It was a beautiful day in San Francisco, which I had heard was unusual. It was my first time visiting that city, you see. In fact, it was my first time visiting the States, ever.

San Francisco was Josh's hometown. We had met in Paris. He was an art student and he was very handsome. He was an American in Paris, and ever since I was a kid, I had always had a thing for pretty Americans. He was a terrible kisser, but it was fun to speak English with him, so I kept him around. I guess, as the months passed, I grew fond of him, and when he asked if I wanted to visit his hometown over the summer, well, what girl can turn down a trip to the States?

The night that he had casually mentioned that I might join him, I played coy. I pretended like I had plenty of other things to do that summer, because no one wants to look too available. But when I got home that night, I pulled out a torn up map from my desk drawer and spread it out on my bed.

How many times had I dreamed of traveling to the States? To California? There were circles and lines on the map, old fantasies that I had traced out when I was a teenager. Now my fingers retraced the lines. Was it really happening? I had almost gone once before, by myself, just after I graduated with my first degree. But back then I had been too scared to go alone. What if Americans were as rude and as crass as everyone said?

Now, here was this cute American guy, Josh.

Josh was so Josh. He was young. He was an art student. He was handsome, charming and kind of a snob. He fit in perfectly in Paris. And he wanted me to go to the States with him.

When I accepted his invitation, I gave him a list of things I would like to do. It was an agenda, really. I handed it to him over coffee. He looked slightly overwhelmed when he saw it's length and specificity. He leaned back in his chair.

"Look, hey," he said. "This all looks great, but I'm sure my family is going to be taking up a lot of my time."

"Oh," I said. I gave him my disappointed face. "I see."

"But..I'm sure we can do some of this stuff. Just, maybe, not all of it."

"Okay," I agreed. "It doesn't really matter."

But it did matter. It mattered because, as it turned out, I spent nearly ten days with his family in the suburbs, doing absolutely nothing. Don't get me wrong, his family was lovely. They fed me wonderful breakfasts, and they fed me wonderful dinners, and in between I went to some wonderful shopping malls. But their nice, big American house sat on a hill that looked down on the San Francisco Bay. Every morning, I sat at my window and looked out at the sky line.

Why did I feel like a prisoner? I should have known. People don't want to be a tourist in their hometown. I mean, I could have lived without taking Josh to every art museum in Paris. And in case anyone is wondering, there are — how do I say this? — a shit ton of art museums in Paris.

Thursday morning I awoke with resolve. There were only three days left. I wasn't going to waste them.

"I was thinking about going into the city today," I said at breakfast.

"Oh, I'm really sorry," he said. "But I'm supposed to go golfing with the guys today."

"Golfing?" I said. "Since when do you golf?"

"I've always golfed. I never told you that before? Anyway, after that we're supposed to meet everyone for lunch."

"In that case, I'll go by myself. I really want to see this California Academy of Sciences," I said. I had the brochure laid out on the table. And it was true. I was dying to see it. I could hardly contain the excitement in my voice. "I really want to see the white alligator."

"White alligator, huh? So, you're going to go alone?" he said.

"Yes, why not?"

"Do you think you can get there by yourself?"

"I've got a smartphone, don't I?"

As it turned out, he rearranged his plans and followed me into the city that day. We headed straight for Golden Gate Park. It was a beautiful day, and there was a beautiful view of the bridge.

"Let's ask someone to take our picture!" I said.

"Really?"

He looked suddenly embarrassed.

"Yeah, why not?"

I reached out to a young man in a baseball cap. He was about Josh's age.

"Excuse me, sir," I said.

"It's just so cliche," Josh said. "Don't you think?"

"Excuse me, sir," I said again to the man. "Can you take our picture?"

"Sure," he said as he turned around.

"No, no," Josh said to the man. "Nevermind. That's okay."

The man shrugged his shoulders and walked away from us.

Now, normally, I'm a pretty agreeable person. My feathers don't get ruffled very often. But Josh had been rubbing me the wrong way since we had arrived on American soil. I decided to give him a very small piece of my mind.

"I don't care if it's cliche," I said. "Waiting for hours to go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower is pretty cliche, too. But you didn't see me make a sour face, did you? Besides, it's just a picture."

"Fine."

"And how many selfies did you take up there? Like a million!" I added.

"Alright," he said. "Fine."

"I didn't come half way across the world to just be your French trophy. I came here to be a tourist! And I intend to tour."

"Alright, I get it!"

