content: strip club environment, sex mentioned, SLIGHT age gap
word count: 2,304
No girl grows up dreaming of being a stripper in a high-end club, except for the crazy ones. Most girls grow up dreaming of being a princess, and the closest they can get to that is wearing a plastic-y crown and getting called âprincessâ by sleazy men on Saturday nights as they dance on a pole.
You tell yourself that often, almost every single night as you paint your eyelids with glitter and pray that your thong stays on throughout all the lap dances youâre about to give. Your one saving grace is that the club you work in, Club Onyx, is full of rich sleazy men, men who live on the upper east side and like to spend thousands of dollars whenever they want to spend a night away from their wives. This has let you afford an apartment, a cat, and as many pairs of heels as you could desire. Your life is glitz, glamour, men inviting you to yachts and buying you nice lingerie. On the other hand, it's the desire for partnership, that same dream of being a princess.
Every night, colorful lights flood your skin and the stage you stand on. Tonight is no different. You keep your head down for a moment, taking deep breaths, telling yourself âthis wonât be forever. This wonât be me foreverâ. Somewhere deep inside of you, youâre afraid that this will be you forever. But the moment music starts playing, you push the feeling away, smiling like this is your dream, this stage and these bills and all of these men. Youâre their dream, they will become yours for tonight.
You fall into dance moves that you could practically do in your sleep, spinning on the pole slowly, seductively, saving your fancy tricks for later in the night or when youâre dancing in a studio in front of a mirror, just for yourself. The more into the dancing you get, the more bills come flying at you, higher and higher bills than the ones before. Itâs like youâre being bid on, whoever throws the biggest bill will get you for the night. This is not true, but you wonât let them know that.
Youâve let the music wash you away, eyes hooded to far theyâre almost closed. Your heart beats steadily, and itâs all you focus on, letting it synchronize with the song. At the last few notes, you scan the room with your glitter-covered eyes, searching for men whoâve begun to beckon you over for a private dance. Your gaze falls on your manager, Brian, a big man with a deep love for silk shirts unbuttoned halfway down his chest. Heâs locked in conversation with a tall, suit-clad figure, almost taller and stronger than he is. They both look over to you, causing your breath to catch in your chest.
The figure is a woman, a wildly muscular one with a sharp smirk and an impeccably tailored suit. It mustâve cost thousands of dollars, almost as much as the Rolex on her wrist. You swallow hard, watching her exchange words with Brian, before he beckons you over.
You gracefully leave the stage, smiling at a few patrons and swaying your hips as you go over to the pair. Another girls gets on the stage to take your place. Brian smiles at you, placing a large hand on your shoulder. âThis is Ms. Anderson,â He introduces you to the woman, who is even taller up close. You feel miniature next to her. âSheâd like a dance with you.â
You narrow your eyes at him, knowing there are other men waiting for you. Youâre a club favorite. âSheâd better get in line then.â You purr, looking up at Ms. Anderson and batting your eyelashes. Your flirting is interrupted by Brian squeezing your shoulder harshly, glaring at you.
Money, he mouths. So sheâs rich, which you already could tell. You nod at him, giving in.
âWell, come on then, Ms. Anderson,â You reach for her tie, wrapping it in your grip to lead her to a VIP couch. She grins, grabbing her whiskey off the bar as she follows you.
âYouâre a bossy little thing,â She says, her voice low and rough, as she takes a seat on the lounge, manspreading widely as if itâs the most natural thing in the word for her. It probably is. Sheâs commanding, just by existing, and you canât help but be a little nervous to make a wrong move around her.
âI can get a lot bossier,â You smile, heartbeat thudding fast as she unbuttons her suit jacket. The buttons of her white shirt under it seem about to burst, as if sheâs too muscular to fit in it. You canât let this woman distract you from your goal here, to get her money in your pockets by the end of the night. So you let the music overtake you, your body moving naturally before straddling her massive thighs, giving her a lap dance as you would with any other customer.
But looking into her hooded hazel eyes, filled with something hungry, you decide you can give her a little extra attention. You loosen her tie, getting closer to her than you should. âSo⊠Ms. Anderson, what do you do for work?â You purr, draping your hair over one shoulder.
âYou know, doll, Iâd tell you if I wasnât so distracted by your tits beinâ in my face,â She says casually, her gaze lowered to your chest.
Your face flushes, which is unusual for you. âYou asked for the dance, it comes with the package,â You lean closer, rolling your hips against the woman. You pray that she doesnât discover how shockingly wet youâve become by checking her pants later. Her hand comes down to grasp your hip, but you smack it away. âNo touching.â You giggle at her in a sing-song voice. She takes it away, looking at your face now.
âYouâre real pretty too. Bossy, but pretty,â She withdraws her wallet from her pocket, removing a $100 bill. âCan I give this to you? Gotta touch you to do that.â You nod at her, dollar sign flashing in your eyes.
âYeah.â
She gently tugs at the lace waistband of your panties, tucking the bill under the band before draping her arms over the back of the couch. Just for that, youâll give her more attention. You fully lower yourself onto her lap, feeling the warmth of her body against your thighs. Acrylic nails drag up her body, feeling the solid muscle under her too-tight shirt. âWhatâs your name?â She looks up at you.
You laugh at her, genuinely finding the question funny. âI canât tell you that. Against the rules,â You grind hard down on her lap, wanting the dance to last forever. âYou can call me whatever youâd like, though.â Something flashes in her eyes, maybe irritation that someone is doing what she asked them for once.
âYouâre too mysterious for your own good,â She lets her hand wander to your hip again. This time, you let her. You feel another bill being slipped under the lace donning your body.
âYouâre spoiling me.â
âYou deserve it. Iâve got a lot of money to spend on pretty girls like you.â Your face turns bright red, and you pray that she canât see it under the flashing lights of the club. Ms. Andersonâs hand remains on your hip, hot and steady, as you move your hips back and forth. Itâs almost as if sheâs guiding them now, and a scene of you riding her, but not in the club, back in whatever penthouse she surely lives in, flashes through your mind.
Suddenly, the two of you are shockingly close, almost no air left between your bodies, only a few inches between your mouths. Her eyes are lidded, your breaths are quick and-
âHey!â Brian appears behind the VIP couch, motioning for you to hurry it up. Other clients, he mouths to you.
âIâve got to go, Ms. Anderson,â You pull away from her, practically tugging your heart from your chest. âOther people to see, Iâm a busy woman.â
âI can see why,â She muses, smirking and looking you up and down as you climb off her and step away. She presses a third hundred dollar bill into the cup of your bra, goosebumps appearing on your skin as she does. âIâll see you around.â She smiles, eyes never leaving you as you walk off to the next customer. Your heart thuds in your chest almost painfully.
You arenât supposed to get close with clients. You arenât supposed to let them touch you, or tease them. You arenât supposed to let their words make your heart stop, and you definitely arenât supposed to hope that they come back again and again and again.
She comes back again, the very next night. Youâd worn your favorite lingerie, dark red lace, and your overly expensive perfume just in case she did. The moment you stepped off stage, already speaking with a client, you saw her standing across the club. Ms. Anderson had a drink in her hand, amber liquid in a crystal glass, and she wore yet another black suit but with a black button up and no tie. The sight of her made your mouth go dry and between your thighs go wet.
You stuttered a thread of incoherent words to the man you had been chatting with before practically running over to her and almost breaking your ankles in the process. Stripper heels are no joke to run in. âMs. Anderson!â You say, standing in front of her awkwardly, all aura youâd had previously- lost. âItâs nice to see you again.â
âI told you Iâd see you,â She smiles. âHow about another dance, doll?â You nod at her, smiling and beckoning her over to a different VIP section than before, this one upstairs. âGood color on you.â She comments as you lead her upstairs.
Pride fills you, your ego growing with the knowledge that you made the right choice. âThank you,â you push her chest so she falls back into a seated position on the couch. The dance begins, slowly swaying your hips and gazing at Ms. Anderson. Unfortunately for you, she looks dissatisfied.
âSit down already, pretty, donât tease,â She orders. Your eyes widen, shocked by the request. Usually, you wouldnât listen. But as youâd already discovered, things happen around this woman that shouldnât.
So you sit down on her lap, straddling her and grinding against her. âHard day?â You ask, sugary sweet from years of making small talk while in the most sexual situation possible.
She sighs and nods. âYeah. No one fuckinâ listens to me sometimes, gotta get mean with them. I donât love being mean.â You nod at her, sympathetic as your hands unbutton the first three buttons of her shirt. If you didnât know better, youâd think the strong, commanding woman underneath you blushes. Your chest swells with pride.
âIâll listen,â You purr through glossed lips.
âSure you will, bossy,â She laughs at you, a low, rumbling noise. She repeats her actions from the night before, pulling out her wallet. This time, she tucks two bills in the lace of the straps around your thighs, then lets her rough palm rest on the soft skin there. Your movements stutter for a moment of weakness. âTell me your name, Iâll beg you for it.â She looks at you, hazel eyes starved for you.
You swallow hard. âTell me yours first. Thatâs my rule for you.â
âOkay, I love a woman who knows how to get what she wants,â Her tongue runs over her bottom lip quickly before she speaks. âAbby. Thatâs my name.â Abby.
âAbby,â I repeat, trying the name out in my mouth. You tell her your name, breaking your greatest rule ever. Names start connections. You are not supposed to have a connection with a client. Brian will have your head if he learns.
âPretty name,â She tilts her head. âHow old are you?â
âHow old are you?â A grin spreads across your lips and you turn around, your back to Abbyâs chest. Her hands grasp your hips, you can feel her breath down your spine.
âThirty-three,â She says, her voice sending shivers through your body. Itâs gotten deeper, rougher. âYou have a tattoo. Here,â Her finger runs down your spine before returning to your hip.
âYeah, I do,â A chain of Lilly of the Valleys. âIâm twenty-four.â
âAnd youâre working here? What about college?â
âCouldnât afford it,â You shrug, grinding your ass back against her. A groan comes from deep in her throat.
âYouâre too fuckinâ pretty, shit,â You feel her tuck a hand full of bills into the lace of your panties, letting her hands travel up to your waist after. âTake this.â A thicker piece of paper presses against your skin alongside the bills. âAre you working tomorrow?â
You shake your head. âNo, I donât work Mondays or Tuesdays.â
âCall me then. Itâs on the card.â
You glance down. There is at least $600 in cash on your body, tucked next to a business card. Gold symbol, black lettering. This is not supposed to happen. But you push that thought aside.
âOkay,â You say softly, turning around again to play with the collar of Abbyâs shirt, undoing one more button and catching a glimpse of freckles disappearing into a sports bra. You could practically moan. âYouâre pretty,â The words fall from your lips before you can stop them.
Her eyes widen and for the second time tonight, she blushes. âThank you.â Your name from her mouth sounds like a prayer.
When the dance is over, she gazes at you, straightening her shirt. âYouâd better call me, doll. You said youâd listen.â
i had this idea and i couldnât get rid of it so i cooked this up in like two days. iâm SO excited about this and i actually have a plot laid out this time!! do NOT expect regular updates, but i will try my hardestđ
i've missed writing for you guys so much, please let me know what you think!
let me know if you'd like to be added to or stay on my taglist
OKAY I ABSOLUTELY LOVEE THE GAME ON FIC UR WRITING RN...
but u didnt post in a month :(( was that the last chapter or are u making more? are u okay like frfr? take ur time okay? give us updates on the fic...
or did u deactivate </3 dont go yet
haha i did not deactivate, i am still very much here. the issue is, i just didnât really know where to take the fic about sevika, i didnât know what to write after that last chapterâčïž. BUT i am still here and i love this community very much, so please send me ideas for what to write!!
i got extremely busy and went through a break upđ. now iâm back, both for writing and trying to track down a masc đ
send me fic requests! that will help me get this all going again.
Thanksgiving break had been fun, but you were happy to be back in Boston, settling into the familiar routine of dorm life. You hadnât realized how much youâd missed the tiny space you shared with Sevika until you were standing in the middle of the room, unpacking your neatly folded clothes and carefully placing them back into your dresser. The air smelled faintly of cherries and vanilla again, a scent that had started to feel like home.
You had just finished putting away your many toiletries when the door swung open.
"Well, well, well," Sevika's deep, teasing voice filled the room as she stepped inside.
You immediately turned, clocking the smug look on your roommateâs face. Sevika leaned casually against the door, arms crossed over her chest, her hair still damp from the rain outside. She had a lazy smirk pulling at the corner of her lips, and you knew exactly why.
Sevika had not forgotten about the Instagram incident.
You groaned, already exasperated. "Don't."
"Oh, I absolutely will," Sevika said, dropping her bag onto the floor. "I mean, I was minding my own business over break, just casually lifting weights at the gym, and then suddenly⊠like." She mimicked the motion dramatically. "From little Miss Y/N herself. On an ab pic. From a year ago."
You feltface your face heat up immediately. "It was an accident!"
"Mm-hmm," Sevika hummed, stepping closer, that smirk growing. "And then, mysteriously, I got a text from you saying it must've been a ghost."
You turned back to your suitcase, pretending to be very busy folding a sweater. "It was a ghost. My phone's haunted. Very tragic, really."
Sevika chuckled, stepping even closer until she was just behind you, so close you could feel the heat of her body against your skin. "You know, if you wanted to see them so badly, you could've just asked."
You let out a strangled sound and whipped around. "I did not wantâ"
Sevika tilted her head, her eyes glittering with amusement. "So you didnât like what you saw?"
You opened your mouth, then shut it. There was no winning this argument. "I hate you."
Sevika snickered. "No, you donât."
You both stood there for a moment, the playful tension buzzing between them, before Sevika finally pulled back and threw herself onto her bed. "Anyway," she said, stretching her long limbs over the blankets, "I missed annoying you. Welcome back, roomie."
Despite yourself and your irritation at the woman, you smiled. "I missed you too."
Sevika grinned, seeming satisfied with that. "Oh, by the way, my birthdayâs next week."
You perked up. "Oh, really? What day?"
"The second," Sevika said, propping herself up on her elbows. "Gonna shower me with gifts and adoration?"
You rolled your eyes but made a mental note. You hadnât even thought about Sevikaâs birthday, but now that you knew, you were going to make sure that you found something perfect.
Sevika yawned and sat up. "Alright, unpacking is boring. Time to change."
You froze.
Sevika, of course, had no shame. She stood, reached for the hem of her hoodie, and peeled it off in one smooth motion, revealing a black sports bra underneath that showed off her sculpted arms and abs that youâd stared at a bit too much on your phone screen. Then, she hooked her thumbs under the waistband of her sweatpants and shimmied them down, leaving her in nothing but tight boxer briefs.
You were not staring.
Except you so obviously were.
For a second, all you could do was stand there like an idiot while Sevika stretched her arms over her head, completely unbothered, her toned stomach flexing slightly. It wasnât fair.
Sevika definitely knew what she was doing.
"You okay over there?" Sevika asked, voice laced with amusement as she pulled a t-shirt over her head.
You tore your gaze away and turned back to your suitcase, trying to act normal. "Yeah! Totally fine. Why wouldnât I be?"
Sevika chuckled as she pulled on a pair of baggy sweats. "No reason."
You didnât turn around until you were sure Sevika was fully clothed again. Even then, your heart was hammering embarrassingly fast in your chest.
Sevika didnât really care about birthdays. They had never been a big deal to her. Growing up, her family would throw some extravagant party with too many guests, half of whom she didnât even know. She'd get expensive giftsâthings she never asked for, things her parents thought she should want. It was always an impersonal event, just another day, just another reminder of expectations placed on her.
So when she walked into her dorm room after her morning workout, she wasnât expecting much. Maybe a casual "happy birthday" from her roomate, and that would be it.
She definitely wasnât expecting the sight in front of her.
The dorm had been transformed. There were streamers in blue and yellowâher teamâs colorsâstrung up along the walls. A small "Happy Birthday!" banner hung above her bed. The desk had a neatly wrapped pile of gifts stacked on it, and the scent of chocolate filled the air.
And then there was you.
You stood in the middle of it all, wearing a denim mini skirt and a snug white Brandy Melville t-shirt that hugged your body in a way that should be illegal. Your shiny hair was done up just slightly, a few strands framing your bright eyes, and your cherry-vanilla perfume filled the room.
You looked insanely pretty.
"Happy birthday!" You beamed, holding out a homemade chocolate cake with candles in it. "I, um⊠I made this myself, so no promises that itâs amazing, but I really tried."
Sevika blinked, completely stunned. For a moment, she just stared, taking in everythingâthe decorations, the cake, the effort you had put into all of this.
"You did all this?" Sevika finally asked, voice softer than usual.
You nodded, looking slightly shy. "Yeah. I just thought⊠birthdays should be special, you know? And since youâre not with your family, I wanted to make sure you felt celebrated."
Sevika felt something tighten in her chest.
She didnât know what to say. No one had ever done anything like this for her. Not her parents, not her teammates. Not anyone.
You seemed to take her silence the wrong way because you quickly added, "I mean, if itâs too much or if youâre not really into birthdaysâ"
Sevika cut you off by setting down her gym bag and walking over, taking the cake carefully from your hands and setting it on the desk. Then, before she could second-guess herself, she pulled you into a bone-crushingly tight hug.
You let out a surprised squeak but quickly melted into it, your arms wrapping around Sevikaâs waist.
