My contract love story

The next morning, Ashleigh awoke to the sound of phone buzzing as Professor Patel announced the final scores for the test. Alana and her group had landed in second-to-last place, a position that, to Ashleigh, seemed like a small victory-at least they hadn’t come in last. When she saw her own workbook posted with Professor Patel’s notes and explanations, a smile spread across her face. It was a great start to the day, though she was blissfully unaware of the challenges awaiting her.

The day before, Alana had returned home in a state of mortification. She couldn’t believe she had overlooked such a crucial detail in her work, and the public correction had stung deeply. Cameron’s argument had only intensified the humiliation, making it seem as if she was unable to admit her faults. That night, while tossing and turning, Alana plotted her revenge. She couldn’t stand the thought of anyone besting her without consequence. Ashleigh, in particular, was her target. As she watched Ashleigh enter the classroom and take her seat, Alana leaned over to Samantha, who was seated next to her.

“Sam, did you follow through with my instructions this morning?” Alana asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Samantha leaned in, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Yes, I did everything as planned. Now, let’s see how sharp this girl really is, especially after she was so quick to point out your mistake yesterday.”

As the lecturer arrived and the day’s classes began, the atmosphere in the room shifted to one of intense scrutiny. The lecturers seemed determined to keep everyone on edge, firing questions at random to ensure that no one could afford to relax. Professor Patel had discussed the previous day’s debacle with his colleagues, and the consensus was that the class had missed crucial details. To prevent such oversights from happening again, today’s lectures would focus on revisiting fundamental concepts.

The questions began broadly, covering common concepts and basic definitions. But as the day progressed and Ashleigh’s turn came, the questions became increasingly specific. Ashleigh found herself fielding difficult queries from various professors, and it became clear that she was the primary target. Despite her usual tendency to be overlooked, today she was the center of attention. The pressure mounted, and even when another student attempted to answer, the lecturers insisted on Ashleigh providing the responses. She glanced at the student from yesterday, their eyes locking for a brief, awkward moment before he quickly looked away.

By the break period, Ashleigh was mentally drained from the relentless questioning. She trudged to the cafeteria, her energy waning. The bustling hall was packed, making it almost impossible to find a seat. Her gaze landed on a pair of hands waving at her, and she squinted to see the guy from her class beckoning her over. After a moment of hesitation, she pointed to herself, confirming she was the one he wanted. With a mix of curiosity and reluctance, she made her way to his table.

When she arrived, she found him seated with two other guys. She stood with her lunch, unsure of what to expect.

“What’s this about?” Ashleigh asked warily.

“Just sit down, Ashleigh. There’s no other place to sit, and you’ll look ridiculous standing there,” he said gruffly. Despite his tone, she took the offer and sat down, grateful for the chance to rest and eat. As she ate, she tried to ignore the curious stares from the others at the table.

After a few minutes of eating in silence, Ashleigh couldn’t help but break the quiet. “So, what’s the real reason you called me over?”

The guy glanced at his friends before speaking. “Actually, I wanted to admit that you were right about yesterday. I was trying too hard to please Alana, and it was a mistake.”

Ashleigh was taken aback by his confession. “What made you change your mind so suddenly? Weren’t you ready to stand by your initial stance?”

One of his friends, a dusty blonde with a slightly muscular build, spoke up. “We told him he was being a jerk, especially since you were willing to stand up for your group. You deserve better than that.”

The other friend, with jet-black hair, chimed in, “Damien here didn’t think of reaching out to you, even though he’s a loner himself.” He gave Damien a playful slap on the back of his head.

“Your name is Damien,” Ashleigh said, realization dawning on her.

Damien nodded. “Yeah, I’m Damien. This is Arthur,” he pointed to the blonde, “and Oliver,” he gestured to the black-haired guy. “We’re all first-year students, and we’d like you to be friends with us.”

Ashleigh eyed Damien skeptically. “Why should I accept friendship from someone who seems to be trying so hard to avoid trouble?”

Damien leaned in with a grin. “Look, Ashleigh, this could be beneficial for both of us. You might think you know everything now, but Robin College can be tough to navigate. I can help you figure things out, and you can help me with coursework.”

“Plus, you get two very cool guys as friends,” Arthur added, with a wink. Oliver rolled his eyes but smiled slightly.

Ashleigh considered the offer. At this point, any assistance was welcome, and having three more friends seemed like a good deal.

“Deal,” she said, extending her hand for a shake. Damien grasped it firmly, and Arthur and Oliver cheered in unison.

“But how do I know you really know your way around Robin College? After all, you’re a first-year too,” Ashleigh asked, still cautious.

Arthur’s expression turned serious. “My family has been connected to Robin College for generations, and I have a cousin graduating this year. I know the ins and outs of this place and why you shouldn’t have crossed Alana.”