First Impressions

The pizza arrived in a large cardboard box.

Jess spread newspaper on the floor. “In case we spill. My mom would find a way to know.”

Maya watched from her bed. Still half-unpacked.

“You just going to sit there?” Jess looked up. “Come down. Floor’s clean. I swept.”

“You swept?”

“I’m considerate and mysterious.” Jess patted the newspaper. “Sit.”

Maya hesitated, then slid off the bed and lowered herself cross-legged onto the floor. The box was warm between them.

“See? This is nice.” Jess grabbed a slice. “Roommates eating together, not secretly hating each other.”

“Do people usually secretly hate their roommates?”

“Have you met people?” Jess pointed her slice. “My cousin’s roommate in Ohio State used her toothbrush to clean the toilet. Didn’t tell her for three months.”

Maya’s slice stopped halfway to her mouth. “That’s illegal.”

“Right?” Jess shook her head. “Don’t worry. I’m a good person. I’ll even let you borrow my stuff. Just ask first. And don’t use my toothbrush for anything except teeth.”

“Noted.”

They ate in silence. Maya hadn’t realized how hungry she was.

Jess swallowed and leaned back. “So. Software Engineering. That’s intense.”

“I guess.”

“You guess? My sister did computer science. Cried every week. Said the coding almost killed her.”

“I like logic. Problems with clear solutions.”

“And English? Literature? All that ambiguous stuff?”

Maya thought about the books hidden under her mattress in high school. The novels she read late at night. Words that could mean ten different things.

“Not my strength.”

Jess studied her. Maya felt seen in a way that made her want to look away.

“What?” Maya asked.

“Nothing. Just… you’re interesting. Quiet, but interesting.”

“You can’t tell anything. We’ve known each other two hours.”

“Three. And I’m an excellent judge of character.” Jess grinned. “It’s my gift. I knew within five minutes my ex-boyfriend would break my heart. He did. Six months later. Right on schedule.”

“What happened?”

“He wanted someone who posted him on I*******m.” Jess rolled her eyes. “I post twice a year. He took it as a personal attack. Said I was hiding him. I was like… baby, I’m hiding everyone.”

Maya almost laughed.

“Sounds like his loss.”

“Right? Thank you!” Jess pointed at her. “See? You get it. We’re going to be great friends.”

The word hit something in Maya’s chest. Friends.

“We should finish eating.”

Jess’s eyes flickered,just for a second. But she didn’t push.

“Fine. But tomorrow we’re doing a full deep dive. Zodiac signs, love languages, trauma dumping.”

“Trauma dumping?”

“Essential roommate bonding.” Jess grabbed another slice. “You’ll thank me later.”

Morning came too fast.

Maya woke to sunlight through cheap curtains and Jess’s phone blasting what sounded like a pop playlist. She lay still, disoriented by the unfamiliar ceiling.

Then she remembered. University. Roommate. New life.

She sat up.

Jess was already dressed. Jeans and a bright yellow top, scrolling through her phone by the window.

“You’re alive.” Jess didn’t look up. “Good. I was starting to worry.”

“What time is it?”

“Seven-oh-three. Orientation at nine. I thought we’d go early, get good seats, scope out the situation.”

Maya rubbed her eyes. “The situation?”

“Hot guys, obviously.” Jess looked up, grinning. “Priorities, Maya.”

“I think my priorities are fine.”

“Your priorities are buried so deep they need GPS.” Jess tossed something onto Maya’s bed. A wrapped pastry. “Breakfast.”

Maya caught it. “Thanks.”

“See? Balanced ecosystem. I provide food, you provide quiet presence.”

Twenty minutes later, they walked across campus. Morning air cool. Students streaming in every direction. Backpacks. Voices. Conversations Maya couldn’t follow.

Jess talked the whole way.

“heard Engineering is mostly guys, so you’re welcome. Actually wait, that’s bad for me. If your classmates are all guys, who am I supposed to eat lunch with?”

“There’s you.”

“Exactly. But I need options, Maya. Backup friends. People to call when you’re coding and forget I exist.”

“I won’t forget you exist.”

“You say that now.” Jess bumped her shoulder. “Wait until you fall in love with some fine boy and disappear into couple world. I’ll be here alone, eating my feelings.”

Maya shook her head. “Not going to happen.”

“What? The eating feelings or the boy?”

“Both.”

Jess stopped walking. Maya took two more steps before turning.

“What?” Maya asked.

Jess’s expression shifted. Less playful. More curious. “You really believe that?”

“I don’t believe anything. I just know.”

“Know what?”

Maya looked away. Across the lawn, a group laughed, their voices carrying.

“I know people leave,” Maya said quietly. “Or they use what you give them and turn it into something ugly. Either way, it’s safer not to give anything.”

The words hung.

Jess didn’t laugh. Didn’t make a joke. Didn’t call her dramatic.

She walked back to Maya and looped her arm through hers.

“Okay.” Jess said simply. “Then I’ll stay until you’re ready to give something. And if you’re never ready, I’ll stay anyway.”

Maya’s throat tightened. “You don’t know me.”

“I know enough.” Jess started walking, pulling Maya along. “Now come on. We’re going to be late, and I refuse to sit in the back where I can’t see the fine first-years.”

Maya let herself be pulled.

The auditorium was half full.

Jess scanned like a general. “There. Third row, center, near the aisle. Move.”

They slid in as a professor took the stage. He tapped the microphone.

“Good morning. I’m Professor Anderson, Dean of Student Affairs. For the next hour, I’ll tell you everything you need to survive here.”

Someone behind them groaned. Jess elbowed Maya.

“Survive,” Jess whispered. “Dramatic.”

Maya hid a smile.

Professor Anderson launched into academic integrity, campus resources, “finding your community.” Maya listened with half her attention. The rest tracked the room—students on phones, whispered conversations, Jess bouncing her leg.

“and finally,” Professor Anderson said, “I want to introduce someone you’ll see a lot of. Final-year Architecture student, Debate Society president, recent winner of the National University Championships. Idris Vaughan, please stand.”

Heads turned.

Near the front, a figure rose.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dark sweater, jeans. Carried himself like he owned the room. Deep brown skin, sharp jaw, expression calm and slightly amused. Used to being looked at.

“Idris will speak at orientation events this week.” Professor Anderson continued. “If you’re interested in debate, public speaking, or want to see what excellence looks like, find him.”

Laughter rippled. Idris raised a hand in casual acknowledgment, then sat.

Jess grabbed Maya’s arm.

“Maya.”

“What?”

“That’s him.” Jess’s voice was barely a whisper. “Idris Vaughan. I’ve followed his debates since first year. He’s…” She shook her head, laughing softly. “He’s literally perfect. Have you ever seen anyone that fine?”

Maya looked toward the front. Idris leaned to say something to the person next to him, his profile sharp against the lights.

“He’s fine,” Maya said evenly. “If you like that type.”

“That type?” Jess stared. “Tall, gorgeous, intelligent, accomplished? Who doesn’t like that type?”

Maya shrugged. “He knows everyone’s watching. You can see it in how he moves.”

“So? If I looked like that, I’d want everyone watching too.”

“Exactly.” Maya turned back to the stage. “He’s used to it. Probably expects it. That’s not interesting.”

Jess was quiet. Then she laughed, low and impressed.

“You’re impossible.”

“I’ve been told.”

Professor Anderson kept speaking. But Maya felt eyes on her,not Jess’s, someone else’s. She glanced toward the front.

Idris Vaughan had turned slightly in his seat.

He was looking directly at her.