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Note: This chapter will be shorter in length.
─── ⛧⋆⋅ ♰ ⋅⋆⛧ ───
It always smells like old books and coffee in the Criminal Justice building. Not that I mind, it's comforting, in a way, like stepping into a world where people actually care about the rules. It's a nice contrast to the chaos Mia drags me into every other day.
I stood outside Professor Hammond's office, straightening my blouse and fixing my hair for the third time. There was nothing to be nervous about, not really. But Hammond had a reputation; sharp, intimidating, and, most importantly, impossible to impress.
Still, I knocked firmly.
"Come in," came his deep, no-nonsense voice from the other side.
I pushed open the door to find him seated at his desk, surrounded by neatly stacked papers and a massive mug of black coffee. His salt-and-pepper hair matched the tailored gray suit he always wore, giving him the air of someone who's seen it all, and doesn't care for half of it.
"Ah, Eloise," he said, looking up with a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Take a seat."
"Thank you, Professor," I said, sitting down and folding my hands neatly in my lap.
He adjusted his glasses and scanned a sheet of paper in front of him. "Let's start with the obvious: last semester, you were at the top of your class. Your analysis on offender profiling was exceptional, one of the best I've read in years. And your project on criminal motivations? Outstanding."
I felt a flush of pride creep up my neck. "Thank you, sir."
"You didn't just meet expectations, you exceeded them," he continued, leaning back in his chair. "Which is why I wanted to have this conversation with you now, before the semester gets too far along."
I nodded, eager to hear what he had to say.
"You've set a high standard for yourself, Eloise," he said, his tone growing serious. "That's a good thing, but it also means there's no room for error. You've shown me what you're capable of, and I expect to see even more from you this semester. No shortcuts, no excuses."
"I understand," I said, sitting up straighter.
"Good." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Now, about your future. Have you given any thought to internships?"
"Yes, actually," I said quickly. "I've been researching forensic psychology internships with law enforcement agencies and private consulting firms. I want to gain experience in both investigative work and offender rehabilitation."
He nodded approvingly. "Ambitious, but doable. I'll be honest, though, it's competitive out there. You're going to need more than just good grades. Real-world experience, connections, and a strong recommendation will make all the difference."
