1

Mariah's POV

My alarm went off at 6:30 AM, but I didn't move until 6:53.

I just laid there, staring up at the ceiling in my off-campus apartment, trying to convince myself that I was ready for senior year. My last year here at Howard. My last day walking these halls as a student, eating ramen during exam week, staying up too late with Karina, pretending I didn't have deadlines. This was it. After this year, everything got real.

And I already felt behind.

My phone buzzed again on my nightstand—Karina had texted: Get up dummy. You know you got Harris first. Don't play. I groaned. Im up. Chill.

I wasn't, though.

I finally swung my legs over the bed and shuffled toward the bathroom, yawning hard enough to make my jaw pop. I turned on the light and blinked at my reflection. My wrap scar was still hanging on for dear life, but my edges? Gone. The D.C humidity was already doing what it does best.

I unwrapped my hair, brushed it out, then spent a good ten minutes slicking my edges down with edge control and prayer. After that, I showered, brushed my teeth, and moisturized until I looked semi-human again.

By the time I got dressed, it was 7:30.

I stared at the pile of potential outfits on my bed before landing on something simple but cute—high-waisted jeans, a cropped beige tee that hugged just enough, gold hoops, and my gold "M" chain. Light makeup, just enough concealer to hid the fact that I stayed up binge-watching Scandal until 1:00 AM. Again.

Keys. Wallet. ID. Lip gloss. I shoved everything into my tote bag and slipped on my sneakers before grabbing my iced coffee from the fridge. I took one sip and immediately cursed.

No time to stop for Starbucks. I'd planned to make it through Harris' class alive and caffeinated. Now? It was just survival.

I raced downstairs to my car—a polished, black Mercedes. I got her Sophomore as a birthday present from my parents. And named her Lexi.

"Hey girl," I mumbled with a smile on my face, opening the car door. I am still so in love with this car. Once I closed the door I put my key into the ignition and started the car. Before I drove off, I put on PartyNextDoor.

It should've been a 10 minute drive to campus.

It was not.

Traffic was trash. There was construction on Georgia Ave that backed up everything, and the campus parking lot? Full.

It was 8:06 when I finally found a spot way too far from Locke Hall. I parked like a demon, grabbed my bag, and sprinted like my future depended on it.

Because lowkey? It did.

I was breathing hard, sweat starting to collect under my bra, as I climbed the steps two at a time. I slowed down right before the door. My hand hovered over the handle. My iced coffee was long gone. My pride? Hanging by a thread.

I opened the door quietly and tried to sneak in unnoticed.

Spoiler alert: that didn't happen.

"Miss...?"

Her voice cut through the air—low, smooth, and sharp like it was designed to silence people.

Everyone turned to look at me.

I froze mid step, caught like a deer in headlights. Professor Harris stood at the front of the room in a navy blue pantsuit that looked like money, power, and no patience for lateness. Her hair framed her face just right, and her eyes... locked on me like she was reading me without even trying.

"Mariah Green," I said quickly, my voice cracking just slightly. "I'm registered for this class."

"I would hope so," she replied, not missing a beat. "Do you make a habit of showing up late, Miss Green?"

"No ma'am," I said, walking toward the back. "There wa—"

"Save the excuses for someone who believes them," she snapped. "If you're late again, don't bother walking in. Just drop the class."

Damn.

I nodded and took the first empty seat I saw, heart pounding like I'd just been jumped. I pulled out my notebook and tried to focus, but all I could think about was how embarrassing that was. Great first impression, Mariah. Fantastic.

Professor Harris didn't miss a beat.  She went right back to the board and kept teaching like I hadn't interrupted her whole flow. I tired to take notes—really, I did—but I found myself staring again.

She was magnetic. Every word, every movement, had intention. She didn't pace like some of my other professors. She stood still, hands sometimes folded, sometimes pointing, sometimes resting on her hip like she was daring someone to challenge her.

And her voice? That deep, calm tone had the kind of control that made you want to sit up straighter without even realizing it.

Halfway through the lecture, we made eye contact. Just for a second.

She paused.

Then continued like nothing happened.

But something had.

I blinked and looked back at my notes, pretending to fully immersed. But my brain was already racing. There was something in the way she looked at me—not soft, not gentle—but focused. Like she was watching, waiting, measuring.

When the lecture ended, I was ready to bolt.

"Miss Green," her voice came again, just as I stood up.

I froze again. Of course.

"Yes, professor?"

"Stay behind."

At this point, I wanted to crawl into my tote bag and disappear.

Once everyone was gone, I slowly made my way down the steps toward her desk. She was sorting papers, not even looking at me.

"You're a senior?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Then act like one."

I nodded, swallowing my pride.

"The world won't care why you're late," she said calmly, eyes still on her papers. "Neither do I. Show up on time. Do the work. Don't waste my time—or yours.

"Yes ma'am," I said quietly.

She finally looked up, and I felt it again—that weight in her gaze.

"Do you understand what this course requires?"

"I think so."

She tilted her head, unimpressed. "Thinking isn't knowing. This class will separate the passionate from the performative. Which are you, Mariah?"

My chest rose and fell.

"I'm passionate," I said.

She studied me for a moment longer.

"Good," she said finally. "Prove it."

I nodded again, not trusting myself to say anything else, and turned to leave.

As I walked out of the room, my heart was still racing. Not just from nerves—but something else. Something electric. Something I couldn't name yet.

All I knew was this: I was late to the first class of the year, and somehow, that one moment might've changed everything. ____________________________________

That's it for the first chapter! I hope you guys enjoyed it. 🫶🏽