The atmosphere in the classroom shifted the moment the professor stepped in, his box was a silent harbinger of the task ahead. Conversations died instantly as students scrambled into their seats, and fixed their eyes forward.
"Good morning, class," he said, his calm voice cutting through the stillness. He moved to the front, announcing a group project consisting of three members each. A low murmur rippled through the room, but he silenced it with a sharp, "Quiet!"
Following his instructions, every student scribbled their name on a scrap of paper and dropped it into the box. One by one, he drew three names, assigned a topic, and designated a leader. The room became a landscape of mixed emotions—some students traded high-fives with friends, while others slumped in their chairs, groaning at their luck.
Tia sat motionless, her expression a mask of quiet composure. She wasn't worried about her partners because she trusted her own work to be ethic enough to carry a team to an A. But when the professor finally called her name, her heart sank. She was grouped with Michael and Stella.
"Everyone, stand up and sit with your groups now," the professor commanded. "Use this time to coordinate."
Tia's composure broke for a split second as she thudded her forehead against her desk in sheer frustration. Classmates nearby reached out to stop her before she could actually hurt herself. Taking a breath, she clung to one small mercy: the professor had named her the leader. At least she held the reins.
Across the room, Stella couldn't hide her smirk. Being with Michael was a dream; being with Tia was a convenience. Michael felt the same—Tia was smart and driven, which meant she'd likely do the heavy lifting to protect her GPA.
"At least we have someone to do all the work," Stella whispered, sharing a chuckle with Michael.
Marcus, overhearing them, frowned. "Do you guys have something against Tia? She hasn't done a thing to you," he defended quietly. "Anyway, I have to go find my group. See you later."
As Marcus left, Stella moved to stand, but Michael caught her arm. "Wait," he murmured, eyes fixed on Tia. "Let her come to us." They sat back, watching her like predators waiting for a subordinate.
Tia packed her bag with slow, deliberate movements. Why is this happening? she thought, a soft sigh escaping her lips. I've spent weeks avoiding them, and now I'm trapped. Steeling herself, she walked over and took a seat one chair removed from them, her eyes glued to the professor until the lecture concluded.
"Well, it's about time," Stella remarked, her tone biting. "Why did you take so long to get over here?"
Tia didn't even blink she didn't wanted anyone to make her speak while lecture was going on. As the class cleared out, she cut straight to business. "We need to give this project our best. I've divided the topic into three sections so everyone has a part to present."
Michael leaned back, his voice dripping with unearned confidence. "Since you're the 'brain' here, I think you should handle the main body. Stella and I can take care of the summary."
Tia stared at him, incredulous. "I'm sorry? Are you suggesting you two aren't capable of research?"
"I'm just saying you're the one who actually likes studying," Michael shrugged. "Why not do us all a favor and just handle it yourself?"
"So you expect to just sit there and watch me work?" Tia asked.
"Yeah," Stella snapped. "I think that's exactly what he means."
Tia rose slowly. The nervousness that usually plagued her was gone, replaced by a cold, sharp clarity. "First of all," she said, her voice carrying a weight that made them go still, "I am the leader. I decide who handles what."
"Fine," Stella challenged. "So who's doing the work?"
"I'm not selfish, Stella. I won't let one person carry the load." Tia pulled a notebook from her bag, scribbling rapidly. She tapped her cheek for a moment before sliding the paper toward them. "Michael, you have Section A. Stella, you have Section B. I'll take Section C."
Michael glanced at the notes and scowled. "You're giving me the hardest part on purpose."
"I am," Tia said simply. "And that's exactly why I want you to do it."
Michael shoved the notebook back. "I'm not doing it. You take Section A."
Tia stepped closer, her shadow falling over him. "If you refuse, I will report your non-compliance to the professor immediately. Beyond that," she leaned in, her voice a lethal whisper, "I'll be fully convinced that you're simply too dull to handle basic research. The choice is yours."
Defeated, Michael fell silent. He couldn't yell her into submission, and his usual charm was failing miserably against her icy resolve. Stella, watching Michael's ego bruise, bristled with indignation.
"Tia, that's not fair," Stella cut in. "You should have let us choose our parts instead of dictating them."
Tia ignored her, staring at the whiteboard. Her silence only goaded Stella further.
"You're capable of doing the whole thing! You could have at least given Michael and me something simple."
Tia sighed, finally looking at her. "I gave you the simplest section, Stella. Isn't that enough? What else could you possibly want?"
"I want Michael to have a simple one, too," Stella demanded.
"Then who does the hard work?" Tia asked.
Stella didn't hesitate. "You, of course."
Tia looked at them both, realizing how much Stella had changed. In just a few days by Michael's side, she had adopted his arrogance, viewing Tia as nothing more than a tool to be manipulated. Tia didn't look angry; she actually smiled, though there was no warmth in it.
"The fact that you aren't exactly brilliant is why I suggested Section B for you," Tia said. She paused, letting the insult hang. "You haven't even figured out how to handle your own portion, yet you're worrying about Michael's?"
Stella gasped, her face flushing. "Are you trying to insult me? What do you mean 'not brilliant'?"
"Am I wrong?" Tia countered. "If you want to prove me otherwise, do the research. And please, try to edit it. I'd hate for you to flop on presentation day the way Michael did."
Tia let out a small, mocking giggle, gathered her things, and walked back to her original seat to read. She left them simmering in a pot of their own frustration.
Michael's jaw tightened. The memory of his past public embarrassment stung like a fresh wound, and Tia had just rubbed salt in it. He watched Marcus across the room, laughing with his own group, and felt a wave of bitter envy.
"Don't worry, Michael," Stella whispered, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. "I'll help you. You won't have to do it alone. I'll go over everything and fix any mistakes."
Michael looked at her, surprised by her intensity. "You'd do that?"
Stella nodded, but her eyes weren't on him. They were fixed on the back of Tia's head. As Michael left the room, Stella lingered for a moment, biting her lip until it nearly bled. The annoyance she felt for Tia had curdled into something much darker.
"I'll get you for this," she whispered to the empty air, before turning and retreating from the class.