Sevika held you for a moment, inhaling the familiar scent of cherries and vanilla, feeling the warmth of your body pressed against her own.
"Thank you," Sevika murmured, her voice quiet but sincere.
You pulled back slightly, looking up at her. "Youâre welcome. You should make a wish before you blow out the candles."
Sevika smirked. "What if I already got what I wanted?"
You rolled her eyes at how cheesy she was, but Sevika could see the faint pink tinge on your cheeks. "Just make a wish," you insisted.
Sevika huffed out a small laugh before turning to the cake. She closed her eyes for a brief second, pretending to think of a wish, then blew out the candles.
After you cut into the cake and Sevika confirmed that it was actually really good ("You seriously made this? Are you a secret chef or something?"), you gestured toward the stack of presents.
"I got you some things," you said, biting your lip. "I hope you like them."
Sevika wasnât used to opening gifts, but she sat down on her bed and took the first one that you handed her.
Inside was a black leather strap for her guitar, simple but high quality. She ran her fingers over it, knowing immediately that it was something sheâd actually use.
"This is awesome," Sevika admitted. "I needed a new one."
You beamed. "I figured, since your old one looks kinda worn out."
The next gift was a set of CDsâFrank Ocean and Kendrick Lamar. Sevika let out a small laugh, glancing at you.
"You remembered?"
"Of course," You said. "We talked about music that night I helped you with homework, remember?"
Sevika definitely remembered that night. She had spent half of it trying to distract herself from how good you looked in tiny pajama shorts.
She shook the thought away and opened the next present. It was a hoodieâblack, oversized, and featuring the logo of her favorite rugby team.
"Damn," Sevika said, genuinely impressed. "This is perfect."
You grinned. "I thought you might like it."
The final gift was an envelope. Sevika raised an eyebrow and opened it, pulling out a single ticket.
"A ticket to your dance showcase?" Sevika asked, looking at you.
You nodded, suddenly looking a little nervous. "Yeah. I just⊠I want you to come. If you want to."
Sevika stared at the ticket, something unfamiliar twisting inside her.
She had never been invited to something like this beforeânot in a way that actually mattered. She was usually the entertainment, the person showing off for other people to clap and cheer at and admire.
She looked back at you, who was watching her carefully, waiting for her reaction.
Sevika swallowed and nodded. "Iâll be there."
Your whole face lit up.
Sevika suddenly had the thought that maybe this was the best birthday sheâd ever had.
â---------------------------------------------
You had never been this nervous before a performance.
You had danced in front of audiences your entire lifeâsmall recitals as a child, competitions in high school, and now, performing as part of your collegeâs varsity dance team. The stage was nothing new to you. The adrenaline, the rush of music filling your veins, the focus that came with movementâit was all familiar.
But this performance felt different.
Because Sevika was watching.
As you stood backstage, stretching out your limbs, you tried not to think about the fact that Sevika was out there in the audience. That somewhere, past the bright stage lights and rows of seats, Sevika was sitting, probably with her usual cool, unreadable expression.
Or maybe not. Maybe sheâd be watching intently, those dark eyes focused only on you. Maybe sheâd see every movement, every sharp yet fluid motion, andâ
Stop.
You took a deep breath and shook out your hands, trying to push the thoughts away. You had a performance to focus on.
The lights dimmed, the murmurs of the audience fading into silence. The music startedâsoft at first, just the hum of a piano, and then it swelled, filling the theater.
You stepped onto the stage.
And then, you danced.
Your body moved effortlessly, every step precise yet full of emotion. The routine was contemporaryâfluid, expressive, grounded in storytelling. It wasnât flashy, it wasnât about big tricks or showy movements. It was about the feeling behind it.
You lost yourself in the music, in the movement, in the rhythm of your breath matching your heartbeat and the way your limbs extended and curved in time with the beat. You werenât thinking anymore. You werenât worried. You were just dancing.
And in the audience, Sevika was completely in awe.
She had known you were a dancer, obviously. But watching you now, really watching you, was something else entirely.
You were mesmerizing.
Your body moved like it was made for thisâlike you could bend time and gravity to your will. The way you glided across the stage, the way your hair followed the motion of your turns, the way every movement felt intentionalâit was stunning.
Sevika sat forward in her seat, completely captivated.
She had always thought you were beautiful, but thisâthis was something else.
By the time the final note played and you struck your last pose, Sevika realized she had been holding her breath.
The theater erupted into applause, and Sevika clapped along with the crowd, but all she could focus on was you.
After the show, you changed out of your simple costume and stepped out into the crisp night air, your heart still racing.
You spotted Sevika instantly.
She was leaning against a lamppost outside the theater, hands in the pockets of her hoodie, the hoodie youâd bought her, looking like she owned the world. When she saw you, she didnât pull her usual smirk, she smiled instead.
"Damn," Sevika said as you walked up to her. "That was insane."
You felt your cheeks warm. "You think so?"
Sevika scoffed. "That was the most impressive thing Iâve ever seen. You wereâ" She exhaled, shaking her head slightly, like she couldnât even find the right words. "I couldnât take my eyes off you."
Your heart did a full-on flip.
"Thanks," you murmured, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. "That, um⊠means a lot."
Sevika studied you for a moment, then tilted her head. "Câmon. Letâs get ice cream."
You blinked. "Ice cream?"
Sevika shrugged. "Yeah. My treat."
You couldnât help but smile. "Alright."
You ended up at a small ice cream shop near campus, one that was still open late. The neon glow of the menu illuminated your face as you studied the flavors.
"Iâll get a vanilla cone," you decided, looking up at the cashier.
Sevika raised an eyebrow. "Of course you would."
You crossed your arms. "And whatâs that supposed to mean?"
Sevika smirked. "You just have major vanilla vibes. Cause youâre basic.â She teased.
Your face burned, but you refused to give Sevika the satisfaction of seeing you irritated. "And what are you getting?"
Sevika turned to the cashier. "Chocolate, in a cup."
You snorted. "How predictable."
Sevika rolled her eyes but smirked anyway. "Says the girl who just ordered vanilla."
Once you had your ice cream, you and your roommate took a seat at one of the outdoor tables. The city was quiet, a gentle autumn breeze rolling through the streets.
For a while, you both just ate in comfortable silence. But there was something in the air between them, something different.
Sevika finally broke the quiet. "So⊠was that your last step?"
You froze, your spoon hovering over the ice cream.
"What?" you asked, feigning innocence.
Sevika leaned forward slightly, resting her elbow on the table. "The plan. You know, the one where youâre trying to make me fall for you."
Your breath caught in your throat. You opened your mouth, then closed it.
"Howâ"
Sevika smirked. "You and your little partners-in-crime arenât exactly stealthy. I heard you guys that night after the Canes and face masks."
You wanted to sink into the earth and die.
Your face must have shown it because Sevika let out a soft chuckle. "Relax, Y/N. It was cute."
You groaned, covering your face with your hands. "This is so embarrassing."
Sevika reached across the table and gently pulled your hands away.
"It worked," Sevika said, her voice softer now.
Your breath hitched again. You looked up at Sevika, eyes wide.
Sevika held your gaze. "Iâm already gone for you."
And then, before you could even process those words, Sevika leaned in and kissed you.
It was soft at firstâgentle and tentative, like Sevika was giving you a moment to pull away if you wanted to.
But you didnât want to.
You leaned into it, your heart racing, your lips moving against Sevikaâs like it was the most natural thing in the world. You could feel a scar rough on her lip, taste the chocolate in her mouth. Sevikaâs hand cupped your jaw, her thumb brushing against your cheek. By the time she pulled away, you were breathless.
Sevika smirked, her lips still close to yours.
"So," she murmured, "whatâs your next step?"
You let out a soft laugh, still dazed.
"Honestly?" you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. "I think Iâm out of steps."
â------------------------------------
The air in the dorm felt charged with electricity.
Even as you stepped out of the bathroom, warm steam curling around you, you could feel itâsomething different lingering between you and Sevika. Maybe it was the kiss earlier that night, or maybe it was the fact that you couldnât stop thinking about it. About Sevikaâs lips on yours, about the way Sevika had whispered, Iâm already gone for you.
You clutched the edge of your pink towel, tightening it around your body as you padded barefoot into the room. Sevika was sprawled across her bed, propped up against the headboard, her phone in one hand, scrolling aimlessly. She was wearing her usual nighttime outfitâa white wife beater and blue boxers, the fabric riding up just enough to reveal the sharp cut of her hip bones, and, a very lethal strike: a happy trail right below her navel.
You could feel Sevikaâs eyes on you.
You tried to act natural, walking over to your dresser, but you felt so hyper aware of yourself. Of Sevika. Of the way the air sizzled between you both, unspoken words crackling in the silence.
"Good shower?" Sevika asked casually, though her voice was a little rougher than usual.
You hummed in response, pulling out a pair of pajama shortsâpink, ruffled, soft, the kind that barely covered anything. You grabbed a white tank top to match and turned back toward Sevika.
"Donât look," you warned.
Sevika smirked. "No promises."
You rolled your eyes, but your heart pounded. You slipped your towel off and quickly changed, acutely aware of how bare you were in the tank top and shorts. She never used to think twice about what you wore in their dorm, but after that kiss⊠after the way Sevika looked at you nowâŠ
It was different.
You turned back around and saw Sevika not even pretending to be looking at her phone. She was watching you like a hawk.
"What?" you asked, feigning innocence, even as your skin burned under your roommates gaze.
Sevika just gave you a lazy, lopsided grin. "Nothing."
Liar.
You swallowed, trying to push past the tension. "Wanna watch a movie?"
Sevika arched a brow. "With me?"
"No, with the ghost that haunts this dorm," you deadpanned.
Sevika chuckled. "Alright, smartass. What are we watching?"
You grabbed your laptop and climbed into Sevikaâs bed without thinking. You always did this when you watched movies with other people. It was normal. Totally normal.
Except, this time, Sevika looked at you like you were a challenge.
"Come here often?" Sevika teased as you settled against the pillows. She had only two in her bed, as opposed to the pile of pillows in your own.
"Shut up," you muttered, opening Netflix.
You scrolled through the options before pausing on a horror movie.
Sevika glanced at the screen. "You sure? I thought you were scared ofâ"
"I'm not scared!" you said quickly.
Sevika smirked like she knew exactly what was going to happen.
"Alright, pretty. Whatever you say."
Your stomach flipped at the nickname, but you ignored it and hit play.
The movie had barely started before you regretted your choice.
The tension was unbearable. The eerie music, the dim lighting in their dorm, the fact that Sevika was right there, warm and solid and so incredibly smug every time you tensed upâ
It was a problem.
Halfway through, the first big jump scare hit, and you yelped, instinctively burying your face in Sevikaâs shoulder.
Sevika laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.
"Oh, youâre totally not scared, huh?" she teased, voice thick with amusement.
"Shut up," you mumbled into Sevikaâs shoulder. But you didnât move away.
You felt safe there.
Sevika took full advantage of the moment, just as sheâd been intending to for the whole movie, wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling your body tight against hers.
"See?" Sevika murmured, lips near your ear. "Told you horror movies were a bad idea."
You could barely think. The warmth of Sevikaâs body, the scent of herâa mix of fresh laundry and something undeniably herâwas scrambling your poor brain.
"Shut up," you repeated, but softer this time.
Sevika chuckled, fingers grazing your bare waist, absentmindedly tracing little circles against your skin.
You shivered. Sevika noticed.
And then, before you could second-guess herself, you tilted your face up toward Sevika.
Your eyes met hers, and her gaze darkened in an instant.
You didnât know who leaned in first, but suddenly, your lips were crashing together.
It was nothing like the first kiss. That one had been soft, hesitant, careful.
This?
This was desperate. Like you were starved animals trying to devour each other.
Sevikaâs hands gripped your waist, pulling you into her lap, and you let her. You let yourself drown in the feeling of Sevikaâs lips moving against yours, of the way Sevikaâs hands gripped you like you were something precious and fragile but also wanted.
You tangled your fingers in Sevikaâs hair, pulling her closer, and Sevika groaned into the kiss. That sound sent a shockwave through your entire body. You didnât even realize how breathless you were until Sevika pulled away slightly, resting her forehead against yours.
"You drive me crazy," Sevika murmured, voice hoarse.
You swallowed hard, your hands still tangled in Sevikaâs hair.
"Good," you whispered back.
Sevika let out a quiet chuckle before leaning in again, pressing a slow, lingering kiss against your lips.
And then, without warning, Sevika grabbed the laptop and slammed it shut.
You blinked. "Uh-"
"No more horror movie," Sevika said simply, wrapping both arms around you and pulling you fully against her broad chest. You felt her breasts pressed against you, and your mind began to run wild.
You let out a tiny squeak. "You canât justâ"
"Shhh." Sevika smirked, adjusting the blankets around them. "Go to sleep."
You huffed, but you didnât move. Didnât want to move.
Instead, you let your head rest against Sevikaâs shoulder, the sound of her heartbeat steady and strong beneath your ear. The muscle of her arm around you, combined with the metal of her fingers tracing circles on your back, was like a lullaby.
You sighed softly.
"Next time, no horror movies. You donât do great with them." Sevika murmured.
Sevika pressed a soft kiss to your temple.
"Whatever you want, baby."
You definitely didnât fall asleep smiling.
Not at all.
â-------------------------------------------
The dorm was quiet except for the soft hum of the heating system and the faint, steady sound of Sevikaâs breathing.
You had fallen asleep against her, fully on top of her, chests pressed together, somewhere between the last kiss and the warm, sleepy haze that had settled over you both.
You were tucked against Sevikaâs chest, legs tangled with hers, your cheek resting against the fabric of Sevikaâs wife beater. Sevika had her metal arm slung protectively around your waist, fingers resting just above the waistband of your pajama shorts, holding you close like she never wanted to let go.
And you?
You were dreaming.
But it wasnât just any dream.
It was that kind of dream.
The kind that burned through your subconscious, leaving you restless even in sleep.
The kind where Sevikaâs hands were on you. Where Sevikaâs voice was low, commanding. Where Sevika touched you the way you secretly wanted her to. The kind where you were moaning Sevikaâs name.
You woke up gasping for air like youâd been drowning. Your entire body was flushed, burning, aching. You barely had time to register reality before you felt Sevika shift beneath you.
A sleepy groan rumbled from Sevikaâs chest as she stirred. "MmmâŠY/N? You okay?"
You sucked in a sharp breath.
You were so not okay
Sevikaâs voice was husky, thick with sleep, and way too attractive for your already horny state.
You squeezed your eyes shut for a second, willing yourself to calm down.
But then you felt itâthe way Sevikaâs arm was still wrapped around you, the way her huge hand had slipped a little lower in her sleep, fingers brushing against the soft skin where your hip met your waist.
Your heart slammed against your ribs.
"Uh," you squeaked.
Sevika let out a quiet chuckle, voice still heavy with sleep. "You sound flustered."
You groaned, hiding your face against her body, your head almost pressed between her tits. "I hate you."
Sevika laughed again, fully awake now. "Youâre literally laying on top of me and youâre blushing. Whatâs up?"
You didnât answer.
Because how were you supposed to answer? Oh, I just had a very detailed, very hot dream about you pinning me against the wall and whispering filthy things in my ear. No big deal.
Sevika shifted again, sitting up slightly, her other arm propping her up. "Câmon."
You groaned again. "Go back to sleep."
"Not until you tell me whatâs got you all squirmy."
"I am not squirmy!"
Sevika smirked. "You totally are."
You huffed out a breath, still refusing to look at her.
Sevika let the silence hang for a second before speaking again, this time in that low, teasing voice that made your entire body betray you.
"You had a dream, didnât you?"
You froze.
Sevika's smirk widened. "You did, didnât you?"
You felt Sevikaâs fingers gently tracing over the curve of your hip, barely there, like she was testing the waters.
"Tell me about it," Sevika murmured.
You squeezed your eyes shut. "No."
Sevika laughed, fingers still moving in slow, torturous little patterns against your bare skin.
"Come on, baby," Sevika whispered, right against your ear. "Was it about me?"
You let out a shaky breath.
Sevika grinned. "Oh, it was about me."
You finally snapped. You shoved Sevikaâs chest lightly, glaring at her. "Youâre so annoying."
Sevika laughed but caught your wrists easily, flipping them so that she was hovering over you now, arms bracing on either side of your head.
Your breath hitched.
Sevikaâs wild smirk softened, just slightly. "Tell me."
You swallowed hard, trapped beneath her, heart hammering.
And then, very quietly, you admitted, "It was⊠a lot."
Sevikaâs gaze sharpened."Oh?"
You felt everything inside you short-circuit.
"Iâit was justâ" you stammered, but Sevika leaned in, cutting off your words with a hard kiss, like she was trying to devour you. You melted into it. You didnât resist. Didnât hesitate. You just kissed Sevika back, arms sliding around her neck, fingers tangling into her messy hair.
Sevika let out a quiet, satisfied hum and deepened the kiss, one hand grasping your hip, pulling you closer.
It was slow. It was nearly unbearable.
Sevika was taking her time, savoring it, savoring you.
When she finally pulled away, you were breathless.
Sevika, still hovering over you, brushed your knuckles against your cheek and smirked. "I think Iâd like to hear more about that dream. Whatâd I do in it, huh?"
