The attraction that Carmen was starting to feel toward Shane had something physical, also. There was no doubt about it, because Shane was beautiful. Her androgyny made her look like a surreal being coming from another universe.

But there was something else. Carmen and Shane had a soul connection and the more they spent their time together, the more their attraction became evident.

After a long stroll, they sat down on a bench, in the park. Carmen took a pear from a paper bag and bit on it. Next to her, Shane watched her with eyes that were full of amazement and curiosity.

“What’s that like?”, she asked, ducking her head to a side and leaning forward.

"Yummy", Carmen replied smiling.

Shane shook her head and laughed.

“No. What’s it taste like? Describe it. Like Hemingway”, she explained.

Carmen stared at her, chewing slowly, feeling again that feeling. Attraction. Fascination. And something else she didn’t dare to name.

“…Well…”, she murmured, “…it tastes like… a pear”.

Shane’s smile fell a little.

“You don’t know what a pear tastes like?”, Carmen joked, trying to get rid of that hypnotic feeling that was suddenly trapping her.

Shane shrugged and watched her with her green, green eyes.

“I don’t know what a pear tastes like to you”, she said, softly.

Carmen kept eye-contact with Shane. Honestly, there was nothing else she could do.

“Sweet…”, she murmured, “…Juicy. Soft on your tongue. Grainy… like sugary sand that dissolves in your mouth…”.

Shane was staring at her attentively, her lips slightly parted.

“How’s that?”, Carmen whispered.

“It’s perfect”, Shane said, huskily.

”…Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there’s no one above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles, that’s what you do…”

***

That same day – Evening

In the deserted laboratory, Carmen leaned forward and looked into the microscope.

“The first time I looked in a microscope, I knew I wanted to be a doctor…”, she muttered.

By her side, Shane smiled.

Carmen got up and grabbed her hand.

“Okay, let me have your hand”.

Shane jumped.

“What for?”, she asked, hastily.

Carmen chuckled.

“We’ll take a look at your blood”.

Shane withdrew her hand and hid it behind her back. She shook her head.