Page 82 of Written in Scent

Jules does not wander far. Only a few minutes after our conversation about the field trip, he circles back to my station, rubbing his hands together with clear delight.

“So,” he says, eyes sparkling behind his glasses, “tell me everything about your visit to the museum. Did you make it to the stag beetle collection like I suggested?”

He nods towards the charm on my desk, clearly recognizing where it came from. “I have the same one myself.” He confirms.

I sit up straighter, unable to hide my enthusiasm. “I did. They were even more impressive than I imagined. The Lucanus cervus specimens were massive. Some of the mandibles looked powerful enough to snap small branches.”

Jules’s face lights up with pure joy. “Ah! Stunning creatures, aren’t they? Those mandibles are not merely for show. The males use them in ritual combat during mating season. They lock together and push like ancient warriors in a tournament. It’s one of nature’s most dramatic displays of competition and strength.”

We fall easily into that lovely rhythm of pure academic passion. I describe the way the cases were lit and how the metallic sheen on some of the beetles looked almost alive under the lights.

Jules launches into colorful stories from his own days working at the museum, including one about a particularly stubborn stag beetle specimen that kept falling off its pin during an exhibition setup. He spent three hours trying to get the angle perfect while the curator grew increasingly impatient.

From there we move naturally to luna moths. I tell him how mesmerized I was by the display and how far the females can send their pheromone signals.

“Kilometers!” Jules exclaims, throwing his hands up dramatically. “Can you imagine? These delicate creatures releasing a chemical message that travels for miles through the night air. And only the right male can detect it.”

We spend a long time talking about firefly signaling next. Jules gets particularly animated when I bring up the chemistry behind the bioluminescence. He tells me stories about field trips he took decades ago where students set up light traps and watched entire meadows light up like living constellations.

The conversation flows so easily that time slips away from us. My cheeks feel warm with excitement as we bounce ideas back and forth. Jules listens to me with real respect, treating my observations like they carry genuine weight.

Before he leaves, he rests one hand on the edge of my desk. “For your current assignment, I think you should add a comparative analysis section on sexual dimorphism in the specimens you are cataloging, by the way. It would strengthen your submission significantly. And if you would like, I can lend you a very rare reference book from my personal collection. It has the most exquisite hand drawn plates of tropical beetles. Come by my office tomorrow afternoon and I will set it aside for you.”

A rush of gratitude washes over me. “Thank you, Jules. Really. That means more than I can say.”

He gives me a slightly eccentric smile and a little bow. “Keep making miracles, Miss Maddison. The world needs more scientists who look at beetles and see poetry.”

He walks away humming to himself.

The archives fall quiet again once his footsteps fade down the corridor. For a long moment I simply breathe in the familiar scents that always feel like home.

I open my notebook and reread the poem I wrote earlier. The words feel even truer now.

My phone lights up on the corner of the desk with a new text. I pick it up and grin when I see Jamie’s name.

Ready for the most epic surprise date of your life yet? I may have already bought tickets… and possibly a helmet. No spoilers. Just say yes.

I laugh softly under my breath and start packing up my things, already looking forward to whatever chaotic joy Jamie has planned next.

My phone buzzes on the bed just as I finish tying the laces of my favorite floral printed sneakers. The message from Jamie is short and full of his usual energy.

Outside whenever you are ready, beautiful. Comfortable clothes only. Trust me.

I smile and grab my bag. He had specifically told me to wear something comfortable when we chatted yesterday, so I chose loose jeans that sit low on my hips, a cozy crew neck t-shirt layered under my blue cardigan, and the sneakers that always make me feel like I could run around all day without a single complaint.

The outfit feels right for whatever mystery date Jamie has planned. I guess I’ll find out if I’m right about that soon.

The moment I step outside the dorm building, I spot him leaning against his car with that signature floppy blond hair catching the late afternoon light and a mischievous grin already spreading across his face. He looks adorable and buzzing with energy in a simple white t-shirt under an open flannel, sleeves rolled up, paired with worn jeans and sneakers that have seen plenty of adventures. The sight of him makes something bright and light spark in my chest.

“Elodie!” he calls, pushing off the car and opening his arms wide like he’s been waiting hours instead of minutes. “You look perfect. Comfortable, cute, and ready for chaos. Exactly what I ordered.”

I laugh and walk straight into his hug. His golden amber and warm vanilla scent wraps around me instantly, sunny and inviting, and I breathe it in without meaning to. “You’re not going to tell me where we’re going, are you?”

“Nope.” He pulls back just enough to wink, blue eyes twinkling with pure mischief. “But I will drop hints. Helmets might be involved. Possibly small animals. Definitely victory dances. That’s all you get.”

I climb into the passenger seat while he circles around to the driver’s side. The car smells like him too, that same warm vanilla layered with something fresh and playful. As soon as he starts the engine, the radio comes on with an upbeat song that matches his mood perfectly.

Within the first two minutes of driving, I am already laughing.