You swallowed hard. âWell, umâŠâ She raised an eyebrow at you, her metal fingers tight against your hip. âYou had me against the wall, and you were kissing my neckâŠâ A cruel, mischievous smirk overtook your roommates face. She lowered her head down, pressing her lips against your neck, sometimes soft, sometimes so hard you could feel her teeth nipping at your skin. Your heartbeat quickened. âAnd, um, I could feel your hands wandering all over me, on my chestâŠâ
âYeah? Like this?â Sevika whispered against your neck as her metal hand wandered upwards and snuck under your shirt, steel fingers ghosting over your nipple. Your back arched up into her touch the slightest bit, a tiny gasp leaving your lips. Urged on by that, Sevika rubbed her metal finger over your perked nipple before pinching at it.
âFuckâŠâ You groaned. âYeah, like that.â She peeled off your shirt, exposing your body to her hungry eyes. Her kisses trailed down from your neck to your chest, leaving dark hickeys all over your tits, before taking your untouched nipple into her hot mouth. âSevâŠâ Small moans filled your dorm, further fueling Sevika as she bit lightly down on your nipple before kissing you hard.
âWhat else did you dream about?â She asked, her voice so low that she sounded like pure sin. The cold metal of her hand grabbed at your tit, hard and needy. âWas I fucking you with my tongue? Hm? Or were my fingers so deep in you that you could feel me in your guts? What was it?â
You moaned just from the words leaving her mouth, and then from the kisses she pressed to your neck. âIt was- mm- both. Fuck, Sev, I need you.â With that, she lost the little restraint she still had. Her metal hand ghosted down your body, her fingertips brushing against your ribs, your waist, your hips, before settling on your thigh and practically ripping your pajama shorts off. If you went one more minute without her fingers where you needed them to be, you wouldâve started screaming.
âBe patient,â she tutted. Itâs like she could read your mind. Her hand moved to rest between your legs, and then her real, flesh fingers were right against your cunt. They moved in slow strokes around your clit at first, teasing you and smiling about it. Soft whimpers left your lips and your hips rose against the touch. Finally, one of her thick, strong fingers dipped inside of you. Your head fell back and a moan was ripped from you, much louder than it shouldâve been, knowing that there were other dorms on either side of you. You threw one arm over your mouth, biting down on your own flesh to muffle the noises that fell from your lips, while your other hand went to claw at Sevikaâs muscled back. She let you adjust before moving her finger, slowly curling it inside of you as you moved beneath her, your hips rising and falling.
âMore,â You pled with her. She silently obliged and you felt another finger press into your wet heat. You cried out, biting into your arm with an attempt to keep yourself silent.
âMm, let me hear you. Wanna hear you,â Sevika murmured into your ear, her eyes half-lidded and gaze heavy. Her eyes were alight with arousal just from watching you. You lifted your arm from your mouth.
Sevika moved her fingers at a slow pace to start, filling you up and dragging small sounds from your mouth, sounds you never thought you could make. Your moans and the sounds of your wet pussy filled the room. How much practice had she had with things like this? How many girls had she been above before you? Looking down at them with starving eyes?
âYouâre so pretty,â She rasped, her voice laced with need. With the need for you. You felt your eyes widen as you stared up at her. You moaned much louder than you shouldâve as she curled her fingers, hitting a spot you didnât even know existed. You arched your back, needing to be as full as possible.
âSevika,â her name fell from your lips in a soft whisper. âSevika, please.â You whimpered, much to your embarrassment. The pace of her fingers picked up, and when you felt her begin to rub circles on your swollen, sensitive clit, you let out a ragged cry of pleasure and your eyes rolled back in your head for a moment. Your thighs were slick with your own arousal, Sevikaâs fingers mustâve been soaked. You accidentally tugged at her hair when she curled her fingers just perfectly again, and this time she groaned.
âShit, do that again,â She said, the words being less of a question and more of a request. So you did. You pulled at her hair again, and she drove her fingers deeper into you, pressing her thumb harder against your clit. You cried out in intense pleasure. âRâyou close?â She whispered against your neck.
You nodded at her, your eyes practically tearing up. She smiled softly at you, and once again, her fingers began to move at an impossibly fast pace. You could feel heat and pressure building quickly in the pit of your stomach, the space between your thighs likely soaking the couch beneath you. âHoly fuck, Sevika,â You moaned.
âMhmm,â She said, her voice practically a purr. âCome for me,â The tone of her voice delivering a request is what sent you over the edge. You came all over her fingers with your legs shaking, your entire body tensing and your eyes rolling back. You bit back what could very have been a scream, your head tipping back and your back arching. Color washed over the backs of your eyelids, and your skin felt like it had been lit aflame. Your fingers were pulling hard at Sevikaâs hair, but the waves of pleasure rolling through your body made you feel numb to any thoughts. You were hot and cold all at once, your skin peppered with goose bumps as well as damp with sweat.
âFuck,â You moaned as you came down from a euphoric high, your eyes settling on Sevika. Her mouth was slightly open, her free hand gripping your thigh like it was a lifeline. Her eyes were hooded and staring at you like she wanted to devour you. Sheâd always had a haunting look to her eyes, but when theyâre trained on you and filled with an animalistic hunger, they become enchanting.
âYouâre the prettiest thing Iâve ever fucking seen,â Sevika murmered as she pulled her fingers out of your cunt with an embarrassingly loud squelching nouse.
Your face flushed at the compliment, but you had no idea what to say in response. All air had been ripped from your lungs.
âNeed tâtaste you,â Her voice lowered again as she suddenly gripped both your thighs and threw them over her shoulders.
âSevika!â You yelped, still aching from your orgasm. She ignored your cries.
That night, you learned that Sevika was as good with her tongue as she was with her hands.
The day after the party, the dorm felt strangely quiet.
You sat cross-legged on your bed, your laptop open in front of you, pretending to read a chapter for class. But your brain was still at last nightâs partyâspecifically, the part where you'd been dancing with Vi. And even more specifically, the part where Sevika had been watching you like a hawk.
Sevika had said nothing about it. That was the worst part.
When the door creaked open, your roommate walked in wearing her usual weekend attire: loose sweatpants, a white tank top, and her damp hair slicked back from a shower at the gym. Her presence immediately sucked the air out of the room.
âHey,â Sevika said, grabbing a water bottle from the mini fridge. âHowâs your hangover, party girl?â No mention of you sleeping in her clothes last night. Perfect.
You rolled her eyes, trying to keep cool. âIâm fine. I didnât even drink that much.â
Sevika took a long sip of water, then leaned against her desk with a smirk. âOh really? You seemed... loose on the dance floor.â
You felt heat crawl up your neck, a blush certainly making its way to your cheeks. âI was just dancing. Thatâs kind of what people do at parties.â
âWith Vi?â Sevika raised an eyebrow. âYou two looked real friendly.â
You narrowed your eyes. âIs this your way of teasing me?â
Sevika pushed off the desk and stepped closer, a mischievous glint in her eye. âJust making an observation. I didnât know you liked girls who have pink hair and stupid tattoos.â
You blinked, caught off guard. âYouâre jealous.â
Sevika scoffed. âSure I am. Iâve got tattoos of my own. Jealous of the dancing? Maybe. But donât flatter yourself too much. I just think itâs cute when you try to make me jealous.â
You tried to stay calm, but your stomach fluttered in a way you couldnât control. âI wasnât trying.â
Sevika took another step closer. âThen why were you looking at me the whole time you were dancing with her?â
That shut you up. Your lips parted, but no words came out.
Sevika leaned in, her voice low and teasing. âNext time you want to make me crazy, just say my name.â
Your breath caught in your chest.
Then, just as quickly as sheâd come in, Sevika pulled back and grabbed her backpack. âAnyway,â she said casually, âIâm heading to the field. You coming to the game tomorrow?â
You swallowed and nodded, still flustered. âYeah. Iâll be there.â It was on your plan, but⊠it seemed like it was Sevikaâs own plan now, no longer in your control.
She winked. âWear my number.â
And then she was gone, leaving you sitting in stunned silence, heart pounding, laptop completely forgotten.
It was later that day. The dim light of the desk lamp cast a soft glow over the cluttered dorm room, its quiet hum barely breaking the stillness. You sat at your desk, surrounded by textbooks and scattered notes. The pages of your law textbooks blurred before your eyes as you flipped through them frantically, your hand moving too fast to actually process the information. You had been studying for hours, but nothing was sticking. The pressure was mounting, and you couldnât seem to get a handle on it.
Your leg bounced nervously under the desk as your mind raced, flitting from one topic to another, unable to settle. Every time you thought you had a grip on the material, youâd remember another concept you hadnât reviewed yet, or another case you hadnât studied. Your breath quickened, and the anxiety in your chest felt suffocating. You pressed the heel of your hand into your temple, trying to calm yourself, but the panic was only growing.
Why is this so hard? Why canât I just get it? You thought to yourself.
Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, but you refused to let them fall. You wiped at your eyes furiously, willing yourself to keep it together. This was important. You couldnât afford to mess up. Not now.
You let out a shaky breath, running your fingers through your hair in frustration, knocking your glasses askew in the process. You had always prided yourself on being a diligent student, but tonight, you felt like you were failing. The weight of your responsibilities were pressing down on you, and it felt like everything was slipping through you fingers.
You didnât hear the door open, nor did you hear the soft footsteps approaching you until it was too late.
"Y/N," Sevikaâs voice cut through the fog of panic, low and concerned. You looked up quickly, startled by the sudden presence in the room. Sevika stood in the doorway, wearing a pair of well-worn jeans, a black shirt, and a hoodie. Her hair was a bit messy, like she had been running her fingers through it all day, and her expression softened when she saw your frazzled state.
You blinked, trying to get a hold of yourself. "IâIâm fine," you stammered, but it didnât sound convincing even to your own ears. You pulled your glasses off your face and rubbed your eyes, only making the tears more apparent.
Sevika stepped inside, closing the door gently behind her. "Youâre obviously not fine," she said quietly, her tone soft but firm. She walked over to your desk, her brow furrowed with concern as she looked at the open textbooks, the disorganized notes, and the stress radiating off of you in waves.
You shook your head, trying to laugh it off, but it came out sounding more like a sob. "I justâthis test is coming up, and I donât think Iâm ready. I canât focus. I feel like Iâm losing control." Your voice cracked on the last sentence, and you bit her lip, fighting the tears that were threatening to spill.
Sevika was silent for a moment, her gaze softening as she watched you struggle. She could see the stress in the way you were sitting, shoulders tense, your posture stiff as if bracing for something. Sevika had seen you like this beforeâstressed and overwhelmed, but never quite so vulnerable.
Without saying a word, Sevika sat down on the edge of your bed, her presence grounding and comforting. The silence in the room was thick, but it was a calm kind of silence, one that allowed you to take a deep breath, to collect herself. Sevikaâs gentle gaze never left your shaking form, and it made something in your chest tighten. Was it the proximity between you two? Or was it the feeling that Sevika truly cared?
"I know itâs a lot," Sevika finally said, her voice soft but steady. "But youâve got this. Youâre one of the smartest people I know."
You glanced at Sevika, your heart fluttering at the unexpected compliment. Your throat tightened, and for a moment, you didnât know what to say. You were so used to doing things on your own, to holding it all together, but there was something about Sevikaâs quiet confidence, the way she was just sitting there with you, that made you feel a little less alone.
"I just donât feel like I do," you admitted quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. You glanced at the notes again, the words on the page looking foreign and impossible. "I canât seem to focus. Iâve been trying for hours, and itâs like my brain just wonât work."
Sevika stood up, moving over to your side without a word. She didnât try to fix anything or give you advice. Instead, she simply reached out, her hand gently placing itself over your own hand. Her fingers were warm, and the simple contact made your breath hitch and freeze in your lungs.
"Hey, itâs okay," Sevika said softly, her voice taking on a soothing tone. "Youâre doing your best. Thatâs all you can do."
You let out a shaky sigh, resting your forehead against your hand, trying to steady your breathing. Your heart was still pounding in your chest, but something in Sevikaâs steady presence was starting to calm the storm inside of you.
"Youâre right," You said softly, your voice cracking just slightly. "I just wish I could focus more, you know?" You looked up at Sevika, meeting her eyes for the first time in a while. "I donât want to disappoint anyone."
Sevika gave a small smile, a soft and reassuring one, and she squeezed your hand which was dwarfed in her much larger one. "You donât have to be perfect. Youâre allowed to struggle. Youâre allowed to have moments like this." Her words were simple but meaningful, and they had a weight to them that you hadnât been expecting.
You swallowed, feeling a lump in your throat. You hadnât realized just how much you had been carrying until now. The pressure of the test, the expectations you had placed on yourself, the way you were trying to keep everything together. It felt like so much.
Sevika pulled her hand away (much to your sadness) but didnât leave. She walked over to the desk, picking up one of the textbooks. "I donât know anything about law, but if you want, I can help you study. Just... you know, not with the law stuff." She flashed you a grin, her usual cocky smile making an appearance again.
You laughed softly, the sound a little broken but genuine. "I donât think youâd be much help with that," You said, but your voice was lighter now, the weight in your chest easing just a little bit.
Sevika shrugged casually. "Hey, Iâve got plenty of other skills," she teased, walking back to your side. "But if you ever need a break, Iâm here. Iâm good at distractions."
You couldnât help but smile, the tension in your shoulders finally starting to ease as you let herself lean into the comfort of Sevikaâs presence. Sevika was right. You didnât have to do everything on your own.
Sevika sat down next to you, your shoulders brushing against hers. It was a small thing, but you felt the warmth of it spread through your body. Sevika was there, not asking anything from you, just being there.
"Thanks, Sevika," You whispered, your voice soft but filled with gratitude.
Sevika gave you a small, quiet nod. "Anytime, roomie," she said, her voice just as soft somehow, but there was something deeper in it now. Something more personal.
For a few moments, you both just sat there, the quiet comfort of each otherâs presence wrapping around you. Sevika didnât push you to continue studying. She didnât try to force you to be anything other than what you were in that moment. Instead, she just let you breathe, let you feel the softness of the moment without rushing it.
And as you finally let yourself relax, your mind calming just a little, you realized that Sevika wasnât just offering her help with your studies. She was offering something far more valuable. Something that, until now, you hadnât known she needed: support.
And, for the first time in a while, you allowed herself to rest in that support.
"You really are good at distractions," You whispered, your voice light with laughter once again.
Sevika smirked, her hand brushing against yours again. "Yeah, I know," she said with a quiet confidence, her tone sincere and warm.
The cold of the metal bleachers hit you the moment you sat down on them, cool steel against your warm skin, and you pulled your blue hoodie tighter around your shoulders. The sound of players grunting as they warmed up, the thump of bodies against bodies as tackles were performed, and the occasional cheer from the crowd created an atmosphere that was simultaneously intimidating and exhilarating. You had never been to a rugby game before, and as you took your seat in the stands, you couldnât help but feel a little out of place.
But that was about to change. Today, you were there to support Sevika.
You had carefully chosen your outfit for the night, as part of your plan. The blue hoodie matched one of Sevikaâs team colors, and the yellow tank top she wore underneath was the other color of the team, along with Sevikaâs number, which you had painted on earlier that day. You had paired it with jeans, wanting to stay comfortable while also showing your support for Sevika in your own way. The outfit wasnât too revealing, but it was still flattering enough that Sevika would notice. You hoped that, with all of your small steps, the plan was working.
Sevika had always been so confident, so unapologetic. But you had to admit, there was something so magnetic about watching her excel at something she was so passionate about. Sevika had that same confidence on the iceâeffortless, undeniable, and so completely in control.
You settled more into your seat, your heart racing with a mixture of nerves and excitement. You had no idea what to expect, but you were here, and you were going to support Sevika like she had supported you in everything else.
Sevika's team appeared on the grassy field a few minutes later, the crowd erupting into cheers as the players took their positions. The excitement in the air was palpable, and you couldnât help but glance over at Sevika, who was already focused, her eyes locked on the other team with the intensity of someone who had been born for this.
You had heard plenty of stories from Sevika about her games, how she had dominated as a star player and led her team to victory after victory. But hearing about it and seeing it firsthand were two completely different things.
The game started, and you quickly found herself caught up in the energy of it all. The speed, the strength, the sheer power of the players as they moved across the turfâit was all so much more thrilling than you had ever imagined. But what really caught your attention was Sevika.
She was everywhere. Moving with brutality and skill and strength, Sevika was constantly in the thick of the action, controlling the ball, setting up plays, and executing moves that had the crowd roaring in approval. You couldnât help but cheer every time Sevika poached the ball or tackled someone, every time she scored or made a powerful move that left her opponents stumbling in her wake. Sevika was a force of nature, and you were completely in awe.
"Go Sevika!" You shouted, your voice rising above the noise of the crowd. You hadnât realized just how loud you were until you saw a few people nearby look over at you, but you didnât care. You were cheering for Sevika, and it felt right. You were proud of her, so proud.
Sevika glanced up from the game, her eyes briefly scanning the stands until they landed on you. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips when she saw you cheering for her. The sight of you in the stands, her number on your chest, visibly excited and clapping for her, made something inside of Sevika tighten, and she couldnât help but feel a little lighter.
