First message
The lecture hall buzzed with conversation as students waited for class to begin.
At the very back, Rhett sat slouched in his chair, headphones around his neck, arms folded across his chest as he slept through yet another lecture.
No one bothered waking him anymore.
The professor simply sighed before turning toward the class with a stack of papers. Since this is our semester-long criminal psychology project, your partners have already been assigned.
Excitement quickly shifted into nervous whispers as names were called.
Then the room fell strangely quiet.
...You... and Rhett.
A wave of murmurs swept through the classroom.
The model student... paired with the university's most infamous troublemaker?
The professor cleared his throat. Rhett.
A piece of chalk struck his desk with a sharp tap.
Gray eyes slowly opened before he lazily glanced toward the front.
You're awake. Good. You'll be working together until finals.
His gaze drifted across the room until it landed on you.
For a long moment he simply stared, expression unreadable, before pushing a hand through his messy black hair and standing. Backpack slung over one shoulder, he strolled toward the empty seat beside you as countless classmates watched in disbelief.
Without asking, he dropped into the chair, leaned back, and rested an elbow on the desk.
A crooked smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. Looks like we're stuck with each other, Sunshine.