Chapter One -The analysis

Xuxa

"Did you seriously have to plan a laboratory analysis on a weekend without further notice?" i asked Professor Harrison, dragging my feet as i entered the lab with an exhausted look on my face. unfortunately, it wasn't him that greeted me rather, my teammate Ella did with a sheepish look on her face which did not sit right with me and i could not help but wonder what she had done wrong but before i could question her, she confirmed my suspicsion.

"I am so, so sorry. I was supposed to inform you two days before but it skipped my mind." she made a sad puppy eyes and rubbed her palms together to emphasize how sorry she is. "I even bought you your favorite Starbucks coffee and doughnuts in hopes that you forgive me."

I could not help but smile in my heart at that act, so nice of her. Still feigning annoyance, i decided not accept her apology…Yet.

"You know that was so bad of you, how could you forget something so important, now i feel so sleep deprived because of you."

I felt bad with the tone i used in speaking to her even though i was faking it and the look she was giving me was not doing any justice to the way i was feeling.

"But i said i am sorry, please do not take it heart, huh Xuxa, i promise i won't make this mistake again." she pleaded again and i could not keep up with the act anymore. Cracking a smile i said,

"Apology accepted, sorry for dragging it and making you feel bad my love."

"Are you really going to let it slide?" She asked hopefully,

"yes i am, i wont hold it against you i promise" I answered crossing her hand in a pinky promise.

"Okay now that we settled the issues, did prof leave any hint on the material we will be running a test on?" I asked with a slight inquisitiveness in my tone. Prof as i somtimes called him, has this habit of not telling us what we will be conducting a research or analysis on, as if he enjoys keeping us on the edge and suprising us with what was found. No matter what it is, i prefer to be well prepared for the task at hand.

"Nope, he didn't. He just said to get there on time."

"Wonderful, same old prof." if you are wondering, I and Ella are part of a group of anthropologists at the university of New York called NYUAT. We both study archaeology and it only seemed right to join immediately after graduating from college with a degree in anthropology.

We've been actively doing this for two years, researching, exploring, traveling, conducting tests and so much more, the pay too is nice. The team is made up of ten individuals including my mentor each with their specific area of study. Honestly there is no place I will rather be than there. That is home for me.

"Oh, look who's here, it's Princess, I told you she was going to be early." Sharon squealed as she came to give me a hug as if she hasn't me for years. Only she called me princess cause she says I act like one and look like one although I don't see it in my five foot seven curvy dark skin body.

That's when i noticed that not only ella had arrived, sharon, diego and carl were also there. They were know as the early birds "Were you guys betting on me not showing up early today?" I asked them with a quizzical look on my face.

They shake their heads while grinning from ear to ear, letting me know that they were indeed doing that.

"That's not nice, i will have you guys know that i do come early." i pouted and turned my back to them as i faced Ella to which they laughed at the behaviour and went back to their chichat.

"What of Dr Harrison?" I asked as i collected the box of doughnuts and coffee from Ella.

"He is in his office"

"Okay let me head there to drop this and greet him before he complains about having snacks in the lab."

"Good morning Dr Harrison, how was your weekend and the family?" I asked as I entered his office. Dropping the snacks on his table, I went round to give him a hug. "Good morning dear, I am fine and my family is doing fine too. They asked me to pass my greetings."

Dr Harrison was more of a Father figure to me and his family was like the one I never had. I had been in and out of foster care till I was able to live independently on my own, He has always been there for me since I entered NYU and graduated. I am solely grateful to him and his family for the support they give me. His two girls, Kayla and Nicole love me as much I as I do for them and there was nothing more I could ask for.

"Ok kiddo, let's go out there and start the test, also thanks for obeying the rules of the lab, cause you shitheads can be so annoying at times." he said draping his left arm on my shoulder.

"Language prof Harri" I told him, calling him by the nickname I gave him as I chuckled.

Existing the office, I noticed that we were now complete. Two archaeologists that is me and Ella, Three cultural anthropologists, Diego, Sharon and Carl, four biological/forensic anthropologists- Simran, Luke, Gabriel and Gabrielle. The last person was Dr Harrison who's a little bit of all and also a professor but if asked his specific area of study, it's archaeology.

"Okay people let's lay the table for work, we are going to be researching first as what we have here is the bone of a 200 years old panther." Prof said with a cheerful voice like he just got a billion dollar contract. "If things go well according to the survey and discovery of the research conducted today", he continued, "we might be looking at a research trip and a billon dollar project here at our hands."

We all looked at him with our mouths wide open, shocked and suprised at what he said.

"You have to be kidding me?"