The next day dawned with the same old routine for Thea as she trudged into the lecture hall, a steaming cup of coffee in hand. She found her usual seat and settled in, mentally preparing herself for another day of warfare with Levi Harrison.

Sure enough, Levi sauntered in moments later, his shit-eating grin grating on Thea's nerves as always. He slid into the seat beside her with a casual nonchalance that only seemed to amplify her irritation.

"Good morning, Dora," Levi greeted with a mischievous glint in his eye.

Thea shot him a withering glare. "It's Dorathea. How many times do I have to tell you?"

Levi chuckled, undeterred. "Tomato, tomato"

Thea rolled her eyes, and focused intently on the professor's lecture, scribbling notes with an air of deep concentration.

A few minutes into the lecture, Thea felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned to see Levi holding out a crumpled note, a serious look on his face. Reluctantly, she took it and unfolded it, her eyes narrowing at Levi's doodle of her looking exaggeratedly grumpy, complete with crossed arms and a thundercloud overhead.

She scoffed, scribbling a quick retort and passing the note back to him. "At least draw something accurate next time."

Levi shrugged his broad shoulders that probably would have their own ZIP code, in mock disappointment. "Tough crowd."

She flipped him off without turning around and resumed taking notes.

At the end of the lecture, the professor announced a new group project. Groans echoed through the room, and dread settled in her stomach as the professor announced her worst fears when he uttered the words: "Levi Harrison and Dorathea Blakes."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Thea muttered under her breath, shooting Levi a look of pure disdain

Levi, however, seemed unfazed and even a tad amused by Thea's visible irritation. "Well, Dora, ready for an adventure?"

Thea clenched her jaw, struggling to contain her frustration. "Don't expect me to do all the work. Again."

Levi raised his hands in mock surrender. "Don't worry, I promise I will not swipe all the credits," he paused for a moment and widened his eyes. "Get it? Swipe as in "Swiper, no swiping," he sang in a pitched voice.

Dorathea rolled her eyes, her patience already wearing thin, "Why don't you go find someone else to annoy, Levi? I'm sure there's a puppy somewhere that needs your attention."

Levi made a face that looked like he was the puppy in context, his lips forming a pout, "Ah don't be jealous, I always have time for you, sweetheart."

The next thing he knew, she left him there with a swift punch to the stomach, her fist connecting with a satisfying thud. Levi doubled over, whether, in laughter or pain, it was hard to tell.

"Enjoy the attention while it lasts, Levi," she called over her shoulder. "Because the next time you try to steal my credit, I might just 'swipe' you off the face of the earth."