Chapter 3: Beyond First Impression
446 Words
*Crestwook University* The next day-
POV: Maximum Carter
hated group work.
Not because I couldn't do it—I could.
I hated it because depending on other people meant giving them a chance to disappoint me.
Unfortunately, Professor Reid had other plans.
"Same partners all semester," she'd announced. "Law isn't a solo profession. If you can't work with people you dislike, you'll never survive a courtroom."
Easy for her to say.
Table Three.
Front and center.
Again.
Mera Bennett was already there.
Of course she was.
Her notebook lay open. Her laptop was plugged in. Casebooks were stacked in neat piles, and her highlighters were lined up with military precision.
She looked exhausted.
Dark circles shadowed her blue eyes.
But today her hair wasn't tied back.
Soft waves rested over her shoulders, making her look younger. Lighter.
For a second, she looked less like someone carrying the weight of the world...
And more like a nineteen-year-old who deserved to enjoy college.
She never looked up.
Good.
I dropped into the chair beside her.
"Morning."
Nothing.
She kept reading.
I leaned back.
"You always ignore people?"
"I ignore distractions."
Conrner of my mouth twitched.
She had an answer for everything.
Most people tried to impress me.
Mera Bennett seemed determined to do the exact opposite.
That one landed.
Before I could answer, Professor Reid walked in carrying a stack of folders.
"Today you'll argue opposite sides of Bennett v. City of New York," she announced.
She stopped beside our table.
"Mr. Carter."
"Miss Bennett."
"You're opposing counsel."
"The winner earns bonus marks."
Finally.
Something worth caring about.
Mera reached for the folder.
So did I.
Our fingers brushed.
She pulled her hand away first.
"I'll summarize the facts," she said. "You draft the arguments."
"No."
She looked up.
"No?"
"I'm not taking orders."
"I'm not ordering you."
"It sounded like it."
She let out a slow breath.
"I thought lawyers were supposed to be mature."
I smirked.
"I thought scholarship students were supposed to be grateful."
The words left my mouth before I had time to think.
Silence settled over the table.
She didn't snap back.
She didn't raise her voice.
She just looked at me.
Cold.
Disappointed.
"You don't know anything about me."
I held her gaze.
"I know enough."
She held my gaze for another second before looking away.
Somehow, that disappointed me.
I wanted her to argue.
I wanted her to prove me wrong.
The moment the words came out, I wasn't sure I believed them.
Because if there was one thing I couldn't stand...
It was a mystery I couldn't solve.
And Mera Bennett had just become the biggest one of all.
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- Writer