But I could tell by the tone in his voice that he didn't really. He just wanted to shut me up. I guess he thought that I looked like a crazy foreigner, and maybe I did. I gathered myself, took a deep breath and continued walking.

Let it suffice to say that by the time we arrived at the California Academy of Sciences, we were both a little on edge.

We went to the aquarium first. I heard that is where they kept a rare white alligator. I grabbed an informational map and headed straight for the exhibit. I was excited, and not even Josh could ruin that. He grumbled to himself as he trailed behind me.

"Ugh," he said. "Look at all these kids."

"It's an aquarium," I said. "What did you expect?"

"Exactly."

"If you don't like it," I said, as nonchalantly as I could, "You can just wait outside."

"No, no. Let's see this alligator."

"It should be right around here."

I double checked the map but when I looked up, I couldn't see anything save for a huge crowd of kids standing right in front of me. They were a school group with matching t-shirts and backpacks. They stood together, some fidgeting, some daydreaming, some listening to a young woman that led them to a large tank. She spoke with lots of enthusiasm, using her hands to emphasize points of interest.

She doesn't look like a school teacher, I thought.

First of all, her hair was pulled back into neat dreadlocks. She wore an assortment of colorful bracelets on both of her wrists; I heard the bracelets jingle with every hand gesture. She had on dark eyeliner and thick rimmed glasses. But all of that seemed to clash with her blue polo shirt and khaki shorts.

Without realizing it, I moved towards her. So did others. Soon a crowd was gathered around her. Soon, I was close enough to see the logo on her polo.

She's an employee! I thought. Now that makes sense!

"Does anybody know where the word alligator comes from?" she asked.

"No!" the children replied in chorus.

I spotted their actual teacher on the periphery of the group. She was dressed in jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt to match her students. How had I missed her before?

"Well, actually, it comes from the Spanish language," the guide continued. "When the first Spanish explorers came to what is now Florida, they called these animals 'el legarto,' which simply means 'the lizard.' But over time, English speakers took that name and anglicized it into the word that we use today."

I couldn't help but stare at her. There was something about her...

"Go ahead," she said. "Try it out. 'El legarto' and 'alligator.' They're almost the same, aren't they?"

The children murmured to themselves. I found myself mouthing the words, too, testing them out on my tongue.

She looked up at me then, smiling a lovely smile. I stopped myself, my mouth open, the tip of my tongue against the back of my teeth, the short "a" vowel dropping off suddenly. I felt hot and self-conscious. She laughed and returned her attention to the crowd.

I looked at Josh, to see if he had noticed the interaction, but he was standing several meters away, texting on his phone.

When I turned back toward her, our eyes met again. She raised her eyebrows, as if to say hello. I glanced around, certain she must be looking at someone else.

No, there was no one else.

When our eyes met a third time, I smiled.

Then it was time for the school group to move on.

"It's been a privilege to speak with you guys today," she said. "Thanks for letting me show you around the aquarium. I hope to see you all again!"

"Thank you so much," the teacher said as she corralled her students down the hallway, "You were fantastic."

"Oh, it's my pleasure," she said.

As the group moved on, she picked up a clipboard and began flipping through it's pages.

I watched her, and in my watching, I was drawn closer. I moved right along side her.

"You're really great with kids," I said.

She looked up from her clipboard and laughed. "Thanks. But it's all an act."

"Well, it's a pretty convincing one. Do you want to be a teacher?" I asked.

"No," she said. She hugged the clipboard to her chest. "Evolutionary biologist."

My ears perked up.

"Really?" I said.

"Yeah," she said. "This is just a part time gig. You know... gotta pay the bills."

"Right. Of course," I said. I was distracted by her lean arms, which she crossed over her chest.

Oh my god, I thought. Am I checking her out?

She turned away for a moment, and I was afraid she might leave.

"But you know, it's not easy," I said.

"What's that?" she said.

"The sciences," I said. "I mean, being a woman in the sciences."

"Do you speak from experience?"

"Actually, yes. I'm currently working on my PhD in immunology."

"Wow," she said.

She said it coolly, as she looked me up and down. There was that hot feeling again.

"What? You don't believe me?"

I think I was blushing. I think I had to look away for a minute.

"No," she stammered. "It's just..."

Then she reached out her hand.

"I'm Cosima."

I took her hand.

"I'm Delphine," I said, and then because I couldn't stop myself, I added, "Enchantée."

"Enchantée."

Her American accent tickled me.

Is she flirting with me? Am I flirting back?

Then Josh showed up.

"So, is this the albino alligator that you've been talking about?" he said.

