The next week, Tasha tried her best to avoid Liam. In their Psychology class, she made sure to get to the lecture hall early to pick a seat far away from where he usually sat. It worked for a few days. She could still see him, but at least he wasn't right beside her.
One afternoon, Dr. Evans, their Psychology professor, announced a new project. "For your first major assignment, you'll be working in groups of three. This project will require teamwork, research, and presentation skills. I've already assigned your groups."
Tasha felt a knot in her stomach. Group projects always made her nervous, especially with new people. She hoped she'd get Sabrina, but that was unlikely since they weren't in the same section.
Dr. Evans started reading out the names. "Group one: Sarah Jenkins, Mark Lee..." Tasha listened carefully, waiting for her name.
"...And for group five," Dr. Evans continued, "we have Tasha Hayes, Emily Chen, and Liam Carter."
Tasha's heart dropped. She felt a cold wave wash over her. No. This can't be happening. She slowly turned her head, her eyes finding Liam's. He was already looking at her, a hint of something unreadable in his dark eyes. It wasn't annoyance, but it certainly wasn't excitement.
Emily Chen, a girl from the front row with bright glasses, looked over and gave Tasha a friendly, but slightly worried, smile. Emily had a reputation for being very smart and serious about her studies.
After class, Tasha felt numb. She walked slowly, not wanting to face the inevitable. She saw Emily waiting near the door.
"Hi, Tasha, right?" Emily asked kindly. "I'm Emily. Looks like we're group mates."
"Yeah," Tasha managed, still reeling. "Hi, Emily. And, uh, Liam?" She glanced around, but he was already gone.
Emily sighed softly. "Yeah. He's... Liam. He's brilliant, but sometimes a bit hard to work with. Very direct."
Direct? He's rude! Tasha thought. "So, when should we meet?" she asked, trying to sound normal.
"I can create a group chat for us," Emily suggested. "I'll add you and Liam, then we can figure out a time. I'm usually free after my Chemistry lab on Tuesdays and Thursdays."
Tasha nodded, giving Emily her number. She tried to smile, but it felt stiff. This was worse than sharing a class. Now she had to work with him. This project was going to be a nightmare.