Chapter three: Behind the scene
As the week went on, Nina found herself working harder than ever on the project. She'd made significant progress in researching the social implications of wealth inequality, but the weight of her and Damien hung over her every step. She could tell that her classmates were picking up on the growing diving between the two of them, and that only seemed to make things more awkward.
But what Nina hadn't expected was how much support she was getting from the rest of the group.
Leo had become a much-needed ally. He was always quick with a joke, and when things got too intense between Damien and Nina, he would be the first to step in with a lighthearted comment or a change of topic. He was the one who cracked a grin whenever he saw Damien brooding, even if it made things worse.
"Hey Cruz," Leo said one afternoon as they sat in the campus café, studying notes for the project. "Do you think Damien would ever lighten up? I'm starting to wonder if he actually has a sense of of humor hidden somewhere."
Nina laughed, gratefully for Leo's ease "You've known him longer than I have, so maybe you can unlock the mystery."
Leo shrugged, leaning back in his chair. "It's a tough one. He's got this... well, let's call it 'intensity'. It's not bad, just... It's hard to crack."
"You sound like you admire it," Nina teased, picking up her coffee cup.
Leo rolled his eyes but smiled. "I wouldn't go that far. But he's my bestfriend. Been through a lot together."
Before Nina could respond, Iris joined them , sliding into the seat beside her with a stack of books in hand. Her presence was calm, and it was like the air was shifted when she entered the room- suddenly everything seemed more manageable.
"Hey, I just finished going through the historical context for our project," Iris said, her voice was steady as always. "I think I found some sources we can use to support your section, Nina. And Damien, too if he decides to stop starring at his laptop for two minutes."
Nina chuckled, but Iris's presence made her feel less alone in this strange dynamic with Damien. Iris wasn't the type to engage in conflict; instead, she was a master at helping the group find a common ground, without ever taking sides.
"So, what's the verdict? " Leo asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are we all going to survive this group project? or is it just going to implode?"
Iris smiled, her confident clear. "We'll be fine. Damien may act like It's the the end of the world but we've got this."
The conversation shifted, and soon they were talking through their findings and bouncing ideas off each other. The group wasn't perfect-but Nina could see a clearer picture forming. There was more to this project than just winning the professor's approval. This was their chance to truly make an impact.
As they continued to work, Sophie arrived, as calm and composed as ever. Sophie had a way of making everyone feel at ease, Nina appreciated that, especially when things felt like they were about to explode. She was the glue that held them together, whether they realized it or not.
Hi everyone," Sophie greeted with a soft smile. "I brought some extra resources on modern inequality to add to the discussion. Damien, are you sure you're not going to yell at us if we don't all agree on the same approach?"
Damien, sitting across from them, glared at Sophie but didn't say anything, which was as close to win as Nina was going to get now.
Sophie, ever the diplomat, leaned in and lowered her voice just enough for the group to hear. "We just need to keep it balanced. The research will speak for itself."
Nina glanced over at Damien, noting the rigidness in his posture. "You know," she said, breaking the silence, "this project could actually be interesting if we work together. There's a lot to unpack in terms of how inequality impacts people- especially in terms of education and access to resources."
Damien's eyes flickered towards her, and for a spit second, Nina thought she saw something in his gaze. Maybe it was a hint of respect, or maybe she was imagining it. Either way, she wasn't going to back down.
"I think we all have something valuable to contribute," Iris said, her voice full of conviction. "Damien's right about the economic side, Nina, but your point about social implications is just as crucial. We can't leave any stone unturned."
Damien looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Fine. but i still think we should focus more on data."
Iris shot Nina a knowing glance. "We'll make sure everything is balanced Damien. No one's going to let you get away with ignoring the bigger picture."
As the the group continued to work, the dynamic between them was beginning to shift. It wasn't perfect yet, but with Iris's calm influence, Leo humor, and Sophie's gentle mediation, they were making progress. Nina was beginning to belive that maybe-just maybe-they could pull this off.