Your voice carried across the rink every time Sevika did something impressiveâevery pass, every shot, every ruck. Sevika couldnât help but feel a little rush of warmth each time she heard her name come from your pretty lips, even though the game was far from over.
But Sevika wasnât just a star playerâshe was also intense. At one point, after a particularly hard hit from one of the other teamâs players, Sevikaâs competitive side snapped into full gear. With an almost predatory look in her eyes, she ran over to the player who had been too rough and made a high tackle, shoving her hard, her expression one of pure aggression. Your heart skipped a beat as you watched Sevika take control of the situation, her assertiveness a thing of beauty. It was raw and powerful.
The game continued, and Sevikaâs team dominated, scoring try after try. Sevika herself scored the final try, securing a resounding victory for her team. The crowd erupted in cheers, and you couldnât help but stand up, clapping as loudly as you could. You were grinning from ear to ear, so proud of Sevikaâs incredible performance.
As the final buzzer sounded, Sevikaâs team ran to the stands to acknowledge the crowd, their coaches, and their fans. You were on your feet, still cheering as the players took their victory lap. You couldnât wait to see Sevika, to congratulate her in person.
When the players started to file off the field and into the locker rooms, Sevikaâs gaze immediately found you in the stands again. There was no hesitation this time. She sprinted right up to the edge of the rink, ignoring the usual post-game rituals and heading straight for you.
Your heart skipped a beat when you saw Sevika coming toward you, her face flushed from the game and her jersey damp with sweat. Sevikaâs usual confident swagger was evident as she approached, and she didnât slow down until she was right in front of you.
Without a word, Sevika reached out and pulled you into a tight hug. You froze for a second, not expecting the sudden gesture, but you then quickly melted into Sevikaâs embrace, feeling the warmth of her body and the lingering heat of her sweat-soaked clothes. You were so happy in that moment, you didnât even mind the smell of sweat.
"Sevika..." You breathed, your voice almost trembling. You didnât care that Sevika was sweaty, that she probably smelled like the game. It didnât matter. All that mattered was that Sevika was standing there, holding you.
Sevika pulled back just slightly, her hands resting on your shoulders as she looked you over. "You were amazing out there," You said, your voice filled with genuine admiration. "Seriously, youâre incredible."
Sevikaâs eyes softened, a hint of something more in her gaze. You stepped back a little, looking her up and down. "You actually came," Sevika said, a hint of disbelief in her voice. "I didnât think you would actually come to one of my games."
You smiled shyly, your heart fluttering. "Of course I came. I wanted to see you play. Youâre... youâre amazing."
Sevikaâs lips curled into a small, knowing grin, and before you could say anything else, Sevika pulled you into another hug, this time a little more lingering. Sevika wasnât sure why, but the closeness felt different this timeâmore intimate. She was letting her guard down with you, and it felt natural.
"Youâre making me feel all soft," Sevika teased, her voice low and playful as she pulled back again. "But seriously, thank you for coming."
You laughed softly, feeling a little embarrassed, but also incredibly happy. You beaming now, your cheeks flushed. "It was the least I could do. Youâre the star of the game."
Sevika smirked, her sharp eyes softening just a little as she looked at you, her expression tender despite the playful exterior. She didnât say anything else, just gave you one last quick squeeze before letting you go.
As Sevika jogged away, heading toward the locker room, you stayed where you were for a moment, your heart still racing from the rush of the game, the excitement of the night, and the overwhelming feeling of pride you felt for Sevika.
The night wasnât over yet, but you already felt like you had experienced something specialâsomething you had been waiting for, though you hadnât quite realized it until now.
The warm California night wrapped around Jinxâs warm, cozy house like a soft blanket. You had never stayed somewhere so homey beforeâthe house was practically glowing in the dim evening light, all wood beams and brick chimneys leading down to burning fireplaces. It was the kind of house people only saw on Pinterest, with a backyard big enough to fit an entire farm, several horses, and even a little pond if they felt like adding that in.
You sat cross-legged on the plush, blanket-covered bed in Jinxâs room, wearing a pair of pajama shorts and an oversized sweater that you had borrowed from Jinxâs closet. Jinx, in a matching pajama set that was so neon it hurt your eyes, sat beside you, your phones lighting up the dim space as you both scrolled through Instagram.
"Okay, but can we talk about how you and Sevika are literally enemies-to-lovers right now?" Jinx said, nudging your side. "Like, youâre basically living in 2016 Wattpad."
You groaned, burying your face in your hands. "We are not enemies-to-lovers! Sheâs just⊠Sevika. And Iâm me. Thatâs all."
Jinx scoffed. "Yeah, okay. But if thatâs true, then why are we stalking her Instagram right now?"
You opened your mouth, then shut it. Jinx had a point.
It had started out as a jokeâjust harmless curiosity. But now, as you two scrolled through Sevikaâs Instagram, it was feeling a little less like a joke and a little more like something dangerous.
Sevikaâs profile was, quite frankly, unfair. She wasnât even trying to be an influencer or anything, but every picture was absurdly attractive and had collected an insane amount of likes. There were casual mirror selfies with her messy hair and her classic lazy smirk, candid shots from rugby games where she looked powerful and locked-in, vacation pictures where she was just in a sports bra and swim trunks by the ocean, tanned and absurdly muscular and glistening from the water. It was infuriating how effortlessly cool she was.
You felt like you were sweating just looking at the screen.
Jinx scrolled down further. "Damn, sheâs really fine."
"Shut up," You muttered, but you couldnât look away.
Then, it happened.
Jinx stopped on a post from over a year agoâan ab picture from 2023, taken in what was clearly a gym mirror. Sevikaâs face wasnât even in it, just her ridiculously sculpted abs, with the caption:
âLost my shirt, found my gains.â
"Oh my God," Jinx whispered dramatically. "Y/N."
"Itâs not that serious," You said quickly, even though your face was burning.
"Itâs that serious," Jinx insisted. "Are you seeing this? Like, actually seeing this? Sheâs insane."
You reached out, grabbing Jinxâs phone to try and scroll past it, but in your panic, your thumb betrayed you.
Double tap.
The little red heart appeared under the post.
You froze.
Jinx froze.
A few seconds of complete, horrific silence passed beforeâ
"NO," You gasped, shoving the phone at Jinx as if that would somehow undo it. "NO, NO, NO."
Jinx threw herself onto the bed, screaming into a pillow. "YOU JUST LIKED A THIRST TRAP FROM A YEAR AGO. SHEâS GONNA KNOW YOU WERE STALKING."
You immediately unliked it, but it was too late. Sevika had already gotten the notification.
"Oh my God, Iâm actually going to throw myself off this balcony," you whispered, hands gripping your head.
Jinx was cackling now, rolling on the bed. "This is the best thing thatâs ever happened. I hope she texts you. I hope she makes fun of you forever."
You were about to respond with a snarky remark when your phone lit up.
A new text.
Sevika (hot roommate): Did you just like my abs from last year?
You stared at the screen in pure terror.
Then, another message.
Sevika (hot roommate): Should I post a new one for you?
You screamed. Jinx screamed with you, both of you smacking each other in panic.
"WHAT DO I SAY?" you shrieked.
Jinx grabbed the phone. "I donât know, but you cannot act normal. You need to gaslight your way out of this."
Then, before you could stop her, Jinx typed:
You: Uhhh that wasnât me. Mustâve been a ghost.
"Jinx."
"Itâs fine, itâs fine," Jinx said, breathless from laughing. "She wonât believe it, but sheâll think itâs funny."
Sevika didnât take long to reply.
Sevika (hot roommate): Damn, you got ghosts with good taste.
You groaned, burying your face in your hands again.
Then, another message popped up.
A picture.
Sevika had just taken a new mirror selfie at the gym. She was in a sports bra, sweat glistening on her abs, her hand tugging her waistband down just slightly to show off the deep V-line that was criminally attractive.
Sevika (hot roommate): Here, since the ghost liked the last one.
You dropped the phone like it had burned your hands.
Jinx took one look at the screen and absolutely lost it. She was rolling on the bed, her laughter muffled in the blankets, kicking her feet in the air. "OH MY GOD. SHE SENT YOU A THIRST TRAP. SHE KNOWS. SHE KNOWS YOU THINK SHEâS HOT."
You were speechless. Your brain had completely short-circuited.
"Y/N. RESPOND," Jinx wheezed.
"I CANâT."
Jinx snatched the phone. "Okay, okay, letâs be smooth about this."
She typed:
You: Youâre so annoying.
Sevikaâs response was immediate.
Sevika (hot roommate): But youâre still looking, arenât you?
You let out a strangled noise, your face a violent shade of red. Jinx was screaming into a pillow again. Seeing after break was going to be absolute hell.
âŠhi are you guys still here⊠I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG TO UPDATEđ fun fact i am an absolute academic weapon so i was locked in on finishing the semester but now that iâm done, updates should be more regular! iâm so sorry i abandoned you guys like that oops.
i hope you loved the chapter! as always, i am open to questions and requests. iâll actually be able to post and answer them regularly now!
Hi dear, Iâm starving here, I neeeeed new chapter, please!
haha iâm working on it! sorry i lowkey abandoned you guys for a minute, finals are actually the worst thing ever but theyâre almost over. iâll try to get it out this weekend!!
You stood in front of the mirror, tilting your head slightly as you gave yourself one last once-over.
Low-waisted jeans? Check.
Red tank top? Check.
Navy blue hoodie? Casually draped over your shoulders.
And, as a final touchâŠa subtle but intentional peek of black thong strings above your waistband. It wasnât an uncommon outfit for you; this was normal and comfortable. You were used to outfits like this. However, Sevika wasnât.
You eaxhaled, brushing your hair behind your ears and smoothing the fabric of your tank top. Okay, step one. Time to test the waters.
Sevika was still in bed, sprawled out on her stomach, one arm tucked under her pillow. It was a rare sightâshe was usually up early for workouts, but after a late-night study session (which had included a lot of her groaning over numbers while you tried not to be entertained), she had apparently decided to sleep in.
You grabbed your bag, zipped it up, andâ
"Where the hell are you going lookinâ like that?"
You jumped, making a squeaking noise.
You turned to see Sevika shifting onto her side, blinking sleepily but already far too alert for someone who had just woken up. Her voice was still low and raspy with sleep, and her eyesâoh, her eyesâdragged down your body with a slow, deliberate assessment.
Your pulse spiked. You tilted your chin up. "Class?"
Sevika licked her lips, her gaze sticking to the red tank top. "Dressed like that?"
You crossed your arms, feigning innocence. "Whatâs wrong with it?"
Sevika snorted, pushing herself upright. The sheets pooled around her waist, revealing toned arms and the ink-black strap of her sports bra."Oh, nothing," she said, smirking. "Except for the fact that you look like trouble."
You swallowed hard, willing yourself to keep your cool. "Itâs just a tank top."
Sevika hummed. "Mmhm."
She wasnât looking at your face anymore. Itâs like eye contact didnât even exist.Her gaze lingered on the curve of your waist, the small, barely noticeable peek of black strings above your jeans.
You bit the inside of your cheek to keep from smirking. Step one: success.
Sevika exhaled through her nose, running a hand through her still-messy hair. "You got class now?"
You nodded, adjusting the strap of her bag. "Yeah. Ethics."
Sevika stretched, the strap of her sports bra slipping off her shoulder, the one that usually had a mechanical arm attached to it. The arm had been taken off so she could sleep more comfortably. "Iâll walk you."
You blinked. "You donât have class until eleven."
Sevika swung her legs over the side of the bed, already reaching for the black zip-up jacket hanging on her desk chair. "So?"
You raised an eyebrow. "SoâŠyou never walk me to class."
Sevika smirked. "Guess todayâs your lucky day."
You knew exactly what was happening.
And it was delicious.
Sevika was already acting different. The outfit had thrown her offâmaybe even more than you had anticipated. There was something hungry behind her eyes, something restless in the way she pulled on her hoodie and ran her hand through her shaggy, damp hair, her breathing heavy and her eyes avoiding you at all costs.
Oh, this is going to be fun.
The walk to class was⊠odd. The October air was crisp, the sky pale blue and cloudless. The leaves along the sidewalk had started to turn shades of burnt orange and deep red, crunching softly beneath your feet as you and your roommate walked side by side.
Or, ratherâyou walked, and Sevika prowled beside you, hands stuffed into her pockets, shoulders tense.
She wasnât talking.
She wasnât flirting.
She was watching.
You could feel itâthe weight of Sevikaâs gaze as it flickered from your shoulders to your waist to the stupid black strings peeking out whenever you shifted.You fought the urge to smile. This is too easy. You took a sip of the Poppi in your hand, your long nails clicking against the aluminum as you hummed to herself. "You okay over there?"
Sevika scoffed. "You know what youâre doing."
You blinked at her, appearing lost and confused, the very picture of innocence. "What do you mean?"
Sevika narrowed her eyes. "Red. Blue. Black."
You tilted your head. "Colors?"
Sevika huffed a low, almost frustrated laugh. "Donât play dumb, Y/N."
You shrugged, letting the motion shift your hoodie slightly off your shoulder. "Maybe I just like these colors."
Sevikaâs jaw flexed. "Sure."
You reached the entrance of the Philosophy building. Students milled around, heading to their morning classes, but Sevika stood firmly beside you, still watching, stillâŠsomething.
You turned to face her, adjusting the strap of your bag. "Thanks for walking me."
Sevika exhaled, rubbing a hand over her face. "Yeah. No problem."
She hesitated.
For a second, it almost looked like she wanted to say somethingâher mouth opened, then shut, her gaze flickering down to the tiny sliver of your waist still visible beneath your hoodie.
Instead, she huffed, shook her head, and muttered, "Youâre a menace," before turning and stalking off.
The dorm was quiet, save for the hum of the air conditioner and the occasional rustle of paper as you flipped through your notes. Your textbooks were scattered across the floor, strewn in a slightly organized chaos that made perfect sense to you, even if it looked like a disaster to anyone else. You were deeply immersed in your workâanalyzing ethics theories, writing down key points, and mentally organizing your arguments for your next paper.
You were, for once, focused entirely on the task at hand, your brow furrowed in concentration.
But you also knew how to play the game.
You had carefully selected your outfit for this session, knowing that Sevika would return from the team dinner in a few minutes. The plan was clearâstep two: wear something distracting.
So, you had chosen a pair of grey pajama shorts with little stars scattered across the fabric, the hems delicately trimmed with black lace. They barely covered your thighs, which made it easier to accidentally draw attention to your curves. The top was a white cropped tank that was a little too thin, almost see-through in certain light, and it clung to your body in all the right ways. No braâjust the soft, slight hint of skin beneath the thin fabric.
You knew what you were doing.
You laid on your stomach across the floor, one leg propped up while you worked, the other stretched out beside you. Your glasses were perched on your nose, the look completed by the slightly messy hair you hadnât bothered to styleâeffortless, yet undeniably cute. You didnât need to be overly concerned with looking perfect.
It was workingâway too well.
The door to you and Sevikaâs dorm opened with a faint click, and Sevikaâs voice, deep and slightly muffled, filled the space. "Iâm back."
You didnât even flinch. You kept writing, pretending not to notice the door creak open wider. You knew Sevika was there, her presence was undeniable.
Sevika stood in the doorway for a moment, her eyes scanning the room, the briefest flash of confusion crossing her face before her gaze locked on you. Her breath hitched.
Sevika had just returned from a team dinner, so she was still dressed in her suitâa sharp black jacket and a crisp white shirt. The tie was snug, choking her a bit after hours of wearing it, and she had to resist the urge to tug at it. She wasnât used to sitting still for long periods in formal wear, and her muscles were still sore from the game earlier. She had been looking forward to changing into something comfortable.
But when she stepped into the room and saw you splayed out on the floor, wearing nothing but those goddamn starry shorts and that tank top, if you could even call it thatâwell, she completely forgot her exhaustion. Sevika made a noise. A noise that sounded like a groan, somewhere between frustration and desire.
"Fuck," she muttered under her breath, a guttural reaction before she could stop herself.
Your pulse quickened, but you stayed cool, keeping your eyes focused on the pages in front of them. You hadnât been expecting Sevikaâs reaction to be quite so obvious, but you definitely felt the air shift. The slight flush on Sevikaâs face was hard for her to ignore as she shuffled a little on her feet, clearly uncomfortable with how her body was responding to the sight in front of her.
Sevika cleared her throat, trying to act normal. She made a beeline for her dresser, but her movements were jerky, distracted. She was trying, with very little success, to ignore your presence, which was proving to be very difficult. She had been so sure that she could walk into the room, change, and get her mind off of herâoff of you. But now, there was nothing but the way your shorts clung to your hips, the way the damn tank top stretched tight over your torso, the outline of your body clearly visible beneath the fabric.
The glasses, though.
It was the glasses.
Sevika didnât even realize she had moved, but she was standing too close to you, her chest heaving. She reached out to loosen her tie, unbuttoning the top of her shirt in an attempt to cool off, but it was useless. The air between your two felt thick. She had to fight the urge to justâjust touch the girl lying in front of her.
You, in the meantime, didnât flinch. You didnât even look up. Your calmness, your indifference, was only adding to Sevikaâs internal chaos.
She was so distracted.
Sevika wasnât used to being so flustered. She was used to the attention, the power she had in a room. But with you? With you, everything was upside down.
