Chapter 5: The Hall

On Monday morning Lenny Obrecht held a mug of coffee in front of his face and studied Ansel.

"You have a bite on your shoulder," Lenny said.

Ansel pulled his collar up.

"It's a bruise."

"It has teeth."

"It's from physics."

"Physics bites."

Lenny's ginger curls were flattened on one side from the pillow, and his eyes were narrow behind his drink.

"I'm not asking," he said.

"I'm noting.

"For the record, I've noted."

"Noted," Ansel said, and went to class with his face on fire.

Quantum mechanics met in Hale Hall at ten.

Ansel took the aisle seat, as he always did, and tried to listen to a lecture on potential wells.

He could still feel Torin's teeth in his shoulder.

After class the teaching assistant stopped him at the door.

The TA was a grad student with a friendly face, and he wanted to talk about Ansel's last exam.

"You're the best in the section," the TA said.

"You should apply for the summer research program.

"I'd write you a letter."

He put a hand on Ansel's shoulder as he said it, a normal, friendly squeeze.

Ansel opened his mouth to say thanks.

Behind him, glass exploded.

Everyone in the hall jumped.

The TA yanked his hand back.

Ansel turned around.

Torin was standing ten feet away at the department trophy case with his right fist through the glass.

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