Chapter 1
Chapter One
LEVI
January - Spring Semester - Junior Year
My eyes are closed as my fingers strum the guitar strings of the first notes of “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls.
It’s the song I’ve been addicted to playing lately.
It’s always been a favorite, but it seems to be the only one that relaxes me whenever I’m anxious.
Music, specifically when I’m playing it for myself, allows me to silence my thoughts, giving me a moment of fucking peace.
Sometimes I sing, but my voice is different.
That’s what they used to tell me in choir, and ever since then, my unfortunate stage fright has taken over.
But when I’m alone, when there’s no one and nothing to judge me, I let it all out.
The pent-up anger, hurt, and frustration that sit below fuel my passion.
No one knows about it or has been able to understand it.
It’s gotten better over time, and I like to see myself as a kind person, at least that’s what everyone tells me.
Writing lyrics also helps, not that many people have seen those either.
I start the song repeatedly, knowing I’ll be interrupted soon, but I don’t know when exactly.
As soon as I start the song over for a fourth time, I decide to sing, belting out as much as I can.
When the short guitar solo hits, there’s a knock on the door, and my moment is ruined with the sound of multiple women’s voices.
Someone must’ve left the downstairs door open.
That must be my new roommate. The one I know nothing about, except that she goes to Driscoll University like me.
It’s the reason I was playing my favorite song.
I only found out that Stevie Winters was coming a day earlier than expected last night while watching a Twilight marathon with my best friends.
It’s a series I didn’t expect to enjoy but did.
Not that I’ll ever admit it to my two best girlfriends. That’s neither here nor there.
Of course, I was annoyed and fucking furious that my last roommate left me high and dry three weeks before classes started.
Although, with his history of being an absolute asshole, it shouldn’t have surprised me.
I started to give up on finding someone to share rent with until a week and a half later, when a student on the school site offered me a deal.
Since I had no other choice than being thrown out onto the street, I agreed and tried to find them through social media, but it’s hard to find someone who seems to have no online footprint.
The only thing I could see was her gender on the school page.
My best friend, Jake, had offered to investigate her past, but I refused for him to use any connections that have to do with his father, since he’s a complete dick.
Not wanting to be rude, I let the people at the door know that I’m on my way. Dropping the guitar on my bed, I walk to the entrance and open it to find a short woman who seems to be in her late forties.
“Hi there,” she says with a bright smile.
And even though I’m dreading who my new roommate will be, I smile back and wonder if this is Stevie.
It’s possible with the number of commuters and parents I’ve seen around campus to have an older roommate.
It might be a nice change of pace. As long as she doesn’t bring a kid in to live with us.
She looks sweet. Long, dark hair and blue eyes, similar to the way my mom looks.
“Hi, you must be Stevie?” I stick my hand out, but I’m still unsure if this is the person I’ll be living with for the next couple of months.
The woman laughs. “Oh no, sweetheart. But it’s nice to know I look twenty-one and not forty-eight.” She shakes my hand. “I’m Lucy, Stevie’s mom.” She smiles warmly at me while I try to do the same.
Okay, so my roommate is twenty-one, a year older than me. It’s not much, but it’s something.
“Stevie should be up any minute now. My wife is helping her with the three other suitcases she brought.” The woman looks at the two suitcases behind her and rolls her eyes.
My body relaxes slightly knowing that Stevie is familiar with living with someone who is also part of the queer community. It would’ve been unacceptable to live with someone who despised me because of my sexuality.
After a few seconds, I offer to help her with the suitcases by carrying them to the door of Stevie’s new room.
My last roommate left it a complete mess, and I decided to take it upon myself to clean it.
If I hadn’t done it, I’m sure Stevie’s mom would be dragging her out of here.
It was like a scene from a horror movie.
Seeing Lucy’s shoulders sag with relief, I’m glad I did.
“I’ll be honest, I was worried when she only had two weeks to find a new place off campus, but this seems to be a safe street and a decent building.” She looks at me. “And a pretty nice roommate.”
I’m about to reply when a soft yet excited voice stops me.
“Mom, we need some extra help.”
The voice sounds younger and a little raspy.
I take a deep breath and step behind Lucy, who offers me a reassuring smile.
After several strides, I see a girl wearing a cardigan sweater with loose jeans. Her style is very seventies, so her name is fitting, to say the least.
Her cardigan moves as she fights with her suitcase. She’s mumbling, what I’m assuming are curse words, directly at the object as if it is alive and purposely fucking with her.
“Um, Stephanie?” Lucy interrupts her daughter’s hissy fit.
“Give me a second. This stupid suitcase won’t roll for some reason, and my arms are tired from carrying it up.” She kicks it one last time and slumps over, seeming to give up. I suppress a laugh and finally take pity on her.
Taking a step forward, I say gently, “Let me help you with that.”
