Chapter 5 Assigned ties

The lecture hall was buzzing again.

Brianna sat near the front this time, hoping to be missed when it came to group selections. But as always, fate had other ideas.

"Alright," the professor said, clapping once. "Your first group project begins today. I've already paired you up. No switching."

A ripple of complaints moved through the class. Brianna tensed, fingers tightening around her pen.

Please not someone annoying. Please not someone loud.

The professor began calling out names, matching students into groups of two or three. One by one, rows of students looked around to find their new partners.

Then-

"Brianna Danso and Malvin Blake."

She froze.

Slowly, she turned her head.

He was sitting two rows behind her, legs stretched out like he hadn't a care in the world.

Their eyes met.

He didn't react.

No smirk. No sigh.

Just a quiet, subtle nod.

Like he knew this would happen.

Like he wasn't surprised at all.

---

They sat across from each other at a corner table in the library later that afternoon, both pretending this was just another assignment.

"Professor wants five pages by next Friday," Brianna said, flipping open her notebook. "Topic's flexible, as long as it ties into course themes."

Malvin nodded, pen in hand but unmoving.

"I'm fine with writing most of it," she added. "If you're not the 'school project' type."

He looked at her, head tilted slightly.

"You always assume people don't pull their weight?"

"No," she said coolly. "Just saving time."

A small smile touched the corner of his lips. "You like being in control, don't you?"

She met his gaze, unflinching. "I like when things get done."

He leaned back in his chair. "Fair enough."

They worked in silence after that - or tried to. Brianna found herself too aware of his presence, the steady tap of his pen, the way he read with surprising focus when he thought she wasn't watching.

It annoyed her.

And intrigued her.

They discussed topics - media influence, digital privacy, information ethics. He listened. He challenged her ideas. He had thoughts that made her stop and reconsider hers. He wasn't just throwing in comments to sound smart. He actually... got it.

It was irritating.

And oddly satisfying.

By the time they wrapped up, it was dark outside. The library had emptied out.

"We'll meet again tomorrow?" she asked, packing her things.

"Same time?" he said.

She nodded, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

As she turned to go, he called out softly, "Brianna."

She looked back.

He didn't move. Didn't smile.

"Don't assume I'm like everyone else," he said.

Then he walked away, leaving her standing there with a reply she couldn't quite form.