Monday arrived faster than Ariana expected.
The excitement of orientation had faded, replaced by the reality of university life.
Students rushed across campus with coffee cups in hand, trying to find classrooms before the first lecture began.
Ariana tightened the strap of her backpack and checked her schedule for what felt like the tenth time.
Introduction to Engineering – Building A, Room 204.
“Relax,” Maya said, walking beside her with a muffin in one hand.
“It’s just the first class.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“You’ve memorized the campus map.”
“I still got lost yesterday.”
“That’s because you were distracted.”
Ariana glanced at her.
“I was not.”
“Oh?” Maya grinned.
“So that handsome campus ambassador had nothing to do with it?”
Ariana rolled her eyes.
“Can we not talk about Ethan Carter before eight-thirty in the morning?”
Maya laughed.
“Fine.
I’ll wait until nine.”
Room 204 was already half full.
Students chatted excitedly while others nervously looked through their notes.
Ariana and Maya sat near the middle.
A few minutes later, a tall woman in her early forties entered the classroom.
“Good morning, everyone.
I’m Professor Eleanor Hayes.”
The room immediately fell silent.
“Welcome to Introduction to Engineering.
Over the next semester, you’ll discover that engineering isn’t just about equations.
It’s about solving problems, thinking creatively, and working together.”
She smiled.
“Which brings me to your first assignment.”
A collective groan echoed through the room.
“Yes,” Professor Hayes laughed.
“Already.”
She picked up a stack of papers.
“You’ll complete a semester-long innovation project in teams of four.”
Whispers spread throughout the classroom.
Ariana frowned.
A group project?
Already?
Professor Hayes continued reading.
“I’ve assigned the teams myself.”
One by one, she called out names.
Students stood and found their teammates.
Finally…
“Team Seven.”
“Ariana Hale.”
Ariana stood.
“Ethan Carter.”
Her eyes widened.
The classroom suddenly felt much warmer.
Professor Hayes continued.
“Noah Bennett.”
A tall boy with messy brown hair raised his hand.
“And…”
“Claire Donovan.”
A girl with long dark hair slowly stood.
The same girl who had watched Ariana and Ethan talking during orientation.
Claire’s smile looked polite.
But her eyes were cold.
After class, the four gathered near the hallway.
Noah broke the awkward silence first.
“Well…”
He smiled brightly.
“This should be fun.”
“I’m Noah.”
“Ariana.”
He shook her hand enthusiastically.
“Ethan’s best friend.”
“I figured.”
“You’ve heard of me?”
“No.”
Noah dramatically placed a hand over his heart.
“Ouch.”
Ethan laughed.
“I told you your jokes weren’t funny.”
“They’re hilarious.”
“They’re painful.”
Claire folded her arms.
“Can we focus?”
Everyone looked toward her.
“I’m Claire.”
Her voice was perfectly calm.
“I’d rather finish this project early than waste everyone’s time.”
Ariana nodded.
“I agree.”
Claire’s eyes lingered on Ariana for just a second too long.
“So…”
“You’re the freshman Ethan keeps running into.”
Silence.
Ethan blinked.
“I don’t keep running into anyone.”
Claire smiled sweetly.
“No?”
“It certainly seems that way.”
Ariana felt uncomfortable.
“Actually, we’ve only met a few times.”
Claire shrugged.
“What a coincidence.”
Her tone suggested she didn’t believe it.
Later that afternoon, the group met in the university library.
Bookshelves stretched endlessly around them.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows.
Professor Hayes had instructed every team to brainstorm ideas before the next class.
“So,” Noah said.
“What should we build?”
Everyone started suggesting ideas.
A smart recycling bin.
A campus safety app.
An automatic plant watering system.
Ariana quietly sketched ideas in her notebook.
Ethan noticed.
“You’ve been drawing for five minutes.”
She looked up.
“I’m thinking.”
“Can we see?”
She hesitated before sliding the notebook across the table.
The page showed a small medical-assistance robot designed to help elderly patients carry medicine and monitor their health.
The table fell silent.
Noah stared.
“You drew that?”
Ariana nodded nervously.
“It’s probably unrealistic.”
Professor Hayes happened to walk past.
She stopped beside their table.
“May I?”
Ariana handed over the notebook.
Professor Hayes studied the design carefully.
“This…”
She smiled.
“…is one of the most thoughtful concepts I’ve seen from first-year students.”
Ariana blinked.
“Really?”
“It has potential.”
Professor Hayes looked around the group.
“If you’re willing to work hard, this could become an outstanding semester project.”
After she walked away, Noah looked amazed.
“I think we just found our team leader.”
Ariana quickly shook her head.
“No, I—”
“I agree.”
Everyone turned toward Ethan.
“You should lead the project.”
Claire frowned slightly.
“I thought Ethan would.”
Ethan leaned back in his chair.
“I’ve done enough leadership roles.”
He looked directly at Ariana.
“This idea was hers.”
“So she should lead.”
For a moment…
Ariana didn’t know what to say.
Someone actually believed in her.
Someone she barely knew.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Ethan smiled.
“You earned it.”
As evening approached, the meeting ended.
Students slowly left the library.
Ariana packed her notebook into her bag.
When she stepped outside, she realized it had started raining.
“Oh no…”
She searched her bag.
“No umbrella?”
A familiar voice spoke beside her.
“Looks like today’s your lucky day.”
She turned.
Ethan stood there holding a large black umbrella.
“You forgot yours?”
She sighed.
“I didn’t think it would rain.”
He looked toward the dorm buildings.
“I’m heading that way.”
Ariana hesitated.
“I don’t want to inconvenience you.”
“It isn’t.”
Another clap of thunder echoed across campus.
Maya had already left for a club meeting.
The rain became heavier.
Ethan lifted the umbrella slightly.
“Coming?”
After a moment’s hesitation…
Ariana stepped beside him.
They walked quietly along the rain-soaked path.
The umbrella was just big enough for both of them.
Their shoulders brushed every now and then.
Neither of them moved away.
“So…” Ethan said softly.
“You’ve always liked robotics?”
Ariana smiled.
“Since I was little.”
“What about you?”
He looked ahead.
“I like solving problems.”
“That’s why I chose engineering.”
She nodded.
For the first time…
The conversation felt easy.
Comfortable.
Neither of them noticed Claire standing beneath the library entrance, watching them walk away together.
Her smile disappeared.
She gripped the strap of her bag tightly.
“This isn’t over,” she whispered.
The rain continued to fall as Ethan and Ariana disappeared down the quiet campus path.
Neither of them realized that this simple walk home would soon become one of their favorite memories.
Or that someone else had already decided she would do anything to keep them apart.