Page 1 of HER SISTER

The exciting dynamic of Los Angeles was hard to grasp.

It was like I was on an entirely different planet.

The air was different, the people were completely carefree, and everywhere I looked I felt more and more intrigued with this unique city.

This was single-handedly the best decision I have ever made.

Yes, I'll miss my family, but being here right now—I'm realizing that I've never truly lived.

And now I finally am.

The student-living apartment complex was way nicer than the pictures online.

Everything was new and sleek—the bright sun was flowing in from all the windows surrounding the bright lobby.

Groups of different people dressed in polar opposite styles, walked throughout the lobby, rushing off to their next destination.

What I admired most was the diversity, which only made me more excited to meet new people and make friends.

I walked through the lobby, adjusting the soft beige crop top that matched my biker shorts as I strung my luggage along to the side of me.

Numerous shiny elevators lined the clean walls and I swore that I'd never lay eyes on something like this back in my small hometown.

Other people who I assumed to be students were also waiting for one of the elevators to land and ding open.

Without barely waiting a minute, an elevator landed, its silver doors sliding open as the electronic panel above it displayed the number one.

I climbed onto the spacious elevator with a few other people who were all respectfully staying to themselves, tapping on their phones.

"Floor?" a brunette asked with a small smile.

I smiled back. "Fifteen," I said, and the nice woman clicked it, tucking her long straight hair behind her ear as the elevator glided up.

As we stopped at numerous floors and let people out, I started to regret having an apartment on such a high level.

Then again, it could be worse, I could be on level twenty-five, which seemed to be the highest level on the panel.

My nerves shot up as the elevator finally landed on my floor, noticing I was the last one occupying the elevator.

I looked around hesitantly, feeling slightly intimidated, knowing I had a roommate to meet.

I wish I could've gotten more background on her other than her name, which I also felt worried about. I hope I didn't pronounce it wrong.

"Mya," I whispered, practicing it to myself.

You can't really mess that up, but knowing my luck... It would probably be pronounced in some unique way.

I sighed to myself, hoping that my roommate was somewhat nice.

Having a bad roommate could actually ruin my entire experience here at UCLA.

My eyes scanned the numbers labeling each apartment, searching for the one labeled 1519.

I felt my stomach tie in anxious knots as my suitcase rolled beside me, my heart beating anxiously in my chest like a pounding drumroll.

When my eyes finally landed on the plaque labeled 1519, I halted my walking completely, standing in front of the tall door.

Maybe she's not here yet? At least that would give me time to prepare mentally.

I looked down at the coded doorknob, typing in the code I had been memorizing for weeks.

50824. Click.

Hesitantly I pushed the door open, trotting into the spacious entry hall, looking around the bright apartment with a smile.

The ceilings were incredibly tall, and the windows allowed ample amounts of sunlight to flow in.

The apartment was already furnished, which I realized was all new furniture as I looked past the short entry hall.

I walked further into the apartment, my Yeezy slides pattering against the grey wood floors.

The living area was completely open concept, with the kitchen, living room, and dining room, all in one spot with zero walls dividing the areas.

The recurring theme I noticed was very minimalist. There were pops of dark teal and gold, but the main color I noticed was black.

The kitchen had white granite counters with black cabinets—In the living room, there was a black couch, gold side tables, a gold coffee table, and a dark teal furry area rug.

The dining room was made up of a black table and matching chairs with cushions that had the same shade of teal present in the living room.

I took in the other small details, like the Tom Ford books resting on the coffee table, the large flatscreen TV that was already playing an R&B playlist from Apple Music, and the balcony resting past the living room that overlooked the busy city of Los Angeles.

"You must be Ana!" a light voice called from behind me, which easily startled me, making me clutch my chest, "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you!"

I turned to face the woman, taking in her tanned skin and her shiny hair. Her bare skin was practically glowing and her face was uplifted and sharp.

She was dressed in a black loose crop top and grey shorts—she looked like she was in the midst of unpacking.

"Mya... Right?" I said, hoping I sounded less anxious than I felt.

Her dark eyes held mine as a smile grew on her lips, which somehow soothed my wound-up nerves.

"Yes, It's so nice to meet you," she said, taking a step toward me to initiate a full-on hug.

I didn't hesitate to meet her halfway, hugging her back. "It's nice to meet you too," I said, pulling out of the hug with a smile of my own, "This place is really nice."

Mya nodded, chuckling to herself. "So much better than the dorms."

My brows raised. "Oh, so you've been a student at UCLA since..."

"Freshman year," she finished off my hesitant statement before her dark eyes suddenly analyzed me, "Did you transfer here?"

I nodded, feeling my face grow warm. "Is it obvious?"

Mya quickly shook her head, which reassured me. "No not at all—I just felt like we would've crossed paths before. You seem really chill."

My smile grew, "Thank you. So do you," I said, relief flowing through me now that I've determined that Mya was going to be an amazing roommate.

Mya pointed to the left hall, "So my room is over there," she said before pointing to the right hall, "And yours is over there. We also have bathrooms attached too."

I looked around, nodding to myself.

"Where are you from?" Mya asked, analyzing me as I continued to take in the space.

I looked over at her, meeting her dark eyes. "Islamorada—Florida."

"Islamorada?" Mya laughed to herself, "Never heard of that place before."

I would be surprised if she had honestly.

I laughed with her. "It's a few really small islands that rarely ever get noticed by the public," I said, explaining my hometown to her. "It's nice there—a big house right on the blue water, seeing everyone you know whenever you go out, and a tight-knit community to support you."

"I feel like there's a but coming," Mya said shaking her head as she chuckled to herself.

I nodded quickly. "But—I'm more of a city girl. I love the beach and warm weather, but I'd also rather live in a bigger city, you know?"

"Oh, girl do I? I've lived in LA my whole life, and I wouldn't change it for the world," Mya quickly agreed, "I've never been a small-town kinda girl."

"Yeah, I don't think I ever was either," I said, humming to myself.

Mya clapped her hands together, "Well! I'm all unpacked. Maybe I can help you and we can chat more?" she asked, clearly wanting to get to know me better, "I also have dinner with all my friends later on. I'd love to introduce you."

My stomach fluttered with excitement as a smile lit up on my face. She wanted me to meet her friends.

"Yeah!" I said, my tone sounding a little too eager, which easily forced me to clear my own throat, "I mean, yeah, I'd love that," I corrected myself with more of a laid-back tone.

Mya nodded with an amused smile, walking toward my designated room, "Perfect, we should probably get started then."

I followed Mya into my room, my suitcase rolling over the grey wood floors, and stopping in the spacious space.

There was a thick black bedframe and a mattress with a pile of sheets and a comforter folded on top.

On either side of the queen bed, were two matching black nightstands with gold lamps on top of them.

I noticed a large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall adjacent to my bed, a desk placed against the wall to the left of my bed, and a sliding glass door that led out to the balcony I saw early. They must all be connected into one.

I looked toward the two other doors to the right of the room, concluding that those must lead to my closet and the attached bathroom.

"Ready to start?" Mya asked.