My Crush, My Roommate

MICHELLE's P O V

''Devon Kai Carter, an aspiring boxer who is twenty-one years old, has already won 20 events and has only lost five. At his school, Goldstein Academy, he is widely considered to be one of the most accomplished boxers ever. Wow!'' While I read his information with the utmost fascination, I noticed that my eyes were getting bigger. He quickly became my new idol in the sport of boxing.

My ex-crush, Joshua Grant, was also a boxer in that school and had won 32 tournaments with only two losses before he completed college. That year, I was on the verge of enrolling in Goldstein to be able to get closer to Josh, but then something unexpected occurred.

My feet were perched up on my desk as I took sips of my bubble tea and purposefully made a slurping sound while I researched Devon Kai's background further on my phone, when I heard my best friend speak.

''Hey, are you sure that this is something you want to do?'' Rina, who was sitting next to me and holding a can of soda in her hand, prodded me in an anxious manner. She was never a fan of bubble tea. ''It's a school exclusive for boys!''

''I know...'' I shrugged as I planted both feet firmly on the floor. ''But guess what, I'm already accepted in Goldstein Academy!''

I turned to look at her, but she didn't appear to be convinced, and her expression gave the impression that she was about to burst out laughing at any moment. ''How on earth did you possibly manage to pull that off?'' she shook her head in disbelief as she took another gulp.

''I enrolled online, dude...'' I answered. ''I edited everything I need-my name, my hair...''

''What the fuck?'' she exclaimed, her mouth gaped open, and eyes widening. ''Seriously, bitch?! Just because of Devon Kai, you... you did that?''

I gave a satisfied nod while a smug grin played across my face.

''But wait!'' Rina raised her palm in front of my face. ''You're going to live in a dorm with the boys! Your secret will be lash out in a flash if you're not careful!'' Rina continued to expound on many scenarios that could play out. ''What will you do if you have to shower? Or change? And what about those? How could you even hide them?'' she pointed on my chest, her eyebrows raised.

''Don't worry, I can handle it...'' I rolled my eyes, chuckling under my breath. ''Besides, upperclassmen has individual rooms. I don't have to worry about changing, taking a bath, and so on and so forth...''

I would never ever miss this opportunity. To be with my crush, Devon Kai Carter. Even if it means cutting my hair short and acting and dressing like a boy so I can be with him, I will do whatever it takes. And of course, the most important reason was to hide from the monster who was chasing after me.

Everything would be alright...

I know, it would...

..........***********...........

I got everything ready, including packing my new acquired loose t-shirts, jeans, and boxer shorts-I winced at the memory of me shopping all of these.

This morning, I asked Rina to butcher my beautiful hair, copying the hairstyle in the photo that I had edited and submitted to Goldstein Academy. She even helped me bind my breasts, and oh boy, it hurts.

Wait! Do I have to bring my brassieres with me?

I thought for a moment before I decided to include them in my bag. In the event that any of my roommates come across it, I'll just tell them that it belongs to my girlfriend. The very idea of me having one made me want to throw up.

''Your room number is 218...'' The man across the counter stared indifferently at me, eyeing me up and down, before he handed me a key, hanging by the tip of his finger and focusing back on his phone and then chuckled on something he read, but when he saw me watching, his face turned serious. He rolled his eyes and waved his hand in dismissal.

Great!

'Guess I'm stuck with a mean dorm master for the rest of the school year.

''Thank you...'' I said in a quiet, mouse-like voice, and I swallowed, suddenly afraid that he might recognize me as a girl.

I cleared my throat, a small sound that surely had an even smaller effect, while a light blush spread across my cheeks, and before he could turn his head to look at me, I pivoted on my heels and headed directly toward the elevator without looking back at him.

''Wait!'' As I heard him say it, I came to a complete and utter stop in my tracks with wide eyes.

''What's your name?'' he asked, and I shut my eyes for a moment before I opened them, swallowing a sudden lump in my throat.

''M-Michael...'' I replied with a shaky breath, not bothering to turn around.

After a while, I heard him let out a long sigh. ''Okay...''

As soon as he answered, I scurried towards the elevator carrying my backpack, and pulling my suitcase. My eyes fastened to the floor as I waited for the doors to close, avoiding eye contact with the dorm master.

I blinked hard against the overwhelming wave of relief, forcing my trembling legs to walk out of the elevator. Pure determination held back the tears welling in my eyes, and I bit my bottom lip to stop it from shaking.

I came to a halt in front of room 218; my hands fluttered with nerves, and I covered my mouth to stop an ill-timed release of energy itching to escape through a scream.

My disguised worked. They believed I was a boy. Michelle Rivers was gone-with-the-wind, replaced by the short-haired and deceivingly flat-chested Michael Rivera.