Cosima took a step away. I think she coughed. She started flipping through the pages of her clipboard again.

"Uh, yes," I said. "But I'm not sure if it's albino."

"What do you mean? Aren't all white animals called albinos?" he said.

"Let's ask Cosima," I said. I still wasn't ready to let her go.

"Who?" Josh said.

"Cosima, is this alligator an albino?" I asked.

"Who, Claude?" she said. "Actually, yes, he is."

"Oh," I said. "Because I wasn't sure if he was leucistic or not?"

I saw Cosima's eyes light up. I saw Josh's eyes cloud over.

"It's funny that you mention it," Cosima said. "Most people don't even know about Leucism."

"Well," I said. "I guess I'm not most people."

"No, you definitely aren't that."

"What's Leucism?" Josh said.

"Leucism is a genetic condition caused by the presence of a recessive gene. It causes the organism to have reduced pigmentation," Cosima said.

My heart was beating faster with every word. I think I was sweating.

"Isn't that the same thing?" Josh said.

"Well, not exactly. Leucism causes a reduction in all types of skin pigment, not just..." she said.

"Melanin," we said in stereo.

"Of course," I said. "Albinism is characterized only by a reduction in melanin. Which is why Claude's eyes are white, too."

"Exactly," Cosima said. "If our good friend Claude here was leucistic, he would probably have normal pigmentation in his eyes. Like the alligators they have in New Orleans."

I laughed. I'm not sure why I laughed, but maybe I laughed because she laughed. Or maybe it was the other way around. Either way, Josh was completely left in the dust.

"Anyway," he said. "It's still a white alligator and it's still creepy."

"No," I said. "He's not creepy. He's incredibly rare."

"I'm gonna go find something to eat," Josh said.

Thank God! I thought.

"Okay," I said. "I'll be right there."

I watched him walk away. Cosima watched me watch him.

"I'm sorry about him," I said.

"It's fine," she said. "He's not a science guy. I get it."

"No, he's definitely not," I said. "But I am...a science girl."

Her smile was huge — her laugh gorgeous.

"Yeah," she said. "I kinda got that."

There was an awkward silence.

She hugged her clipboard to her chest and took a step toward me. She leaned against Claude's tank, and I realized that I was leaning, too.

How long have I been leaning?

"Hey," she said. "There's this thing tonight, called Nightlife. It's kinda like a nightclub, but it's here in the museum."

"Oh really?" I said. "That sounds interesting."

"Yeah, it is. I mean there's gonna be a DJ and all the exhibits will still be open. And there's alcohol."

"Science and alcohol? Those are two of my favorite things."

"Right?! Me too!"

I glanced over her shoulder, but Josh was already out of sight.

"Well, are you going to be there, Cosima?" I asked. I felt butterflies when I said her name, and I wasn't sure why.

"Most definitely," she said. "You should come, Delphine."

"Yeah, maybe," I said, because I didn't want to sound too eager. "What time does it start?"

"Well, I'll be here after nine."

"Nine? Okay."

"Okay," she said. "I guess I'll see you then."

"Yeah," I said. "Maybe."

Maybe I was sick of feeling like a prisoner or sick of feeling like I had no friends. Either way, I really, really wanted to see this woman again. I even wanted to keep in touch, you know, for a long time. It was irrational, but it was true.

I backed away, intending to find Josh, but when I was halfway down the hall I stopped.

"Um, hey, Cosima?"

"Yeah?"

She turned around.

Oh my god! I thought. Is she blushing? She's totally blushing!

"I'm not sure…" I started.

But her red cheeks were distracting.

"I'm not sure... that I will be able to find you tonight, so maybe... can I get your phone number?"

She hit her own forehead with the palm of her hand.

"Oh, yeah, of course!" she said.

I gave her my phone, standing entirely too close to her as she typed in her number. I don't know what I expected her to smell like, but she didn't smell like I expected. She smelled like...baby powder.

"There," she said. "Now you can find me."

"Cool," I said.

"Cool," she said.

I touched my own cheek as I backed away. I was flirting and I couldn't help myself.

"I'll see you later then," I said. "After nine."

"Yeah, see you later."

"Later, gator," I said, and then I quickly wished I hadn't said it.

But she laughed and gave me a small wave.

I had to turn around then. I must have been as red as a beet.

Oh my god, I thought. I think I'm kind of falling for her.

Like I said, I always knew I had a thing for pretty Americans. But what I was just figuring out, was that I had an even bigger thing for pretty, scientific Americans with thick rimmed glasses and nice arms. Who knew?