Rewrite The Stars (On-going)

Chapter 3: Study Sessions

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Late-night study sessions with Arianne quickly became part of my routine, something I looked forward to after a day full of lectures and assignments. Each session was a mix of focused learning and light-hearted conversation, blending the stress of law school with a growing sense of warmth and connection.

It started when I casually asked her one day, “Would you be open to helping me prep for exams?”

Arianne smiled and replied, “I’d be happy to. How about Tuesday evenings?”

So, Tuesday nights turned into study nights at her office or a quiet spot on campus. The intensity of her passion for law shone through each discussion, pushing me to challenge my understanding, while her gentle encouragement made even the most difficult topics feel within reach.

One evening, I met her at her office with a stack of casebooks under my arm. “These cases keep getting more convoluted,” I joked, placing them on the table.

Arianne laughed, settling into her chair. “That’s law for you. But we’ll untangle it together.” She leaned forward, a playful glint in her eyes. “Okay, let’s dive into the first one.”

As we worked through the cases, I asked, “How did you keep all of this straight in law school?”

“Flashcards, mostly,” she said, tapping her forehead. “And a lot of coffee. But also,” she added, with a small shrug, “I had some great mentors. They showed me that sometimes, understanding the principles is better than memorizing every detail.”

Her words resonated with me, and I found myself opening up about my own struggles. “I’m good with the big ideas, but the details—those trip me up.”

Arianne nodded. “Details come with time, Liana. Don’t pressure yourself to get it perfect. Just focus on grasping the heart of each case.”

As the hours passed, we covered every angle, from legal precedent to hypothetical questions she tossed my way to test my understanding. At one point, she threw in a scenario that veered way off-track, making me pause mid-sentence.

“Wait, what?” I looked at her, realizing she was smiling. “You just made that up!”

“Yes, but it’s plausible,” she replied, laughing. “Law is unpredictable, remember? You need to be able to pivot.”

I chuckled, scribbling down a few notes. “You’re too good at this. It’s like you’re a step ahead, always.”

“You’ll get there, too,” she said, her voice warm. “With time, this will all feel like second nature. For now, let’s keep at it.”

Hours flew by, and soon it was nearly midnight. I glanced at the time and gasped, “I had no idea it was this late!”

Arianne stretched, glancing at her watch. “It is late. But you made excellent progress.” She leaned back in her chair, watching me. “You’ve got a natural curiosity that serves you well, Liana. Don’t lose that.”

Her compliment made me pause, a mix of pride and something else stirring inside me. “Thank you,” I said, feeling the weight of her words. “It means a lot to hear that.”

A few weeks later, as we were deep into one of our sessions, the topic veered off-course. We started talking about our favorite books and movies—light-hearted subjects compared to the dense material we were used to tackling.

“Favorite movie?” I asked her, half expecting something like To Kill a Mockingbird.

Without missing a beat, she replied, “Amélie.”