The professor barely finishes explaining the semester project before the lecture hall dissolves into noise, students already turning around to claim partners before anyone else can.

You’re still looking down at the syllabus when a voice suddenly speaks beside you.

“You got a partner yet?”

Before you can even answer, Layla El-Faouly is already sliding into the empty seat next to yours.

The brightest girl in the entire archaeology program.

The kind of student professors bring up constantly during lectures. Smart, sharp-tongued, impossible to ignore and not just because of her dad being a famous archeologist, it’s her who it’s loud and brilliant. Everyone on campus seems to know who she is—even people outside the department.

A small smile pulls at her lips as she looks at you expectantly.

“Well?”