The Art of Falling First

6:30 am - Alarm

Sienna woke up before the bell. She was already a dressed pressed blazer, pleated skirt, and her own twist: a thin silver chain around her neck with a tiny pair of scissors charm. A quiet homage to her mother.

Lana groaned from under her duvet. ''Why are you up already? You're scary.''

Sienna smirked, brushing her curls. ''I came to conquer, remember?''

They headed down for breakfast a buffet of omletes, berry parfaits, and fresh squeezed juice. Sienna took a black coffee and a buttered croissant, her sketchbook tucked beneath her arm.

She didn't say it out loud, but she was nervous.

The classroom smelled of old books and ambition. Sienna slid into a seat near the window.

Then Cassian walked in.

He didn't look her way. He didn't need to. He took the seat directly in front of her, leanef back in slightly, just enough to annoy her and drop his pen like a dare.

''Blake.'' He said without turning back. ''Try to keep up.''

'Oh, I don't need to keep up.' She said slightly. ''I overtake.''

The professor began a discussion on Pride and Prejudice, irony thick in the air.

9:30 am - Principles of Business.

Cassian was there again. Of course he was.

This time, their professor gave a group challenge. 'From teams of two. Design a pitch for a startup targeting your generation.''

Sienna was halfway to a desk when.

''I already picked your partner.'' The professor said. ''Cassian Wolfe and Sienna Blake. Powerhouses. Let's see the sparks fly.''

Oh, they would.

Cassian leaned toward her as she  sat stiffly beside him. ''Try not to make it personal.''

''It's already personal.'' She said.

As soon as the assignment was announced, Sienna's hand moved automatically to her planner. She was already writing down ideas. Across the table, Cassian spun his pen lasily between his fingers, like this was child plays.

''I'm thinking a luxury fashion app.'' Sienna said, looking at him. 'One that allows users to customise streetwear, pieces with their own fabrics, colours, and prints and reality previews before purchasing. Combining tech and fashion. Gen Z loves personalisation.''

Cassian raised an eyebrow. ''Predictable.''

She looked up sharply. ''Excuse me?''

''Fashion's your comfort zone.  That's not innovation. That's safety. You're thinking like a designer, not a CEO.''

She clenched her fists. ''Okay fine, what's your big idea. Mr. Trust fund?''

He leaned forward. ''An AI driven platform, for students to swap, rent or donate gently used clothes. Sustainable, cost effective, and built on community engagement. Call it. Threaded.''

She stared.

Dammit. That was actually smart.

Still, she wasn't about to hand him the win. ''You want people to share clothes like it's a library? What about hygiene? Maintenance? Logistics?''

''That's where the app comes in.'' He said. ''Each user rates the condition of items, uploads items, and gets verified through reviews. We can partner with eco-friendly dry cleaners for optional and add ons.''

She hated how much she didn't hate the idea.

''So.'' He said. ''Are you in, or are you too scared to build something that isn't alm sequins and runways?''

'Oh, I'm in.' She aaid smirking. ''But if we're doing this, we're making it beautiful, marketable, and scalable.''

His smirk returned. ''Then let's break the Internet.''

Project roles:

Sienna Blake – Creative Director/ Branding Lead.

Cassian Wolfe – Strategy & Finance/ Market Research.

Project Title: Threaded: Style that Stays in Circulation.

Launch Plan: School-wide pilot in Phase 1 expansion to other private schools in Phase 2.

Key Features:

Virtual style feature.

AR try on mirror.

Donation reward system in exclusive app badges.

Eco partners' spotlight to track investors.

Later that week, they'd been required to pitch Threaded in front of the class and suprise panel of alumni entrepreneurs. The pressure was on. Neither of them could afford to fail.

But as Sienna left the classroom that day. Cassian called out behind her.

''You know Blake.'' He said, tilting his head. ''We might actually make a pretty solid team, once you stop trying to hate me so hard.''

She didn't turn around, just shot back over her shoulder.

''Don't flatter yourself. I'm just here to win.''

And for the first time in a long time, Cassian laughed.