Without thinking, Sevika pulled out her phone. She had to do somethingâanything to distract herself from the rising heat in her chest and the increasing moisture in her dress pants. She snapped a quick picture of you, your body stretched out on the floor, the way the soft light from the window made you look even moreâŠappealing.
Sevika bit her lip, staring at the screen for a beat longer than necessary before quickly locking her phone and shoving it back into her pocket.
She looked back at you, who was still completely unaware, focused intently on your notes.
And Sevika? Sevika was in deep.
Too deep.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of standing there, Sevika cleared her throat again, louder this time. "You, uhâneed help with that? Your work, I mean."
You looked up from your notes, blinking as if youâd just realized Sevika was there. You smiled innocently. "Oh, no, Iâm good. Just studying."
Sevika struggled not to let her gaze linger. She tugged at her tie again, frustration clear on her face. "You sure?" She was pushing it now. She knew it, but she couldnât stop. She needed to act normal. "You look pretty busy with your notes."
Your lips twitched as you caught on to the edge of Sevikaâs tone. You nodded, trying to act casual, as if nothing was happening. "Yeah. Iâm fine. Just have a lot to do."
Sevika exhaled shakily. "Alright. Cool."
The air between you two felt charged, and Sevika wasnât sure how much longer she could keep pretending that this was just a casual interaction.
The bass of the music thudded through your chest as you stood in the entrance of Melâs sorority house, scanning the crowded space. The atmosphere was electric, filled with laughter and chatter, drinks sloshing around in hands as people danced in the center of the room. The dim lighting made everything seem a little hazier, more intimateâeverything you loved about a good party.
This wasnât just any party, though. This was the moment where you would put step three into action.
You werenât just going to sit idly by tonight. No, tonight, you would make Sevika notice. You would make her feel the weight of your attention, just like the plan said.
You adjusted the dark red mini dress you wore, the fabric hugging your body in all the right ways, showing off your figure without being too much. The oversized black leather jacket you had paired with it gave off a laid-back vibe that contrasted against the sultry vibe of the dress.
Mel and Jinx were by your side, each of them wearing their signature looksâJinx in tiny shorts that should get a public nudity charge and chunky boots, and Mel in a little white dress from somewhere way out of your price range. They looked like they belonged in their own bubble, but you were on a mission.
"Alright, you ready for this?" Mel grinned, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she gave you a playful shove.
You glanced over at Jinx, who had been watching the room with interest. "I guess we'll see." You tried to keep your voice casual, but there was an edge of anticipation beneath it.
You all made your way through the crowd, Mel and Jinx laughing and chatting as you kept your eyes peeled. It didnât take long before you spotted your target.
Vi, Jinxâs older sister you had flirted with a few weeks ago, was by the punch bowl, her pink messy hair falling perfectly around her shoulders as she laughed with a group of people. You had always been drawn to herâconfident, athletic, and undeniably cute. Tonight, however, you were going to push their dynamic further, even if it was just for your own gain against Sevika.
You took a deep breath and walked toward Vi, making sure your hips swayed just a little more than usual as you approached.
"Hey, Vi," you called out, your voice smooth, playful.
Vi looked up, her smile wide as soon as she saw you. "Y/N, hey!" she greeted warmly, leaning in for a quick hug.
You let the hug linger just a little longer than necessary, feeling Viâs body heat through your dress, before pulling back with a smile. "I was hoping Iâd see you tonight. You look amazing."
Vi laughed, a slight blush creeping up her neck. "Thanks! You look stunning, as always."
You eyes flicked to the side for a split second. Perfect. Sevika was standing a few feet away, leaning against the wall with a drink in her hand, watching the interaction between you and Vi with sharp, narrowed eyes. You could feel Sevikaâs gaze on your skin, your body, and it sent a small thrill down your spine.
You leaned in a little closer to Vi, letting your fingers brush lightly against the other girlâs arm. "So," you began, your voice low, "whatâs a girl like you doing at a sorority party? Doesnât seem like your, uh, scene exactly."
Viâs eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and something more, a challenge. "I could ask you the same thing." She took a sip of her drink and set it down on the table, turning her body slightly to face you more fully.
You laughed lightly, your fingers brushing Viâs arm again, a little more intentionally this time. "Maybe I just came here to find someone to have some fun with."
Viâs mouth curled into a teasing smile, a scar running through her lips. "And who would that be?"
You met her eyes, your gaze steady. "Well, I can think of one person whoâs caught my attention tonight," you said, voice a little bolder now. You let your hand rest lightly on Viâs insanely muscular shoulder, the touch casual, but there was a hint of something deeper in the way you did it. Sure, you were attracted to her, but you didnât desire her in the same way you desired your roommate.
Vi raised an eyebrow, her lips parting as if to say something else, but before she could speak, you felt a sudden, sharp tension in the air.
Sevika.
You didnât need to look to know Sevika was watching you. The weight of Sevikaâs gaze was like a spotlight on you, making you feel more aware of every movement, every touch. So, you took your time pulling back from Vi, making sure Sevika could see every movement you made.
Sevika stood a few feet away, her posture stiff as she watched, her jaw clenched tightly. The baggy jeans she wore hung low on her hips, and the cropped t-shirt she had on revealed a glimpse of her abs and the sharp V-line that led down to her waistband. Her chest was rising and falling a little more rapidly than usual, and you could swear you saw the flash of jealousy behind her narrowed gaze.
This is it, you thought, a small, satisfied smile tugging at the corners of your lips. You didnât break eye contact with Sevika as you pulled back fully from Vi.
"Maybe weâll get together sometime soon? Hang out someplace?" You said casually to Vi, your voice dropping lower as you stepped away.
Viâs lips quirked into a playful smile. "Definitely."
With one last wink, you turned and walked away, your heart pounding with exhilaration. You could feel Sevikaâs gaze on you the entire time, the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife.
The moment you were a few steps away from Vi, Mel and Jinx were already pulling you aside, giggling like schoolgirls.
"Oh my god," Mel exclaimed, nearly choking on her drink as she grinned at you. "Did you see the way Sevika was looking at you?"
Jinx laughed, clapping her hands together. "You were so evil, Y/N! She looked ready to pounce."
You couldnât help but smile, your heart fluttering with the success of the plan. "I think itâs working."
Jinx raised an eyebrow. "You think? I know itâs working. Sevika is definitely jealous. That was textbook jealousy, the way she was staring. I thought she was gonna kill my sis!"
You exhaled shakily, trying to act nonchalant. "Iâm just doing what you guys told me to do. Just following the plan."
Mel nudged you. "Oh, itâs working, alright. Just wait until she really notices how hard youâre pushing her buttons. Youâve got her wrapped around your finger."
Your pulse quickened as you thought about Sevika, about the way she had looked at you tonight, like she wanted to eat you alive. You were so close, you could almost taste it.
Sevika was watching. Sevika was jealous. And soon, you would have exactly what you wanted.
But for now, all you wanted was a drink in your hand.
The night air felt cooler than usual as you stumbled along the sidewalk, your head spinning slightly from the drinks youâd consumed at the party. It wasnât like you had planned on getting drunk, but after a few shots with Mel and Jinx, your very low alcohol tolerance had gotten the best of you. You had promised yourself that youâd walk home, but now your vision was blurry, and every step felt heavier than the last.
You shouldâve taken a cab. Or maybe you shouldâve stayed at the party longer, not trying to be the responsible one. But there you were, trying your best to keep your balance as you made your way down the street, occasionally muttering to yourself, half-laughing, half-groaning.
"Sevikaâs way too cute," you mumbled under your breath, your overly- tipsy state making you more talkative than usual. "God, I could justâ"
A familiar voice cut through your rambling and groggy thoughts.
"Youâre gonna hurt yourself walking like that." Sevikaâs voice was low, but clear enough for you to hear it through the fog of your tipsy brain.
You turned your head, blinking quickly as you tried to focus. Sevika was standing in front of you, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips as she crossed her arms. "I swear, you get more reckless every time I see you."
"Iâm fine," you muttered, swaying a little as you tried to push past Sevika. "Just trying to go home..."
Sevika shook her head, sighing. "No, youâre not." She stepped forward, effortlessly scooping you up in her arms like you weighed nothing.
You let out a small, surprised squeak, but then couldnât help but laugh, your arms wrapping around Sevikaâs neck to steady herself. "Hey! What are youâ?"
"You canât even walk straight,Y/N. Stop being stubborn," Sevika replied, her voice almost teasing as she started walking with you limp in her arms. "Iâm getting you back to the dorm, whether you like it or not."
You snickered, the warmth of Sevikaâs arms making you feel safe, though part of you still felt a little embarrassed. "You know... itâs really attractive that youâre carry me like this," you blurted out, your words slurring slightly. You felt your face heat up almost immediately after the words left your mouth.
Sevika froze mid-step, her body stiffening for just a moment. You couldnât see Sevikaâs face, but you could feel the change in your body language. The air between you two seemed to shift. Sevikaâs grip on you tightened, her pace quickening as she continued to walk toward the dorm.
"Youâre drunk," Sevika said, her voice quieter now, almost like she was trying to hold back a smile. "Youâre not making any sense."
But you could hear the shift in Sevikaâs tone, and it made your heart race a little faster. Were you just imagining things? Was Sevika responding to you in a way that wasnât totally indifferent?
"Maybe Iâm not," You mumbled. "Maybe youâre just... way too hot."
Sevika didnât answer right away, but you could feel the tension in her bodyâSevika was definitely holding something back. She was holding you closer now, her movements more purposeful, and you couldn't help but lean into the warmth of her body. The sensation made you feel light-headed in a way that had nothing to do with the alcohol.
When you finally made it back to the dorm, Sevika gently set you down on your feet, though she kept a hand on your waist for support. "Alright, you're home. Stay here for a second, Iâm getting you water," Sevika said, her voice firm, yet there was an edge of something you couldnât quite place.
You stood a little too still for a moment, watching Sevikaâs back as she turned to walk to the little mini fridge she had next to her bed. The room was spinning slightly, but that didnât stop you from thinking about what you had said earlier. Your words echoed in your head.
Maybe youâre just way too hot.
You almost regretted saying it, but it had felt so good to just... say it. You didnât know if Sevika had actually heard it or if the tipsiness had made you bold. Either way, the lingering warmth on your skin from Sevikaâs hands made your stomach flutter, and the thought of Sevika holding you like that stuck in your mind.
Sevika came back with a plastic bottle of water, handing it to you carefully. "Drink up," she said, her voice less teasing than before, more controlled.
You took the water, not even thinking twice before bringing it to your lips and sipping. The coolness of the water helped steady you a little, but your mind was still racing. You looked up at Sevika, who was standing across from you, arms crossed, leaning against the counter. Her jaw was set, hard, and her gaze flickered from your face to the floor and back again.
"You should change out of those clothes before you go to sleep," Sevika said after a beat. Her voice was more neutral now, but you could still sense something in itâan undercurrent of hesitation? Or maybe something else entirely.
You blinked, surprised by the suggestion. "What, you think Iâm gonna sleep in these clothes?" You said, your eyes wide, though you immediately regretted the flippant tone. "Uh... Okay, fine, but I canât really reach my closet. Could you...?"
Sevika let out a small sigh, clearly not thrilled by the prospect of rifling through your things, but she relented. "Alright. Just... donât fall asleep on the couch," she muttered as she went to your dresser.
The room felt small all of a sudden, the air thick with an uncomfortable tension. You hadnât expected Sevika to actually pick out your clothes, but the way Sevika movedâso carefully, so sure of herselfâhad an almost unsettling effect on you. You could see Sevika pull a t-shirt out, folding it with deliberate care before turning back to you.
"Here," Sevika said, handing the shirt over. It was a loose-fitting t-shirt, and she seemed to try hard not to look at you too much as she gave it to you.
"Thanks," you murmured, taking the shirt from her and pulling it over your head, suddenly feeling vulnerable in a way that you hadnât expected. The t-shirt swallowed youâmuch bigger than your usual sizeâbut you didnât mind it. The softness of the fabric felt comforting, though a small part of you wondered why it felt so comforting.
Sevika gave you a brief nod and turned toward her own bed. "Goodnight," she said, but her voice wasnât as carefree as it usually was. There was something softer in it, something that wasnât quite Sevika.
You crawled into your own bed, pulling the covers up and sinking into the soft sheets. You could hear Sevika moving around the room, clearly preparing to go to bed as well. The door clicked shut, but you couldnât shake the thoughts swirling in your head.
You didnât fall asleep right away, your mind replaying the moment when Sevika had carried you, the way Sevika had reacted to your teasing comments. Something was different. You weren't sure what, but it was there. And the tension in the air between you two had been undeniable.
After a while, you finally drifted off to sleep, unaware of Sevikaâs own internal battle. Sevika lay awake for a long time, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts of you, of the way her scent lingered on the t-shirt you had worn to bed, of the feeling of your soft body close to hers.
What the hell is happening? Sevika thought, frustrated and confused by the emotions swirling in her chest. She hadnât brought a girl home in weeks. Hadnât even flirted with anyone, really. Since meeting you, it had been different.
And now, as she finally drifted to sleep, Sevika dreamed of you. The dream was vivid, filled with raw emotions and undeniable tension, and it left Sevika waking up in the middle of the night, heart pounding, body still buzzing with the intensity of it all.
The next morning, you woke with a soft groan, stretching beneath the covers. your eyes blinked open, confused as you looked down at the oversized shirt you were wearing. It was way too big for you, the fabric falling past your hips.
What...
Then it hit you. You werenât wearing your own clothes. You froze for a second, blinking in disbelief. Did Sevika...
You quickly glanced toward Sevikaâs bed, but it was empty. Only the lingering scent of Sevikaâs cologne remained in the air, making your heart race.
Had you really just slept in Sevikaâs clothes all night?
HI!!! thank you guys SO much for all the love on the last few chapters
a few things:
- if you noticed some weird names in the last chapter, that is because when i originally wrote this story, readers best friends were OCâs with their own names, and i ended up switching them to Mel and Jinx because i thought that more sense. thank you to @p3t3r-p4rk3rr for pointing out that i forgot to switch their names!
-if you have anything you want me to write or any questions for me, donât be scared to ask! it would be great to talk to you guys.
You had just finished applying your nighttime moisturizer when you heard a low, annoyed sigh from behind yourself.
You glanced over your shoulder to find Sevika lying on her bed, metal arm draped across her forehead, legs stretched out, her phone resting on her stomach. Her damp hair was messy from a post-practice shower, strands sticking to her forehead, and she was wearing nothing but a white ribbed wife beater and loose blue boxers.
The sight of her like thatârelaxed, undoneâwas unfairly attractive.
You quickly turned back to your vanity, pretending to be deeply invested in you skincare routine. "Whatâs with the dramatic sighing?"
Sevika let out another long exhale, more over dramatic than the last. "I need help."
You frowned slightly, dabbing a bit of lip balm on. "With�"
"Homework," Sevika admitted begrudgingly. "Stats. Itâs kicking my ass."
You bit back a smile. You had never heard Sevika admit to struggling with anything. "And you want my help?"
Your roommate rolled onto her side, propping herself up on her elbow. "Yeah, princess, I do."
Something about the way she said princessâall slow and teasingâmade your stomach tighten in a way you did not appreciate.
You cleared your throat, shaking it off. "Alright," you said, standing up and stretching. "Letâs see what weâre working with."
Sevika scooted over, making space for you to sit on the edge of her bed. The dorm wasnât huge, so the proximity was unavoidable. You could feel the warmth radiating off Sevikaâs skin, smell the faint mix of clean laundry, soap, and something deeperâwoodsy and warm.
You focused very, very hard on Sevikaâs laptop screen. "Okay, show me where youâre stuck."
Sevika groaned, running a hand through her damp hair. "Literally all of it."
You bit back a laugh and pulled the laptop onto your lap, scanning the assignment. "Itâs not that bad. You just have to break it down."
For the next twenty minutes, you walked Sevika through the basics, explaining things in a way that actually made sense. Sevika, to her credit, tried to keep up, even though she was clearly exhausted.
At some point, she flopped back onto her pillows, groaning dramatically. "I donât know how you do this."
You smirked. "Because I actually pay attention in class?"
Sevika opened one eye. "Rude."
You shrugged. "Just saying."
She smirked, eyes flickering toward your desk, cluttered with makeup and textbooks. "Youâre such a nerd, you know that?"
You scoffed. "I am not."
"You literally have color-coded notebooks and a planner with stickers," The woman next to you teased.
"And you have no organization at all," You shot back.
"Thatâs why I have you," Sevika said, voice low and easy.
Your breath hitched for a fraction of a second before you yourself to ignore whatever that meant.
Instead, you changed the subject. "What do you listen to when you study?"
Sevika stretched her arms above her head, considering. "Depends. If I actually need to focus, probably Frank Ocean... If Iâm hyping myself up? Kendrick."
You raised an eyebrow. "You would listen to Kendrick."
She smirked. "What, you donât?"
"I mean, I do sometimes," you admitted. "But I listen to a lot of Queen, Chappel RoanâŠ"
Sevika tilted her head. "Okay, Queen is solid. I didnât know you had taste."
You rolled your eyes. "Gee, thanks."
The two of you lapsed into a comfortable silence. You leaned back slightly, stretching out your legs, your knee brushing against Sevikaâs massive thigh. You pretended not to notice the slight touch.
