Elise sat cross-legged on her dorm bed, her notebook open but mostly ignored. Across the room, Anastasia lounged dramatically on a chair, while Ellie—the bubbly girl Elise had befriended in biology—perched on the edge of the desk. Patricia, cool and sharp-tongued, sprawled across the second bed, watching the conversation unfold with a smirk.
"So," Anastasia began, twirling a strand of her hair, "can we talk about the way Davon looked at you today? That stare was… weird. Like he knew you or something."
Ellie let out a dreamy sigh, clutching a pillow. "Oh my gosh, I would die if Davon looked at me like that. He's just… wow. Handsome, smart, the whole package. Anastasia, I'm telling you, you're lucky even to breathe the same air as him."
Elise rolled her eyes, tugging her blanket higher. "I don't know him. And honestly, I'm more worried about this project. He didn't even come to class when the teacher paired us. What if he doesn't care? What if I have to do it myself?"
Patricia smirked, her tone sharp but teasing. "Well, that might happen. Popular boys like him don't usually waste their time on science projects. You could end up doing all the work, Elise."
Anastasia immediately shook her head, pointing a finger at Patricia. "No way. Davon is the top ranker in school. He's basically a genius. He might be popular, but he's not the type to slack off."
Ellie clasped her hands, sighing again. "And smart guys are just… so attractive."
Elise finally sat up straighter, narrowing her eyes a little. "Well, genius or not, I'm not going to be pushed aside. If he thinks he's the smartest person in the room, he's wrong. I can beat him at this project if I have to."
The room fell quiet for a beat before Anastasia let out a low whistle. "Ohhh, Elise has some fight in her."
Patricia chuckled. "This is going to be fun to watch."
Ellie giggled, hugging her pillow tighter. "Can I just say… you two as project partners might end up being the most exciting thing this semester."
Elise groaned and flopped back against her pillows, already regretting saying anything—but deep down, she meant every word.