Balance | Daniel Seavey AU

O N E | dude in my dorm

I enter my dorm, my suitcase rolling behind me as I pushed the door with one hand, revealing the simple design. It was symmetrical; twin-size bunk beds, a connected table underneath the beds on each of side of the room and a small closet on both sides of the door.

I had to take a moment to make sure that I wasn't actually dreaming, and I've actually gotten accepted into Laguna Coast College of the Arts! This has been my dream college since I saw the advertisement during a break between iCarly and Victorious episodes when I was ten. The tuition is quite expensive, but I was lucky enough to obtain a full-ride scholarship with a few paintings I sent from my portofolio.

I immediately called up my mom when I dropped my bags on my side of the room, keeping the grin from growing too wide. "Hey Mase, how was the flight?"

"Tiring but I made it to my dorm!" I couldn't help but exclaim, the smile forming. "But my roommate hasn't arrived so I got first dibs—"

"That's great, sweetie, but I need to call you back, I've got some errands to run," she immediately cut me off and whatever happiness I had, had now faded as a sense of sadness rushed over me.

"Alright, yeah, uh... bye." With a dry goodbye as a response, we both hung up and I sat down on the edge of the bed, letting out a heavy sigh. I knew it was too good to be true that my mom would put her job before me—I understand that she wants to create a living, but... I don't know, it's probably best if she concentrates on her job instead of my dead dad, to keep her from feeling the sadness when we got the news.

Pushing the thought to the back of my head, I unpacked what was inside my bag before either hanging it in the minimal space of a closet, or piling them into the shelves. I didn't place any of the picture frames I brought, instead, I grabbed some money to buy something from the nearby café and to also apply a job there since I'm sure I'll have to buy food somehow.

The walk was short since it was right across the street from the lobby of the dorms. I entered the place, inhaling the satisfying scent of coffee and baked goods before going to the counter where a boy stood in all-black, his hair in a beanie as he sent me a friendly smile. "Good afternoon, I'm Jonah and what will you be having today?"

"A job, maybe?" I laughed nervously.

"You go to LCCA?" He asked, and I nodded, pursing my lips.

"Scholarship." He nodded slowly, a knowing 'ah' escaping his lips. "You?"

"Community college, this was the closest to my apartment," he says. "Anyways, about the job; it's quite simple really, you have to apply, give it to my manager and he'll approve it—" Jonah then leans in to stage-whisper "—but between you and me, you'll definitely get approved, he's an old man in his fifties and he's willing to let anyone work for him if they're loyal and stick to the rules."

"Oh good, so do I have to write some sort of resume?" I asked. Jonah was going to speak when an old man appeared behind him, the thick framed glasses pushed up by his finger as he shared a friendly smile.

"No need, you're approved—if you're on a scholarship, you must be special." I couldn't help the grin from forming as I thanked the man. He explained that I'll start after my classes tomorrow, before handing me a complimentary blueberry muffin and cup of coffee, which I gratefully accepted and carried back to my dorm.

As I walking back, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and a sliver of hope appeared that it would be my mother, but a smile still found its way when I saw that it was actually my cousin, Zach calling. "Hey shorty, what's up?"

"I'm almost taller than you," he said before sighing, "did you arrive safely?"

"Yeah, and I got free coffee and a muffin," I told him, and despite this conversation being through the phone, I still held up what I got in the air. "Now, I have a job in the coffee shop nearby, so I need to continue unpacking—" I pushed the door open, before stopping in my steps at the sight of lanky figure sitting by the table of the unoccupied bed. He turned to face me, the two of us sharing a look of confusion.

"Mase, hello?"

"Zach?"

"Yeah?"

"I'll call you back."

"Why?"

"There's a dude in my dorm," I said, still staring at the stranger.

"There's a girl in my dorm," the boy retorted.

"Mason, what—" I didn't let him finish as I hung up, and slid the phone back into my pocket. "Who are you?"

"Who are you?" He retaliated.

"I asked first," I rose a brow.

"Ladies first." This time, I closed my eyes to let out a sigh, caving in, then muttered, "Mason."

"Daniel, glad we established that," he sent a grin, "so what are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" It was his turn to let out a sigh, rubbing his face with his hands as a groan slips, "Can we not do that again? I had a long drive from Portland to here, and let me just tell you that it wasn't comfortable at all."

"Why didn't you just fly?"

"And miss out the view?" He asked as if I grew two heads. "I thought I was rooming with a guy, when they showed available dorms."

"And I thought I was with a girl," I told him.

"At least in my case, it would've been a typo," he retaliated, "You're actually a Mason."

"Never heard that before," I couldn't help but mock under my breath. "No offence, but you look fifteen."

"Never heard that before," he mocked under his breath as well, "I'll switch rooms if you're not comfortable with this whole situation."

"Pfft, I've roomed with guys before, you're probably not different," I retorted, leaning against the frame of my bed.

He stares straight in my eyes, "I major in music."

"And I major in art," I challenged. "We're both in for the art degree then—since you know, it's college of the arts." He nods, his lips in a tight smile. "Honestly, I don't think it matters; if you respect me and my boundaries, there won't be an issue."

"That could be done," he agrees, before standing and extending his hand, "We'll shake on it."

"I have a coffee ready to drink and a muffin waiting to be eaten, let's just smile and nod before going our separate ways," I suggested instead. He smiles tightly, dropping his hand to his side before we both smiled and nodded, before turning our backs to one another.

—🌹—

SO this is my first Daniel fanfic, and i hope you will enjoy this journey. please vote and comment and share, it'll mean so much. thank you :)x