As I turned the knob into the room I was supposed to be assigned in, I noticed my hands wouldn't stop trembling. I sucked in a shaky breath---cut short by the bindings around my chest-and I wiped my hands against my jeans.

Now wasn't the time to stand still, so I grabbed the knob again, but this time around, a tall shadow cascaded over me. From behind, a built arm pushed me gently to the side and unlocked the door with a key.

I couldn't see his face in the midst of all that, but I followed him into the room anyway. Much to my surprise, he adorned nothing but grey sweatpants.

Damn! It goes without saying that he was attractive, even from behind, thanks to his reasonably tall stature and well-developed physique. His back muscle was clearly visible when he stretched his arm.

''Who are you?'' I began by questioning him, trying to make my voice lower than usual before, but it always sounded fake.

The young man, on the other hand, did not appear to be answering and instead was seen taking boxing gloves out of his bag and tossing them on top of the bed.

Wait...

I seemed to recognize the look of those gloves. It all seemed so familiar, that it was almost impossible. But when he turned around, I was left in the state of shock.

He was a young boy around my age. His hair reminded me of wheat fields that I'd seen in a painting, and his bright deep blue eyes disappeared as he smirked.

The person who let themselves into my room was none other than Devon Kai Carter. Yet the sight of him inside made my eyes feel like they were going to fly out of my head. That event has left me so bewildered that I haven't really recovered from the shock of it yet. He shot me a glance for a moment before dabbing his body, which was drenched with sweat, with a towel.

MICHELLE's P O V

''M-Me...?'' Devon Kai smirked as he pointed to himself, before throwing the towel on one of the two twin beds that were pushed against opposite walls and then brushed a few strands of dirty blonde hair out of his eyes and look at me as if asking me why I didn't know a famous guy like him. ''You look lost...''

But instead of answering him, I shrugged my shoulders, and looked around the room, and although I had expected to have a roommate, I knew I wasn't mistaken when I read the policies and conditions of the school, that all upperclassmen had individual rooms.

''I think... I think I live here?'' I inquired with some trepidation while carefully rechecking the room number. It still said 218. This was my room.

''Damn. I thought I was one of the lucky ones who wouldn't have to share a room because I am the best student here...'' he frowned as he slipped around me to pick up a small cloth-probably a boxer brief-that was on the floor.

I was startled and then swallowed because of his close proximity, so I moved to the side, but he gestured with his hand toward the room. ''Make yourself at home, I guess...''

It took a little while for his words to register with me, and when they did, I wasn't quite sure what to do with them. Make myself at home? In a room with my crush in it? Was he out of his mind?

I had no idea whether the rapid heartbeat I was experiencing was due to anxiety or excitement, but I could already feel it beating hard in my chest.

That was impossible! Alarm bells set off in my head, and all I wanted to do was walk out of the door as quickly as possible and back out.

But it was too late to do that...

''T-thank you...'' I mumbled instead, taking a tentative step over the the bed. My gut screamed at me, willing my feet to march back to the dorm master and inform him that I don't want this room. I can't room with Devon Kai because I'm actually a girl and I have a big crush on him. He's also one of the reasons why I'm here. I want to get close to him but not to the point where we would sleep in the same room together.

That wouldn't end well. Out of habit, I reached for a strand of hair, completely forgetting that Rina had recently cut it off. After being reminded of it, my stomach sank even lower, and I tried to divert my attention by taking another look around the dormitory room.

It wasn't very complicated at all. My first impression was that it was too small for two people because the room was taken up almost entirely by two twin beds that were placed against opposite walls.

The floor was covered with a thin carpet, and there was very little room to move around in there. The sink was protruding from the wall in the corner to my left, and there was a door to the bathroom next to it, which struck me as a little strange. Wasn't the sink supposed to be inside the bathroom?

The right side of the room was decorated in various shades of navy blue and was covered with pictures and posters. Some of the posters featured a man wearing boxing gloves. Very Devon Kai...

My nose wrinkled in response to the pervasive odor of sweat that was present in the room. The smell of male body odor was never overwhelming at the old school I went to, but it certainly didn't have a pleasant aroma either.

In spite of its confinement, the space had an inviting... atmosphere. Cozy. I couldn't lie; the truth is that I was looking forward to having a good night's sleep in the bed.

I guess I just hadn't factored in the possibility of having a roommate in this scenario.

I could feel him following closely behind me as he closed the door, which triggered a fresh wave of anxiety to course through my veins. I took a deep breath and clenched both of my hands around the suitcase to prevent it from shaking.

Because it was the first time I'd ever been alone with a boy, the thought of it caused my throat to tighten with excitement while also adding a trace of growing panic.

I tried to push it out of my mind despite the fact that my hands were shaking as my father's voice kept popping into the back of my head, warning me about the horrible things that boys did to girls. This was Devon Kai Carter, for crying out loud! Because, as far as I am aware, girls were the ones who were pursuing him, he would not do something inappropriate to me, duh!

