Spangler Food Court is the most convenient place to grab a bite on campus. Right in the heart of the Spangler Center, it has something for everyone and is a hub of activity for business students.

Come one o’ clock, the whole court is packed. Ryan and I arrive in time to avoid the worst of the queues. We take a seat at a table in the center of the vast dining room, which is lined with dozens of oak tables and hard-backed chairs.

“How are you finding the course so far?” Ryan asks, taking a deep swig of soda and forking his lunchtime beef bourguignon.

I shrug. “It’s common sense, mostly.”

Ryan rolls his eyes but laughs. “Either you’re going to get completely blindsided when you start getting results back, or you’re smarter than the rest of us. I’ve been struggling to keep up. The workload is crazy.”

“I’ll help if you need me to. I have time on my hands.”

“That would be a nice offer if you weren’t also rubbing in the fact that you’re a borderline genius. Your dad’s right, you know—you’re wasting your potential. Although I’ll wait for the grades to do the talking.”

I pull a graded assignment out of my bag and slide it across the table to Ryan.

He looks at it, then shakes his head in disbelief. “An A. Typical. Well, what can I say? You’ve been born with a gift for coasting.”

“And I plan to.”

Ryan sits back in his chair and looks at me carefully. “Or you could put that intelligence to good use. You know, people with brains like yours can change the world. You should be using all that free time you have to patent an invention that will stop global warming or to end poverty.”

I scoff. “I don’t think I’m the world’s answer to global warming and poverty.”

“You might be part of the answer,” he says. “You’ll never know if you skim by on the bare minimum because it’s easy.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Have a chip on your shoulder, Ryan?”

“I’m just saying—for some of us it wasn’t easy to get in here, and even if we graduate, we won’t get a first-class degree, and then we’ll go out into the world trying desperately to find a job when we’re swarmed with competition. Whereas you can sweep in, easily get a top degree, then land in a cushy job at your dad’s company. Yet, you don’t want to take that opportunity seriously. Honestly, it’s a bit irritating to watch you make a joke of the whole thing, and it’s only the first week.”

I push my food around my plate. “Do I really come across as that arrogant and disinterested?”

“Yes. You come across as a completely self-centered British jerk who’s getting by on daddy’s coattails.”

“Don’t hold back, Ryan. Say it like it is.”

Ryan chuckles. “Real friends say it to your face instead of behind your back. Better it come from me so you can make some changes, then you isolate yourself from everyone and have no idea how you ended up with enemies instead of friends.”

I think back to Melissa at Café Sushi and how she called me out for being an ass. Now, it’s one thing to be told I’m lazy, irresponsible and a waste of space by my father; I’ve always thought that he was the issue, with ridiculously high expectations and an inability to see the funny side in anything. But to hear it from peers is different. Am I really that insufferable?

“I’ll work on that.”

Looking up, I spot Melissa entering the food court, balancing a tray and a pile of textbooks. I catch Ryan’s eye and nod toward her. “That’s Melissa. She thinks I’m an ass, too. As my friend, what’s your advice?”

Ryan smiles and leans forward. “First, drop the ego. Stop with all the Good Will Hunting misunderstood genius crap. Act like you give a damn; like this degree matters to you. Second, take an interest in her life. We all know you’re the son of a Duke and your reputation for pranks and fights is oh-so-hilarious, but it wears thin quickly. Show her you have some depth, and you might hold her attention longer.”

I’d probably feel a lot more sting in Ryan’s words if I didn’t suspect that he’d hit the nail on the head. I pat him on the back as I rise to sit with Melissa. “You’re a good friend. Thanks for the advice.”

Melissa is sitting alone. Although her studious, sophisticated look isn’t one I’d usually go for, there’s something about her that draws me in. Beneath those thick-framed glasses, her eyes are deep and sensual, with thick lashes that hold you in long glances. Underneath her belted smock-style dress, she has the perfect hourglass figure. Her modest dress sense makes her even sexier. My eyes travel up her tight black leggings and find the hem of her skirt at her knees, it leaves something to the imagination. She doesn’t even know how sexy she is.

She sits straight-backed with her pen poised gracefully in her hand. She sits with her knees together and her legs lying slightly to one side like she’s riding side saddle. After years of socializing with people trying to portray grace and sophistication, I’ve stumbled across someone with real refinement.

I stand in front of her and gesture to the empty chair at her side. “Can I sit here?”

She nods and pulls back the chair for me to take a seat.

“How are you?” I ask.

“I’m well, thanks. You?”

“Pretty good. Have you done any more work on those case studies?”

She raises her eyebrows with a knowing smile. “I doubt you want to talk to me about case studies.”

“I’ve been reliably informed that nobody thinks I take anything seriously. Well, you’re my study partner for the next few cases, and I want you to know that I’m working hard.”

“I appreciate it, Henry.”

I lean an elbow on the table between us and turn to Melissa. “I’ve been thinking about what you were saying at lunch the other day as well, about how there’s a fine line between rebellion and being an ass.”

An amused smile twitches at the corner of Melissa’s mouth. “I remember.”

“I think you were right about that, too. You know, it’s always been my father telling me that I’m wasting my potential and should think about my behavior and all the rest, but now that other people are saying the same thing, I’m starting to question it myself.”

“It’s good that you’re willing to listen.”

“Look, Melissa—”

“You can call me Lissy.”

I smile. She’s shared her nickname with me. That’s a good sign.

“Lissy, I think I’ve come across as a jerk since we met, and although I know people aren’t meant to get a second chance at first impressions, I’d like to try. There’s a dance party hosted by the student union tonight. Would you like to go with me?”

Melissa hesitates for a moment. I can see her considering her options. Finally, she relents and nods. “All right. That sounds like fun.”

“Great! Shall I pick you up about nine?”

“No! Don’t come to my place. Let’s meet on campus. Outside the Spangler Center.”

“It’s a date.”