Sierra settled into her seat, her bag tucked neatly beside her chair. She could still feel the lingering excitement from her first lecture of the day, but now a flutter of nervousness crept in. Professor Blackwood hadn't left her mind for a second, and every little movement he made—the way he adjusted his glasses, the soft sound of his footsteps across the floor, the calm way he spoke—made her pulse quicken.
"Alright, class," Professor Blackwood said, his voice carrying easily to every corner. "Today, we'll be discussing case studies in social media ethics. I want you to think critically—question what you see, question what you read, and always consider the impact of information on audiences."
Sierra's pen flew across her notebook, jotting down every word. She leaned forward, completely absorbed, occasionally glancing at her friends who were just as focused. But her eyes inevitably drifted back to him. There was something magnetic about the way he explained complex ideas so effortlessly.
Midway through the lecture, he asked a question that made the class pause. "Can anyone give an example of a campaign that failed ethically, and why?"
Sierra's hand shot up before she could stop herself. "Um… there was that influencer campaign last year that… um… promoted a product that wasn't tested properly," she stammered, then blinked, realizing she'd just spoken in front of everyone. Her cheeks warmed immediately.
Professor Blackwood's gaze landed on her, calm but intense. "Exactly. And what do you think could have been done differently to prevent that?"
Sierra swallowed and nodded quickly. "Maybe… better research? Like checking claims and… um… making sure it was safe for people? And also… maybe being honest about risks?" She spoke quickly, words tumbling over one another as she tried to explain clearly.
"Good," he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Your points are practical and insightful. Well done, Sierra."
Her heart skipped a beat. She glanced at her friends, who were grinning at her, clearly impressed. Sierra herself felt a mix of pride and embarrassment. But inside, a small thrill fluttered—he had noticed her, really noticed her.
The rest of the lecture passed in a blur of notes, questions, and her own quiet fascination. She couldn't stop sneaking glances at Professor Blackwood when he wasn't looking directly at her, noticing the way he moved across the room, the slight crease between his brows when he was deep in thought, and the subtle way he seemed to command attention without ever raising his voice.
After class, as students filed out, Sierra lingered by her desk, gathering her things slowly. She wanted a few more moments to process everything she had just experienced—the lecture, the knowledge, the way she felt just from being in the same room as him.
Professor Blackwood approached her desk, his steps deliberate. "Sierra," he said, voice even, calm, but there was something in the way he looked at her that made her stomach twist. "I noticed your points during class. You have a sharp eye for detail. Keep it up."
"Oh! Thank you, Professor," Sierra said quickly, her cheeks warming. She fiddled with the strap of her bag, suddenly unsure of how to stand still. "I… I like noticing things, and… um… learning, too." She laughed nervously.
"Good," he replied, nodding once. "I expect to see more of that energy in the next class." He paused for a fraction of a second, his eyes meeting hers just long enough for her to feel it. Then he turned, leaving her standing there, heart pounding, words caught somewhere in her throat.
Outside, Sierra ran into Tanya and Chloe, who were waiting for her by the bench. "Hey! That was intense, right?" Tanya asked.
"Intense… yeah," Sierra muttered, cheeks still warm. "I… I think I did okay, though. He… he noticed me when I answered."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Noticed you? What do you mean?"
Sierra shrugged, trying to brush it off. "I don't know… it's just… he said something to me after class. About noticing details. It felt… nice."
Mia laughed. "Well, I think you made quite an impression, Sierra. Don't worry, you're going to do great this semester. And it's only the first day."
Sierra nodded, smiling despite herself. She felt giddy, nervous, and excited all at once. Professor Blackwood wasn't just any lecturer—there was something about him, something that made her pulse quicken even when he wasn't speaking to her.
As the three friends walked across campus to their next class, Sierra couldn't stop thinking about the way his gaze had met hers, the faint smile that had tugged at the corners of his mouth, and the subtle intensity in his eyes.
And somewhere across campus, Professor Blackwood paused, glancing back at her figure as she walked ahead with her friends, a strange warmth in his chest that he hadn't felt in years. He wasn't supposed to be captivated, not by a student. And yet… there was something about her energy, her innocence, her curiosity, that pulled him in closer than he intended.
It was the start of the semester, the start of something new—and neither of them knew just how much this first day would change everything.