But the thought of him doing something to me made me giggle silently. But of course, as long as he believed that I was a boy, he wouldn't hurt me in any way.

''By the way, my name is DK--- Devon Kai...'' he said as he leaned against the desk that was positioned in the middle of both beds and flashed a smile that reached all the way to his eyes.

I know...

I imagined myself biting my bottom lip as I took in his lean build, with hints of muscle lining his tanned arms. I believe... If we got into a physical altercation, there's no way I could defeat him.

''I...I'm Michael...'' the words were a challenge to force out, barely above a whisper as I carefully set my suitcase near the empty bed. My mind struggled to make sense of all of this information.

Had he already begun to suspect something? I scratched my chin nervously and spoke around the lump that was developing in my throat. ''M-Michael Rivera...''

I was uneasy as a result of the weight that his gaze seemed to put on my shoulders. ''I guess we're roommates now, Mike...'' he already composed a nickname for me, and I'm loving it. ''You play any sports?''

''Uhmm, no...'' I responded in the same subdued manner, bewildered by the question. ''But I would like to be a boxer...''

Just like you...

''But you're small and skinny though...'' He started walking towards me, and the next thing he did caused me to go completely still.

He lightly touched me, and I immediately jerked backwards in response.

''Well, the walk-on tryouts are scheduled for the following week. You should give one a shot...''

I blinked, knowing full well that I wouldn't stand a chance against the mamoths that I'd seen on the internet with him. Devon, on the other hand, had the physique of the jocks from my previous school with his athletic build and boyish smile.

It was difficult to focus on anything when my mind was still struggling to fathom how this guy and I were both assigned to the same room.

''I will, but...'' I trailed off, unsure of how to phrase my thoughts so that they wouldn't come across as rude. Even though I really wanted him to be my roommate, I realized that staying in the room by myself would be for the best in this situation. ''...do you know why we're sharing a room? I thought all upperclassmen had singles?''

''We usually do, but Goldstein is renovating the Wigglesworth dorm...'' he explained, tossing the boxer briefs to the side before moving back to sit on his navy blue comforter. ''They began construction this past spring, and it is anticipated that it will take a year to complete...''

''Perfect...'' I mumbled something under my breath and struggled to contain a sigh as I did so.

''It's not so bad...'' he shrugged his shoulders, offering a crooked smile. ''Honestly, I'm one of the better roommates you could get stuck with...''

His reassuring smile worked, and my shoulders relaxed a touch more as I slipped both backpack straps off my shoulders. His smile also did funny things to my stomach, making it warm and jittery. Or maybe I was just nauseous.

I quickly averted my gaze so that he wouldn't notice that I was staring at him. When I looked at the pictures that were hanging on his wall as well as the assortment of school supplies that were sitting on his desk, I couldn't help but wonder how he was already unpacked and settled in. Didn't the dorms just start letting people in a few hours ago?

''Enough with the talking...'' he suddenly said, before I even had the chance to ask him the question that was on my mind. ''Shall we go take a bath together...?''

MICHELLE's P O V

''What did you just say? Take a bath?'' I reiterated, my eyes were on the verge of popping out of their sockets.

Even though I had only been in this male dormitory for a few minutes at this point, I was already in some kind of trouble.

''I'll go first, if you don't mind...'' he wiggled his eyebrows, arms crossed against his muscular chest. ''Or we can be all friendly and shower together...''

What?

''No, t-thank you...'' I firmly rejected him with a hand up before I heaved my suitcase onto the bed. ''I'm fine...''

''If you say so...'' He then gave me a smug look and proceeded to strip down right in front of me.

Oh, God... I stifled the urge to close my eyes, and studied him.

He wore boxers from Calvin Klein, which were wrapped firmly around his hips, his upper abdomen resembling that of a chocolate bar. It was almost impossibly well built-showing much of his training through his body.

After that, he used his teeth to pull on the bandages that were on his hands, untying them in a hurry. These bandages were meant to shield his hands from injury during boxing matches, but there was no way they could shield me from his undeniable charm. He exuded a seductive atmosphere that was unlike anything else I've encountered---the feeling of danger was imminent when he was in close proximity to me.

I turned back around to hide my blushing face when I heard him clear his throat, which caused me to hold my breath because I knew that he was about to speak again.

''By the way, what year are you?'' Devon questioned with an air of intrigue and I exhaled, glancing over my shoulder to see that he was observing me.

''Junior...'' I said quickly before twisting back to focus on my unpacking. ''I just transferred here from West Virginia. How about you?''

Even though I had already read enough of information about him, I was nevertheless interested in hearing it directly from his mouth. ''Also a junior. My hometown is a coastal community in California, so moving to Connecticut was like moving to a completely other world for me.''

