Work Text
Maya feels like her life’s been pulled apart.
She’s in her seat on the flight back to Stanford, her eyes on the city (and painful, beautiful memories) that she was leaving behind.
Her heart feels tight; she had broken into tears in the airport restrooms, a kindly woman comforting her. She had almost wanted to tell her everything to relieve her burden, but she couldn’t. How could she? She hadn’t even told her friends.
There’s an unread text message on her phone. Her fingers tremble, as she clicks the popup.
Wyatt
Laura broke up with me. Have a safe flight.
Maya squeezes her eyes shut. She deletes his chat. She couldn’t think about him anymore.
Who was she kidding? All she sees behind her shut eyes is him.
A month earlier
,
Beginnings. Chapter 1
“Well, that’s all for the session. Those with questions may stay behind. The assignment can be collected here, you know the deadline.” Maya put her notebook into her bag, brushing her hair behind her ear, the students shuffling around, as they made small talk or filed out of the room.
Cambridge had always been a dream.
Maya couldn’t believe she was finally here, albeit for a semester. Her roommate, Emily, is wonderful and somehow, already dragging her to a party on her first week. How did she get herself an invitation already? Maya was stumped.
Her first week had been a whirlwind of getting acquainted with the system, the rooms, and the course material. And of course, making friends and exploring London.
She pulls out her phone.
Emily
We only have 2 hours! Is your class over?
Maya
Yes, I’m on my way.
The party was out at the heart of University town, the lights reflecting off the water in the canals. She subconsciously adjusted her dress. This was her first time at a university party, Emily promised that there would be people from all over Cambridge. That scared Maya.
Maya looked down at her black dress. Was she overdressed? She adjusted the sleeve again.
“You’ll be fine!” Emily reassured her. “Just go out there!”
“I wish.” Maya pushed open the door to the pub the students had rented out for the night.
She’s faced with people all over the place, some at the bar, others at tables or at the centre, groups everywhere.
“Oh, Elizabeth’s there! She’s waving at us.” Maya looked around, trying to spot her. Elizabeth’s at the bar, surrounded by the rest of the friends that Maya had made at the dorm. They were nice, and a little wild. Maya loved it.
They pushed through the crowd, finding their place next to their friends.
“Maya!” Elizabeth passed her a drink. “Drink up!” Maya smiled, hesitantly taking up her offer, the pink liquid sloshing in the glass. She took a hesitant sip. The drink was way sharper than it looked.
“We should dance! They play all the new rock music.” Maya nearly giggles. Rock music? That’s new.
Emily pulls her to the dance floor, her friends coming joining them. The floor is already full of people, as she stays close to Emily, letting herself relax.
She had heard so much about the Cambridge parties, and she was certainly liking it so far.
Someone brushes past her, nearly bumping into her.
Her breath catches.
His voice is low as he apologises, but she still hears him over all the noise. The first buttons of his neatly pressed shirt are open, the tie loose like he had pulled at it in a haste. His hair is a handsome mess, as she watched him reach the bar, his friends whooping.
His aura screams effortless, charming, and all wrong. The kind of people she stays away from.
But there was something. Something that makes her heart flip and tighten in her chest. Something that makes her stomach flutter. Something that made her self conscious.
She turns away, to face her friends who were laughing and dancing wild. Maya joins along, but she still turns to glance at this guy who had her captivated (for a second).
He’s talking and everyone is tuned in, listening intently. He locks eyes on her for a second. Her heart jumps, and she glances away immediately, embarrassed that she was caught staring.
What is this attraction?
Maya tries to ignore it throughout the party, but she finds him everywhere, seemingly friends with everyone. He finally sidles up at the bar, ordering something she’s never heard before and engages in conversation with Emily.
His eyes flick to her, she pretends to be uninterested.
“You’re new, aren’t you? Haven’t seen you around before.” Wyatt holds out his hand, and Maya takes it up, smiling politely. The touch sends sparks down her skin. Maya’s never felt this feeling before, this undeniable attraction.
“Maya. I’m a foreign exchange student.” Something passes over his face, but it quickly passes and he gives her a small crooked smile.
“Wyatt. Nice to meet you. What are you studying?” She ends up talking about her major, when he shows enthusiasm. His questions reflect familiarity with the subject, and she’s ecstatic.
She finds out that he’s a math major, done brilliant things, and won competitions.
The entire night, he’s shifting closer, and she pretends to not notice, but soon her brain is buzzing with how close he is, his shoulder brushing her bare arm every time he reaches for his drink.
She looks around, the party is still pulsing, her friends nowhere in sight. Wyatt’s talking, and she can’t think, she swears that his gaze flicked to her lips more than once. He casually flirts with her when she’s talking about something and she hates how much she flushes. Hates how much it seems to be spurring him on.
He’s playing with her. She’s secretly pleased. Pleased that he’s interested.
“Want me to drop you back?” Wyatt asks when they step out for some fresh air.
“I’m not sure, my friends are still in there.” Maya wants him to drop her back. Wants him to kiss her.
“You can text them.” He’s persistent, and Maya’s growing warm. He wants her. Does he?
