“It’s okay.”
I take her to her bedroom door as she slumps inside and throws herself down onto her bed, and then attempts to untie the laces of her boots but fails miserably.
“C-can you help me?”
“Sure.” I step inside her room.
I sink down to the floor and undo her shoes before neatly placing them against the wall. Maya sits up and stares down at me. “Just because you’re in my room doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with you,” she blurts.
My eyes widen an inch at her blunt words. “For one, I’d never take advantage of you, and two, I didn’t walk you home for that reason.”
“Oh,” she whispers. “Well, that’s good to know. I’m a virgin, and I-I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
I stand up and shove my hands in my pockets, trying to ignore her last comment because it’s none of my business, and I cannot get involved with this girl.
“I’m gonna go now. Are you gonna be okay?”
Maya runs a hand through her long hair. “Yeah, I’m okay.” She smiles before it falls. “I think—” Her fingers splay along her stomach as her chest heaves. “I think I’m going to throw up.”
She stands on wobbly legs, and I quickly guide her to her en suite bathroom before she drops to her knees and throws up inthe toilet bowl. I sweep back her hair and gently rub her back as she groans.
“It’s alright.” I attempt to soothe her. “I’ve got you.”
Maya sobs. “I’m such a mess.”
“The first year of university is usually a mess.”
“I-I don’t normally drink this much,” she cries. “Oh god.”
She pukes up some more, and I sit beside her until her stomach is empty. I watch as she falls onto her ass and wipes her mouth with the back of her hand and shudders. It’s amazing how even in this state, she’s still incredibly beautiful.
A thought I should not be having right now.
“I really didn’t want you to see me like this.” She frowns, eyes falling sad.
I raise my hand to brush back her hair. “We’ve all been there, Maya. Don’t worry. I’ve been in some bad ways.”
“You have?”
“Yeah. Worse than this.”
Her lip twitches. “That’s good to know.”
“Sleep it off,” I say softly.
Maya’s heavy eyes flick between mine. “You’re a really good person.”
My heart clenches because she has no idea that I’m, in fact, the opposite.
“Trying to be,” I respond. After helping her brush her teeth, getting her some water and rolling her into bed, she looks up at me with hesitance. “What’s the matter?”
“Would it be weird if I asked you to stay?”
I run a hand through the back of my hair. “Do you want me to?”
Maya nods. “Please. I don’t want to be alone right now.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I confess.