''California!'' I exclaimed in astonishment as I turned back to him with a smile, but it quickly faded when I tracked a little bead of perspiration travelling across his thick neck. Before gaining momentum and plunging over one gloriously defined peck, the drop paused on his collarbone, as did my breath. He really looked like a work of art. My fingers itched to sketch him. ''I've always wanted to go there! The beaches look so beautiful in pictures!''

When I turned my attention back to Devon's face, he blinked back at me; in response, I bit the inside of my lip, cleared my throat, and lowering my voice more than usual. It's possible that young men don't typically get that enthused about a city. I was already putting my foot in my mouth.

''I... I mean, it sounds cool...'' I corrected gruffly, racking my brain for something else to say. I'd always wanted to go to a beach because of the sunsets, but I'm not sure what a guy would find appealing about them. ''Because of girls in bikini and... surfing? Oh, and beach parties, definitely...''

Devon Kai's expression didn't waver while my excitement faded into worry. Had I already messed up my chance?

It was a considerable amount of time before he turned away, drumming his knuckles against the side of a bedpost. ''Yeah, it's pretty cool, I guess...'' he nodded, but the hesitation in his voice made my stomach sink. ''Where exactly in the state of West Virginia do you hail from? There is a cousin of mine --''

I was startled enough to drop the shirt I was holding as his phone flared to life with a flurry of vibrations, and Devon looked down at the screen for a moment before raising a hand to indicate that he was going to answer that. ''I'm sorry, but I need to take this...''

I nodded, swiping up my shirt and turning back to my suitcase as he accepted a call. I gasped for air. For the few moments that I've spent in this room with him, I haven't been able to properly breathe. After being in his presence for only five minutes, I felt as if I had completely lost my mind.

The volume of Devon Kai's voice decreased, and I was only able to make out a few of the words he was saying. It piqued my interest, leading me to believe that it was his girlfriend, but I forced myself to concentrate on the task at hand and began pulling my belongings out of the suitcase. I made a quick work of filling my drawers with the clothes.

''When?'' Devon muttered into the phone, carrying to my ears as I went back to my bookbag and fished out a sketchbook. He spared me a brief glance as I set it on our desk, offering me a small, tight smile before looking down at the towel in his hand, and slung it around his neck. ''Okay. I'm going to be there...''

I turned back to my bed as he spoke, doing my best not to eavesdrop. Pulling my undergarments, I mentally sent a quick 'thank you' to Rina for talking me into bringing boxer briefs and shorts.

What was at the time the most awkward talk of my life ultimately saved me from having to have another embarrassing conversation in the future if Devon caught me with ladies' underpants...

What exactly should I say to explain that?

In addition to averting a catastrophe with my underpants, I was feeling more confident in my façade. So far, I'd fooled the school secretary, the dorm master, and my new roommate. That was three more people than I'd expected, and probably the three most important. I couldn't conceal a little rush of pleasure at my deceit, but shame for lying rapidly swamped it.

''Okay, I'll swing by after my workout...'' Devon uttered these words with a sigh just before hanging up the phone.

I took the blazers out of the packet that contained my uniforms and unwrapped it so that I could hang them up as soon as possible before the wrinkles set in.

But when I looked around, I couldn't see a closet or any other place to put them.

After putting his phone on the bed and retrieving a basket of toiletries from beneath the bed, Devon announced, ''I'm going to take a shower now...'' The fact that he stepped towards the door and opened it took me by surprise.

''Devon, where are you going?'' I inquired, and he turned around frowning.

''Showering?'' he answered. ''Didn't I tell you just now?''

''But, isn't that the bathroom?'' I pointed to the corner behind me.

The unexpected laughter coming from him, showing his perfect set of teeth caused me to jump. ''That's a closet, bro. It's a little cramped, but we can make it work if you store your suitcase under the bed...''

Bro... he called me bro. But I immediately brushed it off my mind because the ball of dread wound itself up more tightly.

''What?'' My heart was beating so fast that it felt like it may burst through my chest as I frowned at the door that was next to the sink. ''That's a closet?''

''Yeah, and you think it was a restroom?'' He appeared to be confused. While he was deep in concentration, he stared at the ceiling and commented, ''You should've passed the bathroom about halfway down the hall. Blue door, right next to a drinking fountain...''

''W-what?'' I stuttered as my brain short-circuited, chest heaving as my lungs struggled for air. My leg wobbled, and I perched myself on the edge of the mattress for stability. ''The showers are in public?''

''Yeah...'' Devon responded slowly, his uncertainty increasing as I attempted to conceal the fact that I was having a mental breakdown.

And as I scanned his physique, the only thing that was covering him was a pair of boxer shorts, I couldn't help but feel frightened. He would walk down the hallway to the bathroom dressed like that?

During my time here, I would be using the showers too that were shared by the entire building.

Fuck! I wasn't prepared for this.