Gemotions

A tremor ran through Leo, a physical sensation that started at his toes and fizzed upwards. Plagiarism. The words, usually a death knell in academia, seemed to dance before his eyes, a merry jig. He clutched his hands together, then pulled them apart, as if testing the strength of the invisible chains he'd managed to break. He could barely contain the grin splitting his face.

The professor's office felt cramped, stuffy, but the air buzzed with an exciting tension. He hadn't expected to get caught, but the consequences, the potential for failure, only added a thrilling dimension to it. He imagined his classmates' faces, the envious glances and grudging respect. He swallowed hard, a sudden need to be the center of attention.