Sevikaâs gaze flickered toward your bed, and a slow smirk spread across her face. "You know," she said, "your bed looks like it belongs to a twelve-year-old."
You gasped. "Excuse me?"
She chuckled, nodding toward the pink fluffy comforter, the fairy lights strung up along the headboard, three extra fluffy blankets, the literal pile of stuffed animals.
"Do not come for my bed," you said, crossing your arms. "Itâs cozy."
"Itâs adorable. And childish," Sevika corrected, clearly amused.
You huffed. "Well, yours looks like a prison cot."
Your incredibly rude roommate shrugged. "What, you want me to throw a few teddy bears on it?"
You smirked. "I dare you."
Sevika chuckled, shaking her head. "Not happening, princess."
You rolled her eyes at her, standing up and stretching. "Your loss. Stuffed animals are great."
Sevika watched you for a moment, something unreadable flickering behind her eyes. But then she just smirked. "Night, Y/N. Thanks for the homework help."
You nodded, slipping into bed and turning off the light. "Night, Sevika."
You were back in the dorm, but something was different. The air was heavy, charged. You was standing in front of Sevika, close enough to feel her warmth, close enough to notice the way her eyes darkened as she looked at you.
Sevika reached out, her metal fingers brushing against your bare shoulder, trailing down your arm in a way that sent a shiver through your entire body.
"You drive me insane, you know that?" Sevikaâs voice was low, rough. Almost scary.
You swallowed hard. "Iâ"
Before you could finish the thought, Sevikaâs hands were on your waist, tugging you forward. Your bodies pressed together, and you could feel every hard line of muscle against your own soft curves.
Sevika leaned in, lips ghosting over your neck, breath warm against your skin. "I bet you taste as sweet as you smell."
Your knees nearly buckled.
You felt Sevikaâs mouth trail lower down your neck, hot and teasing, andâ
You woke up gasping for air.
Your heart was pounding, your skin burning, your entire body wired with heat.
You squeezed your eyes shut, willing the dream to disapear, willing yourself to forget.
But it was no use.
Because now, when you looked over at Sevikaâs sleeping figureâher broad shoulders, her steady breathing, the way her wife beater had ridden up just enough to reveal a sliver of brown skinâall you could think about was how it had felt to have Sevikaâs hands on her.
The cafe was cozy, nestled between two bookstores on a quiet street just off campus. It smelled like espresso and sugar, warm with the hum of soft indie music playing overhead. Students occupied almost every table, laptops open, notebooks spread out, the occasional burst of laughter cutting through the steady murmur of conversation.
You sat across from Sevika in a booth near the window, your laptop open in front of you, a half-drunk strawberry iced matcha in your hand. You had thrown your hair up into an updo a few minutes ago, not thinking much of itâuntil she noticed Sevika watching you.
You werenât sure why Sevika was watching you, but something about the weight of her gaze made your stomach tighten into knots and flood with butterflies.
You focused on your laptop, pretending that you werenât suddenly very aware of Sevikaâs eyes on you.
"So, where were we?" You asked, clearing your throat.
Your roommate blinked, as if she had been lost in thought. "Uh. Something about probability."
You bit back a smile. "Something about probability?"
Sevika smirked, sipping her incredibly boring espresso. "I donât know, princess. Thatâs your job to figure out."
You rolled your eyes. "Youâre impossible."
"And yet," Sevika said, leaning forward on her elbows, "you agreed to help me."
You sighed dramatically, clicking back onto the stats assignment. "Unfortunately."
Sevika chuckled but let you get back to explaining. For the next hour, you walked her through the material, breaking it down in a way that made sense, your fingers tapping against the table as you spoke.
Sevika wasnât listening as much as she should have been.
She was too distracted by the way you absentmindedly chewed your bottom lip while you concentrated. The way your tank top hugged your figure perfectly, the soft golden glint of your necklaces, the smooth lines of your throat.
She definitely wasnât thinking about the way you had lifted your arms to tie up your hair earlier, exposing the subtle curve of your waist, the sliver of tanned skin above the waistband of your jeans.
Nope. Not thinking about that at all.
You, on the other hand, were struggling for very different reasons.
Your mind had been a disaster all morning. Every time you looked at Sevikaâreally looked at herâflashes of last nightâs dream hit you like a freight train. The heat of Sevikaâs hands on your waist. The low rasp of her voice. The way her lips had felt, warm and teasing against your skinâ
You clenched your jaw, pushing the thought far, far away. You were being ridiculous. It was just a dream.
Sevika caught you staring. "You good?"
Your face burned bright red. "Yes."
Sevika narrowed her eyes slightly, but let it go.
You wrapped up the study session about twenty minutes later, finishing off your drinks as students came and went around you two.
Sevika stretched her arms above her head, letting out a deep sigh. "Alright, nerd. I think my brain is officially fried."
You snorted. "Iâm shocked you lasted this long."
Sevika smirked, leaning back into the booth. "You underestimate me."
You raised an eyebrow. "Do I?"
The woman chuckled but didnât answer. Instead, she tilted her head slightly. "What are you up to now?"
You finished the last of your matcha. "Dance studio."
Sevika nodded. "Solo practice?"
"Yeah," you said, slipping your laptop into your tote bag. "I need to get in a few extra hours before I try out for the dance team next week."
Sevika hummed, considering. "Maybe Iâll stop by sometime. See if youâre actually good or if the schoolâs just desperate for dancers."
You gasped, scandalized. "Iâll have you know, Iâm very good."
She smirked, amused by her indignation. "I guess Iâll just have to see for myself."
You rolled your eyes but couldnât help the small smile tugging at your lips.
The dance studio was quiet, the kind of quiet that made you feel like you could breathe again.
You stood in front of the mirror, hands resting on your hips, your water bottle set on the floor nearby. The room smelled faintly of wood and sweat, of polished floors and effort. It was your second home, the place where you could let everything else fall away.
But today, your mind would not shut up.
You had spent the entire study session fighting off the most inconvenient thoughts about Sevika, and now, as you stretched, those thoughts slipped through the cracks again.
Sevika, lying in bed with damp hair. Sevika, watching you tie up your hair with that unreadable look in her eyes. Sevika, calling you princess in that low, teasing voice.
You groaned, pressing your palms against your face. "Get it together."
You turned on the music, hoping it would drown out everything else going on in your mind.
You lounged on your bed, a box of Raising Caneâs resting on your lap as you dipped a crinkle fry into a little tub of Caneâs sauce. Jinx and Mel were sprawled out across your comforter, all three of you decked out in fluffy pajamas and matching face masksâJinxâs was neon pink, Melâs a smooth clay green, and yours a soft lavender shade.
"I swear to God, this is peak self-care," Jinx said through a mouthful of chicken tenders, licking sauce off her fingers.
"Iâm telling you," Mel chimed in, stretching her legs out, "nothing beats a greasy fast food binge and skincare. Even though those things are not related, like, at all."
You hummed in agreement, taking a sip of your iced tea. It had been a long day, and a girlsâ night was exactly what you neededâsomething normal, safe, and completely unrelated toâŠ
You shoved the thought away before it could form.
Jinx, ever the instigator, tossed a napkin at your face. "So, Y/N," she said, wiggling her eyebrows. "Speaking of things that nothing beats, and no one beats this certain persons hotness-"
You groaned. "Nope. Not doing this."
Mel giggled, adjusting her headband. "Come on! Youâve been weird all day."
"I have not."
Jinx rolled onto her stomach, kicking her feet. "Babe. You so have.
You made the very unfortunate mistake of hesitating. It was a fraction of a second, but it was enough for both of them to pounce.
"Oh my God," Jinx gasped, sitting up. "Youâre hiding something."
Mel gasped. "Did something happen?!"
"No!" You squeaked, your face already heating up and betraying you and your lies.
Jinx grinned. "Y/N."
"No."
"Y/N."
"I hate you."
Mel grabbed your shoulders. "Spill."
You groaned, tossing your head back against your pillows. "It was just a stupid dream, okay?! Thatâs all."
Mel and Jinx screamed.
"Oh, this is wild," Jinx said, bouncing excitedly. "What kind of dream? Did you have a sex dream?"
"I hate you both."
"Was it aboutâ" Mel gasped dramatically. "Sevika?"
You shoved a pillow over your face. "Oh my God."
Jinx practically vibrated with excitement. "You had a sex dream about Sevika?" She squealed.
You groaned into the pillow. "Please kill me."
Mel giggled, grabbing your arm. "Tell us everything."
"I will not."
Jinx nudged you. "Y/N. You have to."
You peeked out from behind the pillow, your face turning a violent shade of red. "It was justâ" You cleared your throat. "It wasâŠher. And me. And she wasâŠum."
Jinx and Mel leaned in, eager to hear more.
"She was, uhâŠ" You swallowed. "VeryâŠclose."
They screamed.
Mel fanned herself. "Oh my God."
Jinx grabbed your wrist, shaking it. "Are you kidding?! Thatâs so hot."
"It was not," You insisted. "It was humiliating."
Mel waggled her eyebrows. "OrâŠwas it revealing?"
You threw a fry at her. She scowled at you and ate it.
Jinx grinned. "Okay, okay, but likeâŠobjectively speaking, Sevika is hot. Even though she like, has this stupid rivalry thing with Vi."
You groaned. "Donât."
Mel wiggled her fingers. "Doooonât deny it."
You buried your face in your hands. "I hate this conversation."
Before they could tease you more, the dorm door swung open.
And in walked Sevika.
She was sweaty, her skin glowing from the gym, dressed in loose gray sweatpants and a very tight compression shirt that clung to every inch of muscle. She had her duffel bag slung over her shoulder, her hair damp from sweat, and she looked unfairly attractive.
You felt your soul leave your body.
Sevika glanced at you and your friends, amused. "Should I be concerned about the screaming?"
Mel, being the worst, smirked. "Oh, donât worry, itâs nothing important."
Jinx giggled. "Nothing youâd be interested in."
You suddenly had the urge to die.
Sevika raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off, tossing her bag onto her bed. She stretched her arms behind her head, the motion making her shirt ride up just enough to show a flash of her abs.
You were not looking.
(Okay, you were absolutely looking.)
Sevika smirked, tilting her head. "What? You three gossiping about me?"
Jinx beamed. "Why? Would you want us to?"
Sevika let out a low chuckle, and oh no.
Her gaze flicked to you, slow and assessing. "Depends."
Your brain shut down. Sevika was flirting with you, which Jinx and Mel caught onto immediately.
"Oh my God," Mel whispered dramatically.
You could feel your face heating up once again. Itâs like you had a permanent blush. You were still thinking about The Dream, and now Sevika was standing there, looking annoyingly attractive, all muscle and sweat and teasing smirks. You cleared your throat, gripping your drink a little too hard. "We were justâŠtalking."
Sevikaâs smirk widened. "Just talking?"
Jinx grinned. "Wouldnât you like to know?"
Sevika chuckled, grabbing a water bottle from her desk. "Youâre all so weird."
Mel hummed. "And youâre so sweaty."
Sevika took a swig of water. "Thanks, princess."
You nearly choked on air.
Jinx and Mel had never looked so satisfied with themselves.
Sevika glanced at you, something amused in her gaze. Then, without another word, she grabbed her towel and headed toward the bathroom.
The second the door shut, all hell broke loose.
Jinx grabbed your shoulders, shaking you. "She so wants you."
Mel screamed into a pillow, overcome with giggles. "Did you see that?"
You buried your face in your hands. "I hate my life."
Jinx cackled. "Oh, babe. This is just the beginning."
The moment you all heard the shower turn on in the jack-and-Jill bathroom, your friends pounced.
You had barely taken a breath before Jinx grabbed you by the shoulders for a second time, eyes wild with mischeif. "Okay, listen up. We are going to make Sevika fall in love with you."
Your eyes widened in terror. "Excuse me?!"
Mel clapped her hands together, grinning. "No more playgirl Sevika. No more random girls in your dorm. No more flirting with you and pretending it means nothing. Nope. We are making her obsessed with you."
Your mouth gaped open. "You guys are insane, and so is this plan."
Jinx ignored you. "Step one: We use science. Psychological warfare, if you will."
You groaned. "Oh my God."
"Shut up, you love us."
"Not right now, I donât."
Mel giggled. "Okay, okay, so hereâs the plan."
Jinx leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "First, we use colors."
You blinked. "âŠColors?" This is about the craziest thing youâve ever heard.
Mel nodded sagely. "Sevika definitely has a favorite color, and also a favorite color that you wear sometimes. You need to wear it all the time."
Jinx grinned. "We already know she loves when you wear navy blue. You should also test out black and red. Vi says that Sevika likes those colors
You covered your face. "You guys are the worst."
Jinx poked your side. "Next: you have to start wearing things thatâll make her suffer."
"What?!"
"You know," Mel smirked, "tank tops, little shorts, crop tops. Walk around the dorm in tiny pajama sets. Maybe a towel every now and then."
You gasped, scandalized. "Mel!"
"What?" She sipped her iced tea innocently. "Just saying, if Sevika is already flirting with you when youâre not trying, imagine what happens when you do."
You groaned, dropping your head onto Jinxâs shoulder. "I hate this conversation."
Jinx patted your back. "No, babe, you love it."
Mel nudged you. "Next step: flirt with other people."
You shot up. "What?" You exclaimed again.
"Jealousy," Mel explained. "She needs to see other people wanting you. Itâll make her crazy."
You hesitated. "That feels kind ofâŠmean."
Mel shrugged. "You donât actually have to do anything. Just be you. We both saw her at the party. She noticed when you danced with Jinxâs sister. She noticed every guy who flirted with you. She notices everything about you, Y/N. You just need to turn up the heat."
Jinx grinned. "Oh, and you have to start going to her rugby games."
You tilted her head. "But I already support herâ"
"Not like that," Jinx interrupted. "You need to show up in something cute, act like her biggest fan, and make sure she knows it."
Mel nodded. "And you have to make sure she sees you caring about her. Ask about her games, check in when sheâs tired, bring her coffee when she has a rough practice. Girls like her act all tough, but deep down? They melt when someone actually gives a shit."
Jinx snapped her fingers. "Oh! And you have to invite her to your dance performance."
Mel gasped. "Yes! Can you imagine? Watching you on stage? Looking perfect and stunning and untouchable?"
You bit your lip. "I meanâŠthat would be kind of nice."
Mel grinned. "Oh, babe. It would ruin her."
You exhaled, shaking your head. "You two are pure evil."
"Thank you," Mel said sweetly.
Jinx sat back, stretching. "Okay, thatâs the plan. If you follow all of this, Sevika will be wrapped around your finger by Christmas."
You chewed your bottom lip, mind spinning. Could this actually work? Did you even want it to work? Sevika wasâŠSevika. Complicated. Dangerous. Gorgeous. Annoying.
But alsoâwarm. And funny. And thoughtful, when she wasnât being a menace.
And lately, you had been thinking about her way more than you should.
You exhaled. "I hate you guys."
Jinx smirked. "No, babe. You love us."
MeanwhileâŠ
Sevika stood just outside the bathroom door, towel slung over her shoulder, hair still damp. She had stepped out of the shower a few minutes ago, so she had heard Mel and Jinx planning
And she had heard everything.
She smirked to herself, leaning against the wall.
So.
You were about to start playing games?
Cute.
Sevika had been holding herself back for weeks. She wasnât stupidâshe knew there was something between them, something electric and alive whenever they were in the same room. She had flirted, teased, pushed just enough to get a reaction. But now?
Now you were going to start testing her limits?
Oh, sweetheart. You have no idea what you just started.
Sevika ran a hand through her hair, her smirk deepening.
By the time you made it back to the dorm, the sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow through the window. The room was quietâSevika had gone to the gym a couple of hours ago, so you had the space to yourself.
You sighed as you set your bag down, feeling the weight of the long day settle into your body. Your bones hurt. Classes had gone well, lunch with Mel and Jinx had been fun, and overall, your first day had been better than you expected. Still, your muscles ached from all the walking, and all you wanted was a hot shower to wash off the day.
With an exhausted groan, you grabbed your shower caddy and picked out a fluffy pink towel before heading to the communal bathroom down the hall.
The steam from the hot water instantly relaxed you. You took your time, letting the heat soak into your skin as you lathered up your coconut-vanilla body wash. The familiar scent surrounded you, warm and sweet, making you feel at home despite being in a new place.
After washing your hair and finishing yet another routine, you shut off the water and wrapped yourself in the soft pink towel. The fabric barely covered the tops of your thighs, and you made a mental note to bring your robe next time.
Towel secured, you padded barefoot back to your room, your hair damp and dripping slightly against your back.
The moment you opened the door to your room, you froze.
Sevika was back.
And she was not dressed appropriately for your currently very vulnerable and exhausted state.
The taller girl was standing near her desk, stretching out her arms like she had just finished a workout. She was sweatyâher skin glistening under the dormâs soft lighting, her toned arms flexing as she moved. She had on a black sports bra and loose gray sweatpants that hung low on her hips, revealing just enough of her abs to be distracting. Her hair was damp, sticking slightly to her forehead, and she smelled like cinnamon and wood, mixed with the sharp, clean scent of sweat.
And there you stood, frozen in the doorway, clutching your pink towel.
Sevika turned at the sound, locking eyes with you.
