing a different instrument that varied in size and shape.

"So this is a magnetometer, which is the primary instrument used to record data from aurora lights and space storms. Then, this is a high-resolution all-sky camera and then this is a receiver for an active spectrometer from a satellite to give us data about the aurora lights from space. And then, this is a seismometer that can be used for seismic movements on Earth. However, we are using it to help get some useful information from aurora lights because of the ferromagnetic materials used in it that make it sensitive to magnetic activity. Since seismometers are used to monitor earth movement, we have regarded signals from such magnetic activity as noise, not data and so we equipped with it protective shields that guard it against these space weather events." Dr. Lambert explained.

This baffled the two girls by the work they were doing on the beach in such a brief space of time.

"Wow, this is so cool. Okay, my nerd-antennae is now activated and I'm interested." Nicole said, blushing at Dr. Lambert.

Dr. Lambert laughed. "Wonderful. The more the merrier."

He continued to explain more about the significance of their work and what it may lead to, how to apply to the university department, and scholarships that are available to students, especially young women. The conversation went on so long that they turned the floodlights back on and most of the students had left the beach to go party elsewhere. Someone tapped the girl's shoulders as they continued to talk to Dr. Lambert.

"Girls, it's time we head back. It's already 10 pm." Mr. Morty said, looking at Dr. Lambert.

"Oh, I'm sorry for keeping you guys so long about this. I just get into it when people are interested in EAPS." Dr. Lambert said.

"No, it's fine, professor. We enjoyed it and we'll definitely look into the scholarship." Samantha replied.

"Good. Just make sure your GPA is at least 3.5." Said Dr. Lambert.

"Oh, don't worry. We have 4.0s." Nicole replied, grinning.

"Okay, let's go, you two." Mr. Morty said, grabbing the girl's hands. "Thank you 'professor' for taking your time explaining whatever was going on here today." He continued.

Mr. Morty sounded overly protective as he spoke, but the girls didn't question him about it as they headed back. He was their chaperone, and he had to be more alert for the sake of the girls.

"Hey, Sam. I just remembered that you wanted to tell me something just when the shower ended. What did you want to say?" Nicole asked Samantha as they entered the lobby.

"Oh that. Uh, it's cool. It was nothing." Samantha replied ineptly.

"Okay. By the way, wasn't Dr. Lambert kind of hot?" Said Nicole.

____

The next day, the group had their breakfast and decided on what to do on their second day. They headed to the art museum followed by a boat ride on the lake and this time Mr. Morty wouldn't join them. Klaus and Samantha were still acting weird and everyone else noticed it. However, Nicole secretly reassured Paul and Jeffrey that they were fine and that they were having a small lover's quarrel.

Mr. Morty drove them to the art museum playing the newly released song for Usher, called Confessions, on the radio, and this made Samantha want to talk to Klaus even more and talk about yesterday's kiss and his confession. Mr. Morty left and promised to be back in an hour to take them for the boat ride.

The art museum was having an event show by a local artist. The pieces were up for sale and they were strictly oil paintings of abstract features. However, there was one that captured Samantha's attention and it was the one Klaus was staring at in awe.

"Hey," Samantha said as she stood next to Klaus at the painting.

"Hey." He replied.

"Can we talk?" She asked.