“Alright.” she whispers, texting Emily quickly. He takes her to his car, opening the passenger door for her.
Wyatt slides into the driver seat, and they ride in comfortable silence. His grip on the wheel is relaxed, but the weighted glances he throws her way don’t go unnoticed.
There’s tension, neither willing to address it.
He pulls up at the entrance, “We’re here.” Maya adjusts the seat belt. She doesn’t want to leave. Not when she was feeling like this.
Maya never did flings. She had long, stable relationships, ones that came from knowing the person for a long time as good friends before it developed into anything more.
She’d be lying if she said that her mind wasn’t edging on dangerous right now. Nobody had given her such an adrenaline rush.
Wyatt turns the engine off. His gaze is on her, she feels it. She turns to face his dark and intense eyes.
It was like silent permission. She wanted him to do it. Kiss her. Wanted to feel the thrill.
He takes off his seat belt, and he’s kissing her, holding her arms. She’s pressed against the seat, and her brain is on overdrive, the kiss searing her. It’s deliberate at first, but it quickly develops into something she can’t keep up with, desperate and wanting. She pulls him in with his tie.
He pulls away briefly. “You were driving me crazy all night. The pretty girl in the black dress that hugged you in all the right places.” She flushes, his hand on her waist. “I’ve never been this attracted.” He admits, his lips brushing her collar. He pulls off her seat belt.
“Me neither.” She says softly.
“Then, is this okay?” He lifts her into his seat. Her breath hitches, her bare legs on either side of him.
She can’t believe it. She didn’t think this far ahead. Maya’s is his lap, nearly straddling him.
This is moving so fast.
His face is close to hers, his fingers dangerously low on her back.
Maya can’t believe how much she wants this with Wyatt.
He kisses her hard, and her dress hikes up to her thigh, as she moves closer.
She’s in this deeper than she thought.
He’s kissing her neck, her fingers threaded through his hair. His grip on her waist is strong; she can’t breathe. Her hand is still on his tie, and he comes up to kiss her on her lips.
They nearly do it in his car.
But Emily calls her when he’s in the middle of unzipping her dress and she nearly jumps. She hastily pulls her phone out of her purse.
“Hey! We’re coming back too. Are you there yet?” How long has it been? She can’t think straight, not when she’s still in his lap.
Wyatt smirks. She wants to hit him.
“Yes, I’m there. Can I call you back?” She manages. She hangs up as quickly as she can.
“I should go.” She can hardly say a word. She carefully extracts herself, and checks her dress.
She feels like a mess.
“See you around, Maya.” Wyatt says. He gives her his crooked smile, and he’s off.
God, what has she gotten herself into?
The next day passes by without any hitches.
The professors are very entertaining, and she thoroughly enjoys their questions and handouts. She finds herself in the grand library at Trinity College, and finds a seat near the window.
She tries to finish her assignments, but she can’t help it. Her mind drifts to yesterday.
She actually enjoyed the party, but she can’t remember any of it, because of Wyatt.
Maya wants to hit her head against a wall. She can’t believe she
nearly
had sex with a guy she had just met, just because he looked hot, is a genius, and is so good at kissing her dammit – where is this going?
She huffs.
He doesn’t care. Probably not. I know his type.
She thinks. Maya will forget.
No, she can’t.
She shoves her books back in her bag. She was done with the work anyway. She should find Emily. She wanted to take Maya to an Italian restaurant in University town, and Maya never refuses food.
She’s almost out the door, when someone yanks her back in, and she finds herself in a secluded corner behind a shelf. She nearly yelps, when Wyatt’s face comes into view.
He slaps his hand over her mouth. Maya has an urge to slap his grinning face.
“Leaving already?” Maya’s stomach does a flip. This man was going to be the death of her.
“It’s been two hours. Have you been standing here the entire time?”
“I just got here. I’ve an assignment to do.” His bag is on the floor. She realises she’s in the math section, the books either paper thin, or thicker than tree bark.
“Just thought I’d say hi before you leave.” There’s the signature crooked smile.
“Hi.” Maya manages, when he steps closer.
“Hi.” His lips are on hers, and she can’t believe she’s doing it all over again.
It’s like she never learns. She pulls the collar of his shirt, and his hands cage her against the shelf.
There's a cough on their side. She breaks off, startled. Wyatt's hands are still around her and he looks so calm, as he stares down the girl standing with a stack of books in her hand.
“I’ve got to put these back there.” Maya feels the blood rushing into her cheeks. When Wyatt makes no signal of moving, she pushes him away from there, and smiles as politely as she could without breaking down in embarrassment.
“I’m sorry, go on ahead.” Maya signals. The girl smiles hesitantly.
“I’m leaving.” Maya whispers at Wyatt, but he’s already stepping back, and his face is devoid of any mirth. He picks up his bag, “I’ll be off then.” Wyatt’s gone before she can process what had happened.
The girl says softly, “I’m sorry if I made your boyfriend mad.”
Boyfriend?
Hardly.
Wait.
“Oh, he’s not–” Maya cuts off. What were they then?