Keeley enjoyed her week off from constantly texting Aaron. She regrouped and focused on her research, juggling multiple trials at different stages due to her tight deadline. She had less than a year to complete her lab trials, needing at least two months for data analysis and dissertation writing. She barely had time to breathe, let alone eat, sleep, or respond to her persistent ex-husband. With him out of the country, she only texted him twice.

The lab computer dinged—a trial batch had finished analyzing. Keeley anxiously examined the results, then whooped with delight. It worked! She could proceed to the next step: injecting the vials into diseased mice.

This was cause for celebration. She sent a group text: "My first trial is ready for animal testing; who wants pizza tonight?"

Valentina replied, "Felicidades! Unfortunately, I'm at the hospital tonight. Next time?"

Cameron texted, "Sorry Keeley, I've got a date; Cameron's back in town."

Keeley sighed. Jennica had been texting her new boyfriend incessantly for two weeks, but Keeley understood; she'd been in love once, too. She texted her dad, but he was working late. Only one option remained.

She texted Ryan: "Fellow researcher, you're my only hope."

He responded immediately: "For what?"

"Celebrating my first successful trial moving to animal testing. Everyone else is busy."

Ryan replied, "…why am I always the last person you text for this?"

"You're not last! You're somewhere in the middle!" Her roommates and dad always came first, but fourth wasn't bad. Aaron would be last.

Ryan texted, "Wow, I'm so honored. I'm free tonight. I get off at 5:30."

"Meet me at the pizza place on 43rd Street at 7?"

"Sure."

Keeley smiled. She wouldn't be celebrating alone. She hated eating at restaurants by herself.

She practically skipped to Dr. Kim's office to order mice with cystic fibrosis. They'd arrive Monday. Until then, she'd check her other samples and work on Dr. Kim's project.

After work, she let down her ponytail, brushing out the lumps—a habit since the night she'd spent at Aaron's without a brush. Her straight hair was easy to manage. She was dressed professionally enough for both the lab and a pizza restaurant: a cream-colored turtleneck, slacks, small gold hoop earrings, and her DNA necklace. She'd finally started wearing it again; it was beautiful, and it didn't matter that Aaron had given it to her.

Keeley cheerfully waved to Ryan, who was still in his work clothes.

He grinned. "We're the best-dressed people in this pizza parlor."

She bowed dramatically. "Thanks for coming. I could have ordered pizza, but that feels defeatist."

He raised an eyebrow. "Explain."

"I only order pizza when I'm down and too lazy/tired/ashamed to leave. This is celebratory pizza. I'm starting animal trials next week!"

Ryan smiled wryly. "Ah, that innocent excitement. Just wait until your first mouse dies."

Keeley stuck out her tongue. "Killjoy."

"I'm just teasing. It's not that bad. I've accidentally killed thousands of…"

"Not helping."

"Mice, dogs, monkeys?"

"Have you worked with monkeys?!"

"Of course. They're closest to humans. We often stop at dogs, though."

Keeley shook her head. "Those poor dogs…"

"You feel sorry for the dogs but not the mice?"

"Oh, shut up, you know what I mean. Dogs are pets!"

"Some people keep mice as pets."

"Ryan."

"Okay, okay! But seriously, just mice?"

She shrugged. "All I have time for. If the mice trials are successful, I'll try rabbits after graduation."

He sipped his soda. "Professor or lab work?"

"Professor, hopefully. More research control. A good result might get me an invitation to stay at NYU."

She frowned. "Worst case: a university in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, longer commute, or a lab lackey."

"I'm a lab lackey."

"Not what I meant. You enjoy it."

"Fair enough."

The pizza arrived. Keeley took a bite, then opened her mouth to let the heat escape. Her mouth was burning. Why did this always happen?

The extraneous content at the end was removed as it was not part of the story.