The air in Professor Marcus’s classroom was heavy with a mix of curiosity and dread. The students had barely settled into their seats when he walked in, his signature stern expression making it clear that whatever he was about to say was serious.
Elena sat near the middle row, still replaying the events of Adrian’s lecture in her mind. Gabriel and Andrew sat beside her, offering reassuring smiles, but even their presence couldn’t fully calm her nerves.
Professor Marcus cleared his throat, silencing the murmurs in the room. He set his briefcase on the desk and scanned the class with sharp, calculating eyes.
“Good afternoon, everyone,” he began, his voice steady and authoritative. “I hope you’ve all been keeping up with your coursework because I have an important announcement.”
The room grew tense, students straightening in their seats. Elena felt her stomach drop.
“As you know, the semester is approaching its critical phase,” Marcus continued. “And I’ve been reviewing the performance of this class.” He paused, his gaze lingering on a few students, including Elena.
Gabriel leaned closer to Elena and whispered, “Bet he’s about to hit us with something bad.”
“Shh,” Elena murmured, her eyes fixed on the professor.
“I’ve decided,” Marcus declared, “that your semester exams will be held exactly one week from today.”
A collective groan rippled through the class.
“Yes, yes,” Marcus said, holding up a hand to quiet the students. “I expected that reaction. But as your class head professor, it is my duty to ensure that every single one of you performs to the best of your ability. I will not tolerate failures or even mediocre results.”
Andrew muttered under his breath, “Guess who’s pulling all-nighters this week?”
“Each of you,” Marcus continued, ignoring the grumbles, “is capable of excellence, but it requires discipline and focus. This exam will weigh heavily on your final grade, so take it seriously. I’ve arranged extra study sessions during lunch hours for anyone who needs assistance. Do not wait until the last minute to prepare.”
Elena’s pulse quickened. A week wasn’t nearly enough time, especially with the way her mind had been all over the place lately.
“Miss Harper,” Marcus said suddenly, his gaze locking onto her.
Elena froze, her cheeks flushing as every head in the room turned toward her.
“Yes, sir?” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.
“You’ve shown potential but also inconsistency,” he said bluntly. “I expect you to attend these extra sessions. Consider this your chance to prove yourself.”
Elena nodded quickly, unable to meet his gaze. “I will, sir.”
Beside her, Gabriel shot Marcus a glare, while Andrew whispered, “He doesn’t have to single you out like that.”
“As for the rest of you,” Marcus continued, scanning the room again, “if you need help, take the initiative. Ask questions, form study groups, do whatever it takes. I don’t want excuses when results come in.”
He began outlining the exam topics on the board, and the room filled with the sound of frantic note-taking. Elena tried to focus, but her mind kept wandering back to Adrian. His sharp words, his cold demeanor-it was all too much.
By the time the class ended, the tension had only worsened. As students filed out, Marcus called out once more.
“Remember,” he said sternly, “this exam isn’t just a test of knowledge-it’s a reflection of your dedication. Don’t disappoint me.”
Elena gathered her things, her heart heavy with both the pressure of the exam and the lingering unease from earlier. Gabriel and Andrew fell into step beside her as they walked out of the classroom.
“We’ll help you study,” Gabriel said firmly.
“Yeah,” Andrew added. “No way we’re letting you deal with this alone.”
Elena managed a small smile, grateful for their support. But as they walked down the hall, her thoughts drifted back to Adrian.
Unbeknownst to her, Adrian stood by the library window, his sharp gaze following her once again. His mind raced with thoughts he couldn’t quite control, and a deep frown creased his face as he turned away, muttering to himself.
“This week is going to be…interesting.”
As Marcus leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes scanned the roster of his students. The classroom had emptied, leaving behind a heavy silence that only deepened his thoughts. His fingers drummed rhythmically on the desk as he lingered on a name: Elena Harper.
She was a curious case, one he couldn’t quite ignore. Her initial performance in the semester had been strong-impressive, even. But recently, he’d noticed a troubling dip in her focus and results. It wasn’t laziness; he could see the effort she tried to put in during classes. No, this was something else entirely.
He thought back to the way her shoulders had slumped when he called her out earlier. There was a hesitation in her eyes, a wariness he’d come to recognize in students who carried burdens outside the classroom. Marcus prided himself on being strict but fair, and this girl… she didn’t belong in the “disinterested” category.
Sighing, he leaned forward, tapping her name on the list with his pen. “Elena Harper,” he muttered under his breath. “What’s holding you back?”
Her struggles were most evident in two subjects: mathematics and English literature. Ironically, those were two areas where she had initially shown the most promise. He remembered her answering a complex problem in one of their earlier math classes with precision, her confidence palpable. And in Adrian Blackwood’s literature course, he’d heard murmurs from his peers that she had a natural intelligence for critical thinking and analysis.
But that seriousness was nowhere to be seen now.
Marcus frowned, recalling the subtle but biting taunts from Mia and her group. He wasn’t oblivious to the classroom dynamics; he’d seen how Elena’s peers treated her. Whispers during breaks, sly smirks, and the occasional poorly concealed laughter when she spoke up in class. It was infuriating, but as a professor, his hands were tied unless the behavior became outright disruptive.
Still, he couldn’t deny that Mia’s influence seemed to weigh heavily on Elena. It wasn’t just the academic pressure it was social. The way the girl carried herself now, with shrinking confidence and a quiet demeanor, screamed of someone under constant scrutiny.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. This was why he’d insisted on the extra study sessions. Elena needed guidance, not just academically but emotionally. He couldn’t let her fall through the cracks.
Adrian Blackwood’s name surfaced in his mind, and Marcus couldn’t help but smirk. Adrian had always been the stricter of the two, his cold demeanor making students either adore him or fear him. Marcus had seen the way Adrian’s eyes occasionally lingered on Elena.
Was Adrian aware of her struggles? Probably. Would he do anything about it? That was less certain. Adrian wasn’t one to coddle students or even appear to care, but I need to talk to him about her.
“Well,” he muttered to himself, gathering his notes. “If Blackwood won’t step in, I will.”
He made a mental note to watch Elena more closely in the coming week. If she continued to falter, he’d make it his mission to find out why. Whether it was family pressure, bullying, or something else entirely, Marcus refused to let a promising student like Elena lose her way.
Standing, he glanced out the window, watching as students filtered into the courtyard. Among them, he spotted Elena, flanked by Gabriel and Andrew. The two boys seemed protective, walking on either side of her like sentinels.
“Good,” Marcus thought. “At least she has some support.”
But as his gaze shifted, he caught sight of Adrian standing near the library window, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable as he watched the trio.
Marcus chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Blackwood, you’re not as indifferent as you pretend to be, are you?”
Adjusting his coat, Marcus left the classroom, his mind already planning the next steps. This semester wouldn’t end with failure not for Elena Harper.