Maya closed her laptop and leaned back in her chair. Her first session with Jake had happened two nights ago, and to her surprise he'd shown up on time. He'd also come prepared with questions .
When they were done, he'd handed her fifty dollars. She'd taken without looking at him.
That money now sat in an envelope under her mattress.
"So," Elena said from her bed, eyes still on her phone, "how'd it go with Mr. QB?"
Maya glanced over. "Fine. We worked through Dr. Monroe's course."
"And?"
"And what?"
Elena smiled. "Did he hit on you?"
"Elena." She whined.
"What? He's hot. Everyone knows he's hot. And now you're tutoring him alone twice a week."
"He's paying me to help him pass. Not flirt."
"Boring," Elena said, though she was smiling now. "Still. Fifty an hour? I should start tutoring athletes."
Maya snorted. "Why would you need to? You don't even like studying."
Elena grinned. "Please a chance to meet hot athletes and tutor them privately? Sign me up."
They both laughed.
Maya's smile faded a little.
It's not easy," she said quietly. "He's not…."
Elena finally looked up. "He's not what?"
"Nothing." Maya said quickly. " Just not what I expected."
Elena's grin sharpened, but her phone buzzed before she could respond. Her face lit up as she glanced at the screen. "Oh my God."
"What?"
Elena jumped up and crossed the room, grabbing a bright orange flyer from her desk. "Kappa Alpha's throwing a party tonight. Halloween-themed. This is perfect."
Maya turned back to her textbook. "Have fun."
"No, we're going."
"I have studying to do."
"You always have studying to do." Elena was already digging through her closet. "You've been in this room for weeks. You need to go out."
"I do go out," Maya said. "I leave for class."
"That doesn't count." Elena held up a green top. "You're wearing this."
Maya stared at it. It was an emerald green top. Her aunt Rosa had given it to her years ago, she'd worn it only twice.
She traced the hem with her finger. It was still the nicest thing she owned.
"How did you even find that?" Maya asked.
"Go change," Elena said, shoving it into her hands with a grin.
The bathroom down the hall had individual changing rooms with full-length mirrors and soft lighting.Maya pulled the curtain closed and slipped the top on. In the mirror, the emerald fabric warmed her skin, sharpened her reflection. For a second, she didn't look like someone who'd just come from the library.
Elena appeared at the curtain, grinning. "Oh my God, Maya. You look amazing."
Maya tugged at the hem. "It's too tight."
It's perfect. You actually have a shape in that. Why do you always hide in those giant sweatshirts?"
"Because they're comfortable."
Elena was already dressed,dark curls pinned up, makeup done, a cropped sweater and high-waisted jeans. "Come on. We're going to be late."
"Good."
Elena caught her hand. "An hour. If you hate it, we leave."
Maya studied herself in the mirror one last time. Maybe she could have a normal college experience. Maybe she could just let loose for a bit.
"Fine," she said. "One hour."
Elena squealed, throwing her arms around her in a quick hug.
The Kappa Alpha house sat on Greek Row like all the others—a sprawling brick building, three stories tall, with lights blazing from every window. Maya felt the music before they even reached the steps, the heavy bass thudding through the ground and rattling her ribs. The lawn was packed with people clutching red Solo cups, shouting over the noise to make themselves heard.
It looked exhausting.
Elena grabbed her hand and tugged her up the stairs through the front door.
Inside was a sea mix of bodies and heat. The air hung thick with the scent of beer and sweat, sticky on her skin. The floors clung to her shoes with whatever had spilled earlier. Framed pictures of old pledge classes in stiff suits grinned from the walls, while someone had shoved couches and tables to the edges, clearing space for a dance floor where bodies moved together.
She stuck close to Elena's side, but her instincts screamed at her to turn around and head back to the dorm.
But Elena kept pulling her forward, weaving them through the crowd until they hit the kitchen.
The counter tops were loaded with bottles of booze, mixers and stacks of plastic cups. A beer pong table had been set which was surrounded by guys in caps and varsity jackets, hollering at every bounce.
Elena grabbed two cups and filled them from a punch bowl, then she handed one to Maya.
Maya lifted the cup and sniffed it. It smelled sugary, with a sharp alcoholic edge.
"What is this?"
"Jungle juice. Don't overthink it. Just sip."
Maya took a small sip and immediately regretted it. She swallowed, grimacing as the burn hit.
"That's awful," she said.
Elena grinned. "See?"
"I think I'm going to throw up."
"That's how you know it's working."
They wandered back into the main room. Elena spotted a girl from her bio lab and immediately started talking about a group project. Maya stood beside her, cup in hand, pretending to follow the conversation.
The music pulsed through the living room, girls danced with their hands in the air, laughing in each other's faces. Guys clustered together, checking their phones, scanning the room. Maya found herself noticing the small things,the expensive sneakers, and watches flashing under the lights.
So this was the dream.
Maya took another sip, the burn spreading warm in her chest.
Then she saw him across the room.
---
Jake stood by the makeshift bar, a group of people surrounding him. He wore a white T-shirt and dark jeans, with messy hair. He was laughing, head tipped back, completely void of worry.
An unpleasant feeling settled in her chest.
All week, she'd seen him hunched over flashcards, brow furrowed. He'd admitted he'd never really learned how to study.
That version of him had been private.
This one didn't.
A blonde girl in a tight black dress appeared at his side, sliding her arm around his waist. She said something in his ear. He grinned and leaned down to kiss her.
Maya looked away.
She told herself it didn't matter. This was business and nothing more. She shouldn't expect anything from him, but still...
When she glanced back, his eyes found hers.
They held for a second, recognition flashing on his face.
Then he turned back to the girl, attention already gone.
Heat crept up Maya's neck, she'd realize she may have misread everything. Whatever it was.
Elena appeared at her side. "You okay? You look—"
"Fine. I just need air."
She pushed through the crowd, heading for what she thought was the back door. The house was a maze. She turned a corner and found herself in a narrow hallway.
She was almost to the door when someone slammed into her . Cold beer soaked through the fabric, clinging to her skin. It slid down her stomach in sticky trails.
"Oh my God, watch where you're going!" The voice snapped.
Maya turned, towards the voice. The girl was tall and blonde, perfectly put together, and she was already annoyed.
"You spilled your drink on me," Maya said, gritting her teeth.
"Because you were standing in the middle of the hallway like a lost cow." The girl looked Maya up and down. Her gaze lingered on the cheap stitching at the hem, lip curling. "Maybe if you took up less space, people wouldn't run into you."
A couple of people nearby laughed.
Maya clenched her hands into fists. The emerald green fabric clung to her skin, darkened to a muddy brown. Beer slid down her stomach.
The girl rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Move."
Maya looked past her—and saw Jake at the end of the hallway, watching.
For a second, she thought he would say something.
He didn't. He turned and walked away with the blonde.
Her top was ruined. She wished the floor would open up and swallow her.
Maya stepped around the girl, pushed through the back door into the cold night air where she could finally breathe.