The rain had stopped by the next morning, leaving behind the scent of wet grass and clean air. Sierra sat at a corner table in the student lounge, flipping through her notes while Tanya, Chloe, and Mia chatted beside her. The hum of conversation around them mixed with the faint sound of music from someone's phone, giving the room a cozy buzz.
"So apparently," Chloe said, waving a sheet of paper, "Professor Blackwood is assigning a new project this week. He said it'll count toward midterm grades."
Sierra looked up instantly. "Wait, really? Already? It's only the second week!"
"Yeah," Tanya said, leaning back in her chair. "He's serious about us working early. I kinda respect it though—means no last-minute panic later."
Sierra smiled faintly, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I don't mind. I actually like projects. It's fun working on something real."
Mia laughed. "You like everything academic, Sierra. You'd probably volunteer to write the whole project yourself."
"Maybe just the fun parts," Sierra admitted, grinning. "But no, we'll share it. Fair and square."
They all laughed together before heading toward the lecture hall. The sky had brightened to a soft silver, the kind of morning that made the campus look calm and endless. Sierra felt a mix of nerves and excitement again—she wouldn't admit it aloud, but a big part of her eagerness came from the fact that this was Professor Blackwood's class.
When they entered, he was already there, standing by the desk with his sleeves rolled up slightly, his attention on a stack of papers. The subtle shift of his posture, the quiet confidence in the way he stood—it was impossible for her not to notice.
"Good morning," he greeted, glancing briefly at the students as they filed in. His eyes landed on Sierra for a brief second before continuing to the others. "Let's get started."
He spoke about the project with calm precision. Each word felt intentional. "You'll be working in small groups," he said, handing out the assignment sheets. "Your task is to analyze how social influence shapes perception—choose a campaign, a topic, or a digital movement that caught public attention, and evaluate its ethical impact."
Sierra's eyes scanned the paper, excitement rising. "This sounds… amazing," she whispered to Tanya. "I already have ideas."
Tanya chuckled. "Of course you do."
When Professor Blackwood started announcing groups, Sierra's pulse quickened. Each name made her stomach tighten a little more.
"Group Three," he said finally. "Sierra Rivera, Tanya Brooks, Chloe Edwards… and—" He paused for a second, looking down at his paper. "You'll also have my supervision. I'll be guiding your group's progress."
Sierra blinked. For a moment, her brain didn't process it. His supervision? As in—Professor Blackwood would personally oversee her group?
Chloe leaned over, whispering, "Lucky you. He's like the most composed person here. Our work will definitely stand out."
"Y-yeah," Sierra murmured, her heart thudding harder than it should've. She forced herself to focus as he continued explaining expectations, though his voice now sounded sharper in her ears—calm, measured, and oddly comforting.
After class, most students gathered near the door, chatting about topics and ideas. Sierra and her friends stayed behind, brainstorming quickly.
"Let's pick something about online authenticity," Tanya suggested. "Like how influencers shape truth."
"That's perfect," Sierra said, scribbling in her notebook. "We can compare how audiences respond differently when things are fake but look real."
"Good thinking," came a familiar voice behind her.
Sierra froze. Professor Blackwood had walked up quietly, his gaze thoughtful as he looked over her notes. "That's a strong direction," he said. "If you can tie in perception and ethics, it could be a top paper."
Her breath caught. "We'll try our best," she said softly, turning slightly to face him. His eyes met hers—steady, unreadable, but there was something there, something warm hidden beneath his calm expression.
He nodded once. "I have office hours this afternoon. If you'd like, your group can come by and discuss your outline."
"Thank you, Professor," Sierra said, smiling. "We'll… we'll be there."
As he turned to leave, her gaze lingered for just a second too long. The soft sound of his footsteps faded down the hall, leaving behind a faint echo and a flutter in her chest she couldn't quite explain.
Tanya nudged her playfully. "You okay there?"
Sierra blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "What? Yeah! I'm just thinking about the project."
Mia smirked. "Sure, the project."
Sierra groaned. "You guys are impossible."
They all laughed, but as Sierra walked with them toward the next building, her thoughts were far away. Every word from his lecture replayed in her mind. Every glance, every tone, every quiet moment between sentences—it all stayed with her longer than it should have.
And back in his office, Professor Blackwood sat down at his desk, setting aside his papers. For a long moment, he didn't read or write. He just stared out the window, his fingers lightly tapping the surface.
He told himself it was just admiration for her curiosity, her intellect, her focus.
But deep down, he knew—
there was something different about her.
Something that had already started to change the quiet rhythm of his days.