Chapter Text
Kira’s POV
Parties.
I hate parties.
Yet I found myself at one, even though I'm hiding in the bathroom.
I can feel the beat of the bass through the floorboard and swirling my head almost as a constant reminder that I shouldn't have come. I never found the appeal of college frat parties, the over-masculine boys trying to get you to sleep with them, the moving of sweaty bodies pushed up against you, and the chance that you might get some girls puke on your shoes by the end of the night. So here I sit on the windowsill of some frat house's bathroom smoking my cigarette.
The sky looked nice tonight, all the stars shining bright, and the moon so bright it looked like a beacon calling to me. It was almost peaceful if it wasn't for the constant bass and occasional shouts from downstairs.
I should leave.
There isn't anything holding me here.
Too lost in the battle within my head, I hadn't noticed the door open.
I watch as a girl walks in, immediately closing the door behind her and locking it. She puts her back against the door with her eyes closed and takes a deep breath. In those few moments, I study her, she has jet black hair that goes past her shoulders, it's bone straight with full bangs that go across her forehead. She's shorter than me even with a slight heel to her shoes. Her outfit is simple but nice, a white tank crop top with light blue jeans that are cuffed, and a chain hanging from her neck with a pendent on it but it's too far for me to see what it is.
She's still standing there with her eyes closed and back against the door. I should say something, let her know I'm also in here with her.
"Greetings."
Her eyes shoot open and oh my.
Her eyes.
They're deep brown with a hint of playfulness behind them. They looked like the rich earth after rain. Or maybe more like molten honey catching the light. Oh how I want to drown myself in the honey of her eyes.
My thoughts are interrupted when she breaks the silence.
"Shit, sorry, I didn't know someone else was in here. I'll go somewhere else."
"N-n-no don't." I'm able to stutter out. "I could use the company."
"Are you sure? Because I can totally just find another bathroom to hide away in."
"No, stay." I reassure her.
There is a moment of silence between us as she stands with her back still against the door and me, still on the window sill. The silence is comfortable until it keeps going which then turns into awkwardness with shuffling feet and nervous eyes.
"So.. hiding away huh?" Is all I can muster.
"Yeah parties really aren't my thing. I was dragged here by my friends for the beginning of the new semester party. Honestly, I'd rather be back in my dorm watching a movie."
I let out a laugh.
"I get what you mean, I wasn't really dragged here but rather forced myself to come and to quote my mom 'You need to put yourself out there and meet new people, live a little' so that's what I'm trying to do, but rather unsuccessfully."
"Well, you did meet one new person, so I would call it a somewhat success." She says as she finally peels her back from against the door and goes to sit on the bathroom counter.
"How so?"
"You met me, so that's one new person under your belt."
"But I haven't even really met you, more like you barged in here and I just happened to be here before you. I don't even know your name yet."
"Maybe if you play your cards right, you'll learn my name."
If I wasn't enthralled by her before, then I most certainly am now.
"And how does one play their cards right with you?" I ask.
"You'll just have to wait and see." She responds with a smirk.
She and I stare at each other for a little while before she speaks up again.
"How do you even enjoy that?" She says as she points to my cigarette.
"Habit, I guess. Wanna try?" I say as I hold my hand out with the cigarette between my fingers, the butt of it facing her.
She gets up from the counter and walks over to me, taking the cigarette between her lips and inhaling with the cigarette still between my fingers.
She pulls back, and I see the instant regret written on her face. Her eyes start to tear up, and she coughs out all the smoke. After a coughing fit she looks at me.
"That was awful, holy shit."
I let out a small laugh.
"Yeah, your first time isn't always the best experience. I can't even begin to tell you about my first time smoking and how I probably chugged five water bottles to get the taste out of my mouth."
She opens her mouth to respond, but it's interrupted by her phone. She walks back over to the bathroom counter and picks it up. I watch as she reads the message with frowned eyebrows.
She looks back at me.
"I should probably head out, my friend Mary just texted me asking where I am, so I should dampen her worry with my presence."
"Yeah, yeah, totally. I hope to see you around campus. Maybe continue our bathroom talk."
"I would like that." She responds with a small smile on her lips.
She walks to the door and unlocks it. She opens the door slightly before turning around with her hand still on the knob.
"Yumeko. My name’s Yumeko."
Then she's out the door, closing it behind her.
"Yumeko." I repeat.
I like the way the name rolls off my tongue.
"Yumeko."