Unmatched

Introductions

I was finishing up my shower when I heard a knock on my door.

Who the heck-

I threw on some clothes, wrapped my hair up and lowered my music and opened the door.

In front of me stood a tall, probably 6'1 man.

He had a rich, sandy warm complexion. Definitely a few shades warmer than the rest of the people here in London. His broad shoulders were rolled back in perfect alignment to the rest of his body and yet it looked natural on him. As if someone had taught him proper posture his whole life.

"Can I help you?" I said, leaning against the door frame.

"Hi, can you lower your music? It's blaring through to my room." he said, his thumb pointing in the direction of wherever he stayed.

I frowned. I knew my music wasn't that loud, not enough for anyone around me to be bothered by it. And even if it was, it was midday, and played for 30 minutes. "It wasn't that loud though." I folded my arms.

--------------------------------------------------------------

She opened the door and I could tell she had just showered, a coconut scent was filling my nose, and her dark hair was dripping out of the towel. She was a short, tanned girl, her strong features stuck out, especially her wide brown eyes which were now frowning at me.

"Then how could I hear it through my room?" I replied, giving her the same frown back.

She shrugged, "I don't know. You're probably sensitive?" she said.

Ohhhh, this is how she wants it to go.

I lowered my body, face to face with her.

--------------------------------------------------------------

I couldn't help but admit he was handsome. I looked straight at him, his eyes a chestnut brown.

His brown hair was neatly trimmed, leaving his widows peak visible. His sidelines were shaved a bit shorter than the rest of his hair, and the whole look made his jawline and facial structure stand out.

His face was mere inches from mine, his eyes looking right into my swirl of dark brown eyes still frowning at him. I wouldn't back down. I didn't care how handsome he was.

"Do you want to continue this or can you just lower it?" his gaze lowered to my lips with his last word, amusement and threat danced in his eyes before looking up at me again. It was- I felt my heart flutter for a second. I even took a quick inhale and then exhaled.

I had my phone in my hand, and the music was still softly playing. Without breaking eye contact, I slowly, painstakingly slow, pressed the volume button, letting each click be perfectly heard until I couldn't max the volume out no more. I raised the phone, put it between both our faces, and let all my music play out.

He smiled and exhaled. A devilish smile. This man, who really just wanted a short conversation, and yet who didn't seem an ounce annoyed, was smiling.

-----------------------------------------------------------

"The 1975 huh?" I said amusingly. I was amused this girl wanted to keep fighting until I broke, until I just said yes and agreed to her. Until I backed down. But I wanted to play the game a bit longer, and honestly, this was amusing. Interesting even.

"The Neighbourhood." she said flatly.

"Oh, my bad" I chuckled.

I knew it was The Neighbourhood.

But I let her have the satisfaction of correcting me. I straightened myself out, though her face was getting quite pleasant to look at so close. She had smooth skin, and full lips, which along with her richly tanned skin, I wondered if she was Hawaiian. She had a dead, unamused look at me as I stood in front of her. It reminded me of my sisters RBF. Her eyes followed me and at one point I swore she glanced at my arms. I folded them as I said, more seriously,

"Hm. I guess it's not too loud, but if I come back again, could you please lower it. I have to study for things"

"You're studying? she said, she blinked with a mix of genuine curiosity and awe. 

-------------------------------------------------------------

"Of course I am. What? Did you think this "fun study abroad" trip meant relaxation time for everyone?" I could feel the slight frustration in his tone, especially as he put quotation marks on the fun study abroad part.

"No- I mean, I just didn't think anyone was really caring to study while they're in a new country"  I replied.

"What makes you think England is a new country for me?" he asked.

I looked him up and down, and my face must have shown a level of disgust as he looked down on himself, assessing if he had something on him.

"Come back when you're better dressed and maybe I'll believe you" I struck.

Without skipping a beat he replied, "You're one to talk" and his eyebrows raised, telling me of my hypocrisy. His arms still folded and his feet were further apart. He seemed too comfortable to hold this conversation with a stranger. A person who he just met not 5 minutes ago. I wondered how many times he had done this before.

But he was right, I was wearing an old shirt, my hair wasn't even done, still dripping with water actually, and I had a pair of shorts on that weren't even visible.

"I bet you'd look better with actual clothes on though, right?" He laced the last word with a wide smile, full of sarcasm and, seduction.

Was this asshole really trying to flirt with me? After what I had just said to him?

I kept my face stone still, feeling physically turned off by what he thought would be a slick remark. I wouldn't let myself, wouldn't let him have any reaction.

I glanced at him one last time before I turned around, "Bye." I said but I heard him ask behind me,

"What's your name?"

--------------------------------------------------------------

I usually didn't waste my time arguing or debating with people, never less trying to get to know them. But, she had something fun about her.

She ignored the question, not even stopping for a second to answer it, and closed the door in my face. The music, still playing I could hear, a shade lower.

I debated knocking again, just to muse myself and hear her sweet voice. A voice she probably thought was intimidating, scary, blah blah. But I had to actually get back to my dorm and finish some mathematics homework.

As I walked down the hall, just 2 doors down, I replayed her words to me.

Come back when you're better dressed and maybe I'll believe you

I shook my head and chuckled, unlocking my door. What a gal.

I closed the door behind me, chucked my keys on my bed, and leaned into my desk chair. I set my phone down and gazed out my window for a few seconds, wondering.

I glanced over at my phone and picked it up, tapping into our floors group chat. I scrolled through all the contacts, my eyes scanning all the profile pictures until

There.

I found her picture, one where she was smiling. She hadn't smiled all of our conversation. She was stunning.

"Maya Kekoa"