Page 67 of Resisting the Fall

His eyebrows cocked upward at my personal offense, but I shut the door, using more force than necessary to drive in my point—I was not the least bit pleased with him or how my time in Autumn Ridge had gone.

Maven grasped my hand, weaving us through the countless students enjoying the early spring afternoon. They all looked to be about our age, give or take a few years, and several smiled and waved at Maven as we passed. There were also a few guys that sized me up. I could take them.

“Do all these people attend the Cleveland Institute of Music?” I asked.

“No. The dorms are mainly Case Western students. Though all the music students are together on the same floor, which you already know.”

We entered a five-story building. Bits and pieces of things were familiar, being that we were constantly video calling each other, but somehow it still felt foreign.

“Maven!” Some dude waved, jogging over to us from the small sitting area. He had blond hair and was just a little taller than Maven. He looked friendly enough. “Is this the boyfriend?”

“It is.” Maven wrapped her arm around mine. “Ben, this is Derek. He’s also a freshman at CIM, but he plays the cello.”

I reached a hand toward him to shake his. “Nice to meet you.”

His smile slid to Maven. “Your girlfriend is a legend around here.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.”

“Did she tell you how she and her roommate convinced the RA to give them the universal key to the guys’ dorms, so they could put tiny electronic noisemakers in all the rooms?” He shook his head, clearly impressed. “We nearly went crazy trying to find where the sporadic beeping sounds were coming from. In one room, she unscrewed the side of a gaming computer and placed it inside.”

Maven had mentioned the prank, but I couldn’t remember her saying who it was she’d targeted. “I’d recommend staying on her good side,” I said.

“I’ve been trying.” Derek looked at my duffle bag, as if realizing I’d just arrived. “Well, it was nice to meet you. Enjoy your visit.”

I dipped my chin in his direction, then Maven and I continued toward the elevator.

Maven glanced up at me. “The only reason we did the guys’ dorms was because they pranked the girls’ dorms first.”

“It’s fine.” I bumped my elbow into her. “I’d be concerned if you weren’t up to your usual shenanigans.”

The elevator opened and a group of students stepped off before we stepped on.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Maven said, beaming at me.

I should have come sooner, but Cleveland was a long way from Autumn Ridge. I’d also been busy with work and the new house I was fixing up. And I guess a part of me didn’t want to see Maven somewhere she seemed to be so happy. Which was selfish of me. But I was here now, attempting to make it right. “So what’s the plan?”

“We’ll drop off your duffle quickly, then I can show you around.”

The elevator dinged, and I followed Maven onto the third floor. We’d made our way halfway down the long hallway when she stopped and unlocked her door. “Here we are.” She peeked inside, then opened the door all the way. The room was small, with two twin beds and two desks, but the way it was decorated—with brightly colored bedspreads and a collection of pictures and posters—forced a smile out of me. Maven’s side was so perfectly her.

Her roommate, Lucy, lay on her bed, typing something on her phone with her thumbs. When she saw us, she sat up, swinging her legs down and sliding onto the floor. “Ben Walker in the flesh,” she said, walking toward us. “I never thought the day would come.”

“Hey, Lucy,” I said.

She craned her head back dramatically. “Wow. You’re so much taller than I imagined you’d be.” Lucy looked at Maven, covering her mouth to whisper something.

Maven just laughed and nodded her head.

I glanced between them, but clearly neither intended to share what she’d said.

“Are you two headed over to the Institute?” Lucy asked. “Because if so, I’m inviting myself along.” She stepped up next to me. “Half of our friends think you’re a fictional boyfriend Maven uses as an excuse to stay in on weekends so she can practice more. I want to see their faces when they meet you.”

Maven laughed again. “Of course you can come.”

“Where should I put my bag?” I asked.

“You can just put it on my bed for now.”