Room 221 || Lucaya

First Encounters

Maya's POV:

"Name?" The lady at the front desk questions as my mind drifts off, scanning the room.

"Name?" She asks again, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Oh, sorry, Maya Hart."

The lady smiles impatiently as she types my name into the computer. "Ms. Hart, you'll be in room 221."

"Thank you," I respond agitatedly, snatching the key from her hand and lulling my luggage to the elevator.

With one small suitcase, my purse, my school bag, and my phone and room key, pushing the elevator button was rather difficult.

"Here," a voice offers in front of me, pressing the up button on the elevator before seeing who I am.

He slowly rises his head and looks at me.

"Damn," he whispers quietly to himself.

Taken aback, I gaze at him strangely, and suddenly realize how hot he is.

His light, chestnut colored hair was styled perfectly around his handsome and tan complexion. His hazel eyes glimmered in the light and stared right into mine. He was wearing a red fitted t-shirt with light washed jeans that accented his muscular build.

He immediately shakes his head. "Sorry, I didn't–"

The elevator door opens as I step through, giving a gentle smile to the boy standing hopelessly on the other side.

Great, my very first college encounter was with a hot guy who probably thinks I'm an idiot now for not speaking.

Once I reach floor two, I begin searching for my dorm room.

"218... 219... 220... finally, 221!" I speak quietly to myself, turning the key in the door.

Walking into the room, I drop my bags in the corner and pick my designated bed. I chose the left one, the one closest to the bathroom and furthest from the window.

In front of the two beds is a huge wooden vanity with drawers underneath and a TV on top. Next to the vanity are two desks on either side.

The room looks more like a hotel room than a dorm room.

I unzip my suitcase and begin shoving everything into my side of the drawers.

My mind can not seem to stop drifting to the boy in the elevator.

What made him say "Damn"?

I look down to check what I am wearing: light washed jeans, brown boots, a light blue top, and my long, wavy blonde hair down.

Nothing out of the ordinary?

Just then, the door knob turns and in come an adorable little brunette with two large suitcases and three other bags.

"Oh, let me help you!" I say quickly, rushing up to grab some of her load.

"Thank you," she breathes as she plops everything down on her side of the room. "I'm assuming your my roommate?"

"Yep, I'm Maya. Um, Maya Hart."

"I'm Riley Matthews," she smiles. "So, I take it this is my side?"

"Yeah, sorry I–"

"I love it, it's so cute!" She giggles as she plops down onto her bed.

Isn't she perky, huh?

I finish up putting all of my clothes in the drawers and setting up my desk with pictures and decor while Riley interrogates me as she does the same.

"So, where are you from?" She questions curiously.

"From here, New York," I reply. "What about you?"

"Texas," Riley grins widely, seeming to be daydreaming in her own little world.

"Shit, and you came all the way here? Why?" I mutter immediately, not realizing what I had said.

Riley looks taken aback, but smiles sweetly as she folds her clothes perfectly into her own drawers. "I don't really know... A new start?"

"Ha, I could use one of those," I mumble to myself.

"Why'd you stay then? A boyfriend keeping you here?"

"Ha, a boyfriend, Riley? Let's get one thing straight: boys are jackasses. I don't have one, nor do I need one," I mumble angrily.

"Maybe some, but not mine. We left Texas together to come here for college. We didn't want to destroy our relationship with distance," she explains, her fingers fiddling with her necklace.

Riley seems so content with her life, like everything is falling into place.

Is that how mine should be?

"Sounds like a keeper," I giggle sarcastically as I sit across from her on my bed.

"He sure is," Riley smiles dreamily, clicking her converse together.

"You know, you and I are two totally different people," I laugh, gazing at her smiley personality.

Riley ponders on my statement for a moment. "Yeah, but... That's what makes us best friends."

"Yeah... It does," I smile at her.

In that moment, I realize, things may be okay. Something about Riley gravitated me towards here; like I have known her my entire life. 

Maybe I can trust her.

I hear the door knob turn slowly and whip my head around to Riley. "Wait, how the hell will we fit another roommate?"

Riley giggles as she gazes at the door opening. "Silly, that's my boyfriend!"

Riley's boyfriend practically runs to the other side of the room to her, picks her up off the bed, and plants a kiss on her lips.

Riley attempts to pull away, but he continues continues with a giant hug around her. "Maya, this is my boyfriend, Lucas."

The red fitted shirt.

The light washed jeans.

The perfect chestnut colored hair.

The tan complexion.

The muscular build.

He turns around slowly as he pulls away from Riley. Our eyes lock together.

The glimmering hazel eyes.

"Holy crap," I whisper.