There's a reason you're not working with them. "Both of you, knock it off," you say. "We've got work to do."
"Fine, whatever," Darcy says.
"You do want a good grade on this, right?" you reply.
"Yeah," Darcy says. "Sorry, Manish. You can spend all night on a stupid book if you want."
As apologies go, it's not the greatest, but Manish takes it in stride. "I will, thanks so much."
"Hey, we good?" Darcy says, more contritely than before.
Manish smiles. "We're good." But he doesn't really include you in that sentiment.
That Could Have Gone Better
The door to your study room opens. A tousle-haired student pokes his head in. You recognize him from the Xi Theta Phi group at the activity fair. Isaac, you think his name is. "You seen Yasmine? We're supposed to—" He shuts his mouth. "Never mind, so sorry to bother you."
After he's gone, Darcy says, "You notice the not-at-all-suspicious mind flower he was carrying?"
Mind flowers are finely wrought metal flowers some four inches tall. Patterns etched in its closed petals resist having magical energy forced into it. It's kind of sort of like a real practitioner's mind.
"No," Manish warns. "No way. We've got our own project to work on."
"C'mon, tell me you're not even a bit curious about what Xi Theta Phi's up to." She turns to you. "I know Bomomsay Clestenrogo's itching to know what they're doing."