Sierra walked into her next classroom, her heart still thumping with excitement. The room smelled faintly of chalk and coffee, a mix she found oddly comforting. She scanned the seats, looking for a place to sit, and immediately spotted Tanya, Mia, and Chloe waving at her from the middle row.
"Hey! Over here!" Tanya called, patting the space beside her.
Sierra hurried over, almost tripping over her own bag strap but catching herself just in time. "Okay, that was close. Almost made a dramatic entrance," she muttered, laughing at herself.
"You'd make the first day unforgettable," Chloe teased, smirking.
Sierra grinned. "I aim to impress." She sat down and immediately started unpacking her notebook, pens, and highlighters. "Do you guys color-code your notes? I heard it helps with remembering things better…"
Mia rolled her eyes playfully. "You're intense, you know that?"
"I like being prepared!" Sierra said, waving her hand dramatically. "You never know when something important might happen."
The classroom door opened quietly, and all eyes turned toward the front. Standing there was a man Sierra had never seen before—tall, broad-shouldered, impeccably dressed in a suit that somehow didn't feel out of place in a classroom. His dark hair was neat, his eyes sharp, but there was a warmth in them that made the students straighten up a little.
"Good morning, everyone," he said, his voice smooth, calm, and somehow filling the room without effort. "I'm Professor Adrian Blackwood, your new lecturer for Media Ethics. I'm glad to see so many bright faces this semester."
Sierra froze for a moment, blinking at him. That voice… it was the same voice she had imagined when she thought about someone mysterious and intriguing—confident, composed, yet strangely approachable. She shook her head, trying to focus, but her curiosity immediately flared.
Tanya nudged her. "Wow… he's… definitely different."
Sierra nodded, cheeks warming. "Yeah… very different," she murmured, slipping her bag off her shoulder and setting it carefully under the desk.
Professor Blackwood glanced around the classroom, his gaze briefly landing on Sierra. Her heart skipped a beat. She didn't know why, but it felt like he was looking right at her—not in a casual way, but in a way that made her feel… seen. She quickly lowered her eyes to her notebook, pretending to take notes while her mind raced.
He cleared his throat. "Before we begin, I'd like to get to know all of you a little. Let's start with introductions—name, major, and one interesting fact about yourself."
Sierra's stomach fluttered. Introductions! Right in front of everyone! She swallowed nervously, then raised her hand as her friends whispered encouragement from a few rows ahead.
"I-I'm Sierra," she began, voice slightly shaky but growing steadier with each word. "I'm studying Communications, and… um… I love noticing things! Really little things that others might miss. And, oh! I like to talk a lot, which might be obvious by now…" She laughed nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
The class chuckled lightly, some smiling at her honesty. Professor Blackwood's eyes flickered toward her again, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Interesting, Sierra. Paying attention to details will serve you well."
Sierra beamed, relieved that her awkwardness had turned into a small win.
As the lecture began, Sierra scribbled notes frantically, asking questions whenever something confused her. "Wait, so if we're analyzing media trends, does that include online influencers too?" she asked, leaning forward.
"Yes, exactly," Professor Blackwood replied, locking eyes with her for a brief moment, a hint of amusement in his expression. "Good observation."
Sierra nodded vigorously, her pen flying across the page. She didn't notice how his gaze lingered just a little too long on her—the tilt of her head, the way she fiddled with her pen when deep in thought, the bright sparkle in her eyes whenever she understood something new.
She whispered to Tanya, leaning slightly to the side, "I can't believe how clearly he explains everything. I… I actually understand it."
Tanya smiled knowingly. "See? Told you. He's good."
The lecture continued, but Sierra's attention often drifted—not from boredom, but from fascination. She noticed the faint scent of his cologne, the calm way he moved when writing on the board, and the soft rhythm of his voice that somehow made even technical explanations feel easy.
After class, Sierra and her friends spilled out into the courtyard, chatting excitedly about the lecture. "That was amazing!" she said, nearly skipping as she walked. "I can't wait for the next session!"
Mia laughed. "You're really impressed, huh?"
"I… yeah! He's… wow," Sierra admitted, her eyes widening as she recounted parts of the lecture.
Across the courtyard, Professor Blackwood observed from a slight distance, pretending to review his notes. But his gaze kept flicking back to her—Sierra. He wasn't supposed to feel this way about a student, not this early. She was talkative, innocent, curious, bright, and somehow… utterly captivating.
He reminded himself to maintain his professionalism. He told himself to stop staring. And yet, every laugh she let out, every little gesture, every spark of excitement in her eyes tugged at something inside him he hadn't felt in years.
Sierra noticed a tiny squirrel darting across the pathway. "Oh! Look! A squirrel! I hope it finds some food," she whispered, pointing excitedly.
Chloe laughed. "You really do notice everything, don't you?"
"I can't help it! Everything's new, and it's fun!" Sierra said, bouncing slightly on her feet, oblivious to the watchful eyes nearby.
Professor Blackwood adjusted the strap of his bag, forcing himself to focus on the notes in his hand, but it was useless. She had him completely off-balance. And he wasn't even sure how long he could keep his composure.
Sierra took a deep breath as she and her friends approached the next lecture hall. "Today is… amazing. I can't wait to see what else is in store," she said, smiling.
And somewhere in the back of his mind, Professor Adrian Blackwood—her new lecturer—watched her, quietly fascinated, quietly drawn, silently wondering how one carefree, innocent, talkative girl could make him feel… this way.