The lecture hall hummed around you, fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. A hundred students packed into tiered rows, laptops open, fingers tapping.

His thumbs hovered over the keyboard. The cursor blinked. Then he locked his phone, set it face-down on the desk, and stared at the professor like he'd been struck by lightning.

Another pause. Then:

The lecture continued around you, oblivious. Outside, rain started to patter against the tall windows, a slow trickle that beaded and ran down the glass.

The group project chat was still open in another tab. Tim's last message sat there, unread: "Can you actually contribute something this time?"