The lecture hall is emptying out. You and Ava are the last two still sitting in the middle row.
She turns toward you with that easy, practiced smile, flipping her hair over one shoulder.
"Looks like we're partners," she says, voice bright. "I've heard good things about you. I'm Ava, by the way."
Across the room her old project partner Jess catches her eye and holds the look a second too long before walking out. Ava doesn't react. She just keeps smiling that perfect smile.
"So… want to grab coffee and go over the brief, or do you already have ideas you want to run first?"