For a second, there was silence.
Sevikaâs gaze flicked downâjust for a split secondâtaking in your plush, pink towel, the damp skin of your shoulders, the curve of your legs. Then she smirked, lazy and amused.
âNice towel.â
Your face burned bright red. âIâshut up.â
Sevika snorted. âI didnât say anything.â
âYou said nice towel in a very obnoxious way,â you shot back, stepping inside and quickly shutting the door behind yourself.
Sevika shrugged. âItâs a nice towel, I never lied.â
You let out a huff, trying to act as unbothered as possible as you walked toward your dresser. But you could feel Sevikaâs presenceâtall, sweaty, muscularâlingering behind you. You could feel her gaze resting on your back.
You hesitated.
There was no way that you were changing in front of Sevika. Absolutely not.
âYouâre back early,â you said instead, desperately trying to fill the silence as you rummaged through your drawer for pajamas.
âI finished my workout a little early,â Sevika replied, grabbing a water bottle from her desk and taking a long drink. And you tried really hard not to stare at the way her throat moved as she swallowed.
You nodded, keeping your back turned as you grabbed your oversized sleep shirt and shorts. You needed to change, but the idea of stripping down to nothing while Sevika was right there was⊠unsettling, to say the least.
Sevika seemed to notice your hesitation because she let out an amused breath. âRelax, princess. Iâm not looking.â
You bristled. âI didnât say you were.â
Sevika smirked but turned toward her bed anyway, grabbing her phone and scrolling through it, giving you the smallest amount of privacy possible.
Still, you moved quickly, slipping into your pajamas as fast as humanly possible. Once you were dressed, you ran a brush through your still-damp hair, feeling strangely warm, even though you had just taken a cool, relaxing shower.
Sevika, now sitting on her bed, glanced up. âYou always shower this late?â
âI like showering at night,â you said, crossing your arms. âItâs relaxing.â
Sevika nodded, stretching out her legs. âFair. I usually just rinse off at the rink.â
You made a face. âThatâs disgusting.â
Sevika snickered. âWhat, you think I come back here covered in sweat on purpose? Iâd never do that to yaâ.â
âYou literally are covered in sweat right now,â You pointed out.
Sevika raised an eyebrow. âDoes it bother you?â
Your mouth opened, then closed, before finally speaking. âNo,â you lied.
Sevika grinned like she knew how attractive she looked, post-workout, skin slick and shining. You couldnât stand her.
You turned away, focusing very hard on putting EOS Vanilla Cashmere lotion on your arms. You weren't flustered. Not at all. Sevika did not have that power over you.
Sevika leaned back against the wall, watching your movements. âSo, how was your first day?â
You exhaled, grateful for the change in topic. âIt was good. My classes seem interesting, and I made some friends.â
You glanced at her. âOh, yeah. Mel and Jinx thought you were⊠interesting.â
She smirked at you, her lips curling sharply. âI tend to have that effect on people.â
You rolled your eyes but smiled slightly. âJinx thinks you could crush a watermelon between your thighs.â And now your thoughts had traveled to her ridiculously muscular thighs.
Sevika laughed, full and warm. âSheâs right.â
You let out a small, surprised laugh. âYouâre ridiculous.â
The woman shrugged, still grinning.
A comfortable silence settled between the two of you. You sat on your bed, pulling your blanket over your legs, while Sevika leaned back against the wall, scrolling on her phone.
For the first time, your dorm felt⊠settled. Like they had reached some unspoken understanding.
You still weren't sure what to make of Sevikaâher confidence, her teasing, the way she just existed without hesitation. But something about it was almost⊠comforting.
College had settled into a rhythm. Classes, homework, meals with Jinx and Mel, late-night study sessions in the dorm lounge. It had only been a few weeks, but you were starting to feel like you belonged here.
Well, mostly.
There was still Sevika.
Sevika, who came back late from practice every night. Sevika, who left her sweaty, gross rugby uniform everywhere and made the room smell like a mix of sweat and expensive cologne. Sevika, whoâtwo nights agoâhad brought some random girl back to their dorm.
You had been so close to sleeping when youâd heard the low murmur of voices, the unmistakable sound of someone being pressed up against the wall, breathy laughter. Youâd squeezed your eyes shut, trying to ignore the rustling of fabric, the very obvious sounds of kissing and wet sounds of someone getting fucked, the muffled moans and praises.
You had not succeeded.
Instead, you had spent the entire night hiding under your blankets, hating Sevika for existing, hating the random girl for existing, hating yourself for feeling anything at all about the situation.
So now, two days later, you were going to fix your mood the best way you knew howâgetting dressed up, going out, and dancing.
â
"Okay, okay, let me see," Jinx said, plopping onto your bed as you finished adjusting your outfit in the mirror.
You had decided on a little black tube top, a denim mini skirt that hugged your hips just right, and your black-and-white Adidas Sambas. Your shining hair was styled perfectly, your makeup was light but flawless, and you smelled like cherries and vanilla, as always.
Jinx let out an approving whistle. "Damn, Y/N. You sure youâre not going out to break some hearts?"
You rolled your eyes. "I just want to have fun."
"You look fun," Mel said, smiling as she applied one last layer of lip gloss. Her outfit was sleek and stylishâa little white mini dress, gold jewelry, and her signature bronz-y makeup.
Jinx, in contrast, was very⊠pattern-y. She was wearing a hot pink halter top, a tiny plaid skirt, and knee-high boots. She tossed her insanely long teal hair over her shoulder and grinned. "Weâre officially the hottest friend group on campus."
You laughed, but you had to admitâthey did look good.
"Letâs go before you change your mind," Mel said, grabbing your arm.
"I wasnât going to!" You protested as the three of you left the dorm.
Bad music blasted from the speakers, bodies pressed together on the makeshift dance floor, red solo cups littered every surface. The air smelled like sweat, cheap beer, and the faintest hint of expensive cologne.
"Okay, ground rules," Jinx said, leaning close so you and Mel could hear. "Donât take drinks from weird guys, donât disappear without telling each other, and if a dude is creepy, we leave."
Mel nodded. "Agreed."
You barely had time to respond before Jinx grabbed your hand and dragged you into the middle of dozens of dancing, sweaty bodies.
The three of you moved together, laughing, letting the music take over. You loved thisâreally loved thisâthe freedom of moving, the bass thrumming in your chest, the warmth of your friends beside you.
At some point, a muscular girl with short pink hair and a confident smile slid up next to you.
"Hey," the girl said, raising an eyebrow. "Youâre a good dancer."
You smiled, breathless. "Thanks."
"Iâm Vi," the girl said, leaning in slightly. "You wanna dance?"
You hesitated for a split second before nodding. "Yeah."
Vi grinned and placed her hands on your waist. You let yourself be pulled closer, moving in sync with her, feeling the warmth of another person against your back. It was fun, easy, despite the groans of Jinx behind you: âVi! Thatâs my friend-d-d.â
And thenâ
You felt eyes on your body.
You turned your head slightly, and thereâleaning against the wall near the drinks, dressed in baggy jeans with her boxer waistband showing, a mostly unbuttoned black shirt hanging off her shouldersâwas Sevika.
She was staring.
No, not just staring. Glowering.
You shivered, an unfamiliar feeling pooling in your stomach.
Sevika didnât look away at the realization that you noticed her. In fact, she took a slow sip of her drink, eyes never leaving You.
And youâwho had absolutely no reason to care about Sevikaâs mood, none at allâfelt something hot and electric rush through your veins.
Vi spun you around so you came face-to-face with her. "You okay?"
You blinked, nodding quickly. "Yeah."
But when you glanced back toward the wall, Sevika was gone.
â
Sevika wasnât sure why she was mad.
Actuallyâno. That was a lie. She knew why she was mad.
She had walked into the party, expecting nothing, and instead, she had seen youâsweet, shy, little Y/Nâwearing a tiny skirt, a tight top, and dancing with one of her fucking teammates.
She had felt something sharp twist in her chest when she saw Viâs hands on your waist.
And she hated it.
Because Y/N wasnât hers. You weren't even interested in her. You probably hated her after the whole random-girl-in-the-dorm situation.
And yetâ
Yet, Sevika found herself moving through the crowd, suddenly very aware of where you were, who was around you.
And who was looking at you.
Which, apparently, was every guy at this damn party.
Sevika wasnât surprised. You were gorgeous. It was common knowledge that you were gorgeous.
But she had never seen this side of you beforeâconfident, effortless, dancing like you knew exactly how much attention you were getting and exactly how to handle it.
And Sevika, for some reason, felt an overwhelming urge to do something about it.
She spotted her opening when some random frat guyâwho clearly thought he had a chanceâsidled up next to you, leaning in too close, a smirk on his face.
Sevika was already moving before she could second-guess herself.
She slipped through the crowd until she was right behind you . Without thinking, she reached out, letting her fingers brush against the bare skin of your shoulders.
You turned around sharply, startled.
Sevika raised an eyebrow. "Need a drink?"
You blinked, clearly thrown off. "Iâ"
The frat guy glanced between the two. "You two know each other?"
Sevika didnât look at him. She only looked at you.
You hesitated.
Then, to Sevikaâs absolute, unexplainable reliefâ
You nodded. "Yeah."
Sevika smirked. "Come on."
And just like that, she pulled you away from the guy, away from the dance floor, away from whatever the hell you had been about to do.
You let yourself be led, only stopping when youâd reached a quieter corner of the house.
You crossed your arms. "What the fuck was that?"
Sevika leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking you up and down. "You looked like you needed saving."
You scoffed at her. "Please. I can handle myself. Iâm not a damsel in distress."
Your roommate smirked. "I know."
You narrowed your eyes. "Then why did youâ"
"Because," Sevika said, voice lower, "you looked really good tonight."
Your breath caught in your throat.
Sevika gave you one last slow once-over before pushing off the wall.
"See you back at the dorm, princess," she murmured, before disappearing into the party.
It was off-campus, a sleek little two-bedroom spot that she somehow had all to herself, decorated in warm neutrals with gold accents and soft, fluffy textures everywhere. It smelled like vanilla candles and expensive perfume, and the second you stepped inside, you felt like you had entered a magazine spread for rich girls with their lives together.
"How do you have this place?" You asked as you set a bag of all your sleepover necessities down near the couch.
Mel laughed as she walked toward the kitchen. "My mother wanted me to have a safe place to live."
Jinx flopped onto the couch, stretching her arms out dramatically. "Translation: sheâs rich."
"I am not that rich," Mel insisted, though the silk pajamas she was currently changing into said otherwise.
"Okay, trust fund baby," Jinx teased, pulling her teal hair into a ponytail.. "Whereâs the ice cream?"
Mel rolled her eyes but grabbed three pints from the freezer. "Chocolate, cookies and cream, or strawberry?"
"Strawberry," Jinx said instantly.
"Cookies and cream," You added, settling onto the couch.
Mel handed you and Jinx each a spoon, grabbed the chocolate one for herself, and joined you in the living room. They sprawled out across the plush couch, legs tangled over each other, the TV playing some rom-com in the background.
It was exactly what you needed after the weird tension of the night.
"So," Jinx said after a few bites, already grinning. "We have to catch up on what happened at that party, cause I saw each of you with like, a million people."
"Oh yeah," Mel agreed, tucking her legs under her. âBecause personally, there was a football player I was dancing with⊠his name started with a âJâ, and oh my gosh, he was hot.â
"Oh, I noticed,â Jinx said with a wicked smirk, turning to you. "Y/N, any men catch your eye tonight?"
You could barely resist the urge to gag. "Absolutely not."
"None?" Mel asked, tilting her head. "You are gorgeous, you know. You could have any of them.â
You rolled your eyes. "Thatâs not the issue."
Jinx nudged you. "So what is?"
You sighed, swirling your spoon around in the ice cream. "Iâm⊠not into men. At all."
"I know itâs fine," you said with a small laugh.
Jinx smirked. "That explains why you werenât flirting back tonight. Some of those guys really thought they had a shot."
You shook your head. "Not even a little."
"Oooh! I did notice that you were dancing with Vi," Mel pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
âMy fucking sister,â Jinx grumbled, crossing her arms. âDo not start anything with her!â
You shrugged. "That was just for fun."
"Uh-huh," Jinx drawled. Then, suddenly, she gasped and sat up, eyes glinting. "Wait."
You raised your eyebrows at her, confused. "What?"
"You know who was acting really weird tonight?" Jinx said, smirking.
You froze, already knowing where this was going. "No."
"Sevika."
Melâs eyes widened. "Oh my God, youâre right!"
"She literally came out of nowhere when you were dancing with Vi," Jinx continued. "And then when that frat guy tried talking to you? She dragged you away."
"She did look kind ofâŠ" Mel trailed off, searching for the right word. "Possessive? Scary?â
You groaned. "She was not possessive, and definitely not scary.â
Jinx wiggled her eyebrows. "You sure? She looked ready to eat you alive when she saw you in that mini skirt."
Your face burned. "Can we not talk about Sevika?"
"Oh, we are absolutely talking about Sevika," Jinx said, scooting closer. "So. Spill. Do you think sheâs hot?"
You stared at her. "Are you serious?" Your voice was flat, uninterested.
"Dead serious," Jinx replied, scooping another bite of ice cream.
You sighed, already knowing there was no getting out of this. "Fine. Yes, okay? Sevika is attractive."
Jinx gasped. "Oh, we knew it!"
Mel giggled. "I mean, she is objectively attractive. Tall, muscular, confidence for daysâŠ"
You groaned. "Can we not do this?"
Jinx was smiling and giggling like a kid on Christmas. "Okay, okay, so if you do think sheâs hot, then whatâs the problem?"
You frowned at your friends. "Sheâs a playgirl."
"So?"
"So," You sighed, exasperated with their persistence. "I donât want to get involved with that. I donât do casual stuff like she does."
Mel nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense."
Jinx sighed dramatically. "Ugh. Boring."
You swatted her with a pillow. She yelped and tried to retaliate, but Mel stopped her by snatching away her pillow.
"Okay, okay," Mel said, still smiling. "So, Sevikaâs apparently off the table. But you do think sheâs crazy hot."
You crossed your arms. "It doesnât matter."
Jinx leaned forward. "But it does."
You groaned, rubbing your temples. "I hate you guys."
"No, you donât," Jinx said sweetly. "Now, tell us something embarrassing. Have you ever walked in on her shirtless or something?"
You froze.
Melâs eyes went impossibly wide. "Oh my God."
Jinx gasped "You have!"
You wanted to disappear into the couch below you. "I wasnât going to say anything!"
Jinx practically squealed. "Oh, no, you have to now."
You let out a long, suffering sigh. "Fine."
Both of them leaned in, waiting.
You rolled your eyes but finally admitted, "After a workout one night, she came back when I was getting out of the shower, and she was just standing there in a sports bra and sweatpants, all sweaty and muscly andâ"
Jinx gasped again. "Oh my god."
Mel cackled. "And you survived?"
"Not easily," You muttered, covering your face with your hands.
Jinx was practically crying with laughter. "Sevika, sweaty and shirtless, in a sports bra, just standing there in your dorm? And you lived to tell the tale?"
"Barely," you admitted, shaking your head. "It wasâso unfair."
Mel giggled, covering her own mouth with her perfectly manicured hand "Did she say anything?"
You huffed. "Yeah. She said, âNice towel.â"
Jinx shrieked with laughter. "STOP IT."
Mel clutched her stomach, laughing. "Oh my God, she knows sheâs hot."
"Obviously," You groaned. "Sheâs so annoying."
Jinx grinned. "And yet�"
"And yet nothing," you said firmly. "I refuse to be another girl in her dorm."
Mel nodded. "Thatâs fair."
Jinx sighed dramatically. "Such wasted potential. Youâd be so hot together."
You threw a pillow at her.
You all stayed up late, talking and laughing until their ice cream melted, and for the first time since Sevika had rudely interrupted your dancing at that party, you felt like yourself again.
Even if Sevika was still there, constantly haunting the back of your thoughts.
oh hey⊠sooo this chapter took WAY too long to upload i am so sorryđđ still, i hope you guys love it! the next chapters so exciting heeheeee. i love you all so much!
also i wish i could draw cause like iâd draw for my fics ALL THE TIME i just donât have that talentđ
You stood outside the dorm building, gripping the handle of your suitcase while the other hand held onto a tote bag, which was completely filled to the top with your belongings. The Boston heat clung to your skin, making you wish youâd worn one of your tank tops instead of a band t-shirt from a concert you went to years ago. You adjusted the strap of your tote bag and took a deep breath. This was it. College.
The lobby was chaos. Parents fussed over their kids, students struggled with luggage, and Resident Assistants directed people toward the elevators. The buzz of chatter and the occasional crash of someone dropping a box made your nerves tighten. You were used to the slow and steady pace of your small town, where everyone knew each other and nothing moved too fast. Everything there was predictable. But here, it felt like you were being swallowed by the rush of the world moving around you.
You shifted your weight between your feet, feeling a little lost as you glanced around. Then you rememberedâyour roommate. Sevika. A very odd name, you thought. You had exchanged exactly one email over the summer, a short, to-the-point message from Sevika that simply read: Iâm bringing a mini fridge. Donât need two.
You had responded politely, thanking her, and never got a reply.
You stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the third floor. The ride was quick, and soon you were standing in front of your new room. With a deep breath, you pushed open the door.
