CHAPTER-3
772 Words
The Girl Behind the Rumors
There were three kinds of students at Blackwood University.
The ones who arrived early.
The ones who arrived exactly on time.
And then...
There was Ara Mitchell.
She arrived whenever she felt like it.
The black motorcycle rolled through the university gates just as the morning rush had begun to disappear.
The engine growled softly before coming to a stop outside the Humanities Building.
Heads turned.
They always did.
Ara removed her helmet, shaking loose waves of dark brown hair that fell effortlessly over her shoulders. She adjusted the sleeves of her oversized leather jacket and glanced at the time displayed on her phone.
9:17 A.M.
She sighed dramatically.
"Technically," she murmured to herself, "I'm only late if someone notices."
A security guard standing nearby laughed.
"They always notice, Miss Mitchell."
She flashed him an innocent smile.
"Then I'll simply convince them not to."
The old guard chuckled.
"I've worked here for twelve years."
"And?"
"I've never seen anyone negotiate with attendance records."
"You underestimate my charm."
"I definitely do not."
She laughed before walking toward the campus café.
Inside, the line stretched almost to the door.
A boy accidentally stepped backward and bumped into her shoulder.
"Oh—sorry."
"It's okay."
"You sure?"
Ara smiled.
"If that's the worst thing that happens to me today, I'll consider myself lucky."
The nervous student visibly relaxed.
As he walked away, the barista looked up.
"The usual?"
"You know me too well."
"I've served you coffee almost every morning for two years."
"Exactly."
A minute later, the cup slid across the counter.
"Triple espresso."
"With enough sugar to survive another lecture."
Ara winked.
"Now you're speaking my language."
She grabbed the cup and headed toward a table near the window.
She had barely sat down when three familiar voices interrupted her peace.
"There she is."
Her best friend, Mia Brooks, dropped into the chair opposite her.
Behind Mia came Logan Carter, who carried enough snacks to survive a week, and Noah Reed, whose talent for sarcasm was matched only by Ara's.
Logan folded his arms dramatically.
"We heard."
Ara took a sip of coffee.
"Heard what?"
"You got kicked out."
She blinked.
"News travels fast."
"It traveled faster than you did to class."
Noah burst out laughing.
Even Ara couldn't hide a smile.
"So..."
Mia leaned forward.
"What happened?"
Ara rested her chin on her hand.
"Our new professor has... boundaries."
Logan nearly choked on his drink.
"You?"
"Apparently showing up nine minutes late isn't considered punctual."
Noah nodded seriously.
"I can't imagine why."
Ara threw a sugar packet at him.
He caught it without looking.
"Ow."
"You caught it."
"My feelings are hurt."
"You don't have feelings."
"Good point."
The four of them laughed.
Students passing by couldn't help glancing toward their table.
It wasn't unusual.
People always noticed Ara Mitchell.
Some admired her confidence.
Some disliked her attitude.
Others believed every rumor they heard.
That she skipped lectures.
That she broke rules for fun.
That professors hated teaching her.
Most of those rumors were exaggerated.
The truth was simpler.
Ara hated pretending to be someone she wasn't.
She spoke her mind.
She laughed loudly.
She challenged rules she believed made no sense.
And somehow...
That was enough for people to decide they already knew her.
Mia stirred her coffee.
"So..."
"What's the professor like?"
Ara thought for a moment.
Then shrugged.
"Tall."
Logan raised an eyebrow.
"That's your first observation?"
"He asked."
"I didn't."
She smiled.
"Cold."
"Very."
"Rude?"
"No."
"Strict?"
"Painfully."
Noah leaned back in his chair.
"So... are you going back tomorrow?"
Ara stared out the café window.
Across the courtyard, students hurried between buildings while a familiar figure crossed the campus carrying a stack of research papers beneath one arm.
Even from a distance, Dr. Nicholas Sterling looked impossible to miss.
Calm.
Focused.
Completely unaware that half the campus had already started talking about him.
Ara watched him disappear into the science building.
A slow smile crossed her face.
"Oh..."
Mia immediately recognized that expression.
"No."
Ara picked up her coffee.
"Yes."
"No."
"I'm definitely going to his next lecture."
Logan groaned.
"Please tell me you're planning to apologize."
Ara stood, slinging her backpack over one shoulder.
"I wasn't."
"Then what are you planning?"
She looked toward the science building one last time.
"I just want to see if he's always that serious."
With that, she walked away.
Behind her, Noah sighed dramatically.
"This semester is going to be a disaster."
Mia smiled.
"I don't know."
She watched Ara disappear into the crowd.
"I think it's going to be interesting."
- Writer
