Room 221 || Lucaya

Tainted Loneliness

MAYA'S POV:

"Maya, are you sure we should go out tonight?" Riley questions in a whiny tone as she polishes her toes on her bed, looking at me with concerned chocolate brown eyes.

Innocence. Oh, it was quite adorable on Riley.

"Yes, Riley. We need to get out of this stupid dorm! Have some fun!" I explain, applying the last layer of black mascara to my eyelashes in the mirror. I glance at myself up and down in our full-length mirror. For the party, I put on ripped jeans, a light pink tank, a black leather jacket, and black booties. I let my hair down natural and loose to fall down my back. The bristles of the wand glide across my lashes smoothly until another gripe screeches from Riley's loud mouth.

"I don't know, Maya... I'm nervous," she admits shamefully, looking down at her toes.

"Last week, you were begging me to do something. Now, I wanna do something. What's wrong now?" I question without looking at her.

I turn to her to see the ashamed expression on her face. "You've never been to a party, have you?" I chuckle slightly, trying to hold back the giggle.

"Yes, I have! I went to–um–my eighth grade graduation party," mumbles Riley erratically. She tries her best to think of an actual party she has been to but has no success.

I plop onto Riley's bed unexpectedly, causing her nail polish to splatter slightly on her foot. "Hey!" she shouts with a grumpy face.

"Here," I say, passing her a napkin from our shared nightstand. "Riley, if you're scared to go to your first party, then... um..."

How can I make a college party any less painful for a child who has never even been to a high school party?

News flash, you can't.

"Can I bring Lucas?!" Riley begs suddenly like a light bulb has turned on in her mind.

Oh, hell no.

"You can't just go with me? You know, a girls' night out?" I question carefully, hoping she will change her mind and not want to bring that asshole along with us. If she does, we might as well just stay home.

"If he goes, I'll go," Riley announces, standing firm in her decision. "He makes me feel safe."

"Blaaahhh!" I mock as I stick out my tongue.

If Riley really wanted to bring Lucas, why not just let her? Honestly, I wanted to go with Riley to hang out with her outside of this dorm. But if she won't go without Lucas, I guess I'll have to settle to her compromises.

"Fine," I mutter irritably, "Bring Lucas."

"Yay!" She giggles, going back to painting her toes with a smile on her face.

-❁-

"Maya, are you sure this is the address?"

"Yes, Sundance, I think I can read a GPS," I hiss through gritted teeth. "Just pull up in the next driveway!"

Loud music booms throughout the whole neighborhood, causing the small brunette's in the back seat eyes to bulge out of their small sockets. Her lips begin to quiver slightly as she stares out her window and sees hundreds of college students packed into one house accompanied with alcohol, kissing, and more alcohol.

The tension that had risen in the truck did not help Riley's state, either. I was not quite sure exactly what type of tension there was.

Sexual? Dramatic? Emotional? Anger?

Or all?

"You can't park there, that's in front of the neighbor's driveway!" Lucas mutters irritably as he awkwardly adjusts his seating arrangement.

"There is nowhere else to park, just do it! It'll be fine!" I shout, my temper rising quickly.

Lucas glances over his shoulder at Riley who looks as if she is about to cry. "Hey, Riles," he whispers softly, looking at her carefully in her chocolate eyes. "I'm never going to leave your side at this party."

"Promise?" she questions hesitantly.

Lucas replies back with a forced smile of reassurance that somehow works for Riley. "Promise."

"This is all your damn fault," he whispers to me as he turns back around.

"How is a fucking parking space my fault, Lucas?!"

A cruel chuckle escapes his mouth before words do. Lucas slams his fists against the steering wheel and throws his head back in agony. "Not the damn parking spot. Look at her! She's gonna be traumatized, Maya! Is this your idea of fun?!"

At the time when I can not handle the species of immature boys anymore, I turn away from Lucas and lean my elbow against the window, and rest my forehead on my hand. "It's not my fault she's never been to a damn party!" I scoff.

No words are spoken, only the mere sound of the engine running and the distant, faint music from the house.

I slowly return my gaze to Lucas over my shoulder. His eyes are intently locked on mine the second I look at him. It was easy to read the emotions off of that one look: anger, disappointment, despair.

Without much thought, I whip my blonde locks around to face Riley. "Riles, stay by Lucas. Okay?"

"Okay," she responds without much emotion.

Seeing Lucas look at me like that triggered something in my mind that could not be undone. I immediately tore the seatbelt from across my waist and swung the door open. I do not even bother to look into Lucas' eyes; I don't think I can bear to see that look one more time.

"Maya, wait!" he shouts after me, severely agitated.

I don't follow the voice trying to pull me back, rather I push myself through a crowd of drunk "adults" to reach the door.

"Hey, hey, need a ride home? You look a little lonely," one guy sleazes over me before I can turn the door knob as he spills two full red solo cups of beer.

The severely intoxicated douchebag swings his arm around my should rather clumsily. "So?"

"No," I answer firmly. "But, I will take one of those beers," I demand casually as I take a cup out of his hand and swig it back down my throat.

With a drink in one hand and a whole lot of sadness to pair, I begin my night without the company of Riley by sipping away my sorrows and tainted loneliness.