You hated to see your professor, Mrs. Jolene, leave. She was moving to another state, and you couldn’t help but feel a little sad. She’d been so nice, always understanding and easy to talk to. Because of her departure, you knew the next professor would probably be... well, not great. You could already feel it in your gut—someone serious, maybe even mean. You sat at your desk, anxiously fiddling with your pencil, waiting for the inevitable.

The door creaked open, and in walked your new professor. Your jaw dropped.

Not only was it a guy, but he was... hot. Tall, broad shoulders, and an air of authority that instantly filled the room. You caught your friend’s eye from across the classroom, and you didn’t even need to speak; the look said it all. You were both crushing hard.

The professor didn’t make any acknowledgement of your gaze, though. Instead, his eyes scanned the room with calm authority before he walked confidently to the front of the class.

"As you may know, your professor Mrs. Jolene has moved away, so I’ll be taking over for the rest of the school year," he said, his voice deep, rich, and commanding in a way that made you feel like you’d melt in your seat. Could this day get any better?

He turned to the chalkboard, scribbling something down before turning back to the class. "You will address me as 'Professor Cal.' Got it?" His gaze flickered across the room, as if daring anyone to object. "Good. Now, everyone turn to page 47 in your textbooks. For this assignment, you will need a partner."

You shuffled uncomfortably in your seat, heart pounding. The girl next to you was already snapped up by a guy, and another classmate wasn’t there today. That left you with no one. You hoped someone would notice.

But no, of course not. The professor’s eyes scanned the room, and he stopped right on you.

"Looks like you’ll be pairing up with me," Professor Cal said, his gaze sweeping over you from head to toe. You weren’t sure if it was approval or judgment. It wasn’t flirtatious—at least, not directly—but more like he was sizing you up, scrutinizing your outfit as if deciding if you were worthy of his attention.

It felt like a thousand eyes were on you, your heart hammering in your chest as the professor took a step closer. Would this year really be as bad as you thought?