Inside, the first thing you noticed was that the right half the room was already claimed. The bed near the window was covered in dark blue sheets, and a duffel bag sat open on the desk. A guitar case leaned against the chair, and a strong, spicy scentâcinnamon and something earthyâlingered in the air.
Then you noticed her.
Sevika was standing by the bed, lifting a massive duffel bag like it weighed nothing. She was tall. Very tall. And muscular, like she could bench-press you without breaking a sweat. Her shaggy, dark brown hair framed a sharp face with a strong jaw and a large, arched Roman nose. She had an easy confidence, a way of moving that made it clear she wasnât fazed by anything.
Your eyes widened as you further took in her appearance, your gaze stopping on her left arm. It wasnât even an arm, it was a complex metal prosthetic, all the way from her shoulder to her fingertips. What happened to the woman to make her have an arm like that? Sheâs too scary to ask, is what you ultimately decided.
Sevika turned her head, her sharp, brown eyes locking onto you. A slow, amused smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"You must be Y/N," she said. Her voice was smooth, a little rough, like she didnât bother with politeness unless she felt like it.
You nodded, stepping fully inside and shutting the door behind yourself. "Yeah. Hi."
Sevika eyed you, taking in your soft features, bright eyes, and the way you clutched the handle of your suitcase like it was a lifeline. You werenât exactly small, you were average, but compared to Blakeâs towering presence, you felt tiny.
"You need help with that?" Sevika asked, nodding at the suitcase.
You hesitated. "Oh, umâno, Iâve got it. Thanks, though."
Sevika shrugged and flopped onto her bed, her human arm resting behind her head. "Suit yourself."
You moved to your side of the room, placing your suitcase down and taking a quick breath to steady yourself. You could feel Sevika watching your every movement, but not in a mean or threatening wayâjust curious.
It still scared you a little bit.
"Where are you from?" Sevika asked after a beat.
"Small town in Vermont. You?"
"Chicago."
That made sense. Sevika looked like she was from a big city. Confident, self-assured, like she knew exactly what she was doing and didnât care what anyone thought.
You pulled out a few of your books and stacked them neatly on the desk, placing The Poppy War on the top of your stack. It had been your favorite book for years. Sevika raised an eyebrow. "You, uh⊠you bring the whole library with you?"
You smiled, just a little. "I like reading."
Sevika smirked. "Yeah, I figured. Law major, right?"
"Yeah. And youâre business?" Youâd seen it when you stalked her to figure out who your roommate would be, what she was like.
"Yep."
You nodded, not sure what else to say. The conversation stalled, but it wasnât uncomfortable. Sevika reached for her phone, probably texting someone, and you continued unpacking.
After a few minutes, Sevika broke the silence. "Iâm gonna warn you nowâIâve got early morning rugby practice. If I wake you up, donât kill me."
You glanced at her. "Iâll try my best."
Sevika grinned. "Fair enough. Youâre not big enough to kill me anyways.â The remark made your face turn red and frustration spark in your chest.
You could tell the pair of you werenât going to be best friends overnight, but this wasnât so bad. Different as you were, you could get along with her. Probably.
You just hoped Sevika wasnât the kind of person to bring girls back to the room at odd hours, because it seems like she is that kind of person. You can tell already.
Sevika glanced up at you again, as if reading your mind. "Oh, and donât worryâIâll give you a heads-up if I ever bring someone over."
You felt your face heat up once again. "OhâI, umâ"
Sevika chuckled. "Relax, Iâm messing with you. Mostly."
You rolled your eyes, but you couldnât help the small smile tugging at your lips.
The dorm room was quiet except for the occasional sound of traffic outside the window. The early morning sun peeked through the blinds, casting soft golden lines across the walls. You stirred first (Sevikaâs rugby season had yet to start, which meant no practice), blinking sleepily at the digital clock on your deskâ6:30 AM.
You turned over carefully, trying not to make noise. Across the room, Sevika was still sprawled out on her bed, her prosthetic arm flung over her face, her thick, muscular frame taking up most of the mattress. Her breathing was slow and steady. She hadn't even bothered with a blanket, just lying there in an oversized t-shirt and athletic shorts, one foot hanging off the side of the bed.
You sat up, rubbing the sleep from your eyes before swinging your legs over the side of your bed. You liked having time to wake up, to ease into your day. You pulled your fluffy slippers, adorned with bunny ears. on and tiptoed over to your desk, where your extensive collection of skincare products were neatly arranged. Youâd been perfecting the routine for years, and finally, just in time for college, your skin was so smooth and plush it looked airbrushed.
After splashing cool water on your face in the tiny sink in the bathroom you shared with the dorm next to you, you carefully went through your morning routineâcleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, SPF. The familiar ritual calmed you. You took her time, just as you always did, making sure your skin looked glowy, flawless. After that, you moved on to your makeup: just enough to enhance your featuresâlight concealer, a bit of liquid blush, some mascara. Well, not some. Youâd always been a sucker for mascara. You finished it all with a thick layer of pink lip oil.
Behind you, Sevika groaned softly in her sleep, turning over so her face was half-buried in the pillow. She hadnât even budged when you got up, and she definitely didnât seem like the type to wake up early on purpose.
You let out a breath and reached for your cherry-vanilla perfume, spritzing it lightly over your wrists and neck. The familiar scent wrapped around your like a comfort, soft and sweet. In this place, this dorm that youâve been in for a night, nothing smells like home. This is the only thing that makes you feel truly safe at the moment.
Next was hair. You pulled a brush through the long, wavy strands, adjusting the part just right before making sure everything looked perfect. Satisfied, you grabbed her outfit for the dayâa fitted white tank top and a pair of 90s-inspired denim shorts with heart-shaped back pockets. Your mom had given them to you before you came here, saying âI wore these when I went to college, I thought you might like themâ. And she was right, you loved them
The sound of your dresser drawers opening and closing must have finally stirred Sevika, because behind you, you heard a low, groggy voice say:
"You always up this early?"
You turned to see Sevika lifting her head slightly off the pillow, eyes still half-shut. Her voice was thick with sleep, and she sounded mildly annoyed but not actually mad about it.
"Yeah," You admitted, adjusting the strap of your tank top. "I like having time to get ready."
Sevika blinked at you, as if just now noticing how put-together you already looked. "Damn. Youâre, like, fully awake."
You shrugged. "Mornings donât bother me. I try to be productive."
Sevika let out a grunt and flopped back onto the bed. "Couldnât be me."
It took everything in you to try not to laugh. You turned back to the mirror, adding a pair of small cherry-shaped earrings before packing your bag for the day. Was it obvious you liked cherries? Probably yes.
Five more minutes passed before Sevika finally forced herself up, stretching her arms over her head and cracking her neck. She looked as if she had not woken up gracefully, like a disgruntled catâher hair was a mess, sticking up in odd angles, and her face had a crease from the pillow. She yawned loudly, rubbing her eyes before swinging her legs off the bed.
"Class starts at nine, right?" she muttered, voice still rough with sleep.
"Yeah," You said, slipping her notebook into your bag.
Sevika stood up and stretched again, then walked to the sink with the lazy confidence of someone who had no intention of rushing. She splashed some cold water on her face, ran a hand through her hair to smooth it out, and that was about it. No skincare, no careful routineâjust a quick shake of her head like a wet dog before grabbing deodorant and slapping it on.
You watched all of this in quiet amusement. Sevika was so different from you!
"You donât, um⊠have a whole morning routine?" You asked her, trying to be polite about it.
Sevika snorted. "This is my routine. Wash face, brush teeth, get dressed. Done." She popped a piece of gum in her mouth, apparently deciding that was good enough for now.
You didnât really know how anyone could be that casual about getting ready. But you supposed it made senseâSevika had an effortless, scrappy kind of look, like she never had to try too hard at anything.
Sevika pulled open her drawer and yanked out her outfit for the dayâloose black jeans and an oversized button-up, the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. She didnât wear anything fitted, didnât seem to care about looking polished, and yet, in her own way, she looked just as put-together as you did.
As Sevika pulled the shirt over her head, she noticed you watching. "What?"
"Nothing," You said quickly, turning back to your bag. "Just⊠youâre very fast."
Sevika smirked. "Yeah, well. Unlike you, I donât need a two-hour glam session to look good."
You rolled your eyes. "Itâs not about looking good. Itâs about feeling good."
Sevika shrugged. "Same thing, isnât it?"
You supposed, in a way, that made sense.
Sevika grabbed her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder, the one connected to the metal arm. How far did the injury go up? Did she even have a nub? Ew, donât think about her arm nub, you scolded yourself. "You eat breakfast, or are you one of those âjust coffeeâ people?"
"Just drinks, usually," You admitted, zipping up your bag. âMatcha, more often then not.â
Sevika made a disgusted face, wrinkling up her features. "That green stuff? Looks like blended grass."
You smiled. "Itâs really good if you make it right."
"Iâll take your word for it." Sevika grabbed her keys and nodded toward the door. "Câmon. If we donât leave now, weâll get stuck behind the slow walkers."
You glanced at the clock. It was still early, but Sevika seemed ready to go. You supposed it wouldnât hurt to get a head start.
As the couple of you walked out of the dorm together, you realized that despite their differencesâSevikaâs laid-back attitude, your own more careful approach to lifeâyou guys somehow balanced each other out. Sevika might never take forty-five minutes for skincare, and you might never roll out of bed ten minutes before class, but somehow, this whole roommate thing wasnât as bad as you thought it might be.
"Hey," Sevika said as you reached the stairs, glancing over at you. "For what itâs worth, you smell good. Like, uh⊠cherries or something. So that routine works. I guess."
You blinked in surprise before a small smile tugged at your lips. "Thanks. And for what itâs worth, you donât smell bad.â She didnât. She smelled clean.
Sevika snorted. "High praise."
You laughed softly, and for the first time since arriving in Boston, you felt like maybeâjust maybeâthis whole college experience wouldnât be so bad after all.
The lecture hall was bigger than anything you were used to. Back in your small town, classrooms had at most twenty students. But here, in your Ethics 101 class, there had to be at least a hundred people packed into the tiered seating, all murmuring to each other as they waited for the professor to arrive.
You clutched your laptop tightly as you scanned the rows, searching for a seat. You spotted an open one toward the middle, next to a girl with locs tied into a bun, glimmering brown skin, and pearl earrings, who sat with perfect posture and a soft, inviting expression.
âHey, is this seat taken?â You asked politely.
The girl looked up and smiled. âNope! Go ahead.â Her voice was smooth and elegant. She wore a long white skirt and a white tank top, similar to yours, gold jewelry adorning every inch of her skin. You made a mental note to ask where she got her waist beads.
You settled in, setting your pen neatly on top of her Macbook. The beautiful girl turned slightly toward you, smiling brightly.
âIâm Mel,â she said warmly.
âY/N,â You replied. âNice to meet you.â
âYou too. Are you a freshman?â
âYeah,â You said, tucking a loose strand of your hair behind your ear. âLaw major. What about you?â
âSame! Pre-law.â Melâs hazel eyes brightened. âThatâs greatâweâll probably have a lot of classes together.â
Before you could respond, someone slid into the seat on her other side with a dramatic sigh.
âThis class better be good,â said the newcomer, a girl with vibrant turquoise hair tied up into impossibly long braids. She wore tiny oval sunglasses inside, despite the fact that the room was well-lit, and her outfit screamed something out of the Scene fashion sceneâcolorful tights, a tiny denim skirt, at least three studded belts a rhinestone-studded baby tee, and platform sneakers that made her at least two inches taller than she actually was.
You, startled but amused, glanced at the girl.
âHi?â
The girl grinned. âHey. Iâm Jinx. You?â No way thatâs her real name, you thought to yourself.
âY/N.â
âNice. Whatâs your major?â
âLaw.â
Jinx let out an exaggerated groan. âAnother one? Great, now Iâve got two future attorneys sitting next to me. Personally, Iâm going into engineering. I wanna invent shit.â
You raised an eyebrow. âWhatâs wrong with law?â
âOh, nothing,â Jinx said, propping her chin on her hand. âJust means if I ever get arrested for something stupid, I know who to call.â
Mel gasped dramatically. âYouâre planning on getting arrested?â
âNo, but I like to be prepared for every possibility,â Jinx said with a smirk.
You laughed, and Mel giggled behind her perfectly manicured hand.
âJinx, is that your real name?â You asked her, curiosity getting the best of you
She snickered. âNo. My real name sounds even more stupid. Maybe youâll learn it sometime.â
Something about Jinxâs energy was infectious, and Melâs calm kindness balanced it out. You felt yourself relax for the first time that morning. Maybe making friends here wouldnât be so hard after all.
The professor arrived shortly after, and class officially began. You found yourself absorbed in the lecture, taking notes meticulously. Mel was just as focused, nodding along thoughtfully, while Jinx leaned back in her seat, spinning her pen between her fingers, only writing down the things that really seemed important.
When class ended, the three of them walked out together, filing into the crowded hallway.
âYou guys wanna grab lunch?â Jinx asked, shoving her notebook into a tiny, glittery purse that didnât look like it could hold anything practical.
You hesitated for only a second before nodding. âYeah, that sounds fun.â
âIâm in,â Jinx said. âLead the way, Miss Perfect.â
Mel rolled her eyes playfully, but you could already tell she and Jinx had that kind of opposites-attract sort of friendship.
The three of you made their way across campus, chatting easily as you walked. Mel was from Connecticut, came from a family of lawyers, and was the kind of person who always had a spare hair tie or an extra pen if you needed it. Jinx, on the other hand, was from Los Angeles, had an older sister she constantly roasted but loved more than anything, and wanted to go into engineering so that she could âblow shit up and get paid for it.â
The place was cute, with hanging plants, warm lighting, and the comforting scent of fresh coffee and baked goods. They ordered their food and sat at a small table near the window.
âSo,â Mel said, stirring honey into her tea, âhowâs your roommate?â
You exhaled through your nose. âSheâs⊠interesting.â
Jinx smirked. âInteresting how? Like, âshe collects creepy dollsâ interesting, or âsheâs secretly a hitmanâ interesting?â
âNeither,â You said with a small laugh. âSheâs just⊠very different from me. She plays rugby, doesnât care about waking up early, has basically no morning routine. And sheâs missing an arm.â
Jinx gasped. âOh, I know exactly who youâre talking about. Sheâs on the rugby team with my sister. Theyâre not huge fans of each other.â
âSheâs nice, though,â You admitted. âIn her own way.â
She was wearing black athletic joggers, a fitted long-sleeve shirt, and a backward baseball cap over her shaggy hair. She looked taller than usual, maybe because she was standing next to a few of her teammatesâother girls dressed in similar sporty outfits, laughing and joking with each other. One of them had a crooked nose and pink-red hair. Jinx gave the red head a look.
You weren't sure if Sevika had seen her yet, but a second later, their eyes met across the room. Sevika tilted her head slightly, then smirked. Without hesitation, she strolled over.
Mel, who had been mid-sip of her hot peppermint tea, set her drink down and raised an eyebrow. âFriend of yours?â Jinx obnoxiously sipped from her caramel iced latte, getting whipped cream all over her top lip.
âMy roommate,â You muttered.
Sevika reached your table, resting her metal hand on the back of your chair as she looked over the group. âWell, well. Youâre making friends already.â
You crossed your arms. âWhat, you thought I wouldnât?â
Sevika shrugged her massive shoulders. âDunno. You seemed kinda nervous on move-in day.â
You narrowed your eyes. âThatâs because you are intimidatingly tall and unbothered by everything.â
Mel leaned forward, grinning. âAnd who are you, exactly?â
Sevika turned her gaze to Mel, amused. âSevika. I play rugby.â
âThat tracks,â Melsaid.
Jinx, impolite as ever, smacked Sevika on the back. âGreat to see you again, Sevika.â
Blake rolled her eyes, then looked at Mel expectantly.
Mel just sipped her drink. âIâm Mel. I donât play rugby.â
Sevika smirked. âShame. And how are you, Powder?â She addressed Jinx, and your jaw dropped in shock. Powder? She was right when she said her real name was much worse.
Jinx rolled her eyes, refusing to answer, but you could tell she was entertained.
Sevika turned her attention back to you. âAnyway, Iâm grabbing food with my teammates, but I figured Iâd say hi.â
You tilted her head. âThatâs surprisingly social of you.â
âYeah, yeah,â Sevika muttered, but there was a small glint of amusement in her dark eyes. âSee you back at the dorm.â
She walked away, back toward her teammates, and you let out a breath.
Mel smiled. âShe seems⊠nice?â
Jinx (Powder?) snorted. âShe seems like she could crush a watermelon between her thighs.â
You covered your face with your hands. âOh my God.â
Jinx wiggled her eyebrows. âNo, but like, if you ever need protection, I feel like sheâd beat someone up for you.â
You shook your head, laughing. âI donât need protection.â
Mel sipped her tea, thoughtful. âWell, it wouldnât hurt.â
You groaned, but beneath your hands, you were smiling.
Your roommate was not what you were expecting. Your friends are polar opposites and you already love them. All of this combined gave you the feeling that something very important would be happening to you this year.
oh hey guysđŒ iâm back with a new story and iâm SO excited about this one. iâll try and come up with a title for it! let me know what you think, i always love seeing comments!!