This seems to catch her attention, and she jumps slightly. Stevie, my new roommate, finally meets my gaze. Her extremely long, wavy brown hair was covering her face before, so it’s the first time I’m able to see her completely now.
When she straightens her back, her height catches me by surprise. If I had to guess, she’s probably around five-foot-seven or -eight and reaches right past my shoulders. Her face doesn’t have a lick of makeup, including none around her uniquely shaped, large, hooded, dark green eyes.
I study her face again and notice light freckles around her nose. She’s cute…no, she’s beautiful.
This is getting awkward. I should look away now.
Although I have no interest in dating anyone, let alone my roommate, I can acknowledge a woman’s good looks without being a creep. Right?
As if she’s read my thoughts, Stevie quickly tucks a piece of hair behind an ear, her oversized brown sweater matching every single one of her movements.
“Hi, I’m Stevie,” she says, smiling stiffly. “Your new roommate.”
“And I’m Levi,” I respond with a half grin. I’m still trying to gauge her personality and how comfortable she feels socializing with strangers. “Here, let me help you with the suitcase. Make yourself at home, since it’s yours now too.”
I pick up the suitcase and take it to the same place where I put the others.
When I turn back around, my roommate is looking around the apartment with curiosity.
She’s seen the entire thing through pictures, but it is a little different in person.
It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s cozy—well, by guys’ standards.
Lucy looks between Stevie and me before her wife walks in with the last of the two suitcases.
“Please never move again,” her mom, who looks exactly like my new roommate, says.
Their resemblance is uncanny. They have the same hair, green eyes, height, and oval face.
I’m suddenly very curious about their family’s history and who the hell her dad is.
Maybe if we become friends, she’ll tell me.
I really hope we get along. The last thing I need is a carbon copy of my last roommate.
Her mom places both suitcases in front of Stevie’s room and turns to me.
“Hi, Levi, I’m Evelyn.” Even though her mom extends her hand to shake mine, she stares at me longer than Lucy did with narrowed eyes, unlike her wife’s warm smile. She scans me from head to toe and back up again.
“So, Levi Clarke, I saw you were in the tabloids a couple of years ago with that Jacob Greymoore kid.” I flinch at the mention of Jake and the pictures taken years ago.
Even though the allegations of us being a couple were false, it still made me feel bad for my best friend and the trouble he got into because I happen to be bisexual.
“Are there still paparazzi following you around? I heard there weren’t, but you can never be too careful. ”
“Ma, please. Cut my new roommate some slack,” Stevie says, annoyed, as she playfully shoves her mom. “I’m sorry, she’s a little overprotective.” The last word is louder than the rest. I press my lips together, fighting a grin.
“It’s okay, I understand. None of you know me, and you want your daughter to be safe.
” Lucy nods, but Evelyn continues to look at me skeptically.
“I promise you have nothing to worry about, but if it makes you feel more comfortable, I can give you my mom’s and grandma’s phone numbers and any personal information you need from me. ”
“All those phone numbers would be great,” Lucy says simultaneously as Evelyn’s words sink in.
“We ran a background check on you before letting our daughter make the deal.”
Stevie shoves her mom again while Lucy rolls her eyes. The words catch me off guard, but their actions are logical.
“Understood.” I nod and point toward the kitchen, offering them something to drink.
Both shake their heads while my new roommate takes up my offer of lemonade.
“Don’t have too much sugar before bed, Stephanie,” Evelyn calls out.
Shit, she wasn’t exaggerating when she said overprotective.
Stevie waves her hand dismissively, and I follow behind her, anything to get away from Evelyn, when I feel somebody tugging my forearm.
Lucy lets go of me quickly but shifts her head to the back of the living room, giving me the signal to talk to her.
I hesitate, but follow a second later.
“The glasses are in the closed cabinet on top of the sink, and the lemonade’s in the fridge. Help yourself to any snacks you want,” I say casually to Stevie, who nods and smiles, turning her back to us.
When I reach Lucy, who is thankfully shooing Evelyn away, she turns to look at me, and her friendly demeanor becomes serious.
“Levi, this might be a lot to ask, but I need you to keep a special eye out for Stevie.” I tilt my head, thinking it has something to do with her safety around the neighborhood, till her next ominous words roll off her tongue.
“Stephanie has some health issues. Normally, I’d tell anyone close to her exactly what they are, but my daughter is stubborn and insisted on telling you herself.
” She hands me a piece of paper. “Please call either one of us if anything happens. She will tell you everything. Give her some time.”
I nod with what I’m sure is an extremely fucking confused face.
“Can you handle that?” she whispers, noticing Stevie’s suspicious gaze on us.
I hesitate for a second, not knowing what I’m getting myself into, but I incline my head either way because the look she’s giving me isn’t saying, My daughter’s insane. It’s a pleading look from a loving mother genuinely worried about her daughter’s health.
The only question is, what the fuck is Stevie dealing with?